6.01.2015

curio-ser and curio-ser


For years, the "cast members" at Sephora gave me a respectful berth. Eying the swatches of color strung along my upper arms, they would nod and smile, acknowledging a customer with obvious experience and no need of assistance, moving on to the next victim.

Now, I wander into Sephora like Bambi after the fire, cautiously eyeing products, glancing at labels the length of novellas, sadly leaving bottles and tubes on the shelves, and totally ruining the day of any cast member that thinks they can find what I'm looking for. One run through of the laundry list of things that my skin is sensitive to is enough to break their spirit.

I LOVE makeup. I LOVE skincare. It's half of my freaking professional uniform! Godsakes, first thing you do when you arrive on set is head to Hair & Makeup to start the works! Even before rehearsal, you're in the chair. But as much as I love product, it does not love me back (and neither does the makeup artist, who is handcuffed to my laundry list these days). Specifically, the world takeover of soy has caused me major (literal) headaches. IT'S IN EVERYTHING MAN! SOY IS THE NEW BLACK! And even when you read the ingredients and think you're safe, well wait a minute, it's donned a different cap! Lecithin! Tocopherol! Glycerin! 

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to go all Sephora on you.

The summer of 2013, my face was several shades of blue, green, black and glitter for a character in a otherworldly musical. I had an arsenal of skincare for my nightly removal of heavy stage makeup. My skin was mad at me, my hormones were wacko, and I was fed up. I called every brand I was using at the time, and asked one question: do you use soy or any soy derivatives? I was mostly met with what I could only imagine was confused blinking on the other end of the line. Here and there, someone would be able to give me a definitive answer, but for the most part, it was a question that they weren't aware needed answering. Since then, I've been telling myself I ought to share my research with y'all, but for the most part it was a sad little list of so-so product that made me wistful for the days when I didn't know better. Y'all, I'm using rubbing alcohol for deodorant. Rubbing. Alcohol.

Cut to about a month ago, when Kristin, of K Line, dipped her toes in the waters of beauty product with Curio: Potions for Skeptics. She asked if anyone might be interested in trying it out, and I raised my hand. And by raised my hand I mean JUMPED UP AND DOWN FLINGING ALL EXTREMITIES MADLY IN THE DIRECTION THAT I *THINK* CANADA IS IN. 

(Ruggy has recently informed me I've been wrong in my geographic assumption for years. I'm sticking to it.)

I don't know if you've run into Kristin, and her creative process. Thorough is an understatement. Exhaustive to the point of her own exhaustion might be a better descriptor. She treats patterns like a science experiment that must be completed at the risk of humanity's demise. She has that desire to find the best of everything, and enjoy the hell out of it once found.  

When I asked her that same crusader's question, she had answers. And she questioned herself, as a truly curious skeptic will. She treated my concerns exactly as I hoped she would: with the same inquisitive, magnifying glass intensity that she does most everything else. I ended up with several modified Curio products that I LOVE. Dudes. Can you imagine walking into Sephora and asking them to modify a product!?

So here's the post I've been planning since summer of 2013, and here's the new stuff in my bag: Serum A, Body Oil, and Arnica Salve. Body oil goes on right after shower, arnica salve goes on right after ballet, and HOLY EVERYTHING BATMAN Serum A goes on morning and night and sometimes during cocktails, it's just that good. Serum A is, for real, my favorite part of my routine. Take it from a recovering junkie-- this shizz is good. Kristin is adding new beauties to the shop as she deems them worthy, and you bet your moisturized booty I'll be adding more potions to my bag.

Oh yeah, and my bag now resides in THE FINISHED BATHROOM. THAAAAAAT'S RIGHT FOLKS!!!! RUGGY FINISHED THE BATHROOM!!!!!


I volunteered to try several of Kristin's Curio products, and I'm hollering about them because I love them! I also love the bathroom, Ruggy. It's beeyootiful.  

42 comments:

  1. Long time lurker here. Go figure that I read this for sewing but would come out of the shadows for a skin care post.
    Maybe rubbing alcohol is working well for you, but if not try this DIY that has changed my stinky life! I have sensitive skin and I smell bad. Deodorants either make me rashy or keep me smelling bad. On a whim, I tried a 50/50 mix of aloe gel and magnesium oil in a spray bottle. WORKS. Magnesium oil does sting a little on freshly-shorn skin (but less than rubbing alcohol!!), but dang on if I don't smell bad. All day! If your skin is less fussy than mine, you could add some essential oils, but I love that it smells like nothing.

