The ClearProof Acne System from Mary Kay

I received this set complimentary (i.e free) from Influenster and Mary Kay to use and review after a 30 day period. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

I had the privilege over the past several weeks to test out the new ClearProof Acne System from Mary Kay. I received this set after applying and qualifying for the ClearProof VoxBox from Influenster. If you haven't heard of Influenster, you should definitely check them out- it's a really great site for finding out about new products, trends and occasionally you get to try out some new things for yourself. Yay free stuff! 

 Anyways- my skin isn't fantastic, so when this opportunity presented itself, I said why not? it doesn't hurt to try something new... Beforehand I knew it would be an acne-related product but did not know the brand it was coming from so it was definitely a surprise when the box showed up at my door and it was from Mary Kay. Back in the day, in middle-school and high-school, I used a lot of Mary Kay products including their cleansing system at the time. ClearProof is a new and improved system and I've been pretty happy with it. 

The product claims to do several things

• Clears up blemishes without irritation and helps maintain a clear complexion.
• Unclogs pores, removes excess oil and leaves skin feeling healthier.
• Fades the look of lingering acne spots.
• Attacks multiple factors that can contribute to acne breakouts.*

*as described on the Mary-Kay website

My box came with 4 items for 4 steps. A cleanser, toner, acne medication and moisturizer. I went ahead and took some before pictures and dived right in. Not to be gross, but I typically only wash my face once day, sometimes every other depending on how dry my skin feels. But for the first few days I made sure I did it at least once, if not twice as recommended. 

and now for some pictures that I can't believe I'm actually showing.. 

The pictures on the left are the before- on the right, were taken last night. I do have 2 small spots on my face right now that are disappearing quickly so ignore them. 

Just in the first week I noticed a change- the redness in my face and chest started to go down and some of my scarring was already starting to fade. And I wasn't breaking out- at all.

Not going to lie though, after that first week I went back to my of my normal face-washing schedule, but still saw improvements! I really like the cleanser, toner and acne medication but I'm so-so on the moisturizer. Partially because the weather is becoming much cooler and dryer so my face needs just a little more oomph at night. I would love to see a night cream/serum/heavier formula from them for the winter months. 

In the course of the 4 weeks I think I had about 3 white-head pimples (TMI- I don't care). This is remarkable for me, I've battled cystic acne on my jawline for the past few years and didn't have one appear in the past month. The pores on my nose look smaller, my face looks better in the mornings when I wake up, it doesn't get as greasy during the day. As you can see from the pictures above, some scarring and spotting went away, the redness has been significantly reduced and my skin just looks healthier.

Overall I was very happy with the system and am going to continue using what product I have left. The system really needs a full 12-weeks to see the most change and I want to see how great my skin can look after those full 12-weeks. I've  already seen a dramatic decrease in my breakouts, my chest is nowhere near as red as it typically can be and after 4 weeks of use I can see the difference in the mirror at first glance. All things you want to see when you make a change. 

 So Thank you Influenster and Mary-Kay! I'm very excited to have been able to try this and would recommend it to others who may battle the same issues to also give it a try- I think it is definitely worth your while.

The Go VoxBox - Hit or Miss?

I love receiving VoxBoxes from Influenster! Recently I received the Go VoxBox filled with all sorts of active goodies and treats.

In the box...

Muller Yogurt:  We received a coupon for a free container of our choice! I picked up the Muller Greek Corner in Pineapple Passion-fruit. It was delicious- creamy, fruity, a good solid snack. I have even picked up a few more containers since.

Verdict: HIT!

Aqua Spa Relax Body Creme in Lavender + Chamomile: Now I'm not a huge fan of lotions anyways, but for the box purposes I did try this out a few times and was pleasantly surprised. It's a creme so it is thicker but it rubbed in quickly, definitely moisturized my legs well and smelled amazing. I won't be using it on a regular basis now that summer has arrived, but for sure come fall/winter I will be using this out of the shower.

Verdict: HIT! (even surprised myself with this!)

Playtex Sport Tampons in Regular: I was not a fan of these. If you are get grossed out (I mean I'm not getting that crazy) skip to the next one but I'm going to be honest about how I felt about this tampon. For a "regular" size tampon this was small. I had to change it way more frequently than I would my normal tampons (tampax pearl) for what I consider a normal flow day. They didn't "stay" that well either, especially not as you would expect a sports tampon (one designed for active lifestyles- i.e running, swimming, playing sports! ) to stay. Overall not a fan, obviously to each her own. I gave the rest to a friend.

Verdict: MISS!

