ArtNaturals Beauty Serums Plus

Starts affordable before a promotion.

As previously mentioned, I aim to find more science-based skincare for less money. When we use skincare every single day (which we should!), we need them to work without breaking the bank. Lately drugstores have really stepped up their game making my quest a lot easier. You'll find some amazing beauty lotions and potions in the aisles that are potent enough to go toe to toe with their pricey luxury counterparts. And I'm featuring one of them here today.

ArtNaturals is formulated to free beauty from high prices and toxic chemicals, as well as, offer the right combinations and concentrations of high-quality anti-aging ingredients that have proven to be effective time and again.

This "natural" beauty line includes skincare, haircare, beauty tools, and vitamins for men and women. I recommend starting with their Age Defying Serum Trio set. The price is unbeatable as you will have to pay 3 - 4 - 5 times more for the equivalent ingredients elsewhere. 

The serum set includes everything a face needs for glowing skin:

1) Hyaluronic Serum - for intense moisture (good for daytime use).

2) 2.5% Retinol  Serum - to fight fine lines and wrinkles (best for nighttime use).

3) Vitamin C Serum - brightens and corrects/protects the skin from the sun and free radicals. It also contains vitamin E and Ferulic Acid which is said to make Vitamin C work better (good for daytime use and some folks use it at night with moisturizers but never with retinol).

ArtNaturals is sold at drugstores, Target, Walmart, and Ultra which means you will sometimes find the products under $10 a bottle, thereby saving even more by shopping around and watching for sales.

[Ultra sells The Ordinary line of skincare -- also under $15 a product. I'm a big fan of The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% ($5.80); Buffet - a combination of anti-aging peptics ($14.80); and its Retinols in Squalane ($5.80). If using The Ordinary line, you must know what skin issues you're trying to prevent or fix in order to select the right items for you. But. Choice is always awesome for folks on a budget. It opens the door to savings.]

Top-notch skincare you can afford to use daily!

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Sensational Skin Serum Trios Sold Cheap On Amazon

Amazon has become a fantastic place for finding effective affordable skincare sometimes from niche or small-batch merchants, as opposed, to large commercial cosmetic companies. Choice is a consumer's best friend.

Speaking of choice, ELbbuB is an Amazon Choice brand with lots of satisfied customers based on many 5-star reviews. The skincare has clean nurturing ingredients in supportive combinations based on science that really work to prevent aging and maintain the skin. A budget-friendly trio consists of the following essentials:

1) Vitamin C 20% Serum has Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol & Amino Acids  - Best used as a daytime serum to brighten, nourish, and protect the skin.

2) Hyaluronic Acid Serum plumps up the skin with moisture. Moisturizing dry skin takes years off a face by making you look dewy, i.e., soft and lustrous. 

3) Retinol Serum is used at night to repair the skin and stimulate collagen. Treats wrinkles, fine lines, and sun damage. Firms and softens wrinkles by promoting faster skin cell turnover.

The trio set is super inexpensive, yet customers get a bargain whether they order one, two, or splurge on the trio set of serums, so you save by ordering only what you'll use.

Another impressive, affordable brand sold on Amazon containing clean ingredients from nature with tons of satisfied customers who leave 5-star reviews is Eclat skincare (previously featured on the blog).

1) The Vitamin C Serum contains Hyaluronic Acid, Ferulic Acid, & Vitamin E. Ferulic Acid stabilizes and increases the effectiveness of Vitamin C, and protects the skin from free radicals and sun damage.

2) Its Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum has 2.5% Pure Hyaluronic Serum + 3% B5, Vitamins C & E, and Aloe.

3) The Retinol Serum is 2.5% Retinol.

Escat also offers its essential serums as a trio set or sold separately at a super reasonable price meaning cheap enough to use every day! Even cheap enough to splurge on a trio set to try a new serum from a new (to you) beauty brand!!👸🏻

Additionally, Escat has an anti-aging night cream and sun protection. When you buy an Escat serum, the retailer includes a note thanking you and hoping you love its skincare. It's a nice touch!

