Making sense of business expenses

How I keep up with business expenses 

1. Keep every receipt from any expense that you incur for your business.
 Here are some examples:
- Gift bags for delivering products
- Items needed to make gift baskets
- Hostess gifts
- Lacons, sample containers, spatulas, etc.
Basically anything that you wouldn't have normally bought or could use for other purposes such as buying a skirt or fingernail polish..something like that. (Unless you're giving those items away as a hostessing gift, raffle, etc.)

2. Buy a notebook ( business expense..keep the receipt)
 and a small pouch or heck even a ziplock would work. 
 During the month stick all of your business expense receipts in the pouch. At the end of the month set aside a time to get them all out and put them in the notebook.

So if I started my business in June for example I would write " June 2014" on the top corner of the page and I typically tape them onto the page and write out the total amount I spent next to the receipt and what it was for.
then proceed to put all of my June receipts in order in the notebook.
 Ex:
Dollar Tree
$5.18
Basket Supplies

Then once that month is done you start over with the new month. I've found this usually keeps me on track and able to have everything in order for tax time. It also makes it easier to be able to know at a glance if you're in the good with expenses vs income.

A few other tips: 
- Whenever you're finished putting in all of the monthly expenses, total them up and write the total in parenthesis next to the month in the upper right hand corner, it'll make everything more streamlined during tax season.
- When a notebook is filled put it in your business binder ( more to come later on that one) or whatever safe spot you keep your other tax records
- If you've got questions over what is or isn't considered a business expense check out the official IRS business expense page

Like I said before, the notebook method works for me, but if you're more a fan of the digital life. You can always scan the receipts and keep track of them and any expenses on your computer using Excel or THIS awesome free tool.

DIY Laundry Detergent

Alright so if you haven't tried THIS incredible soap from Perfectly Posh do yourself a favor and try it now. 

Like...right now...I'll wait. Here's why:

1. INCREDIBLE citrus scent 

2. Organic soap base

3. SLS and Phthalate free fragrance

4. Lathers well and moisturizes luxuriously 

5. It's less than $10 for a HUGE bar! 

6. You can make the most heavenly scented laundry detergent EVER!

How you ask? Well let me show you, it's a lot more easier than you might have thought. 

You'll Need:

* One Perfectly Posh Chatter Chunk Bar 

* 1 1/2 Cups of Borax
* 1 1/2 Cups of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
* 1/2 Cup of Baking Soda ( not pictured..sorry, but I honestly just use store brand) 
* Ninja or other chopping/grating equipment

Step One:

Take out a grater and well...grate the soap. This is the "hardest" part of the whole recipe, it can get a little tiring but the bar grates fairly well. You should end up with about 3 cups ( using a fairly large grater as pictured) I wouldn't stress if yours ends up being slightly more or less. 

Step Two:

Take the shreds and put them into your Ninja or other chopping device and pulverize them until they are as close to a powder as you can get. I usually can get a pretty good almost powder quality using the ninja for a few seconds. The photo is obviously the before lol 

Step Three:

Put your now freshly pulverized bar in a bowl and then in another separate bowl mix together the Borax, Washing Soda, and Baking Soda. Combine the powders thoroughly. How AMAZING does your house smell right now??

Step Four:

Combine the mixtures together and begin stirring so everything is as mixed together as it can be. Then pour it into an air-sealed container and you're DONE! woohoo! Way to go! You now have your very own batch of homemade laundry detergent. You use 2 Tablespoons per laundry load. I stick an old measuring spoon right on top of the detergent so it's right there. 

Optional:

I always have some small little pieces of the soap stuck to my Ninja whenever I'm through and instead of just rinsing it down the drain I add water to the container and get loose as much of it as I can. I then add that water to another sealing container and use it as a fabric scent booster. I sometimes will also add 2-3 drops of Wild Orange essential oil to the watery mixture for even more citrus scent.

 I add 1/2 cup to the rinse cycle or you can dip a towel in it and throw it in the dryer with the freshly laundered clothes.

These are the finished products:

Ps- Your house smells HEAVENLY when you use this detergent

Also if you decide to use the Wild Orange essential oil 

you can use coupon code "Bubble" to save 10% off your order! 

