July Favorites! Skincare, Beauty, Food, & Memories!

I can't believe July is over and we are already a week into August! 2014 is flying by!

I've gathered up some favorite things from July and want to share them with you today.

I'll start with some random favorites 

(all my favorites are random to be honest. but these are even more random and could not be categorized)

BIC Intensity Fine Point pens

Lily Pad Press greeting cards (purchased at Walmart)

Pens - I ordered these pens online from Staples in May (i think) and I have been loving them ever since. They came in a pack with black, purple, aqua, pink, and green but the black and purple have been my favorites. They write so nicely and the best part is, they don't bleed through paper! (I also think my handwriting looks cuter when I use these pens)

Cards- It might seem weird to have a favorite greeting card line but I had 3 birthdays in July and my anniversary August 1 so I bought 4 cards from this line in July and I have purchased from them in the past. The cards are really nice quality, unique, and absolutely adorable. I hate having to wander around the aisles trying to find a card when most of them are cheesy and embarrassing. I love knowing I can walk right to this section and find exactly what I'm looking for. These cards are the best!

Skincare! 

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes

As always, these makeup wipes are my favorite. Every time I try a different brand I am disappointed. They are less than $5 for 25 wipes. The cloth is thick and feels nice on the skin. They are wet enough, even down to the last cloth. They are gentle and they really do remove my makeup. I have found they are better for face makeup than eye makeup (like liquid liner or mascara) but they can still do the job it just takes a little more work. I love them. I'd totally recommend them to anyone in a heart beat.

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant

Deodorant is skincare, right!? I know it might seem weird sharing (or even having) a favorite deodorant but July was hot here in Utah and every day I found myself grateful for such an awesome deodorant. So here I am. Sharing that deodorant with you.... :)

Seriously though. This stuff smells awesome. Lasts all day. Keeps me from sweating. & doesn't leave marks on my clothes. WHAT MORE COULD YOU ASK FOR IN A DEODORANT!?

Garnier Clean+ Nourishing Cleansing Oil

I purchased this oil a while back from WalMart and just fell back in love with it. The first time I heard about cleansing oils (a few years back in an email from sister) I thought it was idea ever. I already have oily skin so why would I want to put more oil on it? Then a little while later I read this blog post from someone with oily skin who loved cleansing oils. Not too long after that I got free sample of a cleansing oil and I loved it but I never bought any because I didn't want to pay for a high end cleansing oil. And then Garnier released their Nourishing Cleansing Oil AND put a coupon in my Glamour magazine. The rest is history. I love this stuff. I'll admit it feels really weird at first rubbing oil all over my face but it is so gentle, it lifts away all of my makeup, and it is amazing AMAZING at removing all kinds of eye makeup. I just rub it in and rinse it off. I have found the rubbing and rinsing goes so much easier when I use this little silicon scrubby pad I got from Sephora. It is super soft so I even use it on my eyes and it helps take everything off even quicker.

I could talk about this forever because I love it that much. Oh, one last thing. It says on the bottle "Dry Skin" but I haven't had any issues with it and I have oily/combination, acne prone skin. I would imagine it works well on any skin type though because it is so gentle.

Simple Soothing Facial Toner

I have another product to rave about. I have been searching for the right drugstore toner my whole life (practically) and I have finally found it. I have tried many high end toners (the Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion being my favorite) but hated paying the high end price. I've always tried many drugstore toners and hated how harsh and drying they were. Then along came this little guy. It is calming, gentle, soothing, fragrance free and doesn't dry out my skin in the slightest. And it is only $3 or $4. I'm so in love and so glad I finally tried this toner. I imagine this is the start of a beautiful relationship.... :)

Tokyo Milk Dark hand cream in La Vie La Mort

I ordered this hand cream a year or two ago from Sephora and found myself using it nightly in July. I kept it in my nightstand and before bed I would use a small amount on my hands. I love the unique scent and the light texture. It soaks in quickly and leaves my hands feeling really soft. It is in this really cool metal packaging which I think looks so cute. It was pricey, I definitely splurged on this but I'm so glad I did because it is such a favorite.

Beauty!

Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Rosy Lipped

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Lemonade

These two have been my favorite lip combo throughout July (and still into August). The Revlon lip butter is just a little too pink for me so I don't like wearing it alone. The Almay gloss is pretty much the color of my lips and doesn't show up as much more than a sheen. Together though I get the pretty pink lip butter and can tone it down a bit & add a nice gloss with the Almay liquid lip balm. Plus, it is always nice to find moisturizing lip products that also look cute!

Realtree For Her perfume

I got this perfume sample in an Ipsy bag a few months ago (June maybe?) and I used the entire thing in July. It is a larger sample size than the usual free sample you get online. Realtree actually sells this size on their website. I immediately fell in love with the scent and wore it every day until it was gone. It is a sweet but fresh scent that isn't overwhelming. I was really pleased to see on their website that a full size bottle is only $20! I love finding perfumes that smell good and don't cost an arm and a leg!

Food!

Dannon Light & Fit Plain Greek yogurt

I'm obsessed with Plain Greek Yogurt! But don't go thinking I eat this for breakfast with fruit and granola. Oh no! I use this with lunch and dinner in place of sour cream! I've used it on all kinds of mexican food dishes. I've mixed it in to cream sauces. Stirred in seasonings and made it into a dip for chips and veggies. It tastes exactly the same and is so much healthier! My husband can't even tell the difference!

Reusable Water bottle (purchased at WalMart)

Another favorite from July was my reusable water bottle. It doesn't have a brand name anywhere but I have been purchasing this water bottle at WalMart for years. I have had green, purple, and now I'm using blue. I like the size, that its double walled, and the straw. I find it easy to use, not too heavy, and holds enough water that I don't feel like I'm constantly having to refill it. Plus, I love that the mouth of the bottle is wide enough I can easily add ice cubes right from my freezer!

Music!

Sky Full of Stars - Coldplay

Magic - Coldplay

Paradise - Coldplay

Summer - Calvin Harris

I Don't Dance - Lee Brice

Blog!

Pink Peonies 

I have been loving the blog Pink Peonies. I discovered the blog in July and quickly became addicted. I love her style, beautiful home, and cute puppy dog! She has the most amazing wardrobe and closet to store it in. She's even from Utah which is exciting (to me 'cuz I live in Utah so it might not matter to you lol). I definitely recommend checking out her blog (link above).

TV!

Rookie Blue

I really got back into Rookie Blue this season and have been watching all of the episodes on Hulu. I don't find myself watching as much TV in the summer because my usual shows run in the fall/winter so it is nice to find something I look forward to watching each week.

Favorite Memories!

July was a really great month for me and I hope it was the same for you! It started out with Fourth of July weekend. My husband and I stayed home instead of traveling up to be with family so I planned lots of good food (which you can see here What We Ate: 4th of July Weekend). We watched the fireworks on a sleeping bag in our backyard since our city sets them off just a few blocks from our house. They always put on a really good show!

I did go up to be with family on other weekends, and even had family come down to my house! My parents came down for dinner one night and we had a little BBQ. I spent the weekend at their house and went to the Aquarium with my best friend (which you can see here Weekend Vlog to the Aquarium). Then my 4 month old niece slept over at my parent's house. I always love getting to spend time with her. I think she is just the cutest! A few weeks later I got to have another sleep over with my niece when my brother came down to the visit and stay the night!

My husband had a lot of farming to do in July and when he wasn't farming he was building his derby car for a a Demolition Derby. Yep, he spends all year building the car so that he can drive around in an arena with a bunch of crazy guys and they crash their cars into each other. Boys are silly. The derby was towards the end of July and he had a lot of fun. This is his second derby with that car and he says he thinks he can get a third out of it!

My best friend came down for the derby (it was her first) so it was fun watching with her. Then we had a 2 day sleepover which was so much fun. She lives about an hour away so when she is in town we hang out a lot! We went out to eat, did a little shopping, and watched 6 or 7 movies! It was a blast!

There were three birthdays in my family in July. First was my brother's girlfriend. Then my husband. And the last day of July was my other brother's birthday. I had a lot of fun shopping for birthday presents and picking out birthday cards! I even took my husband on a birthday shopping spree but he didn't really buy anything for himself (I think he bought things for the yard and something for the dog. Like I said... boys are silly.)

