Product Recommendations

I will get no commission for this post. I post it out of the goodness of my heart.

Products I adore:

— the Oil of Olay “regenerist” line. I am particularly fond of the night cream and also the eye cream. And I also love (although I was fearful at first) the microdermabrasion kit. Highly recommended.

— along those lines, Oil of Olay just came out with a body lotion called “Quench” and I will seriously karate chop anyone who tries to take it away from me

— all cleaning products from Melaleuca. The Trinidadian guru got me hooked on them, and I will never go back. The laundry detergent (MelaPower) is fantastic, and I also love their “Tough and Tender” kitchen cleaner.

— the “Lemon Lavendar” scent in the Yankee Candle line. I can’t even describe it, it’s just a wonderful mix of scents – and somehow not overpowering.

Swiffer. I wish I could make out with my Swiffer.

— all makeup from Smash Box. I am a total convert. It’s outrageously expensive – but since I don’t wear a lot of makeup on a daily basis, it is lasting forever. Thank you, Eric! I am especially in love with the “artificial light luminizing lotion”. You take one drop and smooth it over your face before you put on foundation. I like the “diffuse” – which is totally clear. You are not putting on foundation or coverup – you are basically preparing the skin for the makeup. And since you only need a teensy drop, one bottle lasts forever. Once the foundation goes on over that – it’s almost better than a face lift, if you get the right tone. That’s why it;’s called “artificial light”, I imagine – it gives your skin the look of one who is carrying around her own soft-focus lamp.

BenGay. I think I would need to go into rehab if I no longer could use BenGay. I like the “ultra strength” – the one in the red box.

Nag Champa. You kinda can’t do any better. I actually get anxious when I run out of it and it’s too late to race out and buy some more. The candle store I frequent (I’m a candle fanatic) has a wonderful scent there called India Moon, which I also love love love. If they’re out of India Moon, I plunge into a depression of the blackest dye.

— Hand sanitizer. I know it’s horrible and actually not all that good for you – but I’m an addict. I’ve mentioned before that I am vaguely OCD about the cleanliness of my hands, so hand sanitizer has been like blood to a vampire.

I am agnostic about shampoo and toothpaste. Recommendations welcome.

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39 Responses to Product Recommendations

  1. mitchell says:

    btw…Jordan is an ad-man for Olay..and he loves it too..and informs me its no longer neccessary to say “‘oil of”..just Olay will suffice.

  2. red says:

    I was wondering if he maybe read about that in Women News?

  3. michael says:

    “…hand sanitizer has been like blood to a vampire.” I love that! I have a similar attachment to it, but I did not know it not supposed to be “all that good for you.” Why is that?

    Toothpaste rec: Just plain ol’ Colgate Cavity Protection. Has the perfect refreshing minty taste.

  4. red says:

    Michael – I think the hand sanitizer problem is similar to the dousche problem, if you don’t mind the analogy. The body is supposed to be able to fight bacteria on its own – and hand sanitizer apparently gets in the way of that process. I read some articles about it … but I don’t care!!! I use it compulsively anyway!

    And thanks for the toothpaste rec – I have no brand loyalty when it comes to toothpaste, and frankly I get overwhelmed by the choices!!

  5. ben gay says:

    Did you know an active ingredient found in Bengay has been determined to be the cause of death of a 17 year old track star on April 13th?
    A New York medical examiner said methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory found in sports creams such as Bengay and Icy Hot causes death. The New York City’s medical examiner blamed high levels of methyl salicylate as the cause of death for Arielle Newman, who was a 17-year old track star and cross-country runner at Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island.
    The track star had gone to a party and reportedly spent several hours talking with her mother upon returning. Her mother is reported to be unbelieving of the medical examiner’s report. “I am scrupulous about my children’s health,” she told the Advance. “I did not think an over-the-counter (OTC) product could be unsafe.”

  6. red says:

    Now someone’s gonna show up and tell me Oil of Olay has arsenic in it.

    Wait for it …

    wait for it …

  7. sarahk says:

    Oh, red. You are creating super bugs with your hand sanitizer! I shake my fist at you!

