Beauty at 60+

Thanks to my parents (especially Dad), I have "good skin" genes. I'm glad but it's nothing to be proud of. It's not like I earned this skin...

The Good Skin Years:

For many, many years, I took my "good skin" for granted. As a young person, I never struggled with acne. I never had to worry about dry skin or oily skin. I grew up in Alaska, Land of the Midnight (or almost-never-ending) Sun. Never wore a drop of sunscreen for maybe 10 of the 40 years I lived there. 

When I did start thinking about skincare, I used sunscreen, avoided soaps, used a lot of oils, and still took my skin for granted. Then I turned 56. Oh boy. 

The Warning Signs:

The first very fine lines started across my forehead. I always had smile lines because I smile a lot and because of my wide mouth. But the smile lines became more prominent. And I started to get these little dark spots on my face - just like the ones my father had. 

Those dark spots freaked me out. I had noticed (but not paid much attention to) the ones Daddy had on his face. I think he was also in his 50s when I first noticed his spots. Now that I was developing them, I wondered if I should be worried. I found out that the spots are called Seborrheic keratosis and they tend to run in families. Like "good skin", I guess. Gee, thanks again, Dad! LOL

So, at around 55-56, I started to think more about skincare. I noticed every little thing about the skin on my face and my body. The dark spots - which are only on my face - are the one thing I can't afford to do anything about and I'm not that bothered by them anyway. And I'd like to think that I'm not particularly vain so I don't mind the fine lines and wrinkles. I think of them as "proof-of-life lines". But I don't want to deal with preventable issues - cancer or severe non-cancerous skin problems.

Anyway...

This is 61 with a freshly washed face and freshly washed and twisted hair. No makeup. But don't zoom too far in.

The New Attitude:

I started taking my skincare more seriously about 5 or 6 years ago. As in, not just routinely and mindlessly slapping on oils and moisturizers to keep away the dryness. I stopped buying just any old sunscreen. Basically, I stopped being slapdash with my skincare.

At 60, I actually started developing a skincare routine. I began to think more about products. Morning and night, I clean my face with oils and (non-soap) cleansers; I use good quality (broad-spectrum) sunscreens; and I use a toner, base moisturizer, and a sealing moisturizer. For my all-over body care, I still use the moisturizing washes I've always liked but I've started being more diligent about applying after-shower oil and I've started buying better moisturizers. I pay more attention to ingredients than hype and I will actually (though grudgingly) pay more for better quality products. If I have to.

All this really started making a difference - within a few weeks. My skin is now less dull and always feels super-hydrated -without my having to reapply moisturizers and lotions several times a day. I have far fewer blackhead problems. By the way, that situation was getting out of control! For a while there, I was having to tweeze away blackheads like it was a paying job.

Another benefit to getting a routine down is that I spend less money. (Well, I'm getting there.) I did have to go through a few products to find which ones worked better for my skin type. Thankfully, I have found that some really good products are quite budget-friendly. 

The two products I'm willing to spend a few bucks more for (if needed) are sunscreen and a night moisturizer. Instead of buying every new product that comes out, I am down to a few good items that work well. Spending more on 4 products every 3 months is much cheaper than spending a few bucks on several things every 3 weeks. (Pro Tip: curb your product junkie cravings! If you just have to, have to, have to try something new, write the brand to ask for a sample.)

I am sure that quitting smoking (4+ years now) helped. The funny thing is, this routine is less time-consuming than what I was doing before. In the past, I would use oil and baby wipes to clean my face, then use another oil to moisturize. Then, all through the day, I was reapplying oil to my face and more lotion to my skin. That was because of not layering and locking in hydration. Also, some products just aren't that good or long-lasting. Also, I was sometimes just skipping the moisturizing altogether.

New Routine:

Nowadays, first thing in the morning, since I'm in the bathroom doing morning stuff anyway, I cleanse my face and then, while I'm having coffee and watching the news, I do my sunscreen and moisturizers. That takes maybe 5 minutes. My body care takes only 10 minutes after showering. What a difference 15 or 20 minutes of consistent skincare makes. And consistency seems to be the key.

Goals?:

Just as with anything, it's not about how you look so much as about how you feel. I will be very happy to live long enough to develop more wrinkles, trust me. I'd like for those wrinkles to be hydrated and lovely but I want them!

I don't want to have "young-looking" skin, but I want healthy skin. As a matter of fact, as pithy as it sounds, I don't think we should worry about looking attractive. We should worry about being attractive. I want to always be gracious and kind and uplifting. (I said I want to be, not that I always am!) 

When I die, I want people to miss how I made them feel. I want to be remembered for things that really mean something. 

Get It From Mama:

My mother had beautiful skin and absolutely glorious hair. When she got sick, her skin and hair were severely damaged by medications. She never stopped smiling and feeling blessed to be alive. When people talk about my mom now, they talk about how she was a "mom" to everyone. I have former co-workers who probably remember more about my mother than they do about me. Everyone we knew called my mother "Mom", "Mama C" or "Grammy". There were friends of the grandkids who only knew her as "Grammy". For real. Some of them did not know her actual name until they saw her obituary...

Mama has been gone for 22 years now and almost everyone who knew her still misses her. They miss knowing that they could always talk to her about anything. They miss knowing that no matter when they came into her home, they were going to be fed, loved, taught something, hugged, encouraged, and prayed for. 