Splurge and save with skin essentials that won't break the bank!

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Exfoliation In Skincare

The Ordinary has a wealth of skincare information on its website, as well as, inexpensive skincare products to help fight acne and the effects of aging along with helpful tips on how to keep skin healthy. One of the things I neglect to do is exfoliate my skin. I rarely do so, but multiple dermatologists recommend it as having a beneficial role in our skincare routines. So let's discuss exfoliation in today's blog. My source of knowledge begins with The Ordinary:

"Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface layer of the skin. Physical exfoliation uses a product or tool to buff away dead skin cells," while "chemical exfoliation uses direct acids (AHAs and BHAs) which have the ability to weaken bonds between surface skin components, allowing the acids to slough away dead skin cells at the surface." Exfoliation helps to unclog pores, promote even tone and texture, and bring new skin cells to the surface.

AHAs are alpha hydroxy acids a/k/a fruit acids. BHAs are beta-hydroxy acids, which are also organic acids. Both act to dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the face. BHAs such as salicylic acid mildly loosen the glue that holds skin cells together. Salicylic acid is often in formulas targeting acne, rough, and bumpy skin.

Many dermatologists [like the creators of Doctorly] recommend chemical exfoliation over physical exfoliation because the tools we buy in retail shops are subpar to what dermatologists use in their offices, plus we lack the medical training to use them like doctors. Physical exfoliation can therefore do more damage to the skin, making chemical exfoliation safer, an awareness that may surprise you! Scrubbing gloves, cleansing brushes, exfoliation salts, and home microdermabrasion devices can be too abrasive harming instead of helping our skin, or in the case of devices just not strong enough to be effective. Also, the gloves and brushes might become a breeding ground for bacteria.

The Ordinary’s Direct Acid family offers both AHAs and BHAs of varying strengths and formats making it simple to find the right one for you. You will rarely find a cheaper, backed-by-science brand. Here are 5 choices:

1) Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution - An exfoliating toner for targeting dullness, texture, and signs of aging.

2) Latic Acid 5% + HA - A milder exfoliator that works to reveal smoother skin. (A stronger strength is available.)

3) Mandelic Acid 10% + HA - A leave-on serum that helps improve skin clarity, balance uneven skin tone, and correct skin texture gently yet effectively.

4) Salicylic Acid 2% Anhydrous Solution - A gentler water-free solution for blemish-prone skin and uneven texture. (A stronger strength is available.)

5) AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution - An advanced-level exfoliating peel.

So now we know a bit more about the role of exfoliation in skincare, plus several types and strengths offered by a super affordable brand! The next step is to put our knowledge into practice.😉 Because readers, I'm not perfect either.

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Anti-Aging Beauty To Put On Your Radar: 3 Products For Daytime

As readers know, a focus of THE SAVVY SHOPPER is to find over-the-counter skincare that really works, i.e., serums and moisturizers which contain all the potent anti-aging ingredients medical science says are effective for less. Not every product is dirt cheap, yet when sold at retailers like Target, Walmart, Ultra, local drugstores, and Amazon, you can take advantage of deals to further lower the cost of already well-priced products. When you see the 2-for-1 deals and markdowns, etc., it's the time to pounce!

The following are 3 Anti-Aging Skincare Items For Your Daytime regiment:

1) Roc Multi Correxion Revive + Daily Glow Vitamin C -  Forumated with 10% vitamin C to brighten and tighten skin. Dermatologists tell us the only true serum we need for our daytime skincare routine is a vitamin C serum with the right combination of other ingredients like vitamin E to help the vitamin C work better. As we age the production of our collagen and skin cell turnover slows down. A potent vitamin C blend used daily helps to speed it up again! The serum is all you really need to buy but in winter some customers may like to apply a heavier cream formula to fight dry skin.

The next 2 recommendations are for 2 sunscreens -- our numero ono, most important, bar none, anti-aging skincare potion. The skin doctors recommend wearing sunscreen every day of the year: summer days, sunny days, autumn days, winter days, snowy days, spring days, and rainy days. Why is something like the sun's golden rays that feels so good so aging to the skin especially noticeable on our face where we don't want lines, wrinkles, and age spots? It just is! 