Profoot Pedi- Rock: This callous removing rock has been wonderful. It can be used wet or dry, which is super nice because most "dry-skin" removers cannot be. I keep it in the shower and scrub my feet when I'm in there. It makes for soft feet every day, which I love! The shape is nice to hold on to, doesn't slip, and it cleans off very easily.

 

Verdict: HIT!

Profoot Triad Orthotic Insoles for Women: I put these insole in my rain boots- which made them super comfortable and helped me enjoy wearing them for all those rainy days we have been having. I liked that they stuck on with just a small amount of provided gel- and they haven't slipped out once. They are also short- meaning the insole only covers your heel and arch. This makes it possible to put in almost any shoe you want, no cutting them down - something I really liked.

Verdict: HIT!

Blue Diamond Almonds- Blueberry Flavor: This was one of my favorite things in the box. It was a perfect snack size and the flavor was oh so delicious. I actually carried them around in my purse for  a few weeks and the packaging held up very nicely considering. They were great to eat on the go and very filling. A perfect way to boost your energy during the day! They come in other flavors, raspberry and strawberry, which I would be very interested in trying.

Verdict: HIT!

Next Step Fit N Full Protein Shake + Next Step Shaker Cup: We were given 3 different flavors or protein shakes to try (chocolate, vanilla, and berry) plus a shaker cup to try them in. The flavors of the drinks were good- I liked the chocolate and vanilla best. And the shaker cup was very easy to use- add water, the powder, and shake what your mama gave ya.  They worked well as meal replacements, I had mine for breakfast and they did keep me full as a normal breakfast of mine would. I'm not sure I would actually purchase more of them, in reality they are just not my thing. But I did like them and if someone else gave me more I would use them.

Verdict: HIT! (because I did enjoy them)

Overall a pretty good box- and it introduced me to some fun new products and treats! And if you are interested let me know if you want to join Influenster- comment your email below and I will invite you! It is a really great site, and a fun way to try some new products! 


And don't forget to check out the giveaway I've got going on right now!! Read my review and the business story here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Picture This Moment

I've been running around a bit like a crazy person, plus was madly hungover yesterday due to a ladies wine night on Tuesday that ended in the wee hours of the morning. I'm not quite sure what it is about Tuesday nights, but things always end up crazy when I'm with my friends (one time we ended up at a strip club.. but that's another story). This Tuesday included watching Pitch Perfect for the millionth time, and my poor friend K still not actually being able to see what it was about... sorry! I did let her borrow it though so hopefully she can finally enjoy it all. We also had some intense conversations about women's rights, and men being butt munches. And somehow my giant birthday book was dragged out while we analyzed our astrological predictions. (some descriptors were spot on for all of us- creepy!)

I'm also working on some other posts that are still coming together which kind of explains the lack of them... maybe? Anyways- thought I would throw out some of the last few pictures on my phone, for fun. As usual they are mostly of children and animals. Enjoy!

snuggly Sadie! 

enjoying my free yogurt courtesy of Influenster- pineapple passionfruit- yum!!

the sweetest nephew! 

my little koala monkey!

so sweet!

Father's Day cards I made for the kids for their dad- because that is part of my job

This month's birchbox! excited to try that eye-shadow sampler and the lipgloss

Happy Almost Friday!

This Weekend I Cleaned a Window

Yep, you heard that right. I cleaned a window- well the inside and outside of the bottom half of one window. Baby steps.

Be proud, it has been at least 3 years since that window was even touched. I cleaned a bunch of other random things too- mostly because a) I had some people over to look at the apartment (I found a roommate!) and b) I somehow couldn't stop. You ever just get into a cleaning mood? No? Just me? Okay.

Sunday I spent a fabulous day working a wine tasting with my sister and lots of other wonderful people. While we poured a ridiculous amount of wine for some cool judges to taste, my payout was the two cases of free wine I was able to bring home. I mean I guess I earned them from the work I did but it was way way more than worth it. It should last me a week or two, haha, jk, but really.

And I finally watched the Veronica Mars movie! I was a huge fan of the show back in the day and am happy to say they did a great job with the movie.  Way cool that the movie was made with fan-raised funds. 

I'm also super excited because I qualified for another super awesome VoxBox from Influenster. The Go VoxBox is filled with all sorts of healthy and active goodies. I've already checked at a few items and hope to do a review in the next few weeks.