Linking up at 

Blissful And Domestic

Serenity Now

Why do things like this always happen to me?

Well I'm back folks! It took a lot longer this time to get everything back in order from the trip. I remember before little Munchkin it took nothing to unpack, and get the house back in shape. Now my suitcase stays dumped on the floor open like a gutted fish for a week after we get back. It's crazy how they change your life. You go from two suitcases to seven, from nothing to juice and sippy cups and snacks and diapers. It's crazy. ANYWAY....I wanted to write this up before I forgot.

Literally the day before we left for our trip my sister and I decided to get our eyebrows waxed at my favorite little place at our local walmart. Despite the woman last time violating my nostril ( see post here )...I wish I was kidding...I love this place and have NEVER had anything horrible happen, and they always do a fantastic job. Well I don't know if she was having an off day or maybe they were just super busy or what but this time she messed up...badly. The wax was a little warmer than normal which didn't bother me, but she decided for some inexplicable reason to wax under my brow on one side TWICE. That is a HUGE no-no.

It hurt. Badly. When she was finished I looked in the little mirror and didn't see any burning just the natural redness so we paid and left the salon. However by the time I made it home my brow was blistered and red. It wasn't as bad as those horrific pictures you see where people get burned but it didn't look good and it was RIGHT before the trip. I was bummed to say the least.

So what did I do? Grabbed my Healer Skin Stick and began applying it. I applied it every hour on the hour and you guys I am not kidding the blisters and redness was almost completely gone in 24 hours! I was ecstatic!

I've used The Healer with success on Munchkin's diaper rash, baby acne, all of our cuts or minor  burns, but nothing like this before. I was SO happy to see the results guys. I of course took pictures and you can tell in the first one there's a lot of blistering and redness and then the second one which is literally the next day and is almost completely healed! This little skin stick is exactly what it claims to be..a healer! ha ha.

So if your favorite nail salon blistered your eyebrows I would 1,000% recommend this. Hope you all had a fantastic Easter and that you're all doing well. Hugs & love! 

-Nickie

Eye love this thing!

I mentioned in my About Face series that I was going to dive further into The Caffeinator Skin Stick because it's so incredibly awesome and so that's what we're going to talk about today. I've gotten almost everyone I know hooked on this baby. It's just an amazing little skin stick that I use literally everyday. 

So, let's start with the basics.

What is it?

It's a  moisturizing shea butter skin stick infused with tightening and brightening caffeine. It's almost like a glue stick, and it's packing some serious tightening powers. Caffeine naturally tightens and firms so when you combine those natural powers with the moisturizing effects of shea butter and the bonus brightening powers of lemon essential oil you get one amazing little stick. 

How do you use it?

You just simply uncap it, glide it around the eye area and any other place with lines/wrinkles and you're done. You can see results in as little as ten minutes! It's safe and gentle enough to use everyday ( I sometimes use it twice a day if I've had a night with little sleep). 

My mother uses this on her forehead lines, around her mouth lines, and all around her eyes. I mainly use it around my eyes. I seriously love this stick. Here is The Caffeinator on my eyes after about five hours of sleep and battling a cold. My eyes aren't horrible, but you can see an obvious (better) difference in the two:

This is Hubby a willing man who shall not be named. His eye's tend to be a lot worse than mine and you can tell a major difference in his two photos. Since discovering The Caffeinator he's been using it every day, but you didn't hear that from me. *wink*

See? Incredible right!?! Where else can you get such amazing results for $12.00? So clearly you can see why this little baby is one of my absolute new favorites. Feel free to message me if you have any questions or want to know more about this awesome little stick. You can find out even more information and purchase this little baby HERE

And all together now.....

Welcome to Day Five in our About Face post. 

If you missed Day One: Face Washes you can find it here
Day Two: Moisturizers can be found here
Day Three: Serums can be found here
Day Four: Masks can be found here

{ Day Five}

Ok so if you've been following along with this series by now you have all of the information you could possibly need about facial maintenance and routines. You've got a solid foundation and you know what to use, where to use it, when to use it and how to use it.

