Beauty Blabber - LUSH's Sandstone Soap

I am big into bubble baths so naturally I am big into LUSH. The Canadian company specializes in all natural, handmade body products with an emphasis on decreased packaging. At first I was so obsessed with the bubble bars and bath bombs that I didn't even notice the myriad of other products they offered. I started branching out to their foot care products - Best Regiment Ever = Ocean Salt Scrub followed by Volcano Foot Mask, followed by Fair Trade Foot Lotion followed by socks. As I've worked my way through the scrubs, shampoos, creams, and face masks I realized I totally was neglecting the soap. So I decided to change that.

Sandstone is the first soap I've purchased from LUSH and it is amazing. It has a sweet citrus smell that stays on your skin hours after you've gotten out of the tub. It has actual layers of sand within it to exfoliate your skin and Litsea Cubeba Oil, which is used as an antiseptic. This also gives the soap it's lemony tropical smell. It lathers well, leaves you squeaky clean and lasts forever. You're welcome.

Weekly Obsession - Cindy Sherman's Retrospective

I found Cindy Sherman's art, like most of my most satisfying life discoveries, through the amazing John Waters. There's something about a beautiful woman mucking herself up that's very interesting to me - obviously Mr. Waters feels similarly. Sherman has spent years transforming herself with makeup, costumes, and prosthetics to create a continuous exploration and questioning of the individual self. Her retrospective started at the New York MOMA on February 26th and runs until June 11th. It then travels to San Francisco, Minneapolis, and Dallas. FYI Locals - SF show is July 14th to October 7th.

For me the most exciting thing about her work is that Sherman always was the subject of her photos but at the same time wasn't. Her makeup, costumes, and plastic body parts created a vague but universal portrait of someone else - both anyone and everyone. Her photos are all comments about humanity not herself. Even during the 1980s when her work became very dark, I felt like it was equally influenced both by the personal matter of her divorce and the very public matter of personal shame and fear caused by the outbreak of AIDS.

Until reading the press on her current exhibit, I was not familiar with one of Sherman's earliest series, "Untitled Film Stills." These photos ring of a much subtler and even vaguer female transformation. There's no obvious female film types - no Gidget riding a wave or Honey Ryder nurse. This collection of ambiguous females seem to channel the Hitchcock heroines but aren't exact reproductions. They do not reference specific movies, roles or even stereotypes but of that nameless allure of celebrity and Hollywood. I'm excited to see what other new hidden treasures I will find in her work.

Weekly Obsession - Headache-Proof Your Home

Headache-Proof Your Home by Andrea Bartz in the March 2012 issue of Health was really insightful. The article brought up simple fixes to surprising headache triggers in your home. Here's the gist:

1. Bright, glaring lights can be a huge migraine trigger. The article suggests purchasing dimmers or lower wattage bulbs. Dim incandescents are preferable to halogens and fluorescents because of their more muted light. Install blinds and shades to help regulate sunlight.

2. Hidden allergies like dust mites, dander, and mold can be found in even the cleanest homes. The article suggests investing in air purifiers, a humidifier, microfiber allergen blocking encasements for your pillows, mattress and box spring, and a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Vacuuming upholstered furniture twice a week and changing bedding weekly will significantly lower allergens.

3. Intense aromas of any kind can cause headaches and most homes and apartments have inadequate ventilation. Use unscented candles, nontoxic cleaners, and crack windows. Air purifiers that have carbon filters are also good investments for cleaner air.

4. Similar to lighting, super bright screens on laptops and tablets can cause discomfort. Lower the brightness setting on your gadgets and get a glare reducing filter for your monitor.

Other hidden diet triggers to avoid are aged food and drinks (cheeses, cured meats and dried fruit), aspartame - as if we needed more reasons not to ingest chemicals, food additives such as MSG, and alcohol - duh.