    And if you like Ben Gay, you should give Tiger Balm a shot. Especially Tiger Balm Ultra. It also comes in patches.

  8. red says:

    sarah – Yes! I am creating a superbug. ack. Blame me when the apocalypse comes!!!

    Tiger Balm, huh?? I will indeed check it out.

  9. tracey says:

    Sheila O’Malley is the tipping point! Malcolm Gladwell tole me so.

    Also …. uhm, what’s the dealio with the special, cheaper prices in red at that Melalueca site? Do you have to be a member or a distributor to get those prices?

  10. red says:

    Tracey – I’m not sure about the red type. I am a member – so I definitely get awesome deals, like a “preferred customer” type thing.

  11. red says:

    Just checked the site – yeah, the red is for members. I get all my vitamins from them, too. Also I can’t even tell you how awesome it is to outsource as much of my life as possible, and have cleaning products arrive in a monthly shipment where I don’t have to think about it.

  12. tracey says:

    You know, I need some shampoo recommendations, too. My hair is getting weird in my old age … more dry. It still behaves, but it doesn’t bounce. I basically have couch potato hair.

  13. Michael says:

    Sheila! This clean hands stuff is fraught with complexities!

    Food safety experts say to make sure to wash your hands before eating…especially after handling money. And I have seen hand sanitizer being used by doctors in clinics between patient visits.

    Ack. I don’t care either…soap and water are certainly de rigueur, but hand sanitizer has it’s place of distinction in my quiver of defense!

    Shampoo rec: White Rain (Apple Blossom). I tried this brand after reading Joe Graedon’s People’s Pharmacy, and I liked the apple blossom scent in the morning…not overpowering at all. Quite soothing actually.

  14. ricki says:

    First, on the hand sanitizer: it contains phenol, which some people can become sensitive to. Be careful. (I am already sensitive to phenol, and I don’t even use sanitizer). And yes, it is correct that sanitizer is blamed for the possibility of creating “superbug” strains.

    I don’t worry that much about skin bacteria. Now chemicals on my hands, I do worry about, and if I get exposed to something in the lab I’m at the sink scrubbing madly away.

    As for toothpaste and shampoo recommendations – I’m going to make ones, but you have to understand two things first, before you totally reject them:

    1. I am a complete and total cheap-ass when it comes to most grooming products.

    2. I live in the “heartland,” which means that unless I take the hour’s round trip to drive to the nearest mall, Wal-Mart is my source of these types of items.

    For toothpaste, I use Aqua-fresh. Partly because I’ve been intrigued by its stripy nature ever since it came out when I was a kid, but also because it is one of the ONLY toothpastes left that doesn’t put in “whitening” compounds. I used a toothpaste that had those compounds in it for a week and had to give it up because it made my teeth MEGA sensitive. (Please, please, manufacturers – I can’t be the only one out here! Please leave at least a few varieties of toothpaste “non whitening”!)

    For shampoo and conditioner, I’m currently using the Clariol Herbal Essences – the ones for curly hair (they come in kind of a pinky-purple container. However, I expect that it will be discontinued within the next six months as that is the fate of ANY shampoo and conditioner combo that actually works on my hair. I have thick, uncontrollably curly hair that also tends to be dry, and this is one of the relatively few shampoos that doesn’t make it totally frizz. I suppose there’s an Aveda or John Mitchell product that might work as well or better, but as I said above: total cheap-ass about grooming products, with the exception of soap. I must have nice soap. Shampoo doesn’t matter quite as much.

  15. red says:

    ricki – I have really sensitive teeth, too! I’ve tried the sensodyne, and I did like it – although it cost an arm and a leg.

    I use the Herbal Essences right now – the issue with my hair is that I have so little of it – and it is either dry as straw or oily as the Persian Gulf. There’s also the grey hair issue, as well as the coloring issue. I MUST wash my hair every day – unlike some other lucky folks who can go every other day, etc. – because it becomes totally greasy if I do not. But I need it to not get too dry and flat … and I also need the color to be protected.

