Does It Really Work?

Skin care is one of the most frustrating parts of being a girl. Men want you to have clear skin. Women judge you if you don't have clear skin. And any aunt within 100 yards will ask you, "What happened there (insert poking)? Is that a pimple?" Yes. It is a pimple.

Sea Breeze used to have a cleanser that cleared up my problem skin in junior high IMMEDIATELY, but they took it off the market. It was a sad, sad day for me. I even tried ProActiv, but it didn't work for me. The sulfur mask actually did the trick, but I just could not get over the smell... on my face... on my pillow... right under my nose all day long.

I have very sensitive skin that reacts to anything, even the SUN. Yes, I am allergic to the sun (walking back and forth from my car to work leaves me in hives). Most products leave my skin dry and flaky, which is almost as embarrassing as acne. It doesn't sound bad, but when you have sheets of skin hanging of the edges of you chin, nose, and forehead, come talk to me.

Over the past few years, I decided it was time to really invest in skincare. In any case, I don't think a moisturizer needs to be more than $30, but when you find a product that works, STICK TO IT. I use this...

It used to be called "Moisturizing Acne Gel," and it really does moisturize. It doesn't leave my skin dry, but it's very effective. I notice clear changes within 2 days, mostly less. This size costs $44, and typically lasts me at least 6 months. I think that's a deal, no? Once I started to see how effective it was, I was willing to spend this much. Good luck!

Dresses to Impress

Lately, I've been very into dresses. I've always hated my short, stumpy legs (I carry my weight in my behind and thighs), but I realize that a dress with the right fit and shape is actually very flattering (hence the compliments from the bf). Dresses are one thing that can be specific to season, but oftentimes the occasions that call for them are so often indoors, that you can wear them anytime (except for sundresses, of course).

A good friend of mine got married on Sunday (Congrats again, Jen!), and I wanted a decent-quality, eye-popping, but cost-effective dress. Enter http://www.lulus.com/...

I'm a bit skeptical of buying clothes online because of the way most clothes don't fit my body well, but I figured I'd give it a shot. This dress is adorable and the color is awesome. Fair skin = good with pink! Lulus.com is actually pretty affordable, I gotta say the clothes are pretty unique. This dress was just $47 plus shipping.

And remember to ALWAYS ALWAYS search the website on Google for coupons and free shipping deals. I got 20% off ! My order total was $44.60.

Vintage Meets Crayola Plus 4" Heel

A few years ago, I ran across a pair of super-hot croc heels in purple at DSW. I wasn't sure I wanted to spend the $50 or however much they were, so I decided I would come back. I did, and they were gone. Since then, I decided I would buy shoes that I am "struck" by to that degree if they were reasonably priced... lest I miss out!

Last week, I went back to DSW (my choice retailer for shoes, socks, some purses) for shoes to go with a dress I found online (to be posted soon) for a friend's wedding. The dress is a bright pink, so I was considering gray shoes. Instead... I found these...


I fell in love with them immediately. These days, my wardrobe tends to be pretty muted, so these are really great accessories to any "drab" outfit that lacks color. They were surprisingly comfortable, too! Didn't know that about Seychelles. They're originally $100, on sale for $69.95, an additional 30% off b/c they had been returned from another store and were the only pair, and I had a $10 off coupon (benefits of being a DSW cardholder!). Let's do the math, friends. This means I got a $100 pair of shoes for less than $55. Cha-freaking-ching. They're a bit tall, but I've already been complimented several times. Very Sarah-Jessica-Parker...love them! Vintage meets Crayola.

Inspired to Share

I've recently been looking for ways to make some money (in addition to my full-time AND part-time jobs... weddings aren't cheap!). I won't make any money here, but it got me thinking about writing opportunities outside my regular jobs, so I thought I'd blog about the deals I find. More than anything, you can find deals if you keep your eyes open and take initiative. I'm not the best at saving money, but you can certainly adjust your eyes to find deals on fun products for much cheaper than the retail price. Keep visiting to get inspired by my finds!