The problem that most people have when they start adding to their routine is placement. Does the serum go before the moisturizer or after? What if I want to use two serums? It can get a little confusing, so on this last day of our series I wanted to create a post that simplified the process. Here we go:

{ Routine with Face Wash, Moisturizer, 
1 Serum, 1 Mask & Night Cream }
Keep in mind it might vary slightly depending on exactly 
which mask and serum you are using, like I said before I prefer certain serums at night rather than the daytime, feel free to switch this up if you want. This is just a basic guideline

Sunday
AM:  Face Wash - Serum - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer 
Monday
AM: Face Wash - Mask - Serum - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer
Tuesday
AM: Face Wash - Serum - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Night Cream 
Wednesday
AM: Face Wash - Serum - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer
Thursday
AM: Face Wash - Mask - Serum - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer
Friday
AM: Face Wash - Serum - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Night Cream 
Saturday
AM: Face Wash - Serum - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer

{ Routine with Face Wash, Moisturizer, 
2 Serums, 2 Masks, Night Cream }
Keep in mind it might vary slightly depending on exactly 
which mask and serum you are using, instead of alternating days you could put one on in the morning and one on at night and skip the morning moisturizer. Play with it. This is just a basic guideline

Sunday
AM:  Face Wash - Serum 1 - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer 
Monday
AM: Face Wash - Mask 1- Serum 2- Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer
Tuesday
AM: Face Wash - Serum 1- Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Night Cream 
Wednesday
AM: Face Wash - Serum 2 - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer
Thursday
AM: Face Wash - Mask 2 - Serum 1 - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer
Friday
AM: Face Wash - Serum 2 - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Night Cream 
Saturday
AM: Face Wash - Either Serum 1 or 2 - Moisturizer - Primer - Makeup
PM: Face Wash - Moisturizer

See, easy peasy. Once you get the routine going you'll be a pro in no time.

 Just find what works for your skin and roll with it. 

With a targeted treatment like the zit zapper or the caffeinator 

( more about that little gem coming soon) you'll want to apply those

 after you wash, serum, and moisturize...before the primer. 

Feel free to ask any questions about certain products or where they go in the routine. 

I hope you guys have enjoyed this little series as much as I have. 

Hope you all have an awesome weekend!

{ Why Posh? }

Putting the fact that I am a consultant with Posh aside, I would still recommend their products. Why? Because I have seen how amazing the results can be with my own skin and with family and friends. They use no sulfates/parabens/paraffins/petroleum products/soy or gluten fillers and are fragranced with essential oils and high grade perfume. They are made with natural, safe ingredients therefor they are very gentle. Even the most sensitive of skin can usually use our products without irritation.

Check out more awesome Perfectly Posh products

HERE

Day Four: Masks

Welcome to Day Four in our About Face post. 

If you missed Day One: Face Washes you can find it here
Day Two: Moisturizers can be found here
Day Three: Serums can be found here

{ Day Four}

- Masks -

Masks are extremely beneficial to skin and should be apart of everyone's beauty regiment. There are a gazillion masks out there that do a number of things. You really have to think about what your main concern is ( dryness/blemishes/aging etc) and go from there. On top of the beneficial uses that the various masks provide there's just something so relaxing and wonderful about putting on a face mask, getting in a bubble bath, and sipping some wine..am I right?? Anywho..here are some of my favorites:

{ Which one is right for me? }

1. SeaWitch Face Mask
This is hands down my favorite mask. It has kelp, algae, and kaolin clay for nourishing clean. It firms and tightens skin while battling free radical damage. This is literally the best mask for everyone, I love it. Older skin benefits from the tightening and younger skin benefits from the deep, astringent cleaning. My mother and I both are ADDICTED to this mask. To use it you simply apply lightly to clean face and neck, leave it on 1-5 minutes to allow algae complex to tighten skin and provide a deep astringent clean. Then rinse thoroughly with cool water. Moisturize or use a serum as usual. Use 1-3 times weekly. Small warning: the algae and kaolin clay may tingle or burn your skin the first few uses until your skin gets used to it. My skin it did for the first two uses, my mom's never did. It just depends on your skin so don't freak out if it does.


