101

I'm not sure whether I feel more inspired or depressed by this... but I am sure I want to keep wearing sunscreen every day.

The 101 project

Things That Are Awesome VIII

Things That Are Awesome VIII (the winter edition):

• Fleece sheets. Before David's parents bought us these for Christmas, I didn't even know they existed. I've had flannel sheets for years, but these blow those out of the water on the warmth front. They're basically very soft, thin fleece blankets, sewn into a standard sheet set configuration, and they are amazing. When they're pre-heated with the electric blanket, climbing between them is like curling up in a teddy bear's warm innards. Delightful.
• Smartwool muffler. This was another Christmas present, this one from my sister. It is the heaviest, nicest scarf I've ever owned--made of soft merino wool, and thick and "tall" enough that it sits structurally on my shoulders and covers my face (as you can see in the picture to the left; for the photo from this earlier post, I had pulled it down only for as long as it took to take the photo [promptly numbing everything below my eyes]). It is wonderful!
• Flannel neck-warmer. David's sister Becca made this for me for Christmas, and I've never gotten so many compliments on an accessory! I'm hoping she adds them to her Esty shop so that I can direct interested parties there. This picture doesn't actually show it all that well--but does show one of the Brand New People I met over Christmas (Brian and Liesl's!), and the lovely arm warmers David bought me. Since I wear the neck-warmer all the time, you'll probably see it soon in another picture, anyway.
• Winter pedicure! I've mentioned the hour-long, $15 pedicures at my local beauty school. The lovely warm soak and scrubbing felt extra-special yesterday, even though I had to put my Smartwool socks and big boots on and trudge back to the car through the snow. Those toes are coming out in two weeks, though, when we head to Orlando for Mandy's wedding! Saint Paul College is also where I get the sunscreen I mentioned last time, and this stuff:
• Pevonia Botanica Problematic Skin Care Cream. Oh, yes, my skin is problematic--or was, until I found this moisturizer (paired with CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser alternating with Pevonia's Phyto-Gel Cleanser). These products (except for the CeraVe, which I found myself) were all recommended by the aestheicians at SPC--where I can get them at approximately 25% or more off retail. Even so, they cost more than I've been used to paying for skin care products, but are so worth it for the results: namely, my skin looking and feeling the best it has in many, many years. Combined with periodic facials, they seem to actively calm and improve my skin (versus the treatments I've tried over the years, many of them dermatologist-prescribed, that aggressively dry or otherwise aggravate it in the name of controlling break-outs). I moisturize twice daily with the cream (over a drop or two of SkinCeuticals' Hydrating B-5 gel if I'm flaky [which can happen here in the winter!]; keeping my skin hydrated and calmed seems to work better for me than any other "treatments." Or maybe, after two decades of it, I've finally just (mostly) outgrown my acne; who knows.
• J Crew's winter sale. 40% off of all sale items with code MUSTHAVE. For real! The web store wasn't applying my discount, so I called customer service--and was given free shipping for my "trouble"! I got $265 worth of (originally-priced merchandise) for a fraction of that. Deal ends tomorrow, though, so hurry!
  

What are your Awesome Things this winter?

Sunscreen

It may seem silly to be discussing sunscreen in the middle of winter, but here in Mpls, anyway, the sun is shining (and reflecting off the snow everywhere), and the small amount of skin that's uncovered still needs to be protected.

As a pale person, with at least partially red hair, a tendency to freckle, and a familial history of skin cancer, I know that it's especially important for me to wear sunscreen daily. However, I haven't always been particularly good at it, mostly because said pale skin is also morbidly sensitive and tends to break out at the mere thought of new chemicals. I've tried any number of drugstore moisturizers with SPF, and last year, at the recommendation of my aesthetician,* sprung for SkinCeuticals' Ultimate Defense moisturizing sunscreen.

However, although that product was definitely superior to others I'd tried, I still felt like it left me looking and feeling somewhat greasy--and had a suspicion that it might be responsible for the stubborn whiteheads I couldn't quite clear up. I found myself not wearing it as consistently as I should, and so when I was back at the clinic this spring, I asked if they had any other recommendations.

As it happened, they did: another SkinCeuticals product, recently released, called Sheer Physical UV Defense. This sunscreen is hands-down the most amazing sunscreen I've ever tried--and in the running for most amazing skincare product generally. It's in a small bottle (TSA-approved!), and you shake it (hearing the little agitator ball rattle around, like in spray paint) before applying the liquid to your face in small sections. The "mattifying fluid" absorbs instantly and easily, leaving a beautifully smooth surface that's perfect whether or not you apply make up over it. My skin doesn't even seem to notice it's there, which is saying a lot. Best of all, because it's not in the least bit greasy and even seems to improve the look of my make up, I really do wear it every day.

It's definitely not a steal, but for me it's worth it knowing that my skin doesn't react to it and that I'll actually wear it daily, the way I'm supposed to. Especially if you have fussy skin and have been avoiding daily sunscreen for that reason, I highly recommend it!

*Really she's one of the instructors at Saint Paul College, where students give $15 facials as part of their curriculum, but I've been going for long enough that she recognizes me and talks to me about my skin and product suggestions.

