Candle Fail

I’m not sure if you know this about me, but I hate perfume. I hate it with a passion.

It wasn’t always like this. I used to like perfume when I was in my teens, but then I started to notice that it had a tendency to trigger awful headaches. I think I was finally tipped over the edge when one Christmas I was given perfume as a gift from three separate people, one of which was a set of Elizabeth Taylor perfume. Just opening the lid was like opening Pandora’s Box of Migraines. That story, however, is for another time.

I guess It’s kind of peculiar, then, that I like scented candles. They are the only kind of scented thing that I can tolerate and would even go so far as to say that I actually like. I’m pretty particular about what kind of scents I like too. Therefore, the following should never have happened.

Kids, never ever buy fragranced items online if you’ve never smelled them before. What sounded quite delicious in the item description turned out to be totally gross. I bought a set of four soy candles from a deals website and regretted it as soon as I opened the box.

There was a vanilla one but it was sickly sweet. There was a coconut and lime one that sounded exotic but actually smelled like a cross between detergent and goodness knows what. The fig one was way too pungent. The only vaguely nice one was pear scented, but after I’d let it sit on the bench for a couple of weeks, I couldn’t bear it any longer.

I managed to give the fig one away after burning it briefly outside on the balcony with the doors shut. The other three I literally melted out of their glass containers using a bowl of boiling water and a knife. It was a cathartic experience destroying those candles. Very therapeutic indeed.

It was a totally stupid thing to do, to order them online. Normally I spend a fair amount of time in shops looking peculiar as I sniff each candle. Common sense should have told me that I shouldn’t waste my money on something that I’m not guaranteed to like.

So, if the fancy ever takes you to order some candles online, make sure that you’ve smelled them at some point previously and that you actually like them. If you’ve made the same mistake I’ve made, do one of the following–return them and ask for a refund, chuck them out or destroy them.

A review: Eyebrow Threading

I think I’ve finally, finally managed to get some sort of control over my eyebrows. Or at least I’ve found a lady who can tame them for me.

I have pretty unruly hair and brows, as I’m sure I’ve mentioned on a number of occasions. I’ve struggled with my brows particularly for a long, long time. It wasn’t that long ago that I used to pluck my eyebrows everyday, hunched over one of those magnifier mirrors that no one should ever use. That evil mirror has been lost somewhere in the abyss of my apartment and I actually don’t miss it.

I don’t even remember where or how I first heard about eyebrow threading, but I know I’d been interested for a while. For those of you who don’t know, threading is a form of epilation where you use cotton thread. I would try to explain it, but a search on YouTube for “how to eyebrow threading” would be far clearer. Trying to put in words how a cotton thread is somehow wound around fingers and then used to pull out hair just isn’t easy.

I had a series of bad eyebrow waxing experiences over the past couple of years–you know, when you end up with two completely differently shaped brows and the knowledge that you’re stuck with them for the next few weeks–so I started to think that it was worth a try. I still didn’t really know what was involved, but I thought that my brows probably couldn’t get any worse. Besides, I’d heard that it was better than waxing because it is more precise.

So, my cousin had told me about a lady who did eyebrow threading at the markets that we now frequent most Sundays. For weeks we never saw her, but one week she magically appeared. This excited me because I’m pretty sure my brows were in pretty bad shape… err literally. We sat down and I experienced threading for the first time.

It is a tad painful, just so you know. Is ripping hair from your skin ever not painful? You help by pulling your skin taut as she guides the cotton thread around, back and forth, making precise lines here and there. You can literally hear and feel each hair being pulled out. It’s quite bizarre, but also oddly satisfying.

I got mine done again last week and I was really excited because I’d been letting them run wild for a few weeks. You see, I defected about a month ago out of desperation and got my brows waxed again. What happened was I ended up with brows that were two different lengths and just not quite right. Lesson learnt–the market lady would fix them for me.

So here is a before shot (try not to recoil in horror):

And here is the after:

Oh, by the way, I’ve discovered that it is extremely difficult trying to take close up photographs of your own face.

