Badger (Badger Badger - Ha Ha, It's In Your Head Now)

I know, I know, I've got to stop doing this Posting Once A Month thing.  I'm going to try, but I won't make any promises.  You should forgive me.  I'm awesome.

ANYWAY.

Down here in Houston, for the last few weeks, the weather's been a bit bipolar.  Mid-seventies to mid-eighties during the day, and low forties at night.  Work's been cranking the AC and heat to help combat it, which is doing nothing but giving me sinus headaches and pissed off skin.  My hands are dry, my elbows are dry, my whole body wants moisture.  I'm drinking water out the ying yang, but my hands were still really pissed, as was the skin on my arms. 

What's a girl to do?  Use it as an excuse to buy more beauty crap.  Duh.

I dig hippie organic things because that's how I roll.  So after some Googling, I figured I'd try out some stuff from Badger Organic Body Care.  Also, because badgers are awesome.  I got their Rose Geranium soap and their hallmark Badger Balm.

From badgerbalm.com

This soap is a dream.  It's a no frills, grey block of soap that does just what it says it will: it moisturizes and nourishes your skin.  It smells lovely, it doesn't make my already dry skin feel tight or angry, and it doesn't leave me feeling slick or stripped the way some shower gels can.  I don't use it on my face, because the last thing my face needs is moisture, but for my body?  A+, 6.49 USD.  Protip: You can use this on your junk.  I'm UTI prone, and my outer junkal sections say this is a-okay.  

from badgerbalm.com

Badger Balm is a really concentrated balm that I've been using on my hands, cuticles, and elbows.  I've noticed a difference after only a few uses, which is impressive.  It's concentrated, so two ounces is actually a lot of product.  It reminds me of Burt's Bees hand salve in formulation.  The smell may be an acquired taste for some people.  I like it; it reminds me of camping.  The oils that give it its smell are birch and wintergreen, so if you don't like smelling like a forest, try one of their other balms.  B, 7.99 USD.

                           Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own. 

Loot! - The Face Shop

I love finding out about other cultures.  I love eating other cultures' foods and watching their movies.  I adore reading their books and listening to their music.  Since I'm a Culture Sponge (it seriously is a thing - I'm listening to French kids' music right now while I'm typing this, and the book next to me is a gender studies textbook about Japanese hostessing clubs and I'm eating some random peanuts that I couldn't tell you what they are because I don't speak Spanish), I also love - and might love the most - sampling other cultures' beauty products.

I work in a part of Houston they call the International District; there's a lot of Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, and Mexican places all within a few miles of each other.  I love it; where else can I get good butter chicken and pho without having to drive too far from each other?  I also just like signage that's not in English or romanized lettering.  It just makes me happy for some reason.  But now I have another reason to love it here: FACE SHOP STORE FIVE MINUTES FROM WORK ERRRMAHGEERD.  I'm not even kidding, I nearly skipped into the joint on my lunch today at work (and very nearly stole one of the posters of the gorgeous Kim Hyun-joong they have plastered all over).  Here's what I got (which isn't nearly half of what I want, but at some point I think I might need food again).

TREASURES.

I got this BB cream for 14.00 USD.  I've been looking for something to replace my beloved SKIN79 hot pink, and this feels (on my hand at least, I used the sample) much lighter.  I'll review it later!  It's kind of a smallish bottle, so I'm not sure if it's the same bang for the buck as hot pink.  I'll keep you posted.

Herb Day cleansing wipes for 8.00 USD.  I use wipes to take off my makeup at night, and also when I'm lazy.  Since the voyage from the car to the store and then back again in 107 F heat left me feeling not so fresh, I tried one of these at my work desk.  It left me feeling clean, left no weird residue behind, and tingled.  Mama likey, and that's pretty cheap for 70 wipes.

Nature Garden Cleansing Bar in sebum controlling.  I got this for 5.00 USD.  I'll use it and let you guys know how it does on controlling my sebum.  Sebum sucks.

