My Cheap but Effective Skin Care Routine

I literally cannot even count how many different face cleansing products I have tried that just didn't do the job!


During my hormone riddled teen years, I had moderate acne mostly on my face, chest and back. Especially during that time of the month, I could usually count on my face having a few painful pimples plus scattered blackheads and whiteheads. In most pics of me during that time you couldn't even tell cause I was a master at over exposing my pics til they're so bright you couldn't see the zits!  I'm 23 now and I still get an occasional monster that refuses to cover up well with makeup. Other than that though, my face is pretty clear. I do have a few bumps particularly on my chin area but nothing as bad as when I was a teenager.

I have tried I feel like everything under the sun, including Proactive, Neutrogena, and Clean and Clear without effective results. It wasn't until I was pregnant with my second and didn't want to spend the money on something that doesn't even work that I realized maybe the problem was all the chemicals going onto my face! I switched to different products and have kept it the same for a few years.

This is my everyday skin care routine that I've found helps curb my acne and is super simple and cheap.

First off I cannot stress the importance of REMOVING YOUR MAKEUP BEFORE BED!!!!
This is super important and has changed my skin since I made it a priority to always remove my makeup before going to sleep. Even if it's so late and all you want to do is crawl into bed, please please at least grab a makeup remover wipe and get that makeup off!!

Ok so every morning and night I cleanse my face with one thing.

Dove White Beauty Bar

This stuff cleanses my skin so well, it doesn't leave my skin too dry, it's gentle, and for less than $10 you can get 6 bars which usually last me about 6 months. You can find this anywhere!

Also morning and night after I wash my face, I follow up with Witch Hazel.

Yep witch hazel, the stuff they tell you to use on your down there after giving birth because it's gentle, safe, has cleansing and anti-bacterial properties, helps with swelling, helps to repair broken skin and helps to heal and soothe other skin irritations. I just pour a little bit (enough to cover my face) onto a cotton ball or round and use it like a toner. It lasts a long time and is pretty cheap too. Like less than $5 a bottle cheap.

Did I mention everything is super cheap???

After the witch hazel, it's time to moisturize. I only moisturize in the morning and not at night. This is for one reason, I have pretty oily skin, I don't moisturize at night so my skin can breathe and repair itself while i'm sleeping. Since I started skipping the moisturizer at night, my skin is less oily and I feel like it's been clearer. When I do moisturize (in the morning) I use Cerave Moisturizing Cream.

This stuff is aaaamazing!!!! It's super moisturizing yet light and non-greasy. It's fragrance free and won't clog your pores. It contains ceramides to help moisturize and protect the skin barrier. It also has hyaluronic acid. What is that you say? Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally found in the body. It's found mostly in the eyes and joints because it acts as a cushion and lubricant. It's another amazing ingredient in this cream that helps to heal and moisturize the skin. This is the only thing that isn't as cheap as everything else on this post but it's still pretty cheap. At $10 to $15 it's still cheaper than higher end moisturizers and a little goes a looooooonnnnnggggg way!

That is my daily/nightly routine. 

Twice a week it's Exfoliation Day!!!

On Tuesdays and Fridays, before cleansing in the morning, I use a homemade facial scrub that has sugar, honey, baking soda, cinnamon, coconut oil and cocoa powder. All of which have great benefits to using on your skin.

Looks like poo, smells like chocolate and leaves my skin feeling super smooth! I just take a little bit, mush it in my hands and scrub my face. Then I rinse it off and wash with the Dove soap.

After the facial scrub I like to use a facial mask. I really love the Freeman Feeling Beautiful line of masks as they are cheap but effective. There's also a ton of different varieties for different results.

Freeman Feeling Beautiful Clay Mask Mint and Lemon

Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask

Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress Mask

Revealing Peel-Off Pomegranate Mask

Facial Pineapple Enzyme Mask

Charcoal and Black Sugar Polishing Mask

My faves are the Mint and Lemon clay mask, the Dead Sea Minerals Anti-Stress mask and the Charcoal and Black Sugar mask. But they're all great. I got these at Ulta when they were having a BOGO Free sale (which they have all the time). They're normally $3.99 each but combined with a coupon, I paid around $9 for these six.