It's vital to let 15 minutes of the sun hit our skin about twice a week for the very necessary production of vitamin D for our overall good health, yet if the sun hits the area of my face, personally I react like the Wizard of Oz's Wicked Witch of the West as she is melting because she got hit with a bucket of water! To avoid the drama and public spectacle, I take the preventative step of wearing visors and hats outdoors in summer for the purpose of shielding my face from the sun, averting the alarm followed by a meltdown; and no one is the wiser!😉

2) Cocokind Daily SPF 32 - A mineral-based sunscreen that uses non-nano zinc oxide; protects against UVA and UVB rays; defends skin against blue light and pollution; plus is lightweight and non-greasy.

3) Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen 30+ (or 50+) Sensitive Skin - A mineral sunscreen containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide offering both UVA and UVB protection for sensitive skin. The formula goes on white yet turns invisible as you rub it into your skin. Sun protection of 30 is plenty. What is important with sun protection is reapplying sunscreen every few hours. The dangers of the higher numbers include they don't provide much more or greater protection to the degree people think, and people then don't reapply sunscreen as often as they should. This brand is also water-resistant.

Knowledge (equipped with plenty of elixir choices) is a consumer's best friend in finding the best deals. You'll know which brands are stellar and recognize a good price. So put these 3 additional beauty products on your radar for daytime use.  When the price is right, try them!

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Simplifying My Daily Skincare Routine

Simplifying My Daily Skincare Routine

Photo: Good Housekeeping

Every year I re-access to try to do SOMETHING better. Tweak a practice to (1) improve or (2) make life easier. What comes to mind this year is simplifying my daily skincare routine, as well as, finding cheaper, cleaner, yet effective anti-aging potions. Over time the savings can really add up! Not only do I wish to spend less money, but less time in the bathroom!

OMG, look at this YouTuber's daily routine and long list of beauty elixirs! I don't intend to be unkind because if we met, I'd like the Vlogger for her generous spirit in sharing what she does based upon her research. She genuinely means well. I decided not to subscribe to her channel or link her to THE SHAVVY SHOPPER's sidebar because at the end of the day, her routine is excessive according to my own research. It adds up to washing lots of  money and time down the drain. Time one can never get back!

Dermatologists agree: Only two skincare products make a difference: (a) Retin-A (by prescription) or Retinol (its over the counter derivative). Both work well when used consistently; and (b) Vitamin C.

For the care of my face, I've reduced the steps to 3 twice a day: Wash. Treat. Moisturize ... and my products to 3 for the day; and 3 at night. Here is my winter 2021 skincare regime:

I. For My Morning Face Routine, I use: 

1) SheaMoisture Soap - Since the shower water rinses my face so thoroughly I use this moisturizing soap from face to toe. It rinses clean and doesn't dry your skin.

2) Next apply Vitamin C Serum - In addition to ArtNaturals and Tree of Life, I'm also using up The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23%. All 3 brands are effective, so you can switch them, always buying the best priced one.

2-a) Peptide Serum - Right now I'm using up what I already own, alternating between Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum, and The Ordinary Buffet. (I can stop step #2-a once I use up these serums. They add moisture and beneficial anti-oxidants to the skin, however Vitamin C (an antioxidant) and Retinol are the only serums dermatologists say are essential. There are no reasons based on science to layer other peptides with antioxidants over Vitamin C say the skin doctors. It's money washed down the drain. So until future research changes this advice ... you can skip layering additional skin treatments on and go directly to step #3

Reapply SPF 15 more often than SPF 30

3) Olay Complete Moisture with Sunscreen SPF 15/30 - In winter I need a light daytime moisturizer and use sun protection all year round. SPF 15/30 is the anti-aging elixir here! Olay is cheap, lightweight and non-greasy. Choose the sensitive skin formula that uses minerals, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, as sunscreen. Avoid the sunscreen chemicals like avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene or ecamsule. Another good brand is CVS's Moisturizing Facial Lotion with SPF 15/30 so you can buy the cheaper one as they go on sale. But you must read the labels like a hawk as one formula of the 2 brands has the chemicals, while another formula uses the minerals as sun protection. -- yes, it's a pain! 

