Someone told me yesterday that women use 15–20 “products” each day, whereas men use 3–5. So today I’m counting:
- Body soap
- Facial soap
- Foot scrub
- Hair goo
- Hair spray
- Deodorant
- Perfume
- Toothpaste
- Under-eye poofiness remover
- Moisturizer
- Foundation
- Mascara
- Eyeshadows (2)
- Makeup remover
Total: 15
Let’s see. I don’t usually wear makeup, but I have a thing tonight. Likewise, I almost never use hairspray, but there was a crisis. I wash my hair every other day, so no shampoo or conditioner today. The makeup remover is anticipated for tonight.
I’m not counting devices: Tweezer, cotton swab, toothbrush.
Maybe I should feel bad about all that stuff, a pawn of the capitalist machine. Or oppressed for being the gender with “pretty” on the expectation list. But I love my products, and I love the “me time” spent with them. I don’t get down with much girly stuff; fussing with under-eye lotions is as girly as I get, and I get quite the little thrill from it.
So, what’s your count?
Update: My actual total was 20! I left out
- Body oil
- Baby powder
- 2 lipsticks (I blend)
- Different eye stuff for overnight.
So far today: Facial cleanser, moisturizer, deodorant. Tonight I’ll add shampoo, conditioner, hair goop, body lotion. Oh, and break-out stuff on my chin as I curse my hormones. So that’s… 8. When I go all out on my skin care I can add about four more things, and on the rare occassions I wear make up, add on 6 more.
If there were a day in which I did my hair, did an entire skin care thing and put on make up (so, if I were to be in my own wedding again 😛 ) the total would be about 16-18. Oh my.
My husband has a total of 2 on any given day, not including toothpaste. 😀
Soap
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Hand Cream in the winter
Shampoo/Conditioner Two-in-One Product (M,W,F)
Shaving cream (M,W,F)
I never actually buy makeup, come to think of it. I’m obsessed with skin care products, and I use the free makeup that comes with the department store counter giveaways!
I am afraid to count. I didn’t “do” my hair today (wash, dry, style, etc) and that would be a good 10 products right there. Makeup for me is half a dozen products, and moisturizing is another 3 or 4 depending on the weather. (I have VERY dry skin. If they threw this witch in a lake, I’d probably be fine, as my skin would absorb it.)
However, I take some refuge the fact that most of my “products” comes from companies that care about organics and the Earth and stuff (Aveda, Trader Joe’s, Burt’s Bees), so at least my consumer doallar is second-handedly supporting positive progress. I hope.
Here’s my list:
Ivory soap
shampoo
conditioner
deodorant
shaving cream
toothpaste
hair gel
moisturizer (because my skin is dry, especially in winter)
So I guess I use 8 things each day that count as “products.”
no makeup for me, except when forced under duress (e.g. my sisters wedding). today had me using:
soap
shampoo
conditioner
deodorant
hand lotion
toothpaste
saline solution
in spite of all of my other feminist “failings” (as i self-flagellatingly consider them), i am kinda impressed by my ability to stick to the no-makeup thing. of course, there are many feminists who would flagellate me themselves for saying that it’s un-feminist to wear makeup, but before you do, i’m not saying that! but for me personally, my conscience feels better not worrying about make-up.