Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10, $5.99

I totally felt 13 years old again when I reached for the Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10 at the drugstore a few weeks ago. I had an unfortunate flashback to that portion of life we can refer to as "The Busted Years" but this time it was way less traumatic. I had one of those awful down deep in your skin zits that was the star of so many teenage dramas. I figured I could use this to dry it up, it says "Maximum Strength" so why not?

The magic acne zapper contains 10% benzoyl peroxide which is the drying agent. I'm not telling you this is going to miraculously clear your skin up and you won't see a scratch. Not at all. It dries the zit but you still have the dry zit that needs to fade away. Just make sure to moisturize. Also, don't rub this all over your face, use the smallest bit on the spot you need it. This will dry out your skin, the level varies from person to person.

Final verdict:
Cost: Around $5.99, not bad.
Does it work?: Yes it does! It zaps zits dry within a few applications. What I did was use it 3 times a day as suggested on the problem area and it definitely minimized it drastically.
Is this for everyone?: Probably not. You are going to have to take a gamble with this to see if it works for you. I feel like it may have worked so well for me because I haven't used benzoyl peroxide on my skin for years. You also need to take into account whether you have sensitive skin that is prone to excessive drying. I consider myself a person with sensitive skin but the spot drying wasn't a big deal for me.
Repeat offender?: Let's hope that I don't have anymore of these zits, but if I do I'll definitely hit up the Clean & Clear Persa-Gel 10.

-M

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, $5-$6

The first day of summer was just a few days ago, but already this heat and humidity is getting to my skin. I don't know if it's like this where you are, but around here it has been relentlessly hot. I've been using the Urban Decay oil blotting powder to control my everyday shine, which has been working really well. But sometimes, like if I'm going to be outside for a little bit, my face just sweats right through it (sexy, I know). This is when I break out my old friend--Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets. I've used other ones in the past but these work just as well as any expensive sheets I've tried.

These are great because there are 50 sheets in a small, flat container that fits in any purse, pocket, or makeup bag. It has a little piece of doublesided tape that automatically picks up a sheet every time it closes.

Tada! Don't worry, I'll spare you the dark blue spotted result of my greasy forehead. Just trust me that these thin little sheets soak the oil right out of your pores and leave your skin feeling smooth. You can use them on your bare skin or over makeup, so they're useful no matter your beauty routine. Using these not only takes the shine off immediately, but also leaves my face feeling cleaner at the end of the day.

Final verdict
Cost: At around $5, how can you go wrong?
Do they work?: They totally work! When I know I'm going to be hot and feeling gross, I always keep these near me. You can see the evidence of it working right on the sheet. Don't be afraid to use two if yours becomes kinda, uh, see-through.
Convenience: They're faster and easier than powder, and you don't need a mirror to use one. Just remember to throw it away when you're done!
For everyone: Male or female, heavy makeup or none at all--everyone who gets a little shiny can use these.
Repeat offender: I've been buying these off and on since middle school, so yes I will continue to! I don't think I'll need them too much when the air gets drier and cooler, but I can definitely use them for the rest of the summer.

-T