The Best, Cheapest Facial Around

On a college student's budget (well, most budgets nowadays), maintaining yourself is THAT much more difficult. Between hair appointments, nails and eyebrow waxing, keeping up your image can be pricey. However, Clean & Clear Soft In-Shower Facial is making life just that much easier for all of us by bringing a professional facial feel to your shower.

"The In-Shower Facial treatment is applied to skin while steam produced by the hot water allows the ingredients to deep cleanse pores while infusing moisture into the skin. The SOFT In-Shower Facial is left on skin for one minute, then gently massaged into skin to exfoliate dead skin cells and extract impurities from pores. Skin is left feeling smooth and soft after just one minute. The SOFT In-Shower Facial features Glycolic Acid, an exfoliant that promotes gentle cell turnover, as well as clay, which draws the dirt and oil out..."

Source

I haven't used Clean & Clear products since I switched to Proactiv back in high school, but something about the attractive packaging and the promise of a great facial baited me in. Facials get pretty pricey. They can range from $60 to over $100 with extractions of blackheads. They also say that you should get them every month or two. Not practical.

I decided to give this product a try and I absolutely love it and recommend it. It might be slightly harsh for extremely sensitive skin, but if you only use it once a week or so, it shouldn't be too bad. It makes my skin feel deep cleaned and soft. This will definitely hold you over until you can afford the real thing.

No More Blackheads?: Clean & Clear Advantage Blackhead Eraser

Okay, so I went to Ulta the other day and I was meandering the aisles aimlessly as most beauty junkies like myself would. Then, this lady from the salon portion of the store came out of nowhere and starts trying to sell me her facial treatments. I was taken aback, but I decided to see what she was offering. It turns out they had this contraption which was basically a camera that gives extreme close-ups of your skin, so they can diagnose what is wrong and what products you might need. I was scared to see my skin zoomed times 1 million, but I figured, why not?

It wasn't that bad until the lady got the camera to my nose. She was like, "when was the last time you got a facial!" My blackheads were waving at her, I guess.

I got my first and only facial about a year ago. She sounded appalled when I told her. She said you are supposed to get them monthly. At that point, I knew that my solution would not be getting regular facials because they are $55 a pop. So... that brings me to the quest for a solution to blackheads!

I decided to try the Clean & Clear Advantage Blackhead Eraser ($18). If it does what it promises, I'm sure we will all be happier women.

At first the device was a bit confusing to me, so here's how it works.

The little machine itself is cute and compact enough for travel, but it's a bit on the large side if you are trying to get rid of blackheads on your nose and in other smaller areas of your face.
First, you have to put in the battery, which comes with the machine. Then, you twist the cap shut. The cap is also the on-off switch.
Put on one of the blackhead removing sponge pads at the velcro-like end of the machine. These pads come with it, but you have to buy re-fills.
Wet the end of the sponge, until it starts to get foamy.
Finally, turn on the Blackhead Eraser and run it on your face in slow, circular motions. Focus it on areas that you want to target. For me, that would be my nose.

I think that this product is okay, but it doesn't really get you instant results. My face was smooth after I used this, but I could still see my blackheads clear as day. This is good for overall facial exfoliation, but if you have very sensitive skin, it could irritate your face.

If you are looking for a quick fix, this is not the product for you. Skip it.

Secrets to a Flawless Face: Part 1

An absolutely flawless face is something that women all over the world have sought after for centuries (who knows, maybe even longer). However, sometimes it seems like only a select few people out of the billions worldwide were destined for that natural, dewy glow.

Though we weren't all blessed with naturally perfect skin, and instead were destined to battle oil, acne and a myriad of other conditions, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

With so many great products on the market and homemade skin recipes, we can all have the perfect skin we desire.

Part one of the "Secrets to a Flawless Face" series focuses on getting rid of acne.

Acne was the bane of my existence for several years, during middle and high school. It still affects millions of people out there, some worse than others. Acne can seriously effect your self esteem and make you very self-conscious. Personally, I haaated my skin and the way I looked while I had problems with acne. It made me feel completely "unpretty," in the words of TLC. I didn't even fully understand the nature of the condition that was affecting me so much.

What exactly is that darn problem called "acne," you ask?

According to AcneNet, "acne is the term for plugged pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and even deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and even the upper arms. Acne affects most teenagers to some extent. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s - even into their 40s - can get acne. While not a life threatening condition, acne can be upsetting and disfiguring. When severe, acne can lead to serious and permanent scarring. Even less severe cases can lead to scarring."

Healthy pores are happy pores!

