Frugal Friday: Simple Skin Care Facial Wipes Review

Here are your Frugal Friday deals for this week:

Old Navy: Saturday ONLY, girls' and women's basic cardis (reg. $15-$19.94) will be on sale for $8. Offer only valid in stores.

StyleMint: Today ONLY, get a free gift with every StyleMint purchase. At least one JewelMint piece will be included with your order. Other gifts could include StyleMint tees or a StyleMint totebag.

Sephora: VIBs and Beauty Insiders get 15% off through April 6th. Check your email for coupon and code.

You know how I tried the Olay Total Effects facial wipes, then quickly repented and vowed never to abandon my beloved Neutrogena wipes again? Well, that was before their price, at least at my grocery store, skyrocketed. Oops. (Actually, all the prices at my grocery store have inflated. A change may be in order, methinks.)

Photo Credit: simple.co.uk

So...seeing as I could no longer afford the freaking face wipes, I needed to find a less expensive alternative. Enter Simple Kind To Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes. I was out. I was desperate. These were cheap and claimed to remove even waterproof mascara. Why the heck not?

Why the heck not, indeed! They work! I've used these for about two weeks, now, and my skin is clear and actually looks younger and healthier. The first time I tried the wipe, I was blown away at how quickly it removed my eye makeup, and I've only become more impressed as time wears on. This even removed my Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencils, which aren't supposed to budge for any reason. The aqua blue was a little stubborn, but generally speaking, makeup whisks off. Even better, my skin doesn't feel greasy or look super-shiny, like it did with the Neutrogena wipes, and the fragrance is so light, I don't even notice it. At just $5.99 for 25 wipes, this is a bargain, and one I'll be sticking with for a while. 10 out of 10.

***Drugstore.com has an instant online coupon to save $2 on Simple Skin Care. Get your wipes for only $3.99! (not an ad, just a fact)***

The Ballad of the Third-Life Crisis: Olay Total Effects 7 Cleansing Cloth Review

Photo Credit: Drugstore.com

You know how I said, last week, that I was switching to Olay Total Effects 7 Cleansing Cloths? Yeah...well, forget about that. I'm going back to my beloved Neutrogena, and apologizing for ever doubting it.

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up: They kinda suck.

My skin, here lately, has been looking a little rough. I have moisturized. I have exfoliated. I have used retinol and vitamin C, and pretty much any other sh--um, crud you could think of. In retrospect, it's probably just this diet I've been on, and the fact that I have lost some weight in my face (yay!), coupled with gas heat and Winter dryness. However, at the time I noticed my skin's dullness, I was in the throws of, well, what you might call a "third-life crisis". I'll be 32 in a few months, my baby brother starts high school in the Fall, and what have I done with my life? (Actually, way more than I've had any right to, and I'm grateful for all of it. Unfortunately, in the midst of a third-life crisis, temporary amnesia sets in. Who knew?) Why, I'm gonna be forty! Someday! Yes, I was being completely stupid, but at the time, all I could think was, "I'm so old! I must have anti-aging products...STAT!"

So, out with the Neutrogena wipes, in with the Olay.

The first night I used the Olay, I had barely any makeup on. I'd done an at-home facial, and wanted to let my skin breathe, so I used a light mineral foundation and not much else. When I looked down at the used wipe, there wasn't much in the way of removed makeup on it, but why would there be? I slathered on some moisturizer and eye cream and went to bed.

The next morning, my skin looked gorgeous. Everything was even and glowing, and I looked like I was wearing makeup! I just brushed on a little mineral foundation and hopped out the door. These wipes were the bomb!

That night, I noticed two sides to the Olay wipe. One side was smooth, for removing makeup, and the other was textured for a deeper clean and mild exfoliation. Could these wipes get any better?! Again, there wasn't much on the used cloth, but I'd only worn a little makeup. There wasn't much to remove to begin with, and my skin looked utterly amazing...

...until the next morning, when I noticed some teeny tiny breakouts. Well, they were probably from the facial. That's to be expected when you draw out the bad stuff, right? I had to sing a couple of weddings that day, so I used a heavier foundation for extra camouflage. The thing was, that night, when I used the Olay wipe, I noticed that there still wasn't much on the wipe--not even on the textured side. Oh, Dear God...