This lady at the markets only charges $9 to fix your brows, and I trust her completely. I’ve tried to maintain them on my own and failed–it is too difficult. I’ve had bad waxing experiences too. For me, threading is the best option and this lady is a pro. However, as with most things, you have to try it for yourself to determine whether it’s for you or not. Some people have spectacular eye framers already with no help and some people can find waxers that do an excellent job. There is also the possibility that there will be threaders who are terrible at their job. The moral is you just have to try and see for yourself.

I did and I love it.

Bear Update: Exciting news!

Guess what, friendlies?

I’m going to Thailand again in September!

Thanks to my cousin for happening upon an amazing deal for cheap flights. They were $336.50 return. Yes, you read that correctly. So cheap!

It was a pretty rash decision on my behalf, but I think most of my holidays have sprung from random decisions to buy plane tickets. Generally what follows after my rashness is a period of panic and then the enthusiasm kicks in.

I’m going with two cousins and another friend. We’re not sure on the explicit details just yet, but I’m already excited just thinking about the possibilites. I do know that we might go on the same tour I did in Bangkok where I went to the floating markets, the bridge over the River Kwai and the Tiger Temple. Tigers again? Heck yes!

FYI–I am not inappropriately touching the tiger. I am actually touching its belly.

I’m sure we will make a list of more fun activities like elephant riding when we really start to plan our holiday. A massage or two should certainly make the list. What’s a holiday without a little pampering?

We are coming back via Singapore where we will have a day to explore. I’ve never been to Singapore before and have no idea where to go or what to look out for. I’ll have to ask people for some ideas and suggestions.

With four months and Winter to struggle through, I will be keeping my mind on the warmth of Thailand and look forward to all the fun we will be bound to have. I can hardly wait.

The Bear’s Rare Hair Post

I am by no means a hair expert. It is questionable whether I even brush my hair everyday. As I only have about fifty strands of unruly wavy hair, I don’t really see the point. Seriously, my ponytail is embarrassingly thin. There isn’t much hair on my head but it is very enthusiastic. I rarely ever style it or do anything with it at all.

Exhibit A:

Me with one of my favourite kitties

The last time I went to the hairdresser, our conversation went like this:
HD: “What products do you use in your hair?”
Me: “Uh shampoo, conditioner and occasionally some spray thing that the last hairdresser recommended.”
HD: “And how do you style your hair?”
Me: “I put it in a ponytail and sometimes wear it down.”

I had a different hairdresser from usual the last time I went. The previous one must have disappeared suddenly because I rocked up for my usual appointment and she wasn’t there anymore. I’d been seeing her for the past year and the one I’d been seeing the year previously also left suddenly, albeit for health reasons. They both used to get excited when I came in for my appointments; my hair always in a disgusting, greasy state because I knew they’d fix it for me. I’m pretty sure this new hairdresser will be the same as the last two.

Lately my hair has been behaving more badly than usual. It feels dry and coarse, and hasn’t been as wavy as usual. I think the change in weather has had a lot to do with it–even my skin has been getting scaly. The other reason for my crappy hair is probably also the shampoo I’ve been using. It’s the Organix Coconut Milk range. I don’t have a problem with the brand, but maybe the coconut milk range wasn’t the right choice for my hair type.

I knew when I used it the first time that it wasn’t going to be my favourite ever shampoo. When I wash my hair, it feels squeaky clean. Hair should never feel squeaky clean. That means that the hair has been stripped of all the natural oils and will probably panic and try to produce more oil, or just become crunchy and dry, or both.

So I’ve been putting up with the shampoo because I paid for it, dammit, and I need to use up products I buy so as not to be wasteful. But I don’t think it has done my hair any favours. I’m going to return the the brand Pravana, which my hair salon sells and was recommended by my previous hairdresser. I’d been using it prior to Organix and was really impressed with it.

Well, my next hair appointment is next week and I’m already getting excited. Part of me is toying with the idea of hacking all of it off again, like I did a few years back. However, then I would probably decide I actually liked my long hair after all, which took me three years to grow back anyway. Life is hard for such a fickle person as me.

Maybe in lieu of a drastic change I will get my “sort of” side fringe cut in again. You know, where they sort of blend an eyebrow-ish length fringe into the rest of the hair framing your face? I have a ridiculous hairline thanks to stupid baby hairs that never grow beyond about two inches. Depending how I pull my hair back, I sometimes look as though I have a receding hairline starting at the temples. So a fringe, even if it is a slight one, tends to improve the general look.

