product whore
For those of you who grew up with me, you know I was never much into "products". Sure I did thread my eyebrows, but that was more so people didn't ask me why I left the circus. I usually didn't blow dry my hair, didn't use any hair goop, didn't wear make up, didn't paint my nails, didn't do much to my appearance, really. In the winter, I used Nivea on my arms, legs and face. If things got really dry, I whipped out the Pathmark petroleum jelly from like 1978.
Then junior year of college I started putting a little eye make up on. And getting bikini waxes. Nothing too high maintenance. Eye make up never hurt anyone, and it brought out the only feature of mine I really liked. No harm, no foul. The minimal eye make up and waxes continued throughout senior year and while I was in NYC. My hair was kind of a lost cause, so I didn't think that expensive haircuts and product was really worth it. I started blow drying it, though, since I had a job and couldn't go to work with wet hair... I may have gotten a pedicure here and there, but usually if a group was going and I wanted to tag along.
When I came back to Boston, not much had changed. Until the summer of 2006, that is. The beginning of the end.
A VS student caught me outside H&M and asked if she could practice highlights on my curly hair to show her instructor. Free highlights? Sure why not.
While I was getting all foiled up, I mentioned that I needed a new hair dresser and was really open to anything, since I was beyond bored with my haircut. Luckily there was as student who needed a hair model for short hair. How much? $16? Sweet! I got a rock star haircut that I loved, but it needed to be blown out every morning... with goop in it. Well, like hell if I was buying that purple stuff! Dove leave in conditioner was good enough for me. Done and done.
Then the highlights started growing out. So I went back.
Then my rock star haircut needed to be cleaned up every 6 -8 weeks or so, so back I went. When I left the salon, I "found" a half bottle of the purple stuff in my purse (I love my stylist), so I used it. WAY better than Dove! I will use it for special occasions, I told myself. Suuure...
Around the same time, I went and got a pedicure at this awesome nail place Cambridge with a friend. It was pricey, but I got pedicures like once every two years, so I didn't mind too much. I really liked the salon and loved the owner, but didn't see myself going back to often, since getting my nails done wasn't really a priority. Well, back then it wasn't...
Fall of 2007 and I had a bajillion dollars at Bella Sante thanks to my wonderful, wonderful friends. I had never had a facial before; why not see what the fuss was all about? You want me to do what to my face every day/week/month? Sure lady, whatever. Whatever, indeed....
Fast forward to the spring of 2009 and my make over at Mizu. Wait, this is what I look like with make-up? This is what my hair could look like if I actually tried? You want to give me a bag full of bottles for free? Score!
By this point, I was way past hooked.
I use all of these on a daily/every other day/weekly basis. I have come a long way from two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, bar soap on my face, and some eye-liner at weddings. Hello, my name is D and I am a product-aholic.
1 - Kerastase Shampoo: I got this as part of my make-over. I can actually feel the difference and really like the results. It is a lot less than I thought it was, so it is making the "maybe I will buy it when I run out" list. Will Pantene prevail? Only time will tell...
2 - Kerastase Masquintense for Fine Hair: Also a gift as part of my make-over. I love this product and was using it once a day, but then started rationing. This made the "I will pay money for this" list, but I am certainly going to ration this one out. It may even last me until the end of the year...or at least my birthday... hint hint...
3 - Momo Shampoo Moisturizing Dry and Dehydrated Hair: Yet another free product from my make-over. This is good for every few days, since it does a good job of stripping my hair of all the products (see below) without adding a lot of heaviness. It made the cut.
4 - Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub: Every other day in the shower, baby! Although it is expensive, I can feel the difference between this and something like St. Ives. This also feels very similar to what they use when I get a facial, and I have seen an improvement in my skin over the last year or so. Have been paying for it and will continue to do so.
5 - Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash: This was a Christmas present from my editor and I am loving it as a daily morning cleanser. Depending on the price, I will be buying it again. I should really look into that though... If it is steep, I will be replacing it with my Nuetregena pore cleanser. Blissful, yes. Necessary, not so much. It does feel good in the morning... decisions, decisions
6 - Blue Lagoon Moisturizer: My mom and I each picked up a tube in Iceland after we saw what the free sample was capable of. Oh. My. God. This past winter, I was literally bleeding from dry skin and this was the only thing that made any kind of difference. I was using it on my arms and legs too, but since I am running low, this is now a face-only product. My mom got me some Ahava lotion from Israel to replace this when I run out, but next time I am in New York City, I may pop in to Bendels or the big Barney's to see if they carry it. I am afraid to know what they would charge here in the states, though... This may be a one time thing.
