I DO Give A Fig

I have never tasted a fresh fig. By all accounts, they don't travel well, and it's not like Canada is known for growing exotic fruit, so all we get here are the dried ones. I imagine they are as different in taste as a grape is from a raisin. What has given me this sudden, odd, and unquenchable need to actually taste a fig?

Yes, my shower gel smells so good that I now need to track down the nearest Greek person and beg them to tell me where to get a friggin' fig. Damn you, Korres for putting dreams into my head that were never meant to be!

Guess I'll just go eat my fig newtons now...

Listening to: Don't Trust Me - 3OH!

Play That Record One More Time

I'll admit, I'm not much of a makeup snob. I live in a small city that just got a MAC booth at the Bay a few months ago, and 'high end' makeup is hard to find here. I'm also a student, living on a student's budget, so even if the makeup is available, I can only stare wistfully at it. Going to Sephora in Edmonton is a trying experience for my boyfriend, since I can never make up my mind on what product I want (and can afford) and flit around. It's probably something akin to having a mosquito on a leash.

Anyway, last year when I had a full time, well paying job, I discovered that BeneFit cosmetics were available in my city, and I got very excited. BeneFit cosmetics were formerly found only in very large centres in Canada, like Vancouver or Toronto, and I had lusted over them for some time.

I finally went and bought BeneFit's Some Kind- A Gorgeous foundation, and I'm glad that I did. It is one of those skin matching foundations that you always look at and go "Well, that looks orange in the tin...Skin matching my ass". The S.A. assured me that it would still match me, swiped some on my jawline, and handed me a mirror. I puzzled over it, because it was not orange, it did indeed match my skin. I thought maybe it was the florescent lights in the store, and went outside to check it out. It still matched. Hmm. I was convinced, shelled out the (rather steep for me) $33 for it, and went home to play with my new toy.

I've used it off and on for a year, but I always come back to Some Kind-A Gorgeous to take a break from my newer foundations, or to supplement my mineral powders. I like to use it as a concealer, since it is light and pretty sheer, so my blemishes don't look obviously 'covered up' the way they can look with heavier creamy formulas. I've even used it this winter, and I am ghostly pale. It still matches up.

Don't buy this if you are looking for heavy coverage. This foundation is good for looking like you're not wearing much makeup; skin tone, muted rosiness, and freckles still peek through. It is a great summer foundation, but does require me to use blotting sheets a couple times a day. Definitely not mattefying. And the sponge they supply you with is absolute garbage. Use a foundation brush to get it even and to ensure that you aren't wasting a whole schwack of product.

Do you know of any cosmetics available in Canada for me to try? I'm always curious...

p.s. I just went on the BeneFit website and saw Hello Flawless...restrain me!

Chapped Hand Therapy

Before this winter, I have never in my life experienced really dry skin. I've never had to apply moisturizers to keep my skin comfortable, and getting into this routine every day is tough for me. The worst part has been how dry my hands have become. I've taken to carrying 3 different lotions around in my purse.

My favorite out of these three is Crabtree and Evelyn's Gardeners Hand Therapy. It's thick and spreads really nicely, working into all the cracks, rought spots, and grooves in my hands. I usually don't enjoy lavender very much, but this stuff is balanced with fresh, green herbal smells so that the lavender isn't overpowering or cloying. It gets a little greasy on my palms, but I think it's worth it if my hands don't feel like paper anymore.

The downside of this stuff is that it runs for $14. That's quite a bit for what is essentially lavender scented shea butter. I was given this as a gift, and that's why I'm using it, but I probably wouldn't buy this of my own volition, since I'm about as cheap (and as poor!) as they come. If you need some moisture in your mitts, but don't have too much extra cash, pick up some Glysomed. It works about as well as Crabtree's lotion, but for less than 1/2 of the price. But, if you're in the market for something more luxe, give this stuff a try. If the lavender doesn't appeal to you, give the Rosewater hand therapy a go, it's light and lovely and not old-ladyish at all.

Skin: No new pimples, more moisturized around the eye area, old zits are going down. It's looking hopeful, but I'm not quite at the 'english rose' level yet.

Listening to: Handle Me- Robyn