Productpalooza

It started innocently enough when my friend Melissa wrote an entry about Boots products. I commented and then she asked what products I’m liking these days. Most of you know I’m a product junkie and all I needed was an invitation. So game on!

I’ve been loving perfume more than ever before, although I only wear it to bed or when I’m home. I don’t know, I guess I don’t think perfume would work for me on a daily basis; anytime I smell it on someone it’s rarely subtle, and I don’t want to be One Of Those People. (I work with a teacher who wears the Britney Spears perfume, which isn’t overly vile, and when anyone asks her what it is, she says “It’s actually Britney Speahs.” For some reason I think it’s adorable.) Anyway, it’s probably all the chasing around after kids and being sneezed on that forces me into practicality. Maybe if I had a more elegant job, wearing heels and calling my boss Mister? I think I just made myself a 1950s-era administrative assistant. Um, yeah, so…I love Prada’s Infusion d’Iris, Stella McCartney’s Stella, and Dolce and Gabbana’s Light Blue, all of which are very summery, especially the last one. Although if you’re into a straight up day-at-the-beach-in-a-bottle, you’ll love anything from the Bobbi Brown beach line. I also kinda like the Guess by Marciano perfume, and when I went into one of the Guess stores to check it out a couple weeks ago, they had a big basket of samples. Um, thank you, I really appreciate it, but it’s not exactly a shrewd business move. Samples last forever, I took two, and now GUESS WHAT, I’ll never have to buy the perfume.

Despite my love for Dove soap, they’ve been on some kind of Tahitian exotic flower kick lately, and I like my soap to be soap. I’ve been really into Softsoap’s Pure Cashmere and exfoliating spa body washes for awhile, particularly the former. I buy it again and again, which is rare for a philandering product tramp like me. I use Oil of Olay’s calm release body wash and Philosophy’s Gratitude pomegranate shower gel (these used to be called 3-in-1s) post-gym. I don’t know if it’s still meant as a shampoo but I use it as one so I’m not overwashing my hair. I haven’t been using scrubs lately but will be soon since it’s more of a spring/summer thing for me. I still really like Bath and Body Works’ I’m in the Mood for Scrub.

Kerastase Nutritive bain satin shampoo and lait vital conditioner is the best stuff that you’ll ever put in your hair, although I have no idea what any of those words mean. Fresh soda shampoo and meadowfoam conditioner work great, but I don’t love how they smell, and they’re expensive, so I use them sparingly. I like Big Sexy Hair, and a big thank you to the Sexy Hair company for naming your product something so ridiculous and printing it in such ginormous words on the bottle that anytime I buy it I feel like I’m announcing to CVS that I WANT TO BE SEXY PLEASE HELP ME BE SEXY. Garnier Fructis is nice too. It has that fresh, clean, simple, yummy shampoo smell that I wish they all had. Actually, that’s the kind of scent I wish I could find in a perfume, but it doesn’t exist, wah.

I love my La Mer body creme, which is a toss-up when it comes to practicality: It’s ridiculously expensive, but it comes in a huge jar and lasts for like a year, and it’s just so freakin’ good. I also love Dove cream oil body lotion. I use both every day. I like Kiehl’s creme de corps for hand lotion and Johnson’s dreamy night cream before bed.

For about a year I’ve been using Clinique’s superdefense moisturizer for dry to very dry skin. It’s the longest that I’ve ever been faithful to a face moisturizer, and anytime I’ve strayed over the past year I’ve always come back, so I guess it’s love. I use it in the morning. At night I use Creme de La Mer, which, again, is too expensive but really does work well and last forever. Plus I want people to keep saying “You’re thirty?!” (and I know it’s just a courtesy comment that people throw at you but let me tell you, I will gladly take that bone and eat it right up) and somehow I’m convinced that Creme de La Mer will keep me young and dewy, or something. Man, I’m a marketing copy writer’s wet dream. My mom just gave me the Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer (in extra light, of course) which is a moisturizer and foundation in one. I like it and I’ll probably end up using it all summer when I want to throw on a little coverage and go. But at the end of the day, my heart still belongs to Bare Escentuals.

Ahh, Bare Escentuals. If you’re not on board with it yet, then what the hell is wrong with you? I mean, um, you should try it. It’s the best makeup I’ve ever used, and it makes your skin look damn near perfect with minimal effort. I use the foundation in fair and mineral veil every day. Their eye makeup is awesome. I have the smoky and foiled eye kits and LOVE them. They have lots of colors that work for daytime too, like one called well-rested that just literally makes you look awake and pretty. The whole line is just the best.

Other eye stuff: I use Clinique’s naturally glossy mascara in jet brown. I’m convinced it’s the perfect mascara. I also use MAC’s eye pencil in taupe. At night I love Clinque’s cream shaper in Egyptian.

Also, keep in mind that when I say “every day,” I’m of course referring to the days that I bother with all this, which is most of the ones that I’m working or will otherwise be seeing people, but when I’m just hanging out with friends I’m lucky if I rock the deodorant. (Um, just kidding?) And “at night” is not something I’m wearing on the nights when I’m on the couch in yoga pants (although I haven’t done yoga since college) eating Take the Cake and watching Rock of Love. (Which I heard Richie Sambora is going to be on next season. Squee!)

Anyway…what else? Okay, let’s discuss my mouth. Yes, I heard what I just said (um, read what I just wrote) but don’t judge me! I’ll write about politics and literature next week, I promise. I’m not really a lipstick girl. I wear Blistex lip tone like it’s my job. It’s the best stuff ever. I keep it in my bag, on my bathroom counter, and in both of my work desks, and whenever I see it in a store, which is rare, I buy ten of them, or I’ll periodically order them from drugstore.com (I love that site, don’t you?). I love Clinique’s almost lipstick in black honey, which is another one that I buy again and again. Despite looking dark in the tube, it’s very neutral and would look good on anyone. Benetint lip balm, MAC lip glass in viva glam, and Philosophy’s big mouth are all fun to play with, too.

Other random stuff: I’ve used Cetaphil facial cleanser for years and love it. Almay oil-free eye makeup remover pads work great, even when removing gallons of slutty blue eyeshadow and liner after the 80s prom that I went to a few weeks ago (yeah, that probably warranted a blog entry). I like the Venus Embrace. I carry a little pink Purell (I only like the pink one and it’s hard to find) and a mini Nivea smooth sensation lotion in my bag. I sometimes have trouble finding my keys, but my hands are clean and soft, damn it.

Throw in a little generic Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Wellbutrin and you’ve got my daily routine down. Was that oversharing? Oh well, apparently that’s just what I do, after all.