During Mama's funeral, a group of 6 or 7 people filed in several minutes into the service. They only stayed for about 10 minutes, then they all filed quietly back out. This happened again during the reading of the obituary. Later, checking the memorial book, we realized that it was some nurses and staff from the dialysis clinic. They had been given longer breaks in small groups to come and pay their respects. Her one-time doctor who had retired and moved out of state some years before sent a beautiful floral arrangement. For the longest time, we would receive condolences in the mail from young people who were late hearing about her passing because they had moved away for college, marriage, or gone into the military. My mother was that kind of beautiful.

To Be Well- Remembered:

I keep in sporadic touch with friends back in Alaska. Catching up online a couple of months or so ago with "Missy" (a woman I worked with back when dinosaurs roamed and I was in my late 20s), she sent through a recent photo of her son "Lee". He was just a kid it seemed the last time I saw him. Over the years, I've seen photos of him graduating from school, starting his first "real" job, getting engaged, etc. He's now got 2 kids of his own. Missy (who'd been a young and single mom and just turning 20) reminded me that it was my mother who taught her how to soothe Lee when he was non-stop fussy.

At the time, Missy was over for one of our barbeques or something but she was so frustrated because she couldn't figure out what was wrong with her baby. I barely noticed because there were (as usual) so many kids making noise out in the backyard. Missy and I can now laugh so hard about how Mama had come inside, put down the tray of chicken (or whatever) she'd taken off the grill, shook her head, and took the baby from Missy. She laid Lee on the couch and started cooing to him while she gently rocked his knees up toward his chin a couple of times. All of a sudden, that kid pooted out a long and loud trumpet note. He went from fussy to laughing just like that.  ("Sweet baby just had a little gas, didn't you.")

What I didn't know until this recent conversation is that my mom had apparently once talked Missy through a really bad bout of postpartum blues. So my friends were calling my mom on the phone back then? Wow.

So, yeah, I love having good skin, I'm a little vain about my hair, and I miss the crap out of my size 4 (5, 6, 8, and 10) figure! But who cares what I will look like when I'm dead? I want people to remember the stuff that matters.

Age thankfully. Be grateful. Love.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Raslock Aloe Vera Gel

 I love aloe, especially in the gel form, but it has to be good aloe. Not sticky aloe or with a lot of other ingredients added. I found a really good aloe once in Alaska but have never been able to find it since... But I have found a gel that I love, love, love. 

This is the replacement

The first time I ordered from the Raslock brand, I knew I'd found the product I would want to always have around. I initially got the version that came in a bottle with a pump ($9.99 or $0.77/oz). As much as I loved the aloe, the pump didn't work so I emailed the seller a video showing the problem and asked for a replacement pump. Just the pump. They sent a replacement bottle of the gel, Nice.

The next time I ordered the gel, I chose the jar version ($9.99 or $0.87/oz). I like leaving the pump version in the bathroom for guests to use in place of lotion after they wash their hands. I keep the jar in my bedside drawer to use along with my face and body moisturizers. 

What I love about this aloe gel is that it's not sticky in the least. That's been a problem with some aloe I've tried. Also, there are no unnecessary ingredients, just aloe (first on the list) and glycerin, and fortified with vitamins B1, B6, and B12. There is no added alcohol, fragrance, colors, or parabens. When I rub this into my skin, it absorbs completely.

This aloe is good enough to be used alone as a hand moisturizer - which is why I keep some by the bathroom sink - but I love using it with my face and body lotions. I had one face lotion (which I will not buy again because it's not very moisturizing on its own) that works really well as a night cream when I add a bit of the aloe. I have some decent foot creams (and really dry feet!) that get next-level good when I add the aloe.

My SIL was over one day and after using the aloe in the bathroom, she asked to take some of it home until she could order her own. It's really good aloe. To stretch it out, I went ahead and added some of my cheap unscented lotion to the bathroom jar!

Whenever I used aloe before, I only used it for burns, scrapes, etc. Even when I used the plant, I never thought about using it as a regular moisturizer. Since I got this aloe, I have been using it under my chapstick, over my sunscreen, on my scalp, and at night with my face cream. It only takes a little. And I'm in love with the texture it adds.

I'm not sure what was going on with the other aloes I tried but they were almost all too sticky or tacky-feeling on my skin or they were so watery that they weren't very hydrating. I didn't mind because I was mostly only using them in first-aid situations. The liquid that I found in Alaska was not sticky but I thought that was because it was a liquid. I think I just need to read the labels more carefully, especially when buying aloe in gels. Hopefully, I will always be able to find this brand or something just as good.

I've even been using the gel in my hair care. Since I did that big chop, my hair is not growing back as fast as it always has. Scratch that. My hair is growing back; I'm just not retaining the length as I once was able to. That may be due to aging or it may be due to the climate here. At any rate, I am now applying a little of the aloe to the ends of my hair after washing. I will see how that goes.

So, yeah. I am ranting about this gel because it's that good. Normally, I just review products based on how well they work for me without recommending them to anyone (outside my family). This time, I'm going to go out of my way to recommend this to anyone who has dry skin, sensitive skin, or who just wants a cheap way to boost their other skincare products.