7 - Kheils Creme de Corps: As my Blue Lagoon lotion supply started to dwindle, I picked up some Creme de Corps for my arms, legs, and elbows. Great stuff, even though the price is steep, esp for the pump. My skin is happy, though, and so am I.
8 - Fresh Here Comes the Sun Face Palette: I couldn't even tell you how much this was; I just don't want to know. When I tried it on in the store, I really liked how it added just enough color without making me look like a hooker. It is hard to find that balance for us mocha-skinned beauties and there isn't much selection out there for us.
9 - Fresh Umbrian Clay Foundation: Awesome awesome awesome. Solves the same mocha-skinned problem and is very light. My sleepless nights don't look as bad when I throw some of this on underneath my eyes. Would recommend to anyone; they have a good number of shades from which to choose.
10 - Chanel mascara: What can I say? I am addicted to eye compliments? :)
11 - Chanel Khol Eye Pencil: I swear I tried to use the Indian pencils, but they were coming on a little too strong and were hard to remove. Sometimes it was on there for days. Sure this pencil is 100 times more expensive than the Indian ones (I am not kidding - those are 40 cents), but they last me a long long time and I love the quality.
12 - Fresh Umbrian Clay Mask: After the nice ladies at Fresh watched my buy the foundation, face palette AND powder (not listed), the "sucker" sign must have lit up above my head. They threw in a (fairly good-sized) free sample of this clay mask, and it worked its free sample magic like a charm. I love it. I am rationing this one as well, but once a week or so, I put it on at night, and the next day, my skin is tight and glowing. I was in the store yesterday and checked the price for the big bottle. Not great, but not too bad either. It may make the cut. Damn those free samples!
13 - Momo Anti Frizz: These are the bottles that "mysteriously" end up in my purse after a visit to VS. I also got a bottle from the make-over, so although I use this every day, I have yet to pay for any of it. When I run out, I can't see a reason not to spend the money. This is a product I would recommend to anyone with frizzy hair. Not to heavy and no real smell.
14 - Momo Curl Serum: Another free gift from my Mizu make over. I didn't think I would use it, since I blow dry my hair, but this adds a little bounce to my waves and it is growing on me. It has made the cut, although I don't see myself needing anymore for months - a little goes a long way.
15 - Kerestase Expanseur Extra Corps: Another bottle that finds my way into my purse now and then and ALSO a present from Mizu. Although I haven't actually bought any of this yet, when the time comes and my three bottles run out, I will be. I can tell the difference between the days I use this and the days I don't; my hair has a little more oomph with a few spritzes before I turn on the heat.
16 - Ahava Foot Lotion: This was a present from my mom. My sandal-wearing feet love it, but it may have to wait until after the baby is born to continue using it every day, since I can't really reach my feet anymore...
17 - Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream: Another Christmas present from my editor. I am so addicted to this, I can't even tell you. I may be pushing 30, but I have the hands of an adolescent princess. My tube is more air than lotion, though, so if the Blue Lagoon, Kiehl's and Ahava can't maintain this glorious glorious skin, back to Sephora for some more!
18 - Kheils Eye Alert: Nothing beats the feeling of a dab and rub of this wonderful (but pricey) product in the mornings or after a long day, especially if you keep it in the fridge. Sigh. I groan at the price every time I get a refill, but still whip out the credit card. 
Those are just the products. My monthly pedicures and waxes, bi-monthly manicures (although I do alternate between manicures and polish changes to save that $10 every month...), VS hair cuts (every 8 weeks), VS highlights (every 3 months), and Elizabeth Grady facials (twice a year) don't really help the bottom line either.
I guess everyone has their hobby, right?
Then junior year of college I started putting a little eye make up on. And getting bikini waxes. Nothing too high maintenance. Eye make up never hurt anyone, and it brought out the only feature of mine I really liked. No harm, no foul. The minimal eye make up and waxes continued throughout senior year and while I was in NYC. My hair was kind of a lost cause, so I didn't think that expensive haircuts and product was really worth it. I started blow drying it, though, since I had a job and couldn't go to work with wet hair... I may have gotten a pedicure here and there, but usually if a group was going and I wanted to tag along.
When I came back to Boston, not much had changed. Until the summer of 2006, that is. The beginning of the end.
A VS student caught me outside H&M and asked if she could practice highlights on my curly hair to show her instructor. Free highlights? Sure why not.