Here’s to hoping that I survive another week with my crunchy hair. I’m going to finish off the dregs of my shampoo and conditioner and then repurchase my favourite one when I get my hair cut. This sounds like an excellent plan to me. Maybe I will let you see what the result is afterwards?

A review: DIY Deodorant

Some weeks back I made a post about making my own deodorant after a traumatic experience at work. The crystal deodorant I’d used that day had somehow managed to make a common problem about a thousand times worse and it made me want to cry. Seriously.

That evening, I made my own deodorant from a recipe sent to me from my mother.

This stuff is easy and cheap to make. Technically it only has three ingredients, but if you want it to smell nice, then you can add some essential oils of your own liking. When I made it, I added peppermint essential oil because it was basically the only stuff I had lying around and, conveniently, is a smell I’m quite partial to.

It’s been almost two months since I made that deodorant and I’ve been pretty impressed. I had a few not-so-great days, but nothing compared to the disaster of that crystal deodorant. Here’s a breakdown of my findings.

Firstly, I never quite got used to the texture or the application of the deodorant. It’s… well… kind of chunky and sometimes I’d put it on and about two minutes later little chunks were trying to escape my armpits. I didn’t know whether I was putting too little or too much on or whether it was supposed to be warmer. Maybe that was only my issue and other people wouldn’t have the same problem.

Next, its consistency became a lot drier and slightly less effective the older it got. I think because I was constantly touching it, the coconut oil was coming off on my hands more, making the mixture drier. This was an easy fix though because all I had to do was put in a little more coconut oil, mix it in a bit and it was restored to its former glory.

Lastly, I noticed that because this recipe has coconut oil in it and because coconut oil is solid or liquid depending on temperature, the colder months pose a bit of a usability problem. The deodorant became a lot harder as soon as the temperature dropped here, so it was more difficult to use. I think this would be better or easier to use in the warmer months when it is more malleable.

I kind of gave up when it got too hard texture-wise to use. I bought another bottle of MooGoo deodorant about two weeks ago and having been using that instead. It is still the best natural deodorant I’ve tried so far, but I still have days where I don’t feel exactly… fresh.

Here’s the thing. I just want a deodorant that will work. I don’t mind sweating–that’s natural. What I do mind is feeling as though I can’t move freely in case I offend someone with my body odour. Perhaps I’m just acutely aware or even overly sensitive of how I smell, but I think that would be better than being incredibly stinky and having no idea. Seriously, how can people not realise how bad they smell?

Um anyway. I’m not after something fancy. I just want something simple that works. Any ideas?

A review: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish

A sad day has descended upon the bearinthere home. I have just run out of my Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish. I’ve been gradually trying to wean myself off it for the past week, using it just once a day instead of twice in an effort to make it last just that little bit longer.

This is kind of a beauty cult product in the UK and I can understand why. To keep this short and sweet–I love, love, love it. It checks all the boxes for me. It’s a more ‘natural’ product, gentle, creamy, luxurious feeling and it actually works. It smells like eucalyptus, which is both refreshing and soothing at the same time. My skin has been super happy (yes, I have given my skin emotions) and mostly clear except for the odd blemish every now and then. It doesn’t feel like it’s stripping all the oils from my face. In fact, it feels very hydrating and almost like I don’t need to moisturise afterwards.

I’ve been using it twice a day for the past two months, massaging a blob of it onto dry skin and then washing off with either cold (morning) or warm water (evening) and then patting my face dry. Technically, I’m missing out on half the process because I don’t have a muslin cloth to ‘polish’ with. The cloth is supposed to gently exfoliate your skin as you wipe the product off your face so you get twice the bang for your buck. I’m guessing my results would have been even better had I owned a muslin cloth, but I’m still very pleased with this cleanser.

The absence of said cloth is because I ordered my cleanser off eBay after an evening spent ploughing through various websites and getting upset about high prices and a lack of international shipping. Which brings me to the downer.

