Beauty regimen question

Chris Braun wrote:
3.) Have hair cut & color & foiled every 6 weeks (this is a BIG expense)

I get mine cut every 4 weeks or so -- at the Hair Cuttery, which is
cheap. (I have a regular person there who knows what I like -- just
went this morning, in fact.) I've never had my hair colored, but am
toying with the idea now that I'm getting more gray hairs.

I started going white at the age of 20. Just an occasional white hair
(not silver, not gray, but just dead white.) Apparently red hairs turn
white earlier and my hair was originally auburn and went to dark brown
with auburn highlights and is now about half white in a skunk
streak. That's not a good look for my thirties. So I dye it. And dying
it started to look bad all in one shade, so I started foiling it.

I console myself that this expense once every 6 weeks (it's about $70) is
ALL I spend on my hair - no doodads, no dryer time, no mousse. I guess
it's a tradeoff.

4.) Shave pits every day, below knee 2x week and above knee occasionally

I always shave armpits and below knees on Fridays, since I go for a
massage that day. Sometimes I shave another time during the week. My
body hair is sparse and grows slowly, so this seems to suffice. I
never have shaved above the knee -- have no discernible hair there.
(I have a fair complexion and fair-colored body hair.)

Wow, that is yet another reason to wish I were blonde! I feel like 50% of
my beauty regimen is fighting coarse black hair. I've even been known to
shave my toes (for fear of looking like a hobbit.)

6.) Use cuticle remover on cuticles and orange sticks and buff fingernails

Never do this. I don't even know what cuticle remover is. Why does
one want to remove one's cuticles?

The cuticle is the edge of the skin around the base of your fingernail. I
trim my cuticle with either a pumice stone or a cuticle knife and push
them back and use cuticle remover to get the residue off the
nailbed. This gives my fingernails a longer look and the cuticles don't
snag and get ratty looking. I acknowledge that this is a VERY minor
beauty point for an overweight woman to be obsessing over!

7.) Use wart remover patches for rare wart here or there (not genital!)

I've never tried this. I don't think I've ever had a wart. I do have
freckles and a few moles, but just ignore them.

I'm not sure where warts come from, but I suspect they are
contagious. I'll get plantar warts on a foot from time to time and then
I'll get a second and third. I remove them with OTC salycilic acid
pads. Twice in my life I've gotten warts on my leg, too. They catch at
the razor and they spread, too (not get bigger, but more crop up.) That's
what I am currently removing. I honestly don't know why they'd show up.

9.) Put whitening peroxide solution on teeth at night.

I've never done this. What sort of solution is this? Does it work?
I wouldn't mind having whiter teeth, certainly.

I'm not sure. See my reply to Det.

13.) I will occasionally, in the winter, go for tanning sessions.

I've never done this. Isn't it bad for you?

Yes. This is pure vanity with only a smattering of reasoning behind it.
I got to Florida in April and I figure some tanning sessions will give me
more of a base tan so I won't burn the first day I arrive. That's the
rationale. The real reason is that it makes me look healthier,
ironically. I have olive complexion (goes with the black hair) and I keep
a tan for a long time so it's worth it to me.

7.) I don't usually have a manicure.

I've never had one in my life. Nor do I ever polish my nails. I cut
them with a nail clipper when they get at all long. I hate the
feeling of long nails. (Comes from being a fairly serious pianist in
my youth.)

I like giving myself a manicure. I find it makes me feel "put together".
But see my obsession with cuticles, above. It's highly likely that I'm
just fooling myself.

Actually, one thing I do that you haven't mentioned is use lotions on
the rest of my body, bath oil in the bath, etc. I don't do these on a
regular basis but do them often. My skin tends to be quite dry. I
also think keeping it moisturized may help with skin tone, which is
particularly important since I want to minimize the saggy skin that
results from dieting.

My skin is literally striped. I am serious. I have a tan complexion but
the stretch marks are white and my skin is just filled with stretch marks
everywhere. I was staring at the front of my quads today. I've lost so
many inches off the quads that the skin is just sitting there in accordian
folds. I can't even imagine how I'd use calipers on it - it's so damn
THICK and BAGGY!

