My Early Birthday Present: HELP.

I am getting a hair cut at a Real Hair Place for the first time in years.

(I haven't even had a hair cut, period, in a year.)

I turn 26 next Thursday, so your birthday present to me can be to tell me what I should do. How should I get it cut? Should I just get a trim? How should I style it? WHAT DO I DOOOO WITH THIS HAIR?

Please tell me. You're so good at that, Internet. And I'm terrible with all this kind of stuff. HALP.

Bonus points if you include links to photos and/or the exact words I can tell the hair dresser. (Or is it called a stylist? I HAVE NO IDEA. I don't get my hair cut often, you know.)

Here's what my hair looks like:

Au natural.

My usual bag of tricks. I'm not too creative.

Annnd, the Straight.

Details:

- I have a newborn and I am low-maintenance, anyway. Plus, I'm styling stupid. So minimal hair styling desired.

- My hair is pretty thick, course, and wavy. I'd love if I could figure out how to wear it naturally.

- I often straighten it, and most of the time I pull it half-up. I sometimes let it be wavy, but it's pretty frizzy unless I put mousse in it.

- I really, really want to be able to pull of bangs, but I have cowlick on either side of my forehead, which puts a damper on things.

- I like it long, but am open to cutting it all off.  

Annnd, GO!

Shampoo Free. Seriously.

If you follow me on Twitter or read my blog, you may think that I am consumed by my pregnancy. Not so. (Okay, mostly so. Let’s not address my complete and utter inability to focus on anything work-related. Ask me my opinion about a project that’s happening in September and I’ll probably stare at you with glazed over eyes. I’m busy Googling birth stories, thinking about maternity leave, and wondering what taking care of a newborn will be like. Sorry, boss.)

I’ve done lots of non-baby or pregnancy related things this summer. I had a tire blow out on the highway. We went camping. I worked a lot. We redecorated our apartment and I love it. We went across the state to visit with Mike’s niece and nephews. I created a new budgeting system. We saw my extended family a lot. My commute became really freaking long. My sister moved back across the country and asked me to be her maid of honor (yay!). I continued to take on blog design work and have new hopes and ideas for how to grow my little business. And I stopped using shampoo nearly four weeks ago.

Let’s talk for a minute about that last one. First, I promise you I’m not a scuzzball. See?

So maybe I haven’t used shampoo or conditioner from a bottle, but I have used baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and water to keep my hair clean.

Why?

I ran out of conditioner and was trying to figure out if there was a plastic-free option for conditioner when I stumbled across this great post (the whole website is fabulous, by the way). Intrigued by the idea that baking soda and apple cider vinegar could get my hair clean, I figured I’d give it a shot. If it worked, I’d be saving tons of money, not using any chemicals, and reducing my waste. If my hair became greasy, tangled, or dirty – I’d just wash it. No commitment, nothing to lose.

That was on July 22nd. I haven’t touched my (giant!) bottle of shampoo since.

How?

Tsh recommends a mixing a tablespoon of baking soda per cup of water for the shampoo part. (I have thicker, wavy hair, so I increased the baking soda.) I keep the mixture in a plastic squeeze bottle that used to hold chocolate syrup. Just squirt and rub into your scalp, massaging as you go. The baking soda acts as a clarifier on your scalp and removes dirt and oil.

For the conditioner, mix a tablespoon or so of apple cider vinegar per cup of water. I keep this mixture in an old conditioner bottle and apply mostly to ends of my hair. I have even stored it in a cup and dipped the ends of my hair in the cup to really make sure they get good and conditioned. I have pretty dry hair, so I make sure and apply lots of it and leave it in for a few minutes while I finish showering.

Since my hair is typically pretty dry, I sometimes use a teensy bit of coconut oil (we’re talking a dab on my finger) and rub it through my hair to get rid of flyaways and such. It’s sort of like this stuff, minus the cost.

What are the results?

My hair is soft, clean, and manageable. I don’t have to choose between chemically-laden, but cheap or expensive, natural shampoo. My new ‘shampoo’ and ‘conditioner’ cost me very little and create hardly any waste.

I am going to continue on my happy shampoo-less existence until a problem arises.

Wanna try?

I've told a few friends what I've been doing, and one of them tried it out as well. Here's what she said:  "Also, Teej and I have been 'poo free for a week now! Just baking soda and apple cider vinegar! I LOVE the vinegar as conditioner... I think it works WAY better than store bought conditioner."


