Skin Care 101: Best Makeup Removing Wipes to Start Using

As I hit publish on my first Skincare 101 post, I realized that I completely missed a step. Essentially, not everyone needs to start their skincare routine with makeup removing wipes but I do find it helpful for those "heavy on the smoky eye" days.

Besides becoming a staple on my bathroom shelves, makeup wipes have found a permanent home inside my gym bag. Good for fellow class takers, because leaving spin class with raccoon eyes can be scary.

In the end, it's up to you on whether you'd like to use wipes as a precursor to the first step of skincare layering or add to your gym bag. I've tried SO MANY face wipes over the last few years - some hits, some misses - but the ones below are the few that keep me coming back.

via mynewestaddiction.com

Dickinson's Refreshingly Clean Cleansing Cloths
For those days leading up to Aunt Flo's arrival (TMI?) I'll take all the help I can get on preventing clogged pores and minimizing hormonal breakouts. Dickinson's Cleansing Cloths helps soothe my skin and gets the gunk off my face pre- and post-sweat. I do tend to use these wipes more in the summertime since the witch hazel feels refreshing on a humid day and is known to heal sunburnt skin. 

Clean & Clear® Makeup Dissolving Wipes
These wipes bring me back to high school and thankfully they've improved with age. The soft wipes are able to take off the entire day, leaving skin cleansed. On days that I've fallen lazy, I rely on these instead of washing my face. Bad habit, I know. For those of you that wear waterproof mascara, I recommend gently pressing the wipes to your lids for a few seconds before wiping. It'll make the process easier. They're also super affordable and practically free when combined with coupons.

via Simple

Simple Micellar Makeup Remover Wipes
I discovered Simple at a pop-up inside Flywheel. They encouraged me to wipe off the day's grime before class - which I did - and loved how easily it took everything off. It uses micellar water, a new cleansing technology. They've also expanded their line to offer different focuses such as exfoliating, cleansing, radiance, the list goes on. My personal favorite is the original Micellar wipes. Highly recommend this brand to anyone with super sensitive skin as they keep their ingredients simple.

via Garnier

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Makeup Removing Towelettes
Garnier also has a selection of products that use Micellar technology. I'm a huge fan of Micellar technology because the micelle molecules cluster together to lift dirt, oil, makeup, and impurities on contact. This eliminates the need to rinse and rub your skin providing a gentle way to cleanse your skin. Garnier's towelettes come in a smaller packaging compared to the Simple wipes which is great for gals on the go and gym bags across the nation. Another thing I love, the super soft wipes - incredibly gentle on the eyes.

via iamstyle-ish.com

Skinn's Olive & Enzyme Makeup Wipes

These wipes fall on the more expensive side of the spectrum. Kind of a bummer since I would love to have my cabinets stocked with these wipes. So ladies with disposable incomes and skincare addicts willing to try anything once, these wipes are for you! These wipes smell so amazing, it turns my bathroom into a spa room. They also have this great texture that helps when taking everything off and in a way exfoliates your skin. The end result is clean, smooth skin.

via e.l.f. Cosmetics

e.l.f. Makeup Remover Cleansing Cloths
Last but not least, these e.l.f. cleansing cloths are the best bang for your buck. They do a solid job at removing makeup and cleansing skin. Even better, is that each wipe is infused with Aloe Vera for deep hydration and moisture so your skin never feels stripped. The scent can be overpowering so I wouldn't recommend to those with fragrance allergies.

There are so many different wipes out but these are my top contenders when it comes to getting rid of the grime. Did I call out any of your favorites? Or are you going to try any of the above? Drop me a comment down below and tell me about it!

Now that we’re on this magical skincare journey together, let me know if you decide to give any of these a go and how you loved it. AND, if there are any cleansers you think I need to try, drop me a comment down below.

Best Apps for Cheaper Airfare

My travel plans this year took a hit, but before my unexpected (and uninsured) surgery I was on a roll. My dream list of places to see, experience, and explore was getting crossed off quicker than I had anticipated. It was as if, I was meant to see the world. Actually, that's baloney.

If I was being completely honest, it was because I stuck to my budgets, gave up luxuries like weekly Sephora trips, and resolved to spend less to see more. At the same time, I knew from prior experiences that traveling on a budget was possible. If anything, the most costly piece of any trip would be the airline ticket.

Following that thought, I asked myself, can I fly even cheaper? Considering the offseasons, sales, and abundance of knowledge on the net - that answer was a resounding yes. Thank you technology.