2. Calm Down! Oatmeal Face Mask
If you have sensitive, dry, red, chapped skin then this mask is for you. It's a creamy mask of blended oatmeal, banana, avocado, and chamomille. It's made to soothe and calm irritated skin. If your little one has a sunburn or you're dealing with some redness from a beauty treatment or harsh weather this is your best friend. To use it you simply apply it generously to face and neck. Allow it to nourish for 5-10 minutes or heck even a little longer, and then rinse thoroughly. Pat skin gently to dry. You can use it as often as needed to calm skin. With this I would personally skin the serum but I would add the moisturizer once my skin was completely dry.


3.Now & Zen The Smooth Pansy Cloth Face Mask
The other masks we've been talking about were creamy ones that you apply to your face. This is a little different. Now & Zen are cloth masks that you take out of the wrapper and apply to your face. The Smooth Pansy is a potent bio active peel mask designed to renew the complexion, reduce the appearance of lines and dramatically improve skin tone. It evens skin tone and makes skin look brighter and healthier. To use this you apply the cloth mask on your clean, dry face and neck and relax for 10-15 minutes. Then you simply remove and dispose of cloth. There is no need to wash off serum after use. Follow up in coming morning and evening with the complimentary serum that's included in your pack. Use 1-2 masks per week for maximum results. I would simply let my face soak it all in, I would not apply a moisturizer after I used this, I would simply apply the complementary serum the next day and night.



4. Now & Zen The Brilliant Lotus Cloth Face Mask
This is another cloth mask like the one we mentioned earlier. This one however is made with Co Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and a Multi Peptide Complex, it also Features lotus flower and aloe. This is an anti-aging mask. It slows down the signs of aging, boost collagen, and fills in fine lines and wrinkles. To use, it's just like before..you apply the cloth mask on your clean, dry face and neck and relax for 10-15 minutes. Then you simply remove and dispose of cloth. There is no need to wash off serum after use. Follow up in coming morning and evening with the complimentary serum that's included in your pack. Use 1-2 masks per week for maximum results. I would simply let my face soak it all in, I would not apply a moisturizer after I used this, I would simply apply the complementary serum the next day and night.


5. The Stripper
This is one of the most POPULAR masks out there. If you have any blackheads, blemishes or large pores you want this girl. This is a blend of muds, clays, charcoal, triglycerides, aloe, and vanilla essential oil.With continued use supports cleaner, brighter skin, fewer black heads and blemishes, and improved elasticity. Just like the SeaWitch this baby tends to tingle/burn the first few times you use it so make sure you're applying it lightly to sensitive areas. A good thing to do is to first test it out on your inner wrist before applying it to your face. To use it you simply apply to rinsed, clean skin (lightly in more sensitive areas). Only use for 1-15 minutes, rinse, then follow up with a moisturizer. You can use this mask once or twice per week.

We talked about the Ultra Hydrating Rain Mask and The Saint Moisture Mask in detail on day two so if you need a quick refresher, check out this page

{ Tips & Tricks }

( Germs are everywhere honey } 
Wash those hands! It's especially important to wash your hands before you touch any face product that you're going to be putting on your skin. It's also a good idea to use a popsicle stick ( or a spoon) to get the product out of the containers and onto your skin. The less your fingers are in the product the longer germ free it'll be.

( You're HOT then your COLD} 
You know how amazing it feels when you put aloe that's been in the fridge on your sunburned skin? Well some face masks are the same way. Try scooping out some Calm Down! mask onto a spoon and putting it in your fridge for a few minutes before you apply it. Talk about cool and calming!

( Now what? } 
It's super important to follow up (most) of these masks with a moisturizer or a serum and then a moisturizer, especially if you're using the SeaWitch or the Stripper mask.

{ Why Posh? }

Putting the fact that I am a consultant with Posh aside, I would still recommend their products. Why? Because I have seen how amazing the results can be with my own skin and with family and friends. They use no sulfates/parabens/paraffins/petroleum products/soy or gluten fillers and are fragranced with essential oils and high grade perfume. They are made with natural, safe ingredients therefor they are very gentle. Even the most sensitive of skin can usually use our products without irritation.




