Apologies to Aunt Jackie

 So.

I had to come and post a HUGE apology to Aunt Jackie and her hair products. Or at least 3 of the products. When I look back at the times I have trash-talked the brand, I'm kind of ashamed. Also, I am puzzled. The first time I tried the Quench Moisture Intensive Leave-In Conditioner, I said some hatefully nasty things when I was critiquing the claims. Such things as:

" Moisture - Well, it's wet, so I suppose that's where that came from. It's wet in the bottle and still wet when I apply it. Wet = Moisture. Until it doesn't."

And, 

"Intensive- I'm kind of mad that that word is even in the label next to "moisture". I am intensively upset with that."

And... 

Leave-In - That's true. You can leave it in. I could also leave talcum powder or dry rice in my hair. Same effect.

See? Brutal. And I am apologizing big time because when I recently tried the Quench again and a couple of other A.J. products, the results were... kind of stunning. In a good way.

Quench? That stuff is amazing. I have to believe that I got a counterfeit the first time I tried it or else my hair has radically changed. (And I think I got it from Amazon that time so... possible!)

In addition to the Quench, I tried the Butter Cream Intensive Moisture Sealant and the Curl La La Defining Curl Custard. The Sealant was truly amazing and I love, love, love what the Curl Custard does to my hair.

What the what, right? To be fair, I do think that my hair texture has changed. It does that every couple of years it seems. I can go back through this blog and see the difference in photos. Also, I never used the Butter Cream or the Curl La La before this.

The thing is, my hair has never made such a quick and drastic change as it has this time. It was once a definite 4C. Since it has grown back in after my big chop - or maybe after I started using the Bentonite clay - it's become more of a 4B-kinda-leaning-C - and a loose C at that. The curls are naturally looser, even before I apply any products. Even at its driest, it's nowhere where near as "dense" as before. 

The last time my hair texture was this manageable after a fresh washing (and before applying leave-ins or doing an oil wash or stretching it with yarn) I was barely in my 20s and rocking a gorgeous Jheri Curl (minus that heavy leave-in stuff). You can still see that pic somewhere on the sidebar.

I knew that the Quench and Sealant were doing something wonderful when I applied them after washing my hair, then got busy gossiping with family on the phone for an hour and forgetting to apply other products. My hair was drying from the wash but not dried out/fried out like usual and there was less shrinkage. It was so weird.

My hair had totally air-dried by the time one of my nieces and I finished minding everyone else's business and got off the phone. I thought I would have to at least dampen my hair again to apply the rest of the products. Nope. There was not a parched strand on my head. What was also nice is that my curls were not all clumped together and tight-feeling. They were very lightly defined as when they are a couple of days old and set with a curl cream and a couple of moisturizers and other leave-ins. All this from the Quench and Sealant.

I applied the Curl La La next. (cute product name!)  I didn't glob it on. I would put a small amount on a couple of fingertips and pull the cream through small sections of my hair - from root to tip. Wow.

What I ended up with is my freshly washed hair looking as nice as it does after a couple of days of applying and re-applying products. Amazing.

Oh, and I love the Quench and Curl La La for touchup styling throughout the week. Because of my hair color, it can be hard to catch the curl definition with the camera so I did some closeups. 

The first pic is of my hair still slightly damp after I washed it and used the products. 

Immediately after
washing, Quench, Butter & Curl La La.
Still damp.

The 2nd pic is of my curls the next morning after a bit of light styling. All had to do was spritz my hair with water, let it dry, then lift my curls with my fingers and go. No overnight twists or anything. 

The next morning. No touch-ups. Just spritzed

with water.

It was nice not having to sleep on twists. I prefer having a truly natural look to my curls and doing a twist-out when my hair is this length is work. The twists don't stay put unless I secure them in a Bantu knot. When I feel up to it - and when I have more length, I will use the AJ products and do a twist out. Just for kicks.

So, yeah. I am sending out apologies to Aunt Jackie. It was about 8 years ago that I talked the most trash about the brand but, still... Sorry, Auntie! (LOL) I love the products and will be looking to try more.  They all have nice, light, and pleasant scents to them. Another plus is that the jars and bottles are good sizes for the prices. (Actually, I notice that Walmart has the lowest prices on the products.)

Peace

--Free

NOTE: This is NOT a sponsored post & I am in any way being compensated. I bought the products at full price.