I'd say my skin is slowly receding, but it seems to be sort of collapsing
in layers on top of itself first. I feel like I'm sloshing around inside
it. My skin is quite possibly my healthiest and strongest organ right
now.

Someone else asked if water and omega-3 fats really was good for
skin. The answer is yes. Essential Fatty Acids are used in metabolic
processes having to do with the operation of various cells, i.e., they get
burned in the cells preferentially before they get used for calories for
other things. Skin cells are one of those things that prefers EFAs. I
read this in "Fats that Heal, Fats that Kill" by Udo Erasmus a long time
ago (or I just made it up, I can't remember which.) :-)

Wendy, the salmon eater

"Beeswing" wrote
snip

I practically never wear makeup, but I want to for an upcoming high school
reunion. I know that colors of eye makeup, especially, go in and out of
fashion. What's considered "in" this week? Last time I put on eye shadow
(several years ago, now), I was wearing brown........ How about lipstick?
What's "in" and "out" in that arena? I'm not a slave to fashion, but I'd
like
an idea of what to buy.

beeswing,
truly clueless

I read in Ladies Home Journal just yesterday that *pink* is in for
eyeshadow.
(Now tell me how it doesn't make you look like you've been crying??)

I'm suddenly panic stricken - we've been invited to a party next Saturday.
Do I even *have* any makeup?
Oy vey . . .

--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

"Wendy" wrote
I am 40-ish and rarely wear makeup.
I'm 47 and ditto on the makeup

1.) Pluck & trim eyebrows (had them shaped with electrolysis once)
I pluck mine if the light is right and I can see the ones I want gone.

2.) Bleach brunette facial hair (and pluck occasional beard hairs)
I Nair my upper lip on occasion and pluck anything that's dark. (I come from
a hairy family - the men have more hair on their backs than you do on your
head)

3.) Have hair cut & color & foiled every 6 weeks (this is a BIG expense)
I don't mind the gray as long as it stays nice and thick. Hair is cut every
other month - same stylist for 5 years now. I pray she doesn't get pregnant
:-/

4.) Shave pits every day, below knee 2x week and above knee occasionally
Pits once a week, same as you on the legs but in summer only; otherwise
once.

5.) Pumice callouses on feet, keep toenails cut & polished
I pumice heels on occasion. My toenails are beginning to frighten me.
Gotta do something

6.) Use cuticle remover on cuticles and orange sticks and buff fingernails
Only keep nails filed and shaped. They're nice and hard and grow well.

8.) Brush teeth 2x day with whitening toothpaste, floss daily
Ditto. I truly believe the Colgate whitening toothpaste works. I bought it
because it was the cheapest that day. I've never been worried that my teeth
weren't white enough, but I see the change!


11.) Wash face 2x daily with face soap
I only use warm water on my face.

12.) Use face lotion with sunscreen and body lotions as needed
Oil free moisturizer spf 15 morning and evening after washing.

13.) I will occasionally, in the winter, go for tanning sessions.
No way - I like my skin and I'm a Yankee - I should be pale ;-)

The things I don't do (or do only very rarely):
2.) Wear perfume (it seems like everyone is sensitive to chemicals lately)
Bath and Body Works - Warm Vanilla Sugar on everything!

3.) Wear blush (I have good skin tone without it)
me too

4.) Wear lipstick (I do occasionally, but it always makes my lips chapped)
very seldom - I'll just eat it off

5.) Curl eyelashes (I possess such a tool but don't use it)
Nope - I'm cursed with short eyelashes

6.) Wear cold cream or some sort of night cream on my face
See moisturizer above.


8.) Wear contacts instead of glasses (I used to but allergies irritated my
eyes so much that the contacts were uncomfortable and I just stopped
wearing them.)
I have worn hard contacts since I was 21. This is a beauty regimen? I can't
dream of life without them. lol

9.) I don't do anything with my hair besides wash it and occasionally
use conditioner. I've got a short curly cut and I don't even comb it, I
just run my fingers through it. No gels, no dryer, nothing whatsoever.
Ditto - if I comb mine, I have to mess it up with my fingers to have it look
right.


