This post is sponsored by Mirum, but opinions expressed are my own.

New year, new resolutions, right? With the few that you make each year, have you ever done a skin care resolution? Like, “I will remove all my makeup at the end of each day,” or “I will exfoliate my skin 2 times per week,” or, “I will just take better care of my skin this year.” I’m not a big fan of resolutions; rather, I like to make ones that are not going to be hard to stick to. I mean, you have to clean your skin anyway, so why not get yourself into a new makeup removal routine and start the year off right? And it couldn’t be easier as you can pick up all you need at your local CVS and cvs.com. They carry all the major brands like POND’S®, St. Ives, Noxzema and Simple® and have big, easy to browse beauty aisles.

If there is one thing that is so important, it’s removing your makeup at the end of each day. Believe me, there is not shortcut around it! So make sure you use something like Simple Cleansing Micellar Water to get it all off. It effectively cleanses the skin of makeup and oil while unclogging pores. Did you know that this formula is made with triple purified water, hexylene glycol and is infused with vitamins B3 and C? Yet, it’s good on all skin types, including sensitive. Yup, not your average micellar water and I’m such a fan of this one that if I’m going makeup-free on the weekend, I swipe this one across my skin a few times a day.

Then, after removing makeup, time to clean with something like POND’S Cold Cream Cleanser. I’ve been using this one for years and was introduced to it in our family bathroom as a child. It removes stubborn makeup, even waterproof mascara, and since it’s actually 50% moisturizer, I don’t really need to apply a face lotion after using this one, which I like.

Another I like to use sometimes in place of POND’s is Noxzema Classic Clean Original Deep Cleansing Cream. It too removes dirt, makeup and oil and cleans pores and this one is made with eucalyptus so my skin has a slight tingle to it afterwards.

Lastly, I recommend incorporating a facial exfoliator into your weekly routine. St. Ives Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub has achieved somewhat of a cult status among beauty lovers. It uses corn kernel meal and walnut shell powder to exfoliate the skin and is also ok to use on sensitive skin. I like that after I use it my skin is soft and not tight from over-cleaning it.

And because we are hitting a new year, CVS wants to help you celebrate so check out the deals available 1/1 to 1/6:

• Buy 1, get 1 50% off all POND’S, St. Ives, Noxzema and Simple skin care products
• Get $5 ExtraBucks when you spend $15 on participating POND’S, St. Ives, Noxzema and Simple skin care products

And don’t forget to bring your CVS Reusable Bags with you shopping. They are durable, collapsible, made of cotton and are eco-friendly. How about the New Year’s resolution of remembering to bring your CVS Reusable Bag? That would be a good one too.

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Mirum, but opinions expressed are my own. 

Do you exfoliate your skin? How often and what do you use? I’ve learned of the past 15 years of trying out products and reporting back to you that expensive doesn’t always = bueno. There are some areas I splurge in for sure, but in others, I tighten the reigns.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub

So I thought I’d show you how I pamper my skin a few nights each during the busy work week:

• Eye mask – I like to put it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes or the freezer for about 10, depending on how much around-the-eye-soothing I need.
• Since I’m very nose focused, what I’m smelling is so important, so after I put on the eye mask, I like to light a candle or spritz on a favorite perfume. Whichever I’m in the mood for.
• Washcloth – I keep two on hand, one for the next step and one to use later. I soak one in not-too-hot water that I lay on my face for about 1 ½ minutes to warm up my skin and open the pores.
• Next I apply St. Ives® Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub that I pick up at CVS when picking up prescriptions, and really work the formula around in small gentle circles on my face to really clean the day off my skin. Using just my fingers, I can feel the scubbers going to work. And speak of, with the recent stories about what happens to micro plastics inside some of our face exfoliators, it’s good to know that this Fresh Skin Apricot Scrub uses 100% natural exfoliants and moisturizers, including walnut shell powder, corn kernel meal and apricot extract, among others. 
• After I let it sit for a few minute, I use the same washcloth I used to warm up my skin and remove all the scrub off my face with lot s of water. Then pat dry with the dry washcloth, wipe a toner on my face to make sure all the scrub is removed, and lastly, apply moisturizer and eye cream.

My skin feels so refreshed; like I just took the day off my face in a big way, which I actually just did. The above is so simple and easy and just really makes a difference in making me feel good before bedtime. I truly do #RevitalizewithStIves.

And from 8/6/17-8/12/17 take advantage of the CVS’s BOGO – Buy One, Get One 50% Off of any St. Ives product plus save an additional $3 from coupons on your local paper. But hurry as this offer doesn’t last long!

