While I know that the proverbial best things are free, sometimes the ones that cost something come pretty close. Last week I cashed in a gift certificate for a facial at a local spa. The pampering was great, I admit, and my skin looks much healthier in the post-treatment after glow. But I have to say, the best thing that came out of that hour of beauty was the sunscreen -- DDF's Enhancing Sun Protection SPF 30. The aesthetician sent me home with a condiment container sample, and I've been meticulously rationing out the product over the past four days.

DDF's Enhancing Sun Protection isn't the cheap sunscreen I usually buy in bulk from the drugstore. It's about six times the price for approximately one-quarter of the volume, so this is definitely not the sort of thing I want to slather on before heading out for a three hour bike ride.

The sunscreen is nonetheless a pretty fantastic substitute for the daily makeup routine. The pinkish lotion contains a self-adjusting pigment, which perfectly adjusts to your skin tone. There is also a light sheen that evens out your complexion, which is great for me since I can't stand foundation, but actually like a little bit of coverage. Of course, there's also the SPF 30 sunscreen, which as a dermatologist I know told me last year, is the minimum for daily face protection.