Aveeno Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer, $15

Attention, those with sensitive skin: This may be the moisturizer for you! A couple months ago, my skin got irritated from an acne medication. My old moisturizer didn't help--it would sting and burn when I put it on, especially right after washing my face. I decided to try Aveeno's Ultra-Calming Daily Moisturizer, hoping that it would calm my pissed off sensitive skin. It did. I threw away the medication, but the moisturizer stayed.

This stuff is "fragrance-free, oil-free, noncomedogenic, [and] hypoallergenic"--probably one of the gentlest moisturizers around. Plus, it has sunscreen in it (available in SPF 15 or SPF 30) which, as you know, is important for keeping your skin looking young. The moisturizer soaks into your skin quickly and smells just faintly of sunscreen. Now, I also have combination skin (oily and dry, wee!), so I use moisturizer primarily on my cheeks and try to avoid the corners of my nose and my chin. That being said, I haven't had a problem with oil while using this, but judging by its lotiony feel it might not be best for oily skin. But, I don't know for sure. (Perhaps SPF 15 would feel a little lighter.)

What really sold me on it is that, pretty quickly, it had a noticeable effect on my skin's appearance. The tone looks more even and my face just looks healthier. It's as simple as that.

Final verdict:
Cost: $15 is actually pretty cheap for moisturizer--the top picks at Sephora average about $50 or so! And since you really don't need a lot, it lasts a long time.
Is it true?: Aveeno claims that it "visibly reduces the appearance of redness and soothes sensitive skin," and I have found this to be true.
Skin types: It's probably best for those with sensitive skin, dry skin, or combination skin. I'm not sure if it would be best for oily skin.
Repeat offender: Yes! I'm really happy with it.

-T

Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula, $14

(Clinique Lash Power Mascara Long-Wearing Formula in Black Onyx)
It's really hard for me to find a mascara that won't irritate my super-sensitive eyes, let alone one that's supposed to be long-lasting. This one is almost perfect (read: almost). It lengthens, curls, and defines my lashes immensely. I've never really thought that a change in mascara could make a big difference in how I look, but this one makes me look really wide-eyed and awake, and I like the effect.

If you notice, Clinique calls it "long-wearing," not "waterproof," because it actually only comes off with warm water. It's lasted through sweat and tears, literally. It leaves absolutely no smudge or raccoon-eye whatsoever--yay! It's really easy to pull off gently when you're in the shower or washing your face.

There's only one problem: It still irritates my eyes a little. I should mention here that in addition to having sensitive eyes, I'm also kinda a compulsive picker. Any mascaras that make my eyelashes feel really tight will provoke the picking compulsion. These are generally the same ones that will flake on their own; I just help them get going. And this one, unfortunately, is one of those. The tiny, tiny little bits get in my eyes and irritate them. True, not as bad as other mascaras, but irritating all the same. I've also forgotten to take it off at night, and woken up with a bunch of little flakes on my face and in my eyes. Ouch.

Final verdict:
Cost: $14 may seem high when compared to drug-store brands, but for high-end mascara it's a pretty normal price.
Long-wearing?: Actually, yes. It does stay on through heat and crying, and comes off very easily in warm water with no smudging.
For sensitive eyes?: This may be good for some sensitive eyes (Clinique says it's ophthalmologist-tested and allergy-free!), but I had a problem with flaking. When the flakes fall in my eyes, they bother me.
Repeat offender: I wouldn't buy it again--I'm still on the search for the perfect mascara for sensitive eyes (hopefully one that won't smudge everywhere, too). But, it looks so good that I didn't return it--I've been just kinda dealing with it. If you don't have sensitive eyes or a problem with some flakes, it might work well for you.
-T

Essie’s Mint Candy Apple Nail Polish, $4-8

There isn’t much that I like about winter anymore. After being stuck indoors repeatedly due to multiple blizzards, I--like most other Maryland and DCers--am ready for spring! But since we still have a few more weeks of this unpredictable season I figured I could give you a review of Essie’s special winter shade “Mint Candy Apple.”

This polish is definitely a different shade. Unlike most polish colors out right now this isn’t dark and it isn’t sparkly. This shade reminds me of a toned-down version of Crayola’s “Robin’s Egg Blue” crayon. It is also very reminiscent of that wonderful car color that was often found in the 50s (why don’t they make cool colored cars anymore?!). I love the color but I do have a few gripes about this polish. The main problem I have is that it chips very quickly. Since it is a lighter and brighter color, any chipping or smudging is going to be more noticeable. I had this on for 2 days before it already started chipping. I haven’t tried many Essie polishes so I can’t say if it is a brand thing, but as I try different ones (their shades are always really pretty), I will let you all know! Nevertheless, it is a very lovely polish that stands out on your fingernails.


Final verdict:
Cost: I got mine on Amazon and with shipping it was about $5, but it is marked in stores for around $8.
Main attribute: This polish has such a distinct color that it can really take the place of any accessories you may want to adorn yourself with.
Repeat offender: I’d try different Essie polishes but I would not buy this same color again.
-M

Olay Body Wash plus Tone Enriching Ribbons, $7

As I've mentioned before, I have some trouble with dry skin, especially in the winter--and man, we're really having a winter here! A lot of people who share in my woes will agree that a crucial step in handling dryness begins in the shower. My favorite step 1 is this moisturizing body wash, Olay's Body Wash plus Tone Enriching Ribbons. The soap is layered intermittently with "ribbons" of moisturizer, and when they mix together they form a thick, creamy, and super-lathery product.