Now that I have streamlined my skin and hair care routines (I know I keep bringing that up lately), I like having something as affordable as this gel. Instead of replacing some of the face and body lotions and hair products that weren't as moisturizing, I'm able to use them up now by adding the gel. Maybe I will end up replacing some of them completely.

Peace

--Free

Disclaimer: I was not paid or compensated in any way for the products mentioned in this post. The free replacement I received was not solicited nor offered in lieu of a review. 

**REVIEW** CeraVe Healing Ointment

 This won't be a long review. I just wanted to point out what a great product this is.

I got my first jar of CeraVe Healing Ointment from a dermatologist in Anchorage more than 5 years ago. It was meant to be used for my psoriasis breakouts and it does help. However, I learned that the ointment also makes a great daily treatment for dry skin in general. And it makes one of the best night creams for my face during the super-dry winter months here in Iowa.

The active ingredient is petrolatum (46.5%) but it's not as greasy as Vaseline, in my opinion. I cannot use Vaseline on my face as more than a wipe-off type of cleanser or makeup remover. When I leave it on my face, it irritates my skin. The CeraVe ointment doesn't have that effect.

In addition to using the ointment as an overnight mask when my skin is extra dry, I also use it to moisturize my feet. I will apply the ointment and then put socks on for an hour or so until it's all absorbed. I use the ointment as an after-shower treatment on my dry but still-damp skin. I have even used it on my scalp in a pinch when I am out of my regular hairdressing product.

What I like most about using the ointment on my face is that it eventually absorbs so that I don't have an oil slick on my skin. I have used it after using hyaluronic acid serum or in addition to face cream. That might sound overboard but the air in Northern Iowa gets extremely dry during the winter. I have to run a humidifier constantly just to keep the apartment air feeling balanced. Weirdly, the summer months are so humid that I run 3 small dehumidifiers that I have placed around the apartment. Crazy, right?

There's a reason that I'm only just now talking about the ointment after using it for the whole 6 years I've lived in Iowa. Recently, I was considering buying a moisturizer to use as an overnight treatment. The product is one that I got in a subscription box a long while back. When I thought of buying a bottle to use at night, I got the shock of my life when I saw the price.

The product is a melting moisture mask from Dermalogica. It's excellent stuff. I mean, it's really good. However, it costs almost $41 per ounce. No lie. 

I have an app on my phone called Price Cruncher and it showed me that the Dermalogica mask is  372.28% more expensive than the CeraVe cream. That's wild.

But the price wasn't the only reason to choose the CeraVe over the Dermalogica. I'm pretty sure that if I wanted the mask badly enough, one of my brothers would get it for me. But... the truth is, the Cerave works better. Or I should say that the effects I get from the CeraVe last longer.

When I got the Dermalogica, I didn't realize how pricey it was. Thankfully, I never used it on a daily basis - just when my skin was extra dry. By the way, if you have some and think that the can is empty, chances are, it's not. I have been able to coax use after use from what I thought was an empty can. All I do is pump-pump-pump the dispenser and little worms of the cream will come out. That can have been "empty" for weeks! And one benefit to the product is that it takes very little to treat the entire face.

10 pumps of "empty" can

The bottom line is that, if you can easily afford the Dermalogica, get it. It's something that can be used around the clock and it certainly is worth every bit of the positive hype. The CeraVe is something that I use on my face only during the driest weather or as an overnight treatment. 

Would I buy the Dermalogica (in addition to the CeraVe) if I could afford it? Probably. It would be nice to have a mask that works so well that I could wear winter and summer.

Another good thing about the CeraVe is that it comes in a variety of sizes so you can get a small tube to try it out or a larger jar once you fall in love. The Dermalogica is a one-size/one-price deal. I wish I could remember which subscription box that I got it from because I want to write them a thank you note!

For now, I am in love with the CeraVe. I put just a little on my face when I go to bed. When I wake up in the morning, my skin feels so soft and supple that I keep touching my face. 

Peace

--Free

NOTE: The CeraVe is also available from Walmart and other stores. If you ever get any, make sure to compare prices everywhere. I'm going to be getting a purse-sized tube soon.

Disclaimer: I am not paid or compensated in any way for the products I review. Prior to 2018, I did receive some items 9at a discount or free of charge) in lieu of doing a review. However, since then, every single thing I review is bought and paid for with my own money, personal (non-sponsored) gift cards, and/or gifted to me from family and friends and not in return for doing a review. Nothing is sponsored.

The Best Moisturizer (If You Can Afford It)

 A long while back - maybe as far as 9 or 10 months ago - I got a package in the mail with a full-sized trial of Dermalogica Melting Moisture Masque. It was part of some promotion that I might have signed up for and forgotten about. At any rate, I tried the product, found it kind of heavy and oily, and put it away. And forgot about it.

Thank you whoever for this
lovely full-sized product

Back in July, when I had used up my Loreal Age Perfect and the weather here was getting too humid for using any of my several pure oils - Babassu, Marula, coconut, Sesame, Olives, etc. - as a facial moisturizer, I reached for the Dermalogica again. And let me tell you something...

This is the best moisturizer I have ever used. It goes on slightly oily but, true to its name, it just melts into your skin. 