 

**CROSS POST** The Readable Bible (TRB) Version

 **This is a condensed version of a post from my Free & Faith blog.**

Side note: I learned something new recently during a Bible study of the Book of Isaiah, Chuck Missler was comparing passages in the KJV to the ISV. He explained that the ISV relies heavily on the Dead Sea Scrolls and that the DSS for Isaiah had the complete work. Interesting.

I don't know how I came to learn of the Readable Bible (TRB) but when I saw samples online, I wanted a hard copy for myself. I ordered mine from Amazon (though it's cheaper at ChristianBook.com right now). By the way, I do love ChristianBook and order from there often. I just get a bit impatient with the sometimes backorders and I wanted to get this Bible as soon as possible!

Amazon's packaging
was a bit haphazard!

Understand that I know that there are sometimes very important differences between translations. I don't like "loose" translations and won't even read for pleasure anything like "The Message" or "The Passion" (even before it was noted by others to be too loose). After all, the Bible is God's Word, not man's.

This is why I rely on the KJV and other "word-for-word" translations for serious study. I was still trying to decide where the TRB version falls on the chart of translations before I remembered the chart I once posted on this blog. Duh! After seeing it, I'm happy to say that it falls in line with the other word-for-word versions. 

There it is, the TRB

Lots of see-through issues

 This is what publishers of the TRB have to say:

The Readable Bible is a literal translation in the sense that each original language word is expressed in English. However, sometimes a literal translation is unlikely to communicate the writer’s thought to a modern audience. For instance, people unfamiliar with ancient culture probably do not understand that “sons of the bridechamber” in Matthew 9:15 refers to groomsmen. So, where the literal translation might confuse or mislead today’s reader, a thought-for-thought translation is presented and the literal translation is footnoted, or vice versa (unless the term is listed in “Nonliteral Words and Phrases Not Footnoted”). When an action verb is immediately followed by another action verb (e.g., “got up and went”), oftentimes only the second verb is expressed in the English text.

Specific copyright & use rules

For my general reading purposes, I have to say that it's easier for my modern American brain to absorb the basics. Just as with the ESV - which I enjoy reading before bedtime - I find the TRB relaxing to read. All of the charts and "helps" within the Bible chapters are just as easy on the brain as can be. Some verses are broken down really well (without changing the meanings). For instance, in Genesis, the creation days are clearly labeled as "Day 1:" and so on. In Isaiah 14, the 5 satanic "I will" statements are laid out in separate lines. In Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5, the Ten Commandments are clearly numbered. (To be honest, I love this because I've always had to manually highlight or mark these kinds of things in Bibles.)

Lots of charts

 As I said, this is a great "reader" for seasoned believers or a "starter" for a new Bible reader or undecided person.

While I love a lot about this TRB, there are some design features that could be improved. As with most Bibles, the pages are thin. In this paperback, there are issues of see-through and, in the wrong light, that can make it hard to read. Also, individual book names are not printed at the tops of all pages. This is not a big problem for someone familiar with the orders of the books but could be for a new Bible reader. I hate tabbing paperback Bibles because it never looks neat enough but, if I gift one of these to a newbie, I will have to do just that.

For the price (around $37 with tax), Amazon could have done a better job with the packaging. Mine was just tossed loosely inside a plastic mailer and so it arrived with the front cover bent. (Yes, I'm being nitpicky!)

I can recommend the TRB to anyone who enjoys just reading the Bible. Since I got my copy, I have been reading through a little at a time each evening starting with Genesis and I really look forward to it every day. I do have to mention that due to its size, it is a bit unwieldy! It doesn't fit into any of my purses.

Peace

--Free

**REVIEW** Soft Scrub's 4-in-1 Toilet Bowl Cleaner

There is a serious hard water problem where I live. I am constantly scrubbing and cleaning faucets and sinks. The toilet is the worst. Every few days, I have had to scrub away the gross-looking rusty stains from the water-flow spigot under the rim and an equally nasty-looking ring around the water line in the bowl.

I finally found a product that works. It's Soft Scrub's 4-in-1 Rim Hanger Toilet Bowl Cleaner.

Soft Scrub Rim Hanger Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Of course, I did a good scrubbing with the brush and some cleanser before installing the Soft Scrub and then I waited...

I knew this product was good when I didn't notice any stains after 3 or 4 days. I knew it was really good when there were no stains after a whole week - maybe 8 days even. After that, there was only the faintest ring and no stains around the spigot. I immediately set a reminder to add the product to a Subscribe and Save.