Speaking of sebum, I love me these sheet masks.  They're a teeny bit expensive (3.00 USD each, and they're one use each), but they work so well I try to get them once a month.  Now I don't have to pay for international shipping when I do that.  Kermit arms, y'all.

And y'all know I couldn't leave without some nail polish.  The top one ran me just 2.00 USD (I know, right?)  That color is GR501 (I know, unfortunately no cute names here).  The bottom one was 5.00 USD and is BR801.

After work tonight, I'm going to go home, shower, fight some sebum, and do my nails.  ... and try not to think about next week when I get paid and probably go back to spend/waste more money.

Samples Samples Samples - April 2012 Eco-Emi Box

I know what you're thinking - I just posted!  Well, I'm trying to figure out a good update schedule for this, and I'm thinking at least Monday / Friday for me unless life gets in the way (which we know it will).  But I got home from work on Saturday, and what was there waiting for me?  Only one of my favorite bits of post!  Let's move right into it.

As always, Christine outdid herself with the packaging.  The dried flower petals were lovely, and after I fought my cats for them, a really nice thought.  In the pretty little mesh bag were all sorts of treats and there were three wrapped surprises.  Also, this box smelled fucking fantastic, and I could not figure out why at first.  Then I dived into the goodies, and figured out what it was.

This is a bag of three samples of Chai treats from Catalyst Gourmet.  Chai is basically my favorite scent/flavour in the whole wide world, so I spent about a half hour just with my face in this bag.  The chai enhancer is going in my coffee, the sugar in my oatmeal, and the chocolate bark into some warm milk - all of this very soon.

Seaweed Bath Wash (in Eucalyptus and Peppermint) by Seaweed Bath Company.  I have no clue how it smells besides the description due to the packaging, but I'll give it a go sometime.

I friggin' love tea, you guys, but ... lime?  Lime tea?  really?  Sorry, Mate Factor, you're going in the garbage because nobody I know will want you.  (My roommate looked horrified, and my mother thinks tea is the devil's drink.)

Ooooh.  Alabu Baby Me Ultra Moisturizing Soap.  I've needed some moisture in my life; for some reason, summers in Texas just suck it right out of my skin.  Even though I'm sweating and it's like a jock strap outside, because the AC is bumping full blast everywhere, my body is upset.  This is getting used tonight.

Dr. Collins' Natural Toothpaste.  Vanilla Mint toothpaste?  I wonder if my veneers will like you!  I will find out!

Whipped Shea Butter with Kalahari Melon by Shea Radiance.  I SEE WHAT YOU DID THAR 'SHEA' RADIANCE.  It's not that funny, but I appreciate a good pun.  What I don't appreciate is whatever this scent is.  Dear god, it's like it's burning the hair in my nose.  My roommate claims she can't smell anything, but she's got the worst sense of smell of anyone I've ever met, bless her heart.

Organic Raw Fair Trade Honey by Wholesome Sweeteners.  The term "raw honey" confuses me.  What the hell have I been eating all this time?  What have I been putting in my tea?  On my nuggets?  On my peanut butter toast?  WAS IT ALL A LIE?  ... this smells pretty good, but I'm kind of scared of it.  I'll probably put it on some toast at some point.

Bronzer in "Golden" by Lauren Brooke Cosmetics.  I'm half Mexican, so bronzer is not something I generally use in my makeup.  When I want bronzer, I just sort of lay outside in the sun for half an hour and I'm good to go for a year.

Here's that bronzer swatched.  Yeah, I don't really notice it either.  I'm sure on a fair person this would be lovely.  (You're welcome, roommate!)

This is Mr. Ellie Pooh paper, and like it sounds, it's paper made out of elephant poop.  Cute idea, and kind of makes me wish I needed paper.  But like any good typist born in the electronic age, I don't remember how to write very well.  (I use a Moleskine for random thoughts, and I can't read many of them.)