This is the amount I tested on the back of my hand

This is how it looks melted by body warmth.

This is a few moments after I rubbed the oil into my skin

The very first time I used it, I purposely used the tiniest dab because I wanted to see what it felt like. That tiny dab turned out to be enough to moisturize my whole jawline and cheek. Because it did feel oily at first, I was trying to dab it around the rest of my face so that the oil wouldn't be so concentrated. And I stopped there to do what I should have done first: read the label. 

Huh. So I was supposed to blot this? Well, I didn't and, after the couple of moments it took to read the label, I realized no blotting was needed. The masque had truly melted totally into my skin. My face felt amazing - very supple and kind of velvety. There was only the very slightest sheen as a sign of the oil. A nice sheen, healthy and natural, not oily and acne-prone.

Right away I made up my mind that I was going to switch from everything else to this product as my go-to moisturizer.

My niece happened to call while I was still admiring how nice my face felt. I told her about the masque. She said she wasn't sure but that she thought that Dermalogica was kind of a pricey brand. I said that it couldn't be that pricey because someone had sent me this bottle free in the mail. She laughed and said to go check Amazon. So I did. And child!

That might not faze some people but I heard my wallet screech a little when I saw the price. I told my niece and she wanted to know if I'd really gotten a full-sized product. I double-checked and, yep, for months, I'd had a bottle of liquid gold just sitting unused in my bathroom cabinet...

Sixty-five dollars is really a lot for me to spend on a face moisturizer. I've gotten tight-fisted in the past when I've had to spend around twenty bucks to re-stock the L'Oreal Age Perfect. I once even got a little mad when the drug store raised the price of Babassu Oil to almost eight dollars.

But.

This moisturizer is so good even in such a small amount that I could see myself wanting to buy more. I've been using it almost all summer and the bottle still seems to be mostly full. It's hard to tell because the covering is opaque but it does feel full to me. Anyway, all I need is a couple of dabs in the morning and a couple at night. I should be able to get at least another couple of months' worth of dabs. It's definitely worth the price. I go through the 1.2-ounce jar of Age Perfect every couple of months.

I think what I like most about this Melting Masque is that I get the benefits of an oil-based moisturizer without the oil sitting on top of my skin. The one other oil that is good this way is Marula oil but it's hard to find a good quality brand. The one brand I love tends to be unavailable on a regular basis. And pure Marula oil is not cheap. Also, for some reason - probably hormonal - my skin does not always love Marula.

Maybe I will have to save up so that I can re-stock this Melting Masque. I could do that on a once-a-year basis. I'll be happily sliding into my 62nd year next June. I'm not body vain so I don't mind being a little more, um "plump" but if I do not want dry skin. Not on my body or my face. I just wish good facial moisturizers were as affordable as body lotions...

Anyway, if you ever heard of this Dermalica and balked at the price, I can tell you that my broke a** thinks it's worth it.

Peace

--Free

But wait! There's more:

Weirdly, the ingredients list for this masque is a combination of some of the oils I use individually. I'm not sure why the product is so much more absorbent than when I use those oils separately. Maybe it's due to the additional items listed or the blending process. Straight from Dermalogica, here is the list of ingredients with a caveat:

Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C10-18 Triglycerides, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Seed Oil, C13-15 Alkane, Hydrogenated Olive Oil Stearyl Esters, Jojoba Esters, Linoleic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Tribehenin, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon (Lemon) Peel Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Silica Silylate, Glycol Distearate, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Plankton Extract, Bixa Orellana Seed Oil, Glycol Stearate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polyglycerin-3, Tocopherol, Water/Aqua/Eau, Linolenic Acid, Oleic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Behenic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Gondoic Acid, Geraniol, Citral, Linalool, Limonene

Dermalogica is dedicated to maintaining the accuracy of the ingredient lists on this website. However, because ingredients are subject to change, we cannot guarantee that these lists are complete, up-to-date and/or error-free. For an accurate listing of ingredients in each product, please refer to your product packaging.

(I highlighted the oils that I use or have used individually at some point)

By the way, I've thought about who might have sent this product to me and I am now almost sure that I filled out a form online somewhere for the freebie. But in thinking about buying more, I found that by subscribing to the product on the brand's website, I would get free shipping and a gift. So that's an option.

UPDATE **REVIEW** Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare & Vanille

UPDATE to the update: I figured out that this reacts very well to warm skin. The first time I used it, I had been out of the shower for long enough that my skin was cool. When I used this on my warmer skin (warm day, warm home), the scent was much more noticeable and pleasant. So... yeah. 

UPDATE: I received the Vanille and... The positive: it feels and works just like the Tiare scent. The not-so-positive: the vanilla is so faint that I had to hold the bottles side by side and sniff to notice a difference. I was really disappointed by that because I love most things vanilla-scented. Because my skin is "mature", it does not hold or project fragrances as well as when I was younger. Now, if you are younger, your body chemistry will probably enhance the scents better - as with perfume. 

Also, I noticed that the bottle from Piping Rock has a nicer cap. 

Look for this ❤❤❤❤ if you want to bypass my chatter & skip straight to the review.

