SuperFruits + #FundayMonday Link-Up!

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Clearasil, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #SuperFruits http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

Thank you all for the well wishes for our family as we welcomed sweet Lilly this weekend!

I will definitely have more updates and everything soon, but for now, here’s a post I wrote like RIGHT before I went into labor. 😛

Let’s talk SKINCARE, y’all.

I have fought a battle with my skin over the years. I will say that I am DEFINITELY very blessed with good genetics – my mom had GREAT skin and always looked younger than her actual age. I’ve ALWAYS looked younger than I actually am and I have to say that I’ve been pretty lucky that I haven’t had HORRIBLE skin my entire life.

I’ve never been one of those people whose entire face would blow up or anything (I realize that sounds super gross, but you know what I mean). But, when my face WOULD decide to break out, it would be like these monster zits that I could name and/or give a social security number to.

Then I went through an awesome period in college where my face almost NEVER broke out. I was like, “SWEET!! The acne days are gone!”

And then I graduated college and I got what is known as “stress acne.” Which is really fun. Because it becomes a vicious cycle. You get stressed, so you get acne. Then you get acne, and you get more stressed because you have acne. And so on and so forth.

And that’s basically been how my skin has been since 2007. I get stressed = I get acne.

And then I got weird pregnancy induced acne which was no fun at all. Seriously. THE WORST.

So, over the years I’ve had to figure out the best way to maintain somewhat of a “normal” skincare routine, while periodically fighting major breakouts.

I don’t have skin that really falls into one category or another. It’s not super oily. It’s not super dry. It’s not super blemish-ridden. It’s not prone to lines and wrinkles. It falls in an in-between category for all of those things. Now, it IS awkwardly sensitive to certain products.

For example, there are certain brands of makeup I just CAN’T use because my face immediately becomes really red and itchy.

And then, when it comes to anything skincare related, I have to be SUPER careful because I’m HIGHLY allergic to beeswax (which is in like 99% of any kind of lip stuff, so I have to check the ingredients on everything) and I’m also HIGHLY allergic to benzoil peroxide which is the main ingredient in most, if not almost all skincare treatments that are for treating acne. Even a lot of “everyday” face washes have benzoil peroxide in them.

So, salicylic acid has been my friend whenever it comes to needing some type of product with an acne medication / treatment in it.

**I will briefly note, that there are people that will say that you can’t use salicylic acid while pregnant. Yes, I have heard and read that. I used salicylic acid while pregnant. I asked my midwife about it and she said it is FINE since my facewash and skincare routine has such a small percentage. Pregnant women SHOULD be cautious with any prescription-strength stuff or anything like ProActiv. I would just, when in doubt, talk with your OB or midwife to make sure whatever you are using is fine. I’m of the mindset that if my facewash has 1% or 2% salicylic acid in it, it’s PROBABLY not going to hurt my baby. But, I can’t make that decision for you.

Anyway, I’m rambling here.

With all that being said, I have never really been “married” or loyal to ONE particular facewash or skincare regimen. I’ve tried a bunch and haven’t found THE ONE.

That’s why I was SUPER excited to try Clearasil’s NEW! Daily Clear Refreshing Superfruit Cleansers. I have used Clearasil products before I’ve always been happy with the results, but just hadn’t used their stuff in a few years.

Clearasil just released this new line of face washes, scrubs, and pads. It already won me over with the fact that it doesn’t contain benzoil peroxide (win! I can use it!) and it smells SO GOOD. Oh my gosh. It has raspberry and cranberry extracts in it and it smells like a delicious fruity heaven.

Using a $1 off coupon from Wal-mart, I decided on the Refreshing Superfruit Wash and picked it up early last week and have been using it every day since. It’s super gentle and so I’ve been using it in the shower after I wake up in the morning and at night before I go to bed.

Be prepared for awkward close ups of my face.

This is my face BEFORE I washed my face with the cleanser – this is also after a workout… soooo I’m kinda “dewey,” if you will:

So far, I’ve really been loving it! It hasn’t made me breakout (yes, I’ve used an acne wash that actually made me BREAK OUT before… worst). My skin hasn’t reacted to it by turning red, blotchy, splotchy, or itchy. And my skin doesn’t feel “dirty” after I use it. You know what I mean – I’ve used face stuff before that just leaves my skin feeling… not clean – like it leaves a lot of residue. I have NOT had that problem with the Refreshing Superfruit Wash at all!

It feels SUPER clean when you wash with it. This is me with it all lathered on my face. Sorry I don’t have “action” shots – I was trying to multi-task here.

And awkward close up of my face AFTER I washed. Feeling nice and refreshed!

I also love that Clearasil products are super affordable. As nice as it would be to be able to drop $100 on a skincare routine, that’s just not realistic for me. So, this is one of those products that really does a great job while also not totally busting a hole in my wallet!

So, what about you? What’s your skincare routine like? Have you ever tried Clearasil’s NEW! Daily Clear Refreshing Superfruit Cleansers? Are you GOING to try them? What do you think you’ll get – the wash, scrub, or pads? If you’re interested in trying them out, be sure to print off your $1 off coupon which you can get here!

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Happy Funday Monday! Each week, Carly & I select a few of our favorite posts from the Monday before to feature. It’s a great way to put the spotlight on a few of y’all each week! Please be sure to link up an ACTUAL post, not just a link to your main page.A few of our favs from last week:CraftyHeart on my SleeveVegan, Gluten Free BrowniesDeath by Vanilla

1. Follow your hosts Molly @ still being [molly], Carly @ Lipgloss & Crayons, and your guest hosts for the week Andrea at Boho Bunnie and Dani at Love Me, Dani Marie.
   
2. Grab a button and / or post a link back here in your BLOG POST (NOT your blog’s main page) so your readers know what all the #fundaymonday-ness is about. We love you guys linking up and we do go through and read all your posts… so if you do not give credit, we will have to remove your link. That’s no fun, right? Right. So be nice and share a link! Pretty please?
3. Link your blog post up using the linky tool below! It can be ANYTHING! An outfit post, a giveaway, a story, a recipe, whatever. Why? Cause it’s #fundaymonday!
4. Visit a blog or four that you’ve never been to before and leave a #fundaymonday comment – you never know, you might “meet” someone new that you will lurve!
5. Have fun! Cause it’s Monday!