Basically, the pores on your face and body can get blocked by sebum from the sebaceous glands(that darn oil!) when it mixes with dead skin cells, which can cause bacteria to grow and VOILA! Acne rears its ugly head. Therefore, contrary to what most of us believed, oil is not the direct cause of acne - bacteria is. Therefore, all of those products like Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash (and basically anything in the acne aisle that dries out the skin) is not going to permanently get rid of the issue. These products contain harsh chemicals such as salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and sulfur, which can irritate the skin if used too often.

Acne does not discriminate by age, gender or race and nearly 100% of people, ages 12-17 have some form of acne in their lives, be it blackheads to a full-on breakout. You are not alone.

So what can you do to get rid of acne, or preserve your clear skin right now?

Develop a skincare regimen and stick to it for at least a month. Skin rejuvenates itself every 28 days, so it will take at least that amount of time for you to see full results. I suggest Proactiv Solution because that's what worked for me. However, some people have bad reactions to it. For dry or mildly sensitive skin, I recommend a simple, gentle cleanser such as Cetaphil. If you have extremely sensitive skin that can't withstand trial and error, save yourself money and heartache and go straight to the dermatologist.

• Don't touch your face! I know it's extremely tempting to see if that pimple is still there or not, or maybe you just have a nervous twitch. Regardless, keep the hands off. Tiny microbes are having a dance party on your hands as we speak! You don't want them to move take the party into your pores.

• Drink lots of water and eat nutritious foods. Water will cleanse your system and your skin will thank you for it. Believe it or not, skin is an organ and it takes in all of the toxins from the air we are exposed to. 6-8 glasses of water per day will help to rid your skin of the harsh chemicals in the air. Also, nutritious foods such as carrots, berries and more will help to provide your skin with the nutrients and antioxidants it needs to replenish itself in top form.
  

• Try alternative cures, such as Tea Tree Oil. This renowned multi-purpose solution has antibacterial properties and will help to break up the bacterial dance party on your face. I love the Tea Tree Oil from The Body Shop. It lasts forever and doesn't dry out the skin.
  

• Try to skip heavy foundations and concealers for at least a month on your Flawless Face Plan. These products, even if it says that it's non-comedogenic (which means it won't cause acne), it will still seep into your pores. Also, piling makeup onto acne, in a vain attempt to cover it up, will only make it more noticeable. I know it's hard, but your skin will thank you for the break in a few short weeks.
  

Taking care of your skin is the first priority in achieving a flawless face that goes far beyond makeup. Try these tips and let me know how it goes! Also, what acne products have you tried - what worked and what didn't?

Banish Dry Skin & Ash: The Best Drug-Store Body Moisturizers

Dry skin sucks! Have you ever rushed out of the house only to find that you forgot to lotion up? I hate it when that happens (though, that's only second to the horror of forgetting deodorant)! Anyway, dry skin is the bane of human existence. Contrary to popular belief, dry skin or xerosis (yes, it is a medical condition!) is a year-round problem, not one only emerging in the cold, winter months.

Even in the summer, there is nothing worse than being itchy and looking down and seeing thirsty, dry skin cells shriveling up for lack of moisture. Okay, that was dramatic...but it's true!

Also, some lotions don't even work for people with extremely dry skin or common skin conditions such as eczema. There is nothing more frustrating than having a cabinet full of lotions that barely do the job - a true waste of space and money.

Let's banish parched skin and allow soft, beautiful skin to show through! Here are the absolute best body moisturizers and moisturizing techniques that will end your dry spell for good.

Johnson's Baby Oil Gel in Lavender, $4.29, is definitely not just for the little ones. This product will give you moisturized skin that lasts all day (and maybe even into the next!). After you shower, while water is still on your skin, apply a small amount of the gel to your body. Then towel off as normal, and voila! The water on your skin will seal the moisture from the gel into your skin cells.

Olay Quench, $9.99, is one of the best body lotions out there for the summertime. It is a very light formulation, but it packs a punch of moisture! Your skin will feel so smooth and luxurious after you apply this lotion. It is worth the price because you will definitely be trying to beat the last drop out of this bottle.

When you use Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion, $7.99, you will feel like you are being pampered like a queen in a spa. The aromatherapy in this lotion is the selling point. The scent is not overpowering, but it is enough to soothe the senses. Also, this lotion is very emollient and will keep your skin feeling VERY soft.

Okay, I know you were intrigued by the really cool commercial too. I admit that I was lured in to buy Vaseline Intensive Rescue because of the ingenious marketing campaign, but I was pleased to learn that this lotion is the best that Vaseline has to offer! It costs $7.89 for the large bottle, so it's perfect if you're on a budget. It goes on very smoothly and isn't too heavy at all! It's extreme moisturization and you really will feel a big difference in your skin.

If you follow this guide, you will be able to skip the junk on the drugstore shelves and zone in on the products that REALLY work, tried and tested by yours truly.