--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

On 27 Sep 2003 20:30:44 -0400, Wendy Marsden
wrote:

My skin is literally striped. I am serious. I have a tan complexion but
the stretch marks are white and my skin is just filled with stretch marks
everywhere. I was staring at the front of my quads today. I've lost so
many inches off the quads that the skin is just sitting there in accordian
folds. I can't even imagine how I'd use calipers on it - it's so damn
THICK and BAGGY!

I wouldn't say mine is quite that bad yet. If I look at my quads dead
on -- like bend my head down to them, I can see that the skin is a
little wrinkly. And right above my knees there are more obvious
lines. But they're not really bad so far. I don't know what will
happen if & when I lose more weight, though. At some point I might
decide I'd rather stay at the same weight and fit into my skin better
:-).

Chris

1.) Pluck & trim eyebrows (had them shaped with electrolysis once)
I pluck my eyebrows a couple of times per week. Usually right after I get
out of the shower.

2.) Bleach brunette facial hair (and pluck occasional beard hairs)
I have my upper lip waxed every 5 weeks or so. Bleach makes the hair more
noticable in my opinion.

3.) Have hair cut & color & foiled every 6 weeks (this is a BIG expense)
I get cut and color every 4 weeks, and foils every 3 months or so. I work in
a salon, so I only pay for the products used.

4.) Shave pits every day, below knee 2x week and above knee occasionally
Shave pits every day, and legs every other day from ankle to well above my
knees. I have very dark course hair.

5.) Pumice callouses on feet, keep toenails cut & polished.
I keep my toes polished all the time, but don't use a pumice stone. I do
apply moisturizer to my legs, feet, arms, and hands every night. I'm careful
about my shoes, and don't do high heels or too tight shoes.

6.) Use cuticle remover on cuticles and orange sticks and buff fingernails
If I use any polish, it's clear. My nails are kept fairly short, under 1/4
inch

7.) Use wart remover patches for rare wart here or there (not genital!)
No warts here.

8.) Brush teeth 2x day with whitening toothpaste, floss daily
I brush 2-3 times per day with Colgate Whitening. I also floss at least once
per day.

9.) Put whitening peroxide solution on teeth at night.
No bleaching for me.

10.) Treat chapped lips (mostly from peroxide) with lip balm
I put Blistex on each night before going to bed. Drinking enough water keeps
my lips from chapping.

11.) Wash face 2x daily with face soap
I wash my face in the shower, and then at the end of the day. I recently
switched to Cetophil (or generic) and LOVE it. It is much less expensive
than Estee etc. and it makes my skin feel great.

12.) Use face lotion with sunscreen and body lotions as needed
I use Estee Skin Refinisher and I also use DayWear Moisurizer. Every day. Wi
thout fail.

13.) I will occasionally, in the winter, go for tanning sessions.
No tanning for me thank you. I am very pale, and don't care. We had a skin
cancer scare with hubby 22 years ago, and that put me off tanning all
together. My sister is 47 (I'm 44) and her skin looks 57. She tans all the
time. No thank you. When I'm 57, I don't want to look 67.

The things I don't do (or do only very rarely):
1.) Wear eye makeup of any kind (my eyes get red & irritated easily)
I wear makeup almost every day. Foundation, eye shadow, mascara, blush, and
lipstick. Mostly because of my job, I have to look the part.

2.) Wear perfume (it seems like everyone is sensitive to chemicals lately)
Rarely if ever.
3.) Wear blush (I have good skin tone without it)
Yep. See above.

4.) Wear lipstick (I do occasionally, but it always makes my lips chapped)
Yep, read above.

5.) Curl eyelashes (I possess such a tool but don't use it)
Sometimes.

6.) Wear cold cream or some sort of night cream on my face
Yep, every night.
7.) I don't usually have a manicure.
I do my own.

8.) Wear contacts instead of glasses (I used to but allergies irritated my
eyes so much that the contacts were uncomfortable and I just stopped
wearing them.)
I also switched to glasses. I need bifocals but don't have them yet.

9.) I don't do anything with my hair besides wash it and occasionally
use conditioner. I've got a short curly cut and I don't even comb it, I
just run my fingers through it. No gels, no dryer, nothing whatsoever.
I do my hair every day. It's short, and I use gel and then hair spray. Paul
Mitchell Products only.

