Skin Care! Skin Care! Skin Care! (Night Version)

Hey y'all!

I have finally done it! I've figure out the *perfect* skin care routine for my skin. I felt the need to write it down (so I remember when I inevitably go try other things) and share it with others who have some of the same concerns I do!

I'm going to talk about my nighttime skin care routine only in this post. I'll follow it up with what I do in the morning in another post.

Also, I'm going to link all of the products I use and include their prices. 

Disclaimer: I am not being paid to discuss my opinions. This is not a sponsored post. I bought all of these products myself, unless mentioned otherwise. Also, I am not a dermatologist. I'm just a teacher and a mother!

My skin:

I am very, VERY fair. I have freckles and lots of them. I do have redness in my cheeks. Beyond that, I have VERY DRY skin. I love products that hydrate and illuminate dull skin. I can't use anything that strips away moisture. My skin is also sensitive. It will react to products that are harsh. I get texture, very small white bumps. I don't get full blown pimples, but the added texture is enough to drive me nuts. That, or it will dry out more and look/feel like alligator skin. No thanks!

On to the routine:

After a normal day, the first thing I need to do is take off my makeup. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT EVER SLEEP IN YOUR MAKEUP. It is so bad for your skin (plus it gets all over everything). I use one of two things to take off my makeup:

1. e.l.f. Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths ($3.00)

These wipes are SO CHEAP! You get 20 wipes for $3.00. They have Aloe Vera Leaf Extract in them which soothes my skin. Also, one wipe is more than enough to take off all of your makeup.

2. Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water ($7.64 at Ulta, $6.96 at Walmart)

This is actually my favorite product to use to take off my eye makeup. You get 13.5 oz in each bottle and the bottles usually last me around 1.5 months. I only use 2-3 cotton rounds each time. I use one round soaked with this product for each eye. Then, I use a final round for my face. My eye makeup comes off with no problem using this. I don't have to scrub or pull at my skin. It's wonderful stuff. Plus, if you don't want to, you don't have to rinse this off. It doesn't dry out your skin. It just feels good!

After I take off my makeup, I follow with a gentle cleanser.

3. fresh. Soy Face Cleanser (1.7 oz for $15 or 5.1 for $38 at Sephora)

This cleanser is good for all skin types, but it make my skin feel so nourished when I'm done. I wet my skin and put a very small amount on my fingertips. Then, I rub this all over my face and massage it in (even over my eyes!). Finally, I rinse it off with some water (straight from the faucet to my face) and pat my face dry with a towel. Very simple, and it make my skin feel hydrated and very clean without feeling tight. This cleanser contains rosewater and cucumber extract, among other wonderful ingredients, that calm and sooth my skin. I highly recommend this!

After I cleanse my face and my skin is dry, I go in with a serum. 

4. Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment ($48 at Sephora)

This is an expensive product. However, I invest in my skin! It's the only skin I get. Plus, this stuff is miraculous. 

Because I have dry skin and I'm in my late twenties, I wanted to make sure I was using something that promotes anti-aging and cell turnover. Because of this, I wanted my night serum to have an AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) to exfoliate the top layers of my skin. I do not have large pores and I do not have acne. I don't feel the need to use anything with BHA (beta-hydroxy acid) because of that. The most common type of AHA is glycolic acid. 

This serum from Ole Henriksen has an AHA complex including glycolic AND lactic acid. It also include algae extract to nourish the skin and mucopolysaccharides to hydrate the skin.

It's everything I've ever wanted in a serum - gentle exfoliation, nourishment, and hydration! You put a pump (which is about a pea sized amount) of this on your skin - covers your face and neck - and your skin feels amazing the next morning.

Last step is moisturizer:

5. Sephora Instant Moisturizer + Cream ($23 at Sephora)

This moisturizer is so simple. It's just that, a moisturizer. It contains hyaluronic acid, which binds moisture to your skin cells. There's also a complex in it that boosts the amount of hyaluronic acid your skin produces, promoting healthy, hydrated skin! This is all this product does - moisturizes. It's all I need it to do! (Sidenote: I HATE that this is in a jar. Come on, Sephora. Get it together. You know that skin care products should not ever, ever, EVER come in a jar!)

Now, once or twice a week, I also use a lip mask. When I do, it's always the Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask (the clear one). This is $26 at Sephora. You don't want to over use it because you want your lips to produce moisture on their own. This is nice, however, when you feel like your lips are starting chap or have been exposed too much to the elements - wind/sun... I like the way it makes my lips feel in the morning. I put it on right before I go to sleep and it stays on my mouth all night.

I love face masks as well, but that's information for another post!

Let me know if there is something that you love using for your skin or if you're interested in trying any of these products. If you've tried these products, let me know that too! I'd love to hear from y'all!

--A <3

New products!!! (Monday Made It....on Friday) ;)

I've added two new products to my TpT store!

#1) Common Core Vocabulary Cards. (CCSS Vocabulary - Reading Literature)

These are just cards that you can use on your Word Wall. They have a blue striped background with a black and white frame. The word is in the middle of the card. There are 47 vocabulary words and 3 blank labels with the set.

