BLARG!
Welcome to my long-awaited product blarg. Here you will find useful information, reviews and general discussion about products. Let's face it - we all use 'em.
Blarg! - An expression I'd like to eliminate from your vocabulary. It's the sound we all make every time we clean out our bathrooms, kitchens and offices. It's the sound of money gone wrong. The mating call of the consumer, if you will, and our forces are useless against it. Our need for constant fulfillment from the items we purchase is as evergreen as the 3 eyeliners I just threw out.
And thus, the product blarg was born.
Feb 6th, 2010 @ 12:40 am
Professional
It’s been ages since my last post! What’s the matter with me?
I have so many wonderful things to sing the praises of. I’ll start with one that comes to the top of my mind.
Shampoo: Suave Professionals in Sleek and Shine. Holy WOW!
I don’t normally go for the drugstore variety hair products, but when I saw this commercial, I had to try it for myself. I don’t believe that actual stylists were tricked into using and liking this product. Who cared? It’s completely wonderful! I went for it. Why not when the total investment is under $5 for shampoo and conditioner?
This stuff smells great and I am convinced that it has contributed to a long string of good hair days. Give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
Jul 6th, 2009 @ 10:52 pm
Sunshine on my shoulder makes me burny…
Greetings oh freckled ones,
Ok, so a little sun now and again will put a spring in the old step -but what about that GA heat?
I’m fair-skinned through and through. My eyelashes and brows are practically clear, especially in the summer. (I’ll cover the best brow/lash tint places later. I’m still in mourning that Theodora left Natural Body Morningside. She deserves her own entry. And she’ll get it.)
Right now I will spare you the list of negatory sun products and sing the praises of one line: Neutrogena.
The following products protect with little grease factor. The only negative I can think of is that any spray doesn’t seem to soak in. I’d stick to the lotions even though I find the Neutrogena sprays do work for short jaunts into the sun.
The Healthy Defense line is amazing! An added plus to this lotion is its citrus scent. I would much rather smell like fresh-squeezed OJ than a coconut any day.
This kept my already sun-soaked shoulders safe over the 4th of July weekend at Lake Martin.
I also suggest the Neutrogena Visibly Even daily moisturizer.
It
comes in SPF 30 which is just about right for summer. During the year I stick with Oil of Olay for sensitive skin that has an SPF of 15.
The line of UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblocks is the best I’ve found. Carl and I have at least 5 tubes of this stuff at all times. It does have a distinct sunscreen smell. However, you’ll probably be willing to overlook the scent. Let’s face it - if you’re going for “big guns” protection, you’re probably doing something where the smell of sunscreen won’t make you a laughing stock.
Here are some of my sun tips:
· There is much debate over SPF these days. I say match the SPF # to the amount of time you’ll be in the sun. This also makes it easy to remember when to reapply. If you’re swimming, throw on another coat once you’ve toweled off.
· Hydrate. With room temp water. You’d be surprised at the amount of fluids you can loose in the sun. Depletion of fluids to the tune of 1/2 cup below ”full pool” can lead to fatigue, headaches and nausea.
· Follow the 15 minute rule and let the stuff soak in - IN THE SHADE.
· Reapply. Reapply. Reapply.
· If you’re not using any sunblock - you should be. Look it up.
· If you don’t use sunblock, please don’t gripe about being burnt. It’s your own fault. If skin cancer doesn’t scare you enough - you will appear to age faster than the rest of us.
· Aloe is the best cure for sunburn. Keep a bottle of a purest brand in the fridge. If it looks like Dippity-Do, there probably isn’t much actual aloe in the product. (Read: Don’t buy it at Costco.)
· Keep sunburn moisturized and drink loads of water. Sunburn will make you feel like crap.
Try some Neutrogena. You won’t be sorry.
Apr 8th, 2009 @ 11:39 pm
D-O pour le B-O
Yo, Homes…smell ya lata’!
Lata’ may be sooner if they don’t start putting more product in the antiperspirant products I am breaking the bank for. I swear, I JUST bought a new stick of Secret Flawless and I’m already looking at plastic and contemplating diggin’ in with my fingers. Since when is there only a ¼” of deo in there? Flawless my hmm-hmm!
Scents and Sensibility…
The new “clinical strength” items seem to do the trick in the sweaties department, but the scents on these dessert-pit gems are too much. How are we supposed to pass the “did I put deodorant on” test each day if our product has scent that lasts and lasts?
I’ve tried MANY different items on the scene as I’m sure most of you have. It makes sense to me to mix things up. The last place I want immunity to product is pit row. I don’t care for Powder Fresh 
anything unless it’s a baby. I also don’t like anything that smells like Teen Spirit. I can STILL smell it. How horrifying to know that my formative teen years were spent in classrooms full of stank teenagers and our stank Teen Spirit deo and Electric Youth perfume. Ugh.
What’s the d-e-o, yo?
Here are my top picks for the dried and true:
Degree – Little Black Dress Approved and usually the go-to
Crabtree and Evelyn Roll-on – a one-time impulse buy, it smells lovely and I always think about going back for round 2.