Am I missing something important that everyone else does?
My skin isn't the best, so I take good care of it. Moisturize, moisturize,
moisturize, and stay out of the sun.

Does anyone believe this whitening polish works? I've found that the
peroxide gives me chapped lips and the lip balm makes my chin break out,
so all in all my teeth might be whiter but my mouth and face now look
awful so who can tell?
I like the Colgate Whitening toothpaste and so does hubby.

Oh, and I guess that eating a healthy diet with lots of omega-3's and
water is important for my skin, as is getting enough sleep and exercising
frequently. In the largest sense those are part of my beauty regimen.
I agree.

What about you?

Just to add...my "regimen" doesn't take all that long. I can be showered,
hair dryed, makeup on, and ready to go in 30-45 minutes, even if I have to
shave. At night, washing my face, putting on moisturizer, lotion on my
hands, feet and legs only takes a few minutes. I put the Blistex on as I'm
laying in bed watching TV.

Melissa

I am way too embarrased to admit to all that I do, but I will say I am a
bear when it comes to skin care. I use so many potions and creams on my
face at night that sometimes my husband says I am going to slide out of bed.
I also moisturize all my skin each morning - especially since I lost so much
weight initially. It seems to "plump up" the skin. I firmly believe in
taking care of your skin and to that extent I exfoliate regularly - both
chemically and physically, moisturize am and pm, use sun screen on my face
like a maniac and generally pamper the heck out of my skin. I also use
makeup, less, with a more neutral palette, now that I am in my 50's, color
my hair, get a manicure weekly and wear fragrance daily. Why do I do all
this? because it makes me feel good, I guess. But, I also will say that
skin cancer runs in my family so I take all the free radical stuff
seriously, go to a demotologist every year for mole checks and have every
little "what is that?" removed. I will also admit that I am giving this
getting old thing the best fight that I can. One funny thing that happened
recently at my oldest child's back to school night was that I looked around
stunned because the parents all looked so old! I came home and mentioned
this to my husband and he gently said to me "They are all probably your age,
dear." Elise

I"SnugBear" wrote in message
...

"Wendy" wrote
I am 40-ish and rarely wear makeup.
I'm 47 and ditto on the makeup

1.) Pluck & trim eyebrows (had them shaped with electrolysis once)
I pluck mine if the light is right and I can see the ones I want gone.

2.) Bleach brunette facial hair (and pluck occasional beard hairs)
I Nair my upper lip on occasion and pluck anything that's dark. (I come
from
a hairy family - the men have more hair on their backs than you do on your
head)

3.) Have hair cut & color & foiled every 6 weeks (this is a BIG expense)
I don't mind the gray as long as it stays nice and thick. Hair is cut
every
other month - same stylist for 5 years now. I pray she doesn't get
pregnant
:-/

4.) Shave pits every day, below knee 2x week and above knee occasionally
Pits once a week, same as you on the legs but in summer only; otherwise
once.

5.) Pumice callouses on feet, keep toenails cut & polished
I pumice heels on occasion. My toenails are beginning to frighten me.
Gotta do something

6.) Use cuticle remover on cuticles and orange sticks and buff
fingernails
Only keep nails filed and shaped. They're nice and hard and grow well.

8.) Brush teeth 2x day with whitening toothpaste, floss daily
Ditto. I truly believe the Colgate whitening toothpaste works. I bought
it
because it was the cheapest that day. I've never been worried that my
teeth
weren't white enough, but I see the change!


11.) Wash face 2x daily with face soap
I only use warm water on my face.

12.) Use face lotion with sunscreen and body lotions as needed
Oil free moisturizer spf 15 morning and evening after washing.

13.) I will occasionally, in the winter, go for tanning sessions.
No way - I like my skin and I'm a Yankee - I should be pale ;-)

The things I don't do (or do only very rarely):
2.) Wear perfume (it seems like everyone is sensitive to chemicals
lately)
Bath and Body Works - Warm Vanilla Sugar on everything!

3.) Wear blush (I have good skin tone without it)
me too

4.) Wear lipstick (I do occasionally, but it always makes my lips
chapped)
very seldom - I'll just eat it off

5.) Curl eyelashes (I possess such a tool but don't use it)
Nope - I'm cursed with short eyelashes

6.) Wear cold cream or some sort of night cream on my face
See moisturizer above.