I ended the month by getting my wisdom teeth out on the 31st. I wasn't thrilled about getting it done (especially since it was the day before our 5 year wedding anniversary) but I was having a lot of pain in my mouth so it needed to be done.

I'm very excited for August and I can't wait for Fall to be here so the weather can start cooling down! Plus, my birthday is in September! There are lots of good things to look forward to. I hope the same for you!

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo

Walmart Haul: Neutrogena Naturals, Garnier, YesTOcucumbers, Cetaphil, got2b

Over the last month or so I have picked up some random hair and face products that I want to show you all.

Neutrogena Naturals purifying pore scrub && facial cleanser

Scrub:

I love this facial scrub because it is so gentle. It doesn't rub my skin raw while still smoothing out and removing dead and flaky skin.

Cleanser:

While I don't hate this face wash, I definitely don't love it. It hasn't done anything spectacular for me and I think it dries out my skin a little. It has a very perfumy scent which I don't enjoy. I also wish it was a cream cleanser to provide a bit more moisture to my skin.

Freeman Facial Clay Mask -- Mint&Lemon

I love this mask! It is so soothing and smells amazing! It also makes my skin feel really nice&smooth.

Garnier Nutriste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller

This is one of those products that is terrible for people like me. I'm too lazy. I forget to use it every day and I hate things that don't have instant results. Well maybe not instant, but this takes like weeks. I don't have overly puffy eyes but I have awful under eye circles and I have heard these are good for treating under eye circles.

Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for dry&sensitive skin

I was in need of a new moisturizer and had no clue what to try. Because it is meant for dry skin and I have combination, I only use the tiniest dollop and it moisturizes my whole face. I thought something for sensitive skin would be a good idea because my skin flares up red so easily these days. I'm not in love with this moisturizer but it is definitely gentle&&hydrating so it does the job.

YesTOcucumbers Facial Towelettes

I think I have found my favorite makeup remover wipes. The smell is subtle and fresh. It easily removes all my face makeup, eyeshadow, and eyeliner (does not remove mascara). It is very gentle and does not dry out my skin.

got2b Smooth Operator hair spray

Can I just start out saying that this hairspray smells like perfume and it is amazing. It is a medium hold hair spray that works great for finishing off and holding every day hairstyles.

 

xoxo

Collective Haul: Neutrogena, L'Oreal, Dove, Rimmel, CoverGirl (with swatches)

Hey everyone,

I have a few random goodies to share that I have picked up from trips to Walmart, Walgreens, and Rite Aid over the last little while. I was getting ready to take the pictures for this post when my husband asked if I wanted to come to the farm with him. I didn't want to just sit there whilst on the farm so I packed up all the things for this post and a few others and decided I would give photos in natural night a shot. I have got to say that, aside from the flies, it was quite an enjoyable experience!

got2b Kinkier Curling mousse and L'Oreal Hydrafresh Toner

I had a coupon for $2.00 OFF any got2b hair styling product and chose this curling mousse because I am always on the hunt for a good curling product that is going to give me that beachy-wave look. My hair has a slight wave to it naturally but it needs a little something to help hold the wave. I have used this once and I love it! My hair went a little flat in some places but after curling a few random pieces the overall look was very pretty. I'm quite pleased with it!

The toner is a whole different story. I was looking for a replacement for the toner that came with my Mario Badescu samples. Turns out there are zero options at Walmart when it comes to hydrating toners. I want to purchase the full size Mario Badescu Seaweed Cleansing Lotion so very badly. Maybe I just need to look harder for a non-alcohol toner from the drugstore. I have gotten off topic, this L'oreal toner is okay but I think it is slightly irritating to my skin. I am going to use it until I find a replacement but I'm not thrilled with this product.

Cotton Rounds and Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth deodorant in Wild Rose

I don't like cotton balls and only buy the rounds now. I use them for makeup and nail polish removal.

