Time For a Reset

I realized today that it has been just short of a YEAR since I posted here.  Now I know I don't post that often here to start, but ALMOST A YEAR???  That is completely unacceptable! Why bother to have a blog if you never write anything?

So I have determined that it is time for a reset here.  Part of my hesitancy to post here was because I am not really a "beauty influencer," an exercise guru, or really an expert on anything related to beauty, health, or fashion.  But you know what - who the H cares???  I started this blog in addition to my other blog because these are also things I enjoy, and I should be able to share that if I like.  Most of the readers of my other blog are primarily interested in crafting and reading, and I'm not sure they would care what I thought about say, eyeliner, you know?

Now I'm not saying I'll have something to say every day here - I don't even do that on my other blog or on social media.  But I'm not going to sit back because a) I'm not an expert, and b) because I am worried what my non-interested-in-this-topic friends might think if they come across this particular blog.  Like most people, I contain multitudes, but that doesn't mean that everyone has to like all of them!  And if reading what I think about a lipstick or what my latest exercises consist of annoys you that much, I probably don't care if you just sign off altogether.

It feels good to get that off my chest.  😌

Anyway, my goal is to post at least once a week here if not more frequently when something strikes me.  I can't say it will always be riveting, but that's not the point.  I enjoy writing and I like to share things I do like and don't like with others, whether or not "others" are even here!

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Consider this the first post in my reset.  Have you heard of Flower Beauty?  I know it started a few years back, with Drew Barrymore* behind it.  I was kind of excited to hear about it, because it was a cruelty-free brand at a time when there were not that many of them at a lower price point.  Originally though, the brand was only available at Wal-Mart or online.  I tend to not buy lower price point things online if I have never tried them, because the shipping and handling often takes the price up enough that it's no longer any more affordable than other brands.  And I am not a fan of Wal-Mart at all.  I'm not saying I never have gone into a Wal-Mart, but when I have, it's usually been a last resort, and I am fortunate enough to live someplace where there are other choices.

Anyway.  About a month ago, I was in the neighborhood CVS, and noticed they had an endcap devoted to Flower Beauty products - surprise!  

I decided to give one a try (well, OK I also had a CVS coupon for $3.00 off), and chose the Color Shift Lip Smoothie.

It only comes in this one shade, but supposedly once you put it on your lips, the color adjusts to your pH and your lips look like yours, but better.

I figured if nothing else, it might be a nice lip moisturizer, and as someone who has dry lips year round, I use something all of the time, even when I'm just sitting around at home.

Well - in my case at least, this turned out to be a lovely product.  It goes on nicely, without any "tugging" on your lips, and feels not just smooth but soft, if that makes sense.  The color actually was extremely subtle, but it did make my lips look a little bit brighter.

Like most lip balm/moisturizer/whatevers, it isn't long lasting, but I didn't expect that.  The very best thing as far as I'm concerned is that it is NOT sticky at all.  Nothing bugs me more than anything on my lips that feels sticky or tacky - ICK!

I recommend this if you want a bit of a color upgrade with your lip balm.  As I said, I had a CVS coupon, but I think it generally retails for $10.00, which is not completely cheap.  But it's not that expensive, considering that a tube will last you for a while.  And it's not expensive at all when you compare it to some of the "better" brand's products that make you feel like your lips are either varnished with glue, or with some sticky substance that will never go away!

*Drew Barrymore.  Sigh.  I'm never sure how I feel about her.  On the one hand, she kind of makes me crazy.  On the other hand, I have a sense that she is exactly who she appears to be, and I give her props for that.  It's a love-hate relationship I guess ...

Gather These Rosebuds!

Have you ever tried this lip balm?  Well, actually it's one of those products that people use for various purposes, but I LOVE this stuff as a lip balm!

Smith's Rosebud Salve.  In an old-timey tin.  With a happy pink shade, which does not actually show up on your lips.  With the *faintest* scent of rose, which dissipates immediately.  This stuff is ridiculously wonderful, people!

I had seen and read passing references to this stuff for years, and frankly thought it was one of those "remember when such-and-such was manufactured, why did they discontinue it" products.  Then a couple of years ago, I was waiting in line at a Sephora, at holiday time, because I was going to purchase a couple of gift cards (when all else fails and you are buying for a makeup junkie, it's a good gift, trust me!).  In the area where you wait in line they have these bins with small and/or sample/travel size products.  I was waiting, most likely thinking of cake or wishing I was buying something for myself (because, duh), when I started to poke around.

This was in one of the bins!  It still exists!  And it's $8.00 for the tin, which I was willing to pay because a) I wanted to try it, b) it was an old-timey tin, and c) it wasn't a super small size, so I figured it was worth it.  Plus, Sephora accepts returns, so it was a safe purchase.  Because my life is relatively dull, this turned out to be the highlight of that day.