8.) Wear contacts instead of glasses (I used to but allergies irritated
my
eyes so much that the contacts were uncomfortable and I just stopped
wearing them.)
I have worn hard contacts since I was 21. This is a beauty regimen? I
can't
dream of life without them. lol

9.) I don't do anything with my hair besides wash it and occasionally
use conditioner. I've got a short curly cut and I don't even comb it, I
just run my fingers through it. No gels, no dryer, nothing whatsoever.
Ditto - if I comb mine, I have to mess it up with my fingers to have it
look
right.


--
Walking on . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

"Wendy" wrote in message
...
I am 40-ish and rarely wear makeup. But I've been realizing lately just
how many beauty regimens I've built up over the years. I'd like to cut
some if they're useless and I sometimes think I ought to wear
makeup and/or contacts. Do you do these things? Do you do more?

1.) Pluck & trim eyebrows (had them shaped with electrolysis once)
2.) Bleach brunette facial hair (and pluck occasional beard hairs)

I've found that the older I get the less facial hair I have. I haven't had
to pluck eyebrows in a long time. I do have the occasional whisker on my
chin or neck I have to pluck.

3.) Have hair cut & color & foiled every 6 weeks (this is a BIG expense)

I get a hair cut about every six weeks. I have very curly hair and wear it
short. I wash it every day, add gel and blow dry. I have a round brush to
smooth the bangs. It takes about 10 minutes to do my hair. I use a medium
blonde hair coloring to cover the gray.

4.) Shave pits every day, below knee 2x week and above knee occasionally

I haven't had to shave under my arms for a few years. I do get a few hairs
on my legs but only have to shave about once every 2-3 months. I guess this
is one advantage to being 60 with light complexion and hair.

5.) Pumice callouses on feet, keep toenails cut & polished
6.) Use cuticle remover on cuticles and orange sticks and buff fingernails

I use the cuticle remover on my fingernails about once a month. I usually
keep clear or a very light color nail polish as my nails have a tendency to
split as I've matured g

7.) Use wart remover patches for rare wart here or there (not genital!)
8.) Brush teeth 2x day with whitening toothpaste, floss daily
9.) Put whitening peroxide solution on teeth at night.

I simply brush and floss regularly. No whitening.

10.) Treat chapped lips (mostly from peroxide) with lip balm

I use a lip conditioner I bought from Avon. I love this stuff and wouldn't
be without it. I put my lipstick on over it.

11.) Wash face 2x daily with face soap
12.) Use face lotion with sunscreen and body lotions as needed

I use all Clinque products to wash and moisturize my face. I have a battery
operated complexion brush I use each night to remove makeup.


13.) I will occasionally, in the winter, go for tanning sessions.

I've never gone for a tanning session. My doctor would kill me if I did
this. I have a very fair complexion and skin cancer runs in the family.

The things I don't do (or do only very rarely):
1.) Wear eye makeup of any kind (my eyes get red & irritated easily)

I wouldn't go to work without makeup. On the weekends I generally use just
mascara, eye shadow, brow pencil and lipstick and forgo the foundation to
give the skin a rest. I use eye makeup remover daily as I've been bothered
with irritations from the mascara. I also change my mascara monthly.

2.) Wear perfume (it seems like everyone is sensitive to chemicals lately)

I wear Liz Taylor Sparkling Diamonds. I don't like to smell anyone with
heavy perfume so it's only one light spray for me. Unless you have your
nose stuck on my neck you probably won't be able to smell it.

3.) Wear blush (I have good skin tone without it)
4.) Wear lipstick (I do occasionally, but it always makes my lips chapped)

I do wear a light blush and lipstick. I stick to the natural shades as I
don't want to look made-up.....

5.) Curl eyelashes (I possess such a tool but don't use it)

I don't own an eyelash curler. I never was too handy with this torture
instrument and the only thing I ever managed to do was pinch my eyelid. I
don't use a curling iron either because I always burn my forehead or neck.

6.) Wear cold cream or some sort of night cream on my face

I use a special Clinque moisturizer at night.

