7 Amazing Health & Beauty Finds

It happens a lot.  I suppose it’s because I write about health, beauty, nutrition and fitness, and I’m privy to so many expert opinions and so many different products. Sometimes I’ll try them once, and then never use them again. But other times I’m delighted and surprised to have found something I never knew about before  – and am delighted when I love it and grant it   a permanent place on my shelf.

Someone  – be it a friend, an acquaintance or a stranger – will ask me what I use, what I like, what I think about this or that.

And then they’ll buy it. Or not.

I feel a lot of pressure, going on and on about something I love, because, after all, isn’t the satisfaction all in the eye of the beholder/user? What one person loves another might loathe. But when I get an email from someone I’ll identify as “your fuzzy pal”  (I’ll share an excerpt from it below), I can’t help but smile and feel like my advice does count for something.

Maybe that’s why I originally thought I’d be a psychologist, but being a writer will do just fine…I can still dole out advice and make people happy, after all. At least some people, some of the time.

“Sheryl – I wanted to thank you for your facial hair post from a while back about facial hair removal. I bought the product and used it the first time this weekend; I had just burned myself too many times waxing my upper lip to get rid of my little mustache. I remember trying mineral make up for the first time at a store — the girl applied it for me, and I broke into tears because the minerals clung to every little patch of fuzz. And, that was back in my 30s. I was horrified, but I didn’t really know what I could do. BUT, now that I’m getting older and hairier, I had to try something. We’ll see how it goes.”

So, here goes…I’m sharing some things I’ve tried and believe in, in no particular order. (Note: I get a lot of things sent to me; I don’t get paid to review any of them. I only write about/share the things that I think are really special. The others go without mention. But I must disclose that if you do choose to purchase via Amazon, I will receive a teensy tiny payback from them, since I’m an Amazon Affiliate. No pressure at all – honest!)

Here are some of my favorite things I’ve tried…and stuck with.

1. Latisse. If you  crave thick luscious lashes, this is it. (Face it, they do thin out with so-called age.)  Since starting it, mine are now so long they are hitting the lenses of my sunglasses. They’re darker, too (a plus for me, since they’re pretty light-colored). It’s not cheap…you need a prescription…but it works. I hesitated for years because a disclaimer says it could change your eye color, and I didn’t think brown eyes would suit me…but I still have my what-I-was-born-with blue eyes.
2. Ozery Bakery’s “Morning Rounds” – YUM. Love these. (I’m a sucker for bread – but I won’t waste it on just any bread. It has to be great bread.) Fabulous for breakfast or a snack, these “buns” resemble small pita rounds. There are no artificial preservatives; they made from whole grains, filled with pieces of real fruit –  and they’re great toasted, or used for French toast or just plain old snacking.  A favorite variety of mine is date and chia, spread with peanut butter and banana. (I packed this to bring on the plane with me for my recent trip to the West Coast. Beats airline food every time.)
3. Jenu  People have used superlatives like “game changing” and “amazing” to describe this skin care device, which uses ultrasonic energy via a hand-held wand to infuse your skin care products into the deeper layers of your skin to help treat fine lines, wrinkles, dryness…you know, all those pesky things related to aging. You know all those expensive skin care products you spend money on, hoping for a miracle? According to some studies, most of the products never even get absorbed into the skin; instead they rest on the surface of your skin, doing little to help. I guess we all need a little push now and then.
4. ThinOptics Chances are by now you are using reading glasses (most of us begin around our mid-40s)…and chances are you’re losing, misplacing or forgetting them when you need them most. These have been life-savers for me so many times, because they’re so small, so thin and so lightweight that you can stash them anywhere – even in your wallet or on the back of your cellphone case. (And if you’re like me and never without your cell phone, you will always have your reading glasses with you, too.)  Every time I take out my ThinOptics, someone asks me where I got them. My favorite use for them: When I’m getting my hair colored (uh, oh, now the secret’s out) – since they just pinch onto the sides of your nose, you never have to worry about getting the sides of your reading glasses covered with gunk
5. Panasonic Facial Trimmer (See above) Fabulous for removing pesky facial hairs that make you say “yikes!” – or worse. It even works on hairy toes and hands and feet and just about anywhere else you can think of that sports fuzz.
6. Jane Iredale. I’ve tried many of their products; I especially love these lip crayons for various reasons – most importantly, they go on smoothly and you can’t mess up around the lines of lips (a all-too-common error for me, hence my husband’s nickname of “Clown Mouth.” Need I explain more?)
7. Aveeno Baby Lavender and Vanilla Lotion The scent of lavender and vanilla practically sends me into a trance…it (almost) makes me feel like I’ve meditated. But wait – my children are grown, so why am I buying baby products? I stumbled upon this one and decided to try it on my delicate baby-like skin (not really, my skin is more crocodile-like, actually, especially in the dry winter months). But somehow, between its scent and the “baby” designation, I feel like someone has wrapped me up in a soft blanket and is cuddling me. (Maybe it’s time for that therapy session after all.)