Dear fellow mamas, you just thought you loved beauty products. But that’s before you met Amy. I might say that Amy is the most knowledgeable beauty product junkie I know, but she’s so much more than that. She’s like the benevolent queen of the beauty product junkies.

I’ve known her since we twirled together on the majorette line in college. (Yeah, we wore the sequins and the whole bit.) Since then, she completed law school, got married, passed the bar exam, worked for a Fortune 500 energy company, had two kids (Philip and Rachel, ages 5 and 2) and is now a full-time mama to them. And she’s managed to do all this and still be the most informed person I know when it comes to the latest and greatest beauty product innovations. I never go to the makeup counter without first e-mailing Amy to see what she’s using and why.

Of course, different people have different opinions about products. That’s a given. But even if Amy doesn’t know about a particular product you ask about, she’ll use her research powers to track down a good answer for you. And she’ll gather a collection of product reviews by our fellow mamas for your perusal. Enjoy. E-mail Amy by clicking here.

Amy’s Fab 5

Dear Amy,

I saw an ad in a magazine for a “vibrating” mascara. What is this and does it work?

Dear Gadget Girl,

You must be referring to Lancome’s newest mascara, “Oscillation.” This is either the craziest or the coolest product I’ve seen in a while – it has a battery powered, vibrating wand that claims to smoothly coat each lash up to 360 degrees. It’s pricey for a mascara ($34), but I couldn’t wait to try this out and see if it lives up to the hype.

It really is unique – you press a button on the wand and sweep it under your lashes just like traditional mascara. It took some practice to figure out the best application method (slowly and carefully seems to cut down on the clumps), and the vibrating wand can be a little tricky to work with on the little corner lashes (you don’t want to poke your eye with anything battery powered!)

Will I buy it again? I’m not sure. It did lengthen and separate my lashes very well and it didn’t smudge after a long day, but that’s no more than a good drug store mascara can do. For the money, I’m not convinced that it’s any better than my beloved Cover Girl Lash Blast. But, if you decide to buy it, I doubt you will be disappointed. It might be a fun thing to try out the next time Lancome is offering a “free gift.” Good luck!

Dear Amy,

I’ve seen ads for a laser-type device that claims to “zap” pimples away. What is this and does it work?

Dear Zapper,

The two most popular acne treatment devices currently on the market are Zeno and Thermaclear. Both are battery operated, hand-held devices that use heat to kill pimple-causing bacteria below the surface of the skin. Both devices promise to clear pimples up to four times faster than they would otherwise heal. The Zeno ($89-$200) delivers a low level heat for two minutes; the ThermaClear ($150) is more of a “sting” that takes about two seconds. (Click on the photo to go to Amazon.com if you’d like to read more customer reviews of this device.)

Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it? I thought so, but I had to try it out anyway. After some online research, I decided to purchase the ThermaClear. According to the product information, the ThermaClear works best before a pimple breaks the surface. The idea is to start “zapping” it up to four times a day as soon as you feel it forming under the skin. (I have to admit, the idea of inflicting a little pain on an angry zit was enticing – for the first time in my life I actually hoped I would get a pimple!)

Sure enough, when that time of the month approached I got to test out my ThermaClear. I couldn’t believe it, but it actually worked; my monthly monster never cracked the surface! I don’t know if it would work for everyone, and the product information stresses that it isn’t effective for all types of pimples. But if you struggle with a breakout here and there, you might agree with me that it’s worth the investment. Good luck!

Dear Amy,

Iʼm confused about foundation “primer.” What is it and do I really need it?

Dear Prime Time,

Itʼs easy to get confused by all the new products that crop up every day, and primers seem to be the latest and greatest “must-have.” Basically, a primer is just a lightweight moisturizer that smooths out your skin and helps foundation look more evenly applied. Whether you really need one is a matter of personal preference. Any moisturizer applied before foundation will accomplish the same smooth and even look, as long as youʼre using one that isnʼt too emollient for your skin type (you donʼt want your makeup to “melt” away). I have used Laura Mercierʼs Foundation Primer and love the results, but I have found that Olayʼs Daily Regenerating Serum accomplishes the same thing for less than half the price. The next time youʼre at Sephora or a local make-up store, ask for a few primer samples — Lancome, Bare Escentuals, and Makeup For Ever all make good ones. Test them out for a few days to see if a primer is something youʼd like to add to your makeup routine. Good luck!

Amy tackles your questions on beauty products, tips and techniques every Monday here on nwaMotherlode. Click on the word “comment” below to post a tip of your own or send Amy an e-mail at mamas@nwaMotherlode.com.

Dear Amy,

I am 35 and still get pimples! I think it’s worse now than when I was in junior high. What’s going on and how can I stop this???

Dear Pimply,

I feel your pain! Not too long ago I had a tumor-sized knot between my eyes that was so painful, it had me running to the dermatologist with my two kids in tow. Only an injection of cortisone and a round of oral antibiotics saved me from the single worst zit of my life. I still can’t believe how bad it was.

Why is this happening? According to my doctor, we can blame it on hormones and stress. At our age, we’ve been through a lot – usually a pregnancy or two, the rigors of taking care of a family, running a household and working either inside or outside the home. Even food allergies can trigger adult acne. Oh, and did I mention that we’re getting closer to menopause every day? Ugh.

There are a few things you can do to save face. First, keep your annual women’s well-check appointment and tell your doctor about your breakouts. She can test your hormone levels to see if anything is out of whack. She might recommend checking your thyroid levels too, since an over or under active thyroid can cause acne.

Also, follow a simple skin care routine: gentle cleanser (like Cetaphil Daily Cleanser), mild toner (I like Nivea’s Moisturizing Toner), gentle scrub (Aveeno’s Daily Clarifying Scrub) and a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide lotion (Neutrogena has a good one). The good news is that makeup rarely causes acne, but if you notice a flare up after using a particular product, by all means, stop using it.

Another approach to consider – and it’s pretty extreme – is to eliminate dairy products for a few months. Some people are sensitive to the hormones in cow’s milk and it could be a trigger for adult acne. This one is hard but might be worth it for clear skin. Good luck!