Spot Treatment Creams

As anyone can tell you, when you get a spot, or blemish, on your face you want it to go away as quickly as possible.
Truth: I have definitely had my share of spots from time to time.   However, I have found through trial and error the best way to treat my spots.   I've tried one expensive spot cream, and two drugstore creams an have come out with the result that I actually find one of the drugstore creams to work best for me.  Remember, that creams will work differently on different people, but I just thought I'd mention my favorite and some others that I've tried.

1.  The expensive one:
Murad Acne Spot Treatment

This treatment's active ingredient is 3.0% Sulfur.  It is a cream that you spread on the spot once or twice a day.  I found that the sulfur was not fast acting enough for me.  For this kind of cost I expected overnight results, and that didn't happen.

2. The "just ok" drugstore one:
Neutrogena Rapid Clear 2-in-1 Fight & Fade Gel

This treatment's active ingredient is 2% Salicylic Acid.  It is a gel formula that you spread on the spot once or twice a day.  I found that this also didn't produce quick results, though with a few uses throughout the day for a few days it did make a difference.  However, it did tend to dry my skin out a bit.

3. The "tried and true" drugstore spot treatment:
Clean & Clear Advantage Acne Spot Treatment

This treatment's active ingredient is also 2% Salicylic Acid.  It is also a gel formula.  Since the two drugstore brands seem to be so similar at first glance I honestly wonder why one works so much better for me that the other?

I would venture to guess that it is because of those other inactive ingredients that make these products different.  This spot treatment does wonders for my spots!  I apply it at night after I've cleansed my skin, I typically rub some of the gel into the spot, and then moisturize.  However, if the spot is bad, or I can tell it is going to be bad, I'll take more of this gel and layer it on the area like a mask.  I'll leave this one over night and typically the spot is reduced in size, redness and looks much better the next morning.  Since this treatment works so well for me I have found I only need to apply it at night and rarely have to apply it during the day, so my skin doesn't get as dry.


I hope this helps you!  If you have any other suggestions about other spot treatments to try, I'd love to hear about them.
<3,
J

Summer is here!

Hello friends!  It has been way too long since I have stopped by and updated this small neglected blog! I am off for the summer and am really looking forward to writing some blog posts about what I'm reading, what beauty items I'm using and any other fun stuff that is going on!

Let me begin by sharing some of my favorite bloggers with you.  These women have an awesome fashion sense or share their expert opinions on makeup and all things beauty related.  I try and read their blog posts whenever they publish them and look to them for inspiration.

Cupcakes and Cashmere

Kendi Everyday

The Small Things Blog

Makeup by Tiffany D

Miss Budget Beauty

Lauren Elizabeth

If you check any of these blogs out, let me know what you think!  Thanks for stopping by!!

<3

High Five for Friday!

It's my first link up!  I've decided to try my hands at a High Five for Friday post with Lauren of one of my favorite blogs: from my grey desk blog!

1.

I read this book over Easter break, which I mentioned in my last post.  However today I started reading it to my class.  They just loved it!  They asked me to read more of it to them!  I'll keep you posted when I see whether they stay this excited about it.  I just LOVED the buzz it was creating throughout my classroom!

2.

I'm almost finished my Europe photo album!  I can't wait to see it!

3. 

So, I've had a small bottle of this for a while.  I used it a long time ago and wasn't pleased with the results for some reason.  However, recently I can't get enough of this Living Proof Straight Spray!  Surprisingly, I have been using it before I blow dry my hair and use the curling iron.  My hair is very heavy and never holds a curl, but this product helps the curl stay in for at least 2 days!  It's great!

4.

Finally a Spring forecast on the horizon!

5. Finally, I'm so excited that today is a dress down day at my school!  Can't wait to sport my baseball gear!

Current Favorite Baubles!

Each work day I enjoy finding some baubles to add to my outfits.  I often think that my wardrobe is quite plain, but with the addition of some fun costume jewelry it can be more fun!

