I realised last night, as I stood under the shower watching mud run down the drain, that I have become that most mundane of things: a creature of habit.
How did this happen? I have never really been interested in set schedules or routines, I adhere to them because society demands it. Otherwise, I could care less.
When I thought about it, this whole 'routine' thing came about because of environmental factors. It is uber dusty here, and dry. My skin and hair forever have a fine grit of dirt, which is worse after a windy day or a lick run, even if I wear a beanie to keep the ick out of my hair. So I started doing particular 'beauty chores' on set days.
Hair used to be washed every week to ten days, and I never used conditoner. Not for nearly 5 years. Now I do: I still wash my hair in (homemade) soap, but I do it twice a week, and I condition both times.
My face still gets washed morning and night, moisturiser both ends of the day (sorbolene mixed with olive, rice bran and grapeseed oils) but I have segued from wipes in the morning to a face washer. I have a few, and their sole purpose is to wash my face in the morning. I still have wipes, I use them when we are travelling, and to take my makeup off when I wear it, before washing. Night face washing is done in the shower, with that homemade soap.
Mondays and Thursdays, I use a green tea and olive oil facial scrub (thank you Aldi). These are lick run days, so these are the days I do my hair, unless we are going into town the next day, then it's a Tuesday wash, and a blowdry. Grocery days are always Wednesday: Woolies have less pick-ups on Wednesdays.
Masks are weekly: usually Friday. I forgot tonight, because I was working, so will do it tomorrow night instead. I like to use a mask Friday because I won't be back on the lick run until Monday, so my skin gets 2 whole days to benefit from the goodies in the mask.
The only thing that hasn't changed is my sunscreen addiction. I've been sunscreening every day for 30+ years, and it is so ingrained, I forgot to add it here. Every day, no matter the weather, or the time I surface, I wash, moisturise and sunscreen every part of me that will be exposed to the sun; even in winter in Tasmania. Yes, it is possible to be THAT pathetic.
I am kind of enjoying having a routine; it helps me keep track of the days, which can be difficult out here. Plus, it makes me mindful of what I am doing, and I need to do that more.
Friday, 7 September 2018
Saturday, 11 August 2018
The Sunscreen Post
The inspiration for this post was Katy-Rose over at Modly Chic (a blog I have loved for - a long time), and a post she recently did on sunscreen.
I've been using sunscreen for..... over 3 decades. Closer to 3.5 decades I reckon. My mum went bonkers on it when I was in Grade 6 or 7. Before we moved out of Southern Hell to Northern What-the-Hell. At the time, no-one wore sunscreen. NO-ONE!!! Baby oil and coconut oil were huge - anything with an SPF was scarcer than hen's teeth. But my mum found it. And enforced its use.
While I thought then she was off her rocker (I wanted coconut oil, loved the smell. Mum, not so much. The smell of coconut turns her green about the gills). I resisted strenuously. And lost. I hated having to be even more uncool than I already was, but now I am so very grateful she enforced sunscreen. As a result of her militant attitude I have very minimal sun damage, my eyesight is great (I wear sunglasses 365 days, have done since I was 17), and my skin is in great condition (that may be partly genetic, but also lifestyle).
What Mum knew, and I didn't was that there was (and is) a whopping hole in the ozone over Tasmania - no UV blocking. So those who were not using an SPF were exposed to UVB rays (these are the scary ones) at full force. We started, way back then, with SPF4. Now, I use SPF 50+ (blocks 98% of UVB rays).
I no longer live in Tasmania, but I still use sunscreen every day. I go out early with the dogs (about 90 minutes) and get my daily hit of sun exposure for Vitamin D (I have had deficiencies before and am at constant risk - thank you genetics!), come back in, clean my face and sunscreen everything that will be exposed to the sun. In the summer, I wear a hat with a big brim to protect my face; I tend to rely on that to protect my face, rather than reapplying. My body, I reapply every 3 to 4 hours; anything that is exposed to the sun gets sunscreened. My hands get redone after every wash. Even now, in winter...
No matter how much sunscreen I use, any part of me exposed to the sun will tan. I go black in places; not dark brown - black. Other parts, just dark brown. Still others, golden. No-sun-ever bits, lily-white.
