REVIEW: Clearasil Ultra Rapid Action Pads

I've fought with acne since I was 10 years old. Ages 13, 14 and 15 were terrible years for me. When I was 15 it got so bad my Mom took me to a doctor when she noticed I didn't just have pimples, I had open sores on my face. I was piling the makeup on to cover up the...stuff, and only making my acne worse.  The doctor gave me a perscription cream and a medicated wash to use. I fought moderate acne until I was 18 when I finally went on birth control, mainly for acne control! Still occasionally I'll have flare ups, stress and what not being the cause. 

So needless to say I've tried lots of remedies over the years. Every acne treatment system in the world has been in my possession at at least one point or another. ProActive? Kids stuff. Murad? Nope. Skin i.d.? Forget about it. 

The product I am about to tell you about is not the end all be all of acne treatment, but I have noticed a huge difference in my skin in the last couple of weeks since I've been using it. 

My husband and I are busy people. We are extremely busy with our jobs, our families, and the activities we are involved in. And lately I haven't had the time to keep up with my expensive foundation routine or with my skin care routine. At night I'd be so exhausted I would take a bar of SafeGuard Soap (an old remedy my doctor told me to do) to my face at night and go to bed. I'd probably left more than half of my makeup still on. 

I was in the Dollar Store (my place, it's so convenient!!) nosing around after work one afternoon, trying to use my hair to cover  up the nasty breakout on my neck (yes, it was terrible!) and saw Pond's Cold Cream (something I only ever used to remove theatrical makeup, but that my Mom always used to remove her daily makeup) so I grabbed some of it. Right next to it on the shelf was this:

"Well....maybe I can use these after I was my face, maybe I'll remember that." Plus I was sucked in by the fact that it says right there on the label "Visibly reduces pimple size and redness in as little as 4 hours." "Alright Clearasil, I'll give you another try." So I went home and started my new routine. Cold Cream, SafeGuard, Clearasil pad. 

I have noticed such a HUGE difference in my face since I started using them. I like the easiness of using them so much I use them when I get up before I put on my makeup and at bedtime before I go to bed! I have no "active" pimples on my neck (totally clear! yay!) and no visible monsters on my face. 

The pads themselves are very saturated with the medicated liquid. They even have a handy dandy little notch cut out in them to make them easier to get out of the container!

They work so well for me that I thought I should get on here and let you all know about it!! 

Happy Beautifying!

Kitchen Mini Makeover

You know, I've surprised myself. I really have. My Mom and I went shopping for curtains for the living room the other day and while we were at the store I decided I wanted to replace the curtains in the kitchen while I was on a redecorating rampage! Before our kitchen was dark and modern, but then I decided I wanted to add teapots and teacups to the mix, and 99% of those are pretty and floral. It all just didn't flow, in my opinion. But I've never been a country/floral style type person, my Mom's style is country all the way, and I was determined that was not my style.....so naturally when I picked out the new curtains I was more than surprised at how country they are!

BEFORE

We had finally settled on dark brown valances with dark brown sheers underneath (to cover up our old cracked windows) and they worked quite nicely with our round glass top table. However, it made the space over the sink seem cramped and uninviting.

AFTER

Unfortunately I only have this one good shot of the kitchen since the mini makeover. 

We replaced the round glass top table with a long rectangle antique table that I painted and refinished myself! I added an old TV stand that has had many lives since its time with me (entry table in my bedroom at my parents house, before I was married, then it was in our living room, and now it's a buffet!) and changed the curtains and completely revamped the kitchen! It adds so much light to the room,  can't tell you how happy I am with it!!

The new curtains are Waverly Cameo Home Classics and I purchased them at Lowes. $19.97 each and well worth the money! I also got the sheers at Lowes, but cannot find them online. They are extremely thin material, but I like that ;) Here is a link to the valances.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_329331-55802-10725050X015CME_4294788357__?productId=3197409&Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&pl=1&currentURL=%3FNs%3Dp_product_qty_sales_dollar%7C1&facetInfo=

Here's a little hint...its a secret....my fabulous centerpiece....Dollar Store. ;)

Probably did all this for under $200. Who says you can't have fabulous on a budget!