Check out this post for more details, ideas, and links to other blogs. And let me know how it goes!

Worth it Thursday: Delicious Curls.

I haven't done a Worth it Wednesday in a long, long time - but I've discovered something so exciting I just had to share!

(Does this sound like that beginning of some spam comment?)

(And, YES, I know it isn't Wednesday. I procrastinate, okay?)

A few months ago, I mentioned a haircare product that worked for me and someone suggested coconut oil as a possible solution for a curly haircare product that isn't laden with chemicals and packaged with tons of plastic.

So I tried it - after a few frustrating attempts to figure out how exactly you could use coconut oil for your HAIR (it doesn't rinse out like conditioner. It just sort....stays.), I figured out a little formula that works really well for me. If you have naturally curly or wavy hair - give it a try! Because it has holding properties and is slightly oily, it gives the curl a really nice, defined shape. Plus, it has far less chemicals that most curly hair products and comes in a glass jar, which is recyclable. And if that's not beautiful, I don't know what is.

(This picture isn't even a good representation of how awesome my hair looks with coconut oil. Imagine this with more curls and less frizz.)

Ashley's Awesome Coconut Oil Curly Hair Regimen:

1. Shampoo hair.
2. Put a small amount of coconut oil in hair. It doesn't really rinse out, but you can try.
3. Get out of shower and braid hair in two braids.
4. After hair is mostly or fully dry, undo braid and finger comb. Add a tiny bit of curly hair products if needed. (I usually use a dab of Garnier Fructis curl cream.)
5. Check yourself out in the mirror. I dare you not to feel sexy.
6. BONUS! When you wash your hair a day or two later - the coconut oil makes it SUPER soft and conditioned. Awesome.
   

Not A Real Post. Unless You Care About Eyebrows.

For some reason, I've been noticing eyebrows lately.

(Well, most likely it's because my younger sister, who is awesome and hip, lists "eyebrows" as an interest on Facebook. And points out good eyebrows when she sees them. So, maybe that's the reason. If it weren't for my sisters, I'd probably be wearing a potato sack and have a beard.)

I never gave much thought to my eyebrows. I plucked them a few times a month, tried to get a nice arch shape and that was that. Then, I realized - halp! My eyebrows are being overplucked! By me!

As I was digging around for evidence of my former over-plucking days, I came upon this gem:

My lovely roommate from college, Kat and I from our sophomore year of college. Not only are my eyebrows horribly tiny, but my face is HUGE. Like, seriously. I know it's not because I'm fat. (See: Small waist) What gives, puffy face? Ew. I mean, my eyeballs are literally being swallowed by my cheeks. (Kathryn, on the other hand, looks adorable - with eyes that are open and a necklace that didn't come from the dollar store. WTF, sophomore self? Be cuter!)

After a few months of selectively plucking, instructed by aforementioned awesome little sister:

Maybe the thin eyebrows actually made my face LOOK bigger? I don't know. I'm still distracted by little miss puffy face with invisible eyebrows.

Just for funsies, let's compare two awful-quality, random pictures of myself - pre- and post-overplucking habit:

Yep, I sure am hugging my steering wheel. You wanna fight about it?

What do you think? Thinner or fuller? How to you prefer to, uh, groom your eyebrows? I'm curious!

{ETA: I got this with a gift card and am in LOVE with it. It fills in my eyebrows perfectly!}
.......................................................................................
Did I really just write an entire post on eyebrows? I guess my tagline is officially "The 20-something environmental blogger who is off-topic more than she's on."

Better Than That Weird Private Practice/Grey's Crossover.

Today is 20 something bloggers second video-blog day. And it's a Wednesday, so I combined Worth it Wednesday + video blogging about what I love.

Get excited.

Show + Tell from Ashley Marie on Vimeo.

• "Happy day" in a sing-songy voice. What?

• I don't complete the corn husks explanation - I was going to say "I don't think corn husks are a bad thing."

• Mike was seriously staring at me as I sat there and recorded myself. (Or, at least I felt like he was.) Sorry I was so distracted.

• Here is the link to those earrings. I seriously cannot stop wearing them. And have gotten TONS of compliments. Thanks, Danni!

• It's super dark and I don't know how to lighten it. At least I don't have a lisp in this, right?

• I definitely didn't mean to shove my boobs in your face. I apologize for that.

• I ended quite abruptly because I was going to turn the computer to show you Mike. But I accidentally pushed the 'stop' button. It's just as well, since Mike was covering his face with a textbook when he figured out what I was doing.
  