#2) "I can..." Statement Cards (RI/RL.7.1 only). (I Can Statement Cards - RI.7.1 and RL.7.1)

I've done the statements for the first standard. I will be adding more as I finish them up. They are gorgeous and very useful!

Just thought I'd update you guys on what's going on in my store. Go check it out and see if you can find something you like!

August 20th is a 20% off sale for all of TpT. My store is participating. Here is the link to my personal store. 26 great products to choose from!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Gardner-Makes-It

<3
Andi

TpT 20% off Sale!

Hi guys! I'm having a 20% off sale at my TpT sale! It's going to be this weekend - August 12-13, 2012! :)

This Saturday and Sunday, all of my items are on sale for 20% off normal price!

Check it out! I hope that you get something that you can use! :)

PLUS! If you use the code BTS2012 at checkout, you can get an additional discount thanks to the lovely folks at TpT!

Seriously, go check it out! :)

XOXO

Filetastic!!!

Oh, Mrs. Pollard. Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this on your blog.

Mrs. Pollard has such cute ideas for classroom organization. This was one of her ideas. The store she got them from is having a 20% off sale. I just ordered mine (and, BTW, I looked at WalMart and Amazon for these...and they are much cheaper from Mardel - $5 vs. $10).

Here is the link to Mrs. Pollard's blog telling you all about the filetastic (hanging file organizer) and she even has a cute little picture of hers! Tales of a Teacherista

Here is a link to Mardel's website. Search for Filetastic to find the product in a ton of different colors and designs: Mardel

Also, here's a coupon code that will save you a SMALL amount! It saved me like...$.50 :) The code is GSPN

I'm so excited about this. I plan to use mine for important information, detention slips/referrals (booooooo!), missed work, that weeks copies, etc. Woo Hoo!!!

Enjoy!

XOXO

First Day Couponing :)

Today was the first time that I ever went couponing alone. I have subscribed to the Charlotte Observer BUT I did not get my paper today. Guess my order still hasn't processed. Sigh. Instead, Kevin bought two papers for me from a box this morning before work.

I've become slightly obsessed with Southern Savers. This website makes it SO easy to get started with couponing. The woman who runs it, Jenny, even goes as far as to make lists of the best deals for the week along with the specific coupons you can use for that item. She puts the starting price AND the price after coupons. She has videos about each store (except for Food Lion...what's up with that?) and has made it really easy for me to get started. I've found other coupon sites to be slightly cluttered and difficult to understand. Southern Savers is the BEST website for couponing by far!'

To start, I went to Southern Savers and created my shopping lists. Because it is Sunday and a lot of the new sales started, I wanted to try out couponing at several stores to see how it works. I decided to start with Walgreens (because Kevin works there), CVS, and Food Lion (I NEEDED CHICKEN BREASTS!!!!!! Otherwise, we weren't going to eat dinner). Jenny's website allowed me to check off the items that I intended to buy, gather the necessary coupons, and head out the door. Very easy planning is necessary when you have a 13 month old!

Anyway, I started at Walgreens. The only reason that I really started there is because, somehow, Kevin had my card in his pocket this morning. I kinda needed that in order to go grocery shopping! Lol! :) Also, they had TP, Cascade, and milk on sale this week. Needed to pick that up. Didn't use any coupons here but I did get a 12 pack of Cottonelle Ultra Care (double rolls), 2 60 oz. bottles of Cascade, 1 gallon of milk, and 4 candy items for $14. The milk was on sale for $2.99 and the Cascade had been clearanced for $3.79 a bottle. :) Not bad for 0 coupons.

Then, I went to CVS. I really like the fact that CVS is like it's own magical happy place that only accepts one currency: ExtraCare Bucks. :) So, I went in and got two Starbucks Refreshers (2/$3) and some Stayfree pads ($2). I had a coupon for $2 off any Stayfree item (which is why I got those) and got $3 ECB back. That whole transaction was essentially FREE! Then, I got two pouches of Hershey's Simple Pleasures chocolates. They were on sale for $3 per pouch. I paid with my $3 ECB, used a $1 off coupon, and got $2 ECB back. I had to pay sales tax...but they were essentially free as well. Not too shabby for my first time!

Finally, I went to Food Lion. I had a few coupons that I was saving for that store in particular. Here's how I did in there:

2 bags of Ruffles, 1 bag of Classic Potato Chips, 4 packs of chicken breasts, 2 containers of SPAM, Oscar Meyer Deli Selects Honey Ham, Oscar Meyer Deli Selects Oven Roasted Turkey, 2 packages of Jimmy Dean Sausage, 2 packages of Dole Salad Blends (Classic Iceberg and Very Veggie), International Delight York Peppermint Pattie Creamer, 6 frozen pizzas, and 6 frozen pizzas.

Before discounts: $118.05
MVP discounts: $31.05
Coupon discounts: $39.30
Paid: $48.20 (~59% savings!!!!)

That's not too shabby considering that I'm not an experienced couponer and I've never done it before (by myself). I've only gone with someone once and I was so nervous about it! I'm glad that I got stuff that I actually needed and that I'll use. I didn't want to go get 12409 packages of floss or something that I would never use! It worked out wonderfully and I know that I'll be shopping this way for the rest of my life.

Thank you so much to Southern Savers for making this so easy for newbies! :)

XOXO
--Andi :)