Almost there…

Proper spring weather, that is. It’s been blowy and rainy – and we’re looking at on/off rain for the next few weeks. So far, the road into the village hasn’t flooded (so far) but the creek is at its banks, so not a done deal for this year yet.

And we moved into British Summer Time last night. I am soooo discombobulated.

I couldn’t settle on topic this week, so it’s a mishmash.

First dental appointment last week to address the cracked molar. Over an hour in the chair. Have a new filling and a temporary ‘cover’ until crown/onlay – she wasn’t yet sure which it would be – appointment in mid-April. I was so overjoyed I could eat more normally that I stopped at the farm shop on the way home. Got a chicken and potatoes for roasting for that night plus focaccia and humus for lunch. One happy bunny. Here’s hoping all goes reasonably smoothly and I have a ‘new’ tooth in April. No perfume on dental day but put on Shalimar perfume the following day. Oh, my, that spicy vanilla lemon floor wax is just perfection. And since then, that’s what I’ve been wearing. It’s just … right for now.

I wrote half a post on the language we use to discuss perfume and then ditched that. Just wasn’t feeling it etc, etc.

I pitched around about skincare.

I made a big thing in the past of how much I loved an oil cleanser I’d found. Used it for several years. It smelled beautiful, it took off everything I put on my face without tugging etc. But then one day recently for some reason I looked closely at my face and feh, lots of clogged pores in the area under my eyes and around my nose. Not a good look.

So, off I went and did some research. I found a brand I was interested in and actually wrote to their customer assistance people not expecting much. Got an email back acknowledging my questions and making some suggestions about what I might have a look at. That’s it. No pressure – just have a look at these things, they might address your issues.

So, I did. Have a look, that is, at their website. And in the midst of all that I noticed a Travel tab.

I know I go on about smaller sizes in perfume. It’s also a thing with skincare. I don’t live near any shop that offers many brands I’m curious about which means I can’t really try before buying. Thus, being able to spend under £30 for bits and bobs to try is a Very.Good.Thing.

Anyway, the brand, Medik8, has a big thing with vitamin C and SPF for day and vitamin A (ie, retinol) for tonight. I am smack in later middle age and I felt I needed to bite the proverbial bullet and get me some stuff that would address those pesky pores, more than fine lines, and age spots. My skin was crying out for it. Much as I adored the oil cleanser and unctuous day and night creams they didn’t do that – and, in fact, seemed to cause other problems.

I have been told I’m in that weird category of ‘dehydrated’ even though I believe I drink enough water and I live in a place that gets 40% more rain than London (ie, serious humidity). The t-zone can be oily, the cheeks and forehead can be a bit dry, and I was a very poorly behaved girl in my teens and 20s with regard to sun protection (give me that coconut smelling low number sun cream).

In any case, I ordered a couple of the things that were suggested in travel size and a thing or two they didn’t suggest. That first order was, oh, about £35. I found I didn’t like the cleanser they suggested that much (but I’ve since found another in the brand I do like), but I did like the retinol – and the fact the strengths increase and you can start with a lower one if you’re a wimp like me. I also got some glycolic toner – I’m not convinced by toner overall but this has been ok. However, don’t see ordering that again. Since that first order I’ve made a couple of other small ones for travel sizes plus a regular size in the retinol.

Anyway, looong story short, skin is happier, texture is improving, brown spots have really improved. Like really.

And son is away for a few days. House is delightfully quiet and calm. Laundry sorted, upstairs vacuumed and cleaned (he is good on stuff like this but when it’s just me in the house I tend to spend the first day getting things sorted so it all just feels tranquil and there isn’t the impulse to move this, dump that – instead, I can just follow my desires unless work comes in).

And kitchen area cleaned, including a full clearout of the cake stand that sits in the counter corner and collects all kinds of this and that (it’s never seen cupcakes or scones – just ‘stuff’). A friend brought me this as a house warming gift when I still lived in London. It’s one of those unexpected gifts that continues to warm the heart year after year.

Finally, a couple of weeks ago I stumbled on a YouTuber I’m oddly finding addictive. She’s an ‘influencer’ (one of the silliest labels to pop up on the next in the last decade), clearly very well off financially, and she shops a lot and gets a lot (I do mean a lot) of high-end PR stuff. But she’s lovely to watch mostly and strangely guileless, which makes all the showing and unboxing of expensive schmatta and makeup, and PR faff sort of endearing. She ‘gets’ how lucky she is and sort of revels in things without coming across badly. And she’s not perfect and doesn’t try to be – and never, ever talks about fillers or Botox, etc.