• I have 247 unread items in my Google Reader. I refuse to get stressed out by blogging, but I'm leaving for the next two days for a work retreat and going to my parents this weekend. The number of unread items I'll see on Sunday scares me. Already.

• Oh! Here are the felts in color. So happy, right?

• I just made several new Etsy items with it!
  

Worth it Wednesday: Planet Blush.

I was never big into make-up in high school or college. (And by that, I mean: I rarely wore more than mascara and some lip balm.) So, when I entered the working world and needed to look a little more polished, professional, just older - I was at a loss. I'm still pretty lost when I'm in Sephora, but I have figured out one thing: a blush that rocks.

PHYSICIANS FORMULA PLANET BLUSH

Worth: Around $10 or $11 at Target. (Currently $10.95 on Physician Formula's website.)

Works For: Blush, bronzer, and a little bit of shimmer.

What I Love:

• It has two sides: an iridescent highlighter on one side and a matte blush on the other side.
  
• It's a fabulous blush-slash-bronzer. Period - the color, the texture, everything.
• It looks natural - even on my sickly pale skin.
• I love the set up. Super cute and functional.
  

What I Wish: It has some stuff that isn't so good for a green girl like myself. Namely, parabens. Oh, and talc. Apparently that's bad? Gah. It's hard to be pretty and an environmentalist. (Although, it IS fragrance-free. That means something, right?)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Thank you SO much for all your kind words about my Etsy products on Monday. I want to hug all of you for your encouragement and for even ORDERING things from me! Seriously. Thank you. You mean so much to me.

{FAQ 4} On Design, Cleveland, Smiles, and le Husband.

Gretchen, who perhaps has the coolest name ever and an equally awesome blog header and impeccable taste in television asks: What inspires you as a designer?

There is so much that I adore about designing and creating. I like to make things that people want to look at. Whether I'm designing a newsletter, brochure, website, or something for my Etsy shop, I am inspired by simplicity. I look at books, magazines, or websites that are well-designed. I am very inspired by good photography. Some of the blogs I visit I only go for the photography. New and different ideas for composition rock my world. Seriously.

I am just in love with the idea of communicating visually. I love being able to portray ideas through fonts, concepts and emotions through photography, and translating my intentions onto a publication.

I especially love taking old, poorly done publications and updating them. It makes me so happy!

Shannon, a total sweetheart who I adore and admire, wants to know: Where is your favorite place to go in your city and why?

I LOVE living in Cleveland. LOVE it! There are so many adorable little neighborhoods, such a sense of Cleveland pride, and it's just totally awesome to be living in (or near) a real city again.

My favorite place is perhaps Coventry, a hip little area with a awesome restaurants, a very cool toy store, an art supply store, American Apparel, and lots of coffee shops and bookstores. It's so unique. And I love it.

I also really like University Circle - home to the Botanical Gardens, Natural History Museum, and Cleveland Art Museum. (You might remember I took Mike here for his birthday.) It's also right next to Little Italy, which has amazing restaurants and bakeries. Mmm.

L.C.T.. who loves chocolate and It's a Wonderful Life just like me asks: Not including people, what makes you smile most?

Children. But I guess those are usually considered people, eh? Then either food, photography, or good television. Or perhaps a really good latte. I adore hot beverages - I'll drink hot chocolate any time of the year! Sunshine also makes me smile, as does The Beatles' "Here Comes the Sun."

Ashley, one of the few bloggers I've actually met in real life and a wonderful photographer wonders: Okay, maybe I'm behind the times and should know this, but how did you meet your husband? And how did he propose? (I'm a sucker for cute stories).

I was a sophomore in college (at the University of Dayton- woohoo!), he was starting a graduate program. He was a campus minister who lived in a freshman dorm and I heard about him before I met him. My friends gushed about the "cute, new campus minister!!" who played guitar.

Then I met him. And we were "just friends" because it was against the rules for him to date an undergraduate. We ate dinner together in the dining hall all the time, and he came to my aunt's wedding - the whole family got to meet him only two months after I first met him. They adored him. Then I left for a semester in Hawaii, and we talked ALL the time on the phone. And exchanged tons of postcards, emails, and letters. We still insisted we were "JUST FRIENDS."

(He sent me flowers and a package on Valentine's Day with a CD of songs he wrote and recorded for me. Yep, we were just friends.)