The reason I had so much trouble finding something for this problem is that the bathroom in my apartment has a "pressure assist toilet" (yeah, I'd never heard of that either!) This is how it's described in the Google results:

"A pressure-assisted toilet—also known as a power flush toilet—contains a sealed pressure tank that houses air and water. The vessel traps air, and as it fills with water, it uses the water supply line pressure to compress the trapped air inside."

And this is what the tank in one of these bad boys looks like:

Can't hang anything
in that oddity.

When I first saw the tank, I was almost afraid to use the toilet. But it does flush like a boss. It does sound a bit like a jet breaking the sound barrier. It works so well that I'm sure that it would suck down a phone dropped into the bowl.

The problem is that there is no way to hang a cleansing solution inside the tank or drop in one of those bluing tablets. (By the way, I have seen several articles online advising you not to put things inside a tank even if you can. I guess it's bad for the plumbing system. I'm not sure but you might want to look into it.)

Anyway...

I've always used a tank-based cleaner to help with any toilet staining. With this toilet, I had to find something to hang from the rim of the bowl instead. That should have been an easier task. Amazon really should do something about its Search function.

When I found this, I was not only happy that the hook fits the rim of my toilet (the rim is larger for some reason) but the price of the product is really good. A 2-pack is (currently) under 5 bucks and each one truly seems as if it will last for the promised 4 weeks. The first one I'm on is at 2 weeks and still going strong. The little "cleaning balls" don't look worn down at all so far.

The only thing I don't like is the lavender scent. Lavender has to be my least favorite scent of all and this is a strong one. However, the other scents for the product cost much more so... I will deal with lavender. Actually, although the cleaning power is for the long haul, the scent doesn't last past the first week of flushes. Thank goodness.

So, yeah. I have found a solution to my most hated cleaning chore. In the past, I have successfully used citric acid to clean the hard water stains in the toilet (and still do for the faucets and laundry, etc.) but I'd just rather not have to deal with it.

I've seen a couple of reviews saying this product didn't work well for their water problems. If this doesn't help, I don't want to know what kind of problems they are having!

Peace

--Free

Now Amazon Has Layaway?

 As if I needed another way to spend money I don't have... Amazon has a layaway program. No thank you, ma'am. As if it is, I have to restrict myself from even looking at the Amazon site for 3 days of the week just so I don't go broke(r).

Reading the morning news, I saw a CNET article about Amazon's new webpage. The Bezo money vacuum site wants to make sure that we shoppers don't miss any chance at all to send our money that way.

I need to follow @poutnpowder!

I've never been much of a layaway kind of shopper. I mean, I have used layaway programs once or twice (maybe three times) but using layaway was a big motivation for me to keep my credit in good standing. The times I used a layaway program were during my bad credit days. (And, yes, I know that not everyone is able to build good credit.) 

To be honest, the Amazon layaway program isn't for the faint of heart. There are a couple of pros but you do have to pay the amount off within 8 weeks' time. That's not better for me than how I use my credit cards. I don't buy anything that I cannot pay off in full when the bill comes due. That's why I really don't care too, too much about APRs. It's a great way to build your credit rating and keep your spending in check.

It is probably a good thing though that Amazon is trying to keep shoppers informed about its attempt to take over the world all the "perks" of a membership. I have posted here before about some things that people weren't taking advantage of.

At any rate, do check out the CNET article and do explore all the membership benefits. If you are paying, you should at least get maximum usage.

Peace

--Free

**Dupe Patrol** Smells Like Cheirosa?

 One of my favorite fragrances for a long time has been Sol de Janeiro's (SDJ) Cheirosa '71. It's so sweet and salty and caramel-y that I can't help but love it. However... the scent lasts about 20 minutes on me before it becomes a memory only.

I've looked for the longest for something that at least mimics the warm, yummy scent and nothing even came close. Until this almost-a-dupe fragrance mist from Bath and Body Works called"Christmas Cookies". 

The bottles sometimes come in 
different colors (I'm told!)

As I said this is just an almost (kinda-sorta) duplicate. Even if I had never smelled Cheirosa '71, I would have fallen in love with this one. Since I do know what the SDJ smells like, I couldn't help but compare the 2 different fragrances. Of course, I ran over to Frangrantica to check what they show for them both.