Kiehl’s Deodorant Creme– A fine product if you like hand smearing on your deo.
Donna Karan Cashmere Mist – Pricey but well worth it if your favorite scent comes in wetness protection form. I like to buy it in winter.
Adidas – I think it’s Adidas 24-hr Sport? It has a strange slimeyness to it at first, but it’s clear and lasts and lasts. Perfect for warm weather. Fitness Fresh.
Arm and Hammer – This stuff works really well – but I can always smell the Arm and Hammeriness of it. Also does wonders in the fridge.
DO NOT SUGGEST: Certain Dri – Certainly not! This product will bleach your clothing in the wash. Tried it once and lost a lot of good shirts out there. Boo. Hiss.
Al U. Minium
Shouldn’t we all be walking around with Alzheimer’s by now according to how bad “they” say deodorant is for women? Is that you, Eugene?
Next Stop: Secret Clinical Strength Water Proof
Let’s see if this can stand up to GA heat and humidity and Disco Class.
Apr 5th, 2009 @ 7:55 pm
wipe beater. as in, i challenge ye to find a better wipe.
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-LAAAA!
Singing the praises of these wonderful wipe-a-loos!
Again, read about these in Lucky Magazine. I bought them to help me remember to wash my face at night. I don’t wear tons of makeup from day to day. When I do, there is usually some eye product to be removed and this gets every last scrap.
Also of note - it does wonders for blackheads just like the article/review said.
I bought the plastic tub thing and continue to buy the refills which are often on sale… ASAW.
@ 7:33 pm
ASAW
You’ll soon learn I like to coin phrases and make up new words.
ASAW stands for: Any store. Anywhere.
A friend once exclaimed with delight that she loved a VERY common food item. “You know where you can get those…,” she declared definitively.
My smart-A response? “Any store. Anywhere.”
The phrase has become synonymous with obvious information in my house. It’s sort of a less tired version of “duh”.
In her defense, she was about to tell us all where to buy the item on sale.
@ 7:20 pm
Every girl needs her steek!
@ 7:10 pm
steek: a new chapter
Where there’s a pet name, there’s an avid user of lip product.
We like to call it “steek”. Some call it “glossay”, “the chap”, “schmak”. My best friend swears by the stick Planned Parenthood wraps their moniker on.
Lucky magazine recently ran a poll of preferred lip crack and listed Aquaphor as its top contender. I decided to give it a try. That’s what I’m here for, right?
This junk WAH-her-erks. I found it in a box of two small tubes for under $5 and have been using it at night in place of my Neutrogena Night Repair tub I’ve had for eons. (Also rather productive in the lip repair department - FYI)
I’d wager you can find this stuff ASAW. Happy testing!
http://www.eucerinus.com/products/hb_aho.html
Mar 28th, 2009 @ 2:31 am
Blarginnings!
Where do I begin?
I’d like to start with you! I’ll get around to posting my thoughts on junk to avoid and Magic Eraser-inspired haiku poetry. Let’s hear it for the products we have adopted into our lives! Top 5 style.
And so it begins…
TOP 5 Can’t live without products in my house include…
Oil of Olay. It’s cheap, reliable and it smells nice. I’ve probably put this on my face every day since I was old enough to need a daily dapple of moisture upon my visage. Apparently the folks at Olay are doing rather well. The Regenerist line gets rave reviews in every magazine I’ve read recently… but that’s ad dollars at work, I suppose. Marketing moolah aside, it’s tried and true.
Comet. Can’t go wrong with Comet. Love the smell. Love the packaging. Love that the paper sticks to the top no matter how long you have the tube. Love the grit. Love the color. Simple and to the point scrubbage.
St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I’ve been using this since I was a teenager. I’ve strayed a few times and I always come back. Add a dash of cold water to the mix - and I really think cold water is the key ingredient - and you’ve got yourself a straight-up face cleansing explosion of joy. I do not suggest the “mild” version - not enough seeds.
Binder Clips. I owe this one to Carl. These multi-purpose gems are affordable and can even be found in cool colors and patterns. We use them as “chip clips” on everything from cereal to baby carrots. Carl’s folding method will keep anything fresh for weeks, but binder clips seal the deal.
Baking Soda. How great is a product that can clean your jewelry, de-funk your fridge and cure a tummy ache? I’m serious. A concoction of baking soda + red Powerade + ice water will unearth any foul stomachness. Be warned - you will make monster burps. And by monster, I mean Godzilla. You can even try to say things whilst Godzilla-burping for added pleasure. Line a glass baking pan with aluminum foil. Add a layer of your jewelry. Sprinkle the pan with a layer of baking soda. Pour in boiling water and let it sit for a few minutes. You will be amazed. I haven’t found a reason NOT to do this. I assume it is safe for all metals. I put my wedding rings in there and they’re fine.
Now it’s your turn! Let me know your thoughts. Ask questions.
Here are some topics I’ve been thinking about for future posts: Pens, Uses for the Magic Eraser, Home Remedies, The Mani/Pedi Experience, A Southern Girl’s Guide to Humidity on the Hairfront, Lip Gloss Contest, Sunscreen and 32 Degrees of Products You Can Freeze
