I promised a lot of topics on my first post and then I felt overwhelmed at where to start… but I thought, let’s ease in shall we? I could hit you with some deep grief writing, I do want to do a regular post where I answer a grief question, but I’m wary of letting capital G grief overwhelm my life again. If you don’t know - I created and hosted the podcast, Griefcast for seven years and then wrote a book called You Are Not Alone, which was everything I had learned from being a member of the grief club since I was fifteen. (All the episodes are still available to listen or download, and the book is available to buy in paperback now.)
I’m often asked when will I bring the podcast back … and the truth is, I don’t think I ever will. That’s quite hard to say to a community of people united by grief, or indeed, even to yourself, as a griefster. We’re not keen on deliberate endings, we’ve had ‘The End’, foisted upon us one too many times, and so it makes all other finales… a bit tricky. I know from experience, I’m not the only club member who can’t even say a goodbye to a friend, without the bouncy castle of death anxiety inflating in my chest. Waving desperately thinking, ‘What if this is the last time I see them? Do they know what they mean to me? What if me taking so long to say goodbye is the thing that causes the accident that kills them…?’ Years ago, I thought it was just me that had these thoughts, but because of so many years of talking/writing/thinking about grief, I know… I’m not alone! Hahahahaha. See? Grief can be fun.
Right, well, death snuck in, I was supposed to be talking about moisturisers. I am a sensitive soul - and this normally means that your skin acts as a calling card for your personality. Here are three moisturisers that I have found to be non-irritating /non-greasy/non-yuck feeling and they do a good job. But please, if you have dry skin, I’m not for you, follow Charlotte Palermino on instagram, she’s your gal1.
Also, yes they’re a bit pricey and yes, you can buy cheaper products. But this is my skin, it’s all I have to protect my soul from the forces of the outside world. I can’t whack a tub of Nivea on it and hope for the best; if you were lost in a storm and you came across a newborn bunny, you wouldn't wrap it in foil and leave it where you found it, hoping that it would figure out eventually how to make a metallic shelter. I’m that bunny and my dad is dead, so let me tell you about the nice things that work.
No.1 - Murad Restorative Hydro Hyaluronic Cream
This is solid, dependable. It’s light but not lightweight, it’s not greasy, sure, it isn’t fancy, but it does what it said it would. It’s an old friend that won’t let you down, it’s paid you back for that taxi ride before you’ve WhatsApped your sort code over, it keeps your secrets but passes on the good gossip, when it turns up for meetings it remembers the good M&S snacks, it’s clearly got some people pleasing issues, but don’t worry it’s working on them in therapy and it doesn’t need anything else from you. (apart from the skin on your face.)
No.2 Skin Rocks The Moisturiser
Look this is a bit thicker, and a bit richer, I couldn’t use it every day for sure. If you’re drier, go for it. Also I tried the fragrance free and the scented versions, and it made no difference to me. I’m a huge fan of this brand and everything Caroline Hirons makes, a few years ago I read her entire blog from start to finish, as if it was a book, and so I know too much and i’m too invested to walk away now. Yes, I have a problem with letting things go (see aforementioned grief points).
No. 3 Elemis Pro Collagen Marine Cream
OK, yeah this one is too much, it really is. Both financially and in packaging. But it feels like an 1950s Hollywood moisturiser. It’s what you imagined being a grown up would feel like; big pot of cream, rubbing it into your mush, before hot stepping to the club, because you’ve got a matinee before the evening show, and dammit if Jimmy didn't promise he’d show up tonight! It’s a treat, but you almost certainly deserve it.
https://open.spotify.com/show/3lfFOOYxeCEOZ7ZY2X3DfS?si=h5nFaqciQnOm32KI679tGA
I highly recommend this podcast Cariad - from one Austen lover to another