By Melissa Magsaysay, Los Angeles Times staff writer

In an effort to see for ourselves how drugstore products stack up, we took on the daunting task of checking out an array of cleansers, eye creams, wrinkle fillers and body lotions. We asked an assortment of women ages 22 to 62 to give us their opinions after trying those suitable for their skin types for a week. Their answers are in the following pages. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Redness Soothing Facial Cleanser, $7.99, 6 ounces

On the plus side: It made skin feel clean and soft (thanks to the aloe in the formula); took care of the oily parts without clogging pores, or making the skin feel dry, as cleansers often can. What we're not so sure about: The very strong aroma is almost like that of cologne.

Skin Effects by Dr. Jeffrey Dover Cleansing Effects Gentle Foaming Cleanser for Sensitive Skin, $6.99, 6.6 ounces

Thumbs up: A little bit seemed to go a long way, and the foamy lather felt good and nondrying as it cleaned. Thumbs down: It didn't seem to remove makeup, though it did clean the skin once makeup had already been removed.

Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15, $11.99, 4 ounces

This felt too thick and kind of chalky as it went on but absorbed to end up feeling light and lasting all day. The sunscreen is a plus.

Aveeno Ultra-Calming SPF 15 Day Lotion, $16.99, 4 ounces

Smelled great; lightweight and smoothed on nicely, making skin feel as if it was getting more moisture, compared with some other products.

Lumene Sensitive Touch Cleansing Wipes Face and Eye Makeup Remover, $2.99 for 10 wipes

On the plus side: extremely gentle, with no parabens, colors or harsh ingredients; very good for taking off light facial makeup. Not so good: It took two to remove eye makeup.