Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid Review

About a month ago, I received Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid from BzzAgent for free. My reviews are never influenced by companies because that's not how I roll.

This product is a liquid exfoliant. It's supposed to shrink enlarged pores. I was happy to get it because I've been displeased with my nose pores recently. I didn't expect a lot because I've been down this road before with pore products.

My skin is combination with super oily spots and super dry spots. It's uneven and I have blackheads.

This was my first time using a Paula's Choice product. I've been using it for three weeks and I like it. My pores are less noticeable, my skin seems smoother overall, and most importantly it hasn't caused eruptions of hysteria on my face or interrupted my skin care routine whatsoever. Since I already use a product with retinol in it at night, I use this BHA Liquid every other day in the morning before I put my sunscreen and moisturizer on. I wait a little while from the time I apply this to the time I apply my other products.

IMPORTANT - if you are allergic to asprin or its derivatives, you should not try this. If you do want to try it, use the code PRPAULA20 at www.paulaschoice.com. The price isn't too bad - $23 for four ounces.

If anyone is interested in a little sample, hit me up. I have one left and I'm happy to mail it to you. Those of you that opted to recieve a sample from my facebook post, have you tried it? How do you like it?

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About that Dollar Shave Club

My mom brought me this Chi-Chi's sombrero from  her attic last night. RIP Chi-Chi's.

Update 11/13/17 - We no longer use the Dollar Shave Club monthly service because they are advertising on Sean Hannity's program and we do not support programs who provide shelter to pedophiles like Roy Moore. I placed an order with Dorco and that's how we'll go forward. 

Let me start by saying Tuesday sucks. And also that I was not compensated for this post or given a free product to try and review. I'm just passing what I consider to be a good deal on to you, dear readers.

I saw a blog post on a 'lil hoohaa about the Dollar Shave Club in December. What a genius idea for a stocking stuffer! I promptly signed MFD up. Mail fail - it came, I didn't squirrel it away, and I am into instant gratification so I said open it now! He's been using the razor blades for a month and likes them better than his former razors. Can I take a minute to say that I love that I have a husband who will play along with my desired blog photos?

Anyway...I typically buy Venus to the tune of $12+ per package and MFD uses Schick for $14+ per package. Buying razors always makes me mad because that's freaking highway robbery but if one does not want to walk around like a hairy Sasquatch it's a necessary expense. Could I use cheaper ones? I could. I could also shave my legs with a cheese grater. As I was saying...

Dollar Shave Club offers packages for $1/month, $6/month, or $9 for month. I chose the $6/month package for MFD. The initial package includes the razor and four blades, and four new blades arrive via mail every month. It's marketed towards men, but it's a great deal for women too. I thought let me get in on that, and bought a one off razor and pack of cartridges for myself. I'll just steal one of his or order another set to arrive with his monthly order whenever I'm running out. The razors are good and do what razors should do.

MFD's razor expenses went from $14/month down to $6/month, a savings of $96/year. I only buy cartridges every other month, so I went from $72/year to $36/year for an overall razor savings of $132/year. I love cutting costs like a boss wherever I can, especially if the product performs well at the lower price point.

If you want to save some cash, give Dollar Shave Club a try. I also learned that you can buy blades direct from Dorco USA, which supplies Dollar Shave Club, and if you buy in bulk you can save more - 6 packs of four blade razors for $28, free shipping over $25. So you can save $8 more over a period of six months if you choose. I will never remember when we're out, so I'm sticking with a monthly delivery from Dollar Shave Club that requires no thought or action from me.

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Haikuesday:

Razors. You need them.

Dollar Shave Club saves you cash.

Use it to buy shoes.

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I thought this was a good savings opportunity to pass on - every little bit counts, right?

The poop on my Erin Condren Planner - is it worth the $$?

Things I love:

1. The extra space on the side where I put my blog posts for the week and my meals for the week + the sturdy colored tabs that make the planner easy to navigate.
2. The monthly spread - I need a spread for the month, and the boxes are roomy enough for me to write in.
3. I like how each day is blocked out into Morning - Day - Night.

