DIY Facial Care Kit

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BeforeDifferinJourney #CollectiveBias

Even as an adult, my skin has never been as clear as I would like it to be. I still get the occasional breakouts that leave me feeling like an awkward teenager. To add to it, now I have some signs of aging and signs of too much sun exposure. Not to mention, redness and irritated pores. Eek!

I know it would help a lot if I remembered to wash my face in the evenings. I am notorious for going to bed without washing my face! By the time the day is over and the little one is in bed, I’m just ready to crash and zone out for the night. Any other mamas with me on this?

So I decided to put together a facial care kit for the evenings. I wanted it to have all of the essentials, yet be an easy and low-effort way for me to take better care of my skin. I can keep it in my upstairs bathroom or even beside my bed. It’ll be that easy! No excuses.

Did you know that the new Differin® Gel is the first only prescription strength retinoid that’s available over the counter? It's the newest advancement and ingredient in the OTC acne category in over 30 years! It has a history as a proven acne treatment and is supposed to help with clearing and preventing mild to moderate acne. I’ve never tried anything stronger than mild face soap, so I’m interested in giving the new Differin® Gel a try.

I found it at Target with the other skin care products.

It’s supposed to clear breakouts before they even start-- so it works deep within the pores. I’m hoping that helps with some of the enlarged pores that I have on my nose. It should clear the acne I have and prevent breakouts before they even begin and as a result, help to restore my skin’s texture and tone.

Please use caution when using Differin® Gel with more than one acne treatment or glycolic acid product because this could lead to irritation.

However, Differin® Gel is not a spot treatment, but something you apply in a thin layer over your entire face once a day, every day. The goal is to prevent future breakouts from even happening.

While using the gel, you’re supposed to continue to cleanse and moisturize your face, so I decided to also try the Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths (hello convenience!), and Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15.

So here we go! Here is my bare faced, #BeforeDifferinJourney photo in all its glory.

So here’s what I used to put the Facial Care Kit together.

• Small carryall to keep it all in
• Differin® Gel 45g
• Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths
• Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer SPF 15
• Microfiber body cloth

First, I used this super cute pink polka dot carryall to hold it all. It’s nice because it has a handle, plus plenty of room to hold the essentials-- yet small enough to set on a bedside table. And what girl doesn’t love the color pink?

Next, I included all of the essentials. The first being Differin® Gel tube.

Since this kit is meant to be an easy way to wash my face-- of course I needed a facial cleanser! I included the Cetaphil® Gentle Skin Cleansing Cloths for dry, sensitive skin. And for the times I want a little extra cleansing before using the cleansing cloths, I also included a microfiber body cloth.

The Cetaphil® Gentle Cleansing Cloths come in a pack of 25.

And last but not least, it’s important to have a moisturizer. I have been looking for a good facial moisturizer that has sunscreen in it, so I’m happy to be trying out the Cetaphil® Daily Facial Moisturizer with sunscreen broad spectrum SPF 15.

Lastly, place all of the items into the carryall, and you’re good to go! Hopefully there will be clear skin in my future! I will be back to update you all on the results!

Do you struggle with acne? What steps have you taken to improve your skin? Have you tried Differin® Gel?

You can find more Differin® Gel inspiration on the social hub here.

This product is dermatologist developed and tested. Please call 1-866-735-4137 for any questions you may have concerning the product. However, should you experience any problems while using the product, please discontinue use and consult your healthcare provider.

The 'Keep Fresh' Purse Kit - #GIVEEXTRAGETEXTRA #Walgreens #ad

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GIVEEXTRAGETEXTRA #Walgreens #CollectiveBias


Is there anything more refreshing than the arrival of spring after a long, cold winter?

Flowers are blooming, the grass is green again, and you're finally able to spend time outdoors enjoying it all. After being cooped up in the house all winter, it's revitalizing to spend time under the bright blue sky, with the wind blowing against your face, and the sun warming your skin.

If you're like me, you are probably spending a lot more time outside and being more active in general. There will be trips to the zoo, amusement parks, outdoor date nights, camping, outdoor sports, and so on.

Keeping fresh while actively living life to the fullest can be a challenge. Your problem is solved with this 'Keep Fresh' purse kit. It's also a handy kit to have in your car for when you're on the go, or in your desk drawer at the office for after a walk on your lunch break or after a business meeting over dinner--wherever you might need a quick refreshing.

{Pick a Bag}

Pick a cute bag to hold your 'Keep Fresh' essentials. It can be as big or small as you want it to be. You can find inexpensive cosmetic bags, like the one above that I used. If you're like me, you probably have a bunch of unused cosmetic bags that you've somehow accumulated over the years. It seems like they're often "free gifts" with purchase for makeup or facial care products. This is a great use for them!

{The Contents: Deodorant}

Travel sized deodorant is a must have in your 'Keep Fresh' kit. Have you ever left the house and suddenly realized that you somehow forgot to apply deodorant? It's horrifying. What a relief to have extra deodorant with you! Even on the good days, you can sneak in a workout during a break at work and reapply your deodorant so you still smell fresh.

{The Contents: Body Spray}

Sometimes you need to smell fresh and sometimes your space needs to smell fresh--body spray can serve both purposes. Don't forget to be mindful of the people around you, just a little bit will do-- use too much and you'll have the opposite of fresh.

{The Contents: Cleansing Wipes}

Cleansing wipes can be so refreshing. Apparently, I inherited a pesky 'sweat-a-lot' gene and it's both disgusting and embarrassing. If you're spending the day outside and you've been hot and sweaty--these can be so refreshing. You can workout and play like a beast and, with the help of cleansing wipes, you can leave smelling like a beauty.

{The Contents: Extra® Gum Polar Ice®}

Most of us probably carry gum around with us, but not everyone has gum to spare! Help your friends stay fresh with the new Extra® 35-stick pack available at Walgreens--you'll have enough gum to share. I found it in the candy & gum aisle.

This gum is especially handy because it comes in durable packaging (that's also recyclable). It's a clear plastic case that firmly seals shut. I hate it when my gum gets lost (and ultimately wasted) at the bottom of my purse because it falls out of the package-- this new packaging fixes that problem. 

{The Contents: Dental Flossers}

You could carry around a toothbrush and toothpaste, but I don't know a lot of people who do that. These dental flossers will prevent you from having that piece of meat stuck between your teeth all day. Flossing is good for you and many of us don't do it enough. Convenience makes flossing a lot easier. A quick flossing with one of these guys, pop a piece of Extra® Gum Polar Ice® (or Spearmint) in your mouth, and you're good to go--fresh breath and all.

With these essentials, you should be fresh all season long! 

What would you put in your 'Keep Fresh' purse kit? Is there an item that you find yourself wishing you had but always forget to keep in your purse? Will you include Extra® Gum Polar Ice® or the Spearmint flavor? How will you #GetExtraGiveExtra?