The Inkey List Skincare

 

Photo: lookfantastic

THE SAVVY SHOPPER features another effective skincare line based on science you can afford to use daily. Choice galore and deals are a consumer's best friends to keep our wallets happy! The Inkey List offers a wide array of products containing potent ingredients that are normally 3 - 4 times more expensive.

The following are your 3 basic essentials, yet at such budget-friendly prices averaging under $10 a bottle (and a few multi-ingredient formulas running about $15) you could add an item to treat a special skin care concern of yours if you wish. 

Here are the bare-bone elixirs I think you need in your skincare regiment:

1) The Inkey List Retinol serum

Contains: 

• 1% stabilized retinol (derived from Vitamin A, which the skin converts to retinoic acid, speeding up skin cell turnover. Enhances collagen production, evens skin tone and lightens age spots.) 
• 0.5 granactive retinoid
• Squalane (for hydration and smoothing).

Directions: Use a pea size amount at night to prevent or treat lines and wrinkles, the visible signs of aging.

2) The Inkey List Vitamin C 30% serum

 Contains: 

• 30% pure, stable, L-ascorbic Acid. This serum targets the signs of aging by brightening the skin. It also fights free radicals and pollution. 

Directions: This is your daytime serum, apply it in the morning.

3) The Inkey SPF Daily 30 Sunscreen

Contains: 

• 22% non-nano zinc oxide (offering both UVA and UVB protection against the sun).
• 1% Pollustop® (Shields the skin from pollutants and premature aging.) 
• 2% Shea Butter complex (moisturizes and calms the skin). 

Directions: Use during the day all-year-round as the last step after a moisturizer. 

Sure you could buy gentle baby sunscreen at your local drugstore for less, but if you want a $15 splurge for the extra anti-aging ingredients, you can at least afford it at these low prices.

Now where can you buy them? Available on the Inkey List website; Sephora; Ebay; and Amazon, the brand is never tested on animals.

Splurge and save simultaneously: What's on your Inkey List?

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

💟Extra tips: 

[1] If you buy the baby sunscreen from your local drugstore and your 2 serums from The Inkey List, your entire costs for your daily anti-aging skin routine is under $25 for all the products you need. Adding the splurge Inkey List sunscreen brings the costs to under $35.

 [2] Anti-aging routines begin by eating a healthy diet, which gets easier and cheaper in the spring and summer months. Here's what I bought from my fabulous Manhattan fruit street vendor on my way home ... every bite as beneficial to the skin as the potions you put on it:

I like to wash all my fruit before putting much of it in the refrigerator. Oh yes, with refrigeration you lose some of the deliciousness, but again, costs and convenience win. I leave a few unrefrigerated pieces out, but do refrigerate the rest. I have fresh blueberries, strawberries, apricots, plums, pears and mangos. Not in the photo, avocados from another day! 

BTW: I also wash my potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant and asparagus (Asparagus steams are yuk, yet nutritious.) before putting them away, a repetitive job I hate doing! But when I cook, I like dropping clean-ready produce into a pot. I'd rather not have a job (cleaning) before I do a job (cooking). Unless buying a meal kit, you have to do the undesirable yourself. It's worth getting more for less. I'm a mean, clean machine!😎

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Powder Play Lip Color By Flower

Weeks ago Flower by Drew Barrymore lunched a new powder to cream lip color. Once applied to the lips with a wand, Powder Play -- the lightweight powder, transfers into a soft moisturizing cream. The new product softens and soothes lips while leaving them with a pop of natural color, as well as, a soft, powdery look that overwhelmingly customers like.

Customers approve of the smooth texture; and report it does, indeed, moisturize lips while the flattering pigments have real staying power. The Powder Play Lip Colors endure like matte lipstick without drying out lips as matte lipstick tends to do.

The retailer calls each powdery shade a perfectly imperfect soft focus of color.

I'm only now featuring Flower's new item launch because who is wearing lip color under their face masks nowadays? Before COVID I wore lipstick every single day, but haven't touched it much over the past year. Now that the COVID vaccines are rolling out under a new administration, perhaps we can get excited about makeup launches again! 

This newest formula from Flower -- an awesome and affordable beauty brand -- is highly rated with tons of 5 star reviews! (Watch out expensive luxe makeup, there's a new beauty sharif in town for less!!!) The cost is $10, and Ultra is now offering a $3.50 coupon here for spending $15.