So, it’s been fun to see her discuss what she’s wearing that day before she shops or has meetings or during the Xmas period in 2022 see her unbox the three fancy Advent Calendars she got (Jo Malone, SpaceNK and Diptyque – I really want the Diptyque one for next Xmas but it’s over £400, so really cleary not happening). Oh, how the 10% (I don’t think she falls in the 1%) lives.

So, that’s it. What’s your week been like? Any perfume or other surprises to delight us? Do anything or eat anything that made you go wow?

Pics: Pexels and mine

  • Tom says:

    Would have commented last night but WordPress thinks my iPad is a spam machine..

    I use food grade castor oil on my face first and rub that in. It gets rid of any crap that built up from the day. Then I use Erno Laszlo black soap to wash up. It clears the oil and gook but my skin, while clean, isn’t stripped. Then a retinol (at night) and sunscreen (day) and a moisturizer.

    I do check out new ones of the latter two and really love companies that put out travel sizes- I like to see what a week or twos worth of use provides, not just one day like a normal sample.

    I’m still looking for a face sunscreen that doesn’t migrate into my eyes. Some of them will do so even if I just put it on my feet. Then I end up looking either like I just had some really bad news or just finished a big fat joint..

    • cinnamon says:

      I get that. Sometimes the system doesn’t like the MacBook; sometimes it’s the iPad. So far, it’s not been both. Uh, I guess not the best look when you have to be out and about. Is Thank You Farmer available there (yes, that’s really the name — Korean brand)?

  • Dina C. says:

    Cinnamon,
    That cake stand is gorgeous! I like how you leave it out all the time as a place to stash stuff. As for me: I have two family weddings this year in May and June (niece and nephew), so I’ve been dress shopping this past week. Today I’m dealing with what feels like a sinus infection. Gotta take a rapid test to check for C19. Ugh. Not the best start of the week.

    • cinnamon says:

      Hope test is negative and this is simply a lurgy. Dress shopping sounds fun. I love the cake stand. It’s one of the only ones I’ve seen with three tiers. I used it once for showcasing desserts when friends were over for dinner, but otherwise it has held ‘stuff’.

  • March says:

    I think it’s good to switch up the skincare periodically, especially if it doesn’t seem to be working. I’m still figuring out what to do for my dry, “mature” skin in this dry climate, Musette gave me some great stuff awhile ago and I’m enjoying that. It’s been awfully cold here (-8C as I type this) and I am realllllly looking forward to it warming up, which it’s supposed to do later this week. I’m ready for more spring-like weather.

    • cinnamon says:

      minus 8 degrees … well, that sounds shocking and unpleasant. Is Santa Fe at a high elevation? I guess I should look that up myself. in theory, we’re supposed to see a temp rise to the high 50s tomorrow. I would seriously welcome that.

  • alityke says:

    This spring seems to be really slow to get going. It maybe we’re just having a more normal spring after many years of T-shirt weather in February. You’ve piqued my curiosity about that influencer too.
    How does your dog manage the clocks moving? Jarvis does well when they go forward but in autumn he struggles.
    Went to an antiques fair yesterday. First one since 2019. Didn’t buy anything but some of mum’s bits & bobs are saleable, so will help with her care fees.

    • cinnamon says:

      Really have trouble getting my head round paying for care here. But guess everything helps. Spring has been slow this year. But interestingly the cold has seemed to benefit the roses, which have set well. The influencer is Michele Wang, very wealthy middle aged American who lives in Las Vegas for some reason. She can be very amusing but it’s serious conspicuous consumption by someone who doesn’t have to think at all about money.

      • alityke says:

        Seems in today’s world if you don’t need anything you get gifted things.
        If you need something, even the very basics, you have to debase yourself to get even these.
        I find it upsetting that those on the lowest incomes are vilified

  • Portia says:

    Cinnamon,
    Here’s a little cleansing hack.
    I take all the goo off my face with Grape Seed Oil and a Tea Towel. After that I use one of those microfibre flannels (wet) you get in a pack of 20 at the hardware store. It takes all the left overs, dead skin and anything left in the pores.
    I don’t moisturise but if you wanted to you could.
    Seriously, so easy.
    Portia xx

    • cinnamon says:

      Think I need to stay away from oil cleansing for a while. By the way, is there an SPF you recommend from your hot summers?

      • Portia says:

        We use the Cancer Council 50+ here. I’m not sure if it’s protecting us or giving it to us.
        We need to reapply every two hours for it to be effective.

  • Tara C says:

    I’ve been busy packing for my return to Canada from the US, so not much exciting, but I did buy the new Diptyque L’Eau Papier. It’s a simple, light scent that I plan to wear a lot this spring & summer. That and Dior Grand Bal, a lovely gift from a dear friend.

    • cinnamon says:

      I saw a pic of the Diptyque recently. The idea certainly sounds interesting. Grand Bal … will have to look it up. Good wishes with packing.