Day Five: All Together Now

Check out more awesome Perfectly Posh products

HERE

Day Three: Serums

Welcome to Day Three in our About Face post. 

If you missed Day One: Face Washes you can find it here
Day Two: Moisturizers can be found here

{ Day Three}

- Serums -

Serums can fall into the same category as targeted treatments. They are typically thinner than your moisturizers and are made to solve specific problems. You typically put a serum on after you wash your face and before you put on your moisturizer. Sometimes you might not need to follow up with a moisturizer. So let's dig in. 

{ Which one is right for me? }

1. Sweet Young Thing
This is a sophisticated blend of CoQ10, natural cell generating oils, and powerful peptides which plump and fill fine lines and wrinkles.This is an anti-aging blend and it made to preserve and improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles. This is your personal little magic wand to roll back the clock. To use it you apply two drops to your clean, dry face and neck one to two times daily. Rub in and allow to dry before applying other product. This is a fairly creamy serum so you might want to skip the morning moisturizer, it just depends on your skin.

2. Vitamin C Fairy
 A unique and high tech blend of vitamin C extracts and coenzymes including CoQ10 disenchant discoloration while gentle chamomile soothes. These potent vitamin C extracts and coenzymes fight hyper pigmentation and promote the growth of young, elastic skin it also disenchants discoloration on your face. If you have any redness or discoloration this is the serum you're going to want to use. The vitamin C is also very brightening so your skin gets a little pick-me-up. You use it the same as you would the Sweet Young Thing.



3. Zit Zapper
While not technically a serum, it is a targeted treatment for acne. Nature gives us sugar cane, and sugar cane gives us glycolic acid to fight back against blemishes, whiteheads, blackheads, & more. You would apply this as a spot treatment to active blemishes and known problem spots to help heal, remove dead skin cells and regenerate healthy new skin lightning fast. If you've got a teen or you yourself are having acne issues, trust your skin to this baby.

4. Under Wonder Pore Primer
While technically again...not a serum...it is along the lines, at least in my opinion. Primer helps makeup apply smoothly and stay put longer while filling and softening fine lines and wrinkles. There is no better primer, sorry. It's better than the $45 jobs...seriously...try it out if you don't believe me. To use this baby you simply apply a small pea sized portion onto your finger then smooth over clean, dry skin. Allow to set for 30-60 seconds then apply make up as usual. You would put this on as your final step before any makeup, or if you're like my mom...the final step no matter if you're putting makeup on or not.

{ Tips & Tricks }

( In Conclusion? } 

Younger skin would benefit from a targeted acne treatment combined with the vitamin C to reduce redness or any discoloration from blemishes. Older skin would benefit from an anti-aging serum or any other collagen/elasticity serum. All skin types and ages would benefit from a primer. 

( Eye see how it is... } 
When applying any treatment around the eye area try to remember to use your pinky. The eye area has some of the most sensitive and thin skin on the face and when you wipe harshly or rub it it's REALLY harsh on that sensitive area. It's best to dab with your pinky gently and in general take care whenever you're applying anything to or around it.

( AM or PM? } 

It really depends on you. Most of the serums allow you to use them twice a day allowing for right after you wash your face in the morning and then again right before bed. If you only have time to put one on though it's really up to you as to when you apply it. If I'm putting on the vitamin C fairy I like to apply it in the morning, if it's the sweet young thing I like to apply it at night. So play around and see what works for you. 

{ Why Posh? }

Putting the fact that I am a consultant with Posh aside, I would still recommend their products. Why? Because I have seen how amazing the results can be with my own skin and with family and friends. They use no sulfates/parabens/paraffins/petroleum products/soy or gluten fillers and are fragranced with essential oils and high grade perfume. They are made with natural, safe ingredients therefor they are very gentle. Even the most sensitive of skin can usually use our products without irritation.




Day Four: Masks

Check out more awesome Perfectly Posh products

HERE

Day Two: Moisturizers

Welcome to day two in our About Face post. 