When I lived in Anchorage, there was a sizeable and growing population of Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. A lot of my immediate neighbors in the 5 years or so before I moved away were Pacific Islanders. We had a lot in common with our love of family, food, and cooking. Unlike some of our former neighbors, they knew that a large gathering of people at our house didn't necessarily mean we were having a riot or a party. It might just be a night where my sister made collard greens or a night when half our family decided to visit the "main home".

Another thing I loved about my P.I. neighbors was that they shared with us their recipes and cultural life hacks. My sister told them how we fix greens by adding smoked meats (neckbones or turkey pieces) and one of them told her about Monoi oil.

Well.

I have since learned that Monoi (which just means "scented oil") was traditionally used in ways I would never use it for (various religious rites and ceremonies). When I started using what the neighbors gave us, I was just amazed at how much better it worked for me than straight coconut oil. And Monoi is basically just coconut oil with a specific floral added. The Tiare (a type of gardenia) is steeped in the oil to infuse it with whatever properties that make Monoi better than coconut oil by itself.

Here's the thing: I had forgotten about the oil. It's been about 8 years since the neighbor began bringing it to my sister on a regular basis. I was into oils but not obsessive like I have become since then. The other week, I was perusing blogs and forums for something new to use on my skin. It's my opinion that one can never have too many oils and natural butters! 

❤❤❤❤

This is when its not warmed up:

It's warmed in a 75 degree room:

That's Monoi oil from an approved seller. There are lots of fakes out there. And because I didn't want to deal with fakes, this is one time I bypassed Amazon and went elsewhere. It seems that Amazon is becoming a home for fake products. This one is from Piping Rock (where I rarely shop anymore because...) but I have now ordered some for a friend from the actual  U.S. importers of the 'original' Monoi (according to their site).

How is this different from plain coconut oil? 

In my opinion, this has a totally different feel on the skin. I'm not sure why. I did check around online and found some interesting information:

• Wikipedia mentions the strict process for manufacturing Monoi. That involves hand-picking the flowers. Hmmm...
• Also according to Wikipedia, the Tiare is sometimes used in perfumery but is costly.
• According to Eminence Organics Skincare (which is where I learned about the religious uses for Monoi & that there is an actual Monoi Institute) the blossoms have anti-inflammatory properties and are used to cure earaches, some eczema, and to prevent insect bites. That last part made me remember how we used to use Avon's Skin So Soft to repel mosquitos! Going to the (possibly untended) Monoi Institute site, you can even download documentation and technical information about Monoi (I did not).
• When my brain woke up from its nap, I thought to check the importer's site for some information. Hah! I learned more about the flower; more than I ever thought to know about the coconut tree; why the rules of processing are so (thankfully) strict; more about Tahiti (since I am horrible at geography and details); and lots and lots of technical data. Lots.

I was a little alarmed until I realized that this "floatee" thing is the flower. The flower should always be in the bottle you purchase.

Is my bottle authentic?

Because I have had issues in the past with a couple of purchases from Piping Rock, I immediately checked my bottle carefully. The shelf life is shown to be 12 months but I noticed there are no manufacturing or expirations dates on the bottle. Hmmm... 

Again, because this is from Piping Rock, (they are either really good or not) I wanted to ask some questions. The Piping Rock customer service rep I chatted with couldn't tell me any more than that the bottle was from a "recent batch". Not good enough. Not from Piping Rock. I contacted the U.S. importer sending photos of the bottle and its labels and markings. I got a response directly from the "Regulation Advisor" who verified that the product was authentic. The bottle I received was from the official distributor. I was assured that:

"As this product is registered in Europe, it is conformed to the European regulation which requires the batch number and the time after opening (12 months) for any cosmetic which shelf life is longer than 36 months. This is the case of Monoi oil. To be clear, Monoi can be maintained unopened 36 months, then 12 other months after opening without hygiene risk." (my emphasis)

Good enough. So if you wonder if your bottle is authentic, I suggest you contact Boutique Monoi Tiki at info@boutique-monoitiki.com.

Shelf life & mark of the origin process

Nothing I could find explained more about why Monoi seems to work better than plain coconut oil. Of course, I have not read all of the technical data I've linked to.

I have been using coconut oil on my hair (for pre-poo) but not so much on my skin. It seemed to quit being as soothing and moisturizing as it was a couple of years back. 

How does it smell?

Monoi comes in a variety of scents. I did not know this until recently. The neighbor always gave my sister some in a plain glass bottle with a dropper. I think she was just sharing from her bottle. This must have been the "original" or the Monoi Tiki Tahiti Tiare scent because, as far as my nose remembers, it smells like what I currently have. 

The scent is, again in my opinion, very, very faint out of the bottle. On my skin, the body heats brings up a stronger (but still faint) tropical scent. Not really floral and not very coconut-like. Hard to describe. It is really pleasant. I cannot wait to try the Vanille. 

 

I have ordered my friend and myself a bottle each of the "Vanille". I counted 9 scents (including the original. You can see the various scents here with descriptions.

What else?

In addition to the oils, there are also soaps and perfumes. You know how I love perfumes! I will put the perfumes on my Christmas Wish List. I probably won't try the soaps because I'm not a fan of bar soaps.

Top Benefits, IMO?

