The 10 Product Challenge

Cosmetics: the glorious world of pampering and reinvention. Creams, oils, powders, and colours brighter than a two year-old’s eyes in front of the Tupperware cupboard. Cosmetics offer the feeling of comfort, relaxation, and the chance to change how you present yourself to the outside world. You can be a sixties pin-up, an earth mother, a goth, a vamp, a hipster or anything you want, all with a small flick of the wrist and a black eyeliner pencil.

In today’s world, one would be hard-pressed to find a woman who, at least at some point in her life, hasn’t been taken in by the lure of a small black box with minimal white writing, the colours inside coaxing her to reach for her purse; a radiant bottle encased in promises of “brighter”, “whiter”, “perkier”, “younger”; that sleek sliver pencil-brush swathed in velvet, the shopgirl ensuring banishment of dark circles (“what dark circles?”, you ask ... then glance in one of the too brightly lit mirrors and realise, yes, in this context, you do have dark circles, and quickly buy every product she offers).

Individually, every product is apparently “safe”, otherwise approval from the FDA and other governing bodies would be denied. But in everything I keep reading about “the imminent dangers of cosmetic use” it is mentioned that it is not necessarily individual products that are dangerous, it is the fact that most of us use so many. When combined and ingested (via eyes, mouth and skin) the culmination of chemicals from each products used, creates dosages which (although “safe” in the dose contained in each individual product) are harmful and can lead to any number of serious illnesses or reactions – the most obvious of which is cancer.

Bearing this in mind, for the past week, I set myself the challenge of using 10 products or less each day. For anyone that knows me, they will realise what a difficult challenge this is. To say I am a cosmetic enthusiast would be gross understatement. I am a make-up whore.

Visit my bathroom, and you will discover drawers upon drawers of cosmetics. I have separate drawers for face creams, for lipsticks, eyeshadows, perfumes, blushes, highlighters and powders  ... I could go on and on. Once when my sister visited on holiday, she had forgotten to pack make-up and so I loaned her a couple of useful items (cream blush, eyeshadow, eyeliner, etc). “Won’t you need these?” she asked. “Oh, that’s only the make-up I wear to the gym” ... which was, justifiably, met with a look of shock and awe. 

What can I say? I love the possibility and accessibility that make-up brings. Trends are easily followed (the chocolate-brown dark romantic lip for Autumn/Winter 2012), without the hefty price tag (compared to an embroidered silk, orient-inspired kimono jacket and obi-belt - another trend for AW2012). Easily changed and combined, the lip/cheek/eyes colour combos allow for constant personal (image) reinvention, afternoons of make-over fun, and the feeling of creativity and personal style when all other fashion choices are preordained (for example, the department store uniform of a black suit and only a black suit, five days a week). It allows for creativity and self-expression, enhancement of valued assets, and a general sense of fun!

Perhaps I set myself up for failure or perhaps 10 is just not enough, save when backpacking on Thai beaches, polar bear-chasing in the Antarctic, or simply being a man, but despite valiant efforts, this challenge went pear shaped right from the beginning. For starters, on some days I use up to five products just in the shower alone (Shampoo, Conditioner, Facial Cleanser, Shaving Gel, Body Wash)! To top that off, I use about five more products just to prep my face for the colourful stuff (Toner, Lip Balm, Tinted Moisturizer, Concealor, Powder), and that’s before we get to any of the essentials like toothpaste and deodorant.