And last but not least, a Burts Bees Lip Shimmer in Plum.  This color is way darker than I'd ever buy for myself, so I was stoked to get it in my box.  I'm a Burts addict; I love the tingle and the way it makes my mouth feel.  Glee!

Burt's Bees and the bronzer side by side, swatched on my hand.  And - check this shiiiit oooout - my new phone has a front facing camera.

BAM!  MOUTH SWATCH!  I actually don't hate this color on me, but I'll have to do a boring eye since it's pretty dark.

So, that was my April Eco-Emi box.  How I love them so.

Shower Regimen - Bare Bones Beauty

I'm a quick and dirty kind of girl.  I like most things fast and easy.  In MMORPGs, I prefer questing to hour long raids.  I'd rather have a quickie in a car than some all night shagfest.  And when it comes to showers, I'm in and out in fifteen minutes.  I really don't understand people that spend an hour in there.  (Plus, my shower doesn't drain well, and after about ten minutes the dirty water starts to pool around my shins.  It's so icky.)  That's why I have a get in, get out philosophy when it comes to showers.  Here's some broad strokes on the crap that makes that happen. 

Hair Products

I'm half Mexican (I'm sure you've guessed that by now!) and half Irish.  So my hair is curly, frizzy, wavy, and generally confused.  I also have an angry scalp.  So I have to use an anti-dandruff shampoo, all while trying to find products that keep my hair from looking like the angriest little puffball.  I have a three pronged approach to this that after a long time searching, actually seems to work for me.

For dandruff control, I've been using Garnier Fructis Anti-Dandruff: Intense Clean.  This actually has little exfoliating beads in it (that you'll end up having to clean out of the shower after you get out).  But it feels awesome, and within a day or two, I stopped itching my head randomly.  Seriously, it was starting to seem like I had scabies, or mange.  My dandruff was never visible, it just made me miserable.  I'm not the kind of person who can just stop itching.  I'm the kind of person who will try to rip the skin off with her fingernails.  No skin, no itching!  But this stuff cleared that problem up within two washes.  I'm a devotee, and sort of alarmed that I'm starting to see it in fewer and fewer stores.  I picked it up in a Walgreens because it was on clearance, and I should've grabbed more.

After that wash and rinse, I use another shampoo.  I know people say not to do that, but I really don't like how the dandruff shampoo cleans my hair.  It does a fine job on my scalp, but if it's the only one I use, I notice my hair gets limp and greasy and starts to look like Ally Sheedy's hair did in the Breakfast Club.  Not cute.  So I follow up with this little number:

Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Fortifying Shampoo.  It's the hippiest of hippie shampoo, and it smells like heaven.  That's why I have such brand loyalty to Garnier - the stuff smells bomb.  This is for normal hair, and even though my hair tends to be on the dry side, anything more in terms of moisture makes my scalp cry.  It's a terrible cycle.

Now, I'm sure you're thinking that I use a conditioner.  And for years?  I did.  But one day I just forgot.  And my hair looked gorgeous.  I just shampooed.  It was like my hair was happier to be alive than it ever had been before.  So I just stopped.  My hair is happy and healthy and I haven't conditioned in months. 

This last hair step is one I do right after I get out of the shower.  I dry off so I don't break my ass in the bathroom, then scrunch my hair dry.  Then I put a dime size drop of Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum in one palm, rub my hands together, and scrunch it through my wet hair.

Picture taken from Sephora.com

Oh.  My.  God.  This stuff smells the way I think cruise ships should smell - citrusy, with a tiny bit of floral behind it - and it makes my hair behave.  I have my natural curls and waves, but without the tiny flyaways that were tamed only by hats.  It doesn't weigh my hair down, and it makes my hair so damned soft, I caught one of my cats kneading my head the other day.  That's fucking soft.

It should also be noted that I do not blowdry my hair.  This saves on a lot of heat damage and breakage.  I also very seldom heat style.  I let my hair be naturally wavy and just do what it wants to.  This is probably why I can sneak by with just washing and argoning. 

