OMG! You guys! Unless you are way, way west of the Rockies, the Polar Crazy is kicking your butt! Instead of wearing all those really cute Fall jackets with gorgeous silk scarves intricately tied….we’ve gone straight to fleece, hats (and not the cute ones, either), heavy gloves..and winter coats. WINTER COATS. Buttoned. Layers. Turtlenecks.
Heat
Dry Air.
ick.
You know, I just realized that it’s time for my annual Moisturizer/Cream obsession. In Spring & Summer I wear cream for the scent – either I’m chasing away buzzies with SkinSoSoft or I’m blasting some high-oil cream for the scent alone. But the first time the furnace kicks on I am all about the moisturizers! Daytime I’m still in thrall to the fabulous Complex by MiN New York – there’s something about it that just always feels right! But I’ve fallen in love with a couple of items from a new line, Odacite, which I got from Beautyhabit (lord, those girls irk mah soul. I swear. Every time I say ‘no. I won’t buy any. more. beauty’…and every time the new catalogue comes and they pull me baaaack in. DagNABBIT!)…anyhoo, they sent me a sample kit (bless them, they sent combination instead of ‘mature’. Sweeties)….anyway, there are a couple of things in there that I am going to get Miss Musette for Christmas: the Divine Rose & Neroli Toner Mist and the Hydration Masque. It’s funny – but I have this ‘thing’ about toners. The rational me says ‘are you kidding? It’s just …..water’ – but the Real Me, the one who Enjoys Being a Girl???? Oh, you spritz a pretty toner on my face and I am hooked! And this particular toner? It owns mah soul. The neroli slides under the rose and makes it sparkle and I swear to Floyd, every time I spray it I feel like I can do anything! And my hair will look great while I’m doing it and I live back in CA instead of freezing IL and I am driving a restored 1969 Cougar in aqua with tan leather interior and …well, if a toner can do all that? Sign me up!
DIVINE!!!
I also have a thing for DrugstoreFab. This is the time of year for Walgreens Alpha-Hydroxy Cream. Did I ever tell you guys how I found this? Benefit had an AH lotion that would take the chrome off a hubcap. I loved it! It was $30. They took it out of the lineup and when I found out I thought I would cry – the kind SA said ‘honey. save your money. Go to Walgreens’ – and I never looked back. This stuff is perfect under moisturizer – but it’s also stunning for your feet and elbows. You know how hard Winter is on those heels, baby. And all for $10.
Once you de-hurtify those feet, have I got a find for you – my mom used to use this on her face and her skin was gorgeous but I have a tendency to break out so I use it everywhere else. Oh, honeys! The neck! THE NECK! This is the perfect slickery-doo before you pull on that cashmere turtleneck. Feet? They will dance the Dance of Joy! And you know how your…um…nether regions (the one Kardashian so balefully exposed to our aching eyes? yeah that one)…you know how, in the winter it gets all weird and ashy and bumpy? Use the Alpha Hydroxy cream, followed by the Jergens Face Cream and you will once again have a baby-smooth back end. I promise. And it’s so retro! I really do feel like a Breck Girl when I use this. And the coolest part? You can use it as your base moisturizer. Put the scented, uber-expensive creams atop it. 
That’s it for Dreamy Creams! Just a reminder:
Portia!
Portia!
Portia!
Monday, 24November, at Barneys 1:30p. We go from there to NMarcus – probably around 3-3:30p. It’s not a forced march so if you can’t make it to Barneys catch up to us at Neiman Marcus. Drinks afterwards, probably in the Peninsula Lobby – yes, it really is that casual. And I’m hoping we will have cocktails and cake!
Happy Birthday to ME!!!
Happy Birthday, My dear! I so wish I could be there with you guys..
Happy birthday, Portia! I am super sad to miss the get-together. I have to work LIKE A CHUMP. I’ll be there on Wednesday for dinner with friends. SO close.
Happy birhday to you Musette.
I hate the cold, but we are having perfect spring weather here. She said smugly.
I make my own lotions and potions so smother myself liberally when my skin gets dry. Anything with argan and baobab oil does the trick!
I don’t know if this applies to all Walgreens but the AH cream is buy one, get one 1/2 off (yes, I broke down and had to get some for myself :)). I didn’t find the Jergen’s but I have enough Lush & random other creams to keep me going for a bit.
Happy Bday and have a scentilatting good time with Portia and friends.
oooh! thanks! xoxoxoxoA
YW 🙂
I just ordered the Amouage Dia cream for myself, and cannot wait until it arrives. Living in NE Canada and heating with wood, I strongly believe in prepping for the cold and pampering my skin.
You will LOVE it! Dia is one of my favorites! xoxoxoA
I live in Idaho – high mountain desert. Yep….the triple threat for dry, dry, dry skin — High altitude (5000 ft), Desert (low moisture everywhere) and Cold. Currently (at 10:15 a.m.) it is 19 degrees.
After showering, I’m faithful about slathering my skin with lotions and oils. A favorite is the Caudalie Divine Oil.
For my face, I discovered Guerlain Super Aqua Serum Intense Hydration. It has done wonders for my dry skin. However it is Very expensive. I’m going this afternoon to hunt for the AH cream and the Jergens at Walgreens.
Yea for Dreamy Creams!
Another CheapieGoodie is the Olay cream (the original) – great for a damp face – xoxoxoxoA
Let’s just say, Portia will LOVE today and I would DIE anywhere but SoCal. Stay warm everyone!
shut up. <3 xoxoxoxA it's 16F right now. 30mph winds. One of those bitey snows. To be in HBch right now would be Divine. Just like that toner 😉 xoxoxoxoxoA
Come visit! I have a beach chair with your name on it!!
