July 31, 2020
Fessing up to my COVID beauty blunders, a sane approach to cleaning out your closet, how to fight blemishes in the shower and a friendly reminder about a retro headband option.
A few of my COVID beauty blunders
As another week of being home 99% of the time comes to an end, I figured I’d wrap it up on a light note—in the form of sharing a few of my What was I thinking? beauty moments from the last few months (or at least the ones I can remember). It goes without saying that all of us have been a little off-kilter in some way or another since March—which is to be expected—but at least I’m able to laugh about a few of my miscalculations along the way.
First, let’s just acknowledge that we were ALL freaking out about our hair when salons were shut down. (Beauty parlors opened down here in Florida back in early May, and we all know how this and other restriction-lifts panned out.) Before then, I literally begged my colorist to come to my house to do my hair outside (without success). At the height of my desperation, I called her to ask her if I could use a temporary color like Splat—because hot pink or purple hair seemed like a perfectly viable alternative to two-inch dark brown roots. I figured, why not have a little fun when I’m literally locked in the house? As it turns out, this would have ended in one of two ways: The temporary color would have literally fallen off my hair within a few days (and onto my clothes and white bedding) or it would have not washed out of my blonde (which would require some major corrective color). That’s all I needed to hear and I never entertained that thought again.
Can we also acknowledge that perhaps we’ve been drinking a bit (or a lot) more than we did before the pandemic? The early days of the Q were the only time since college when it was perfectly acceptable to open a bottle of wine before noon. Drunk online shopping would occasionally ensue, and one day I came across (what seemed to be) the holy-grail cracked-heel solution I’ve been searching for my entire life. Part motorized foot file and part vacuum to contain the dust (yes, ANOTHER product that involves suction—I may need an intervention), I ran to the mailbox every day waiting for it to arrive. But when it did, it was more of a disappointment than Sex and the City 2 and it went promptly into the trash.
My third and final beauty blunder (at least for this installment) was fake nails. One day, I actually decided that long, Kardashian-esque tips were a good idea—but I at least had the sense to buy cheap ones on Amazon (first) before committing to a more expensive customized set (later). I chose a white to light pink ombre (because subtle, WTF?), completely ignoring the fact that when I’m not typing, I’m cooking or cleaning—convinced that inch-long talons wouldn’t interfere AT ALL. Needless to say, the only reason I opened the package when they arrived was to insert the RMA slip for the return.
So there you have it… I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend filled with wise beauty decisions! (And feel free to share your self-care snafus!)
Ponder before you purge
Cleaning out my closet has been an ongoing process over the past few months, and I’m really enjoying having more breathing room in there. That’s not to say I haven’t been replacing items that I’ve donated or sold, but everything new coming in feels much more “me right now” than the pieces that are going out.
Last night I spent some time assessing my shoe collection, because I truly can’t imagine strapping myself into 4-inch anything at the moment (or in the foreseeable future). If I were more impulsive, I probably would have swept the entire shelf of Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo and Louboutin wedges and heels into a trash bag. But I’m not, and I do believe that “maximalism” will be back eventually. It may be a few years or more, and when it happens I just hope I’m physically able to walk in a heel at all.
Purging is a natural response to stress (at least for me), and in case you need to be reminded to slow your roll, or just a simple set of guidelines of what to keep and what to toss (without regretting it later), here you go…
KEEP
Designer shoes, unless they don’t fit (your feet aren’t ever getting bigger or smaller)
Designer bags, unless you truly hate it or the person who got it for you (or really need the cash)
Blazers, because although trends may come and go, they always come back
Sweaters, because you’ll be so annoyed if you have to buy more before a trip to cold-weather climes
Sentimental items—but not too many (Marie Kondo would argue with me on this one)
Formal dresses as long as they still fit, because we’re in for a jam-packed belated bar/bat-mitzvah season when it’s safe to congregate in large groups again
Holding onto these pieces doesn’t mean you have to look at them every day (especially if it makes you sad). In fact, you can better preserve these items by tucking them into dust bags or storage boxes so they’re be in the shape they are now when you eventually bust them out again.
DITCH
Any fast-fashion that you haven’t worn in a year
Anything that’s stained or ripped (that doesn’t justify getting repaired by a tailor)
Clothes that are too small that you use as motivation to lose weight (trust me, they are just going to continue taunting you from their hanger)
Anything that might not be age-appropriate anymore (I ditched all my super-short shorts and skirts because I feel more comfortable in a little more length)
Even better than the extra space between hangers is how much easier it is to get dressed. I’ve even cordoned off a section for my “new me” pieces (kind of like a capsule wardrobe), and even if I don’t leave the house for five days, I visit them often. Why? Because they make me happy and give me something to look forward to.
This blemish-fighting body wash has your back
Early last year, I started using Curology’s customized prescription-grade serum to keep my complexion on track. My unique formula features a retinoid, clindamycin and azelaic acid (which works double duty on discoloration and breakouts)—and I love that it basically takes the place of three skincare steps in just a few pumps. Just what the doctor ordered for stress-induced breakouts (thanks, COVID!), the best part is you don’t have to leave the house for a dermatologist appointment or to pick up a prescription!
I know I’m not the only one who gets an occasional blemish beyond my face, and I can thank Florida’s heat and humidity, as well as sometimes waiting a bit too long to shower after working out. (Kids need to be fed, dogs need to be walked, and work needs to be tended to.) Fortunately, breakouts on my back and shoulders have become much less frequent as I’ve gotten older—but I’m also much more mindful about washing my body after washing my hair because shampoos and conditioners are rife with pore-clogging ingredients, FYI.
Since we could all use as much good news as possible, Curology recently (and quietly) expanded their anti-acne offerings with a 2% salicylic acid Acne Body Wash and Emergency Spot Patches, so blemish-prone skin is literally covered from head to toe. While these products are only available as add-ons for serum subscribers, I’m telling you it’s worth giving this service a try—especially if you struggle with breakouts from time to time or all the time!
Did you forget about this classic headband?
I don’t know about you, but I’m basically wearing headbands as often as I wear underwear these days. It’s hard to find a reason why I have to blow-dry my hair (unless I have a Zoom for work—especially if it’s a new client) and frankly, I just don’t want to deal. I’ve been living in stretchy headbands (the extra-wide ones were a lifesaver before I got my roots done), but today I was inspired to dig a bit deeper into my drawer and pull out an old classic: The Nylon Flexi Comb.
I almost forgot how comfortable this headband is, and it’s perfect for days when I don’t wash my hair but want to keep it out of my face. (And it doesn’t totally smush slightly-greasy roots to the point that you have to wear a headband until you wash.) It stays put through a workout and doesn’t require any adjusting throughout the day, so you can literally set it and forget it. It’s also a little less casual than a stretchy, colored cotton headband if you actually decide to put on some “normal” clothes—but it totally goes with loungewear, too.