Search Results for: estee lauder

I’ve been a fan of Estee Lauder for a very long time.  I would go with my Mom and stand with her at the cosmetic counter.  It always fascinated me.  Bottles of lotions, pretty makeup, sweet smelling perfume.  Then when I was old enough (about 18) to start my own journey on the skin care path, my weapon of choice was Estee Lauder.

If there was a free gift, I was there.  If there was a free sitting with a renowned makeup artist, I was there.  I was there with my credit card.  I couldn’t begin to tell you how much money I’ve spent on creams and cosmetics over my life time.  But people do tell me that I have nice skin.  A lady at church has told me more than once “Your skin is beautiful!”  Of course she is elderly and her eyesight might not be what it once was.

Once while walking through a department store one time, Estee Lauder had some kind of machine that you looked in and it would show you the sun damage to the skin around your eyes.  “Dear Lord!” I said “Give me some eye cream stat and I need the best!”  Then came the night serum. I dearly dearly love the night serum with its little dropper.  Its expensive I said, but it only takes a few drops.  I was a sucker for whatever the latest gimmick was.  To be honest, I think I probably still am.

Then one day I discovered a book.  “Don’t Go to the Cosmetic Counter Without Me” by by Paula Begoun.  In it I learned that a lot of things I was buying simply didn’t work and never would.  Then she told me that there were some things I could by in the drugstore that were the same or better than Estee Lauder.  She compares all major high end brands and lower end brands.

I was saved.  I could give my credit card a rest and let the smoke clear.  I gave up Estee Lauder completely about 10 years ago.

About 3 years ago I needed a new hair dresser.  I walked into Moda Salon on Camp Bowie and found the perfect person for me.  On my way out that first day, I saw that they had rows and shelves of all kinds of Aveda products.  Hair care, skin care, and make up.  Again I was drawn in.

The products were a little pricey.  But you only need to use a little and it last so long.  I started off with hair care.  Before I knew it I was using their skin care and makeup exclusively.  I like Aveda products.  They recently took the parabens out of their products.  Parabens are a preservative used in cosmetics, skin care and hair care.  Over time it is assorbed in your body and has been know to cause cancer. They promote recycling, clean water. You can bring you bottle caps in and they will recycle them.  I get points for the products that I buy and can get free gifts.  They even have a serum in a bottle with a little dropper.

Then I discovered that Aveda is owned by Estee Lauder.  I was a little disappointed,  But then I realized that I was just meant to be with Estee and have decided not to fight it any longer.  But I do think I will get Paula’s newest edition of her book and see what she thinks of Aveda.

Today I’m spending the day with mom. We spent some time at the Texas Department of Public Safety getting her a state issued identification card and she surrendered her drivers license. She quit driving years ago so that was really no big deal.

Then we decided to go shopping. She says to me “I need makeup.” So I text my sister and say “Mom says she needs makeup.” I ask because she sometimes forgets what she might have bought yesterday. My sister texts me back and says “She does! LOL.”

So off to shop with a purpose we go. Two people who use to be great shopping partners, but who now don’t do malls. First stop Ridgmar Mall. We didn’t even bother to get out of the car. It looks run down and slightly abandoned. We just made a big circle in my car around the mall and decided to head to Hulen Mall. On the way to Hulen Mall I remember the new Shops at Clearfork development. So once we get to Hulen Mall and park at Dillards I tell my Mom that we will definitely have to check out the new place before we head home.

We browse through Dillards and then head out into the mall. Just me and the women who taught me all I needed to know about skincare. The woman who took me to the Estee Lauder counters and the Clinque counters. As we head out into the mall, I know that she has already forgotten about the makeup. But I have not.

So we head to Macy’s Estee Lauder counter. We are browsing the different types of makeup when a young lady shows up to helps us. As she is asking my mother the usual questions about what she expects from a makeup I suddenly ask myself “What in the world am I doing?”

Arbonne! I have been an independent consultant for about a month. I have been spreading the word to friends and family. I have sent samples. I have handed out samples. I have shipped multiple samples. I am almost out of samples. I need to reorder samples!

Fortunately the sales rep color matched my mom and in a very surprising move, she offered a sample to take home and try before she buys. Just to be sure that the color matches and she’s happy with it in every way. REALLY!! I guess she was just really too busy to try and sell us product. My mother was excited and really ready to buy. But I have to say “Thank you!!” I said “Yes! Let’s take the sample and try it.”

On the way to the Shops at Clearfork I told my mother about Arbonne and told her we could her everything she needed and she would love it. I know she will. So I can’t really blame the young girl at the cosmetic counter. I also had overlooked my mother as someone who would appreciate the quality of the Arbonne skincare and makeup.

Then we went on to the Shops at Clearfork. Right now the only store there is Neiman Marcus. But it is going to be a very lovely retail development when it’s done. As we walked into Neimans I thought, “This is what a department store is suppose to be like. I bet if we had stopped at the Estee Lauder counter in Neimans we would have left with a bag of makeup.