Now you should know that the absolute minute the weather cools down - not when it gets cold, just when it cools down - my lips become severely chapped.  The kind of chapped where I actually get little cuts.  I've tried plenty of lip balms, and of course some are better than others.  But I'm picky, in that I don't like things that are too thick, or things that are too oily, or smell weird, or have ingredients (i.e., mint) that hurt the little cuts in my lips.  I think I've tried nearly every product on the market, and there are some I do like and use.

But people - this is the one that is NO competition for the others - hands down!  (Lips down?)  Just a teeny amount of this on a finger, smoothed over your lips not only immediately feels wonderful, but is just the perfect consistency.  It feels soothing without feeling "medical" and stays on for just as long - if not longer - than other products.  I especially like to use it at night when I go to bed.  Sometimes I'll even slather on a little bit extra, and when I wake up in the morning, my lips have not dried out and they feel so good.

Clearly I am a fan of this product.  But you want to know what's even better?  It's cruelty free!!!

Add to all of that the fact that the tin lasts for a loooonnnng time, so the price is worth it on a per-use basis.  Win-win!  It also comes in a tube, but as you may have guessed from reading this, I'm a fan of the tin.  The company makes other products, which admittedly I have not tried, but I'm guessing they are just as good.

If you are looking for a really wonderful lip balm, I can highly recommend this one.  And just so you know, this is not a sponsored post, and I am not in any way affiliated with the company that manufactures Rosebud Salve.  All opinions are my own, so know that I do not benefit from writing this, other than hoping that some of you might be able to find a lip balm that you love if you decide to try it.  :-)

Marble Lip

I am recovering (or really, have recovered) from The Big Fall about a month ago.  Most of the bruises have faded, and I have regained my confidence to just walk around without worrying.

However, I'm still stuck with Marble Lip.  And it a) hurts, and b) drives me nuts.  What, you may ask, is Marble Lip?  Well, as a result of my fall, I got stitches in my upper lip, both inside and outside.  And I guess that I have some scar tissue, because I have a big bump on the right side of my top lip, where the scars are.  I don't mind the scars at all, they are no big deal, but the bump drives me nuts.  It keeps my lips from "closing" properly, and when I touch it or accidently bump it, it does hurt.  

The only way I can describe it is to say that it is what I imagine it would feel like/look like if you had a marble under the skin of your lip - really uncomfortable!  Because of Marble Lip, I can still only eat or drink out of one side of my mouth, and my sandwiches must be in small strips, like tea sandwiches.  I also have to use a straw to drink anything.

I have an appt with the plastic surgeon who did my breast reconstruction years ago, to see if it can be dealt with.  Having said that, I won't be able to do anything about it if insurance doesn't cover it; and I really don't have time to take off work to have it taken care of.  But if nothing else, at least I'll know if it is a temporary condition, or if Marble Lip will become a permanent part of my face.

As one of my sisters would say, "White People Problems."  :-)

Lip Solution

Like a lot of people, I get chapped lips during the winter.  Unlike some people, mine get really awful - to the point of bleeding.  I regularly use some kind of lip balm, with varying results.  Some are so temporary, that by the time I leave the room where I applied them, my lips are dried out again!

I really like wearing lipstick, too, so it can be really disappointing to have my icky lips make the lipstick look awful.  Besides cracking and bleeding, at a minimum they start to peel, and the whole thing just looks bad.

Fast forward to a couple of weekends ago, when my niece and her husband asked us to spend the weekend with them at a beach house in Rehoboth Beach.  One of our favorite places to visit while there, is a soap shop called Little Egg Harbor Soap Shop.  First of all, it's a cute shop, and they have really nice, handmade soaps.  We went there last fall when we visited, and by the time we were going this time, the soaps we'd bought then were gone.  So we were really hoping to get some more, and hoping the shop was open in the off-season.

It was, so we were able to get more of the soaps we liked, and try one or two new ones.  But the best thing I bought that day was this little jar:

I bought this as a kind of afterthought, while waiting to check out.  The lady who works there said that it had been very popular, and that she really liked it.  It was $5.00, so I figured, what the heck I'd give it a try.

Wow.  I love this product.  A teeny amount rubbed across your lips not only feels good and even tastes OK, but immediately softens, exfoliates, and conditions your lips.  You wash it off, and your lips feel like you put a really lovely balm on them for about an hour or so afterwards.  All of a sudden, my lips were in good shape, even after only two times using this!  And you need such a small amount for big results, I think I'll have this for a while - so the $5.00 price tag is a good deal!

Little Egg Harbor Soap company has a website here, and the specific link for the lip scrub is here.  Of course, if you are in Rehoboth Beach or any of the other locations, you can buy it in person, while also getting a whiff of their lovely soaps.  But if you need something to help your lips, it may just be worth ordering it and paying for the shipping. 

I, for one, couldn't be happier about the way this works.