    When I recently got my (free) 700 dollar haircut – they gave me some of their brand-name products – which would have been prohibitively expensive if I paid for them – but which were, again, free. I like the conditioner so far a lot … a little goes a long way, which is always a good selling point for me.

  16. red says:

    Michael – your “quiver of defense” – hahahahaha I like your style. :)

  17. red says:

    Also, how funny is it that Ben Gay himself commented here. Within moments of me putting up the post. ??? Bizarre!

  18. red says:

    Oh and ricki – perhaps this is a dumb question, but here goes: how would I know if I became sensitive to phenol? Would I break out or something??

  19. red says:

    Oh and ricki, about the wal mart conundrum – that’s one of the good things about Ye Olde Internet. If you want something not available in your immediate area, you can just order it! Yes, you have to pay shipping and handling, which may be problematic for any CHEAP-ASS (haha!!) sensibilities you may have – but still. If I wanted to order only ONE votive candle of the Lemon Lavendar scent … and I was willing to pay the price … and I lived on a ranch outside of Taos where the next town is 40 miles away … I could buy one! And voila – it would arrive!!

    I mean, I’m speaking as a book buyer. I was talking wtih my dad about this recently. I almost never go to bookstores anymore. And I live where there are a bazillion bookstores. But the selection on the internet – and the ease of finding what I want … it’s just glorious! Where else could I purchase Summer Sleigh Ride, a childhood favorite – which isn’t even in print anymore?

    I frequent a couple of book stores in Manhattan – Three Lives is one, the Strand is another – and I always buy when I’m there – because the pleasure of the shopping experience there is awesome, and I love to support them – but my main purchasing is always done online now. I just can get what I want much easier.

  20. Kate P says:

    My mom gives me a hard time about hand santizer because she thinks they all have triclosan in them and triclosan suppresses the thyroid (a major issue in our family). I keep a neato pen-sized spray one (alcohol-based) from CVS in my desk drawer.

    As for shampoo: I recently tried a sample of mop’s “glisten” shampoo and conditioner. It’s gentle and smells good, fairly moisturizing. My hair’s kinda wavy and tends to dry out. I think I’m going to try it out some more.

  21. amelie / rae says:

    sheila — i’m with you on hand sanitizer — though mine’s in the form of anti-bacterial moisturizing hand lotion: bath & body works japanese cherry blossom. God help me.

    i’m also along with white rain apple blossom, herbal essences shampoo + conditioner. and then also vo5 balsam and protein or lime and whatever, head and shoulders for oily hair / fine hair, and finally, aussie stuff. i’m one of those people who alternates shampoos / shampoos and conditioners on a regular, practically daily basis. they last longer, and i think my hair is softer then. [[i, also, can’t get away with not washing it for a single day — way too greasy. and i have thin, fine hair, so no much in the way of body. sad.]]

    people really love my herbal essences shampoo + conditioner days, i’ve noticed, but without the contrast with otherwise still good hair shampoo days, i don’t think they’d notice as much.

    mm, and as far as toothpaste goes, crest complete, colgate, or closeup. i’m all about the c’s.

  22. red says:

    Kate – I carry a trial-sized hand sanitizer in my purse. I use it in public after exiting the subways. I’m certifiable!!

    I like the sound of “glisten” – that’s what I want … my poor thin straw-like mop of hair to “glisten”. Never heard of it … do you think I could get it at Pathmark???

  23. red says:

    //bath & body works japanese cherry blossom. God help me.//

    hahahahahahahahahaha

    amelie you crack me up!!

  24. jenob says:

    OK. I have officially given up the lurker phase and am commenting… I know, it’s shocking.

    I have to second the Tiger Balm recommendation. Have been using it since 1993 when a dancer introduced it to me. Another even better one (but a bit harder to come by and a bit more expensive) is called “BioFreeze”. Rockettes LOVE it, if that gives you any indication to it’s usefulness.