I'm very excited to start using this deodorant because the Secret deo I have just about finished up is awful. It irritates my skin so bad and makes my armpits itch constantly. Now let me tell you something, itching your armpit in public is never a good thing and is always so hard to disguise. I chose this Dove deodorant in hopes it would help soothe my under arms.

ONYX Professional 100% Pure Acetone

Hands down best nail polish remover ever! I don't know why it took me so long to try pure acetone. It takes off my nail polish almost instantly. You stick your finger in the bristles, soak it for a second, twist and move your finger a little and when you pull your finger out the nail is completely clean. The only thing you need to be careful of is that you have lotion near by to moisturize each finger after you are done with it because this stuff is SUPER drying. Once I've moisturized, my fingers are fine and the dryness doesn't come back.

Neutrogena Makeup Remover Hydrating Cleansing Towelettes

I finally gave up on those awful Equate brand exfoliating makeup remover wipes. I went with something that said hydrating since the Equate wipes were doing the exact opposite. These ones are bit more frangrancy than I would like, I wish they had no smell. But it is a very fresh scent which is tolerable. The wipes are huge and I think I could cut them in half and still feel like I was using a full size wipe.

Rimmel Lasting Finish PRO in Sunset Orange and Black Satin

This is my favorite brand of nail polish. I love the wide, flat brush and how glossy and smooth the polish applies. I couldn't resist this bright coral shade. Now I can finally throw away my 3 year old WnW Wild Shine coral nail polish that is so old and clumpy, I would put glitter polish over top just so I could still wear the color but blame the bumps on the glitter. The black is self explanatory, I love a super glossy black manicure. I think it always looks classy.

Covergirl Naturluxe gloss balm in Tulip and Clay

I was at Rite Aid a week or two ago when these were BOGO 1/2 Off, plus I had a coupon for $2.00 off (2) Natureluxe products. Needless to say, I got these for a good deal. They are ridiculously sheer, so I am going to just call them lipstick shaped chapstick. I haven't used them enough to know if they actually provide any long term moisture or if they are just glossy on the lips but so far I really like them.

I hope you enjoyed my little random haul.

I think my two favorite products are the acetone and the curling mousse.

xoxo

TAG: Skincare Routine

1. How many time do you wash your face daily?
 I would say 1 1/2 times. I'm really good about washing it at night but in the mornings I usually skip a few steps because I'm running late (or just being lazy!)

2. What skin type do you have?
 Combination

3. What is your current facial wash?
 Mario Badescu Cucumber Cream Soap (sample size)

4. Do you exfoliate?
 I'm a recovering exfoliaholic. I used to exfoliate way too often and way to vigorously. I'm using a much gentler exfoliant now and I only do it twice a week.

5. What brand do you use?
 Mario Badescu Kiwi Face Scrub

6. Is it really important to moisturize?
 Absolutely, I'm a big believer in moisturizing,

7. How often do you moisturize your face?
 I moisturize my skin every morning and night.

8. What moisturizer do you use?
 I use the Garnier Nutriste Moisture Renew Gel-Cream around the outside of my face (forehead, temples, jaw line) and the Mario Badescu Control Cream on my nose, cheeks and chin.

9. Do you use sunscreen?
 I do not. I have never been very good at using sunscreen. I try to remember every once in a while and I will half-heartedly put on one application but I struggle at keeping up with it and re-applying as needed.

10. What is your favorite skincare line?
 Before I started using the Mario Badescu samples I didn't have an entire skin care routine and I just used basic items so right now it's my Mario Badescu samples and I'm obsessed with them. I hope to branch out and find good drugstore dupes though.

11. Do you have regular facial treatments?
 I have never had a facial treatment period, so no.

12. Do you have freckles?
 I have a few random ones but not full on facial freckles.

13. Do you use eye cream?
 I do. I have a sample of the Mario Badescu Hyaluronic eye cream which I use every morning and night. I really like the product but I don't see what it's purpose is. Once the sample runs out I don't see myself purchasing another eye cream... we will see.

14. Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
 I do currently have acne prone skin and I always have. To be honest nothing I'm using is actually geared towards treating acne prone skin so I should really get on that.