This week I noticed that I seem to be drawn to these pieces.  I have been in love with rose gold since the trend began last summer.  I found the hoops at Urban Outfitters last summer and have worn them often, but always wanted something to pair with them.  When I happened upon this rose gold clover chain (on clearance!) at Annie Sez I was so excited!  It has the most perfect sparkle and matches my hoops perfectly. 

earrings: Urban Outfitters (old)

necklace: Annie Sez (clearance)

This next piece I purchased about a month ago at Express.  I was able to use a coupon and found this piece to be so much fun.  I love the mixture of neon with rhinestones.  It brings a bit of glamour and funkiness to many outfits.  I have worn this to work and on the weekends and find it quite versatile. 

Express (on sale!)

Finally, this was a recent gem that I picked up at Forever 21.  I loved the mint color and the thickness of the chain.  If you haven't ever shopped in Forever 21, you should check it out!  Even if you don't like the clothes, the jewels are awesome and are such bargain prices!  This necklace has gotten many compliments every times I've worn it.  

Forever21

These are just a few of the fun baubles I've been wearing recently.  I would love to hear where you get your favorite jewelry!

Book Recommendation

So far my blog has been doing a good job in keeping up with beauty posts... well, maybe not, but I'm trying...

However, during my Spring Break I had the chance to read an amazing book.  I started reading this book because I was curious.  I finished this book in two days because it was amazing!

The book is sad, heartwarming and inspiring all at once.  There were parts where I was crying and others where I couldn't stop smiling.  I highly recommend this book to anyone.  It is written as a young adult book, but it resonated with me as I'm sure it would resonate with many other people as well.  If you read it, let me know what you think!

<3,

J

Nail Polish Trial update!

So, after two days, my right hand that had the butter LONDON base coat had a few small chips.  The following day both hands showed a lot of wear and tear.

Since then I've found that my essie 3 way glaze seems to make a better base coat.  I still really like butter LONDON's quick dry top coat.  It's super fast drying and leaves the polish shiny as well.

butter LONDON's polish still seems to have a longer chip-free life on my hands than any other polish.  I'll definitely keep you all posted!

butter LONDON - test

A few weeks back I visited Eileen Fisher and noticed that they were running a promotion.  If you tried on a pair of shoes you would receive a free bottle of butter LONDON nail lacquer.  All you had to do was try on a pair of shoes!  I couldn't believe it!

Now, I've been wanting to try this polish for a long time, but I couldn't justify spending the full price ($15!) on a bottle of nail polish.  So, of course I jumped at the chance to try it for free.

The polish I got was a pretty silver metallic called Diamond Geezer.  That weekend I painted my nails with it and was quite surprised with how long the polish lasted.  I am a teacher and work with my hands, so nail polish usually only lasts 1 or 2 days without chipping.  This polish lasted a solid three days without chipping.  I was thrilled.

butter LONDON was on sale this Friday (3/15) at Ulta, so I took the plunge and purchased two more bottles: No More Waity, Katie (a pretty grey with purple sparkles) and Artful Dodger (a pretty teal green).  While I was there I spoke with a butter LONDON representative who talked me into the Top and Tails kit that contains a base coat and quick drying topcoat.  

This weekend I painted my nails using the base and top coat along with No More Waity, Katie.  I was incredibly disappointed to see how fast this coat chipped.  The first full day I had it on it chipped on many nails.  I wondered, was it the formula of the sparkle polish?  Was it the base coat or top coat?

So, I decided to try an experiment. I painted my nails tonight with Artful Dodger and Diamond Geezer.  On my left had I didn't use the base coat and on my right hand I did.  I will post my results here in a few days.  Will one hand last longer than the other?  It will be interesting to see!

left hand - no base coat

right hand - base coat
(sorry for the poor photo quality... iPhone pics!)

I'd love to know what you think about top coats and base coats.  I have used many different ones, but I'm not sure if they help it stay put or make it more prone to chips.

<3,
J.