I am not fussy about the sunscreen I use - just so long as it is the highest SPF I can lay hands on (50+). Currently, I am using an Aldi (supermarket in-house brand) one. As a child, I used whatever Mum could get. As an adult, I started out with Banana Boat, but that broke me out after a while. I switched to Hamilton's - same deal. Cancer Council sunscreen gave me a rash. Invisible Zinc was the best thing ever in its original formulation; then they changed it, and it became impossible to get to absorb. About 15 years ago, I bought a Coles cheapy (4 kids, all needing sunscreen) - a litre doesn't go far in those circumstances, and one day I used that on my face; I had run out of my IZ. And I was sold.
Aside from being a high SPF, my requirements for sunscreen are pretty simple; don't break me out. Don't be oily looking/feeling. Don't be drying. No heavy fragrances. No 'heavy' face feel. And do not mess up my makeup when I wear it - this was a BIG problem back in the 80's and 90's - sunscreen and foundation did not go well together.
I have never in my life relied on the SPF in makeup to protect my skin; most are low (15+ if you are lucky) and almost none are broad spectrum. Broad spectrum sunscreens offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays (while UVB is the truly deadly one, UVA isn't great for you).
I cannot, for the life of me, understand how people in Australia do not use a proper sunscreen - a broad spectrum one. And wear sunsafe hats and sunglasses. There are far more attractive options about these days, and with the education programs, no excuses for not wearing a broad spectrum high SPF sunscreen.
I've been using sunscreen for..... over 3 decades. Closer to 3.5 decades I reckon. My mum went bonkers on it when I was in Grade 6 or 7. Before we moved out of Southern Hell to Northern What-the-Hell. At the time, no-one wore sunscreen. NO-ONE!!! Baby oil and coconut oil were huge - anything with an SPF was scarcer than hen's teeth. But my mum found it. And enforced its use.
While I thought then she was off her rocker (I wanted coconut oil, loved the smell. Mum, not so much. The smell of coconut turns her green about the gills). I resisted strenuously. And lost. I hated having to be even more uncool than I already was, but now I am so very grateful she enforced sunscreen. As a result of her militant attitude I have very minimal sun damage, my eyesight is great (I wear sunglasses 365 days, have done since I was 17), and my skin is in great condition (that may be partly genetic, but also lifestyle).
What Mum knew, and I didn't was that there was (and is) a whopping hole in the ozone over Tasmania - no UV blocking. So those who were not using an SPF were exposed to UVB rays (these are the scary ones) at full force. We started, way back then, with SPF4. Now, I use SPF 50+ (blocks 98% of UVB rays).
I no longer live in Tasmania, but I still use sunscreen every day. I go out early with the dogs (about 90 minutes) and get my daily hit of sun exposure for Vitamin D (I have had deficiencies before and am at constant risk - thank you genetics!), come back in, clean my face and sunscreen everything that will be exposed to the sun. In the summer, I wear a hat with a big brim to protect my face; I tend to rely on that to protect my face, rather than reapplying. My body, I reapply every 3 to 4 hours; anything that is exposed to the sun gets sunscreened. My hands get redone after every wash. Even now, in winter...
No matter how much sunscreen I use, any part of me exposed to the sun will tan. I go black in places; not dark brown - black. Other parts, just dark brown. Still others, golden. No-sun-ever bits, lily-white.
I am not fussy about the sunscreen I use - just so long as it is the highest SPF I can lay hands on (50+). Currently, I am using an Aldi (supermarket in-house brand) one. As a child, I used whatever Mum could get. As an adult, I started out with Banana Boat, but that broke me out after a while. I switched to Hamilton's - same deal. Cancer Council sunscreen gave me a rash. Invisible Zinc was the best thing ever in its original formulation; then they changed it, and it became impossible to get to absorb. About 15 years ago, I bought a Coles cheapy (4 kids, all needing sunscreen) - a litre doesn't go far in those circumstances, and one day I used that on my face; I had run out of my IZ. And I was sold.
Aside from being a high SPF, my requirements for sunscreen are pretty simple; don't break me out. Don't be oily looking/feeling. Don't be drying. No heavy fragrances. No 'heavy' face feel. And do not mess up my makeup when I wear it - this was a BIG problem back in the 80's and 90's - sunscreen and foundation did not go well together.
I have never in my life relied on the SPF in makeup to protect my skin; most are low (15+ if you are lucky) and almost none are broad spectrum. Broad spectrum sunscreens offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays (while UVB is the truly deadly one, UVA isn't great for you).
I cannot, for the life of me, understand how people in Australia do not use a proper sunscreen - a broad spectrum one. And wear sunsafe hats and sunglasses. There are far more attractive options about these days, and with the education programs, no excuses for not wearing a broad spectrum high SPF sunscreen.