After that I moisturize with the Cerave Cream as normal then apply a lip balm. My current fave besides my beloved Nivea Lip Butters,

Smith's Rosebud Salve

Smith's Rosebud Salve is about $7 at Sephora and can be used for anything that needs a little extra dose of moisture! It smells sooooo good like roses and it's super moisturizing! When using on your lips, you don't need a lot for your lips to be super soft so this tin lasts a long time!

My skin is by no means perfect. This is the skin care routine that has worked for me but may not work for someone else. No matter what you do or use what's important is if you are getting the results that you want and feeling as good as you should be. Feeling beautiful as you are!!

Feel Beautiful!!

"Even the smallest person can change the course of the future."

Vaseline Creme Brulee Lip Therapy Review

Hey Dolls!!

So today I'm bringing you another review. This time of a product that I have heard raves about all over the beautysphere!

The Vaseline Creme Brulee Lip Therapy

If any of you have tried any of the Vaseline Lip Therapys, chances are you've heard of this one.

Not sure if this is limited edition but it is a relatively new flavor that is joining the ranks of Rosy Lips, Original, and Cocoa Butter.

Vaseline Creme Brulee Lip Therapy claims:

• For deliciously kissable lips
• Instantly softens and soothes dry lips
• Locks in moisture so lips feel better over time
• Made with triple-purified Vaseline petroleum jelly

Depending on where you purchase it, the price ranges from $2 to $3 for .25oz.

I haven't tried the Rosy Lips Lip Therapy but I have tried the Original and it still is one of my tried and true lip balms. I'm a sucker for all things lip product related especially if it has a yummy smell so I knew I had to try this.

After searching for it in a few stores, I finally found at a CVS for $1.99 I think?

I immediately tore into the package when I got home, opened it and........................................................................................................................................................................................

..............................................

was a little disappointed!

I already have the Original Lip Therapy so I knew this would be a great lip balm. I literally just bought this because I was hoping for a delicious sweet scented thing to slather on my lips. Therein lies the only disappointment I had with this product. It doesn't smell the least bit like what I had hoped. I was expecting a little sweet vanilla with maybe a hint of caramel or brown sugar but what I got was a waxy, play doughy scent with the merest, fleeting touch of vanilla. The scent fades after a minute or two but every time I use it I wonder if maybe I got a dud.

Granted it is an excellent lip balm. The texture is a bit thicker than the Original Lip Therapy which may be off putting to some but I don't mind it! I especially love using this before bedtime for super soft lips in the morning. Or times when I feel like my lips need a little extra TLC, I love using this cause I feel like it really moisturizes and protects. Despite the scent "setbacks" it's still a great lip balm.

Will I repurchase?

Maybe nah. I'll stick with the Original and my HG Nivea Lip Butter in Caramel Creme Kiss.

Sorry if I crushed any expectations! Remember these are my opinions. There are lots of people raving about the smell. It could just be me!

Feel beautiful!

"Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times. If one only remembers to turn on the light"

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer Review

The Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquers were made available to the U.S during the summer of last year. They were previously only available in the Uk under the name Rimmel Apocalips. Needless to say these aren't a new product. Ignoring the fact that Rimmel seems not to trust the U.S with the catchy play on words, on the website, Rimmel promises:

"The intense rich colour of a lipstick, enhanced by a satin smooth shine. 

It's neither a lipstick nor a gloss... It's BIGGER than both!"

Since these have been out I have been wanting to try them but other products catch my eye and there goes another month without them! Well this month these caught my eye at Walgreens as they were on sale for only $2.49 each!!!! Whenever I buy makeup products, I usually try to find them on sale or use a coupon to get the best price. Now $2.49 is already a great deal, (the price varies from $5 to $6 each) but I just so happened to have 3 $1 coupons for any Rimmel product making these babies a cool $1.49 each.

Rimmel London Show Off Lip Lacquers shades from top to bottom: Comet, Nova, and Stellar 

The three shades I got were Comet, Nova and Stellar.