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Tree Of Life Skin Serums

There's a vitamin C serum on the market that tops a number of beauty editor's lists {namely, Skin Ceuticals}.  It sells for $166 for 1 ounce, and frankly, the endorsements annoy me since regular people (Raise your hand!) can't afford to use it every day. So what good is the expensive recommendation?! That's when I decided to find equivalent brands of skincare backed by science for less money. I've got your back, readers!🙂

In my quest for cheap without compromise skincare, I've found another brand I like called Tree of Life, a plant based, cruelty-free, non-toxic line founded by biologist, Ellyn Davis.

Tree of Life offers top-notch ingredients in the right combinations to address every skin concern. The company takes care of its customers in a myriad of ways. A peruse of its website teaches you about proper skincare. You learn about ingredients in the serums and how to use the products correctly. Once you identify what you want your skincare to do, it's easy to know what to buy. The trio featured at the top is a useful, basic set of serums (vitamin C - for daytime, retinol for nighttime and hyaluronic acid for day or night moisture). The beauty line also offers a money-back guarantee.

Plus Tree of Life cares about you by not asking you to deplete your savings to buy their scrubs, serums or moisturizers. The cost of 1-once bottles averages from $7 - $11 (with one multi-ingredient formula going for $18)... super affordable for proven ingredients and lacking fillers! The brand keeps costs low with simply packaging and by not advertising. Money is spent where it counts on product development and its clean, potent ingredients. 

Combo packs knock already low prices down more, and the retailer offers VIP Rewards which I recommend always signing up for, as extra savings go to repeat customers.

Available on their website, Amazon, Walmart and eBay. Tree of Life ... I'm your newest customer!

Readers, are you feed up with overpriced skincare???

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After Christmas Goodies: SLGs, Silicone Bags And Bras

James is showing you the SLGs (Small Leather Goods).

Before Christmas, it's fun to shop for others. After Christmas, it's fun to buy for ourselves! Not by design, yet I bought "holders" of all sorts yesterday and today:😁😉

Here's what I got after Christmas:

1) Stone Mountain Wallet - see above↑) Made of bonded leather. Mine is all black, compact, and the strap when attached, lets me use it as a wristlet. It has the following features:

 

In a few colors/textures

Small zip around wallet with flap closure

Pebble leather w/man made trim

Silver-tone hardware

Detachable wristlet strap

Rear exterior slash pocket w/ ID window

Interior - Polyester

8 credit card slots

Picture ID windows

4 large slash pockets

Cash pocket

Interior zippered coin purse

Price: $9.99 at T.J. Maxx. Also sold at Boscov's.

2) Stone Mountain Card Holder - Made of bonded leather. As regular readers know, I think T.J. Maxx is the place to find  SLGs even if you buy luxury handbags. You'd be surprised at the quality which ends up there. A bag is a better splurge. Often SLGs are 1/3 to 1/2 of the price of a handbag and they wear out faster. My new leather cardholder is:

Ultra slim 

Napa, as opposed to, the pebble leather (on the left) w/man made trim. [I prefer a sturdier pebble leather if I have a choice.]

Gold-tone hardware

Interior - Polyester

5 credit card slots

Picture ID window

1 large slash pocket

1 zipped pocket

Price: $4.99 at T.J. Maxx. Also sold on eBay.

3) Uniqlo Women's Beauty Soft Wireless Bras - I've been

wearing these comfortable and supportive bras since the store 1st opened in NYC. They were discontinued briefly before Uniqlo came to its senses by bringing them back. Very soft and stretchy straps that never hurt your shoulders. Available in several neutral colors and special edition fun colors. Boring as it is, I always stick with neutral or subdued colors so I can wear undergarments with every outfit. Having to match them to a light-colored top is too much work for me every morning. None better than what Uniqlo offers at any color or price point! Usually $24.90. Price: On sale for $19.99 - so I bought 2.

4) Old Navy Silicone Reusable Sacks/Bags - Eco-friendly and sturdy enough to carry snacks, cosmetics, or anything you need to place in your purse, the pantry, or a drawer. I bought a few at $2.99 each. Then they were reduced again to $1, so a few more came home with me. It's rare for me to buy items I'm unsure of exactly how I'll use them, but I know they will keep my purses, pantry and drawers clean and organized. Price: now $1.