On my skin, Monoi has a silkier feel than plain coconut oil. It makes the skin feel almost velvety and the softness lasts longer than from coconut oil alone. I can apply some after an evening shower and my skin still feels good the next morning. Also, there is no oily shine. This stuff absorbs really well. My hands tend to be very dry and this leaves them feeling really supple and smooth.

I am using it daily on my skin and I hope that it will help keep my psoriasis at bay.

On my hair, I notice it more when I use after washing - but not as a sealer. I apply it before I apply something heavier and more coating (usually Blue Magic grease). I apply a little bit every day to my hair and every now and then to my scalp.

(It's just my opinion, but I would not use this as the sole sealant to washed hair. This seems better applied before sealing so that it can soak into he hair for overall moisture.)

After I use it on my hair and body, I rub the excess into my cuticles and over my lips.

By the way, even though this is fragranced, I tested it on my face and had no problems. I like to spritz my face with water, then massage in just a couple of drops of the oil. Like velvet, baby!

And on a personal note:

Monoi has been really trendy and popular for a while now. I was looking at some of the many, many products that have "Monoi" included in the names or on the labels. Then I looked at the prices. Crazy, stupid, high prices. High as giraffe's noses. 

I'm too broke for nonsense. Even if I wasn't...You guys know that I would rather get base products from suppliers like Making Cosmetics to add to less expensive OTC hair and skin products. Why on earth would I pay 15 to 30 bucks or more for a product that probably only has a few drops of Monoi included? And how do I know the Monoi they use is authentic and not just any kind of "scented oil"?

What I have done is taken some of this Monoi (about $13 for 4 ounces from the importer site and about $9 for a 2oz bottle from Piping Rock) and added some to my current conditioners and curl creams and puddings. People, there is a reason that somebody and her daughter and somebody's auntie are making all that money hyping their over-priced products. 

I'd rather buy something cheaper than those "name-known" brands and add the Monoi, argan, hemp, or whatever else there is. DIY, people. DIY and SYM (save your money). I'm just saying...

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Tinted Self-Tanning Lotion

Who'd have imagined? Black ladies can benefit from tanning products. As a matter of fact, the idea is pretty genius and it is not new. 

When I thought of using a self-tanning lotion, it was because I got some in a Target box. That one seriously irritated my face but put me back onto the idea of using a self-tanner. I had already been using this ever since I got a sample a year or so ago in a beauty box. The Jergens Wet Skin Moisturizer Self-Tanner was in too light of a shade for me but I did like the idea. As I started looking for a self-tanning product, I was self-conscious and glad that I could search online instead of in a store. What I did not realize is that a lot of black women were already onto this trick. Just do a quick YouTube search and you will see more than a few black people using different brands and types of these self-tanners. And here I thought I was on to something new...

I can't afford the expensive higher name-brand serums that are sold in Sephora and Ulta, etc, but I did find this for a reasonable price, knowing that I could return to Amazon if I wasn't happy. I am happy.

The "Deep" is for how dark you want the color. I have some glow product in a light-to-medium and it does almost nothing for me. I assume that if you are lighter-skinned, you might want to start out with a light or medium choice.

My first quest was to find something labeled "Deep" or "Dark". Next, it was to find something that wouldn't irritate my skin. I am happy to say that this particular lotion is working well and not breaking me out in the least.

I decided to write this review in a bullet-point style, listing and answering the different concerns I had. So let's go:

1. A lot of Glitter? No, this doesn't have as much "glitter" as I feared from reading some reviews. I am dark so, trust me, glitter would really sparkle. I can see the glitter faintly on the back of my hand after first applying this. On my face, I didn't notice as much. When I wash my face before bed, the color stays and the glitter goes.
2. Does it itch? I was really worried about this because I recently tried Tanologist Face and Body Drops and had to immediately get it off my skin. This one tingled slightly the first time I applied it but the tingle didn't get worse and it went away as the product dried. And, keep in mind, I am using this on my face. After that first time, I haven't even felt even the slightest tingle.
3. Does it dry out my skin? The product I used in the past was a lotion for use on wet skin and I didn't want to use anything else that would dry out my skin. This doesn't dry me out but you are to use an oil-free moisturizer, if any, before applying. I do make sure to apply my regular moist lotion in-between applications. So far, so good.
4. Is the smell offensive/strong? Sniffing the open cap, there is a faint, soapy kind of scent. It's not unpleasant and I didn't smell it when the test spot dried on the back of my hand.
5. Is it sticky? Yes. While this is still damp on the skin, it has a tacky-like feel. Once it dries, it's okay. I still like it best once I can wash my face without ruining the results.
6. Is it shiny? OMGoodness, yes! I almost hated this because of the shine on the first day. What I realized is that it is best to apply this before bed, then I can wash my face in the morning. That gets rid of both the shine and any hint of glitter.
7. Does this transfer/Is it messy? I didn't have any problems with this getting on paperwork or my clothes - as long as I let it dry completely. The advantage this has over makeup is that I don't have to deal with transfer to my clothes and paperwork and furniture, etc. When you wear dark makeup, the transfer can be a big problem. 
8. Does it affect my brow/lash/hairline color? I was careful not to get this into my hairline the first day and I made sure to wipe my brows with a damp tissue and brush my lashes too. After the first day, I forgot to do any of this. I haven't had any problems with the product messing with the color of my hair. That might be because I have black hair though. Someone with lighter hair/lighter skin might want to be more careful. I read a review that warned about orange hair... Yikes.
9. How are the results? Check out the photos are from Day 1 and 3. I was worried that I wasn't going to get the color I wanted but it really does take applying this for a few days to start noticing effects on my dark complexion. Now I think I might even do my chest, legs, and arms.