 

Oh yeah, and when you put a product on, you also need another product to help you take it off. Needless to say, I found this challenge tough:

	Day One	Day Two	Day Three	Day Four	Day Five	Day Six	Day Seven
Hair	-Conditioner -Curl Cream	-Curl Cream -Hairspray	-Shampoo -Conditioner -Curl Cream	-Conditioner -Curl Cream	-Shampoo -Conditioner	-Shampoo -Conditioner	-Conditioner -Curl Cream
Face	-Cleanser -Toner -Lip Balm -Tinted moisturiser -Concealor -Powder -Blush -Highlighter -Mascara -Brow  pencil -Brow gel	-Cleanser -Toner -Lip Balm -Tinted Moisturizer -Concealor -Powder -Blush/ Eyeshadow/ Highlighter -Mascara -Brow pencil -Brow Gel -Eyeliner -Lip gloss -Alternate lip balm	-Cleanser -Toner -Lip Balm -Concealor -Powder -Blush/ Eyeshadow/ Highlighter -Mascara -Brow pencil -Brow gel -Alternate lip balm	-Cleanser -Lip balm -Toner -Blush -Eyeliner -Mascara -Concealor -Tinted moisturizer -Powder -Lip gloss -Highlighter -Brow pencil -Brow gel -Alternate lip balm	-Cleanser -Toner -Concealor -Blush -Highlighter -Brow pencil -Brow gel -Lip Balm -Mascara -Alternate lip balm	-Cleanser -Toner -Lip balm -Concealor -Blush -Highlighter -Mascara -Brow pencil -Brow gel -Alternate lip balm	-Cleanser -Toner -Lip balm -Tinted moisturizer -Powder -Blush -Highlighter -Eyeliner -Mascara -Brow pencil -Brow gel -Alternate lip balm
Body	-Body wash	-Shaving gel -Body wash	-Body wash	-Body Wash	-Body Wash -Bath oil	-Body Wash	-Body Wash
Hygiene Essentials	-Deodorant -Toothpaste	-Deodorant -Toothpaste	-Deodorant -Toothpaste	-Deodorant -Toothpaste	-Deodorant -Toothpaste	-Deodorant -Toothpaste	-Deodorant -Toothpaste
Night-time	-Make-up remover -Clearing gel -Eye drops -Handcream -Shampoo	-Make-up remover -Clearing gel	-Make-up remover -Clearing gel	-Make-up remover -Clearing gel -Eye drops	-Make-up remover -Clearing gel -Eye drops	-Make-up remover -Clearing gel	-Make-up remover -Clearing gel
Total Products	21	21	18	22	19	17	19

 

On the first day, I thought I had done quite well, until I did a quick tally. “21!?!?!?”, I thought? How can this be possible? I don’t even look like I’m wearing anything (make-up wise that is ... I was fully dressed)!!! Day two and three I got my products to multitask – Bobbi Brown’s shimmer brick is simultaneously blush, highlighter and eyeshadow (and therefore counted as only one product), but quickly I realised that “Nectar”, whilst great on my cheeks, is not as flattering for my eyes (several enquiries that day were in regards to whether or not I had a bad case of conjunctivitis). Day four dawned with a sore throat and stuffy nose, and I have always maintained that the best way to feel better is to look better. The product challenge went out the window and all cosmetic accoutrements came in. I felt fabulous ... and my cold went away as fast as it came. Days five and six proved quite easy, possibly because I knew I would be sweating it out at a yoga course both days – make-up is frowned upon – we are natural, organic, bendable yogis, after all! Day seven allowed use of the least products whilst still feeling like my glamour girl self (two days of sweat and breathing exercises are better than a spa day for the face). A day out at the V&A Museum in the fashionable borough of Kensington and I felt neither like an out-of-vogue earth mother, a fresh faced teenager, or a pink-eye infected leper – what a little eyeliner will do for the ego!

My conclusion is that whilst I recognise that the number and combination of products can be harmful, it will not always be feasible for me to limit my products to less than 10; a girl has to be fresh, clean and professional, and if that means a flawless face topped with a little lipstick and mascara, then so be it. I will instead be trying to buy less toxic, more natural cosmetics in the hope that I can be healthier whilst maintaining my glamour girl style. And on some days, perhaps my face will be rocking the "fresh faced teenager" look ... having just turned thirty, it’s a look I don’t mind ... every now and then.

GG Rating – Good for Hardcore Hippies