    The real reason I have to comment it that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my shampoo and conditioner and I am the only one I know that uses it. I use ABBA Brand: Complete shampoo and TruMint conditioner. I will admit that the initial purchase was purely due to the name, because how can you resist a shampoo that makes you think “Dancing Queen” each morning in the shower? Oh, and they are Vegan as well… It can be found at most Trade Secret type places and occasionally at TJ Maxx for the bargain hunter in all of you.

    I can’t believe that my first comment is something as silly as hair products, but what can you do!

  25. red says:

    //I will admit that the initial purchase was purely due to the name, because how can you resist a shampoo that makes you think “Dancing Queen” each morning in the shower?//

    hahahahahahahahaha I’m dying! Bless you for de-lurking with an Abba/hair care comment!

  26. red says:

    Jen – So TJ Maxx sells this magical vegan hair care products?? Perhaps I will go check them out tomorrow – there’s a TJ Maxx on 18th street here!!

  27. jen says:

    It’s not always at TJ Maxx or Marshalls or Filene’s, but I have bought it from there with a regular enough frequency that I always check. I would be willing to bottle up a little sample for you even so you could give it a try if you can’t find it.

    That is, of course, if I start to feel like a human again… I even missed seeing the amazing Kerry and watching the game with her due to this annoying sickness.

  28. red says:

    Have you been sick too?? I’m just getting over mine – thanks to penicillin. It has sucked!

  29. JessicaR says:

    I’m not too fond of Ben and Jerry’s gild the lily approach to flavors “Mega Chocolate Swirl Candy Peanut Explosion Caramel Grenade” and such. But I’m fairly certain their Cinnamon Bun flavor has liberal amounts of crack cocaine in it. I mean damn. That lemon/lavender candle sounds lovely, I love the frou frou “Firewood” one Bath and Body works sells. But not enough to buy something regularly I’m just going to set on fire.

  30. Marisa says:

    I’m going to have to break down and buy a Swiffer. because everyone I know who owns one has a reaction similar to yours… although no one else put it quite like you do!

  31. red says:

    Marisa – they;re so great! No more buckets sloshing with water – no more wringing out of mops … It’s awesome!

  32. Kate P says:

    I think mop (the shampoo, now that comments have been heading down the swiffer way) is considered a “salon” brand, although it’s not as outrageously priced as a lot of the salon ones, and a little goes a long way. I’m not even sure there are still Pathmarks in the Philly area, but maybe you can check the local drug stores. I got my trial sizes at Ulta.

  33. Another Sheila says:

    YAY! Do you remember when I wrote to you like, 3 years ago asking if you’d tried the Olay microderm kit, because I was too cheap to try it unrecommended and I knew from your blog that you were very into skin products? Well, several years, hundreds of wrinkles, and thousands of dollars’ worth of frivolous purchases later, I STILL haven’t tried it, but now I’m going to. Thank you!

    Shampoo/conditioner rec: ABBA Moisture Scentsation. The best smell EVER. Geranium and mint. It’s seriously heavenly and an amazing mood elevator.

  34. red says:

    Sheila – yes, I remember!! That email was the reason I went out and decided to try to microdermabrasion kit in the first place! You’re not supposed to use it on a daily basis – obviously – so one kit has lasted a very long time (this seems to be the theme with my products. I want a little to go a long way).

    It’s SUCH a satisfying product – the scratchy first layer – and then the foaming second layer – and your skin just looks and feels wooooooooonderful after using it.

  35. tracey says:

    amelie — I didn’t know Bath and Bodyworks still made those anti-bacterial moisturizers. I am so happy! I love those! Clean hands, not all dried out like you can get with the sanitizers, what’s not to love??

  36. red says:

    You people are evil. I am going to segue into Bath & Body cherry blossom now.

  37. Jen W. says:

    Ha! I remember when you wrote a post asking about Regenerist products, what people thought of them. That is so funny. They really are great. I recommend Aveda shampoo/conditioner. Expensive, but worth it. A company with values too.

  38. A lovely Sunday

    Recuperative. Soft. No drain on my brain. Getting into the moment. Being able to sink into the present. Just take your time. Take your time. Mitchell and I headed out at around 9:30 a.m. to get down to Southport ……

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