While I was getting all foiled up, I mentioned that I needed a new hair dresser and was really open to anything, since I was beyond bored with my haircut. Luckily there was as student who needed a hair model for short hair. How much? $16? Sweet! I got a rock star haircut that I loved, but it needed to be blown out every morning... with goop in it. Well, like hell if I was buying that purple stuff! Dove leave in conditioner was good enough for me. Done and done.
Then the highlights started growing out. So I went back.
Then my rock star haircut needed to be cleaned up every 6 -8 weeks or so, so back I went. When I left the salon, I "found" a half bottle of the purple stuff in my purse (I love my stylist), so I used it. WAY better than Dove! I will use it for special occasions, I told myself. Suuure...
Around the same time, I went and got a pedicure at this awesome nail place Cambridge with a friend. It was pricey, but I got pedicures like once every two years, so I didn't mind too much. I really liked the salon and loved the owner, but didn't see myself going back to often, since getting my nails done wasn't really a priority. Well, back then it wasn't...
Fall of 2007 and I had a bajillion dollars at Bella Sante thanks to my wonderful, wonderful friends. I had never had a facial before; why not see what the fuss was all about? You want me to do what to my face every day/week/month? Sure lady, whatever. Whatever, indeed....
Fast forward to the spring of 2009 and my make over at Mizu. Wait, this is what I look like with make-up? This is what my hair could look like if I actually tried? You want to give me a bag full of bottles for free? Score!
By this point, I was way past hooked.
I use all of these on a daily/every other day/weekly basis. I have come a long way from two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, bar soap on my face, and some eye-liner at weddings. Hello, my name is D and I am a product-aholic.
1 - Kerastase Shampoo: I got this as part of my make-over. I can actually feel the difference and really like the results. It is a lot less than I thought it was, so it is making the "maybe I will buy it when I run out" list. Will Pantene prevail? Only time will tell...
2 - Kerastase Masquintense for Fine Hair: Also a gift as part of my make-over. I love this product and was using it once a day, but then started rationing. This made the "I will pay money for this" list, but I am certainly going to ration this one out. It may even last me until the end of the year...or at least my birthday... hint hint...
3 - Momo Shampoo Moisturizing Dry and Dehydrated Hair: Yet another free product from my make-over. This is good for every few days, since it does a good job of stripping my hair of all the products (see below) without adding a lot of heaviness. It made the cut.
4 - Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub: Every other day in the shower, baby! Although it is expensive, I can feel the difference between this and something like St. Ives. This also feels very similar to what they use when I get a facial, and I have seen an improvement in my skin over the last year or so. Have been paying for it and will continue to do so.
5 - Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash: This was a Christmas present from my editor and I am loving it as a daily morning cleanser. Depending on the price, I will be buying it again. I should really look into that though... If it is steep, I will be replacing it with my Nuetregena pore cleanser. Blissful, yes. Necessary, not so much. It does feel good in the morning... decisions, decisions
6 - Blue Lagoon Moisturizer: My mom and I each picked up a tube in Iceland after we saw what the free sample was capable of. Oh. My. God. This past winter, I was literally bleeding from dry skin and this was the only thing that made any kind of difference. I was using it on my arms and legs too, but since I am running low, this is now a face-only product. My mom got me some Ahava lotion from Israel to replace this when I run out, but next time I am in New York City, I may pop in to Bendels or the big Barney's to see if they carry it. I am afraid to know what they would charge here in the states, though... This may be a one time thing.
7 - Kheils Creme de Corps: As my Blue Lagoon lotion supply started to dwindle, I picked up some Creme de Corps for my arms, legs, and elbows. Great stuff, even though the price is steep, esp for the pump. My skin is happy, though, and so am I.
8 - Fresh Here Comes the Sun Face Palette: I couldn't even tell you how much this was; I just don't want to know. When I tried it on in the store, I really liked how it added just enough color without making me look like a hooker. It is hard to find that balance for us mocha-skinned beauties and there isn't much selection out there for us.
9 - Fresh Umbrian Clay Foundation: Awesome awesome awesome. Solves the same mocha-skinned problem and is very light. My sleepless nights don't look as bad when I throw some of this on underneath my eyes. Would recommend to anyone; they have a good number of shades from which to choose.
10 - Chanel mascara: What can I say? I am addicted to eye compliments? :)
11 - Chanel Khol Eye Pencil: I swear I tried to use the Indian pencils, but they were coming on a little too strong and were hard to remove. Sometimes it was on there for days. Sure this pencil is 100 times more expensive than the Indian ones (I am not kidding - those are 40 cents), but they last me a long long time and I love the quality.