The accords for Cheirosa are sweet, caramel, vanilla, nutty, salty, and chocolate. To be honest, I never really caught the chocolate part. For the Christmas Cookies: sweet, caramel, almond, nutty, and fruity. For this one, I don't get any of the fruity parts of the scent. (BTW, I bolded the shared notes.)

The two scents are like twins - fraternal, not identical. Even though the BBW lacks three of the accords found in the SDJ, the only one really I notice missing is the salty one. That's really it for me. Apparently, other people are getting the same vibe. One Fragrantica review describes the SDJ as a "freshly baked macadamia nut cookie" and another review describes the BBW as "creamy butter caramel like popcorn". They both nailed it.

Although I like the Cheirosa more, I prefer Christmas Cookies because it lasts longer for me.  And it's cheaper. It's only a little longer-lasting than Cheirosa on my skin (by itself) but it lingers longer on my hair and clothing. Also, there is a matching lotion for the Christmas Cookies scent. That makes a big difference.

Honestly, as popular as Cheirosa '71 is, I'm really surprised that SDJ made a perfume for the Cheirosa '62 instead. I don't see nearly as many people asking about dupes for the '62 as for the '71. I have the '62 perfume in a travel-sized roller and it's so "meh" for me that the little bottle is still nearly full after almost a year. And, again, the BBW is less pricey per ounce. I mean, for a visual, look at the 2 bottles and know that they each cost about $20.

And when you take the cap off of the Cheirosa, you see a bigger difference in the amount you're getting. Or, at least, I did.

(no flash for this pic!)

What surprises me is that I could not find the Christmas Cookies scent on their site currently. Maybe they only put it up on a seasonal basis? Thankfully, I found it on Amazon. If they run out, there's always eBay, I guess. One thing I would look out for though: because you can find the scent out of season, make sure you are getting it from a seller you trust. I've seen reviewers on Amazon complaining that the item was possibly fake or smelled nothing like they know it should. Some sellers can be so shady.

The thing is, you can always find a dupe for something - even if you have to layer 2 scents together to get the effect you want. In some cases, it's worth doing that. You know that if it hurts my budget to spend $20 on 3 ounces of a fragrance, I will not be wearing any authentic BR540!

One final thing. I recently heard that the reason you can find clones of scents is that a scent cannot be trademarked. The name can be trademarked but not the smell. Interesting, right? Maybe soon I will do a post listing all the clone houses and articles about dupes I can find online. Maybe I will even do a post of all the new places for shopping perfumes - whether I can afford them or not.

Peace

--Free

Dupe Patrol?

 This is the first of what I hope will be many posts listing sources for finding duplicate hair and skincare products. I will post info for dupes of any kind of product but I've started with these sites:

• Skinsort
• Skinskool
• DupeDrop
• INCIDecoder
• DupeShop

Some of these sites do sell products they list or show. I noticed that most with DupeShop. 

You can of course always do a browser search to find a dupe for a product. I do like using these sites because they are organized. InciDecoder is on the list because you can compare ingredients - which is what a lot of dupe sites do anyway. 

Here are some articles I found when skimming the web recently:

• From a dermatology blog
• Brandefy is an app. The WhoWhatWear site shares a list from the app. (Note that Brandefy is coming up with - or has - their own line of products. Also, they have a subscription box.)

Anyway, this is a start. Hopefully, I will find enough info to do more posts on a fairly regular basis.

Peace

--Free

Finally Used Bentonite Clay (on My 4C Hair)

 After hearing about Bentonite clay for at least 5 or 6 years, I finally broke down and tried it on my hair. I didn't get the Aztec brand I see in many natural hair videos. It was around $0.93/ounce while this clay from Harris Yareli cost me 40.30/ounce. I got a 2-pound bag for less than 10 bucks while the Aztec brand was almost 15 dollars for a 1-pound jar.

Some info about Bentonite clay:

• The powder forms when volcanic ash ages. 
• It’s named after Fort Benton, WY, which has a lot of it - but it's found all over the world.
• It’s also known as Montmorillonite clay after a region in France with a large deposit.
• You may hear it called calcium bentonite clay.

(Thank you, WebMD)

The Aztec brand labels itself as "Natural calcium Bentonite (green) clay" while the Harris brand is labeled as "100% Pure Calcium Bentonite - "volcanically derived" (which made me think it was special!)