Then I came back to Ohio and we decided we wanted to get married eventually. Buuuut, I was only a junior in college. My senior year, he was done with his program so he jetted off to Denver for a year to volunteer. This time, the distance was awful. It was so hard to be apart and I hate almost every minute of it. (Except the fact that I got to spend much more time with my friends and roommates with my boyfriend gone. Woohoo, senior year!)

I spent Christmas with his family that year, and on Christmas morning, he and I opened a stocking that was on our doorknob. A letter was in it from him, telling me that I was going on a scavenger hunt. With riddles. That were associated with our relationship. (One was on the coffeemaker, because he hated coffee before me; one was on the thermostat because I'm constantly cold, things like that.) After 16 different riddles and hunts around his parents house, we ended up by the piano. He sat on the piano bench and instructed me to sit in a chair next to the piano. He gave me a lyric sheet.

He played a song he wrote for me, a song that he had written in the beginning of our relationship without lyrics, a song that had been on my Valentine's Day CD. And now he wrote lyrics about how he wanted to spend his life with me.

At the end of the song, he knelt down and proposed.

The first thing I said?

"How did you afford to buy this? Did you STEAL it?"

Yes, I am so romantic.

An Important Conversation. With Myself.

Dear Body,

Oops. I've kind of treated you badly lately. First, it got all cold outside, so I stopped going outside for walks and runs.

Then, it was Thanksgiving weekend, and I ate twelve thousand pounds of food.

Yesterday, I tried on a pair of thin jeans and could see my cellulite through the material. What have I done to you!? (Not to mention the flabby upper arms that poked out of my tank top. Winter means my body goes into hibernation.)

Now, I've given you a sore throat and I just know that it's because I've been choosing junk over veggies.

It's not about feeling like you look bad, it's about feeling bad because I've neglected you.

I'm sorry.

Let's start over. I'm not waiting for New Year's, either. That's a whole month away. (Also: 2009 is only 31 days away!?)

But first, let's eat some peanut butter pie and drink some Silk Nog. And then, seriously, I'll take better care of you.

How does the treadmill sound? How about some yoga?

Mwah,
Ashley

[Don't forget to ask me a question by tonight!]

Great, Now I Look Like My Mom.

Say goodbye to medium brown with a sligh redish tint hair...

I set out last night to dye my hair dark brown - a shade closer to my eyebrows (and natural hair color). I left it in 5 minutes too long (oops) and used the entire bottle on my now-shorter hair (double oops). The result? Nearly black hair, just like my mother (who is so cheap she buys hair dye meant for African American women when it goes on clearance. She's hilarious.)

Um. At least it matches my eyebrows?

And, I'm off for a stupid conference enjoying some time with wonderful college students. At least I get to drive a rented minivan. Have I mentioned how much I adore driving minivans? I'm seriously my mother.

Worth it Wednesday: Let's Get Something Straight.

My hair is a crazy animal, and I never quite know what to do with it. I usually go with curly, as it's quicker. However, I recently purchased a new straightening iron that might change some things...

IONIC NANO SILVER TOURMALINE CERAMIC STRAIGHTENING IRON*
[Kudos to Sarah for suggesting I do a Worth it Wednesday on this!]

Worth: It's currently $67.49 at Target.com (with free shipping!). I just snagged it for $29 on clearance at TJ Maxx, though. [Can I get a "Woohoo" for clearance?]

Works For: Thick, thin, wavy, straight - this little gem tames it all. Not for bald people. Or babies.

What I Love: It can get insanely hot. Like 395 degrees. Woah, baby! The best part? It cut my normal straightening time from 45-60 minutes to FIFTEEN MINUTES. This means I might actually spend the time to straighten my hair now. Also, speaking personally - most hair straighteners don't do a great job on my wavy, thick hair (we're talking it gets wavy again an hour later.) This actually works! And for much less than a Chi.

A few more highlights:

• Includes Heat-Resistant Carrying Pouch (Cute and silver!)
  
• Made of Ceramic
• Features Instant-Heat Recovery System
• Features 30-sec. Heat Up
• Automatic Shutoff (good for energy and my absentmindedness)
  

What I Wish: It could be even hotter and I'd be happy. But my hair probably wouldn't, so I guess it's good.