    Also: your bathroom is amaaaazing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's hilarious!! I guess it's a full on sewing blog now, but I do enjoy veering off course ;)

      I can't believe it, you have suggested something I've never tried!! I'll look into it (and Ruggy says thankya :)

      Delete
  2. As a fellow skincare addict with picky skin, I'm THRILLED you found something you love! The quest is REAL. At the moment my skin tucks tail and runs in horror from all plant based oils and essential oils (stupid skin ruining my dreams of being an earth-goddess-hippie-wood-nymph creature) but I'm hoping that one day that will change and I can begin slathering myself in some beautiful feeling and smelling oils again because if that ain't luxury than I don't know WHAT is! Also if there is a product that doesn't turn my pits into an angry, red, itchy, burning mess than I need to get on that STAT!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, but you ARE a woodland fairy, I have always thought so! No lack of oil can rob you of that title. Kristin has a deodorant that I'm eyeing!

      Delete
    2. Have you tried using one of those salt crystal deodorants? Basically they're a big solid crystal that you wet and then rub on your armpits. They kill the bacteria that cause sweat to smell like BO (I assume by being hyperosmolar and drying them out), which means you don't even need to apply it every day (which is great for me because I forget half the time)

      Delete
    3. Yep, that was my go to for awhile but it eventually lost power. Hyperosmolar, eh?? Fancy science talk !!

      Delete
  3. Wait, Wait, WAIT!!!!! You just took us all around the world. And although your directionality with regard to Canada may be off by Ruggie's standards, we went there....
    I started looking at your blog in 2013. I believe you mentioned an undone bathroom a few times then.
    It is now done. Well then. :-) Oh - glad about the products and finding someone like that. I knew about the soy and the hormonal chaos it produces. Glad you are aware for your own personal good. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I DO go on, don't I?! And yes, that's why I threw the bathroom in this post, as both the soy free crusade and the DIY redo began summer of 2013. Made sense in my head but of course I didn't let y'all in on the connection. HA.

      That soy is a bear for some, maybe more than realize it!

      Delete
  4. I love your bathroom. Really really really really love it! Cool inserts into the tile....done quite nicely!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Those inserts were a killer, and he did it all himself!

      Delete
  5. I use apple cider vinegar for deodorant, which works most days. It helps that I live in a fairly dry climate.
    Have you tried alcohol based natural deodorant sprays? At least they use ethanol instead of isopropyl alcohol. They do all seem to be scented with mixes of essential oils, so I don't know if that would bother your skin. EO, Bumble & Bee Organic, and Burts Bees are some brands I've seen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, but I just can't get past the smell! Even though it fades. I actually adore essential oils, many Curio products (maybe all?) contain oils.

      Last I checked the brands you mentioned all have deal breakers, sadly. I've learned that all natural doesn't necessarily mean good, for me at least :). Alaffia makes a bunch of stuff I can use, but the quality isn't always great.

      Delete
  6. Gorgeous bathroom and yay! for finding products that you aren't allergic to.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Handcrafted cosmetics, skin care and soaps are a wonderful luxury for anyone to experience. If she isn't already a member, K-line might be interested in joining the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild (also the guild for cosmetic and skin care makers)

    there is also a great forum site called the Soap Dish.
    http://www.thedishforum.com/forum/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oops... forgot the link to the guild...
      http://www.soapguild.org/

      Delete
  8. You just said my favourite word! Ballet is my favourite and bets before even sewing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I looooove it. Although I've abandoned the pursuit of a perfect 5th position ;)

      Delete
  9. Ugh, your soy saga sounds sad (sorry, I just had to keep alliterating!) Glad that K has worked her magic and made products that work for you! Come back to Toronto soon and pick more up in person! (And I won't bail this time...)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Darlin' thank you so much for your review. And I freakin' love that bathroom.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Glad you finally found products you aren't allergic to. That bathroom is beautiful. I love how bright and cheery it is.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Who knew...I was saddened to the point of exhaustion at the cost of the products I have been buying for skincare. With that being said, I also was not happy with myself for not doing more research to find a healthy replacement for all the bad stuff, until now---I have some super duper dry lip problem plaguing my gorgeous pics you see on my blog. Coconut oil has been my constant companion for the last few weeks, and its trusty sidekick--"pork chop lips" LOL. My golly, the lady at the Dior counter told me I had extremely dry skin, something I have never experienced before!!! Man, that hurt. Then she proceeded to try and sell me a $165 serum. Are your **#!!!?? kidding me lady.