If you are currently going to the department stores to buy you skincare, makeup, bath products, or even the healthfood store to buy nutritional supplements, I would like for you to at least check out what Arbonne has to offer. It truly is a great line of products. To visit my website click here.

If you’d like to see some other roads I’ve been down concerning skin care just click here

Adios Estee Lauder!!  See ya later Mary Kay!!  Adieu Lancôme!!  I’m throwing out all my bottles, jars, and creams.  Okay, maybe I’ll just box them up and hang onto them awhile longer.  Not long ago someone mentioned the Oil Cleansing Method.  When I hear about something I’ve never heard about before it perks my ears up and I find myself learning out all I can about it.

This is what happened when I heard about the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM).  It sounded sort of crazy and a little too far out in left field.  But the more I read about it the more it sounded like something I should try.  Its basically cleaning your face with oil.  Crazy, I know.  But Google it, you’ll either find it interesting or think I have absolutely lost my mind.

You use basically two oils.  The first one that is used no matter what you skin type is Castor oil.  Castor oil is said to have anti-inflammatory properties as well as being a great cleansing and healing oil.  Believe it or not, it can also be drying.  It is also very thick.  This is why the OCM is usually done with two oils.

The secondary oil can be a variety of things.  EVVO, sunflower seed, jojaba, grapeseed, etc.  For the time being I have decided to go with a 50/50 blend of castor oil and evvo.  For different skins types you adjust the ratio of castor oil to whatever your other oil is.  To make it more of a spa experience you can also add a few drops of essential oils.  I haven’t taken it that far yet.  So far all I’ve invested in is a bottle of castor oil and a 6 oz flip top bottle.  The EVVO I already had.  🙂

I am someone who has always used skin care products.  But take a look at the list of ingredients on your skin care products.  Chemical, preservatives, and other things.  What are these things and why are they so high priced?  What if all we really need is something that we already have in our homes?

Our skin naturally produces oil, sebum.  Some of us produce more than others.  Mine is normally middle of the road and sometimes a little more oily when its humid.  What I’ve learned is oil dissolves oil.  When we strip our skin of its natural oils by using the chemical laden cleansers we’ve grown use to it throws our skin into an unnatural rhythm.  If we’re oily we become oiler, if we’re dry we become dry.  Our skin basically doesn’t know what to do.

Basically I’ve go nothing to lose.  So I’ll try this method for at least a month an see what happens.  I liked the way my skin felt last night after the oil cleansing method.  All I did today was wipe my face with a damp cloth.

The scary part is that while searching for information on the oil cleansing method I found some articles on going “Poo-free”.  That’s shampoo free.  Some people I read about haven’t washed their hair in a couple of years.  They didn’t even manufacture shampoo until the beginning of the 20th century.  But I’ll leave that for another day.

I can’t just go completely crazy all at once.

Where I got some of my info:

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/topic/141871-the-oil-cleansing-method-highly-recommended/

http://www.theoilcleansingmethod.com/

I hate wearing makeup!  I really really really do.  I like the way I look with makeup, but I don’t dislike the way I look without it.  I think as women we just are expected to wear makeup.  I wish I had never started.  I rarely wear makeup on the weekends.  If we go into town I just go without it.  At first I felt weird, but I’ve gotten use to it.  I still wear it if I go to church.  I wouldn’t want people thinking I had some terrible disease or something.  But I can’t just stop.  I think people would faint dead away if I was to walk into work without makeup.  I know they would be concerned about my health.

I am a very white woman.  I mean white white.  When I buy makeup I always select the lightest warmest color.  I’ve been to every cosmetic counter you can think of.  Estee Lauder, Clinque, Lancome, Aveda, Sephora, and plenty of others.  They always put me in the lightest shades.  I’m just a very white girl.  I don’t tan, I burn.

I quit wearing lipstick a couple of weeks ago.  Why you might ask?  Because I’m lazy. I don’t like the lipstick I have and don’t feel like buying more.  After a couple of weeks, I’ve gotten use to not wearing lipstick.  Just lip balm for me thank you.  I use to work with a guy that would say “Look out!  Anna isn’t wearing lipstick, she’s in a bad mood.”  That still cracks me up.  One reason is I think at that time it was probably a little true.  But now its because I just don’t feel like it.

This morning as I was putting on my makeup I thought “What if I just started using less and less makeup until I wasn’t wearing any?”  I wonder if anyone would notice over an extended period of time?  I’ll go another couple of weeks with no lipstick and then quit wearing blush.  I’ll do that for awhile and then cut out the eyeliner, followed by the eyeshadow, and then the mascara.

I no longer wear a traditional foundation.  I just wear a tinted moisturizer and a little pressed powder.  I think I would need to continue that just for my own piece of mine.  I’m all for cleanser, serums, creams, and a multitude of other things for skincare.  I’ll take a wonderful indulgent facial any day of the week.  So as you can see I’m not against skin care.  I’m just really tired of the makeup.

I thought about adding a picture of me without makeup, but then thought “Why go crazy?”

I get compliments on my skin from other women.  But after all that’s when I have the makeup on.