{Side note} I'm always on the fence as to whether it's better for the environment for me to use hair products or straighten it. On one hand - there's packaging waste and chemicals, on the other hand - there's energy usage. Sigh. I'm probably the only person who weighs things like this. But completely au natural is not an option, unfortunately. I have wild-crazy-frizzy-unpredictable hair that isn't so appropriate for work. And now I'm blathering on about my eco-anxiety. Apparently this is what you guys will be subject to in the wake of all the election excitement: Get excited!

*The more syllables and adjectives, the better the product, apparently.

Worth it Wednesday: Hair Rescue!

The following is a part of a new feature here. Blogs and the internet greatly influence what I buy and where I shop. Buying something that ends up ineffective is one of my pet peeves - so getting a recommendation from someone honest and real is always a welcome occasion. I avoid being completely materialistic, but consumerism is part of life for most of us. Buying things that work and that you love avoids wasting money and products - I'm sure I'm not the only one who's bought a product that ended up not working and got shoved to the back of the cabinet, unused.

I want to spread the news about wonderful services and products to you all - and for you to do the same. Post this on your blog as well! I'd love to hear about what works for you.

I have crazy hair. It's wavy/curly/frizzy/thick. Volume is never a problem with me. Until recently, I vacillated between sporting the curly look with mousse and straightening it. I rarely wore it naturally dried without tons of mousse - because it'd be insanely frizzy. Thanks to the lovely Whoorl* I was convinced to plunk down some money for this gem....

FREDERIC FEKKAI GLOSSING CREAM

Worth: $20 for 4 oz and $27.50 for 7 oz on Sephora. I picked up a 1.6 oz travel size for $9 near the checkout at Sephora. {I was quite skeptical and wasn't sure if it'd work. It did and I'll be back for more!}

Works For: Those of us not blessed with perfect hair. My husband even steals some of it from time to time. It works well when I straighten my hair, when I let it dry naturally wavy, or when I make it curly with products. If you have super fine hair - this is probably not the product for you.

What I Love: This is by far the best hair product I've ever used. I can add a bit of this to my hair and it's instantly tamed - silky, smooth, and shiny. It's fantastic. When I put my hair up, I dab some of this on and it hides my hideaways without looking greasy or feeling heavy at all. My favorite is to take a shower at night, sleep in, and wake up with crazy hair. Some of the glossing cream makes my hair smooth and manageable. GO GET SOME NOW! (Yes this is a hair product that warrants my screaming at you. Trust me.)

What I Wish: It's bit on the pricey side as far as hair products go. I'm typically more of the Target beauty aisle kinda girl. The skeptical side of me that insisted "Expensive products are overrated and overpriced!"was completely silenced when I tried this out. Trust me - it's glorious.

[I just noticed they have a cream for curls. Maybe I'll get that soon!]

*Can I just say how THANKFUL I am to have gotten in on Hair Thursday before she became insanely famous and popular - being in the NYT and on TV and with weekly columns. The woman probably has no time. And hence, would not have been able to help me and my sad hair state.

'Worth It' Wednesday: Because You're Worth It.

The following is a part of a new feature here. Blogs and the Internet greatly influence what I buy and where I shop. Buying something that ends up ineffective is one of my pet peeves - so getting a recommendation from someone honest and real is always a welcome occasion. I avoid being completely materialistic, but consumerism is part of life for most of us. Buying things that work and that you love avoids wasting money and products - I'm sure I'm not the only one who's bought a product that ended up not working and got shoved to the back of the cabinet, unused.

I want to spread the news about wonderful services and products to you all - and for you to do the same. Post this on your blog as well! I'd love to hear about what works for you.

For our first installment, let's talk about brows. Whether you tweeze them to oblivion or prefer the more natural, full look - having a good pair of tweezers is essential to your sanity. I can't tell you how many times I've bought a pair of Revlon or Sally's tweezers that could not seem to grasp a hair if its life depended on it. {And yet? I still continued to buy them for some crazy reason.} For those of you who haven't yet found the holy grail of tweezers, let me enlighten you.

TWEEZERMAN TWEEZERS

Worth: Anywhere from $10-40. I have the $10 silver mini-slant tweezer. The mini size is cheaper and works just as well! {I bought mine at Bed, Bath, and Beyond - but they're all over, just check out their website.}

Works For: Uh, anyone with eyebrows, who wants to do some maintenance. (I guess you could use it for splinters or other tweezer needs, so it works for...anyone!)