Body Cleanup

Oh, soap.  How I love you.  And don't get me started on that body wash crap, you take up too much room.  No, I'm an old school soap girl through and through.  But it can't be too drying.  You've read how I've got dry skin in my argan oil post.  Why would I want to exacerbate the issue?  Ivory doesn't do squat down here.  So I shopped around for loads of different soaps, and spent years in a dry skin'd wilderness of flakiness and weird smells.  And who would've thought it - I found my favorite soap maker on Etsy.  BodyLuminosity makes a whole host of tonics and lotions, but my favorite products of theirs are their handmilled soaps.  I annually buy at least two of their Candy Corn scented soaps ever autumn, and then proceed to purr while I bathe.  But when that's not available, I get their Coconut Dream Pie soap. 

BodyLuminosity's own photo

It smells just how it looks, but not overwhelmingly so.  You'll be okay to put on perfume later without having to worry about your soap clashing with your scent.  But while you're in the shower, scrubbing your butt, you will be so happy you found these girls.  Mmmph.  I want to go home and bathe.

Shaving

You know what sucks?  Sensitive skin.  You know what else sucks?  Getting bumps on your legs every time you shave.  I don't care how many blades my razor has (as long as the blade is new).  You could have 456 on there, and my legs would still look like I was stung by fire ants when I was done.  The only thing that saves me and keeps me shaving as often as I do is Bikini Zone.

Yes, you can use it for said obvious bikini zone.  I have, and I will.  But I use it most often on my legs.  It seems to make my shaves last longer, and it's the only way to keep them from looking like a general itchy plague area.  Which brings me to the last bit of my ritual ...

Facial Cleansing

I hate my face.  Well, that's not true at all, I love my face, I just hate the skin that covers it most of the time.  I have a hormonal disorder called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, and one of the symptoms is facial skin being just breaky outy all the damn time.  As I've gotten older, it's evened out a bit, but I still have to work hard to keep it clear.  This isn't just a vanity concern; the pimples I do get are the deep cystic ones that hurt if you move your face (and I move my face constantly, I overexpress without thinking) or rub it while putting on a shirt.  The ones where if you sneeze, you're in a world of pain.  But again, I try to be fairly low-maintenance (most of my makeup is for fun, I will totally run out of the house bare skinned if I'm just running to the grocery).  So here's what I've whittled the regimen down to.

This is Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control, 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment.  Aside from having the longest name in the world, it really does the tric when it comes to my periodic acne.  It's got 2% Salicylic Acid, so if that's something that upsets your skin, you'll want to steer clear of it.  But for me, that's the perfect twice daily dose to keep most things in check.  I use it with my Clarisonic Mia, which I got for Christmas, and already have a deep love affair with.  (I'll go more in depth on it in another entry, when I've got three or so months of use under my belt.)  But obviously, the trick to any skin care regimen is consistency, so I don't care if you put it on with your elbow, just put it on.

Once I'm out of the shower, I use the Clinique Acne Solutions Clarifiying Lotion as a toner, and then once that's absorbed in for about five minutes, I use the Clinique clearing moisturizer from the same line.  Now, nine times out of ten, this is enough to keep my pimples in control, but if I have a spot that won't listen to reason, I bust out my Zeno.

This thingie heats up in a minute to what is allegedly the Optimum Heat for murdering acne germs.  And it must be; if I feel a dangerous spot lurking beneath the surface, within two or three cycles (twice a day) of this thing, it dies.  That may seem like a long time, but some of my worse cystic pimples don't come to a head until they've lurked for seven days or so, and then they don't clear out fully for another seven.  I'll take two days over fourteen.

And there you have it!  My long winded diatribe on something that takes maybe twenty minutes, tops, and that's only if I'm having issues.  Granted, most of the products change every two or three months because I'm a product junkie, but this is where I'm at right now.