Blue Lagoon, Frankfurt,& Büchenbeuren

Tonight we are in Büchenbeuren, which is a small village near the "Frankfurt"-Hahn airport. Ordinarily it's an approximately two-hour bus ride from Real Frankfurt--though ours was longer for some reason apparently explained in German while I was sleeping--which David and I used productively to nap. I would wake up occasionally to really gorgeous verdantly pastoral splashes of German countryside, but would be unable to keep my eyes open.

Our adorable tiny hotel, from which I write, is a welcome change after last night's sketchiest of hostels, of which I will only say: I am too old to be insulted by the surly German youth acting as

receptionist AND sleep on a bunk bed in a dorm room with four [large, male] strangers.

(Thankfully the breakfast this morning was genuinely fantastic, with plentiful rolls to top with cheese, cucumbers, and tomatoes (or Nutella!); muesli; fruit juices; and unlimited coffee.)

We spent the morning poking around Frankfurt, to which I had never been and which is a striking combination of the very old (or at least remnants thereof, after the bombings they took in the war) and the commercial new.

This weekend was also the big Museum Festival, which we didn't know about before booking our trip, but made our time there even more enjoyable, with long stretches of tents along both sides of the river, selling a variety of food, jewelery, and art.

Ah! But before we even got into Frankfurt yesterday, we spent a really lovely layover in Reykjavic, where we did make it to the Blue Lagoon Spa!

It was a quick and easy bus ride from the airport, and we were both able to rent towels and swim suits to enjoy the thermally-heated, silica-clouded, ice-blue waters of the large pool.

It was a brisk day, so steam rose off the water and especially from a central vent around which bathers concentrated, but didn't get -too- close, to avoid being scalded! There were pots of silica mud to smear and let dry on your face, which tightened and smoothed the skin when it was rinsed off.

After a wonderfully warming and relaxing dip, David and I enjoyed leisurely sandwiches in the cafe and strolled around the volcanic landscape before catching our bus back to the airport. Best layover ever.

Now we're headed to "the next village over," where the local restaurant will apparently come pick us up to dine there. It's an Argentinian steak house, but the menu lists an impressive array of vegetarian sides, so I'm excited about some quasi-authentic German eating! Edit: We just got back, and I am stuffed. They made us these great "mixed plates" of the vegetarian options, which included the best baked potato I've eaten in my life. That sounds silly, but it was amazing!

Favorites

A few things I'm loving recently:

• Covergirl LashBlast waterproof mascara in black. A recommendation from my aunt, this goes on smoothly and doesn't seem to flake or smudge. I forgot my L'Oreal mascara on a weekend trip several years ago, and my friend's mom gave me an unopened tube of Cover Girl mascara that I ended up loving, and buying for years (especially since it was cheaper than L'Oreal!). I experimented with other brands after Covergirl stopped making that product, but now I'm back and happy.
  
• Sephora FACE waterproof eye makeup remover. This was another recommendation by the same aunt, and I cannot emphasize how awesome it is. Waterproof eye makeup remover, in my experience, is either greasy, useless, or overpriced, but this is none of the above. It seems to lift mascara magically away. My skin is really sensitive, and sometimes this stings a little, but it doesn't even need to stay on for long because it dissolves makeup almost instantly. Best yet, it's only $8 for 4.22 ounces.
• Alba Sea Plus Renewal Cream. I've blogged in the past about Alba; I love their mango body wash, and last summer discovered their lip balm. I just bought this cream yesterday, so my recommendation might be a bit premature, but so far I'm sold. The consistency is very thick: almost like butter, but not greasy. It does contain some fragrance, but doesn't sting my (seriously, morbidly sensitive) skin. This may be a bit too much for the spring and summer, but is doing wonders for my winter flakiness. The site says it's $14.95, but it was only $12.99 at my grocery store.

A pox!

Well, Internets, my stomach, love handles, and shoulders are covered in a smattering of tiny red bumps.

In the office at school, we discussed the situation. I don't think that "providing too much information about personal maladies" is one of the most common ways to gain friends and influence people, but I will say that allowing others to help you with your most pressing distractions does facilitate the development of a certain kind of rapport. So does showing them your love handles.

My colleagues offered many suggestions. Could it be stress? I am certainly under a great deal of stress, and my skin has a history of reacting. Something I'd eaten? I'd never had that red curry at True Thai before. Maybe contact dermatitis? I did recently start using a lotion I'd rediscovered after a perhaps-too-long hiatus.

I easily ruled out the scarlet fever and hives using Google image search--which is not for the faint of heart when being used to research medical conditions, but does once again make for interesting office conversations.

When my sister called tonight, I naturally asked her about my red bumps. As I was describing them, I realized they're of the precise persuasion of the bumps I get on my chest after long runs, under my tank top. As I thought about it, I realized that yesterday had been, pathetically, my first workout of any sort since I left California: I biked to school and back. It was warm (high of 37!), and I overdid the layers in a way it's easy to do this time of year. I ended up sweaty and panting.

The result, as near as I can figure--in addition to an ego dented by how out of shape I've gotten since I've been driving to school (like a pansy)--is this nice rash. Insult to injury. I hope it goes away soon.