archives: March 2010
I just got back from a trip to a very sunny place (wistful sigh…) Because I am very fair-skinned, I take sunscreen very seriously, and I brought all sorts of options with us- waterproof, sport formulas, sensitive skin, all with an SPF of 50+.
But my secret weapon is this: Coppertone Waterbabies Sunscreen Stick. I bet right now some of you are thinking: my mom used that thing on me when I was a kid! And mine did too! That’s how I know about it! This recommendation comes on the strength of more than 25 years experience with the product. That’s pretty high praise, yeah?
Basically, it’s sunscreen in a solid formula, so it spreads on places where you really don’t want to get burned, like your face and your ears, and then stays put. If you sweat, it doesn’t leak into your eyes. If you go swimming, it doesn’t wash off. Because it’s a solid format, you don’t have to include it in your ziploc bag of 3oz size liquids (a plus for those of us who try to travel without checking luggage.) It’s great for use on the back of the neck and back of the ears during a run.
Now, if you have super-duper sensitive skin, I can’t guarantee that it will love the thickness of the solid formula. But it’s made for babies, so it’s dye free, scent free, and generally formulated for sensitive skin. I slathered it all over my face and neck last week with nary a pimple as a result. So for my sensitive-but-not-impossible skin, it works great.
If you have kids, this is way better than wrangling with them as they try to prevent you from spreading sunscreen liquid on their precious cheeks. But even if you don’t have kids- don’t make the mistake of thinking this is just for them. It’s small, compact, and cheap, and it protects your skin against dangerous rays. What’s not to love?
Coppertone Waterbabies Sunscreen Stick SPF 55, $4.99 at drugstore.com (also available as an SPF 30, so be sure you’re getting the high SPF for maximum protection- and fyi, I got mine for more like $3 at Target.)
I’m not going to mince words: I hate being hairy. This is not to say I am meticulous in my upkeep as I can be a very lazy and tired girl. But nonetheless! If all the hair could be gone forever from the places I want it to be gone I like to think I’d never ask for anything ever again. (I can tell you right now that that is indeed a lie.) To combat this loathing of mine, I live and die by my nose and brow trimmer. I even take it with me when I travel as YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. Or heck, I should keep it in my car, since I always seem to find some unsettling whisker when the sunlight hits me juuuuuust right and there’s nothing I can do about it. (Wow, I’m beginning to make myself sound like the main character in Billy Goat’s Gruff.) Come, let’s bond over unwanted hair.
- I don’t go and get waxed as I’m too cheap and it takes too much time. So I maintain at home. My trimmer is perfect for my upper lip (it happens to the best of us whether we like to talk about it or not) and the few rogue chin hairs I’ve been blessed with since having our son.
- My eyebrows are currently sculpted so all I do is pluck to keep all the business in order, but to me there is nothing worse than perfectly shaped eyebrows with a few long scraggly hairs that make you look like the Juice Man. This is great for trimming up those soldiers.
- The nose. It needs some attention from time to time and I am NOT about to pluck. I just shuddered thinking about it, actually. THE PAIN AND TEARS! So that’s why I use this handy trimmer–never had an incident involving blood, and my nose looked good as new. Just, uh, give it a good wipe down when you’re done. *coughboogiescough*
Sadly, the one I have at home is no longer available as I’ve had it for years. But there are a few to choose from all in different price points, though most are in the fifteen dollar range. Some have so many bells and whistles on them that you could even share it with your husband and really get your money’s worth. Not that I’m insinuating you’re both hairy beasts. Not at all. Gulp.
In two days, I’m leaving for a quick Caribbean vacation. Do you know how happy it makes me to say that? I’ll say it again. “Quick Caribbean vacation.”
We are SO not the kind of people who ordinarily take quick Caribbean vacations (we’re more the “let’s visit an unknown city and contemplate the architecture types) but my husband’s got spring break, and I’ve got spring fever, and a few days sacked out on the beach sounds about PERFECT right now.
You know what one needs for a quick Caribbean vacation? Beach coverups and flip flops and a few dresses to wear out to dinner. But because this is a quick, last-minute, not-exactly-budgeted-for trip, though, I’m not interested in spending a bunch of money on stuff to bring with us. So I’m proud to report that I’ve done all my shopping for the trip (and it wasn’t much) at Old Navy and Forever 21 (where I keep waiting for someone to ask me “ma’am, are you lost? You know this is Forever 21, right? Like, a store named after an age you sailed by TEN YEARS AGO?”)