That's when I realized that my skin hadn't been glowing from the anti-aging benefits of the cleansing cloths. Nope. I looked like I was wearing makeup because I was wearing makeup! By this time, the eensy-weensy breakouts were looking more and more like full-on blackheads and cystic acne. Not to gross you out, but my cheek had a blackhead so large and dark that it looked like I'd drawn it on with a felt-tip pen. I quickly grabbed a Neutrogena wipe and ran it over my face. To my horror, it became completely coated in makeup. Holy Hand Grenade, Batman!

The good news is that I figured out the problem quickly, and through thorough cleansing, exfoliation, and some awesome salicylic acid, my skin has almost completely recovered. Luckily, I only used the cloths at night, and scrubbed my face with a "real" face wash and brush during my morning showers. Otherwise, who knows how much damage would have been done.

Final Verdict: 0 out of 10. Don't even use these to clean your countertops.

I Wanna Soak Up the Sun...Responsibly

Photo Credit: Sephora

I've been on an accessory kick, lately. I've started hunting around for hair flowers, headbands, necklaces, even *gasp* earrings! (Believe it or not, I'm not a big jewelry wearer. Who knew?) But the best and most important accessory you can have for Spring and Summer is cheap, easy to find, and goes with everything: Sunscreen.

I grew up watching my Grandfather deal with skin cancer. The treatments were painful and expensive, and there was nothing pretty about the lesions, bandages or scars. That experience beat all the preaching or after-school specials you could throw at a kid.You will not catch me in a tanning bed, and I don't go to the beach without copious amounts of SPF. Yeah, I still get burned--I'm so fair-skinned I reflect--but not nearly as often or as badly as I would without all that lovely zinc.

Now, I have my favorites: Walgreen's brand oil-free for my face, the sparkly Hawaiian Tropic or Neutrogena Cooling Spray for body, Jergen's Natural Glow for a gradual sunless tan, or L'Oreal Sublime Bronze for a fake bake in a hurry. But that's just me. I've been at this for a while. Newbie bathing beauties might need a little help, and that's where this comes in.

The awesome folks at Sephora have come out with 2011's Sun Safety Kit. No, they don't hand you an umbrella and some goop for your nose. For a scant $25, you receive eleven (11!) trial sized sun care products ranging from Bare Minerals veil and Smashbox primer on to Philosophy and Murad sunscreens. Something in there is sure to tickle your fancy. There's also a bonus deluxe sample of Tan Towel Plus. It all comes in a cute box with an adorable hot pink beach bag. Best of all, 100% of the profits (every last darn penny) will go to benefit The Skin Cancer Foundation. This is also a terrific Mother's Day gift. Nothing says, "I love you, Mom," quite like saving her life.

Nobody Knows How Dry I Am!

In an effort to avoid the V-word today (I know many of you are sick to death of the little diapered archer and all his surrounding hoopla), I thought I'd go with a nice, safe, totally unromantic product review.

My beloved (oops, sorry!) Sephora makeup remover wipes went the way of the dinosaur, recently. There is  a supposed upgrade available, but before shelling out nine bucks, plus shipping, I thought I'd give a drugstore brand a try, and see if I could save a few dollars. Hey, every little bit helps.

First up, Neutrogena Hydrating Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes. $6.99, Drugstore.com. 

The first thing I noticed about these wipes was the pull-tab opening. I hate pull-tab openings. In this case, you pull a sticker back to expose the wipes. In time, these stickers tend to lose their "stick", and leave you with an open package and a bunch of dried or drying wipes. The second thing I noticed was the smell. The wipes have a very strong, very distinct cucumber fragrance. It's not unpleasant, but it is persistent. Hours after using a wipe, applying moisturizer, and piling on my makeup (it was early, I had dark circles. Do not judge me), I could still smell the cucumber. Honestly, I'm getting a little sick of it.

As for the wipe itself...I love it. It takes off every trace of makeup, including mascara and eyeliner (though a little "loosening up" with eye makeup remover is necessary if I've used Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion. That stuff is tough!), and leaves your skin feeling cool and noticeably hydrated. My skin is actually shiny, but not greasy, right after I use the wipe. The shine does evaporate momentarily, though. 

Final Verdict: I'm giving these an 8 out of 10. They're awesome wipes, but the smell is killing me.

