Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Pitfalls of Deodorant....(No Pun Intended)



Alright ladies, as much as you don't want to admit it, we've all been guilty of doing the occasional "pit check" to make sure that the deodorant or anti-persperant we're wearing is indeed working.  Especially if you're living in the Texas heat! To most people, the concept of general hygiene is basic so the thought of body odor, similar to bad italian food or onions emitting from under someone's armpits makes our nostrils cringe.  We've all been in that situation where you're standing in line behind someone at a restaurant or grocery store and they smell terrible. You can't help but wonder, "For God's sake, can they not smell themselves?" To which the answer most likely is, No. Just like in ancient cavemen times when people were concerned with more important things like creating fire or fighting off dinosaurs, some people nowadays are just as oblivious to body odor.

But before continuing this very paramount discussion on "B.O.",  I would like to preface the conversation by letting the readers know that my quest to find a better deodorant is one to sincerely help others, n
ot because I personally have armpits that smell like dirty, wet socks stuffed inside a football player's dirty locker. Many clients at Glow who are undergoing Laser Hair Removal on their underarms have voiced concerned to me regarding a change in odor as a result of treatments. And no deodorants seem to be helping.


In the same situation a woman may occasionally change her shampoo & conditioner if her hair becomes dry or limp, we also change our deodorants in the belief that our pits are becoming immune to the active properties of it.  Although there are literally hundreds of deodorant brands such as Secret, Dove, Dove, Dry Idea, Degree, Ladies Speed Stick and Degree to name a few, some work better than others.  For a short time at least.  So I read in a magazine about a highly rated and regarded deodorant from Kiehls called "The Superbly Efficient Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant Cream." A cream, I thought? That's kind of interesting.  So I went on a mini-mission to the Kiehls Boutique Store in NorthPark Mall and purchased not just one, but 2 for $16 each.  So here is the blabber that goes with this so-called "miracle" cream


  • Leaves skin feeling soft, soothed and conditioned with 24–hour protection against sweat and odor
  • Reduces underarm perspiration utilizing advanced micro–sized drying molecules for sheer absorption with no residue
  • With our unique blend of ingredients, including orange, lemon, and linseed extracts, underarm hair will feel softer, resulting in a smoother shave experience
  • A customer favorite
  • You will attract a successful, handsome, sincere, witty man who will shower you with you gifts and be 100% loyal.
    Okay I threw that last part it. Regardless, I will say I was very impressed with this "miracle" underarm cream.  The texture is super smooth, like a facial cream, and absorbs quickly.  Unlike wet roll-ons and solid deodorants that end up flaky or crumbly. The smell is very light and little blob of it goes a long way. I know some of you may be thinking that $16 is a rather high price for deodorant.  I might agree if I didn't think this stuff is literally one, if not "the best deodorant" on this planet. No lies.

    Tuesday, October 8, 2013

    I'm Just Getting Older And Better...


    It's really sad because I can still remember being in my 
    early 20's wondering what it would feel like to be "old." Back then, like most morons my age, I was youthful, carefree and wasn't truly worried about aging since it seemed cosmically light years away. Then all of a sudden, people stop asking to see your I.D. WTF? What do you mean I don't look 21 anymore? Then life puts you on a conveyor belt at high speed. It's time to do everything your family & friends expect you to do. And quickly too:

    1. Time to get married to a man you are "supposed" to love forever and ever.  Just like we're "supposed" to go to the gym regularly. And we all know how that ends up working out.

    2. You end up working in a different career which is not even remotely related to the one you spent 4 years (or up to 10 years in some cases) preparing for at an overpriced college.

    3. And finally, your dreams of becoming a mother to lots of babies comes to fruition. But ironically, you are rewarded with the gift of a persistent pooch & saggy boobs. It's as if the universe no longer feels it necessary to see you in a bikini.

    And then comes along that oh-so-special 40th Birthday. But, in the words of motivational speaker Tony Robbins, "Change is inevitable, but Progess is a choice." Turning 40 is not as bad as you think it will be. When they say "Forty" is the new "F" word, I really believe it, in a good way of course. My sis and I recently turned this milestone age but we are told by many that we look younger. Is it because of we wear tons of cosmetics & spend lot of money on expensive skin care products? No. It's because we take what we have and just try to accent the good, or what's left of it ;)  For a woman, getting up in the morning and putting on a beautiful face (or at least trying) is the first step to the rest of the battles of the day.