Friday, 10 August 2018
MUD - The Verdict
I have to say, I was surprised at myself, I used the makeup almost every day I was away. I did take a couple of days off, because I was feeling 'Meh!' and I just couldn't be bothered. And the day we did the final run home.
So, I was away for 12 days, and wore makeup for 9. I was very impressed. No colour change, no patchiness, no 'tired makeup' look. It all lasted (with the exception of the lipstick - no mirror=no checks) all day every day.
We're talking 6 a.m. til well after 7 p.m. I did re-do the night we went out for dinner, because I wanted a fresh face to match the rest of me.
The smell was still there in the CC cream, but I noticed it less. As I said earlier, I think that was in part at least due to my avoidance of fragranced items as a rule.
I was also impressed with the Rimmel eyeshadow palette. It stayed put and true to colour. No primer, no assistance other than a swipe of the CC cream across the lids - and some translucent powder over that. No creasing, no fallout with application, no transfer or fade.
One really good thing; I was forever blowing my nose in the mornings (cold wind on the ocean), and normally this would see my base transfer to the tissue. None of that with the BB cream. I checked immediately we got back to the in-laws unit (well, immediately after 'Hello' hugs with FIL).
For application I used my fingers for the CC cream, an old el cheapo e/s brush for my eyes, and an equally old puff for the powder. Which makes the results even more impressive.
I am now contemplating buying the 2 e/s palettes. And maybe a blush (and a brush to go with it). And also maybe some more lipsticks - because I need more than one shade to test. Right?
So, I was away for 12 days, and wore makeup for 9. I was very impressed. No colour change, no patchiness, no 'tired makeup' look. It all lasted (with the exception of the lipstick - no mirror=no checks) all day every day.
We're talking 6 a.m. til well after 7 p.m. I did re-do the night we went out for dinner, because I wanted a fresh face to match the rest of me.
The smell was still there in the CC cream, but I noticed it less. As I said earlier, I think that was in part at least due to my avoidance of fragranced items as a rule.
I was also impressed with the Rimmel eyeshadow palette. It stayed put and true to colour. No primer, no assistance other than a swipe of the CC cream across the lids - and some translucent powder over that. No creasing, no fallout with application, no transfer or fade.
One really good thing; I was forever blowing my nose in the mornings (cold wind on the ocean), and normally this would see my base transfer to the tissue. None of that with the BB cream. I checked immediately we got back to the in-laws unit (well, immediately after 'Hello' hugs with FIL).
For application I used my fingers for the CC cream, an old el cheapo e/s brush for my eyes, and an equally old puff for the powder. Which makes the results even more impressive.
I am now contemplating buying the 2 e/s palettes. And maybe a blush (and a brush to go with it). And also maybe some more lipsticks - because I need more than one shade to test. Right?
Saturday, 21 July 2018
Testing MUD Cosmetics...
I posted the other week about my planned purchases. Well, I revised that list, and went to work with what I had, in terms of accessibility.
Last week, I placed my 6-weekly grocery order, and I got me some makeup. I got MUD (MakeUp Design) and Rimmel from Woolworths. Cheap (Rimmel was 1/2 price), so no major issues if it all went to Hell, or was utter rubbish.
3 days in, and I have to say, I am rather impressed. The BB cream (MUD) was around $8AUD, and I love it! My only complaint is the smell, but I only have to deal with that briefly, so we are all good. I've worked out that the reason the smell (think plastic fruity smell) got to me so much is that everything I use is fragrance-free due to my husband having emphysema (fragrance affects his breathing badly), so that first whiff was HUGE! Day 3, it was minimal, because I'd adjusted.
Anyway, the products: CC Cream (light to medium) $8AUD, pressed translucent powder $4AUD, lipstick in Pure Passion $4.50AUD, and the Rimmel is the Calm Down & Wear Gold e/s palette. And I am very happy with all of it. The lipstick is the only 'iffy' thing, and that's because I can't say how long the colour lasts (I've been out every day, and not near mirrors to check). Plus, I've only worn it 2 days, as my lips are suffering from the week-long run of -5 (Celcius) days we had right before we left home for the coast.
Day 1: Up at 1.30, face on at 2.00, out the door by 2.30. That is in the a.m. - cold and dark in south-central Qld. I did the whole lot (with a random e/l & mascara) and left it all day. Wandered into our room around 5 that evening, and it was all still there, no patchiness or colour change. I'd not touched it all day.