Comet is a slightly pink brown shade

Nova is a light pink with a cool undertone

Stellar is a pinky coral shade

All three were super pigmented with one swipe. These are very creamy with no stickiness and wore well for over 3 hours with no fading or bleeding. I didn't use a lipliner and found that these stayed pretty well put however due to their creaminess they do smear relatively easily. They do have the pigmentation of a lipstick but I don't find them to be quite as shiny as a gloss. I am happy with the finish though. I find them to just shiny enough to suit my fancy.

One unique thing about these is the doe foot applicator. That may not sound unique but it has a small divot in the middle where product pools giving you the perfect amount of lacquer without having to dip back into the tube.

These are an amazing drugstore product that are drugstore price but high end quality. My only qualm with these is the scent. If you are sensitive to smells, you might want to skip these. Maybe it's just me but to me they have a plasticky floral scent that is a bit off putting. The scent does fade after a while but like I said, if you have a sensitive schnoz, don't get these. 

Overall these are a great product for the price if you can get past the smell.

Til next time!

Brush Cleaning 101

Hey dolls!
Having clean brushes can make a huge difference in the way your makeup applies. Depending on how often I'm putting makeup on, I always try to clean my brushes at least once a week. If I'm putting mah face on frequently, I end up cleaning my brushes,

(especially my face brushes) every few days. Not cleaning your makeup brushes can lead to breakouts and other skin irritation. When we constantly use the same brush over and over without cleaning it, bacteria and oil from our faces get trapped in the hairs and then transfer to our makeup, then back onto our faces!!! 

Gross I know

There are tons of ways to clean your brushes. One of the cheapest ways is to use baby shampoo, but I find that it doesn't clean as well as some other alternatives. It sure does make your brushes smell good though! 

Another more expensive way is to use a brush cleanser like:

It retails for about $15, has good reviews and does the job.

BUT WAIT!!!!!

What about the people who don't want to spend 15 bucks on a brush cleanser and would rather spend that hard earned money on stuff to dirty up those brushes?????

Well here's my fav way to get my dirrrrrty brushes clean

What you Need:

Dirty Brushes duh!

Dish soap (any kind, I use the green dawn)

A plate

Slightly damp clean washcloth

Dry clean washcloth

I've been using dish soap to cleanse my brushes for ages and my brushes look as good as the day I bought them!! No damage whatsoever and they are still as soft as can be!! One thing I love about using dish soap is that it gets the makeup "grime" off, but since most dish soaps are also antibacterial you can sleep peacefully knowing that your brushes are squeaky clean! and that there aren't any microbes multiplying in your brushes

What to Do:

Onto the plate, evenly spread enough dish soap to clean your brushes.

 Tilt the plate a little to distribute the soap

Lay the washcloth flat onto the soap.

Wet the brush with warm but not hot water. Hold the brush so the hairs face down. If too much water gets into the ferrule or handle, the glue could dissolve, loosening the bristles, and damaging the brush.

Next, scrub scrub scrub your brushes right on the washcloth. Move the brush back and forth, in circular motions, however your heart desires!

I tend to be a little rough with my brushes when I'm cleaning them to make sure i get them reeeeally clean!

Rinse them really well! Be sure to rinse all the soap out as that can also effect makeup application. 

Brush back and forth, and gently squeeze out any excess water on the dry washcloth

Lay them flat to dry!

I typically wash my brushes in the evening and let them dry overnight.

Enjoy your fresh, good as new, squeaky clean brushes!!

Before

After

Stay happy!

Drugstore Favorites

We (at least most of us) have all gone through the process of saving our pretty pennies to splash out on a highly coveted beauty product. For me, my "hard-earned" cash aka the money my husband rakes in, usually goes to the eyeshadow palette I've been eyeing for so long! 

Most of the time Sometimes though it's hard to save money when there are so many amazing products for amazing prices waiting for you at stores like Walgreens, Walmart, Target, and Kmart!

Welcome to my drugstore favorites!

Face Products:

Foundation:

Now, I'm the kind of girl who occasionally gets the urge to try different foundations but mostly once I've found one I like, I'm pretty loyal.

