Okay, girlfriend, you may love the color but you DO know not to put a 23 year old lipstick on your lips, right? Liptstick gets full of bacteria and really should be tossed out after a few months. Promise me you are just holding onto it to match the shade and you aren't using it?

Lie to me if you have to....

lol

I don't even have to lie, I kept it to match the shade if I ever found another counter. And they still offer that shade, woo hoo!!!!

This comment comes with a disclaimer: I don’t have dry skin, and I’m not a woman of color. However, having said that, have you tried Cetaphyl cleanser? It’s very mild and completely non-drying. You can find it in most drugstores. There’s usually a store brand equivalent, which is exactly the same but a lot less expensive. It’s not fancy stuff, but it’s a great cleanser.

~Ellen

Hey, if you got suggestions, no disclaimer needed!

It sounds familiar, but I've never tried it. I will, and let you know how it works. Because my skin is so dry, I'll try anything at least once. Which is why I have so much crap in my bathroom. :D Thank you, dearest!!

Thing is, once I moved to Oregon, it was hard enough finding other black people, let alone products for them. Unless one wanted to brave the ridiculous maze otherwise known as Portland,
As much as I appreciate my beloved Portland, you are right...it is a bitch of a maze to navigate, specifically when one first moves here. NOTHING makes sense due to Portland actually being five smaller cities that joined into one. ARRRG The strees in the older sections simply meander, stop, don't start back up and then go over a freaking river and you are left going WTF WTF.


Ok, this is going to sound completely weird. I don't use any cleanser, AT ALL. I can't. My skin dries compeltely out. I actually remove makeup with water and moisturizer. I am not kidding.
I rarely wear waterproof mascara because it is too hard on my skin to take it off. I have tried numerous cleansers and end up with either breakouts or completely dried out skin.

I also have to be EXTREMELY careful what sort of moisturizer I use. For everyday I wear Estee Lauder's Day Wear, then during the colder months when my skin dries out, or if I have put on heavier makeup and need to remove it I use Clinique's Moisture Surge in the most dried out areas and then I cover it with the Day Wear. Many moisturizers have heavy scents and I can't handle that. Day Wear has a very light scent and the Moisture Surge has no scent at all.

The Diva has much oilier skin and she uses Clinique's cleanser. Ms We Are The World has my skin and has to cleanse very carefully or ends up with flaky dry skin (ashy)or she breaks out.

Heheheh I have a tube of Estee Lauder's Fiery Rose Listick. It is my all time favorite color. I can't don't use that tube, just keep it for it's pretty gold case and the memories.

And come January, you know, when I have money again, I am taking my fabulous ass to Macy's, hitting up the Fashion Fair counter, and spending a ridiculous amount of money to make myself fabulous again You are fabulous regardless! But, I do completely understand the desire for prettyfulness.

Awww, I love you!!

The only Clinique I've tried was one of the body washes, which unfortunately didn't help with the drying, and the perfume Happy, which I really like.

Portland sucks. The only good thing in it is you. I'm just saying.

Fiery Rose? *snicker*

Please try The Body Shop (NOT Bath and Body Works). They have an aloe skin care line that is wonderful for dry/sensitive skin. They also have aloe shower cream and body butter but I haven't tried those yet.

For dry, cracked hands nothing is better than their Hemp Hand Repair.

If there isn't a store by you then you can search for a Body Shop at Home Consultant and order on line.