Clean & Clear Deep Action Cleanser

Okay, I know it sounds entirely dramatic to say that a facial cleanser changed my life, but dawggone it, it’s true. Because, my dear friends, my skin sucks. It always has. And I’ve tried pert near everything to get it to behave, but it’s pretty much been a fruitless life-long quest.

Until…

Until I had the pleasure of being introduced the the Clean & Clear Deep Action Line. Sounds a smidge like a porn series, I know, but the bottom line is the stuff is fantastic. And cheap.

You know what this stuff reminds me of? The Noxzema of the Good Old Days. It totally gives you that same fresh feeling, like the air is passing straight through your skin. It’s fab. Only this stuff smells great and not all medicinal.

I am in love with this line, for sure, and because of that, I keep waiting for the day where my skin rebels and I have to look for my next skin care bitch. But, alas, things are still going amazingly well and the Clean & Clear Deep Action Line and I are still going strong. It’s a beautiful relationship. And considering my skin is of the preggo sort, this is no small feat, people.

Now, there are a few different options in this line, and here’s how I like to play the game: When I shower at night (yes, at night!), I use the Exfoliating Scrub because it contains the little scrubby balls to help with the “scrub the nasty stuff off” process. I find the balls hard to rinse off in the morning, however, (sorry, if that sounds a bit dirty, pffft!) so I save that formula for night when I have more time to rinse my face clean in the shower.

In the a.m., I like to use the Oil-Free Cream Cleanser, which is such a waker-upper. Seriously, my eyes can be teensy slits when I stumble into the bathroom at 6:05 a.m., and by the time I leave, I resemble a member of the living. It’s quite a transformation.

So, long story short (or not really short), if you’re looking for a great, deep-cleaning cleanser that won’t break the bank, give the Deep Action Line by Clean & Clear a try. At only around $5.99 for a large tube, you won’t regret it.

Images: Drugstore.com

Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner

It’s fall, and for many of us that means cool temperatures, gusty winds and dry lips. Sigh. So what’s a girl to do? Protect that sensitive kisser, of course.

I’ll admit it, I’m a lip addict. And by that I mean I must have some sort of moisturizer on my pout at all times. I am a die hard Carmex fan, and will be for life. But sometimes Carmex is too much. And applying lipstick over Carmex is as bad as applying a coat of polish over nails doused with baby oil. Doesn’t work well.

Thankfully, I’ve discovered a great product that infuses moisture into your lips, yet steers clear of any sort of greasy feel: the Aveeno Essential Moisture Lip Conditioner. An added bonus? It’s got SPF 15 built right in. Perfect!

This lip conditioner has a light feel and a slightly vanilla-ish flavor. It’s handy and clean, easy to stash in your purse, pocket or clutch. It combines oatmeal and other natural skin conditioners like jojoba oil and shea butter to restore and lock in moisture. It’s perfect for daily preventative use, but it even helps heal dry, chapped lips after the damage has already been done.

A great deal at under $4 a tube, this lip treatment is the perfect fall go-to. Pucker up!

Image: Drugstore.com

Herbal Essences

I love salon products as much as the next girl (hello, Biolage!) but sometimes the budget just doesn’t cooperate. Or more like, I just get this crazy feeling of guilt spending 4 times as much on a shampoo as necessary. I could totally use that extra money for cute kids’ clothes…or a Nacho Bell Grande!

So with all the two zillion or so products out there, which one gets my vote?

Herbal Essences. To be specific, the Long-Term Relationship formula, made especially for longer hair.

What’s to love about this stuff? First of all, it’s purdy. Yep, its fabby red bottle adds a killer boost of color to my neutral-colored bathroom. It’s like art, that darn bottle.

Oh, and um, the product itself is great, too. Since I have to color a lot (why is it that after you have kids your hair is just never the same?!?), I need something that is gentle, yet efficient. This stuff does the trick. It’s got a touch of red raspberry for an amazing smell (yum!) and boasts satin to help our strands grow longer and healthier. It helps protect against damage too, which is a total bonus for those of us who stretch our six-week trims out to about 10 or 12 weeks (who, me?).

This stuff is fab y’all, and at only $3.99 (I like to wait for sales AND use a coupon, too!) it is so worth its weight in haircare gold.

Have you tried this? Do you love it? What other drugstore shampoo brands rock you world? Let me know in the comments section. Thanks!

Image courtesy of Drugstore.com