12 - Fresh Umbrian Clay Mask: After the nice ladies at Fresh watched my buy the foundation, face palette AND powder (not listed), the "sucker" sign must have lit up above my head. They threw in a (fairly good-sized) free sample of this clay mask, and it worked its free sample magic like a charm. I love it. I am rationing this one as well, but once a week or so, I put it on at night, and the next day, my skin is tight and glowing. I was in the store yesterday and checked the price for the big bottle. Not great, but not too bad either. It may make the cut. Damn those free samples!
13 - Momo Anti Frizz: These are the bottles that "mysteriously" end up in my purse after a visit to VS. I also got a bottle from the make-over, so although I use this every day, I have yet to pay for any of it. When I run out, I can't see a reason not to spend the money. This is a product I would recommend to anyone with frizzy hair. Not to heavy and no real smell.
14 - Momo Curl Serum: Another free gift from my Mizu make over. I didn't think I would use it, since I blow dry my hair, but this adds a little bounce to my waves and it is growing on me. It has made the cut, although I don't see myself needing anymore for months - a little goes a long way.
15 - Kerestase Expanseur Extra Corps: Another bottle that finds my way into my purse now and then and ALSO a present from Mizu. Although I haven't actually bought any of this yet, when the time comes and my three bottles run out, I will be. I can tell the difference between the days I use this and the days I don't; my hair has a little more oomph with a few spritzes before I turn on the heat.
16 - Ahava Foot Lotion: This was a present from my mom. My sandal-wearing feet love it, but it may have to wait until after the baby is born to continue using it every day, since I can't really reach my feet anymore... 17 - Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream: Another Christmas present from my editor. I am so addicted to this, I can't even tell you. I may be pushing 30, but I have the hands of an adolescent princess. My tube is more air than lotion, though, so if the Blue Lagoon, Kiehl's and Ahava can't maintain this glorious glorious skin, back to Sephora for some more!
18 - Kheils Eye Alert: Nothing beats the feeling of a dab and rub of this wonderful (but pricey) product in the mornings or after a long day, especially if you keep it in the fridge. Sigh. I groan at the price every time I get a refill, but still whip out the credit card. Those are just the products. My monthly pedicures and waxes, bi-monthly manicures (although I do alternate between manicures and polish changes to save that $10 every month...), VS hair cuts (every 8 weeks), VS highlights (every 3 months), and Elizabeth Grady facials (twice a year) don't really help the bottom line either.
I guess everyone has their hobby, right?
posted by Deepa at 10:40 PM
8 Comments:
Please revise this post, letting us know what you keep up with once you a) run out of things and b) become a mommy. I'm really curious.
Yeah - I feel like the salon visits and product purchases will take dip when they start competing with diapers and detergent... I am curious as to what will happen as well...
Kerastase is the BEST! My stylist allows me to "find" tons in my purse, too.
That masque is a once a week treatment!!!
And do not use panteen. it coats your hair in plastic - that's why it looks shiny and feels soft. it's all a lie.
don't worry - i am all about the rationing, the masque is a sunday night ritual, if that.
ew about pantene! i need a new "regular" shampoo. herbal essense makes me loose my hair, dove it too heavy, garnier fructese affects my color. blah.
Don't worry, it's only a 1-2 year hiatus, if that. ;)
You'll have a lot of help, too, so you'll be able to at least nip out for a pedi or a haircut for precious "you time."
Don't feel guilty. Kerastase anything is amazing, it's near impossible NOT to love it. Once you go there, you can't go back!!
BUT if you ever want a change from Kerastase and that isn't cheap but costs a little less still, try Fekkai products. Seriously they're fantastic too. To keep in mind if you ever want to cut a few Kerastase costs one day or at least just try something different but want something that's just as addictively good. ;)
When I had dyed hair, I liked the L'Oreal Elive shampoos/conditioners esp the strengething and colour-protect ones a lot, have gone back to it many times since.
And don't feel guilty about the threading. :P Threading isn't a 'product' per se, and eyebrows can really change your entire face. :P
I always remember this line from Bridget Jones's Diary where she's getting ready for a date and is talking about 'harvesting the crop' or something like that: waxing, toning, exfoliating, threading, buffing, cream, etc. and how she wondered if we stopped how quickly it would all go to seed and we'd look like wild cavement. Always cracks me up. :)
haha - thank kiwi! i have $50 at Mizu, so I may be replenishing my kerestace stcok there, but if I don't i will def try your reccomendations:)
love that BJ quote too:) guys have no idea how good they have it....
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