The Triumphant Return of a Good Old Fashioned Bar of Soap

You know, over the last few years, the humble bar of soap has taken a beating in the cosmetic industry. We've been told not to use it on our faces but to invest in liquid cleansers that are supposed to protect our skin and be more gentle on it.

Now I've tried many liquid cleansers, from Bobbi Brown to La Prairie to Clinique to Usana. And here's what happens...they don't clean my skin. I don't care what the advertising says...they don't work. How do I know this? Well, let's talk about breakouts. When I use a liquid cleanser, I have breakouts. And you know, I've been told it's because it's actually cleansing my skin and the impurities are coming to the surface. Therefore, the breakouts. Okay, I can buy that...for the first two weeks. But for six months? It's nothing more than jargon to get you to spend a lot of money on their cleansers. And here's another trick I discovered: after removing my makeup with makeup removing cloths and then washing my face with a liquid cleanser, when I dried it on a clean white towel I got makeup on the towel. And that's the real reason I was getting breakouts - my face was still dirty.

Now I say it's time to return to the good old-fashioned bar of soap, and here's why. In my frustration with liquid cleansers and being a victim of the recession like everyone else, I impulsively bought an 8-pack of olive oil soap that was on sale at Costco for about $9.00. I had planned to use it in the shower - it's 100% organic and contains olive oil and aloe vera and, because I have dry skin, I thought it would help moisturize it at the same time. And did I mention it was a really good price?? However, I was in the shower when I opened up the soap and thought I may as well give my face a good scrub before I use it on my body.

Now I took a chance doing this since I have sensitive skin. (yet another reason why I was told I MUST use liquid cleansers) So I was kind of surprised that my face was soft and not at all red or irritated from using this soap. My skin actually felt pretty good. So, I got another bar of the soap and put it by the sink to use on my face at night. I used it for a week every night before I went to bed and what I discovered was that I had no breakouts anymore and my pores actually started getting tighter, something I was starting to worry about because I had never had large pores and I was getting them.

So, this wonderful olive oil soap is called Neolia and, as I said, I found it at Costco. Where else you can get it, I don't know. I do know I am going back to Costco and buying as many 8-packs of this soap as I can afford to just in case they decide not to carry it anymore (like they did with Tony Romas Hot Sauce, but I digress...)

And my liquid face cleansers? They've all found a new home...the garbage.

Fashion?

Sometimes I see fashion items and wonder if anyone really buys them.

Take the shoes below for instance. Do people actually buy these? And, if so, can they actually walk in them? Or are they for display purposes only? That includes people that sit in them and pose in them but never actually get up and have to walk anywhere.

Some Cool Things I've Found

For the record, I don't work for any manufacturer or retailer, so I'm not promoting these products because I benefit in some way. I just thought I'd pass on some products I've tried and found to work really well. And, of course, I'm also including the very un-cool things I've come across.

The Cool...

1. Volume Shocking Mascara from L'Oreal - OMG it actually does what it says it's going to do...it makes my skinny little eyelashes look thick without looking clumpy. It's about time.

2. Laura Mercier "Tarte au Citron" body lotion. This stuff goes on like butter and smells divine. I don't care how much it costs...it is worth every penny.

3. Fruits and Passions botanical cleaners which all work like magic. They have glass cleaner, general all-purpose cleaner, hard stain remover and more. And, I might add, they leave a light, fresh lavender scent. They also carry a liquid wash for delicate items in either Lavender or Tulip scent that is fabulous for lingerie. Very very cool.

4. Paul Mitchell products...they actually do what they say they're going to do. I've tried many different products in this line and they all work. Good stuff.

The not-very-cool...

1. Pantene Maximum Hold Hairspray - I have very fine hair and need something strong. I was in a rush and didn't have time to go to my regular salon product outlet so I remembered the TV ads and thought I'd give this a try. You know their spokesmodel who actually gives you tips on how to use the product? All lies...the stuff is crap...and I almost died from asphyxiation from the stink of it. The can said "new and improved" and "better hold". I didn't think it could get any worse than it is. Apparently it could.

2. I wandered into Lush one day when I was just in the mood to spend ridiculous amounts of money on myself. Now how excited was I when I found little bowls of home-made masks that looked good enough to eat! I was ready to buy...buy...buy. The clerk informed me that of all the masks they had on display, they only had one in stock. Are you kidding me? Shut the damn store if you don't have the merchandise. Period. I'm not going back.

