The Lure of a Handbag

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It was like any other work day. I walked in, turned my computer on, drank a few cups of tea, replied to emails (well I made it look like I replied to about 6, when in reality that number may have been closer to 2) and basically fiddled around on Pandora to find the right “motivate-me-to-work” song. Suddenly, I didn’t need to anymore, because my DH* sent me my 3rd email of the day.

It was titled “Thought you might like this” and contained a single link. I read it quickly and was transformed! Ok fine, I exaggerate. But it really was an interesting article about….handbags. No wait, don’t stop reading just yet, it was actually INTERESTING! It was well-written and the author genuinely seemed to want to discuss purses and why it has become 1) a huge status symbol and 2) such a pain to buy and procure. And it was then that I realized that I was not alone! There were other crazies out there just like me!

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Gifts He’d Love!

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It’s that time of the year again: Chocolates, flowers, candles and all things heart-shaped! Whether it is actually an ode to St. Valentine/other cherub-faced angels or a made-up holiday gimmick by Hallmark, the pressure is generally ON to find the perfect gift for your loved ones. To be honest, I think guys have it easy. Us girls obsess over everything; 90% of the American consumer market is directed at and marketed solely for women- and from expensive jewelry to drugstore nail polish, the options are endless.

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Gaga for Nivea

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I don’t mean to be a beauty snob- I just try to convince myself that it’s acceptable behavior given what  I know (or think I do anyway!) about what they put into skincare formulations these days. So when it comes to mainstream brands, I often indulge in oodles of research before I take the plunge and actually go buy something. (Thank you Google!)

But anyone who knows me at all, knows my love for all things Nivea.Insert ridiculous anecdote: My husband travels and lot for work and has now taken to bringing me back Nivea “souveniers” from different parts of the world, and my, are they many…and all different too! I’m not entirely sure how he feels about trudging into drugstores in random parts of the world looking for girly skincare- but I’m guessing he doesn’t enjoy it all that much.

Maybe it’s that comforting scent of their signature cream that takes me back to a different time (think VCRs, boom-boxes and dial-up internet.) And now I’ve managed to age myself considerably as well.  But I digress…what I’m really getting at is thatI love Nivea products! They’re no-nonsense and basic and simple- right down to their packaging. The nautical colors on the jars and tubes just make me feel comforted, cozy and content. (and ’tis the season for that definitely!)

Of course, they’ve also fallen prey to buzzwords and the “organic” revolution and all that, but there are still some gems in their collection that transcend time. And before I start sounding like a pretentious book/food/art/fashion critic, I’ll show you what they are!

Nivea Soft cream: My all time fav and featured throughout my blog. Like the name suggets, it really is soft and a multi-purpose cream which I have stashed in several locations and almost always makes its way into my Ziploc bag when I travel.

Nivea Aqua Effect Night cream: I stumbled upon this drugstore gem when I was in Wal-Mart back home in Canada. For a whopping $7.99, it boasts a thick and smooth texture thanks to its shea butter content, that’s perfect for dry wintery nights.

Nivea Body Cream:This one is a staple in my bathroom and I generally slather it on right after showering. Added bonus,it has the familiar comforting fragrance.

Nivea Light Moisturizing Day care: I’ve actually gone back to using this many times. Especially when my Google “research” results in a failed experiment and I end up buying a cleanser or cream that makes my face break out. This is a basic cream that helps restore skin back to…you guessed it….the basics :)

And here’s a Fun Fact: The thick emollient cream in the vintage blue and white tin  was in fact, the first mass produced moisturizer ever! Although it looked a bit different in 1911….

What’re your favorites? Do share!

On my desk

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As a true cosmetics collector, (yes, that’s what I’d like to be known as) I like to leave a trail of products everywhere I go, so it’s always on hand and within reach. Similar to my previous “in my bag” posts ( see here and here), I present to you all the beauty related stuff that’s sitting at my desk at work. Given I spend the greater (but not better) part of my day in front of a computer, I find all these products essential and use them constantl. Whether they help with my productivity while I’m there however, is a completely different story. One can’t expect miracles from creams in tubes (and I mean that in all contexts possible)

 

From  left to right:

Advil 200mg : Work gives me headaches. Enough said.

Refesh Optive Advanced eye-drops : Like I mentioned before, my eyes are extremely sensitive so these feel nice and cool when applied.

Chanel Hydramax Lip balm - It’s almost like a thick cream in the pot, but transforms into a pleasant silky balm on the lips and is extremely hydrating.

Hand sanitizer gel : Recycled air and dirt everywhere..(hey, that rhymes!) makes this product ultra-essential!

Chanel Rouge Coco shine in Monte Carlo : Not sure if the color invokes any dreams of gambling along the Meditteranean, but it does add a lovely pinky pop of shine to the lips.

Nivea Soft hand cream : Last and not even close being the least, this is my favorite hand cream. Period. It moisturizes aplenty and is gentle enough to be used on the face as well. I carry this around with me everywhere I go, and have one on my nightstand (AHA! Future post idea maybe?)

What about you guys? Is your desk neat, tidy and organized or does it resemble a drugstore like mine? Do let me know!

Insta-dork!

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I know I’ve disappeared for ages, and for this I apologize. I’ll refrain from making any excuse sbecause I’m sure they’re all going to sound  fairly lame at this point. INSTead (any clues yet?), let’s concentrate on the fun stuff to come!(I’ve been gallivanting a little, but I really cannot wait for the holiday season to begin so I can start packing for far-off places again.)

