Finding time to exercise

The building our office has moved into has a gym. Gyms are common in office buildings built after 2000; particularly for IT companies. Along with salary and free soda, it is a way to entice a candidate to accept a job offer. It was also needed because with 16 hour workdays it was hard to get a workout. Here’s a job hunting tip: If you hear the words “fast paced” more than 3 times in 5 minutes, move on, because ish is really jacked. That gem has saved me a lot of pain for the past 10 years.

Now that I work in a building with a fairly nice fitness room, I no longer need a club membership. Evening workouts generally do not work for me. Cardio is fine but I cannot motivate myself to pick up anything heavier than a glass of water after a day of work. I left the house early this morning (and I mean early) so I could finally lift weights after a year (or, ahem, two) of avoiding it. It felt great. It was just me and another person who was finishing as I arrived. I did 45 minutes on the treadmill then a free weight workout focusing on arms, chest & back. Took a shower and then an elevator ride to a mostly empty office. I had 2 productive hours before the first meeting.

Here is what I did to make it  happen:

• I packed my bag the night before.
• I laid out my workout clothes the night before.
• I did not hit the snooze button on the alarm. I hit it once, I’m not getting up for an hour.
• Dressed in my workout clothes, brushed my teeth, did the morning cleanse routine and walked out the door.

Skincare: Chemical Exfoliators

I added a new skincare product to my evening routine.

Last week I started dabbling with chemical exfoliators. I used First Aid Beauty pads day and night for a week. I did notice improvement in my skin texture. They exfoliate but are gentle enough to use twice a day.

I also wanted an exfoliator with a little more zip to it. Enter Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel. I wanted sting and this has it. My skin felt amazing after the first application It felt like my moisturizer was absorbed instead of sitting on top of my face. It made short work of my T-zone.

SoTD

Today’s scent is Chergui.

My mom chose a perfume

Scent of the Day

Today’s scent is Irisss by Xerjoff because I love it and I’m going to use every drop of this sample.

Mom’s choice is (drumroll)

My mom chose Alien by Thierry Mugler from the Sephora sample set I bought her for Christmas. Let’s be clear. Mom is all about sillage. She left the house at 6:00 AM to go to work and at almost 10 PM, she is leaving a trail of Alien. She’s not an amateur, she knows what she is doing.

May I introduce you to Caroline Hirons?

I myself have been dabbling more and more with skin care. Thanks to Mrs. Caroline Hirons. I do not know how I stumbled upon her. It was probably recommended by YouTube. But, I watched the “What’s New? January 2015” (see below) and it was an instant girl crush. And, her blog? A scream. Mrs. Hirons is unapologetic in her love of luxe skin care products. She also talks straight about products. She does not recommend anything just because it is expensive. If it’s garbage she is not afraid to say as such.

As an aside, I wish there were more bloggers/ YouTube gurus who talked about skin care. I find more make-up looks and how-to’s more than anything. I like them and they are the first place I turn when I am interested in a new makeup palette or re-creating a runway look for everyday but, many of them start at foundation and we need more people to start at cleanser. I am not that person because my specialty is databases not esthetics.

What have I tried because of Mrs. Hirons?

• Sunday Riley Good Genes (love)
• Zelens Youth Concentrate (love but, OMG, it’s 305USD)
• ReVive Moisturizing Renewal Cream (Not recommended by her but my new mindset has me trying new things. And, by the way, LOVE!)
• First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads (Look at me, I’m now exfoliating.)

I have re-thought a few things in my morning and evening cleanse because of her. Not a complete re-do of the routine, the biggest change is I have added exfoliation to the evening.

I found an eye cream

Caudalie Premier Cru The Eye Cream

Photo Credit: Caudalie Website

After trying several eye creams, I found the one that gave me the results I wanted. This does what it promises, at least in regards to dark circles and puffiness.

Although it may be thought of as expensive (99 USD a bottle? Yikes!) it lasts a long time. I use a dot, maybe a quarter of a pump, on my pinky finger per application. At this rate, I think I am going to take me 4 to 5 months to finish this bottle.

I would describe the consistency as a rich soufflé like cream. It goes on smoothly. Very little manipulation is needed to get it to absorb into the skin.

A few more iris fragrances

I am still on this quest for the perfect iris. I admit it is getting obsessive.

L’Eau d’Hiver by Editions de Parfums Frederic Mall

Jean-Claude Ellena did an amazing job of capturing an icy winter river with this fragrance. There is something cold and distant that chills me in this scent. That is what I like about it. It is a little too chilly. While I enjoyed it, I found myself not knowing when I would wear it. I would not describe this as a fragrance one would find approachable.

Iris Silver Mist by Serge Lutens

I tried Iris Silver Mist over this past weekend. I will say, although I appreciate the fragrance I did not find the love that so many others have. I appreciate it for how well made it is and the quality of ingredients.

It is an interesting scent. The earthy root note that most reviewers mention is what I loved about it. And, I generally like clove; I have a couple of scents that have clove. But, when the carrots, clove and vetiver combine what I smell is something that reminds me of lentil soup. I love lentil soup — I always order lentil soup at one of my favorite cafes — but, I do not want to smell like lentil soup.

Maybe this scent will work better for me during warmer months. Maybe during the cooler weather, it is not blending as well as it should. I do plan to come back to this in April or May.