15. Did you ever have to use Pro-Activ?
 This is a silly question. No one HAS to use Pro-Activ. I wouldn't mind trying it sometime and see if it works for my skin but I don't now nor have I ever.

16. Which celebrity do you think has good skin even without makeup?
 Most of them. Jessica Alba, Vanessa Hudgens, Lauren Conrad, Jennifer Aniston, Rachel Bilson.

17. One step of the skincare routine that is a MUST for you?
 Tie between moisturizer and exfoliating.

18. Why do you think we should take care of our skin?
 You're skin is always going to be there and the decisions you make now will show on your skin forever. If you take care of it now, it will look nicer when your older.


xoxo

How's it going: Mario Badescu skincare samples

Hey Ladies,

I thought I would give you an update on how it's going using my Mario Badescu skin care samples (My original post is here.) I am surprised the samples have lasted this long considering I have been using them morning and night. I think I have 1 maybe 2 uses left from the Seaweed Cleansing Lotion and 2-3 uses left of the Cucumber Cream Soap. Seeing as those are the foundation of the routine, I'm looking for drugstore replacements for them so I can continue using the other great samples.

I really like how gentle and moisturizing these two products are. I think they have made the biggest difference in moisturizing my skin and ridding me of the awful peeling dry flaky skin I was suffering from for the month or two prior to using these.

Next up are the Hyaluronic Eye Cream and the Control Cream. I still have practically the entire jar left of both of these. The eye cream needs only a tiny dab to cover the whole eye area, so I think I'm set for a few more weeks. I don't see myself looking for and buying a drugstore eye cream once this is gone as I kind of think it's unnecessary. On the Mario Badescu website it says the Control Cream can be used in place of a moisturizer. Because all the products are so moisturizing I haven't needed an extra moisturizer all over my face so I focus this product on my nose, chin, and the apples of my cheeks. I get the driest and reddest there so the Control Cream works well at moisturizing and reducing redness. Multiple times after washing my face and applying the Control Cream I will see myself in a mirror a few minutes later and will notice how much healthier my skin is looking. I really love it!

I have got the least amount of use out of the Kiwi Scrub and the Azulene Calming Mask. Mostly because they aren't everyday products. In 10 days I have used the Kiwi Scrub 3 times and the Calming mask twice. I still have plenty of both products left and imagine I will get a few more weeks use out of them. As I said in my original post I don't know how much scrubbing the Kiwi Scrub actual does because there are so few seeds in there. However, I used to lose my mind if I didn't exfoliate every other day because my skin was looking so bad and I felt like there was so much dead skin build up. Now, the Kiwi Scrub every few days is sufficient and my skin stays smooth. I think I will look for a very gentle exfoliator from the drugstore to replace this product. I still don't have much of an opinion about the Azulene Calming Mask other than it feels nice on the skin, it's easy to apply and super easy to take off. My skin does look nice after I rinse it off but I wouldn't say it's anything life changing. I would like to look for a gentle, non-hardening, calming mask from the drugstore but I'd be okay if I couldn't find one.

Finally, the Drying Cream. I made the mistake of putting this on my skin one morning and I could smell it all day. That drove me nuts because it does have a hint of sulfur smell to it. I only put it on at night now. Like the other creams and such, I still have almost all of the jar left. I was about to type that I didn't think this product was doing a whole lot for me until it occurred to me that although I have been having breakouts here and there, they haven't ever really become full on blemishes and I'm attributing that wonderfullness to this cream which is meant for new blemishes still under the skin. I don't know what similar products there are like this at the drugstore that doesn't dry out of skin while drying out the blemishes but since it's a spot treatment product, it will last forever and I might purchase the real thing.

Overall, I'm really happy with these products. My skin has been really hydrated which makes my makeup apply so much better. I still get little breakouts and have clogged pores, but these products really aren't designed for acne prone skin so it's understandable. I would like to find a gentle acne cleanser to add to my routine but right now I'm okay with focusing on hydrating and reducing redness.