So you can imagine my delight when I walked into Old Navy and found this dress. It is the perfect dress for this purpose, but I’d argue that it’s a perfect dress even if you aren’t boarding a plane in two days.
Sailor stripes are incredibly trendy for spring, which makes this super fun, but since it’s only $15 (or $7.99 if you get the gray stripe version), you won’t feel despondent when sailor stripes look incredibly dated in a year. It has flattering elbow sleeves (also good for those times when you’ve gotten too much sun) and a short-but-not obscene length. You could easily wear it as a beach coverup with flip flops, but it would be just as appropriate with some sandals and a long necklace for a spring dinner date. It’s lightweight and cool without being skimpy or cheap looking, and I’m just in love with it.
Old Navy Sailor Stripe Dress, $15 for navy stripe, some colors on sale for $7.99 (!) at Old Navy stores and oldnavy.com
I was lamenting about my quest to find the perfect drugstore mascara as I’m sick of being a slave to my department store brand. So spendy! And a pain to acquire! Little did I know that women love to chat it up about their tried-and-true brand and give detail upon emphatic detail as to why it’s The Best. It was really helpful and made it easier to narrow down what to look for on my next trip to Target so Katie and Kori and I figured we’d have a mascara round up. Our opinions: let me show you them.
From Sam: Clinique High Impact Mascara, $14.00 at Clinique.com
I can’t help it, I LOVE this stuff. It makes my eyes stand out with bold color and fullness (without having Hooker Eyes, natch) and minimal clumping. Others I’ve tried were either too thin or the brush drove me batty. I hate those cheaply made mascaras that flake off in the middle of the day so it looks like you work part-time as a chimney sweep over your lunch break. This formula washes off well, and by ‘well’ I mean with a baby wipe as I pass out on the couch without having first washed my face. It also has never irritated my eyes and I’m a contact lens wearer so it’s a HUGE requirement and AND sometimes there are free samples in their bonus gift bags. You see what they’re doing there right? Giving me free tastes to fuel the addiction. BECAUSE THEY KNOW I’LL KEEP CRAWLING BACK!
From Katie: Maybelline Full ‘n Soft Waterproof Mascara, $6.59 at drugstore.com
For years, my favorite mascara has been one I selected entirely at
random several years ago off a Walgreens shelf. Maybelline Full n’
Soft waterproof formula in brownish black makes your lashes long long long and darker without adding too much gunk or drama for daytime. It adds definition without being too…much. It truly is waterproof, my lashes feel soft not crunchy, and it doesn’t fleck off and leave me looking racoony by the end of the day- and I touch my eyes a LOT. I’ve tried several other mascaras, many of them a lot more expensive, but I always return to this old standby.
From Kori and Amy: Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto Mascara, $7.99 at drugstore.com
K: Not to put too fine a point on it, but I demand perfection from my mascara. For years I mourned the discontinuation of Maybelline’s Sky High Curves. The creme de la creme of curling mascaras, I finally had to accept that it might be time to move on. Just recently I have found a mascara that is pretty darn good: Maybelline’s Lash Stiletto Mascara (you know, the one in the ad that looks like the heel of a shoe). Lash Stiletto does a great job of holding the curl from an eyelash curler; really, really lengthens lashes; doesn’t flake off throughout the day; employs a fairly good brush/applicator; and the waterproof mascara generally comes off with a bit of makeup remover. The biggest con is that you might need an eyelash comb to really separate lashes and get the best look, but I’m okay with this extra step. Overall, I really recommend.
Max Factor Extreme Calorie was always my go-to mascara. It perfectly plumped up and highlighted my lashes without any of the goopy mess I associate with other mascaras. I never cheated on this mascara until they stopped carrying it in the Ultas, Walgreens and CVS stores in my area. I spent years trying out other over-the-counter mascaras, but constantly checked store aisles to see if they began carrying Max Factor again. They never did, but I got savvy and looked online. I’ve been reunited with my mascara and I couldn’t be happier!
From Sarah: Rimmel London Sexy Curves Mascara, $7.49 at Sears.com
I’m a compulsive eyelash curler (in fact, I actually put my curler under a blowdryer for 15 seconds to get it warm before I curl and the curl lasts ALL DAY), and this mascara not only accentuates the curl, but it washes cleanly off and comes in great colors. LOVE.
