Xotic Items

SharonD here! As I mentioned in my last post, I love to experiment with eye makeup, in any color of the rainbow and then some. I am not afraid to try any color or mix any colors I can think of. Recently, Meg sent me an eye pencil called Molly, which was made in Germany and from a company called FACE Stockholm. I always love to research a company before trying their products and since I had never heard of Face Stockholm, I was ready for them to impress me.

The company was founded by Gun Nowak who was born in a small village in the Swedish countryside and had big plans to travel the world. In the 70’s and 80’s, she owned three of the hippest fashion boutiques in Sweden but could not find makeup to match the crazy neon fashions of the time. Nowak said she didn’t set out to do a makeup business per se, but when she couldn’t find the right colors anywhere she saw an opportunity. She opened her first shop in 1980 and it was an immediate success. Nowak needed help and turned to her daughter, Martina Afwidson, who was launching a singing career in New York, for help.  Martina could see the link between bringing out a woman’s inner beauty is the same as finding your inner voice; it is all about self expression.  Nowak adds, "Putting makeup on a woman is as intimate an experience as you'll find. It allows you to see who they really are. And Face Stockholm touches women. That is the part of our work that we both love."  In 1990 they opened their first store in the United States in Soho and now have 40 stores world wide along with mail order, the Internet and include a hotel amenities line as well as an eyewear collection.  Face Stockholm claim they are the only Swedish cosmetics company to give you makeup and skin care that is true to the Swedish beauty ideal—natural, trend-forward, simple, clean, gorgeous and fun! Needless to say, I was intrigued and on their website found out they carried more than 200 lip shades, over 150 eye shadows, blushes, foundations, powders, professional makeup tools, and a natural skin care line. They are eco-conscious, using minimal and recycled packaging and never testing on animals, which is very important to me.

Hello, SharonD here!
When I was growing up on a farm, my favorite time was spring until fall when all the flowers would bloom in the pastures, my grandmothers rose garden was in full show and the fruit trees scented the air with their various scents. Now that I own my own place, my first major project for our home was a beautiful landscaped yard where I could see and smell the mountains flower and my yard filled with various flowering trees, herbs and flowers creating such a pleasant relaxing scent.

A few days after Christmas I overheard my son and husband talking about scents and what they do and don’t like. I know I shouldn’t snoop on them, but how else was I to hear the real truth.  Both made it very clear they really dislike food scents on females. My son’s exact words were “If I wanted to go out with a vanilla cone, I would have gone to Baskin Robins”. Both of them went on to say they loved my Hypnotic Poison, Coco, Channel #5, Avon Tomorrow and Avon Today. They loathed White Shoulders, Casmir, and a number of perfumes I have had sitting around. Then Jay mentioned that I had recently gotten a new body butter that has the most unique antique flower garden scent. He said it reminded him of the gardens we had visited in the Netherlands and enjoyed it when I put it on before bed. He said it was calming yet sexy. The product he was mentioning was MOR Marshmallow body cream.

Sharond here! Eye Makeup Remover has always been a love/hate product for me.  I love the idea, but hate the ones I have tried. They never seem to work like I think they should.  I wake up with black eyes more often than not.

Recently Meg sent me Magic of Aloe’s Aloe Eye Make-up Remover to test.  Being the skeptic that I am, I was thinking yah, here I go again.  Before I tried the product, I went to their website,magicofaloe.com to find out about the company and their products.  I was amused to find out Magic of Aloe was founded in 1971 by Paul E. Aloe in Pennsauken, New Jersey, USA.  His goal was to bring the benefits of the aloe vera plant to the public.  Now, over three decades later, Magic of Aloe formulates, develops and markets the largest all natural, organic cosmetic products on the market.

Magic of Aloe is also listed in PETA’s (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) “Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide” which means their products are not tested on animals.  They are also listed with The National Anti-Vivisection Society.  NAVS is a national, not-for-profit educational organization incorporated in the State of Illinois. NAVS promotes greater compassion, respect and justice for animals through educational programs based on respected ethical and scientific theory and supported by extensive documentation of the cruelty and waste of vivisection.  Growing up on a farm has allowed me to learn first hand that animals do have feelings and personalities.  I always support companies that do not test on animals and avoid those that do.  

Tantejoan here! As the youngest of three girls, I often found myself on the low end of the totem pole, last to the table, holder of the short stick – you get the picture.  Wherever I went, my sisters -- seven and ten years older -- had been there before me, and as memorable and talented as they were, late arrival moi was saddled with their brilliant reputations as not-very-added-value.  “Oh,” chirped the teacher, “you are (enter sister’s name here)’s sister.  You must be wonderful at dramatics/rope climbing/creative writing/pottery/butter churning.”  Whatever I wanted to do, or was expected to excel at, my sisters had been there, done that, and had left me a daunting legacy as they moved on to their next triumphs, literally years ahead of me.

Ah, but there was one arena in which I was the clear leader, superior in every way, and it has lasted me all of my life.  I have inherited all of the good calcium genes both parents had to offer.  While my sisters were plagued with cavities in virtually every tooth, spending Saturday after tortuous Saturday clamped into the dentist’s chair, I skipped blithely through my childhood and young adulthood with but three cavities.  Ever.  My hair was strong and thick, while theirs was fine and thin.  My bones were strong; even now, when I have a bone density test, the result shows that I have the bones of a thirty year old, leaving me to conclude that somewhere in the world there is a poor young woman cursed with my elderly bones.  My sisters?  They are charter members of the Sally Field School of Bone Maintenance.

Stylemama here! It is good to be back! Sometimes you go on a trip and have fun but really relish the idea of sleeping in your own bed, right?  Other times you go away, and have thoughts of uprooting your entire family and never looking back.  For me, Maui is that special place.  After all, tropical environments are awfully good for people with my particular skin ailments.   Justification? Possible denial? You bet.

On to the meat, yes, I’m talking about Keratosis Pilaris (KP), again.  Listen, I hear the collective sighs, I’m right there with you, but chronic problems warrant chronic discussions.  At times, I’m even the KP Ambassador.  Do I like the title? Hell No! Do I deserve it? Well, Yeaaahhh.  Alas! I embrace my funky skin, flaws and all.   (Most of the time.)  My goal is to help my sister-sufferers to do the same.  Is it working yet? Is it? Is it?

Our faithful Leader sent some fantastic products to help me with m’bumps!  Thanks Meg!   I’m talking about DERMAdocotor’s KP Duty Dry Skin Repair Kit.  The lovely and talented Dr. Audrey Kunin, created the impressive DERMAdoctor line, (Have you seen her? She’s awful purhty.)  The good doctor just made my life a little easier.  (I love it when that happens.)   If you have KP problems and questions, get ready to find the answers with this impressive kit.