Day 2: I was running late (we are walking with hubby's mum in the mornings), so I did my face 5 minutes before leaving at 6.45 a.m. Minor - very minor - transfer to the (cheek height) collar of my cream puffer vest - came off with a wipe. Day 3, I did it half an hour before leaving, no transfer. Lipstick had no transfer onto a cup of tea 2 minutes after application (I truly wasn't awake), but lack of mirrors means I can't say how long it lasted.
I have had no patchiness, colour change or 'heaviness' at all over the 3 days. Each day, when I wander in the door, I check, and I still look reasonably polished. I'd look better if I powdered through the day. And given one of those days was 16+ hours, that's impressive. Granted, this is winter in Queensland, so I am not sweating and humidity is low, but still, I am impressed. For me, this is a major breakthrough in makeup.
Last week, I placed my 6-weekly grocery order, and I got me some makeup. I got MUD (MakeUp Design) and Rimmel from Woolworths. Cheap (Rimmel was 1/2 price), so no major issues if it all went to Hell, or was utter rubbish.
3 days in, and I have to say, I am rather impressed. The BB cream (MUD) was around $8AUD, and I love it! My only complaint is the smell, but I only have to deal with that briefly, so we are all good. I've worked out that the reason the smell (think plastic fruity smell) got to me so much is that everything I use is fragrance-free due to my husband having emphysema (fragrance affects his breathing badly), so that first whiff was HUGE! Day 3, it was minimal, because I'd adjusted.
Anyway, the products: CC Cream (light to medium) $8AUD, pressed translucent powder $4AUD, lipstick in Pure Passion $4.50AUD, and the Rimmel is the Calm Down & Wear Gold e/s palette. And I am very happy with all of it. The lipstick is the only 'iffy' thing, and that's because I can't say how long the colour lasts (I've been out every day, and not near mirrors to check). Plus, I've only worn it 2 days, as my lips are suffering from the week-long run of -5 (Celcius) days we had right before we left home for the coast.
Day 1: Up at 1.30, face on at 2.00, out the door by 2.30. That is in the a.m. - cold and dark in south-central Qld. I did the whole lot (with a random e/l & mascara) and left it all day. Wandered into our room around 5 that evening, and it was all still there, no patchiness or colour change. I'd not touched it all day.
Day 2: I was running late (we are walking with hubby's mum in the mornings), so I did my face 5 minutes before leaving at 6.45 a.m. Minor - very minor - transfer to the (cheek height) collar of my cream puffer vest - came off with a wipe. Day 3, I did it half an hour before leaving, no transfer. Lipstick had no transfer onto a cup of tea 2 minutes after application (I truly wasn't awake), but lack of mirrors means I can't say how long it lasted.
I have had no patchiness, colour change or 'heaviness' at all over the 3 days. Each day, when I wander in the door, I check, and I still look reasonably polished. I'd look better if I powdered through the day. And given one of those days was 16+ hours, that's impressive. Granted, this is winter in Queensland, so I am not sweating and humidity is low, but still, I am impressed. For me, this is a major breakthrough in makeup.
Sunday, 15 July 2018
I've Been Doing It Wrong!
For years - decades even. On the advice of 'experts' - MAs and SAs. No wonder I never got the results I was looking for! Not that I can blame them; they were following their training, but still - how much happier would my relationship with cosmetics be now had I known this years ago?!
Let's start with concealer.
Dark under-eye circles. At different times, I have looked like I have twin shiners; since childhood. I've had maybe half-a-dozen black eyes in my life, and never 2 at the same time. Well, ok, once; when my sister smashed me in the face as hard as she could with a wooden hearth brush & broke my nose. But that's the only time. And a story for another blog. (NB: That is the ONLY time I've had twin black eyes; and only once of the twice they were caused by people. The rest? Blood pressure, meet floor...)
Concealer should be the same colour as your skin toner. So I was told. No. A shade or two lighter is ok. *le sigh* That would have made life easier; matching foundation to my skin tone is hard enough, without trying to match concealer.
The colour of the concealer is another thing I am (still) confused about; yellow to combat purple circles. I think. Orange or preach if they are brown. I think. Green for redness (not an under-eye issue I have, except in allergy season, or after watching The Notebook or Once Were Warriors).
Confused? You betcha! But wait, there's more!
When to apply concealer - I always understood it was before foundation. The experts disagree. Or agree. Or a bit of both. Aaaarrrgggghhhh!!!