Mario Badescu seems like a really great skincare brand and I really recommend you go to their website and sign up to receive samples. They have such a huge selection of products for every stage, age, and skin type.

xoxo

Freebies: Mario Badescu skincare samples

Back in January I read this post from In Her Makeup Bag about samples of skin care products from Mario Badescu. She said all she had to do was go to their website, take a skin type quiz, fill out a profile, and then she got an email a few days later about trying samples of her recommended products. I had heard of this brand before and knew they were pretty pricey so I thought I would go sign up to get my samples. I got the email and followed the instructions to get my samples but when I clicked the submit button I got a weird error screen. When I went back to try again it said I had already requested samples. I waited a few weeks and samples never arrived. I thought I would try again with a different mailing address and email address because I really wanted to try this brand. I went through all the steps again and got the same error message. I was pretty bummed (and out of alternate addresses) and all but given up on ever trying this brand. I had told my oldest sister about the samples so she signed up and actually got hers. She was nice enough to give me her samples so I could try them out and show them on my blog. I decided this past weekend would be the weekend I start using the whole regimen.

Let's take a look...

Included are 7 samples, a product guide/catalogue, and an application guide which is personalized to the samples you have received.

Now my sister and I have similar skin types but obviously it isn't exactly the same. I don't know what it's going to do to my skin to be using these products but with the issues I've been having I can't see it getting any worse so I jumped right in and I'm going to use them every day and night as directed.

Here's what I'm using...

Cucumber Cream Soap

"Contains a hint of refreshing and cooling Cucumber Extract. Safe and effective for gentle cleansing on any skin type. Removes light make-up."

This is the first product I use morning and night. I use a half-a-grape sized amount which might just be because I have such a small amount but it seems to do the job. The cleanser doesn't lather which I wasn't expecting and is hard to get used to, but again it's doing the job. It smells pleasant, not chemically or fragrancy.

Seaweed Cleansing Lotion

"Cleans and disinfects dry and sensitive skin. Mild Witch Hazel formula removes pore clogging debris and anti-inflammatory Seaweed and Aloe Extract soothe sensitive areas."

After I wash my face I take a cotton pad and rub this across my face in an upward and outward motion. It's basically the toner of the regimen. It also doesn't have much of a smell, not too strong with fragrance or chemical.

Kiwi Face Scrub

"Made with real Kiwi seeds and soft bits of Seaweed to naturally slough away surface dullness to uncover softer, smoother skin. Kiwi Seeds gently buff away dead skin cells skin while natural AHA’s breakdown dull build-up to prevent blackheads and improve overall texture."

They suggest using this product 2-3 times a week in the evening and I have already used it once. It is definitely the most gentle scrub I have ever used. I think I only got like 4 seeds in the amount I was using so I don't know how much scrubbing it was actually doing. I think it's the coolest of the products, I mean how many people can say they use kiwi to exfoliate their skin?! It also smells the nicest, very lightly sweet smelling.

Azulene Calming Mask

"Soothing Azulene, a Chamomile Extract, along with Balsam Peru, a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient, come together in this non-hardening mask that comforts irritated, red, and very sensitive skin types. Also made with Kaolin (clay) and Wheat Starch to absorb impurities in the pores. "

This is also suggested to be used 2-3 times a week and I have used it once. I was surprised that such a small amount covered my face. I'm not sure what difference this one use has made to my skin but I do look forward to using it again.

Hyaluronic Eye Cream

"Lock in the skin’s own natural moisture without the use of heavy, greasy oils. Absorbent, medium weight cream for use day or night. Aloe based formula makes this cream suitable for all skin types, even sensitive."

I have never used an eye cream before nor do I completely understand why they are necessary. I can say that this one is ridiculously moisturizing and feels great on my skin.

Control Cream

"An effective treatment for red, rashy, flaky and irritated skin types and Rosacea sufferers. Balsam Peru is the active, soothing botanical ingredient that will make a visible difference immediately upon application. Non-greasy, low oil formula. May be used for troubled areas of the face or in place of a moisturizer."

I used this after I used the Azulene Calming Mask and focused it on the areas of my face that have been the driest and reddest: my nose, the area between my nose and apple of my cheek, and over a few blemishes. I didn't pay very close attention so I don't know if it made a visible difference upon application, but you better believe I will be paying attention next time!