There are 5 different Olay body washes with the moisture ribbons: body butter, crème, lotion, exfoliating, and this one, which has mica minerals. I've used the other ones and liked them well enough (though I still don't know the difference between butter, lotion, and crème), but IMO this one smells the best and feels the creamiest, as you're washing as well as afterward. This stuff is so rich I've started using it as an alternative to shaving gel. Since it cleanses as it moisturizes, it can save some time in the shower.

The purpose of the mica minerals, Olay says, is to even-out uneven skin. I honestly can't really tell if they have any effect in that department, but I must admit it's fun to randomly find the tiny little sparkles that get left behind. They're not that noticeable, but you might want to warn your roommates if they're not the kind of people who like to shimmer. (My boyfriend bought this by mistake and I laughed every time I found a little glitter on his arm.)

Final verdict:
Cost: An 18-ounce bottle is around $7, and is available at drugstores, grocery stores, Wal-Mart, Target, etc. It's well worth it.
Moisturizing: This is one of the creamiest, richest, and most moisturizing body washes I've used. I've used it year-round as a body wash and for shaving.
Does it really even-out skin tone?: Meh, not really. Although, you might find some tiny sparkles on your skin (don't worry, nothing too serious).
Repeat offender: Yessss. It's a great body wash for my dry skin.
-T

Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick, $6-7

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t get any blemishes, and if someone is telling you they never get blemishes, they are lying. I have really sensitive skin and most products that are made to help decrease blemishes can dry out my skin or even worse--irritate it more than it originally was. The Desert Essence Blemish Touch Stick is a product I have used on my skin for years now, and I always keep a bottle handy. This stuff is really amazing because it helps reduce blemishes without drying skin or irritating it, it actually soothes skin and gives a cooling effect. The Blemish Stick comes is a compact bottle with a screw on top and a rolling-ball applicator. The smell of this product can often come off a bit strong initially but after the first couple seconds you don’t notice it much anymore. The liquid mostly smells of tea tree oil but it is infused with other natural herbs like rosemary, lavender, and even thyme. My favorite part of this product is that it is very natural, all of the ingredients are recognizable herbs, oils, and extracts. The Blemish Stick does not leave any residue, it cools the spot you roll it on and dries quickly. Another great use for this stick is that it really helps stop mosquito bite itches! I find myself carrying a bottle of it in my purse in the summer time to stop itchy bug bites. The Blemish Stick can be found at Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, or directly from Desert Essence. This is great for minor blemishes and skin irritations.

Final verdict:
Cost: $6-7 at stores and online
How long does a bottle last: Depending on how much you use and how often, the bottle can last for a few months. I probably use my stick once or twice a week and have had it for a few months now. If you are using it to help with bug bite itches then you might run out more quickly.
Repeat offender: Tori and I have been using this product for years now and I don’t think we will stop.

-M

Just wondering . . .

Hi friends in the land of the intertubez! We decided to post a little something other than a make up review today. Since we have been updating regularly for the last couple of weeks we wanted to ask you guys if you had any feedback. We are curious about our readers! I know a lot of you out there are supportive friends, but I have a feeling there are some people we don’t know who have stumbled upon our little blog. So please leave a comment and let us know anything, like who you are, how you found Sweet Glow Beauty, what you like or dislike about it, what you want to see more of, what you want to see less of, etc. We really want to maintain this blog to the best of our abilities. We eventually will be posting daily but for now we have been limiting ourselves to 3 posts a week so we don’t get overwhelmed. We are having a lot of fun with this blog and we hope that it is as much fun for the readers! Thanks guys, and expect a make up review on Friday!

-M

Wet n Wild Mega Last Quick Dry/Ultra Gloss Top Coat, $1.99 vs OPI RapiDry TopCoat, $8

I used to skip putting on top coat whenever I painted my nails because I didn’t think it was all that important. Since I started painting my nails on a more regular basis I realized that top coat is definitely as important as the second coat of nail color.

(The bottle pictured here is the mini version of the OPI RapiDry, the full-sized bottle is being reviewed)
Some of my OPI mini sets have included the OPI RapiDry TopCoat which I began using regularly. I love this top coat because it really does seal in the color and dry fast. It also tends to keep the polish on longer. The only downside to this top coat is the $8 price tag. For something you will use every time you do your nails (I tend to do them once a week) a bottle could go pretty quickly.


I was really excited to find that Wet n Wild makes a top coat that is comparable to the OPI brand and is less than half the price! Wet n Wild’s Mega Last Quick Dry/Ultra Gloss Top Coat (damn, that’s a long name!) does the same job of adding shine, sealing in color, and drying quickly. The top coat seems to be a bit thicker than the OPI but it still dried very quickly. By the time I finished putting top coat on all my nails, my first hand was already dried.

Final Verdict:
Cost: (Wet n Wild) $1.99 vs (OPI) $8.00
Size of bottle: (Wet n Wild) .47 fl oz vs (OPI) .5 oz
Any significant differences between the two?: Nope, pretty much on the same page.
Repeat offender: Both would be repeat offenders for me, but I’d probably buy the Wet n Wild just because it’s cheaper.

-M