How to apply it. Just on the circles? No. An inverted triangle onto your cheekbones. Right - that would explain a lot. It wasn't me. Or rather, it was, but it wasn't just me...
And then there's powder.
This is easy; match to your foundation shade. Or family (light, medium, dark).
No.
Translucent. Looks white but isn't. Blends in for a polished finish. And you can apply and reapply through the day to control oil and smooth your look because there is no colour! Again, something it would have been useful to know years ago.
And you 'bake it' - pack it on over your concealered bits, leave for 5 - 10 minutes, brush (fluff) off the excess with a brush loaded with a powder foundation/finishing powder.
Feh! Anyone else exhausted by all this?
Let's start with concealer.
Dark under-eye circles. At different times, I have looked like I have twin shiners; since childhood. I've had maybe half-a-dozen black eyes in my life, and never 2 at the same time. Well, ok, once; when my sister smashed me in the face as hard as she could with a wooden hearth brush & broke my nose. But that's the only time. And a story for another blog. (NB: That is the ONLY time I've had twin black eyes; and only once of the twice they were caused by people. The rest? Blood pressure, meet floor...)
Concealer should be the same colour as your skin toner. So I was told. No. A shade or two lighter is ok. *le sigh* That would have made life easier; matching foundation to my skin tone is hard enough, without trying to match concealer.
The colour of the concealer is another thing I am (still) confused about; yellow to combat purple circles. I think. Orange or preach if they are brown. I think. Green for redness (not an under-eye issue I have, except in allergy season, or after watching The Notebook or Once Were Warriors).
Confused? You betcha! But wait, there's more!
When to apply concealer - I always understood it was before foundation. The experts disagree. Or agree. Or a bit of both. Aaaarrrgggghhhh!!!
How to apply it. Just on the circles? No. An inverted triangle onto your cheekbones. Right - that would explain a lot. It wasn't me. Or rather, it was, but it wasn't just me...
And then there's powder.
This is easy; match to your foundation shade. Or family (light, medium, dark).
No.
Translucent. Looks white but isn't. Blends in for a polished finish. And you can apply and reapply through the day to control oil and smooth your look because there is no colour! Again, something it would have been useful to know years ago.
And you 'bake it' - pack it on over your concealered bits, leave for 5 - 10 minutes, brush (fluff) off the excess with a brush loaded with a powder foundation/finishing powder.
Feh! Anyone else exhausted by all this?
Thursday, 12 July 2018
Skin Specifics
I have long described my skin as 'cranky'. Because, like the rest of me, it is.
When I was younger, it was oily. Super oily with HUGE pores. The only blessing? I never suffered from acne - the occasional hormonal breakout, but never severe. I've always had dark under-eye circles; as a child I often looked like I had twin shiners!
The oil-slick continued until I was 28, when I had a hysterectomy. Then things really changed. I had to re-learn my skin. From oil-slick to desert dry in one easy (!) step. And no more monthly breakouts. Now it was stress that did it; but rather than big blind pimples, it was white heads and the odd blackhead.
As I head for 50, not much has changed, although my pores are finer. I have wrinkles, and in the last 12 months, pigmentation has started to appear in patches. There's a name for it, my sister told me (she has it too), but I've forgotten what it is. The worst is on the middle of my forehead, although I have it on my chin, upper lip (looks like a mo' on a bad day), and my cheeks, around my eyes.
Concerns? Besides the pigmentation and the wrinkles - not a lot. I'm past worrying about the dark circles; I have NEVER found a concealer that works, so I've given that up as a lost cause.
Pigmentation - my sister is being my guinea pig, with no luck as yet. I'll live with it til a miracle happens.
Wrinkles - fact of aging and moving my face. I'll live with those too.
Dryness - now THIS is something I do constant battle with. My bespoke (homemade & cheap) winter moisturiser is working for now, but as it gets colder, who knows. I know that whatever I use has to be lightweight but rich as thick, heavy stuff will make my skin feel 'ick' and look muddy.
I'd also love to find a liquid foundation that matches my skin tone, gives light-to-medium coverage, doesn't run off or vanish into my skin in an hour, and stays true to colour. I've long had this problem - great colour match initially, and then, Boom! it's a totally different shade, and I look like a clown. Or it vanishes - usually in patches. And I look like a clown.
One thing I would like to get done, which is actually not skin-specific, but is vanity-related, is teeth whitening. Not the celebrity blue-white, just a few shades whiter. And maybe, if it was possible, my brows lasered into shape, so I never (or rarely) have to endure waxing again...