Nice practical things. When the price is right, you get a lot for the money. Value finds are always fun. They make you sooo happy!

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4 Advent Calendars You Reuse

Vintage Santa Wooden Advent Calendar - Primitives by Kathy here also on eBay

For several years in a row, I've featured the beauty advent calendars that everybody wants ... or ones I'd love to get myself. You can go back in years on THE SAVVY SHOPPER to find the coveted brands since these beauty retailers offer their advent calendars every year. The 2020 editions are out now. Some are overpriced, and still they go fast!

This year a new idea: Consider buying a keepsake advent calendar which could become a permanent holiday decoration and family tradition. You fill it yourself with 24 (or 25) selected gifts. Some might be small material things, but others could be poems; I.O.U. notes that promise a holiday adventure together; or a sweet treat like a favorite cookie or candy. It need not be expensive, just thoughtful and pleasing!

Yes it's more work than buying a calendar already stuffed with gifts, yet over the years a reusable advent calendar should be cost-effective, more personable, and a cherished family event. Each day unwrapping a small surprise, perhaps the true gift is family anticipation and joy:

1) The Primitives by Kathy Advent Calendar (above↑) is made of wood, paper, and metal. Each countdown box measures 17.13" x 3.38" x 14.25 enough room for favorite nick-nacks or snacks!

2) A Fabric Advent Calendar made of burlap with a hoop to hang on the wall. Since it uses only vertical space, it gets the job done with a small footprint. It has 25 pockets for trinkets, candies or messages. 

3) A wooden Tree Shape Advent Calendar with 24 drawers, each covered in beautiful Japanese washi paper and coated with a gloss finish. The drawer pulls are tagged with metal numbers counting down the days to Christmas.

4) The last featured choice is perhaps the most Traditional Advent Calendar. There are no boxes to fill with little treats. Just a celebration of the holy season with a 24-day countdown until the birth of the Christ child. A beautiful gold decoration with the Star of David, 3 Wisemen, and the Holy Family.

Four reusable and unique advent calendars to suit many tastes and ages of family members. Also, a thoughtful gift for family friends who might use it year after year. 

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Glitter Shoes For A Pick Me Up

Bottega Veneta Almond Leather Glitter Pumps here. You know what makes these shoes look chic instead of nerdy? The glitter!!

If you read my blog regularly you may notice that I like glitter and shiny things. On a dark background, such as black or navy blue, rhinestones (or the more costly crystals if you can afford them) pop to jazz up, not only your shoes but your entire outfit. I have 2 pairs of high heels accented with rhinestones that I often wear paired with a little black dress to attend galas. Dressy, fun and timeless!

So today let's do a quick roundup of glitter shoes in various shoe styles:

Miu Miu Crystal Heel Patent Pump (Returns in November)

Although the style changes slightly from year to year, top shoe designer Miu Miu launches their crystal heels every November (just in time for Christmas and New Year's parties, and it's become one of my holiday rituals to go into their flagship store on West 57th Street to admire them, but I can't bring myself to pay the 4-figures dollar amount for a pair. These are the shoes that would be in my wardrobe if I weren't too cheap to buy them! 

Skechers Double Up Eye Candy here

Now we will travel to the land of affordability ...  these equally pleasing and casual shoes are more likely to be in my closet. You can buy them with a portion of one paycheck, or save up for a pair. Smart with pizazz.

Andy & Zoe Muffin Rhinestone Sneakers here in 6 colors here.

Shimmer sneakers in your favorite color to run weekend errands.

ASOS Design Fairgame Sandles here.

Dream Pairs Ballet flats on eBay here.

As you can see from fancy to casual, glitter can cover the whole shoe, or accent it with the choice of many colors to match your tastes and attire. 

Do you like things that glitter and shine?


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Pandemic Sheltering In Place Fashion

Uniqlo for crew-neck t-shirts here. Pair with a cardigan on cold days.

