Lots of Extrabucks = CVS Haul!

Yesterday my hair was feeling pretty greasy and I had no time to shower before my sister's band concert - so I figured it would be the perfect time to invest in a dry shampoo. I ran into CVS and grabbed the Tresemme Freshstart Dry Shampoo, which ended up being on sale (I got it for $3.49 ish and saved $2.99). I also got a ton of coupons at the end of my receipt, so today I stopped into CVS again to spend my $16.50 in extrabucks, along with a few other coupons that I had been saving for a rainy day.

CVS brand skincare was buy one, get one 50% off, and when I scanned my card in the store I got a $1 off two CVS brand skincare products - it was definitely an offer I couldn't pass up. I decided to get the CVS Apricot Scrub, since I'm running out of my other apricot scrub, and the CVS Deep Cleaning Pore Strips. I've used the Biore Pore Strips before but I wanted to see if the CVS brand would work the same, since they were several dollars cheaper. And I picked up the Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Scrub - in case you couldn't tell by my other skincare purchases thus far, I have major issues with blackheads and clogged pores, so I like to try anything that promises to help with blackheads. I mean, you never know what might work, right?

Finally, I got two products that I can't wait to try - the L'Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow in 888 Iced Latte, and Bio-Oil! I've heard amazing things about these L'Oreal eyeshadows, and I love iced lattes so it was pretty obvious which shade to get. And I've been hearing a lot of good things about Bio-Oil, but it's a little pricey (around $12 for the little 2 oz. bottle), so I wanted to wait until I had Extrabucks to use on it. Fingers crossed that it'll work for me!

XOXO, Ally

Did you get your Target Beauty Bag?

Cause I did! I checked my mail this morning and practically ran back to my dorm room to open it.

First thing I noticed was how cute the actual bag was! I actually use the Sonia Kashuk one from last year a lot, because when I travel to/from college I only need makeup for a couple of days and that little bag is a perfect size. But I really love the colors of this one - the gold and the magenta together are just so gorgeous! Anyway, the actual samples are the important parts, so I'll stop gushing about the darn bag...
As soon as I opened the bag I was like 'oh hey shampoo!' There were a lot of shampoo and conditioner samples in there - and it's not that I dislike shampoo samples, but I'm a college kid and I don't normally spend that much time experimenting with different shampoos. That being said, a college kid would never turn down free shampoo. xD

 So the three shampoo and conditioner samples were Tresemme Naturals, Garnier Fructis Pure Clean, and John Frieda Full Repair (with a $2.00 off coupon attached)! I'm definitely the most interested in the Garnier Fructis Pure Clean set - I'll admit it, I'm kinda a sucker for anything "green." The shampoo claims to be 94% biodegradable, while the conditioner is 92%, and it seems like the earth-friendly aspect of these would be their biggest selling point (which is not necessarily something you'd see reflected in your hair).

The bag also included a sample of L'Oreal Youth Code cream, which probably won't be too effective on me since I'm pretty youthful already, but hopefully it'll have some sort of effect. Finally it included a pack of 5 Pond's Cleansing Towelettes, which definitely appeal to the lazy side of me. I also really like that they're safe for contact lens wearers and that they remove waterproof mascara.

The bag also came with it's signature pack of coupons, which are not of too much use to me since there's not a single Target store anywhere near my college, but if you have a Target nearby, then you'll definitely be able to find some good deals in there!

XOXO, Ally

Beauty Tips for College and Beyond - Part One: Skincare

Even if all you do is roll out of bed and head off to school or work in the morning, fresh, glowing skin can help you look flawless. Most people will have trouble with their skin at some point, and college life is not always kind to our faces. But there are a few simple things you can do to make sure you skin looks radiant all through college and beyond!

1. Take off your makeup at night. It sounds like a no-brainer, but there have been countless nights when I've gotten back to my dorm room late at night and all I've wanted to do was crawl into bed without bothering to wash my face. And if you wear foundation daily, going to sleep without taking it off on a regular basis can clog your pores and your complexion will suffer. So resist the temptation to fall asleep without first taking your makeup off, especially if you wear a lot of foundation.

2. Drink plenty of water. My favorite way to make sure I get enough water daily is to fill up my purple-college-logo Nalgene bottle twice a day - that way, I can take water with me to class or the library, and I know exactly how much I need to drink per day. Of course, you can drink your water out of whatever container you want, but make sure you stay hydrated and your skin will stay glowing!

3. Don't stress. It sounds impossible, especially in college. But you can reduce your stress levels by getting work done well before it's due, and making sure to take breaks while you work. And if you feel yourself starting to get overwhelmed, step back for a moment, go for a walk to clear your head, and come back to your work refreshed. You'll be much calmer, and it will be much easier to focus - plus, you can prevent breakouts by keeping your stress levels low!