When I was younger, it was oily. Super oily with HUGE pores. The only blessing? I never suffered from acne - the occasional hormonal breakout, but never severe. I've always had dark under-eye circles; as a child I often looked like I had twin shiners!
The oil-slick continued until I was 28, when I had a hysterectomy. Then things really changed. I had to re-learn my skin. From oil-slick to desert dry in one easy (!) step. And no more monthly breakouts. Now it was stress that did it; but rather than big blind pimples, it was white heads and the odd blackhead.
As I head for 50, not much has changed, although my pores are finer. I have wrinkles, and in the last 12 months, pigmentation has started to appear in patches. There's a name for it, my sister told me (she has it too), but I've forgotten what it is. The worst is on the middle of my forehead, although I have it on my chin, upper lip (looks like a mo' on a bad day), and my cheeks, around my eyes.
Concerns? Besides the pigmentation and the wrinkles - not a lot. I'm past worrying about the dark circles; I have NEVER found a concealer that works, so I've given that up as a lost cause.
Pigmentation - my sister is being my guinea pig, with no luck as yet. I'll live with it til a miracle happens.
Wrinkles - fact of aging and moving my face. I'll live with those too.
Dryness - now THIS is something I do constant battle with. My bespoke (homemade & cheap) winter moisturiser is working for now, but as it gets colder, who knows. I know that whatever I use has to be lightweight but rich as thick, heavy stuff will make my skin feel 'ick' and look muddy.
I'd also love to find a liquid foundation that matches my skin tone, gives light-to-medium coverage, doesn't run off or vanish into my skin in an hour, and stays true to colour. I've long had this problem - great colour match initially, and then, Boom! it's a totally different shade, and I look like a clown. Or it vanishes - usually in patches. And I look like a clown.
One thing I would like to get done, which is actually not skin-specific, but is vanity-related, is teeth whitening. Not the celebrity blue-white, just a few shades whiter. And maybe, if it was possible, my brows lasered into shape, so I never (or rarely) have to endure waxing again...
Monday, 2 July 2018
No more 'Avon Calling'
In February this year, Avon announced it would withdraw from the Australian & New Zealand markets as part of it's plan for long-term sustainable profit.
According to reports, no-one on the ground in these countries saw it coming. Although, the writing may have been on the mirror; the US arm was sold off in 2016. The US is a far bigger market than the Anitpodes could ever be. Still, it is sad.
Avon has long been a part of my beauty journey; my mum loved the original Skin So Soft - I remember the bubble bath from when I was a kid. My first 'grown up' perfume was Avon; my sister had a Strawberry Shortcake one. My MIL introduced me to Imari. I learnt that liquid eyeliner was NOT my thing through Avon, even the 'pen' ones were a fail for me - my hands aren't steady enough. Most of my early skincare in my teens and twenties was Avon; ditto my makeup. I was a happy chickadee when Avon came calling.
I loved Avon. It gave me a chance to try different skincare products at a bargain price; their vitamin C serum was great, albeit sticky. So was their green serum (forgot the name). Both were around well before the current offerings - at least 15 years ago. And they were GOOD!
The same went for makeup; no-one was every going to mistake Avon products as having the quality of high-end brands, but they gave us the option to play at a reasonable price point. And for the most part, the quality was there.
THAT was their genius; that and the fact that we could play with pretties that were delivered to our door, with no pressure to buy through 'parties', and, as often as not, gave us a chance to have a coffee and chat with another adult - an absolute God-send for a harrassed and harried mother of 5. I could shop in my trackies; I didn't have to get dressed, wrangle the kids into decent clothes, out the door and into town, only to be too exhausted to enjoy the shopping. It came to me & I could browse in those few spare moments I had; no scheduling required. And the products were, as a rule, good. Not top-notch, but not crap either; chemist shelves are full of these types of brands.
In later years, the company expanded into other things; clothing, homewares, toys, luggage etc. Jewellery had been there for years. Most of these lines were - ordinary. But again, they were cheap, and served a purpose if you approached it the right way. Buy a cheap pair of Avon shoes in a particular style, love them, buy a more expensive pair. Better that than to buy an exxy pair to start with, and hate them. If the Avon ones sucked, you killed them off, or gave them to Salvos; they were cheap enough that it didn't hurt too much.
I haven't bought Avon in years (moving all the time makes having an 'Avon lady' difficult), but I often thought I would like to; just knowing they were there made me feel - safe.
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