According to The Talk, an afternoon TV show, many people who are Sheltering in Place are not bothering to change out of their pajamas or sweats into regular clothes since they can't go to work. Not true of me. I rise to shower, wash my hair and get dressed each and every morning ... later than usual but still! Being clean and tidy (wearing clean coordinated clothes) lifts my spirits! I couldn't deal with feeling sloppy and dirty on top of riding out a pandemic! But since I have nowhere to go, I don't have to fuss much with my wardrobe and can wear the same things over, which I do. Who's here to see it? I bet my neighbors aren't taking notes if we happen to pass (spaced properly apart) in the lobby.

Perhaps it would be entertaining to see my pandemic uniform. Everything featured I'm wearing as I write the blog.

Aeries - cotton with a touch of spandex lightweight Chill leggings here.

I stick to casual, comfortable and easy to maintain attire. Sometimes I get wild and crazy by changing the color of my t-shirts! One day I'm Lady pink, the next day Bonnie bluebell and the day after Fire Engine Red Deb. Woo-hoo! June Cleaver had her pearls, but I live in sleek ballet flats! Whoopee!

Merrell Nubuck Inde Ballet flats - discontinued - but I hope Merrell brings back another ballet flat, as they have more support than many other brands. These are my indoor shoes. They don't have enough support on concrete, which leads to the next image. :) No link since it's discontinued - there are a few on Ebay.

Furthermore since rarely leaving home, I sometimes hand wash the leggings or t-shirts in Woolite, or dishwashing soap and hang them up in the bathroom to dry before bed. The less I have to go down to our common laundry room, the better. Being at home constantly, this bit of handwashing gives a gal a small sense of accomplishment. What is there to dooo next? Let me at it!

NAZAROO Shoe Insoles Arch Support Inserts (here) are excellent to keep my high arches happy in my Merrell ballet flats. With insoles I should be able to turn them into outdoor shoes this summer. We'll see.

To be safe I wear two sets of shoes, one for inside and another for outdoors. I also spray the soles of my outdoor shoes with 3% hydrogen peroxide at the door to kill any possible virus, and sometimes the soles of my indoor shoes because I walk down the hallway in them to put trash in the dumpster. 

Once in a while to make myself happy, I put on a bracelet in my apartment. But I stopped wearing makeup and jewelry to go outside to buy groceries. I mean, why wear anything under a face mask? It would only get the mask dirty. And rings on fingers when you're forever worrying about Coronavirus and washing your hands? I think not!

Merrell Dassie - my outdoor to the supermarket shoes here.

To be honest, if we weren't all in the same boat, I couldn't bear staying home for so many weeks. Yet I can get through this challancing time knowing how EVERYONE all over the globe must do the same to fight this disease. Indeed, we are all in this together ... and some of us are very lucky to be sheltering in a comfortable home. It turns out the things we need are quite simple!

What are you wearing at home during this pandemic?



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Zero Waste: 5 Things I Won't Buy

Paper clips are on my double duty list, keeping me from buying something I don't need.

On March 1st, a new law went into effect in New York City that requires us to bring our own bags, or pay 5 cents for a paper bag at the supermarket. Last week I had my 1st experience taking my reusable fabric bag with me. You can get one free sent to your home by taking a zero waste pledge, click here. Now I carry my orange fabric bag everywhere I go as I don't know all the types of stores participating in the city's plastic bag ban ... and I'm too cheap to start paying for (1) paper bags, i.e. items I'm accustomed to getting for free! (It's a waste of my money!) As it turns out T. J. Maxx follows the plastic bag ban too. Extra tip: Don't forget to laundry your reusable fabric bag to keep it clean and germ-free.

This got me thinking: In all my adult life, I've never bought a garbage bag, so when my supply of plastic grocery bags is depleted, I must figure out an eco-friendly substitution. I will put the environment first! (But, must I start paying for my trash bags? To be determined.)

Another item I'm too darn cheap to buy is a (2) food bag clip. If you buy special chips to keep your potato chips or salad bags closed, surely you're not applying yourself! I just use office paper clips (like the top image↑) to keep a clear bag with servings of food in it closed.

Moreover these days I'm more mindful of not buying certain kitchen, or household tools if something I already own gets the job done! At times I'm tempted to buy a (3) lent brush for my clothes. However I find they work no better than a household bristle scrub brush. So I decided against a special lent brush.