The Polar Vortex Thingee has moved on from Arkansas…we had highs in the teens and lows below zero with the windchill for a few days, back up to the 40s today. Le Sigh. I am one of the rare freaks who adores cold weather. I think it must be the Norwegian in me…it energizes me and I get a lot done, plus I love that cozy feeling when you walk in from the bitter cold into a toasty house! My Christmas trees have been up for a week! 😛
I will keep an eye out for the dreamy creams, although I typically have more issues with my sinuses than my skin in the winter. I guess I need to get a humidifier, but I always forget!
Stay warm, everyone!
YOU FORGET? YOU FORGET? Get thee to the store, sweetie! Warm mist (keep it clean). You …..omg. Your sinuses will thank you SOOOO much. Btw – that is another reason I love the Odacite – it is so freakin’ pretty (the toner mist) – and I keep it in my handbag, so if my skin & sinuses get cranky I just spritz – lifts my spirits and soothes the ow!!!
xoxoxoA
Happy birthday! Hey, I’m on a moisturizing kick too. Amy started talking about Korean skin care, and I’ve fallen into the rabbit hole, obsessed with having ONE Colorado winter that doesn’t turn my face into a cracking mess of dryness.
Korean Skin Care????? Talk to me
18F here in VA this morning when I took Taz to school. BRRRRR.
The Hunter-doggie has been scaring us… Gaze got some sheep ladies about two months ago, and Hunter is DESSSSSSPERATE to get into the sheep pen and make friends. But the sheep see him and run, and that triggers his “chase prey” instinct, so, well, long story short, we’re getting Invisible Fence next week. I hope to be able to just let him out of the house to take care of business on his own by New Year’s (while I stay IN).
My hands are dry. My feet are dry, my butt’s dry, my legs are dry. I haven’t been moisturizing properly, other than light body oil after the shower, which is clearly not doing a good enough job, or maybe I’ve been rushing it. In any case, it’s time to haul out the TBS body butters and the Memoir lotion.
So jealous of your Portia face time! Please, you guys hug each other for me.
Carmine used to do that to the chickens. He would stalk the fence and then rush them (actually, more of just a fake-rush) – after the first couple of times they were sooo over it. One time he rushed them and got pecked through the wire! Giant Rottweiler, shrieking like a 3rd grade girl! LOL!
xoxoxoA
OH, that’s funny! I can see it now. (Chickens can protect themselves. Sheep? In the words of the mice from Babe: Sheep. Are. Stupid. They really are.)
Memoir lotion today, and I smell freakin’ awesome.
Howdy, Musette! I’m seconding Poodle (above), in asking “Can’t I please stay home today?” Thought we would freeze solid at the bus stop this morning. I need to dig out my heavy-duty creams and get them going. Like others, I’m wondering: What happened to our fall? November usually has some decent days. But that’s life. Sending you big, warm hugs!
This is one of those times where we would do well to remember that Nature is Not Our Friend. Stay warm, darling! xoxoxoA
We aren’t as cold as some folks are but it’s around 16°F out there right now so it’s cold. Wind chill makes it 2°F. It is hard to crawl out of bed in the morning. I haven’t pulled out the heavy duty stuff yet although today might be the day. I’m itchy and needing some comfort. I can’t think of any must have favorites for bath and body. I guess I’m still searching for a few HG products. Ugh, the wind is howling outside. Can I stay home today?
Yes You Can. <3 xoxoxoA
I am so glad you made mention of the Walgreen’s item because I’ve seen that before and wondered if it was any good! Thanks so much for the personal endorsement! It’s a steamy 14 degrees here and ALREADY I’m gettin’ the itchys, which usually arrives in and around January…:(….yeah, it was STRAIGHT to gloves and coats for us! None of those snuggly sweater, burning leaves smellin’ days for us, except for a few. Yes, we had a gorgeous fall but fell right in the deep freeze complete with snow on the ground. Glad I got the firewood early this year! Well, keep warm and have a good day-I gotta get to work and help take care of some kittens and doggies 🙂 !
I use the Walgreens, then put the Jergens atop it. It’s great! Stay warm! xoxoxoA
I’ve been enjoying the grapefruit body butter from The Body Shop. Goes well under my Shalimar.
hmmmmm…..that’s a fascinating combo!
Heya Musette,
I love the Amouage B&B stuff. The Korres Japanese Rose is another fave.
Portia xx
Of course you do! You have excellent taste! (I’m in Lyric today). I don’t know Korres….yet! 😉
Wish I could join you guys but I’m stuck in the chill of Cleveland and it’s going to get worse. Now I am going to be breaking out the Amouage bath and body products to combat the cold and dryness.
I’ve seen you mention those Amouge body creams before but STILL have yet to smell or use any of their products, including perfume! Some day I will!…
Julie, go over to Surrender to Chance – I’m wearing Lyric body cream today…and for $5.99 you can, too! http://surrendertochance.com/amouage-lyric-body-cream/
Hey thanks, for the dreamy cream tips, Musette! I just ordered Restorative Skin Oil and the Rose Facial Oil from Mountain Rose and I hope it gets here soon. I will try that Walgreens AH and also the Jergens. Cold and dry here in Boston. We say “throw another cat on the bed.” Actually, they come out of their own self interest… Wish I could join you for the festivities, I’m sure it would be a gas. Have a great time!
you’ll have to let me know how you like them. It’s dry and cold here, too. No cats, though. Aaaa-choo! xoxoxoA