When I tell people ‘I LOVE beauty products’, I don’t think they realize the extent of my passion. I used to work at Elle, I was a senior beauty moderator for the handbag.com community, I write for several beauty sites and I love pampering and finding cult products that are under the radar.
It all started when my mother (who was very wrinkly due to her fair German skin being unprotected from the African sun and from being a heavy smoker who never took care of her skin). When I was 10 and she was 38 she gave me a bottle of Oil of Ulay as it was called then and said ‘look at my face. If you do not want to look like this, look after your skin’. That scared the bejeezus out of me and ever since then I have taken care of myself and enjoyed it.
I don’t think anything will take away wrinkles or make you look younger but I find it soothing and relaxing to pamper myself and I know if my skin looks good, I feel good.
I shampoo my hair once or twice a week but condition every day. I shower or bath once a day and use shower gel and body lotion. In the morning I use a stick deodorant. I don’t use a scrub but I use scrub gloves. I cleanse tone and moisturize once a week and use a face pack when I can. I never wear perfume as my clients are often allergic to it.
All these products you see here will be used up. I use everything I buy. If a face cream is not good, I use it on my body. If my hair hates a shampoo, I use it to wash my delicates. I cut tubes and turn bottles upside down to get the most out of them.
It may seem that I have a lot here but I tend to buy only on specials – discounts, 3 for 2, buy one get one free, gifts with purchase. I also buy in bulk if a favorite has been discontinued.
I am not a brand snob. I will use anything at any price if my skin likes it. I mix ranges and prices and have found out what works for me.
So my question is, how many of the different products and brands can you name? Do you use them too? Which are your favourite brands?
A small white cupboard handmade by my German carpenter grandfather in 1926. The chest of drawers upon which it is standing was also made by him. I have been using it since 1980 to keep the products I most often use to hand. How many brands can you name?
You can see part of the beautiful big chest of drawers made by my grandfather in 1926 here
Spares. How many brands can you name?
My makeup stands to the left of the white cupboard. I am terrible at makeup and use very little. Eyeliner, mascara and lipstick.
The bathroom
The cupboard closed. Oh how I love it.