Bois d’Iris by Van Cleef & Arpels

This loveliness is part of the Collection Extraordinaire line. And, I mean loveliness. I sprayed it on, took a big inhale and closed my eyes. While some say it is linear I say, it actually gets deeper as it warms. It is close to 1996 Inez & Vinoodh in that the two most prominent notes are iris then amber. The difference comes at what is listed as third, vanilla for Bois d’Iris and patchouli for 1996. I prefer the vanilla over the patchouli (in this instance). That difference is possibly why Bois d’Iris is listed as “for women”, although I do not see why a man would not wear this.

Irisss by Xerjoff

Like Iris Silver Mist, the iris here is a carrot just dug from the earth. This fragrance starts with carrot seed and carnation (root and spice) because the spice is from a floral and not a spice it does not veer into the lentil soup realm. After some time, iris makes its appearance as a powder, the carnation bows out a bit leaving the carrot seed to give a rooty boost. To my nose it is not longer a vegetable but something a little sweet and natural from the earth. In the end, there is iris for powder, carrot for root, and rose in the distance giving this scent a faint floral note.

Iriss by far, is the winner.

Empty: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum

Prior to purchasing this serum, I was not much of a serum user. I didn’t see the point. After watching a couple of beauty gurus, I decided to give it a try. One guru mentioned that even with all the new releases of potion A or B that this serum has stood the test of time. I thought, “Why not?”

I liked this serum but I did not love it. Granted my skin felt better using it but not “shout from the rooftops about my discovery” fabulous.

Pros

• This bottle lasted me at least 3 months using it twice a day.
• Advanced Night Repair serum has been around for over 20 years.
• It is good, but not great.
• Good reviews at Sephora

Cons

• Some may consider it pricey at $92 for 1.7 oz.

I did find a serum I liked more than the Estee Lauder but I will write about that at some other time.

Music: Alice Smith

I do not know how I discovered Alice Smith. I think I was listening to an app like I ❤ Radio or Pandora and I heard a song by her and immediately downloaded it.

In the spring of 2014, I was listening to the 2013 AfroPunk Sampler (which appears to no longer be available), heard “Be Easy”, then purchased her album She. I listen to the full album twice a week minimum. When Michael and I went to Brooklyn for AfroPunk Fest 2014, I was determined to see two performances Bad Brains and Alice Smith.

Why do I like Alice Smith so much? Power house vocals. She can either belt it out in “Fool for You” or smooth and pretty in “Be Easy”.

Here is Alice Smith singing “Be Easy”, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

My morning routine

I have combination/oily skin. Fortunately, even as a teenager I never had problems with pimples. And, as I approach (I can’t say it), oily skin slows down the appearance of wrinkles. Everyone who meets me knows I am not 25 but they also don’t know I’m, lets just say “older”.
I have been fighting this oily T-zone for as long as I can remember. I used to consider it a success when my make up would stay put and this oil slick I call a forehead would be held at bay for two hours. It was not until this July I figured out what I was doing wrong. That was stripping my skin of oil. Like many combo-oilies (I just made that up), I would use soapy sudsy astringent cleansers that would strip all oil from my skin, follow that up with toner and forgo moisturizer. And, sure enough, 2 hours later if I was wearing foundation I was orange and oily. Not my prettiest look.
I tried every solution out there to absorb and/or delay the oil. The best was Urban Decay De-slick, it got me two more hours, M.A.C. Fix+ did nothing, applying powder got me another hour or two but I looked like I was wearing a mask, and blotting papers which were best when I was not wearing foundation required blotting every hour and a half or so. Who has time for that? I have a job and it is not oil maintenance.
Here is my routine, I still get sheen but I no longer blind people with the reflection coming off of my nose.
Cleanse: I hot cloth cleanse with either a cleansing balm or cream cleanser. The key here is using a product labeled either “all skin types” or “normal skin”. I avoid anything labeled “oily skin” which strips my skin and makes it feel uncomfortably tight. I like to either cleanse using my Clarisonic or do a quick facial massage then use a hand hot face cloth to steam then wipe off the cleanser.
Serum: Serum is new to me. My mother-in-law told me about it. I gave it a try and found I like it. For some reason it makes my skin feel better.
Eye Cream: Sleep in a jar. Enough said?
Moisturizer: Again, I use moisturizer that is not labeled “oily and without sunscreen because I use the same moisturizer morning and night. I place it just on my cheeks.
Sunscreen: I use an SPF 30 sunscreen, every day on my face, neck, any exposed decollete, hands and parts of my arms not covered by my sleeves. No, exceptions.

Finding the right eye cream

It’s hard for me to admit it. I need eye cream. Yes, I know there is no miracle cream that will make me look like I am 20. Don’t fall for the advertising, those models are 18 at the most. I’m not concerned about wrinkles because I accept they are inevitable, I have oily skin which delays wrinkles, I use sunscreen to guard against sun damage and skin cancer and I inherited some good genes; both my mother and grandmother did not start to get a wrinkle here and there until well into their 50s. This under-eye puffiness, however, has got to go.
I am looking for a cream I would call “sleep in a jar.” Chanel Sublime eye cream gives me that look. I had 2 samples that I loved but, it cost over 200USD for a pot.
I have a sample of Dior L’Or de Vie Eye Creme that I have not tried, yet. The reviews and description look promising. It too, comes in at over 200 USD but, right now Lord & Taylor is doing a 10% Friends & Family sale and Nordstrom’s in price matching. There might be a mall trip during next week, I’ll disguise it as getting Hannukah/Christmas presents for friends and family.