3. The Rival Crock Pot...got one for Christmas, used it twice and on the third try it was dead. Exchanged it and got another. The handle for the lid popped off the second time I used it. I don't even want to know what next.

4. Lady Speed Stick...you know the one that says it doesn't leave white deodorant marks on your clothes? It does. Liars.

New This Fall - Purple

Purple is back for fall and making waves. From deep plums to soft violets to rich jewel shades, purple is hot and showing up everywhere from boardrooms to bistros to clubs.

With so many hues of the color, it's hard not to find one that looks good on you. However, if purple is just not your color, consider a black or grey outfit mixed with purple shoes, boots or a bag.

The Proper Way to Wash Your Face

I was watching television the other day and happened upon a show where they had a face washing expert (yes...apparently there is such a job out there!) who was explaining the proper way to wash your face. And according to her, I was doing everything completely backwards.

Her method is:
- use water that is as warm as you can handle
- do not use a facecloth as it spreads bacteria - splash your face with water using your hands
- use a small drop (the size of a dime) of face washing liquid, rub it between your palms and apply it in circular motions starting from your forehead and working your way down your face, including your neck area. When you've come to the neck, continue the circular motions up again, then down, then up one more time.
- splash the warm water on your face to rinse off the face washing liquid
- pat your face dry with a clean towel

She advised we should be doing this process only once a day - before you go to sleep at night. According to her, washing your face in the morning is a waste of time because how dirty do you get when you're sleeping? I think she has point...

According to her, this method also helped to prevent acne from developing because you were not redistributing bacteria by way of a face cloth. So I decided to try her method for a week and see if there were any improvements. And yes - my face is actually looking much better than it did. And I'm not using so much cleanser (which is not always cheap!). And the odd little breakout I had? Gone.

Corporate gray doesn't have to be boring!

Gray is one of the popular base colors this fall for dresses, pants, jackets and sweaters. Gray can be beautiful, but can also be very dull if you don't wear it properly.

The most important step in selecting any item of clothing in gray is to match the shade with your skin tone. There are many different variations of gray as well as those with warm and cool tones. Put the item up against your face and have look. Does it make you fade out or do you glow?

And because gray is a "base" color and considered a neutral, match it with your favorite colors. And don't forget that although being classed as a "neutral" means it will pretty much go with any color, it doesn't go with ALL colors. The first one that comes to mind is brown. Gray and brown in my books don't mix well. Gray and blue look great, but grey and navy don't quite make it because navy is too neutral in and of itself. Gray and silver means wow. Gray and gold...not so hot. So do be careful even with your choices of jewelry. Wear a fabulous silver bracelet but stay away from gold tones.

Here are a few samples of items that will make your gray outfit go from "blah" to "ah!".

Layering Fragrances

There are a number of companies that now offer body wash, body lotion and a fragrance all in the same scent. And this is a great thing if you find a scent you love. However, it can be a nightmare for anyone that needs to stand next to you.

Layering scents is as much as an art as putting the perfect look together. Too much can nauseate others. Too little is pointless. And unfortunately, if you wear the same scent each day, you will become immune to the scent and often, start adding a little more because you can't smell it. So what's the trick?

Be selective. If you have decided on one scent, then use the body wash and body lotion and skip the fragrance. If you want to wear the perfume or eau de toilette, skip the body wash and body lotion.

A second method is to mix it up. Find a body lotion you love and mix it with a different fragrance that blends with it. This is a bit trickier to do and requires some practice (and perhaps a little help from your loved ones or friends) but can be done.

For example, I absolutely love Laura Mercier's Tarte au Citron body butter, but adding the matching fragrance turns this soft, beautiful scent into a nauseatingly sweet odor. So I've paired it with the soft, warm fragrance of Bobbi Brown's Bath in the winter and for summer, I layer the body lotion with Bobbi Brown's fresh, clean summer scent Beach. The trick? Both fragrances are light, soft and subtle. However, if I was using a more powerful fragrance, it wouldn't work with that particular body lotion.

There is really no rule of thumb for mixing fragrances...you have to let your nose do the work. However, the key is to practice...practice at home, use your friends as guides. Take fragrance samples and test it with your favorite lotion and see if it works together.

And remember...if you've lost your sense of smell after sniffing too many fragrances, take a whiff from a small container of coffee beans and then get back to work.