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The Geek in Heels’ Favorite Beauty Products, 2012 Edition

Did you all have a good Thanksgiving? Have you found any good deals on Black Friday?

Because today is Cyber Monday — and because we are approaching the end of the year with the holidays just around the corner — I’ve decided to compile a list of my favorite beauty products. The last time I had done this was more than 5 years ago, so there are obviously some changes as well as additions.

I share this information because I am a classic Maven who loves to share the best ideas, products, and trends with others. Additionally, while I’m not a beauty junkie or makeup expert, I have spent the past 20-or-do years of my life experimenting with various beauty products — more so than your average woman — and I can’t help but shout from the rooftops when I find something good!

For your reference, I am Asian with medium-fair skin tone. I have combination skin and (luckily) do not break out much. My hair also tends of be combination (oily at roots, dry at ends) and it tends to fall flat by the end of the day.

(If a product type is not mentioned, it’s because I have not found a favorite, do not use one, or it does not play an integral part in my beauty routine.)

Let’s start!

Skin:

Shiseido Pureness Deep Cleansing Foam — I can’t tell you how happy I was to hear that my previous cleanser, Prescriptives All Clean Fresh Foaming Cleanser, became available again after Prescriptives counters closed. However, one day when I was without a cleanser, I stole some of my sister’s…and became hooked. The Shiseido Pureness cleanser cleans thoroughly without drying out my skin, it smells amazing, and it even has little beads that help exfoliate your skin.

The Baby of the Family

Ever since Aerin got sick last week, she has been super SUPER clingy to me. Before her illness, she was a pretty independent little girl. Now she needs to be held all the time — only by me, no less, and starts screaming her head off if she can't see me. Even her two favorite people after me, her halmeh (my mother) and yeye (J's father) have been having trouble calming her down. I know that this is probably just a phase. It might even be a combination of several factors, such as teething or reaching a new milestone (she has been cruising for a while and we're expecting her to start walking any day now). But you can't deny that it...

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Because I’m Sure I Can’t Be the Only One

There are some things I find weird about myself (sometimes, in conjunction with others in my life) but I know there must be others out there who do the same…right?

  1. I occasionally weigh myself before and after pooping just to see if there’s a difference. (It’s never as much as I expect or hope.)
  2. Every few months, J will lie on top of me and “play dead.” I then try my darndest to try to get out from under him, just to see if I would be able to escape if he were ever to die or pass out on top of me.
  3. During a bawling session, I have run to a mirror to see if I can cry pretty like actors do in movies or television. (I can’t.)
  4. This is exactly how I sleep in the warmer months:

    …while the opposite is true in the cold (i.e., one leg out of the blanket).

  5. When I get really stressed out, I like to go through the clothes in my closet and look for wrinkled clothes to iron. I tell my friends that ironing relaxes me because it’s like I can smooth out the wrinkles in the fabric, while I can’t always smooth out the wrinkles in my life. But that’s not always the truth — because I’m not that deep a person. I just really like to iron.

What Are the Chances?!?!!!

Yesterday was a cool yet pleasant day. With temperatures in the low 50s and the sun shining overhead, I decided to take Aerin for a walk despite my lingering cold. (Claire was with her grandparents.) We walked the 22 blocks to my favorite children's park and I sat Aerin down on a swing. She hadn't been there since the temperatures took a dip, so she was obviously over the moon with glee. As I continued to push my giddy daughter on the swing, I noticed another mom with her baby...

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