    Yes there is a lot of wear, tear & stress in life ~ work, marriage, kids ~ but although the key to aging truly lies in a ones genetics. other aspects such as a healthy lifestyle, and emotional intelligence enhance it. And finally, having a positive, youthful attitude which radiates on the outside is just the cherry on top . So stop trying to erase it ladies & embrace it! 

    Friday, October 4, 2013

    My Addiction to Brilliant, Beautiful Jewelry!



    Layer it up Ladies!
    Mix-n-Match gorgeous necklaces to get the right look!



    Don't just dream at night.
    Dream during the day too!



    GlowGirl Boutique
     in Glow Salon & Med Spa


    All that glitters is indeed Glow!
    Gold statement rings are sexy!



    Although Bangles shouldn't reach your elbows,
     don't be afraid to pile a few up!



    My choice look for a friend's wedding this weekend...
    ...... and, yes, I will turn heads!

    Thursday, October 3, 2013

    Leave Me Alone, Pretty Please




    Good Customer Service  (A.K.A. Kissing Ass)
         
    Businesses realize that it is extremely important and vital for growth and continuing customer loyalty.  The way salespeople personally deal with customers can literally make or break a business.  That's why hours and hours of boring customer service training programs are provided to a staff to ensure that they are friendly, polite, helpful, informative and apologetic, if necessary. I want the same from my employees at my business.  They should greet clients warmly when they walk in, ask them if they need help then...LEAVE THEM ALONE.  Why is the last part of this statement in caps AND italicized you ask?  Because i believe it is just as important as the first two. I know you're reading this, scratching your head thinking, "this doesn't make any sense...I didn't read this in ANY section of my customer service manual." Well, I personally think it is possible to provide too much, overbearing customer service, which eventually pushes the customer away. Let me explain...

    I have spoken to many friends about how going to the mall is starting to have the same feel as going to buy a car at a dealership.  We all know the scenario.  You pull into the parking lot and park but, before your feet even touch the ground, there is a swarm of commission hungry sales people circling you like killer sharks. No, I wasn't waist-high in the dangerous waters off the Australian coast. I was, however, walking around in the Nordstrom's shoe department observing the over-staffed, eager employees walking around. It took less than 10 seconds for one salesperson to say hello and ask if i needed help. I said "I'm just looking" politely and moved away only to be cornered by another one asking how I was doing. "I'm good," I said with a half smile as I headed in another direction in the hopes of being left alone.  I'm actually one of the lucky ones.  My shoe size is a 6 and that is normally the one on display. So i don't waste any time and just slip on one of the shoes quickly.  In doing so, this action sent another employee into my direction to see if they could be of any assistance. I said "no thanks...this shoe is my size." As I continued to browse the department without any disturbance, I could still see the eager staff lurking in my peripheral vision. 

    Finally, I find the perfect shoe, turn around and head towards the least annoying person on the floor. Notice I said, "least annoying".  Not the one who said hello to me first.  I sat down and, after a few minutes, see the young salesman in his well-pressed suit emerge from the back not bringing one box, but 3 boxes of shoes out with him.  Ugh.  "I want to show you some other great styles too" he said as he clumsily started unpacking them. This is when I really start to get annoyed. I just looked down at him silently, glaring like Medusa, hoping to catch him looking at me in the eyeballs so i could turn him into stone.  "You know, I think I only want to try on that pair" I said.  After all, I really didn't want to waste his or my time.  In the end, I did not leave with any shoes.  Maybe it was because they just didn't look right, or didn't feel right, OR maybe i just wanted to get the hell out of that department. 

    Being both a customer and business owner, I can see from both sides. I understand that commission sales in any business is difficult and cutthroat at times.  People have bills to pay and there are certain daily quotas one must reach to earn more. However, when you walk into a store, you want to be acknowledged, not bombarded. You want your own personal space, not someone following you around. You want to pick out your own things, not have things picked out for you. Part of being a good salesperson is having the ability to read a customer's body language (cues for if they really do need your help) and understanding the difference between providing good, quality customer service or being just plain annoying & pushy......In the meanwhile, i will just get a t-shirt made that says, "Please Don't Speak To Me. I Bite." and wear that to the makeup counter next time.

    ~ Miss GlowGirl xoxo






      

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