7.) I don't usually have a manicure.

I've never had a manicure. I've always done my own nails.

8.) Wear contacts instead of glasses (I used to but allergies irritated my
eyes so much that the contacts were uncomfortable and I just stopped
wearing them.)

I don't wear glasses except to read. My far distance has improved as I've
gotten older and no longer have to wear glasses to drive, watch tv, etc. I
only need reading glasses for reading the newspaper and up close work. I
don't have to wear them at the computer as I have it at a distance where I
can see it clearly.


9.) I don't do anything with my hair besides wash it and occasionally
use conditioner. I've got a short curly cut and I don't even comb it, I
just run my fingers through it. No gels, no dryer, nothing whatsoever.

Just wash, add some gel, blow dry with diffuser and straighten bangs with
round brush.



Am I missing something important that everyone else does?

I don't like to spend time doing my hair and makeup so it's pretty minimal.

Beverly




Does anyone believe this whitening polish works? I've found that the
peroxide gives me chapped lips and the lip balm makes my chin break out,
so all in all my teeth might be whiter but my mouth and face now look
awful so who can tell?

Oh, and I guess that eating a healthy diet with lots of omega-3's and
water is important for my skin, as is getting enough sleep and exercising
frequently. In the largest sense those are part of my beauty regimen.

What about you?

Wendy

Wendy:

I use a very sticky wax adhesive papers for removing errant facial hair. It
seems to last longer and works better for eye brows, etc.

Also, I am the allergy child. I sometimes wake up looking like I have been
beaten up with two black eyes. Don't laugh but Preparation H gets me
presentable in a short period of time.

What about your fingernails? There is nothing more elegant than a woman
with beautiful nails. I use a light brown, tannish sort of polish for
regular use because it doesn't show flaws as much as the slut puppy red
polishes which I reserve for special occasions.

I have a routine as far as make-up goes that probably wouldn't be
recommended by those that sell make-up! I use a combination
foundation/powder or just face powder to give a smooth finish. That might
not be necessary where you live but here, heat makes for very shiny faces if
you don't take precautions. I use a powdered eye shadow that is just
slightly darker than my skin and mascara. I like eye liner but with the
heat, it is too messy. I have a few friends who have had eye liner tattooed
on and am considering this option. Anyway, it takes me less than five
minutes to put on my make-up for regular day use.

Lipstick is so very elegant but I hate it. Honestly. I have friends who
will not go outside without their lips on! When I go out with them, they
insist I put on my lips before we enter any public establishment. I must
admit, it does look good.

Glasses today can be very attractive. I wear them for reading and should
wear them more. If you have a good pair, I see no need to go without except
for special evening occasions.

Two things I do now that I wish I would have been more disciplined about in
the future. First, I take very good care of any cuts or abrasions to
prevent scars. Even minor injuries can cause small scars which are
unattractive. And, I wish I had been better about using total body
moisturizer and hand cream. My hands are very busy little things and are
noticed a lot. They look like they are older than me! Had I been brilliant
in my 20's, I would have religiously used hand lotion with sun screen!

My major cosmetic indulgences are Botox and Retin-A. I considered Botox for
cosmetic purposes but thought it was sort of indulgent. Then, I went to
Alabama to visit my son one weekend when he was in school there. Everyone
asked why I was angry. In fact, I had driven several hours and had a crease
between my eyes from squinting in the sun. I wasn't angry at all but it did
affect the way people regarded me. When doing the research, I found that
there was some evidence that it worked for migraines. I have been migraine
free for over a year although I have had a few symptoms (such as nausea)
from time to time. Still, prior to Botox, I would lose several days each
month due to migraines. First I would have the pain and then my clock would
be reset so I couldn't sleep at night or stay awake during the day. I
cannot tell you what a difference being migraine free has made in my life
but the cosmetic benefits alone are worth the cost of the injections
(250.00 - professional courtesy discount). Retin-A is also a good thing.
It keeps me wrinkle free and helps with 'adult-onset acne'. I admit it. I
am chemically dependent and will not seek help!