Anyway. I have long heard about the Maximum Moisturization Method (MMM) aka Maximum Hydration Method (MHM). I personally am much too lazy to go through all those steps. Also, other than the tiny bit in my Royal Oils shampoo and conditioner, I am not a fan of using apple cider vinegar in my hair. And, for another thing, I wanted a method that I could stick with and use 1 or twice a month or as needed. If it gets complicated, I will bail

So I washed my hair with a clarifying shampoo, rinsed really well, and let my hair get totally saturated with water before I applied the clay mixture in the shower. The mixture was about 1/3 cup of clay powder, enough warm water to get it to the consistency of a thin pancake batter (it was pretty thin), and about a half tablespoon of EVOO.

I made sure to coat all my wet hair with the mixture - root to tip. Then I continued with my shower. I didn't let the clay get dry before I rinsed it completely out with lots of cool water. I then used just a bit of my Royal Oil conditioner. 

After patting my hair so that the water wasn't running down my face and back, I used my Kinky Curky Knot Today leave-in detangler.

Now. 

I could tell after rinsing out the clay that my hair did feel somehow different. I felt super-clean - almost too clean if that makes sense. That's why I used a little rinse-out conditioner. After that, my hair was so soft that I was kind of amazed. However, it was still wet so that was not a good test for me.

As I was applying the Knot Today, I kept being thrilled with how healthy my hair felt. My hair was super-soft but it didn't feel fragile or over-conditioned. Weird. But it was still wet. (By the way, I will never again be without that glorious Knot Today!)

It took maybe an hour - or a little more - for my hair to be completely dry. And it was still really, really soft. Not as soft as when it was damp, but nowhere near the Sahara-like dryness I usually have before applying products. After 2 hours, I did have to apply more softening products but, again, my hair was not as dry as usual after a fresh wash. 

I did read up beforehand on using Bentonite clay and how it works for low-porosity hair. I saw somewhere that I might have to use the clay more than once before my hair starts showing long-term improvement. Of course, I will have to then use it periodically to keep my hair retaining moisture. I am fine with that. Next time I might even use a plastic cap and let the clay stay on my hair for 15 or 20 minutes. I saw that suggested on Loving Kinky Curls. I can't wait until I get to the point where my DIY goat milk conditioning mask works even better.

One surprising thing that I learned from Loving Kinky Curls is that Bentonite clay might not be good (and might even damage) high-porosity hair. Natural Club suggests more than one way to easily test your hair. Or you could ask your hairdresser for advice. No matter how you choose to do it, people, do test the porosity of your hair before you go wild with Bentonite clay! I'm just saying...

Now I have wrapped up my hair for the night so I can get some rest. Don't want to lose any of this luscious moisture! (BTW - I will add photos of my hair to this post after I touch up my gray hairs! LOL)

Peace

--Free

Update on "Sunscreen Is Necessary"

After I wrote the post about sunscreen, I wanted to do an update. The update is long enough for this separate post. So, here goes...

My Equate sunscreen is SPF 50. The Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense is SPF 60+. I love both of those because they don't leave a white cast and are both broad-spectrum products. The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch (which I returned because of the white cast) is SPF 70 and also broad-spectrum. I did have questions.

Which is better? Does a higher SPF number make a difference?

Apparently, there isn't much difference in protection once you get past SPF 50. I say "apparently" because that's the info I get when I check around online. I found some decent sources that have me thinking. 

This is from a WebMD article: "SPF is not a consumer-friendly number," says Florida dermatologist James M. Spencer, MD. "It is logical for someone to think that an SPF of 30 is twice as good as an SPF of 15 and so on. But that is not how it works."

(source imprint on the photo)

Basically, according to the article, a higher SPF only blocks slightly more UVB rays but none will give 100% protection. On the other hand (according to a second source in the article), a higher SPF may (my emphasis again) protect against long-term skin damage.

That was a little confusing to me. Personally, I am concerned about both the immediate and long-term damage. From what I read, SPF 30 seems to be the sweet spot - if you reapply every 2 hours.

So, after reading a few more articles, I was no less confused. One thing that all the various sources seem to agree on is: reapplication is key. Sunscreen doesn't last for hours and hours. And that's good to know.

I wear sunscreen daily but I rarely reapply it! That's going to be my new habit. I figure I can reapply my sunscreen at least 3 times a day (more if I am going to be outside): morning, noon, and late afternoon. I can aim for every 2 hours but... let's be real, I sometimes forget to take my meds on time - and that's only twice a day!