The once concern I had (and asked other Amazon users about) is why this doesn't have an expiration date on the tube. That seems important since there is a suggestion to use within 6 months. As I suspected, that might be a ploy to have people toss products and buy more every 6 months. A couple of other users assured me that they have been using a tube for much longer than  6 months with no negative effects. I am not a woman to toss perfectly good products unless they look bad, smell bad, or irritate my skin when I test them.

The top photo is what my skin basically looked like on the 12th of the month. And I say "basically" because I just chose a photo I had taken for a hair product because I knew it was when I hadn't worn makeup or anything.

And the bottom photo is what my skin looks like after 4 days of applying the tanning lotion. Again, no makeup. I didn't even blot for the shine because I want to give the most realistic view. 

The best way I can describe this is that my skin looks like I have applied a sepia-like filter, if that makes sense. The difference is more vivid in person. One of my neighbors saw me taking the out the trash yesterday and when I stepped into the sunlight, she almost gasped, no kidding. She said, "You look great!" I think she might have thought I was wearing makeup because she said that she hadn't been doing anything to her face since the COVID lockdown. I don't usually wear foundation on a daily basis and my neighbors are used to seeing me look "natural". 

Basically, this is a great way for me to enhance my natural color and not irritate my good-but-aging 59-year old skin. And I can save a lot of money too. I will now only be wearing foundation for special occasions because this is perfect for a "bare-faced" and natural look. To be honest, I wish I had discovered this sooner. I can put on eyeliner and lip gloss and look like I have applied foundation. I do need to use some clear primer just to give my skin a more matte look. I might at some point try some of the pricier tanning "oils" for black skin because I hear the effects are really nice and much longer-lasting. For now, this works and I will probably be keeping some of it around for a while.

I just remembered to mention something else. I was looking at some old photos of myself - photos from waaaay back, maybe when I was in my 30's - and I realized that aging has "faded" my color. This tanning lotion seems to have dialed 20 or more years off my skin tone. I have old photos in the sidebar of this blog where you can see what I mean. Anyway, I just wanted to add that bit of info.

Peace

--Free

**Quick Post** Hair & Skincare Tip

Sometimes, when you know something, you assume everyone knows that thing. Assumptions are not useful so I'm popping in to share a simple beauty tip with you all. This is for men and women. Here goes:

If you tend to have dry hair or skin, maybe try some of this:

this just happens to be the brand I ordered this time

It doesn't have to be that specific brand. I'm thrifty and have used several brands - all priced under $5. This just happens to be the one I ordered this time around.

You can use this right out of the bottle if you want or you can add it into your other hair and skin products. I rarely use it straight except for on these dry feet of mine. I like to add this to leave-in hair products and skin lotions. I almost don't know what lotion without glycerin feels like.

Glycerin is a humectant. It is ultra moisturizing. Straight out of the container, it feels thick and greasy. Don't freak. Once applied to dry skin, the greasy part goes away leaving a soft and dew-like feel.

Like I mentioned, I rarely use it right out of the bottle on my hair. That's only because it takes patience to apply it. My hair is kinky-curly and thick. When I apply straight glycerin, I have to take my time and apply it to really small sections. That's because you have to smooth the thick glycerin into the hair. It's a pain in the tail, but totally worth it. Applying to damp hair is easier. Mainly though, the easiest way is to apply when mixed in with some leave-in conditioner.

You can use glycerin on your lips and cuticles and rough elbows. I'm not sure of people can be allergic to it so... use common sense and maybe test-swatch or something.

I've been using glycerin for a while, but I did not know until recently that it seems to help perfume last longer on the skin. Score.

So there you go. I've reviewed different brands of glycerin before but assumed most people knew the general benefits. A neighbor of mine never heard of using it for the beauty benefits. It's cheap and versatile, which is why I keep some around.

Peace
--Free

**REVIEW** Whal Myung Skin Elixir

UPDATE: If you sign up for Birchbox because of this post, do a gal a solid and let me get the referral points by using this link: TRUDY SENT ME!


When I reviewed the May 2018 Birchbox, I listed one of the samples as my 4th favorite out of 4 products. The reason I didn't rank it as Number 1 is that the price of a full-size bottle would be about half of my monthly grocery budget. Seriously, folks, I am not exaggerating for effect. This Whal Myung Skin Elixir right here is what runs about $60.

See what I mean about not kidding?

The first time I tried my sample bottle, I liked this and liked it a lot. But that price. I kept using my sample, patting on a little bit every morning, and on about the third day, I was doing what I do almost every single night (inspecting my skin and tweezing out blackheads and such in the magnifying mirror...

You know that mirror I mean, right? One of those mirrors that show every skin imperfection in the world? 

Yeah, that mirror.

...and I noticed something wonderful: there were no blackheads or whatever those tiny spots are that appear around my nose and on my chin. Not one. Trust me. I use the mirror and a spotlight looking for them.

