I am embarrassed to admit this, but I am sooo bad about washing my face before bed.  I usually go to bed with my make up and everything on.  But in the last few weeks, I have changed my ways… thanks to Clarisonic PLUS with Spot Therapy

The Clarisonic PLUS with Spot Therapy uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth the skin.  It’s easy and quick – it only takes 60 seconds (20 seconds for the forehead, 20 for the nose and chin, and 10 for each cheek), and it beeps when it’s time to move on to another part of your face!  It’s waterproof, and I use it in the shower in the morning (and at the sink at night. Most nights.)  I love how clean it makes my face feel.  In fact, when I forget to grab it before I get in the shower, I really miss it and feel like my face isn’t clean at all!

It’s not all about the face, though.  The Clarisonic PLUS with Spot Therapy comes with interchangeable brushes – one for the face and the other for spot therapy on your elbows, knees, feet, etc.  Very cool!

Here are a few more benefits, as stated on the Clarisonic website:

• 6X more makeup removal
• Skin is soft and smooth
• Cleanses so well that products absorb better
• Gentle for use twice daily
• Reduces oily areas, dry skin patches and blemishes
• Reduces the appearance of visible pores
• Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

As my 30th birthday rapidly approaches, I’m realizing that I need to take better care of my skin.  The Clarisonic PLUS with Spot Therapy is a huge step in the right direction… I highly recommend this product!

We all know how important it is to put sunscreen on our kids, right? Of course. Which is why we look for SPF 9gazillion and reapply it about every 20 seconds. But as I lather my kids up, I sometimes wonder about the chemicals that I’m putting on their delicate little skin. So I was very excited to learn about SmartShield.

Smart Sheild is SPF 30 – yes, you heard me right, 30. Because I found out that SPF 50 provides less than 1% more protection with over twice the amount of chemicals than a lotion with SPF 30. And 1% more sounds like my raise last year is not really very much!

Here are some other fun facts about SmartSheild:
*UVA & UVB protection (FDA doesn’t require UVA blockers)
*Oil-free and PABA free
*hypoallergenic and fragrance free (great for sensitive skin)
*Waterproof, sweatproof, won’t stain clothes
*Aloe Vera based; moisturizes and absorbs into the skin
*Available in convenient spray and towellette forms perfect for travel or
extra swirmy kids!

I was excited to try this because Sammy has eczema, so I am always on the lookout for hypoallergenic products. I had been using another kind specifically for babies, and it didn’t break him out, but it beaded up on his skin almost immediately after application, which made me wonder how much actually stayed on him. SmartShield didn’t do that at all – it rubbed in immediately.

I definitely recommend this stuff! Click here to learn more.

(The lovely blonde is my BFF, Luanne)

It’s Things I Love Thursday over at the Diaper Diaries, so I am going to tell you about something that is very close to my heart, that I truly cannot live without.  Well, actually, it’s closer to my face. It’s my Mary Kay skincare!  Now BEFORE you navigate away from this page, I am not trying to sell you anything!  I am NOT a Mary Kay lady.  But I aspire to LOOK LIKE ONE cause those ladies pretty much have beeoootiful faces.  I used to think Mary Kay was for old ladies, and my basic impression of it was that awful wet-dry eyeshadow my mom used in like 1982.  Then, I met my BFF Luanne, and literally the first thing I noticed about her was her skin.  I just thought she was so beautiful.  Her skin and makeup always looked perfect!  I later found out, after getting to know her, that she has been using Mary Kay for 10 years.  About a year after I met her, she started selling MK and coincidentally it was about the time of my 30th birthday and I started freaking out about getting old, so my husband bought me a big set of MK for my 30th birthday and I am hooked! I will never use anything else!  I use the TimeWise cleanser and moisturizer and the Day and Night Solutions religiously.  They have made SUCH a big difference in the way my skin looks and feels!  I am also hooked on the Microdermabrasion Set. It feels sooooooooooooooooo good, and it is much more economical than having Microderm at a salon or dermatologist’s office!  Finally, my favorite little MK miracle is the TimeWise Targeted Action Eye Revitalizer. It’s a little vial of stuff you roll on under your eyes and it has reduuced my undereye circles by probably 80%, I am NOT even kidding you. I used to just cake on the concealer under my eyes and now I just have to use a little bit. It’s awesome!

Ok, so I promise I am not trying to sell you anything, an I get NO kickbacks WHATSOEVER, but it is so important to take good care of your skin, and if you are having any issues at all with it, I would definitely give MK a try!  I get all my products at a nice discount by hosting a couple of skin care classes in my home each year.  Luanne even has an online skin care class on her website here, and you can host a virtual class by registering and requesting samples for you and your guests – you don’t even have to  have anyone over if you don’t want to, you can all just sit in front of your computers and get pretty!  You can check out her site here or email her for more info.

So, Mary Kay skincare is a thing I love!  Don’t even get me STARTED on the makeup!  Head over to the Diaper Diaries for more Things I love Thursday goodies!