When Cutting Expenses Isn't Worth It

Here at Chez Robbins we've been trying to cut back on some expenses. Some of it was a great idea, some not so much. See, I tried to cut back the costs of my beauty routine and it was a disaster!

Ok, maybe you just rolled your eyes. That's ok. But even if you don't believe me, it has been a disaster. I haven't had a breakout like this since junior high. Actually, I don't think I have ever had breakouts this bad!

The problem is that I tried to go back to drugstore brands for face wash, moisturizer, etc. And my skin is NOT HAPPY about it. Apparently my skin was spoiled by the Arbonne products it was used to. For two years I exclusively used Arbonne, specifically the Calm line and the Genius exfoliating pads. And my skin was awesome. Soft, smooth, nary a blemish. Ok, I did have the occasional spot or two. But overall it was fantastic.

So I decided that my skin was ready to go back to drugstore brands. Or at least my wallet was. Arbonne prices are on par with Clinique and department store brands, and I was aiming to keep costs down so I wanted to switch to something I could pick up at Wal-Mart.

I made the switch. And it was not awesome.  Right now I'm using Aveeno Naturals. I don't care for it at all. Well, that's not entirely true. I do like the face wipes (though they are super similar to the Neutrogena wipes) and the facial scrub is alright. But the moisturizer is just awful. It feels heavy and yet not very moisturizing. (If you hate the word moist, I'm sorry for this post!)

While Arbonne products are more expensive than what I'm currently using, I've come to the conclusion that they are worth every penny. And I am anxiously awaiting the delivery of the Calm line to my front door!  I'll find another way to cut expenses - maybe drink beer instead of wine at happy hour for awhile? (#firstworldproblems)

What's your go-to skincare routine? Do you use drugstore brands or department store? Or do you do an Arbonne or Rodan & Fields kinda thing? (Full disclosure: I do still sell Arbonne now and then, so if you're ever interested let me know! Or you can visit my link: http://jenniferbryant.arbonne.com/)

Previously on Mrs Robbins Sparkles...

Friday, I'm in Love: Clarisonic Mia 2

A few years ago a friend messaged me raving about her new Clarisonic Mia. I'd never heard of it, but she went on and on about how amazing it was. I was a freelance writer/nanny so money was pretty tight. But the more she talked about it, the more convinced I was that I needed a Clarisonic Mia as well.

I scoured the internet for deals, but the best one I could find was on Amazon. It was still a huge strain on my budget, but I figured I could totally live on baked beans if it meant getting this "life changing" product. I found a light pink Clarisonic Mia 2 and ordered it as soon as I could. (Though now I would totally buy the lavender one like you see below!)

Now y'all, I don't know if I would say it is a life changer. But it is a pretty wonderful product! It was a huge splurge for the broke entrepreneur that I was, but I haven't regretted it. In fact, it is hanging in my shower as we speak. It's been about two years and the Mia 2 is still going strong. When used with your regular face wash it is gentle enough to be used daily, but I use mine every other day with my Arbonne FC 5 New Face Exfoliating Scrub. It's like a mini-facial a few times a week!

If you've never heard of it, you may be wondering what it even is. Officially, it is "a travel-friendly, professional-quality skincare brush with two speeds." But basically, it is a pulsing brush that is an alternative to a washcloth. It has a 60 second timer and breaks that time up in increments so you know how long to spend on your cheeks, forehead, etc. The Mia 2 has 2 speeds (get it?) and holds the charge super well. I only charge mine every other month, maybe.

There are also different brush heads that you can use. I use the deep pore cleansing one, because some of my pores are like the Grand Canyon. Side note: pretty sure I was cursed with these pores after telling my father his nose looked like a strawberry when I was a child. He had a sunburn and dark pores and I just thought, "strawberry". Of course, I inherited those pores so, karma. But they also have acne-clearing brush heads, sensitive brush heads, and normal brush heads, so you can choose whatever works for you.

If you haven't tried the Clarisonic Mia, clearly I recommend it. There are lots of imitations out there, but I can't imagine they would be as good as the original. I seriously love mine; I take it with me everywhere. But a word to the wise - use the travel case it comes with! Otherwise you may find yourself frantically going through your carry-on bag to stop the buzzing. And trust me, people don't assume the buzzing coming from your bag is a Clarisonic Mia...

Do you have a Clarisonic Mia? Or maybe one of the other versions of it out there? What do you think of it?

I was not compensated in any way for this post, however the post does include affiliate links.