June 18, 2009
5 Behind-the-Scenes Beauty Essentials
My husband has spent the majority of the past year devoting all his energy to his business here in Hawaii. This has left him with little time for anything else, like properly stocking his house with Q-tips.
When the kids and I showed up last week I was rather amused to realize my husband has survived the last 16 months with only two sets of towels, an XBox 360 and a jar of Dijon mustard in the fridge here at his “bachelor pad.”
Okay, maybe it’s not that bad, but let me tell you, my amusement quickly turned to frustration when I was forced to use his non-Qtips brand of cotton swabs to address my itchy brain (when I’m in Hawaii, something in the humid air makes my usually non-existent allergies act up and gives me an itch so far down my ear canal it can only be described as my brain). When you have an itch like this, a non-Qtip is just not good enough. I mean, really, who goes and buys a sub-par package of cotton swabs to save themself 12 cents when YOU KNOW THEY WILL JUST NOT CUT IT?
In addition to my itchy brain, I also use Q-tips daily for other essential tasks like scooping eye cream out of the jar, fixing eyeliner mishaps and applying hydrocortisone cream to Janey’s mosquito bites. A sub-par cotton swab that bends in half BECAUSE THE TUBE IS PLASTIC or pokes through the swabby end because the tube is plastic or is colored BLUE because the tube is plastic (never trust a blue cotton swab, friends) is just a sorry excuse for a Q-tip.
As I complained to my husband about this unacceptable cotton swab situation, I realized there are several other beauty essentials that are somewhat behind-the-scenes but an integral part of my routine, nonetheless.
Earlier this year I switched from Acuvue II contacts to Acuvue Oasys and I’m so happy I did. My sister first told me about Acuvue Oasys and their HYDRACLEAR technology that keeps eyes comfortable longer, and told me I shouldn’t be wearing anything else. She was right—and now I don’t.
Made with essential lavender oil, EO French Lavender Hand Soap is a favorite of mine. This gentle, organic soap is as good for my hands as it is the environment.
I challenge you to find ONE household that does not have a jar of Vaseline (aside from my husband’s bachelor pad, of course). From protecting cuts and scrapes to moisturizing dry elbows and heels, Vaseline is a VERY essential part of my beauty routine.
With a houseful of girls, it’s nearly impossible to keep a hair tie handy. Someone is ALWAYS looking for one, me included. I buy packets of these Goody Ouchless Hair Elastics by the dozens. They don’t stretch out or pull on my hair. Also, they work equally well on fine, thin hair like Janey’s and mine as they do on Bree and Bailey’s horse ponytails.
