igossip.com Image
I like to drive. That’s because it’s almost impossible to complete a beauty regimen at home, with four teensy kids in the house. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve “accidentally” locked the bathroom door behind me.
Just a few minutes ago, we all were watching Gulliver’s Travels. My toenail polish was almost, almost dry when the movie ended, and everybody rose, and my daughter stepped on my toes. Readers, learn from my experience: Silver sparkles do not complement beige Berber.
That’s why my spa is my car. In its center console, I carry facial cleansing wipes, moisturizer for the face and body, eye cream, mints, lip balm, nail polishes, a hairbrush, cuticle clippers, nail file, travel toothbrushes, lipsticks, perfumes, mascara, and a sparkly finishing powder (my complexion is so Gwyneth-white, bronzers make me look like I’m wearing cinnamon toast on my face).
Here’s how your spa operates: At a stoplight, pick your pampering.
Waiting for a train? Woo hoo, you’ve got me time! If you didn’t have a chance to apply makeup before leaving the house, do that first. I figure that, if I have mascara, powder, and lipstick on, I at least look prepared. After that, you can brush and moisturize as you need.
If space is limited in your car, grab samples — get on Sephora’s mailing list, and you’ll get tons of freebies. Alpha moms I admire, like Hannah Keeley, already advocate bringing a basket with car cleaning supplies and stowing it in the passenger seat. So why not stash bottled water in the basket as well… and vitamins and fish oil, to strengthen hair and nails?
You get bonus points for buying healthy snacks at the grocery store and automatically adding them to your stash when you reach the car. You gorgeous woman, you, you’re also frugal and timewise. When you’re doing errands and get hungry, you won’t blow 10 minutes in a drive through and $7 on manufactured meat when you’re in possession of a 14-cent banana.
This mobile regimen works because it’s highly soothing and it’s curiously strengthening, pampering yourself through the day. You’ll be amazed at how much grooming you actually get done. Because by 8 p.m. I’m usually so exhausted, I’m lucky just to read InStyle Mag, let alone do everything it advocates.
A caveat: Make sure your moisturizer isn’t too greasy, or your hands will slide off the wheel (yikes, Ahava!). Yes, you want your beauty to stop traffic, but not because your skidding car caused a seventeen-car pileup. Apply nail polish to fingers and toes before you leave home, and by the time you’ve reached Costco, everybody will want a sample of you.
Also, beware: Beautify only at stoplights. Distracted drivers are drivers in danger. Don’t worry what other drivers think while they’re looking at you. They’re either fighting their nearly uncontrollable lust for you or picking their noses… hopefully not both.
Besides, the woman in the car beside you might be me. I’ll be pampering myself, too.
Glam Guest Post courtesy of the uber-fabulous Rebecca E. Pfettscher Bailey. Read her column ”Crazy Mom” in the Sunday Times of Northwest Indiana and log on to http://www.wormsoup.wordpress.com to follow Bailey’s blog.