I also noticed that my skin looked more even and sort of balanced as far as the moisture. Usually, I have a t-zone issue that fluctuates between oily and dry. This is probably how I end up with those spots that I always thought were blackheads but recently heard may just be little dirt hairs from dust and other air pollutants.

Anyway, I see that this elixir is really working to give my face a nice look whether or not I'm wearing makeup - even when I'm standing in the full-on sun. I remember my skin being like this about 20 years ago. I'm actually blessed with good skin but I still try to take care of it to counteract all my other bad habits (especially my sometimes-horrible diet) and I love what this elixir is doing for it.

Once again, though, I have to come back to the price. I mean, if only they sold this is smaller jars so that I could buy about 20 drops at a time! The best way for me to get more now is to order another of the curated May Birchbox for $10 (plus $5 s/h).

Right now, I'm telling everyone I know about this serum. I have friends who can afford it and, because we are all in about the same age group, they will be looking for something to keep their skin looking good.

A little goes a looong way

Before I forget, I want to tell you that, even a small bottle with last a long time because a little goes a long way. I've been using every day since I got the sample and I haven't really put a dent in the amount as you can see from the above photo.

Peace
--Free

**REVIEW** Organic Rosehip Seed Oil by Aveya Beauty

I just reviewed another oil by Aveya Beauty that I was pretty happy with, so I was anxious to try their Rosehip Seed Oil. It's certified 100%  organic and there's a 30-day, no-risk guarantee attached.



 The Prime price for the 2-oz bottle (which is plenty) is excellent considering the quality and the no-risk guarantee.








This rosehip seed oil is labelled for multiple benefits (as are most good rosehip seed oils), such as for helping with:

• Anti-aging (I'd think "pro-active" care)
• Wrinkles and fine lines (maybe if you were not pro-active)
• Healing acne scars and burns
• Age spots
• Brittle hair

I do like to be pro-active when it comes to taking care of my skin because (though I hate to say it), I'm a bit vain, and because I don't want to get damage that could cause serious problems. This oil fights a lot of skin and hair issues because of the fact that it replenishes moisture and prevents skin dehydration. That's the basic key to preventing (or alleviating) common skin problems.

By the way, here is some good info on rosehip seed oil, and more usage info here.

This oil is absorbent, and that's important since any oil that just sits atop the skin or hair does no good. I tested this one by washing my hands and letting them dry completely. I then applied some of the rosehip seed oil to a spot on the back of one hand and used a bit of petroleum jelly (PJ) on the back of the other hand. I waited a few minutes to see which product seemed to do best at moisturizing my skin. Here is what the results looked like at each step:

This is my dry hand

This is with the Rosehip and the petroleum jelly just after applying

Rosehip near my knuckles, PJ near my wrist

This is after about a minute and a half

The rosehip was absorbing with no blotting
The PJ is still as heavy as when applied (no blotting)

 And this after about 10 minutes

The rosehip has pretty much soaked in (still no blotting)
The PJ is still as heavy as when applied (no blotting)

I tried to keep my hand in the same position for each photo so that you could get the best idea of how the different oils worked. Of course, I would rather not use PJ on my face but, even on the body, I don't want something that won't absorb. (By the way, for this post, I used a common brand of store-bought petroleum jelly.)

Petroleum jelly (PJ) will obliterate skin "ash", but the problem I have with it is that I can't use it on my hair and I don't really like using it on other parts of my body if I have a more natural alternative. PJ basically only seals the moisture already present in your skin, but it doesn't actually moisturize it. Also, PJ is made up of something called "hydrocarbons" (thank goodness for Wikipedia!) and I don't even know what that really is.

Once again, quality and price are the main considerations when it comes to choosing good products. This one scores on both counts. I also like that I can stand the smell of this one. Ah! Happy days! Rosehip seed oil has its own very special, um, scent. Some people like the stronger scented ones, but I just don't like the particular odor rosehip seed oil has. I was so glad that this one was scented so mildly that I could stand to use it on my face without holding my breath. By the way, the milder scent doesn't seem to indicate a lesser quality.

So, yeah, this one gets a five-out-of-five star rating in my book. This is one of two Aveya products I've used and I've been happy with both.

Since I've heard that rosehip seed oil is so beneficial to acne scars and burns, I dug around a little to see why that would be. Apparently, the fact that it's high in certain fatty acids plays a key role. I don't claim to understand the science behind it all, but I can tell you that it does wonders for my skin. I don't think that enough people use it on their lips or on their hair. Actually, I don't use it on my hair as much as I do on my scalp when it gets dried out after from washing or product buildup. I do think it would make a moisture sealer for the ends and edges for natural hair wearers. I do know that it's nice good for adding underneath your lipstick to stop the chapping caused by some of the "long-wear" lip colors.

This is another of those oils that makes for a wonderful cuticle treatment. It goes a lot farther than some of the store-bought cuticle oils that are only for use on the nails and cuticles (and is a lot more cost-effective). Also, it lasts longer than those types of products.

Lots of ways to use this one bottle of oil, so that's just the final Plus.

As with the other Aveya product I use, the one gripe I have is about the tiny printing on the label. Other than that, this is another winner from the brand.

If anyone else has found other ways to use rosehip seed oil, do share with me.

Peace

--Free

DISCLOSURE: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.