On Beauty Regimes

Good morning, Friday. Chilly in the MIA today and also pup's first day in
the office with me today...changin' times these.

So I've been thinking about the high cost of beauty, literally. I have
always been fortunate to have decent skin- some of the other genes I have
are rank, but the skin is pretty good. (Having said that I am sure I will
get that token chin zit this afternoon. That always happens).

But as I'm getting older, I'm shocked at the number of products I put on my
face on a daily basis. I have always, always been obsessed with products-
tinctures, brighteners, cream blushes, eye shadow palettes- you name it. But
lately, I feel like I am on a short tether to all the little tubes and pots
I am keeping in my bathroom drawer like some kind of crazed beauty hoarder.
I have become cumbersome. In terms of my beauty regime, at least.

I remember the early salad days of New York City when I used to fall asleep
with a face full of makeup, too lazy and probably far too inebriated to
remove it. Nowadays, I am a drill sergeant about taking my makeup off each
night, but here's what that entails, in Rain Man like detail:

First I scrub with creamy cleanser (NUXE Lait Demaquillant aux 3 Roses)
Then I tone (Mario Badescu grapefruit toner)
Then I serum myself silly (Murad Resurgence Age Diffusing Serum)
Then I do eye cream ( NUXE Contour des Yeux Prodigieux)
Then I do spot wrinkle cream (L'Oreal Anti Aging Serum)
Then finally I moisturize (Kiehl's Abyssine Cream)

And then I pass out. Because all the patting, scrubbing, blending is
exhausting. Don't even get me started on my makeup routine.

I am not a girl who is super au natural- I love makeup but I now have 3 bags
worth, which make my gym bag feel like a brick. Now I don't want you to
think I look like Mimi from "The Drew Carey Show". I don't. I just look my
visage to be glowy and dewy and my eyes to look awake. I just look better
done. Full stop, though a friend of mine says when I'm nervous, I over
makeup. Could be true. I have been known to oversmoke an eye.

I'm wondering what is going to happen as I push my way through the next
decade. I may need a separate home for all of my products, most definitely
an extra suitcase on long trips. And if any of you ever need product advice,
I'm all in. I have been there and back, and should probably own stock in
some beauty companies by now, or at least sit on some sort of advisory
board. The only time I really go sans regime is on vacation, but only in
places like Jamaica where I am tanned and relaxed and don't care much about
mascara. Or certain Sundays too when I can't be asked to bother. But most
days, I am fully cleansed, moisturized, and prepped. I suppose I am a bit of
a beauty savant. I suppose there are worse things, but I'm wondering how
much more in the chips I would be if I didn't have to purchase all of this
stuff all the time. Sigh. (I'm permanently scarred by the French lady at
Sephora on the Champs Elysees who told me my skin was dry, with a look of
sheer disgust. $300 euros, I solved that problem- you should try YSL's
Secret Weapon before you put your makeup on. It will make you flawless).

Well I'm thinking that's what's up this done up Friday in the MIA. Have a
great weekend, and do whatever it takes to make yourself feel beautiful this
weekend. And if you are the all natural type, I applaud you, but don't fully
understand you. XO