Red Doors & Oranges
This weekend, I was at Walgreens buying a whole bunch of crap I don’t need when I passed by some products that were on sale.
Sale! Try 50% off! Anyone that knows anything about me, knows that a sale like that will stop me in my tracks.
I did scope out whether everything in the line was on clearance but they didn’t seem to be. Half off of a whole line of beauty products does not instill great confidence in the items sold. Either I’m going to try it and see exactly why they were trying to pawn it onto unsuspecting customers, or I’m going to love it and never be able to find it again.
I picked up this moisturizer and was reading the label when I almost immediately got hooked: “helps protect and repair aging, sun-damaged skin”.
I guess this is where I can pretend that my skin is flawless, perfect in every way and I’m afraid to go rollerblading for fear of falling and cracking my porcelain façade.
Lies.
I live in Arizona and I have very fair skin. And even though I’m not much of a tanner (except for the one unfortunate summer after I turned 30 - oh boy - let’s not speak of it again) I think by virtue of living here (and, oh, being 36), I have noticed some changes to my face and some of those changes are sun damage.
SUCKS. The hardest part about getting older, at least for me, is watching my skin change. Wrinkles - bah. Who cares?
The overall appearance of my skin, though, just doesn’t look as fresh. It makes me want to search for that Fountain of Youth that I used to scoff at when older women would yammer on about when I was young and fresh.
I never noticed those few spots on my face until I went for my spa day on my birthday last year. I think I was taking a blog break aka R was here, we were busy getting busy so I never got around to posting about my experience at Red Door.
I’m not linking them, because I’m about to talk shit about them and who links things they talk shit about? I’m much too polite for that.
R was really sweet to get the spa day for me. Last year, I asked him for a) a Coach bag b) a puppy (thank GOD he didn’t get me one) or c) a spa day. I SAID OR, PEOPLE. I’m not a demanding bitch. Most of the time.
He went into Red Door himself, he picked out the package on his own and need I remind you? R’s a pretty macho I AM SAILOR dude. The thought of him standing in that girly place surrounded by chicks trying to sell him shit sent me into fits of giggles.
The spa day, over all, was fun. It was sort of relaxing. The facialist (word?) was probably the nicest one… but she tried to sell me each and everything she put on me my face by sort of, kind of, putting me down.
Like when you’re in the nail salon and all you want is a pedicure and they try to up-sell you on a manicure by telling you how shitty your nails look.
But that’s a nail salon, and this is a swanky not-cheap spa.
Every time I was handed off to a new technician, they felt the need to remind me, “Oh you have one the basic packages…” I shit you not, I heard this at least half a dozen times that day. It made me more and more mad as the day went on, to the point I wanted to grab the manicurist by her smug face and tell her to piss off. Oooh! Relaxing.
How rude to keep reminding someone of that. If you know I have the basic package, then you may also know that it was a GIFT and a not-cheap gift (snooped for the receipt. I’m sorry, happened to see the receipt) at that, by a man that doesn’t normally go around buying this type of shit for women (bless him).
By the time my pedicure was completed and I was supposed to have my makeup done, I just sort of fled out of there and never went back.
However, every day I’ve looked in the mirror since then, I’ve noticed these damn sun spots. Thank you, FACIALIST.
All that to say, I have noticed a change in my skin since using this moisturizer, and it’s only been a few days. Seeing my face look fresher, plumper (in a good way) and seeing those sun spots fade makes me want to leap for joy. Buy it by the vat-load. Hurl jars of it through the plate glass window of Red Door and tell those bitches to step off.
If you see it, pick it up. If you don’t like the smell of oranges, don’t buy it. It smells like you rubbed orange rind on your face. I don’t mind it, though, it makes me feel rather fancy and not unlike a fruit salad… and hey, I’ve smelled worse.
If it doesn’t work for you, don’t come crying to me. Take it back to Walgreens where it belongs, there’ll be more for me!
13 Responses to “Red Doors & Oranges”
Nicola on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
Hehe, when I read your skin was
‘plumper’ (and I knew exactly what you meant by the way) I was reminded of the grapes, raisins and cornflakes speech from the umpteen Nutrimetics parties I’ve been too lately. Seriously, I could do that whole speal in my sleep. Anyway, long story short, three layers of skin, grapes on the bottom, raisins in the middle and cornflakes on the outside. Then they sucker you into buying everything they have so you get all three layers taken care of haha.
Yasmin on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
I hate Red Door. I went on a day package and the beautician effed up my face with extractions. It has never been the same…efffing hooker.
I was supposed to get a makeup application and left without it. It was a bad day…but since it was a gift…I guess it was OK.
I effing hate that place!
MissPrissy on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
I need to go check my Walgreens for that, I live in Texas which is like living ON the sun, so yeah…41 year old Texan skin needs a lot of TLC :)
Have you seen that comic on YouTube doing an impression of a nail tech? OMG so funny! you must see it!
evil charity on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
ooooooo, bad experiences at the spa are the worst! I’ve had a few in my day. Recently, I found my bliss in an esthetician (I believe that is the word you’re looking for ;)) at a local Aveda spa and she is stuck with me now.
Cereal Dieter on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
I will definitely be stopping by Wallgreens to try me some of this…. I haven’t found a really great moisturizer that I love so I am willing to try new things!
Corey on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
God that spa experience sounds horrifying!!!!!!!! :( My first trip to the spa was a bit of a disaster but not quite on that scale. I would have so wrote the manager an email and told her off.
I really want to try that stuff out! I need to get a few scripts filled so maybe I’ll give that a whirl!!
Angel on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
I *loathe* spas. Does that sound awful? But its exactly because of what you said happened to you. You can be an effective sales person without being condescending or rude. Shame.
Hmm I may have to look for this. My mom has laughed at me, but since I was about 21 I have always been anal with my face, worried about “aging” I still battle w/breakouts at 30..WTF? So I may stop by walgreens and get it…don’t you just love the smell of WG? LOL Its like JCP..they have a scent to them. LOL
inga on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
Aww, I’m glad you found something good for your face that works! And the fact that it was on sale is even better! Woot for sales!
kim on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
Man, spa day and sales, can’t think of anything better than that. I do love me a spa day..I just noticied all of the comments yesterday from people welcoming me and saying hello. Ya’ll are the sweetest ever! And i do not have a blog..i know, shame on me..only now,i am thinking i might have to start one…
Jo on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
Ooooh Ms. Kiiiiiiiim! LOL Get to starting that blog! STAT!
Maria on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
I friggin LOVE the smell of oranges. I’d so be eating your face right now if I could.
Mary on Jul 24, 2008 | Reply
evil charity on Jul 25, 2008 | Reply
Ha, that’s funny you should mention how goooooood Aveda products smell. My husband uses this grooming paste that smells divine. When he puts it on in the morning he comes right over and lets me get a good sniff of his head. ;-)