G is for GARBAGE. Review on Revlon Face Makeup

When I spied the Skinlights collection from Revlon, I was eager to drop cash for a chance at radiant, youthful looking skin. Yes, gullible is my middle name when it comes to makeup. I'm not stupid, mind you, but when I see something that looks fun, looks like it might just work for me, I buy it.

Skinlights looks like it ought to work. A very sparkly, allegedly translucent powder that promises to add a glow, a healthy radiance. No animal, vegetable, or mineral oils, plus Vitamins C and E for skin softening, it sounded great. With its claims of ''light reflective crystal color'' that uses its reflective qualities to minimize the appearance of lines, how could I resist? A cool packaging idea, with a smaller compartment in the lid to hold the applicator brush, was the final nail in my coffin--I had to have this stuff.

What a total waste. I haven't been this disappointed in a makeup in a long time. The powder itself is a bit clumpy, and very shiny looking. It goes on thick, no matter how little is on the brush. But the real kicker, the reason I wouldn't recommend Skinlights to anyone is the way it looks. Awful. Positively horrid. Shiny, brassy, ugly. Remember the Red Hot Chili Peppers video for ''Give It Away?'' Anthony Kiedis, painted in shimmering gold? There ya go. Close up, this stuff looks like gold lame, and from a distance, the shimmer becomes a greasy looking shine. And there's no toning it down--I've tried applying a matte powder over top, tried rubbing my face with a towel. Nothing makes it look any better.

The only situation in which I imagine this stuff would look good is in the dark. I'm not joking--by candle light, it's not too bad. Perhaps, if you spend your nights in dimly lit clubs, it might work for you. But if, like me, you hang out in the daylight, skip this. It's really that bad.

So you know, I chose the least ''colorful'' of the powders available--''Natural Light.'' I can only imagine how bad the darker colors would look.