RE-POST: Skin Care and Clutter

I know the weather has been confusing lately, but summer's coming! If you're like me, beauty products work differently for you depending on the seasons. I was reminded of that this weekend as I had to purchase new products for my face and body - lighter body and face moisturizers with sunscreen, etc. If you're shopping for skin care products for the warmer months, below is a re-post of a guide to help you shop smart, save money, and reduce clutter. Good luck!

If you've been a beauty product junkie for years (like me), I command you to be sick and tired of the clutter all your beauty products cause, and the fact that you're wasting money too. Get angry! Then resolve to do better. I'll wait....

Done?

Good!

Here are some tips to help you shop smart, save money and reduce beauty-product clutter.

1. Know Thy Skin - if possible,  invest in a visit to the dermatologist  to discover what type of skin you have and the right products for your skin, including ingredients you should avoid. Knowing your skin type will help eliminate the trial and error games, and direct your purchases to products that will work for you. An alternative is to take an online quiz to determine your skin type and problem areas. (Clinique "My Skin Diagnostic" Quiz)

2. Finish, then Start - use up one product before starting on another (unless said product is causing damage to your skin or is simply not working for you). Using up one product before replacing it will reduce clutter and give you time to determine whether a product works or not.

3. Compare Ingredients - most beauty products have similar ingredients based on the promised solution. How does this new product differ from what you already have? Ex., most acne-fighting beauty products contain very similar ingredients. Focus on the problem and compare ingredients that target your specific skin issue.

4. Compare Prices - you'd be surprised to find that the Target brand of face-wash contains the same ingredients as your typical name brand. I'm just saying. 

5. Be Patient, Gals - according to a dermatologist, you should give your skin and a new product one month before concluding whether it works or not. 

Stay tidy, beauty product junkies!

Read more: How to conquer your beauty clutter - Oprah Magazine

Winners: One-Year Bloggerversary Giveaway

First, thank you all for your sweet comments and feedback on my one-year post! You are all so thoughtful  and please know that I am keeping every single feedback in mind for future posts on the blog. Thank you!

Per Random.org, the winners of the giveaway are Chic Therapy and Rhapsody Diva! 

Please email me at tidyupgal at gmail dot com with your details.

Thanks again! Enjoy your day!

Lavender+Oatmeal - Recycled Soap

What does soap mean to you? 

You may have read about the Global Soap Project some posts ago. Global Soap Project recycles used soap from hotels around the country into new, clean bars that are then sent to countries across the globe for relief efforts and hygiene education programs.

I went over to the warehouse the other day, and the plant manager (and my new buddy) was excited to show me some new soap he made - lavender soap. It smelled so good! I scored a few bars to take home with me.

 It's always great to see the finished product at the warehouse, but actually bringing home a bar made me imagine for a minute that I didn't have access to soap - no soap to wash clothes, take a bath/shower, wash my hands 50 million times like I do everyday, wash dishes, etc. 
Think about it for a minute.

Soap is so underrated. 
Please consider supporting Global Soap by either making a donation or volunteering to make some soap!

Visit www.globalsoap.org