When I turned twenty-one, I determined that since I was old enough to drink alcohol, it meant I was also old enough to need a face regimen. So over two hundred dollars later, I purchased a full facial line from Clarins. Clarins claims their products are 99.9 percent allergy proof. I was in the .1 percentile. After only three days of using my new products, my face looked like I had the measles, mumps and a severe case of elephantitis. I had a face that even a mother couldn’t love. Mine shuddered at the sight of me and drove me to a doctor, which really made me worry since this is a woman who treats driving into Manhattan from Brooklyn as though she were driving to Beirut by way of Baghdad.
The dermatologist offered to put me on steroids. I couldn’t help wondering if she was going to fix my face, or make the rest of my body swell up to match the size of it and hope I didn’t realize. I declined the steroids and asked for another option. She said, “The swelling will go down in time, but stop using the Clarins products.” No shit. I didn’t need to schlep to the Upper East Side for that advice. Then she prescribed Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and told me I could pick it up off the shelf at a regular drugstore for approximately ten bucks.
Now I was in really bad shape, so I was willing to try anything. I couldn’t believe that a product sold over the counter at a drugstore was going to be the answer to my woes. Boy was I wrong. Cetaphil is liquid gold. This product is not only a gentle cleanser, it doubles as makeup remover. That’s right, I put this solution on a cotton square, rub it directly on my eyes and it doesn’t burn. Then I wash my face. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser comes in a 20 oz. pump container and also can be found in travel size bottles. This product is perfect for those who have sensitive skin and those who are blessed with resilient skin. It’s approximately $10.99 a bottle and sometimes goes on sale. I swear you won’t break out in hives from it. Trust me, I would know.
February 2007
February 23, 2007
Liquid Gold
When I turned twenty-one, I determined that since I was old enough to drink alcohol, it meant I was also old enough to need a face regimen. So over two hundred dollars later, I purchased a full facial line from Clarins. Clarins claims their products are 99.9 percent allergy proof. I was in the .1 percentile. After only three days of using my new products, my face looked like I had the measles, mumps and a severe case of elephantitis. I had a face that even a mother couldn’t love. Mine shuddered at the sight of me and drove me to a doctor, which really made me worry since this is a woman who treats driving into Manhattan from Brooklyn as though she were driving to Beirut by way of Baghdad.
The dermatologist offered to put me on steroids. I couldn’t help wondering if she was going to fix my face, or make the rest of my body swell up to match the size of it and hope I didn’t realize. I declined the steroids and asked for another option. She said, “The swelling will go down in time, but stop using the Clarins products.” No shit. I didn’t need to schlep to the Upper East Side for that advice. Then she prescribed Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and told me I could pick it up off the shelf at a regular drugstore for approximately ten bucks.
Now I was in really bad shape, so I was willing to try anything. I couldn’t believe that a product sold over the counter at a drugstore was going to be the answer to my woes. Boy was I wrong. Cetaphil is liquid gold. This product is not only a gentle cleanser, it doubles as makeup remover. That’s right, I put this solution on a cotton square, rub it directly on my eyes and it doesn’t burn. Then I wash my face. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser comes in a 20 oz. pump container and also can be found in travel size bottles. This product is perfect for those who have sensitive skin and those who are blessed with resilient skin. It’s approximately $10.99 a bottle and sometimes goes on sale. I swear you won’t break out in hives from it. Trust me, I would know.
February 20, 2007
Buyer Beware
In an effort to save time in my daily getting ready process (DGRP), I spoke to my hair stylist about ways to cut back on style time. I wash my hair daily, dry it, and then style it. This is about 45 minutes of DGRP time. She told me to wash my hair once a week. It’s better for your hair. I was shocked. For my whole life, I’d been washing and conditioning daily. She claimed the washing makes your hair dry. If I don’t wash my hair, I find it looks a little greasy. She recommended the Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder claiming it’ll cover the oily patches and if you spray it on roots you can go longer between color touch-ups. Both results -- very desirable. So I decided to try this.
The Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder comes in a regular hair spray canister in a variety of colors, White, Blondish, Red, Brown, and Black. I bought the 4 oz. size for $34.95 in Brown, figuring I’d be using a lot of it. It also comes in a 2 oz. size for $18.95. The instructions say to spray the product directly onto your head.
Day one without washing, it seemed to work fine. There was no hint of grease anywhere. However there was a chalky smell, but I hid that with perfume. Day two without washing, I was kind of feeling itchy. It may have been all in my head. After a few days, I began to notice the spray was all over my bathroom. It stained my white tile floor (I’ve been washing it for a week now and still haven’t been able to get all of the brown powder color off.) It got all over my walls. And even after shampooing and conditioning, it stained my towels.
All I can say is, buyer beware. The time I’ve spent cleaning up after using Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder, has exceeded my 45 minute DGRP savings. And I would’ve been better off washing and styling my hair daily. On a positive note, I didn’t break out in hives.
I'm In Love With Kiehl's Deodorant
I never in my life thought I’d utter this sentence… I’m in love with Kiehl’s deodorant!
Suddenly, I became super sensitive to the smell of my reliable deodorant. The scent was making me gag. I was using Arrid XX Maximum Strength Regular scented anti-perspirant & deodorant. You see, I need a hard core deodorant because I’m a sweater. I sweat when I’m happy. I sweat when I’m anxious. I sweat when I’m cold. I sweat when I watch someone else play sports. What’s odd is, I don’t sweat when I play sports, but that’s an issue I’ll deal with at a later date. So I was traumatized when I had to search for a new product to keep me dry without making me nauseated from the scent.
I tried every scented and unscented deodorant on the market -- sprays, solids, crystals and creams. Nothing could keep me dry and at the same time prevent me from wanting to escape the smell coming out from underneath my armpits. Did you ever notice that deodorant scents are very similar to the scents of Glade air sanitizers? I don’t want my armpits smelling like a bouquet of wild flowers or morning dew. But that could be just me. I know I have a very sensitive nose. Then one day, a close friend of mine asked me if I’d tried Kiehl’s. I hadn’t. I didn’t even know they made deodorant. I tested it out and have been using it ever since. Kiehl’s Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant & Deodorant Cream with Orange, Lemon and Linseed Extracts is unscented and succeeds at keeping you dry and smelling clean. It also keeps the skin underneath your arms soft and smooth. It comes in a 1.7 fl oz. tube and sells for $10.50 a tube at any Kiehl’s counter at a department store. My only complaint is they don’t make a larger size. I love it so much I buy three at a time. I never want to be without it.