Another example, I sometimes eyeball, but decided not to buy a (4) cookie dough scooper because it works no better than a tablespoon to get out the right amount of cookie dough to drop on a cookie sheet. What's more do I even make cookies enough to buy a special tool? And will a cookie scooper make my task easier? Nope ... pass.

I also decided not to buy a special (5) watering can for the 2 house plants I have in my living room. Water cans come in tiny and big sizes with narrow or wide nozzles, but I use either a cup, or my tea kettle to water my 2 house plants. I think it makes more sense to buy a watering can for a garden because you are unlikely to drag your tea kettle or cups outside.

This year I intend to buy EVERYTHING I need, but NOTHING I don't need. Small purchases can add up to clutter and waste, not to mention less money for big-ticket items or your emergency fund.

What are some everyday items you won't buy because if you think about it, you can get them for free; or you really don't need them after all?


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Learn how to use makeup brushes here.

On THE SAVVY SHOPPER, I don't normally write sales-flash posts on products. Occasionally, I'll post a too-good-to-ignore sale alert on the blog's Facebook page, where such up-to-the-minute (act now!) information works better. Here (by design) readers can go back 10 years to read blogs that mostly keep their relevance. The advice and tips don't date like this present blog entry will eventually do ... in a day? ... a week? ... or a month's time. (Well, we will ... together ... find out.)

But a price drop on a stellar makeup brush (that is also unwisely being discontinued) is too good not to share!

Last year I bought a quality makeup brush from the IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe line. The brushes in that particular line, are plush, soft, firm, precise in the application; and never, ever shed. In other words, everything we want: It is hands down the best makeup brush I've ever used! 

Retailing at $48, I was happy to get it on sale for $24. In the future, I knew I had to buy more makeup brushes in the Velvet Luxe line to replace inferior brushes ... when they again went on sale. Although on sale, the money still adds up! 

Not until a year later did I return to Ulta to buy my 2nd (a blush) brush. To my great surprise, Ulta is out of stock of the It Velvet Luxe blush brush (as well as many of the other Velvet Luxe brushes which do other jobs expertly). Why??? Because IT Cosmetics is in the process of discontinuing their Velvet Luxe variety of brushes. Insane!!! ~~ as their new brushes  -- at the same price -- are inferior! They are not as soft or plush! So double trouble!!

Readers, the light at end of the tunnel is ...  you can (while supplies last) still buy the IT For Ulta Velvet Luxe brushes on eBay for even less money than Ulta's best sale price.

I own 4 of the IT Velvet Luxe brushes: LBD Powder #307; Plush Foundation #304 (a multi-tasker, I use it for blush and bronzer); Soft Focus Sculpting #315 (blush); and I just ordered the Empress Fan brush #324 (such a price drop why not? ... to set makeup with finishing powder). I also like the Kabuki brush -- it's the biggest of the brushes. If you don't mind the size, you can use it in place of  the #307 and #324 brushes. Truly once you pay for an item and walk out the door, it's nobody's business how you use it!

As to why IT Cosmetics is replacing their superior Velvet Luxe brushes with less plush, or stiffer bristles I haven't a clue. THE SAVVY SHOPPER doesn't like change unless it's an improvement. :(


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Feel The Warmth With KuSan Kits

Still looking for that perfect gift to put under the Christmas tree? Wool hats, gloves and scarves are popular for a reason. Winter is coming!

As temperatures drop, the folks on your holiday list might like to feel the warmth of handmade knitted accessories. KuSan is a merchant of warm knitts, whose offices; design studio; and warehouses are based in North London. The wool used comes from New Zealand; and the items, which also include knitted bags and rugs, are ethically made in Nepal. 

Hand knitters receive fair wages and work humane hours within safe, caring environments. Workers are offered participation in collective bargaining; free association; sufficient breaks; and free staff food. Many have stayed with the company since it began 18 years ago. Since the launch, the company's reputation has grown!

All goods are produced using eco-friendly and substainable practises. 

KuSan sells its woolly goods from London's skate parks to chic boutiques across Europe. Here in the USA customers can find them on Ebay and occassionally at T.J. Maxx. The quality is high end, yet the cost is low.

Super cute style, lovingly handcrafted and affordable, the hats, gloves and scarves are 100% wool and fleece lined. Plus, the retailer is always innovating and updating its collection. I bought a pair of colorful, striped mittens!

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