To kick the festivities off,I’ve decided to share some of the things that I’m currently enamored with (call me fickle, but I obsess over everything!) -and what better way to showcase all of these than my biggest obsession of all- INSTAGRAM! So sit back, relax and scroll down :)

Here they are, in no chronological order whatsoever:

Festive accessories! Chanel lipstick in Coromandel , Lancome Holiday eyeshadow palette, Essie nailpolish in Good as Gold,chunky jewelry from forever21.com(Similar here)

Gold jewelry- of both the delicate and chunky variety. Available at alimonada.com

A new bar cart in our dining room (more like dining “area” than room really)

Quinoa Tabouleh- fresh, healthy and just delish.

Buying fall-UNfriendly clothes and styling them on my bed.

Tomatoes at a local market. (I realize no one obsesses over the fruit/vegetable but its mostly because I believe I’ve perfected my marinara sauce!)

Hope you enjoyed the pictures and here’s to lots of fun and festivities ahead!

Follow me @doodles_dee on Instagram for a glimpse into my life through my iPhone lens :)

 

 

 

Almond Joy

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Last week, my skin made sure to let me know how irritated it was with the drastic change in the weather. With my summer tan well on its way out, the cold winds outside and recycled heated air at work wrecked havoc on my poor skin and some lovely (NOT!) bumps decided to take residence on my face.

So sad- I know. I was pretty upset about it all weekend and my frazzled state wasn’t doing much for its general splendor either. Anyhow, inspiration finally got my mopey self off the couch and into the kitchen to cook up some fun! (Yes, I rubbed it on my face after) Continue reading →

LauderVille

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No, the cosmetics giant didn’t just get a city named after them (although I don’t doubt that there is opportunity for that to happen the rate at which they acquire new companies), but it looks like there’s a new Lauder in town! Trailing in her grandmother’s footsteps, Aerin Lauder has launched a new range of beauty products that is now available for sale at www.esteelauder.com/aerin. I’m sure they’ll make their way into our cosmetic bags soon (OR I’m sure there’ll be a gift with purchase sale on very soon that’ll definitely contain some samples at the very least!) but I for one, am excited to check this brand out. Continue reading →

Head over Kiehl’s

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As the title suggests, I’m a big fan of the brand. Yes, they do use chemicals and market themselves as natural skincare and all that. I’m not saying the company hasn’t fallen prey to gimmicks and spiels (they’re currently trying to convince people of the wonders of a resurrection (??) flower), but the important thing is to look past all that and discover the diamond in the rough ( Insert cheesy jingle here).  Biblical flowers apart, they really do have solid dependable products in their collection that helps keep your skin clean and moisturized.

What I do like is the no-nonsense packaging of all their products, the reasonable prices (take that, La Mer!) and their wide range of both sunscreen and non-sunscreen options.

The Ultra Facial line, for example is one of my top beauty must-haves! It’s fragrance free and has a light whipped texture that doesn’t feel overly heavy when applied on the skin and sinks in immediately.($27, kiehls.com) Oily skins rejoice, for they now have an oil-free version of the line as well that keeps the skin supple and hydrated without having to blot your face with TP at public restrooms during lunchtime. (Phew!) The matching cleanser ($9, kiehls.com) is also great, and cleans the skin thoroughly without it feeling tight and dry.

In addition, I also enjoy the Avocado eye cream. Although eye creams are not 100% necessary as it is usually a more emollient and fragrance-free concoction of regular face cream, I find this one’s texture is lovely going on and acts as a great base for concealer. (Trust me, one really shouldn’t have higher expectations from eye cream…they are NOT going to make those laugh lines disappear.)

I also find the acne formulation to be mild and soothing as well. As mentioned in a previous post, the Anti-Blemish spot treatment has a nice creamy texture that doesn’t flake off like most acne treatments do when they dry over the targeted area. Although it is VERY pricey at $30, I still do think it”s worth it just for the non-flaky factor alone, not to mention great for travel/toting around in your purse etc.

I find myself turning to this brand often to bring out the best my skin has to offer. I’m not sure if I’ve stumbled on the Holy Grail as yet, but they have come pretty darn close!

Do you have any favorite products that you’re head over heels for ? Do share!

P.S- stay tuned for a review of Kiehl’s anti-aging skincare- I’m determined to see how much “resurrection” the latest botanical find can perpetuate!

 

Sense and Sensitivity

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I find people often complain that their skin is sensitive and reddens easily, which is obviously not attractive. However, more often than not, it is not particularly your skin that is sensitive, but is reacting to one or more of the ingredients in your beauty products. Truly sensitive skin typically requires medical attention and a special cocktail of mild cleansers and moisturizers to keep the reactivity and irritation at bay. These generally involve skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, contact dermatitis etc.

If you feel that you don’t really fit the description above and don’t break into hives upon blowing your nose, chances are that you just need a milder product that may be free of fragrance for example (added perfume are major irritants!) Here’s a quick list of tried-and-true products (disclaimer: When I say “tried”, I mean that I basically dumped it on my face and prayed to many gods that I would not break out in bumps. Most of my recommendations are self-tested:))

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In my bag : Ziploc Edition

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I was off to a family wedding this past weekend and as usual, I packed way too much. In my defense, I always feel it’s better to be prepared with all the stuff you think you need than wishing it was in your suitcase the entire time!

Planes, in addition to their top-quality recycled air and pressurized cabins, are ample breeding grounds for all sorts of germs. So no matter how many tops and stilletos I pull out of my suitcase in an attempt to pack light (OK fine, lightish), I refuse to compromise on the contents of my carry-on beauty products.

And now thanks to the lovely folks at TSA, it can all be conveniently stored in an oh-so-attractive clear plastic bag. Here’s what I generally stash in my Ziploc bag:

 

Clockwise from top left,

1. Kiehls Acne Blemish Control Daily treatment : A mild over-the-counter acne treatment. I generally break out on the plane because of the rampant bacteria from seats/blankets and like this one because it goes on like a regular cream instead of flaking off as most salicylic acid treatments do. Continue reading →