 Both are effective! 

II. For My Nightime Face Routine, I use:

1) Noxema Cleansing Cream - Discovered at 14 years old, it cleans and moisturizes my face simultaneously.

2) Next apply Retinol Serum - Excellent low cost brands include Tree of Life; ArtNaturals; and The Ordinary, with proven ingredients based on science and costing under $10. 

Great beauty brands, one American, one Korean.

3) Follow with Retinol Night Moisturizing Cream - I like the feel of a moisturizing night cream to prevent dry skin especially in winter, and my non-scientist mother says I must wear one to keep those wrinkles away! (They find us while we sleep, evil things!!) Right now I alternate between Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Cream and Azure Hemp & Retinol Sleep Mask. In fact, you can use the Neutrogena Repid Winkle Repair Night Cream solo without a Retinol serum underneath it. I can't verify how much Retinol the Azure night cream has, so I do use Retinol serum underneath it to be sure. Your skin knows, so if the combo seems too strong ... adjust.

III. My Morning Body Routine is reduced to one item: Cooking oil.

Immediately after my shower I slather coconut oil all over my skin to lock in the water from my shower. For simplicity I only buy one coconut oil that can be used for both cooking and  body oil. But as it turns out, I don't cook with coconut oil often, so I'm thinking of making life even easier by switching to Extra Virgin Olive Oil as my after bath moisturizer, which is equally beneficial. Saves time, space and money!

I keep a refillable container in my bathroom to pour cooking-turned-bath oil into it. Hey if I ever get locked in my bathroom, I'll have sustenance to keep me alive until I'm free. Just slide some eggs and bread under the door, please.😋

IV. Extras I need in winter: Body lotion which I use as hand/skin cream as needed. Petroleum jelly/lip balm.

At 1st glance it may still seem like lots of products, but look again, I reduced skincare to 3 steps: Wash, treat and moisturize - with a single product under each step. Giving you a few brands of equivalent quality and price lets you buy the better deals. 

We love old standbys; bargain beauty; and keeping it simple!

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RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Daily Serum

RoC Retinol Correction Line Smoothing Daily Serum is another effective retinol available at your local drugstore. In addition to drugstores, Walmart, Target, Amazon and Ulta also carry it, so it's easy to find and perhaps even catch a sale! I often say, choice is THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S  best friend. 

Now let's review what retinol is and what it does for aging skin: Retinol is the non-prescription derivative of prescription strength Retin-A, the gold standard in anti-aging skincare. With regular use, both retinol and Retin-A help speed up skin cell turnover, collagen production, plus lighten uneven skin tone and age spots. 

As it turns out, stronger (i.e., prescription strength Retin-A) isn't always better. What matters most is consistent use. The strength of Retin-A is something the skin tolerates only after a long period of use. Virgin skin can't tolerate it, and sensitive skin may never tolerate it. But non-prescription strength Retinol, used regularly, offers similar anti-aging properties with less of harsher Retin-A's unpleasant side effects. 

Not only does RoC's powerful Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Daily Serum deliver anti-aging benefits, it provides serious hydration; and the retinol in this formula is time-released which preserves the effectiveness of the vitamin A derivative by keeping it stable so it can work over a 12-hour period. As a time-released formula, it is less likely to cause irritation. So if another retinol leaves your skin, dry, red and raw, this one should be more comfortable yet still work. What's more, while the retinol is working to smooth your lines and winkles, two moisturizing ingredients, ashwagandha and squalane deliver 12 hours of time-released hydration.

Many women like to apply a rich moisturizing night cream before bed, so a thicker cream formula is also available.

Anti-aging skincare can be super expensive, so put THE SAVVY SHOPPER'S recommended retinol brands on your radar. They start at good price points before promotions. Be sure to catch the sales to look your unlined best while staying in the green!

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