I have only seen one pic of you and my recollection is that you have thick,
curly almost black hair. My goal is to always have a good cut that requires
very little maintenance. It seems as though you have achieved this goal.
If your hair gives you fits, a good hair cut goes a long way.

j

"Wendy" wrote in message
...
I am 40-ish and rarely wear makeup. But I've been realizing lately just
how many beauty regimens I've built up over the years. I'd like to cut
some if they're useless and I sometimes think I ought to wear
makeup and/or contacts. Do you do these things? Do you do more?

1.) Pluck & trim eyebrows (had them shaped with electrolysis once)
2.) Bleach brunette facial hair (and pluck occasional beard hairs)
3.) Have hair cut & color & foiled every 6 weeks (this is a BIG expense)
4.) Shave pits every day, below knee 2x week and above knee occasionally
5.) Pumice callouses on feet, keep toenails cut & polished
6.) Use cuticle remover on cuticles and orange sticks and buff fingernails
7.) Use wart remover patches for rare wart here or there (not genital!)
8.) Brush teeth 2x day with whitening toothpaste, floss daily
9.) Put whitening peroxide solution on teeth at night.
10.) Treat chapped lips (mostly from peroxide) with lip balm
11.) Wash face 2x daily with face soap
12.) Use face lotion with sunscreen and body lotions as needed
13.) I will occasionally, in the winter, go for tanning sessions.

The things I don't do (or do only very rarely):
1.) Wear eye makeup of any kind (my eyes get red & irritated easily)
2.) Wear perfume (it seems like everyone is sensitive to chemicals lately)
3.) Wear blush (I have good skin tone without it)
4.) Wear lipstick (I do occasionally, but it always makes my lips chapped)
5.) Curl eyelashes (I possess such a tool but don't use it)
6.) Wear cold cream or some sort of night cream on my face
7.) I don't usually have a manicure.
8.) Wear contacts instead of glasses (I used to but allergies irritated my
eyes so much that the contacts were uncomfortable and I just stopped
wearing them.)
9.) I don't do anything with my hair besides wash it and occasionally
use conditioner. I've got a short curly cut and I don't even comb it, I
just run my fingers through it. No gels, no dryer, nothing whatsoever.

Am I missing something important that everyone else does?

Does anyone believe this whitening polish works? I've found that the
peroxide gives me chapped lips and the lip balm makes my chin break out,
so all in all my teeth might be whiter but my mouth and face now look
awful so who can tell?

Oh, and I guess that eating a healthy diet with lots of omega-3's and
water is important for my skin, as is getting enough sleep and exercising
frequently. In the largest sense those are part of my beauty regimen.

What about you?

Wendy

Cox SMTP east wrote:
One funny thing that happened
recently at my oldest child's back to school night was that I looked around
stunned because the parents all looked so old! I came home and mentioned
this to my husband and he gently said to me "They are all probably your age,
dear." Elise

Ouch! And quite likely untrue. A lot of people have kids very late. My
husband is going to be 50 when our youngest is in kindergarten.

One thing I do recall: all my peers were fat and sloppy when we first had
babies. But now the parents of the middle-schoolers and high schoolers
look pretty damn good. Somewhere in there they lost the weight and I'm
slow to catch up!

Wendy

"Wendy" wrote in message
...
determined wrote:
"Wendy" wrote in message
Does anyone believe this whitening polish works? I've found that the
peroxide gives me chapped lips and the lip balm makes my chin break
out,
so all in all my teeth might be whiter but my mouth and face now look
awful so who can tell?

I don't know about the OTC products, but the stuff I get from my dentist
is
magic. I have amazingly pearly white teeth, and they were definitely
showing the effects of caffeine before...

Is it expensive? The two week supply of the OTC stuff is around $15 and
I'm not delighted with either the effect or the side-effect.

The rubber trays were about $150 to have the dentist make. They fit so well
you can talk with them, sleep with them, etc. I've had mine for 5 years, so
I guess they never wear out. The dental peroxide gel is about $5 for a
syringe that will treat top and bottom 2-3 times. I only have to treat 1-2
times per month to maintain pearly white teeth. The gel is 16% peroxide,
the strongest you can get. Initially, your gums will get swollen and
tender, and your teeth will be very sensitive to temperature, but after a
few treatments, this goes away. It actually toughens up the gums and makes
them healthier.

det