Want to win a $50 gift card to CVS? Just comment below on this post on which St. Ives product you would like to try  and I will randomly select 5 winners!

Legal information, entry, rules and further details can be accessed here.

Cybel Says:

While I like my birthday, I hate when I receive a gift that really makes me question if the giver even knows me or not, so that’s why a gift card to CVS/pharmacy Beauty Club is perfect for me!

And they are rolling out some new brands for fall, so the timing is great. New brands to the stores/website: Skin+Pharmacy, MUA, Jouviance, Pop-Arazzi, Promise Organic, and Wilma Schumann.

Here's what I picked up on my trip to my local store:

• Wilma Schumann Hydrating Collagen Eye Pads ($18/5 pairs)
• Pop-Arazzi Nail Polish in Spice is Nice ($2.99)
• Juviance Exfoliant Gentle Purifying Scrub ($22/3.4oz)
• Promise Ultra-Moisturizing Argan Crème Lotion with Shea Butter ($8.99/6oz)

I went a little over $50 on the card, but that’s ok as I'm filing the difference as a birthday present to myself!

Disclosure: I rec'd a $50 gift card in order to facilitate this review. 

It never fails, I always find myself needing something beauty-related when I’m in the car going somewhere, so over the last year, I’ve put together a small kit that I keep with me in the front seat, so I’m never without ... anything. Here are 6 of my must-haves in the car. 

1. Nail Clippers, Nail File - REVLON Deluxe Nail Clippers ($2.49 @ bedbathandbeyond.com) – these clippers have been my favorite brand for years. The cutters are always sharp and it never falls apart. Of course things don’t last forever, so glad these are inexpensive. And for a nail file … I have my favorite that I keep in the house, so for the car, I just use the cardboard ones like these Beauty 360 Emery Boards from CVS ($1.99/10 pack @ cvs.com).

2. Tweezers – there’s always a stray brow hair that needs-a-pluckin’ and I’m in a serious relationship with ones from TWEEZERMAN. They’re strong, always there for me and I’m really attracted to their Pink Perfection Mini Slant Tweezers. $14 @ sephora.com.

3. Nail Polish Remover – L.A. COLORS Nail Polish Remover ($1.59/32 pads @ lacolors.com) these handy removers come in 6 different fruity scents and the grape-scented ones I have are actually able to mask the strong scent of the acetone.

4. Floss – I keep floss picks everywhere! In my purse, my car, my desk, hidden in a box on my coffee table. I’m not married to any particular brand but these Complete Clean Floss Ultra Strong Shred Proof Floss in Fresh Mint ($4.29/125 flossers @ target.com, amazon.com) by DENTEK work well.

5. Face Wipes - wipes are soooo handy to have in the car and they’re great for so many other things! After using one, I find myself using it afterward to clean parts of my car interior when I’m stuck in traffic. In my car now is BURT’S BEES Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract ($2.99/30 wipes @ walgreens.com).

6. Clear Nail Polish – great for touching up a run in a stocking, a loose thread on a shirt button and I don’t have a favorite brand. I just use whichever one I’m using on my nails that’s starting to run out. One I like is MAYBELLINE NEW YORK Show Nail Lacquer in Clear ($4.29 @ target.com).

Now when it comes to makeup, yes, a makeup palette will do but remember, we are talking about a very small stash of items for an e-m-e-r-g-e-n-c-y. I found a really cool 2 ½” x 1” x 3” tall kit that houses 4 swippers of eye shadow, a small eye liner, lip liner, mascara and lipgloss. White the products are not your Lancome kind of quality, it will get you by and I so feel like this kit was made just for this story!

It’s called the Majic Kit and is put out by MAJIC BEAUTY. Choose from Golden Peach and Healthy Nude for $19.99 @ amazon.com.

Do you have anything else to add to the Car Emergency Kit?

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

I received a $25 gift card to go shopping @ CVS/Pharmacy and wow, they pretty much have everything there you could ever need, from animal food to As Seen on TV products to every kind of beauty product under the sun. I went over the $25 with the purchase of the toothbrushes but I really needed a replacement for mine and for the price, the 4-pack was right up my alley.

• CVS/Pharmacy brand Cotton Rounds ($2.99/80 pads)
• ARDELL Lash Accents in Black ($4.29)
• PHYSICIAN’S FORMULA Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner/Eye Shadow/Highlighter ($8.99)
• VASELINE Sheer Infusion Body Lotion in Botanical Blends ($7.99)
• REACH Advanced Design 4-Pack Toothbrushes ($6.99)

So if you haven’t checked out all that CVS/Pharmacy is stocked with, take an hour and visit one of the stores or just visit cvs.com.