Thursday, August 7, 2008

Buh-Bye

Quick! Think of one personal item you use that is totally frivolous. Perfume? Lipstick? Eye Shadow? Nail Polish? After Shave? Hairspray?

Are you thinking of it? Yeah? Good!

Now say "Buh-Bye" in your best 'David Spade as rude flight attendant' style.

Yup. That's the challenge. Pick one extraneous beauty product and give it up.

Go ahead and keep the bottle. No sense tossing it out, after all. But put it out of reach and don't use it for at least one month. And then, when you do pull it out, only use it on special occasions. Make it last you the rest of your damned life, if you can.

I did this with my eyeshadow. I just decided to stop wearing it. It doesn't impact my look that much, so why bother with the plastic container, the little brush, etc., if I don't need it. Then that morphed into me not wearing makeup at all.

Except mascara. I have white Irish skin and the white Irish eyelashes to match, so I kind of look like a circus freak without it.

Anyhow, I don't use my bag-o-war-paint on a daily basis anymore. Just a little mascara and chapstick. What's fun about this change is that, when I do have a special occassion and I put on my makeup - I feel GORGEOUS! Like I spent the whole day at the spa getting all purdy. And it didn't cost me anything. Talk about cheap thrills!

All right, well I've got to go. I'll see you guys later. Buh-bye!



PS... for you folks who requested the Burbanmom cotton ball replacements - they are en route! Well, not really. But the envelopes are sitting right here next to me just waiting to be addressed! Ok, you got me. They're over on my desk. But really, they'll go in the mail tomorrow, I promise. or Saturday - at the latest!

10 comments:

Unknown said...

I don't use many products because I don't wear make-up. I have recently started using no 'poo for my hair and I use coconut oil as a conditioner. I also use coconut oil as a skin softener. I use baking soda to brush my teeth and a few months ago, I started making my own soap.

I guess the really bad thing I use is deordorant - but I haven't been able to find a comparable sustitute. Any suggestions?

J said...

Haha, I am sitting here trying to think of something I could say "buh-bye" to. I have never really worn makeup, I don't actually own any. I don't use face or skin cream. The only thing I can think would be something like soap, shampoo, or deodorant, and I'm not sure how my employer or partner would feel about that one.

Certainly I have something right? Right?!

Green Bean said...

Loving this series. Cosmetics have big impact on the environment and on our health. We don't have to give them up - just make smarter choices and use a little bit less stuff a little less often.

Anonymous said...

It's an easy to choice to give up a few make-up products or not wear any at all. We're all beautiful and we don't need to cover ourselves up.


Dagny
www.onnotextiles.com
bamboo and organic clothing

Robj98168 said...

I have the same bottle of cologne that I got as a gift years ago. I would go out and buy some Pierre Cardin and not use it but I dont think that is in the spirit of what you are asking.
I use so little after shave/cologne what have you. I use a a bar shaving soap and bristle brush,,,when I do shave. And a drop or two of Dr. Bronners 18 in one hemp oil peppermint soap- I bottle will last me over 5 months! Don't use deodorant, use maybe 4 q-tips a week. harumph... nothing to give up

Burbanmom said...

Bobbi - I've had good luck with the alum stone and I know a lot of folks who swear by plain ol' baking soda.

Jennifer - A lot of folks have been raving about going 'poo-free!

GB - If there's one thing we all need to do is remember that "a little drop 'll do ya", rather than using too much of anything.

Rob - yeah, you guys will probably get off easy during personal hygiene month. But don't worry, I'm gonna really put you to work during "water conservation month" as our resident plumbing expert! Thanks in advance for all your help. I can't believe you volunteered to install low-flow showerheads for all the GGWB participants! You rock! ;-)

Anonymous said...

This is my first time reading your blog, and I have to say that though I have almost all of those things, I rarely ever use them. I'm an air-drying, no makeup kind of girl. I was thinking what I could give up instead, and so far, I haven't come up with anything specific. I don't even shave more than once a week and I've started doing it sans shave gel. I do wish that my husband would give up a few things, but I'll let him keep the deodorant spray...

Tx Martin Family said...

I like the idea of using less,but... Instead of giving up something, why not use a more natural or organic product and use it less frequently. I use natural deodorant and shampoo, and even make up when I actually wear it. Most are highly concentrated so less plastic waste and I am protecting my health too. I love my wellness store online. if anyone is interested in what i use, just email me privately.

Anonymous said...

Does one, 1.7 oz spritzer of Chanel in 7 years count as giving it up? And then putting the empty bottle in the glove box of the truck to wring the last few remaining molecules as an air freshener...does that count?

Thrift Store Mama said...

Ooh, ooh - I can totally do this one. I will use hair spray no more than once every 3 weeks and full blown makeup no more than once a week.