Another source I read warned against being complacent in using a high-SPF sunscreen. It also explained the 2 different types of rays we need protection against - UVB and UVA. (I am pleased to say that I've always used a broad-spectrum product.) I didn't really know what I was doing but just lucked out. 

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation:

• Ultraviolet A (UVA) has a longer wavelength. It is associated with skin aging.
• Ultraviolet B (UVB) has a shorter wavelength. It is associated with skin burning.

When I read that, I flashed back to the days when some of my friends would literally coat themselves with oil and lay out in the sun for hours. Yikes! I wish I knew then what I know now. I would have warned them.

Actually, there are three types of UV light. You can see here why we worry more about 2 of them though:

The sun emits 3 kinds of UV light: Long wavelength (UVA), medium wavelength (UVB), and short-wavelength (UVC). The shorter the wavelength, the stronger the light. Fortunately, UVC radiation (powerful enough to kill humans instantly) is absorbed by our atmosphere and never reaches earth. However, as the ozone layer slowly depletes from environmental pollution, there is an increase in the penetrations of UVA and UVB, resulting in earlier and more aggressive skin damage.

~sigh~ 

At any rate, please wear your sunscreen. I mentioned having a family member who learned the hard way how dangerous it is not to. I suggest checking out the Skin Cancer Foundation page. Also, here is an interesting read I found from a dermatology center "FAQs Our Dermatologists Receive About Skin Cancer and Prevention".

By the way, I'm going to have to stop using my beloved Equate sunscreen. There is no expiration date on any of the bottles. Sunscreen does expire (who knew?). In general terms, you should expect the product to last up to 2 or maybe 3 years. I don't want to guess though. The Neutrogena products have expiration dates stamped onto the end tips of the tubes. 

 I actually called the Walmart helpline to ask about this. The rep (Payton) couldn't tell me if there was a way to know the expiry date by anything on the bottle. So, yeah. Bye-bye to the Equate. Now I'm going to be looking for something comparable in such a nice large tube that I can coat my body with. EVERY 2 FREAKING HOURS!!! I have reached out to Walmart with a direct message on Twitter & might have to do a public tweet asking. I'll let you know something when I know something.

Peace

--Free

Sunscreen Is Necessary (Regardless of Skin Color)

(See my update to this post here. It discusses SPF numbers and the various types of UV light.)

"Black people don't need sunscreen because we don't tan."

"Black people's melanin protects them from sun damage."

"Black don't crack."

"Black people ~ insert more myths here~..."

False, false, false, and... false!"

We all need sunscreen not just when we can see the sun but as long as the sun exists. As far as I know, the sun is still up there.

If you aren't worried about the health effects of sun damage, let me appeal to your vanity. This is a popular photo I saw. Apparently, it's the picture of a man who drove a truck for 28 years. The more damaged side of his face is the was exposed to the window (and the sun). 

By the way, I am not making light of this man's skin situation. I do think that it's a good reminder of why we need to protect our skin from the sun. Regardless of the look of the damage, just imagine the health issues this could cause. (I hope he doesn't have health issues. I never heard the full story behind the photo.)

Black people, white people, brown, red, yellow, tan, olive... All people have skin. The sun can damage unprotected skin. Not just in the summer and not just in the heat. I lived most of my life in a place where the sun goes AWOL for most of the year and I was taught to wear sunscreen. Year-round. If you have skin, you need sunscreen.

The problem is finding a good and effective sunscreen and, for people of certain skin shades, finding one that doesn't turn you into one of my favorite songs, aka "A Whiter Shade of Pale".

There are sunscreens made by and for people of color, yes. Most of them are out of my price range. I would like to be able to go into Walmart or Target or some other budget-friendly retailer and find sunscreen. That's usually a fail.

I've always worn sunscreen but recently realized that not every sunscreen is as protective as I might need. My go-to sunscreen has been this kind:

I've stuck with this one ever since I moved here to the Midwest (where winters are dry) because it ticks a lot of boxes, as they say. It is:

• Affordable
• Broad spectrum
• High SPF (50)
• Affordable - actually it's downright cheap (it bears repeating!)
• Non-drying (it's a lotion & is quite moisturizing)
• Water-resistant
• Fragrance-free
• Doesn't irritate my skin (I actually like the way it feels on my face)
• Does NOT leave a white cast - not even a faint one

This is on my upper leg. ZERO white cast. 