If you missed Day One: Face Washes you can find it here

{ Day Two}

- Moisturizers-

I remember being at one of those clinique makeup booths with a friend in high school and saleslady asking her what skin regiment she used and she had replied soap and water in which me and the saleslady were mortified. She said her skin was young and didn't need moisturization...well honey do you think it's going to stay that way? NOPE. Everyone needs a moisturizer in their routine. I have oily, acne prone skin and I NEED a moisturizer. Skin goes through a lot in a day...germs, free radicals, smoke, dirt, sunlight, heat, cold, dryness, sweating, and more. It needs a wash to remove all that buildup and a moisturizer to replenish anything that the wash and daily activities removed.
PLUS a more moisturized skin looks like a more youthful skin! 


{ Which one is right for me? }

All skin types need a moisturizer, and which one you should use really comes down to what your personal skin needs. These are the moisturizers I recommend, why, and for who. 

1. Night & Day
This is an olive oil, glycerin, aloe, and lavender essential oil daily moisturizer. This is hands down my favorite go-to moisturizer. I use this every single night. It's very gentle and preferred on even the most sensitive skin. This one is also good on almost every skin type. So unless you aren't a fan of the lavender scent it's the one I would recommend.



2. Moisturize 911
This is a HUGE favorite. My mother swears by this one. It's a light, daily moisturizer loaded with caffeine and orange essential oil for tightening and brightening. This one is also a big hit for older skin because it not only moisturizes, but also gives you that tightening effect from the caffeine every time you apply it. Acne prone skin may also benefit from the caffeine as well.

{ Extra Moisturization }

1. Sweet Dreams Ultra Hydrating Night Creme
Moisturizes deep and intense while you sleep sweetly with natural butters to aid and improve elasticity, infuse with moisture, and preserve the overall look of face and neck. This is a fairly new moisturizer, and it has the added bonus of fighting wrinkles while it moisturizes. You would apply this at night after your face wash instead of your daily moisturizer.

2. Rain Mask Vintage Visage Hydration
This is another new product that has little orbs of nutritious hydration and gentle as rain extracts which feed and moisturize deeply adding plumpness and elasticity at a cellular level to delicate skin. This is being hailed as one of the best smelling masks EVER. Plus it also gives the added bonus of hydration plus improving elasticity. You would apply this after you've used your face wash, and you can leave this on for up to 60 minutes as often as needed, it's super gentle.



3. The Saint Moisture Mask
This is a honey and avocado moisture mask with nutrient rich butters, oils, and fruits. It's ideal for naturally dry skin, and skin that spends time in the elements. Rich in vitamin C for revitalization, plus healing honey, and gentle glycerin. Again you would use this after your face wash, and allow it to dry and set. Leave on for ten to fifteen minutes and then rinse thoroughly. Use it religiously three to seven times per week for best results.

4. Hydrating Argan And Olive Face Oil
This is a specially blended concentrate of natural oils designed to deliver a boost of intensive light weight moisture to skin. It is not oily and will not clog pores, it leaves face naturally dewy and delightful with calming lavender and rare argan oil. You would apply this after your face wash by putting three to four drops into your hand and smoothing it onto your face and neck. Use two to five times per week. Continued use will even skin tone and prevent dryness.

{ Tips & Tricks }

( Timing is key } 

Moisturizers lock in the moisture that is on the surface of your skin so you want to apply it no later than 3 minutes after you wash and pat your face dry. 

( How much? } 
Because my skin is oily I've found that I only need to apply a moisturizer once a day ( at night right before bed). If you have dry skin or if your acne treatments make your skin super dry I would aim for applying it twice a day or once a day with a mask or treatment. I also apply moisturizer after any face masks that I use.

{ Why Posh? }

Putting the fact that I am a consultant with Posh aside, I would still recommend their products. Why? Because I have seen how amazing the results can be with my own skin and with family and friends. They use no sulfates/parabens/paraffins/petroleum products/soy or gluten fillers and are fragranced with essential oils and high grade perfume. They are made with natural, safe ingredients therefor they are very gentle. Even the most sensitive of skin can usually use our products without irritation.




Day Three: Serums

Check out more awesome Perfectly Posh products

HERE

Let's do an about face!