What I Love: They're affordable - sure, a bit more expensive than a cheap-o pair, but since they actually work, it's totally worth it. They have amazing precision and an ability to get any hair - even the tiny little ones just growing back. I cannot tell you how much I am in LOVE with these tweezers. After years of crappy, dull tweezers, I would do

What I Wish: My only gripe is that they use Comic Sans on a tiny bit of their website. (Worst font ever. Do not use.) That being said, this isn't about judging their website design, so I wouldn't change anything about these little beauties.

I never knew I could gush that much about TWEEZERS.

Over-tweezed goodness.

Hair Tuesday

I've had long hair my whole life. Last Thursday, I took a plunge (after being featured on Hair Thursday) and got about half a foot chopped off. I absolutely LOVE it and couldn't be happier.

I'll admit, I'll also be happier to stop finding reallly long strands of brown hair around our apartment. And on my clothes. And in the car. Um, yeah. Maybe shorter strands will be easier to deal with. :)

It got me thinking, though - is shorter hair better for the environment? I think yes! Now, maybe this is a stretch, but the less hair you have the less shampoo, conditioner, mousse, hair spray, and such you need. Plus, it would require less electricity to dry, straighten, or curl less hair.

In my case, I used to throw my hair back into a ponytail or messy bun about 80% of the time, and now I'll be forced out of laziness and into regular hair product usage. That means more plastic containers and metal tubes of mousse goodness. Yuck. I wish I knew a better way to make my hair curly (but not frizzy!) than loading tons of chemicals onto it creating extra waste.

I own neither a blow dryer NOR a curling iron. Doesn't that count for something?!

The One with the Zits

Just a quick note before I head out of town, then have my family visit me. Yay. I'm pretty excited. My mom is coming here JUST TO SHOP AT TRADER JOE'S. Over three hours in the car. To shop at TJ's. And, oh yeah, to see me...right?

Let's talk about skin for a moment, shall we? I feel as though I am not privy to the knowledge that most women have - like how to put on makeup or taking care of your skin. I have three sisters who are all MUCH more into that than I am. Only just know am I learning to find good products. And I tend to get really excited when I find something that works really, really well. (like OMG! Tweezerman tweezers! great!!) Spending a little more on a product if it works REALLYWELL is worth it. Because then you won't waste money guessing.

My sister, T, is just a year younger than me but a world different. I have no idea how she knows SO MUCH about make up, hair, and skin - but that girl wrote an assignment about how to put on makeup in middle school. And - I distinctly remember this because I thought it was so odd - she included little known tips like, "If you blend white eyeliner into the length of your nose, it will appear thinner." I am not kidding you. I mean, maybe this is common knowledge...but c'mon! That's just a little too much for me. I'm happy if I put the eyeliner and mascara in the right place. Then I cover up my blemishes and call it a day.

When it comes to my skin - I was spoiled by inheriting my dad's skin. My mom has never had PERFECT skin, whereas my dad was the poster child for clear, pale skin in high school. (And apparently, HUGE tinted eyeglasses. And ridiculously skinny appendages.)

In high school, my skin was flawless. No make up, no face washing, just. perfect. Since then, I tend to get a few blemishes every now and then, but I have NO IDEA how to take care of my skin. I mean, I'm used to people being jealous of the fact that I can not wash my face ever and have clear skin.

Now, I'm like a skinny person in a fat body. (Or. A pimple person stuck in a clear body. Um, that analogy sounds awkward no matter how you put it.) I can't accept that fact that I'm now bound by having to take CARE of my skin. Sunscreen!? Floppy hat?! (Okay, that's NEVER HAPPENING unless you show me a really cute floppy hat.) Face wash?! And then comes the "what the heck do you with a zit ahhh" part.

(Side note: I fear I'm sounding too dramatic. I have two blemishes on my face. I'm not like a teenager, just a 20-something with penchant for not taking care of her skin. No more rambling. I promise.)

Well, instead of having someone teach me - I made it up. I used to use toothpaste (not gel) and put a dot on the blemish. It worked really well.

But then I got the eco-guilt and thought "ah! chemicals! ah! plastic!" and decided to try something else. I figured, baking soda is used for tooth paste - and when you get a bee sting - maybe that'll work. I put a pinch of baking soda in my hand and mixed it with a drop or two of water. And smeared it on the problem (one of those pesky under-the-skin pimples. so painful.)

And?

It totally works! It dried it a bit so it wasn't so big, wasn't so painful and was gone quickly. Plus? It's super cheap, there is little packaging, and it's not damaging to the environment. How can you lose?

sooo not as good as baking soda.