Speaking of hydration, I'm sure some of you have skin that screaming for a little moisture, right now. The weather, combined with our awful gas heat, left poor Thomas' hands looking like he'd gone ten rounds with Rocky Balboa, sans gloves. We tried every lotion, cream, and balm imaginable, at every possible price point (thank you, samples), and the only thing that has even come close to fixing the problem has been a homemade spa treatment. Here it is, and I hope it works for you, too.

1. Apply a thick, rich lotion to your hands or feet. I like First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream. $28, Sephora.

2. Wrap hands or feet with plastic wrap. 

3. Place socks over the plastic wrap.

4. Feel silly.

5. Wait 15-30 minutes to allow the heat from the wrap and socks to help the lotion sink into your skin.

6. Remove socks and wrap, and apply another light coat of lotion.

7. Feel better.

Happy Whatever Day to all you lovelies!

It's Like a Heatwave, Burning In My...Oh, Everything...

So, it's a million and twelve degrees down here in the Deep South, with about 5000% humidity. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating...slightly. All I know is that it's hot. I mean, ice-water-chugging, egg-frying-on-the-sidewalk, Fall-can't-get-here-fast-enough miserable. My apartment can't seem to get any cooler than 80 degrees, and that's with the AC cranked up, ceiling fans, and one of those Hawaiian Breeze ocillating fans. The birds love it. Of course, they're tropical and I am not.

I know it's not just here, too. The whole country seems to be in a continuous heatwave this Summer, and for that, I'm sorry. I went through three or four cans of hairspray on The Night Shift, so I take full blame for any extra holes in the ozone. Please accept my sincerest apologies.

As atonement, I have compiled a survival guide to help you cope with these Dog Days of Summer. To keep things simple (and inexpensive), all products can be found at Target.

Personally, I'd like to forget about clothing altogether, at this point, but I think the people I work with would appreciate if I stayed as covered up as humanly possible. This little white dress is a fair alternative to going full-out Lady Godiva.

I like that it's 100% cotton, so it breathes, and the design is airy, but covered up and dressy enough that you could wear it to work in a casual office setting. A word of caution, though: reviewers have mentioned that it is a bit on the sheer side (so be careful of your undergarments, ladies), and that you might want to skip putting it in the dryer. They've also mentioned quality construction, comparable to Forever 21. Mossimo, $15.38, Target.com.

There have been days when it was too hot to even wear flip-flops, but shoes are pretty much a necessity in civilized society. Might I suggest a pair like these? First off, they're dressy/casual, so they're versatile. Secondly, the cork is absorbant, which...well, let's face it: feet sweat. I'd rather not slosh around in my shoes, thank you very much. Cork is also very soft and tends to mold to your foot for comfort. Mossimo, $12.99, Target.com.

I'm actually carrying this purse right now. I've had it for about three months, and love it. It's roomy enough to carry what you need, but small enough that you can't fill it with the entire contents of Mary Poppins Carpet Bag. The cotton construction allows the purse (and what's inside it) to breathe, keeping your stuff from getting too hot. It's also washable, durable, and cute as pie. Available in several colors and patterns. Merona, $7.00 (really!!), Target.com.

Please remember sunscreen!! Around here, burn times run about ten minutes. Really, I don't care what brand you use--if it's sports, kids, spray, lotion, or purple--just use something! Sunburns suck, but skin cancer is so much worse. Neutrogena, $9.94, Target.com.

I don't know about you, but lotion melts off my legs, these days. I still need something to keep them moisturized (sweat doesn't count), and this light body mist is just the thing. Put out by Soap & Glory, Girligo is a non-greasy spray moisturizer that leaves your skin silky smooth and freshly scented. I'm also in love with the retro packaging. Soap & Glory, $11.99, Target.com.

Last, but not least, let's put on a little color without worrying about it melting in the car. CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain is, well, just what it says it is. It's a long-wearing lipstain. What's cool about it is that it comes in a marker form--sort of like a Sharpie for your face. Also, unlike many lipstains, it's moisturizing, so you don't end up with flaky lips, or need to carry around a separate lip balm or gloss to put over it. CoverGirl, $7.89, Target.com.

There. We can all "glow" instead of "puddle". Now, maybe Al Gore will get off my back. Again, sorry.

*Photos by Target