Almost more important than not leaving a white cast, this stuff is very affordable. I think the last time I bought it, I paid less than 4 bucks for the 8-ounce bottle. I use it on my body daily and on my face, if I am going out. I am going to start using it on my face more often.

I love the Equate sunscreen but because I use it as a body protection lotion, I was looking at the different sunscreens made especially for the face. Well, that became a nightmare.

I bought some Neutrogena "sheer" sunscreen and ended up getting a refund from Amazon because it made me look like the Zuckerberg meme.

Okay, it wasn't that bad but... there was a definite white cast - just enough to make me look ashy. If I wore foundation, I could use that sunscreen but I'm not going to start wearing makeup every day just for that.

When I searched online for sunscreens made "for dark skin", I found quite a few. Most of them were out of my price range. 

So, I am going to stick with this Equate brand. By the way, I found one site that puts Equate brand sunscreen right up there with pricey ones like La Roche-Posay's 25-dollar Anthelios 60 Melt-In Sunscreen Milk.  Even Consumer Reports (for what it's worth) puts Equate and LRP on the same list. A New York Times Wirecutter review put the 2 brands on the same list. La Roche Posay is a favorite brand among French Pharmacy addicts. And y'all know I'm on the French Pharmacy kick.

Now, for anyone looking for sunscreen specifically for deep "shaded" skin colors, there are a couple of lists I found.

• This one is from Conde Nast Traveler, and 
• This from Healthline

If you wear foundation makeup, I think you can probably use many of the sunscreens that leave a bit of a cast. I'm not sure if the sunscreen would affect the makeup shade though.

For now, I am happy with my Equate sunscreen. Amazon is sending me some Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense Fragrance-Free Sunscreen Lotion to replace the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer. That's nice of them because there was a no-return on the original item. I have some hope for the replacement since it is, like my Equate, a "lotion". We'll see.

Whatever you choose for sunscreen, do wear it. Wear it every day - rain, sun, snow, or shine. I rarely recommend things because I'm no expert but... if you want to try a sunscreen that rubs in clear on even really dark skin, take a look at the Equate Babe Broad Spectrum. I checked as I was typing this and see that it is (online) still under $5.00. My 8-ounce jar lasts me as long as any other lotion and I apply this once in the morning and once at night. If I go outside, I always apply it to my face and I will do an extra application if I'm going to be out on walks. 

Peace

-Free

P.S.: On a personal note, one of my SILs had a scare several years ago. She grew up in the age of oil tanning. She grew up in sunny California. When she was in her 40's (I think it was), her lesion (carcinoma?) was detected early enough. She became a stanch sunscreen user. 

Am I “Left” or “Right”?

Right-wing, Left-ring, Red, Blue, Socialist, Conservative, which are you?

Sorry, I just made that up after getting frustrated while reading the daily news.

As a Christian, I am always a bit put off when I hear other Christians refer to politics and citizens as being "leftist" or "conservative" (rightist). 

There are too many right-leaning people who don't represent my views any more than those on the left side of politics. I'm not very involved in politics in general but based on the right being "blue" and the left being "red", I have to say that I am clear.

I don't like the hate that has taken over the reigning Republicans. I don't like the Democrats who are oh so woke that they seem lost in dreamland. I'm a Bible-believing Christian who doesn't believe we should "take this nation back for Christ". This nation - this entire world - is not Christ's kingdom - not yet. Until Christ's return, this is just the world - sinful, fallen, broken, and finite.

I'm against sin but I am not in control of other people who choose to sin. I can share the gospel with them, pray for them, and encourage them not to sin but God gave us free will. I don't want laws that approve of and protect sin but... God gave us free will. Man can make all the laws he wants, someone will break them.

Politicians have free will, citizens have free will - we all have free will. Some of us will sin without shame or repentance. That's the world. 

People do horrible, hateful, mean, and despicable things without remorse - some of those people even call themselves Christians. That's the world.

There are Christians who feel more passionate about their nationalism than about their Lord and Savior. That's the world.

There are Christians who fall into sin on a daily basis - but they repent and feel remorse.

I'm not on the left and I'm not on the right. I like to think of myself (a bit poetically) as being protected under the cover of the Cross of Jesus. I am "saved". Every day I wake up and rely on the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to love me, protect me, forgive me, and keep me. Every day.

So, to use a term from all the memes: Can we normalize being Christ-centered Christians? 

Peace

--Free