Things I don't like:

1. Writing on the Wednesday blocks - when you're a righty, the spiral gets in the way and you have to angle yourself oddly.
2. Bleed through when I use my colored sharpie pens. I've never had a planner that did not bleed through, so this is par for the course.

Things I don't use:

1. The contact pages. I'd rather have extra note pages.
2. The colored stickers. I can see who they would be useful for - one color per kid, one color per sport, etc. It doesn't really apply to me.
3. While I don't refer to this weekly or even monthly, I love that they include 2015 & 2016 calendars in the planner that ends in December 2014. I like to be able to refer ahead. I need to know what years I will have to take off for my birthday.

The Particulars:
1 x 2013-2014 life planner -zen gems (PLN14-19) = $62.50 (base $50)
personalization 
line 1 : Stephanie 
i would like an 18-month calendar! 
july 2013 - december 2014 ($ 5.00)
extra colorful stickers 
no, please do not add extra colorful stickers
colorful pens 
no, please do not add a set of colorful markers
pen holder 
yes, i would like to add an adhesive pen holder ($ 2.50)
2 personalized notepads 
no, please do not add notepads
elastic bands 
no, please do not add a set of 3 colorful elastic bands

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Sub-Total: $62.50
Shipping Rate (FedEx Economy Ground (2-5 business days)): $8.65
Gift Voucher Amount Redeemed (EGC2002727BXU23RA6): -$25.00
Total: $46.15

FYI - I won the $25 gift card in a giveaway. I got nothing from Erin Condren for this review, it's all my own opinion.

I'm not an electronic calendar girl. Never have been, never will be. I need to write it down in my serial killer handwriting and display it for all of you.

I am not opposed to paying a high price for a planner - I virtually live and die by it. It keeps all of my appointments, it maps out my professional and personal lives, and it keeps me on top of things. I am a former Franklin Covey girl, and the inserts were at least $50/year. I get a lot of value from my planners and I'm willing to pay a high price for them.

Since this planner is 18 months, I'm using it for $3.47 a month. I spend more than that for a large iced coffee at DD once a week, and I love my DD but it's not giving me any long-term payoff.

Paying $3.47/month to be organized and effective is worth it to me. Could I do it for cheaper? Sure. The quality assembly and durability of this planner makes me feel more secure than one I pick up in Target though. It has weight and presence, and the cute design and energetic colors don't hurt either. I consider it money well spent.

Erin Condren, I'm a fan. Put her on your Christmas list this year and kick 2014's ass organizationally.

Linking up with

I Feel Like Madge - Palmolive® soft touch™ Review

I received two bottles of Palmolive® soft touch™ from Influenster for free to review. The products were free, the opinions in this post are my own.


I'm a Palmolive user. Palmolive's packaging appeals to me, it's what my Mom Mom used to use, and I loved their old ad lady Madge. Do you remember Madge?

Madge promised no dish pan hands, and by God your manicure would survive dishwashing to boot.

All these years later, is that still the case?

Palmolive® soft touch™ is new to me. While I always buy Palmolive for dish washing (I use Dawn when making my own cleaning products), I nomally pick what type I buy by scent.

So first, the sniff test. Don't be jealous of how I look on Saturday morning after I just woke up.

Both passed, but I liked the Coconut Butter better.

Now the wash test. I used the Vitamin E on the plate and the Coconut Butter on the knife. Hi YAH.

Nice amount of sudsing on both - enough to get the dishes squeaky clean, not too much that I was overwhelmed with bubbles.

And my hands? No chips in my manicure, and they were soft as a baby's butt. Madge would be proud. I'm going to keep a bottle and give a bottle away to share the joy of a good dish liquid.

I also have five $1 off coupons (exp 6/30) that I'm happy to mail out to the first five people who leave a comment or send me an email to lifeaccordingtosteph@gmail.com so you can try it for yourself.

Have a great Saturday!