    Thanks for sharing. I ordered my potions before completing your read. Thank you, Thank you thanks. Now for the waiting game. Until then, please ignore my funky lips.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pork chop lips!!! TOO FUNNY! I slather lip balm about 50 times a day. When I run out I'm grabbing Kristin's. I hope you like it!

      Delete
    2. I was just about to ask re: hypoallergenic lipstick... My lips seem to break out from everything but Burt's Bees whose color doesn't seem to last I think 'cause it's not a true "lipstick". Anyone have a clue?
      LynneW
      cacoyote@aol.com

      Delete
  13. The bathroom is sublime! Your shower curtain would make the coolest kimono! I know, I know... it's water resistant polyester, not your typical kimono fabric...but still, totally gorgeous! Love the tiles and the sink too.

    And hooray for finding product! Having to wear stage and screen makeup on a regular basis must be challenging...sensitivities or not. I've bought some of the Sappho product line, locally made in Vancouver, because of the ingredients. I've played around with making some of my own serums and lotions too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh man, you are totally right. Maybe a rain kimono? That cheapo ikea curtain is never getting tossed. I LURVE it. I don't know if I'm remembering correctly, but I think Sappho was part of what sent K on the curio path??

      Delete
  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Long time lurker here as well! Ever since I moved to California, my skin has gone from acute psoriasis to now vitiligo(Michael Jackson anyone?)! I'm on a journey to find an all natural skin product that doesn't burn my skin! I'm curious about Kristin's products! Will look into it!
    As for deodorant, I swear by Rogé Cavaillès (a French brand) for sensitive skins!
    Love your bathroom and that shower curtain!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha, you were triply excited! Glad you've delurked ;)). This post brought some new faces out, maybe I'll do another soon on my bag of tricks...

      Delete
  17. I love love love the bathroom. The very words "healthy, natural and organic" on any cosmetic product makes my skin break out in a rash. I'm glad to see you found a good product to use.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Some time between last year and now, my skincare has went from facial cleanser and lotion to about a 7 step process. I am on the skincare love train, not so much the makeup train unless its a winged eye. So I get it. I am glad that you have found something for you.

    Rubbing Alcohol?? That's a new one. I heard people use coconut oil.

    Holy Mother of Corn Chips, the bathroom is done. Wowza. It looks great tho. Tell Ruggy, he did an amazing job.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I replied to a former post but thought I would also ask in general:
    I was just about to ask re: hypoallergenic lipstick... My lips seem to break out from everything but Burt's Bees whose color doesn't seem to last I think 'cause it's not a true "lipstick". Anyone have a clue?
    LynneW
    cacoyote@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Glad to hear you found something that works! Your bathroom looks fabulous!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hey - have you tried Lush? They're generally pretty good with listing all the ingredients and with providing the information on what the ingredients actually are and where they got it... The smell of the stores can be a bit overwhelming, but the products are lovely. They do some make up too, though I've never actually tried it so can't really say how good it is!
    http://www.lushusa.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, and also, a list of their products with Lecithin! http://www.lushusa.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-Lush-Site/en_US/Lushopedia-Start?iid=9538
      F xx

      Delete
  22. Raaa! Just wrote a really long comment and deleted it :(

    I'm crap with make up and beauty stuff, but have recently discovered that coconut oil is great for my nails (before I tried it I had about five hangnails at once, and much rage). Now I'm stuck with long nails for the first time in my life because I don't like coconut very much so have forgotten to bite them. Not sure what to do with them now, but I guess I'll figure it out.

    I second Anonymous re. Lush. They seem to list all ingredients really clearly and are super ethical and natural. The smell of the shops is a bit overpowering though. I reckon they would be able to answer questions about products easily. They started out in Poole on the south coast of England so I've obviously got some local pride going on, but they're still cool, even if I'm biased!

    ReplyDelete
  23. That bathroom is gorgeous! And ORANGE! I want an orange-based bathroom scenario, when I have a bathroom of my own one day.
    I can't comment on make-up and potions and stuff. I'm a luddite when it comes to that; sometimes, I go so far to rub lard into my hands. I only bought a lipstick last year, and usually forget to use it.
    Alcohol for deodorant?! Wow.

    ReplyDelete

i thankya truly for taking the time to comment, i love a good conversation-- and hope you know my thanks are always implied, if not always written!