Revlon Colorstay $9.98, L'oreal True Match $6.42

Revlon Colorstay and L'oreal True Match are my absolute favorite foundations ever! Before I found these, I tried so many others but they either made me too oily, didn't have good staying power or didn't have enough coverage.

These however have amazing coverage and last all day! They also have a pretty wide range of shades. 

Concealers and Eyeshadow Primer:

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind $7.94, Nyx Hd Concealer $4.99, e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer $3.99

I haven't tried any high end concealers (though I do have my eye on Mac Pro Longwear) but I've found that these work really well for their price. I use the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind primarily on my dark circles to cover and correct them. If I want a more highlighted look, I use the Nyx Hd Concealer for my dark circles and to "cream" highlight. Before trying the e.l.f Eyeshadow Primer I was using the Urban Decay Primer Potion. Once I ran out of that, I had the e.l.f primer laying around and decided to try it! So glad I did because it works just as well as the Urban Decay Primer Potion.

Powder, Blush, Highlighter and Bronzer:

Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder $5.97, Hard Candy Baked Bronzer in Tiki $9, Milani Baked Blush $6.97, e.l.f Baked Bronzer $3

I've had these for almost a year now but they hardly look like I've used them!

Whenever I put on my makeup, I always have to set my foundation with a powder. My favorite is the Coty Airspun Loose Face Powder. It's so cheap and you get so much product for such a good price! Plus it's an amazing powder. It does kind of have a flowery grandma smell but it fades after a few minutes. If it bothers you they do have an unscented version. For highlighter, I use the Hard Candy Baked Bronzer in Tiki. It says bronzer but it doesn't look like one at all! It adds a nice golden glow without chunky glitter. The Milani Baked Blushes are really affordable, super pigmented and have a gorgeous range of shades! For bronzer, if I don't use my Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer (cause that stuff is $30!!!!), I reach for my e.l.f Baked Bronzer. It's only $3 and is just as awesome.....but it doesn't smell like chocolate......

The Eyeball Stuff:

e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit $3, Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Liner $7.94

I've had these for a long time as well and I've just barely hit pan on the eyebrow stuff and am running out of the gel liner

Both of these products are pigmented, pretty cheap and when applied, last all day on me. They both come with brushes, which I do use the brush that comes with the eyebrow kit, but I prefer to use an angled brush for my liner.

Fav Mascara and Brow Gel

L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black $5.84, Maybelline Great Lash Clear Lash and Brow Gel $4.44

I used to hate how clumpy the L'oreal Voluminous mascara was but now it's my favorite drugstore mascara at the moment! I don't know what changed, if the consistency itself changed or the way I apply it, but I use this almost every time I do my makeup! After filling in my brows, I always use the Maybelling Great Lash Clear Lash and Brow Gel to keep dem brows in place!

Now it's time for my favorite kind of beauty products to hoard, Lip Stuff!

Fav Lip Balm

Nivea Lip Butter $2.99 at Ulta

I FREAKING love these!!!! They smell amazing and are so moisturizing!!! This is literally the only lip balm I use. Though I do hate having to stick my finger in the container, I don't hate it enough to not use these!

Fav Lipgloss

Nyx Butter Gloss $4.99

I LOOOOOOVVVEEE Nyx Butter Glosses!!! I can't get enough of them! They're such amazing glosses for only $4.99!!! They smell great, not sticky at all, there are so many different colors to choose from and they are soooo pigmented!!!

Fav Lipstick 

Wet n Wild Megalast Lipstick $1.99

These are the most amazing lipsticks for only $1.99!!! There are so many colors, they're creamy, longlasting, matte but non-drying, and have no gross plasticky cheap lipstick smell. The only bad thing I have to say about them is the cheap packaging. Not a big deal though! These are perfect to try out any lipstick trends without breaking the bank!!! I love these!!!

Fav Chubby Lip Pencil

Jordana Twist and Shine Moisturizing Balm Stain $2.99

Surprise surprise! I love these for a glossy wash of color that stains your lips and lasts forever!!!! Read my post on them here

Let me know in the comments if you've tried any of these or are going to try these and how you like them!

Stay happy!