I grew up in a home where my mother's beauty regiment and products were as religious as most people's family bible. My cosmetologist Aunt and my Mom sat me down and went over the specifics of face care...what to use, where, why, and when at a very young age. I have just always known what I should be putting on my face so it always was something that caught me off guard when friends or someone older than me had no clue about needing to use a moisturizer, or face wash or which kind. So...I figured I could share what I know. This is going to be broken into days soo.... here goes:

{ Day One }

- Face Wash -

The face wash is in my opinion the most important step in a regiment.It's recommended that you wash your face at least once a day, but twice a day is preferred. Why you ask? Well, our skin is covered in a layer of dead skin cells, dirt, pollutants, and bacteria. This builds up as we go through our day and that layer will continue to thicken as the days go on unless we wash our faces daily. Not to mention that washing our faces unclogs our pores and promotes the regeneration of healthy, clean skin. So now that I've got you on board for the face washing thing let's look at which wash you should use.

{ Normal Skin }
You lucky ducks. If your skin is never really oily or ever really dry your skin is normal. Congratulations on winning the skin lottery. You can basically use any type of face wash depending on your personal  preferences. From exfoliating washes to cream ones

{ Dry Skin }
If your face usually feels tight, and is flaky or ashy you have dry skin. It's recommended to use a creamy cleanser like the Delish wash if you've got dry skin. You also want to make sure you're following up with a moisturizer and I would also use a night cream 2-3 times a week and for really dry skin a moisturizing mask as well.

{ Oily Skin }
If you have oily skin ( especially in the T-Zone ) you know it...aka: me. You could use those little oil blotter sheets like five times a day..yeah I'm with you sister. The recommended wash for oily skin is a creamy one with no exfoliation. Honestly though I use the BFF wash which is a gentle exfoliating wash and my skin has NEVER looked this good so there are exceptions to the rules. Sometimes you have to play around and find out what works for you.


{ Combination skin }
If you are sometimes oily in the T-Zone, but dry on your cheeks or other areas you have combo skin. This is another touch and go. I would start out with a mild exfoliating wash like the BFF and if you find it makes your skin more oilier than normal try out a cream wash.

{Acne Prone Skin}
I recommend using a wash that is specifically for preventing/healing acne. Perfectly Posh makes a bar soap made of activated charcoal ( called the Gender Bender) that literally pulls out dirt and oil from skin. They also have Complexion Perfection face wash for acne prone skin which is similar to the BFF wash. I use the BFF face wash every night and the Gender Bender every morning. With acne prone skin you would also benefit from a spot treatment and ALWAYS follow up with a moisturizer. It's extremely important for acne prone skin to wash their face twice a day.

{ Tips & Tricks }

( Temperature } 

 You want to use lukewarm water to wash your face. Not too hot and not too cold. Hot water actually dries skin. 

( Makeup Removers } 
Your face wash will take all of your makeup off there's no reason to use a separate wash for makeup. The only thing you need to take off with a different cleanser is eye makeup remover.

( Best Time To Wash Your Face} 

If you can only fit in one time a day to wash your face make it in the evening. It's most beneficial to wash your face right before bed so you can sleep easy knowing you removed all of the day's dirt and pollution.

{ Sleepy and forgetful? Aka: almost every new mom out there} 
If you sometimes forget to wash your face at night keep a box of face wipes in your drawers next to your bed so you can grab, wipe, and sleep.

{ Why Posh? }

Putting the fact that I am a consultant with Posh aside, I would still recommend their facial washes. Why? Because I have seen how amazing the results can be with my own skin and with family and friends. They use no sulfates/parabens/paraffins/petroleum products/soy or gluten fillers and are fragranced with essential oils and high grade perfume. They are made with natural, safe ingredients therefor they are very gentle. Even the most sensitive of skin can usually use our products without irritation.




Day Two: Moisturizers

I am in love.

I know what you're thinking, I can totally see into those pretty little heads of yours ( I know..I know...I can't wait for my thin mints to arrive either!). You're thinking...Nickie....didn't you make a whole post about how much you dislike MLM companies? Yes, yes I did. Then I found one that was so different and wonderful that I changed my mind. Well, at least when it comes to this one.