Although my travels took a backseat last year, next year is looking a little more jetlagged thanks to my favorite flight price trackers:

Hopper
I found out about this app at the beginning of the year and am obsessed. This free app shares a calendar overview on flight prices with predictions for set dates. From there you have the option to set up an alert, essentially guiding you to the best bargain. So far, I've used it once (for my Oregon rendezvous) and saved close to $200 on my ticket. The app takes the guesswork out of sales, analyzing billions of flights each day and letting you know when to purchase before prices spike up.

Skyscanner
I first utilized this app to check on my ex-bae's arriving flights. It helped in determining just how much time I had to clean a messy apartment. Then I started to explore the app more. Each day they curate the best deals abroad and nationwide. Similar to Hopper, they also allow for price alerts and for airlines, airports, and dates to be compared. I consider it to be the grown up version of Hopper and one I'll be using for an upcoming spontaneous trip.

Google Flights
Before boarding the plane, even purchasing a ticket, comes the planning stage. This is where I excel the most. Instead of digging through travel sites, like tripadvisor.com, on when to fly you can instead plug in dates or look at their calendar which will list out fares. This is an awesome tool if your travel dates are flexible. You can click around on your desktop but I recommend downloading the app and turning the alerts on. There's also an explore tab for the spontaneous traveler.

Let me know if there are travel apps or hacks you use to cure wanderlust in the comments below.

The Essentials: September 2016

You guys... I just had an entire post written up only for my fingers to slip up and hit the delete button. It was legit on the verge of going live with the click of a button until... UGHHHH. Anyway, let me try to the best of my ability to rewrite and not linger on the past for too long.

This month, the common theme amongst all my favorites tend to be products that will free up time when it comes to glamming up or simplify my life in some form. Also, just noticed a lot of my faves tend to fall into the pink or purple color scheme - how cute!

Hair: Terax Daily Reparative Conditioner has become my newest lifesaver. As you know, my hair has gone an underground transformation to it's newest state of almost platinum blonde. This conditioner has turned my brittle dry strands into stronger, softer, shinier tresses with use. It works by depositing Keratin protein only to where the strand is damaged which is a godsend for us fake blonds. Another favorite is Matrix's Miracle Creator. It has 20 beauty benefits such as: smooths cuticles, fights frizz, prevent split ends, and loads other. It's safe to say these two products have earned their spot on my bathroom shelves.

Face: Ever go shopping at an Ulta and just fill up your basket with no real goal in sight except to spend money. Well, that was me a few weeks ago except I discovered this gem of a contour stick so good I decided to store my Anastasia Contour Kit. It's called NYX Wonder Stick - it makes contouring so seamless and the formula is so easy to build + blend. It's become a part of my everyday routine so much so, I can't imagine life without it. The next honorable mention goes to Glossier's Soothing Face Mist. This is the holy grail of face mists! If you need a 411 on why you should include one in your routine check out this post. But in the essence of time know that this works great to soothe sunburns, start off your AM skin layering routine, or set your makeup for the day ahead.

Body: This slot goes to two of my favorite body exfoliators. The first one coming from Completely Bare, a company (and once salon) known for being the best at baring New York residents. I never visited their salon personally but am obsessed with their Bikini Bump Blaster. It's amazing for fighting ingrown hairs and making skin feel oh-so-smooth after a wax. The next comes from Molton Brown (I adore everything from this brand). Their Comforting Body Polishers, particularly in Ylang-Ylang, invigorates my skin with its scent and the tiny grains buff away dead skin while turning the ordinary shower into an oasis. Definitely worth every cent and always at the top of my wishlist when I run out.

Misc: This product isn't for everyone unless you're a dog or a dog lover haha. Dog-owners understand how hard it is to find the perfect tool, treat, or toy that will help keep teeth clean. It's taken me almost nine years but I finally found something that works great on Miles' teeth. It's called Petsmile and has an exclusive Calprox formula that works by attacking plaque caused by bacteria, acid, food, and saliva without using a toothbrush. You can apply it directly to teeth using one of the applicators it comes with or with a toothbrush. Some owners even go as far as spreading the toothpaste on their dog's favorite chew toy or treat. It's safe to use and approved by Veterinary Oral Health Council.

Could not finish this blog post without mentioning the Lookbooker app. The app can be described as the OpenTable for grooming and glamming and works to connect salons to guests. It has honestly made it easier to discover new salons or spas and conveniently book and pay them. I am a repeat offender of using this weekly and love it! If this is your first time hearing of it or if you've always wanted to give you a try use promo code called STYLEBORO for $15 off your first appointment (that’s like a free manicure!).

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