On another note my spending freeze has been very interesting.  I did manage to not buy any coffee from Starbucks on my way to work, but made my own. I brought lunch to work everyday but Wednesday (Chipotle day, of course).  And only took a cab home yesterday with my two cases of wine. Even so, I've still spent some money... I mean some savings is better than none, right? And I've worked at creating better habits for the future! Woo-hoo!

Hope you all had a great weekend! 

The Joys of Adulthood

Oh Sunday Funday! It's absolutely amazing the things you can actually get done when your internet isn't working. I've actually cleaned, dusted, and put away all the clothes in my room- things that have needed to get down for days, weeks, months! And thanks to the Olympics I've been able to clear out my DVR- I mean it's empty, at least until tonight's shows start taping! 

I had a nice relaxing evening last night trying out some of the goodies from the Influenster Box. I've been eating the Kisses all week- yummy! Last night I tried out the Red Rose Lemon Chiffon Decaffeinated Tea. It was very tasty- a nice lemon aroma with an almost creamy taste.  If you like lemons, this might be a good thing to try - and I had it right before bed which helped me relax.

I also tried out the great Boots Botanics Ionic Clay Mask-I think that it is going to be a great addition to my skincare regimen- went on easy,and rinsed off clean. Put on my favorite moisturize afterwards, went to bed and my face looked fantastic this morning!

 (me, looking oh so fancy with my mask on)

After spending the morning cleaning I tasted my other Red Rose Tea - the Creme Caramel. Also very delicious- just as the name says, it's a great creamy caramel taste. No need to even add sugar! Probably better for me, since I have a mean sweet tooth.

      I've just now finished the third season of Homeland, finally, and boy was it great!! I cannot wait for the next one.. Now should I start Shameless finally or get into House of Cards? Until we meet again...

 And thank you, once again, to Influenster for all these wonderful, complimentary products! I'm having a blast with them!

It's HERE!

My new J'Adore VoxBox has arrived!! Hooray- and it is packed with goodies!

Yummy and classic Hershey's Kisses, Frizz Ease 3-Day Straight Flat-Iron Spray, Kiss Looks So Natural Lashes, Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas, and Boots Botanics Shine Away Ionic Clay Mask!  *All of these products I received were complimentary for testing purposes from Influenster.*

I can't wait to update everyone on how everything is/works/successful or not- although I can already tell you the Hershey's Kisses are DELICIOUS, of course, I mean its chocolate- what could go wrong?

 

And speaking of delicious- I made a yummy new recipe tonight. A Chicken Stew with Sweet Plaintains

Ingredients

• 3 pounds chicken parts, skin on
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chile powder
• 4 teaspoons kosher salt, more as needed
• 3 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon finely grated orange zest plus the juice of 2 oranges (about 2/3 cup)
• 1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest plus the juice of 1/2 lime, more as needed
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, more as needed
• 2 large sweet, very ripe plantains (they should be black and yellow), peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 28-ounce can chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 cup sliced pitted green olives
• Chopped cilantro, for serving

Preparation

1.

Rub chicken with cumin, chile powder, 2 teaspoons salt, 2 teaspoons oregano, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, the orange zest and lime zest. Coat with 1 tablespoon oil. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.

2.

Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces, skin side down. Cook, in batches if necessary, until golden brown all over, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a bowl.

3.

Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan. Add plantains in a single layer, working in batches if necessary, and cook until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per side (add more oil to pan between batches if needed). Transfer plantains to a bowl.

4.

Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to pan. Stir in onion, bell pepper, garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook until vegetables are softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add remaining 1 teaspoon oregano and cook 1 minute.

5.

Stir in tomatoes with their juices, orange juice, 1 cup water, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Return chicken and plantains to pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover and reduce heat to medium low. Keep at a steady simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes. Stir in olives and lime juice. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt or lime juice to taste. Serve topped with cilantro.

YIELD 

4 to 6 servings

Recipe courtesy of the NYTimes- It definitely takes a bit of time to make, but worth every minute. Even the munchkins ate it! I served it with some tasty corn muffins but rice & beans or a couscous would have gone nicely as well. And side note- if you buy green plantains they take 3-4 weeks to truly become ripe, so plan accordingly! 

 

I hope everyone had a great 3-day weekend- and has an even better 4-day week

#Influenster

I am so excited to say I am a member of the Influenster site and that I have just been selected to partake in another VoxBox! These boxes include great new products for us to try and review. I recently received the Venus Embrace Sensitive VoxBox- which as you can guess was a great new sensitive skin razor from Gillette. The product was amazing, and I recommend it to all. The J'Adore VoxBox should be arriving in the mail any day now - I can't wait to see what is inside and share it with everyone!