Buyer’s beware: it’s not the cheapest option out there and it’s not the easiest thing to find. Sometimes living in Australia can be annoying if you want to buy certain skincare and cosmetic lines. On the one hand you may be able to find the product for a reasonable price but they don’t ship to Australia. On the other hand, you find something that does ship to Australia, but it’s somehow twice as expensive. You just have to keep on searching.

Rant over.

So, apart from the fact that it’s a bit pricier than other similar products and a bit difficult to find, this product is amazing. I think it’s even better than the Puretopia and Organic Essence cleansers, which I have also reviewed. I’m going to have to cut open the tube to get the last little bit out. I’m going to miss that stuff for sure.

A review: Naturallogic

I sometimes spend ages online on Etsy looking at all sorts of wonderful things like beautiful dress designs, crockery for my imaginary house I’ll probably never own, soy candles I’d like to try and natural cosmetics and skincare. I really can’t remember what led me to try Naturallogic in the first place but it was probably my usual intrigue–often something piques my interest and I feel the need to try it.

The list of products I’ve tried from Naturallogic has become quite extensive over the past eighteen months. I believe I first tried the skin balancing oil, a blemish oil, a pumpkin glycolic peel and a mint sugar scrub. Since then I’ve tried two of the serums, and the skin balance facial oil, a sea enzyme cleanser, a cleansing facial scrub, a fruit enzyme cleansing gel and a mud mask. I did also once buy a cooling toner but the cat I was looking after last year knocked it off the bathroom basin and smashed it before I got the chance to even try it.

I was pretty angry with the cat that day, actually.

Today I’m going to tell you about just a few of their products, my favourite being the Balance Facial Toner.

I’m pretty sure I’ve been using my bottle of this toner since July or August last year and it’s only now just finished. I’ve been using it once a day in the mornings, spritzing it all over my face in about five sprays after cleansing my face. After spritzing, I pat it into my skin before applying moisturiser and all that other good stuff before going about my day. Easy.

I sometimes think that a toner is a bit of a pointless step in the whole skincare regime, but some people say it’s important to balance the pH of your skin or something like that. Toners can be downright crap if they contain alcohol, which is very drying and ends up being detrimental for your skin. So, if you’re in the market for a toner, keep an eye out for the ingredients list and make sure it doesn’t contain anything that will strip the natural oils from your face. This one doesn’t have anything nasty in it and has a very pleasant, natural smell.

I guess you could say that my skin is more ‘balanced’ since using it, seeing as my skin hasn’t been acting out the way it used to. My skin is still definitely oily, but I’ve come to accept this. There are often times when I have found that if my face is a bit angry after I’ve been scratching or picking at it (I know I shouldn’t), that I can spritz this on my face and it calms down again. It’s an all round good product, in my opinion.

Next, an honorable mention goes to the Dead Sea Complex Mud Masque. I’ve repurchased this one and am considering repurchasing it again. I’m generally a fan of mud or clay masks because I feel like they clarify my skin and draw out a lot of the impurities, aka crap, beneath the surface. This mask has never made my skin angry or dry and my face always feels fresh and clean after using it. This one is especially good for when your skin is feeling a bit rebellious, probably no thanks to hormones or that rather large amount of sugar “we” ate a few days ago.

A slightly dishonorable mention goes to the Moroccan Mint Vanilla Sugar Slough. I’ll come right out and say that I had an allergic reaction to this scrub, which I think I’ve mentioned in a blog months ago. At least that’s what I assume it was. For a while, I couldn’t actually figure what was wrong. I got a rash, like a heat rash, all over my shoulders and back, and it was only after using the sugar scrub one evening that I realised it was worse.

I had just been on two rounds of antibiotics for what actually turned out to be a non-existent sinus infection. I think my immune system had gone a bit psycho and perhaps I had been using it too frequently and vigorously for such an abrasive product. I ended up donating it to my sister who didn’t appear to have any adverse reaction to it at all. It smelled amazing. Edible, even.

The lady who owns the business always writes lovely little notes and includes a couple of samples with every package. If anything wrong happens like a delivery takes a long time because of supplier issues or she accidentally sends the wrong size (it’s only happened once) she will graciously amend her error and often gives you a discount.

It seems like she has expanded her inventory somewhat since I last made a purchase, so I might just go have a look at what else I can possibly try. You should too. Find Naturallogic here.