Drying Cream

"Drying Cream is an effective treatment to dry up small under the surface bumps and pimples. Just a few dabs smoothed on the erupted areas prevent pimples from getting larger and spreading out of control. Aloe rich cream conceals and heals erupted pimples."

I have used this a little here and there but haven't had chance to see how well it works (which is a good thing, it means I don't have any new breakouts at the moment). It has the most unpleasant smell of all the products, which isn't uncommon for acne spot treatments. It smells a little sulfur/chemically but it isn't overpowering nor does it linger on the skin.

The biggest different I have seen in my skin so far after 4 uses is that my skin is super moisturized. All the awful dry, flaky, scaley skin I have been dealing with on my nose and cheeks is completely gone. The samples didn't come with a moisturizer and I haven't been using my regular moisturizer but I haven't needed to, my skin is so soft and hydrated. I have also seen a slight improvement in the red blotchiness my skin is usually sporting. I have never been one to keep up with skin care routines that require multiple steps but I'm actually having a lot of fun with this one. I will you keep you updated on the results I am seeing with my skin.

xoxo

The things that happen while I wait for my prescription to be filled...

I must occupy my time with hair, body, and beauty products of course. To be honest I only picked up a few things, so I thought I would do a quick post to show you!

St. Ives Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub Blemish and Blackhead Control, $2.97

This is my second bottle of this scrub since St. Ives re-did the packaging of and expanded the line of their apricot scrubs. I keep it in the shower and use it 2-3 time a week. I start out scrubbing my face and use the excess in my hands and off my face to scrub my neck, shoulders, and chest. I consider exfoliation to be a really important step in my own skincare routine and St. Ives makes great affordable and effective scrubs.

Nivea body Happy Sensations daily lotion in Bamboo Extract & Orange Blossom scent w/ free travel-size Touch of Happiness moisturizing body wash

(Please notice the orange fluff in the background who was just so interested in everything going on, meet Tigger)

Originally $6.40, minus $3.00 coupon = Final price $3.40 (Plus an additional trial size body wash!!)

I have never tried this lotion before and to be honest I haven't heard anything about it either but I got a great coupon and I have always been impressed with my Nivea purchases so I'm hoping this will be about the same! :) What I can tell you is about the scent. Normally I don't chose anything orange scented but from some reason this stuff doesn't bother me. When I first put it on it gives off two smells. From a distant (only about a foot or so) it smells sweet and citrus-y. When I bring my hands right to my nose it is pure sitting in the grass during half time at my 8 year old self''s soccer game eating orange slices. That is the smell I love. After a while it smells more like an orange-vanilla combo. Boy, that was complicated. At least it was complicated in a good-smelling way.

N.Y.C. Long Wearing nail polish in (Left to Right) Starry Silver and Skin Tight Denim

Retail Value: $0.98 each
Minus BOGO FREE coupon: $0.49 each

Okay how cool are these colors?! The navy blue is gorgeous and I'm so excited to use the stars and glitter. I think this will make a great pedicure combo!


Curious by Britney Spears with an additional rollerball version of the perfume, $20.00
This was my first perfume I ever had when I was 15 and it was just a little 0.10 oz. bottle so when I saw the full 1.0 oz. bottle with a free rollerball for such a good price I knew I had to get it! I love this fragrance but I can't for the life of me describe it... so I'm getting it straight from http://www.britneyspearsbeauty.com/

"An exhilarating white floral wrapped in the sensuality of vanilla-infused musk. Scent "ingredients" include: Louisiana magnolia, golden anjou pear, lotus flower, star jasmine, pink cyclamen, rich creamy sandalwood, radiant blonde woods. "

To me, most of that means nothing. The best I can say is if this musky floral fragrance was a nail polish it would be a rich burgundy pink and not the bubblegum pink you expect from most floral. Actually I'm quite proud of that comparison... then again I can actually smell the perfume.

Well that's everything I got on my trip to Walmart, I really shouldn't be left alone when there are beauty products to be purchased.

Oh yeah, and one last thing...

Because Thing 1 got to make an appearance and they are both too curious for their own good, I give you Thing 2, my fat kitten Ford, also trying to help me take pictures for the blog.

xoxo