aloe vera

Why I gave up on The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toner

This glycolic acid toner is slightly more irritating than mandelic acid, but not quite as strong as a full-on chemical peel (and maybe not as effective, either).

You know how I feel about toners. I’m not sure if they actually do anything, but I still like to use them, because they help my skin feel cleaner and more refreshed at night. I’ve been hearing good things about The Ordinary Glycolic Acid Toning Solution for a while now, so I decided to give it a try. Since it contains 7 percent glycolic acid, this is not your typical toner—it falls somewhere between a toner and a chemical peel. And what’s in the other 93 percent? According to…

Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm SPF 20 review

Does this sunscreen lip balm live up to its name? Let's take a closer look.

You know I have a thing for sunscreen lip balms. If it were up to me, all lip balms would contain sunscreen in them by default. What’s not to like? You get to moisturize your lips and protect them from harmful UV rays in one go. But it’s not always easy to find a sunscreen lip balm that gives you everything you’re looking for: the right color, the right moisturizing properties, the right SPF protection.

Alba Botanica Sensitive Mineral Sunscreen Review

A purely physical sunscreen that's affordable and doesn't leave a heavy white cast. It's also formulated with beneficial ingredients like vitamin E and shea butter.

I just spent the past week in Vegas, and boy, did my skin feel like it was actually sizzling in that 100-degree heat. The sun feels much stronger out there—and indeed, the UV index was 9 in Vegas today, compared to 7 in NYC. You can look up the UV index for your city here on the EPA’s website. It definitely served as a catalyst for getting serious about finding a quality sunscreen that I could apply on my body every day (without going broke). And I think I found it: Alba Botanica…