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.