I'm sure by now you've noticed the cute little banner on the side of the page, and thought what in the world is Perfectly Posh? Well sit down and pull up a chair buttercup.

What is Perfectly Posh?

Perfectly Posh is a relatively new company with spa and pampering products that are paraben-free, paraffin-free, free of sulfates including SLS, cruelty free and do NOT test on animals. When I heard those words I was basically sold then I also found out that they are fragranced only with the highest quality essential oils and fine phthalate-free fragrances. They even use natural enzymes and vitamin E to preserve the life and look of these awesome pampering products. Sold!

What products are offered?

There are ooodles upon oodles of pampering products from lotions to scrubs, cuticle cream, hair masks and everything in between. What really amazed me is how well they work and how INCREDIBLE they smell. I can't stop sniffing myself and sorry...you wont be able to either! These are a few of my favorites:

1. The Tree Hugger
This is a deep cleaning, D Tox scrub that has sea salts, strawberry seeds, coconut shreds, and a detoxifying blend of soothing essential oils. It scrubs and detoxes while nourishing the new layer with energizing vitamin C, rich jojoba and sunflower oil. Plus it smells like coconuts and strawberries.




2. The Caffeinator
This little baby is a moisturizing shea butter stick infused with tightening and brightening caffeine. You just rub this around your eye area and watch as the caffeine gets to work and tightens and brightens the skin. AKA: 8 hours of sleep fake-it stick.




3. The Stripper
This is a D Toxing mud mask that aggressively absorbs and removes free-radicals from skin. This puppy slows moisture removal with triglycerides and vanilla essential oil. With continued use supports cleaner, brighter skin, fewer black heads and blemishes, and improved elasticity. SIGN ME UP NOW am I right?



4.Sweet Young Thing
It's an anti-aging serum that is loaded with a sophisticated blend of CoQ10, natural cell-generating oils, and powerful peptides. This stuff is creamy and smells to me like a magnolia/jasmine smell. It is literally heaven in a bottle. When I put it on Hubby even noticed my skin looked great.

Ok Nickie, I am loving the products but c'mon MLM.....I've been hurt real bad sister. 

I feel you guys read on...

What makes them different?

I was so excited to join this company because they are SO different from all the other big name MLM companies that I've tried before. They are LOW KEY and encourage their consultants to be themselves, wear what makes them happy and comfortable, have fun, don't stress, and pamper themselves just as much as they pamper their customers.

Customers are treated like what they actually are: women who deserved to be pampered not a potential number or a sales slip. Unlike the other guys we are encouraged to share products not pressure women into joining our "army". They also pay commission on everything you buy, there is no "wholesale vs retail". You simply sell the products and they send you a check. They do bonus items, half off deals, hostess perks, and contests all the time to score some extra goodies. You're not pressured to have product on hand and consultants are encouraged to uplift and help out their fellow consultant sisters.

The price to become a consultant is only $99.00 ( plus local tax/shipping) and I signed up in January so my kit came with DOUBLE the amount of products! It was worth it to join up just for the amount of goodies alone! Another great thing about being a consultant is that this is a relatively new company so the market is WIDE OPEN! There are a million opportunities to expand and develop a market in your area! If you want more info about joining you can read about it HERE and message me either here or on my Facebook Page and I will answer any questions. PS - You can still get the double kit promotion all the way until February 6th!

I can literally go on and on, but I'll stop here and continue with the info...

What does this mean for us, your loyal readers?

Well not too awful much. No I will not be harassing or pushing anyone to join or buy something, that's not why we're here and I hope you guys know and love me better than that. But I will post some Perfectly Posh stuff occasionally when I think you guys might be interested or whenever I get really excited about something. Which...let's face it..I'm a tad bit obsessive when it comes to things I fall in love with. So if I do go a little overboard please forgive me. I'm thankful that I found Perfectly Posh, it was an accident that I stumbled onto their Facebook page posts and I will be forever grateful. I think their products are amazing and I honestly really just want to share them with you guys. I do plan on doing a giveaway or two in the next few months with both Perfectly Posh and Spark Naturals so stay tuned for that. 

Well that's about all. I just wanted to keep you all updated and caught up in the know.