John,
You always seem to have good advice so I am hoping that you will be able to help me. I have really dry itchy skin. I have purchased that Udderly Smooth cream you recommended to someone recently and have found it to be excellent for me. Not to mention nice and affordable! So now I was wondering if you could suggest something to wash my body with? The doctor has given me all sorts of things like Astral, Dermol 500, and a few other cream washes. But they are more like a body lotion and I just don't feel clean. I am sure I am, but don't understand how I can use that same product to clean my skin and then again after to moisturise it. It is just gross feeling and I end up picking up a bar of soap and washing it all back off. Do you know of any real washing products that won't leave my skin as dry as a lizard?
I am not showering until I hear from you!
Michelle
Michelle,
That is just gross. Not to mention blackmail. Not to mention it is really hot and sticky outside. Not to mention I am about ready to courier something round to your house this very minute! LOL. Anyway, I DO know what you mean. Both my boys (15 and 18) have really dry skin and most products leave them feeling dry and itchy, and looking decidedly grey when they come out of the shower or bath. And TRY to get teenage boys to put on body moisturisers! So I have already sorted this one out for you. We use Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap round our house. This is a cult American formula from the States developed in the 1960s. It is pure Castile and hemp organic soap and it comes in both liquid and bar. There are eight different scents...our favourite is Peppermint. But there is Citrus and Orange, Baby (unscented and really mild), Almond, Rose, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Lavender. Bars are only £3.50 and the liquid is £5, £8, and £12 for a huge 16oz. bottle. In America, where it is the best-selling brand of organic soap, you can even get gallon-sized bottles. It has 18-in-one uses and you can even wash your clothes in it. They have an American website at www.drbronner.com that you can read all about the product and process. We also have used and will use again the Olivella products. These are also very inexpensive and there is a range of liquids, bars, and shampoos. They are distributed by the same people that do Environ products and their site address is www.chelleon.co.uk. Finally, when I feel like they are really dry, we use a product by Rituals... called Hammam Olive Secret Ultra Moisturising Shower Paste that I was once given in a press event. Luxurious doesn't even begin to describe what your skin feels like afterwards and the 150ml tube is still only £7.90. I hide it because the boys use it like a body lotion since it feels so slathery and slippery. You WANT to use too much! The site for Rituals... is www.rituals.com, and to find this product you have to navigate to refreshing rituals, then to body care, and then to the second page. It is quite a trek, but you can also find it in better department stores. I am certain all three of these will be a solution for you, but you may still want to try all three and maybe even have all of them around for variety.
All the best,
John
John
I am getting married in a few months and have my make-up all sorted except for one thing. My theme is deep pinks and berries and I am going to wear a medium berry coloured lipstick. The problem is I don't know what to use on my nails. I don't have the greatest hands and nails so I don't know if it would be better to do a French manicure or to wear colour. I would usually wear colour, but I wouldn't draw as much attention to my nails as a matching berry would do. I am just afraid that my hands will look boring with a French manicure. I know this seems really trivial, but it is doing my head in! With all of the weddings you do, what would you suggest?
Thanks John,
Lynette
Lynette,
Are you kidding me? This is not trivial - this is one of the most important days of your life and it is all in the details darling! You should hear some of the truly trivial things I hear at weddings. LOL. So...if it were me, I would pass on the French manicure. It isn't you. You wear colour. French manicures look great on long elegant fingers. You could always have nails done. Like a gel or an acrylic, but it is something you would have to try out to see if you even like having longer nails for your big day. Some women feel like drag queens when they aren't used to having them there normally. But as far as choosing the colour - who says it has to match? How about a sheer rose so your nails looked really healthy? Paul & Joe and NARS have nail lacquers that are transparent and would let you have the best of both worlds. Otherwise, take your lipstick in when you have your nails done and choose something that tones in with the colour, but in a softer version. Try it out and see if you like it, and then you can put this to bed. And if you get stuck, email me with the shade and make of the lippie and I will see what I can do about finding you the perfect nail colour.
Congratulations,
John
John,
My girls and I read handbag religiously and have found so much useful stuff in the Q&A section. We are off on holiday soon and have about half a tube/bottle left of three different sun products left from a week away last fall. They are only about nine months old and I am wondering if we can take them away with us again? I hate to waste them, but I want to make sure we are protected. Thanks for all of the great advice.
Alexis
Alexis,
I am glad you all enjoy the site and I hope you would rather have honest advice...rather than what you would like to hear. My advice is to get rid of them. Cut your loss. Sunscreens last a season and that is all. By the time you have had it out on a beach, warming up, cooling back down, and stored who knows where between uses - the product will not be reliable. The only way I would ever use an opened sunscreen is if had been a once-a-day application product that didn't ever go out in sun, and I had stored it in the fridge when I got back. And let's face it...that isn't very likely. You only get one skin and you are so right to be taking responsibility for the girls. Just buy what you need to get you through your holiday safely and get rid of it at the end of the season. If you run out when you are away? You can always buy something to get you by - even if it is not the quality you would prefer to wear. Better safe than sorry.
Have a wonderful (safe) holiday,
John
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