From Allyson and Jen: Maybelline Define-A-Lash Mascara, $6.99 at Drugstore.com
A: I had a favorite for YEARS and I haven’t been able to find it in a while. And naturally, the name escapes me at the moment. But I use this one and dig the long brush.
J: I usually switch mascaras every time I buy it, but I just bought this one twice in a row. That says something, right? I usually blow on the wand for a few seconds to let it dry a bit before applying (sounds weird, I know) but it keeps it from clumping and it goes on great. And it never smudges!
And there you have it! What is YOUR favorite mascara and why? We obviously love talking about this stuff so please share.
Over the years, we’ve all seen (and probably owned) dozens of different variations on the reusable water bottle theme. Nalgene. Sigg. Kleen Kanteen. The list goes on. Yet somehow, those annoying disposable plastic water bottles endure, and in fact seem to be growing in popularity. People buy flats of them at megastores, take them with them when they leave home, and toss or recycle the bottles after an all-too-brief life.
I get it, I think. My mom is one of those people. She drinks a lot of water. She doesn’t always trust the drinking fountain or bathroom tap at her destination. So she buys disposable bottles of water and keeps several in the car. But then it becomes a habit, and she drinks out of those annoying disposable bottles even when she has access to good, trustworthy water. It makes me a little bit nuts.
I’m hoping I’ve finally found the product that will help her turn the corner: the Water Bobble.
It’s a reusable water bottle with a carbon filter built in. Pour water into the bottle, and it gets filtered as you drink. (Carbon filters are the same things that are used in a Brita pitcher.) The filters last for two months (or forty gallons) and can be replaced. The bottle itself is stylish looking and well-designed, and comes in six pretty colors. It’s BPA-free. And the price is so right: ten little bucks. Compared to some of the stainless steel options out there, that’s a steal.
I think they’ve hit it on the head with this design. Simple, inexpensive, clean. Now, according to the website, it’s not for use in place where bacteria and parasites might be a problem (ie, camping, or traveling to places with unreliable water supplies) but for those of us whose water bottles mostly travel with us to school and work and the airport? It’s a great idea.
The product is brand new- it’s not even available in stores yet, only through their website. But starting this month, you can look for them at Bed Bath and Beyond and other retailers. Earth Day is coming up, you know. I think this would make an excellent earth day gift to yourself.
Water Bobble, $9.95, at Waterbobble.com
For me, the easiest way to experiment with my hair is to change up my shampoo and conditioner regimen. I mean, we all know that if our hair is weighted down by gunk it can be heavy and lifeless and if we use something naughty it can strip all the essential oils away and break more easily. I always start with the source if my hair is suddenly acting persnickety. Instead of spending money on STYLING products first, I make sure my hair isn’t getting the shaft. (HA HA get it? SHAFT? *wipes tear*)
I’ve mentioned before what I’m dealing with up top, which is thickthickthick hair that has a natural wave. I am sensitive to perfume-y smells because, call me crazy, I hate to be followed around all day by a dish of my grandmother’s old and dusty potpourri. Since my hair is so heavy I have to be careful when selecting a shampoo as it needs to rinse clean, and the conditioner has to be thick enough to get out all the tangles and snarls without me stepping out of the shower like a greasy monkey. See what I have to put up with? So it’s a tough match with me and my cleansing products is what I’m saying.
Thus enters Herbal Essences Tousle Me Softly line. I have begun embracing my messy waves (that long ago were actual CURLS but apparently having a baby made my body re-set the hair function as well as turning a number that rhymes with blirty.) All I did was roam the aisles at Target and the fabu purple bottles jumped out at me. I was sold by the advertising that said “Embrace your softer side with perfectly imperfect hair” because DUH I could totally do that! I’m soft AND imperfect! I tossed my bottles in the cart and actually looked FORWARD to taking a shower. Seriously, I might have done a casual glassade into the bathroom.
I loved the shampoo and conditioner right away. The wild violet & pomegranate had a clean and romantic aroma which my husband has said on more than one occasion ‘smells heavenly’ which, I think we can agree, is never a bad thing. My waves are less frizzy and there is no added weight to my hair. The conditioner is fab in that it’s thick out of the bottle but spreads evenly over wet hair without glumping all over the place. It rinses well too. Herbal Essences also has a bunch of styling products to complete the whole tousled process but I’m not quite there yet. Just still enjoying the freshly clean and messy look I’m rocking over here.
All I’m saying is try it. You’ll like it. Each bottle is around $4.00 depending on where you go. It looks like it’s not sold online but I see it in stores all the time.
No go be imperfect!
