Yo! Adrienne!
Oct 26 '00 (Updated Oct 30 '00)
Though never a Girl Scout, my personal motto is, “Be prepared!” Since marrying a man employed in the aerospace industry, unexpected travel opportunities have become a big part of my life. One impetus that propels us on the road, again is our rapidly aging group of friends and relatives. Too many early morning phone calls informing us of a loved one’s hospitalization or worse, motivated me into keeping a bag packed at all times.
Throwing a few pairs of jeans, blouses, appropriate business attire, undergarments, shoes and at least one dressy item into a travel bag rarely takes more than a minute or two of my time. Packing my cosmetics organizer is an entirely different story. No matter what the purpose of my excursion, I always manage to forget that one crucial item.
Any frequent flyer can tell you that hotels keep a stock of miniature personal items on hand for absentminded travelers. One quick call to the front desk usually results in a box or basket of tiny plastic bottles delivered directly to the door. This helpful service saves many a globetrotter from the embarrassment of showing up for a meeting with a head full of greasy locks or worse yet – sans deodorant. Advantageous as the immediate assistance might be, having my favorite brands on hand takes some of the strain out of what is often a stress filled situation.
Never accused of being a fast study, it took several years of preoccupied packing for me to come up with a viable solution. I purchased Freedom Bag® cosmetic organizers as holiday gifts one year, making sure to order two extras for Equal Half and me. Before wrapping our presents, I packed each bag with duplicates of those indispensable items we use on a daily basis. From that point on, we never arrive at our destination without every single article necessary to our comfort and well being.
The question to be answered in reviews falling under this category reads: “What five essential skin care products do you bring when you travel away from home and why?” Oddly enough, my reply is Adrienne Arpel’s Signature Club A Five Essentials skin care line.
I discovered Ms. Arpel’s wonderful cosmetics many years ago when they were available for purchase at many fine department store cosmetic counters and salons. One of the pioneers in the field, Adrienne Arpel’s cosmetics are never tested on animals. That and the high quality of her make-up and skin care line, got my attention and kept me coming back for more. During the past decade, she made the switch from mall makeover maven to television shopping channel saleswoman. While I do miss the time spent on the receiving end of self-indulgent facials, Adrienne Arpel’s product lines expanded to include some of the most innovative skin care products on the market today.
Addicted to finally owning great skin, I refuse to let a few days or weeks away from home interrupt my personal maintenance regime. Packed in their own sub-compartment, my ‘Five Essentials’ keep me looking my best when on the road.
Five Essentials (or) A Road Warrior’s Defense Strategy
1. Signature Club A® French Vanilla Meltdown – Dirt, pollutants and clinging mascara have no chance against this heavenly concoction. Raccoon eyes be gone! This fragrant cream with its delicious vanilla scent serves as a make-up remover with the added bonus of aromatherapy at its best. Pulling and tugging on the paper-thin, delicate eye area when removing make-up eventually turns tiny lines into crevices. This product does its work without stressing the skin. Simply apply French Vanilla Meltdown directly to the facial and neck area; count to ten and remove with a tissue or damp washcloth. No worries about using Meltdown on sensitive eyes or skin types; it truly lives up to claims of not irritating even the most vulnerable areas of the face. French Vanilla Meltdown comes in 4.5 and 9-ounce jars and a convenient 2-ounce travel size tube. (Item #19554 - the 4.5-ounce jar retails for $18.00)
2. Signature Club A® Alpha Hydroxy & Retinol Daily Face Wash – No matter what else is going on in my life, twice a day I take a minute to cleanse my face with Adrienne’s Daily Face Wash. The scent, once again, is a barely there hint of vanilla. The clear amber liquid is so highly concentrated that one six-ounce bottle lasts months. One or two drops produces enough foam to thoroughly lather my face and neck, leaving my skin feeling smooth and refreshed. Safe for all skin types, this cleanser never leaves my skin feeling taut or dry. I often use this product in the shower instead of a body bar, especially when traveling. Those tiny bars of soap provided by hotels often irritate my skin. Packing a soap dish with a favorite bar of soap means sometimes having to bring home a soggy mess. Using SCA Alpha Hydroxy & Retinol Daily Face Wash as an all over cleanser, solves that problem and leaves my skin looking and feeling great. This item is sold in a two-ounce travel size or two six-ounce bottles to a package. (Item #743044 - the twinpack of 6-ounce bottles sells for $14.00.)
3. Signature Club A® Soft Scrub With Vanilla Bean – One more time for that incredible vanilla fragrance! Like French Vanilla Meltdown, the Soft Scrub’s scent is full strength and pure bliss. Irresistibly creamy, the mixture combines a refined facial scrub with Alpha Hydroxy acids and Retinol for the ultimate in pore cleaning and exfoliation. I use this scrub once or twice a week to keep my skin at its best. Unlike many other scrubs on the market, the SCA Soft Scrub with Vanilla Bean is not greasy or coarsely gritty and leaves my face conditioned, softer in appearance and feeling replenished. When friends comment about my ‘healthy glow,’ I attribute it to my soft scrub. This product is sold in packages of two 2-ounce travel-size tubes and in 4.5 or 9 ounce jars. (Item #40501 - the twin pack of 2-ounce tubes retails for $14.50.)
4. Signature Club A® Oxygenating Toner - With a lavishly cleansed and freshly scrubbed face, I like to follow up with a truly refreshing toner. A simple spritz from SCA’s Oxygenating Toner spray bottle and my pores disappear! Adrienne Arpel combines the usual Alpha Hydroxy acids and Retinol along with nature-based extracts to create a welcome wake-up for tired skin. Sold in a package of two six-ounce spray bottles, this toner is safe for all skin types. (Item #405504 - the twin pack of 6-ounce spray bottles retails for $15.50.)
5. Signature Club A® Five Essentials Cream - Rounding out my daily facial regimen, this product combines two creams in one jar. Whatever inspired Ms. Arpel to create this ingenious packaging, it was truly a great concept. A ‘piggyback’ jar holds both the Five Essentials Cream which combines five creams in one and the smaller top jar holds the specially formulated alpha hydroxy eye cream. Looking like a derby hat on top of the signature black and gold jar, the upper lid unscrews for access to the eye cream. Unscrew the entire derby and voila – the face cream is exposed. I love the idea of having both essential creams in one easy to pack container. Using a tiny dot of eye cream to moisturize the skin surrounding my eyes and following up with the non-greasy face cream leaves a finish ready for make-up. I can easily go without any additional make-up after applying the two moisturizing emollients since my skin appears refined and flawless. Both creams absorb into the skin instantly leaving no residue behind. SCA Five Essentials Cream comes packaged in 2 ounce, 4.5 ounce and 9-ounce piggyback jars. (Item #19446 - the 4.5-ounce jar retails for $24.95.)
A final bit of decadence that brings my list of necessities up to six is a treat for the rest of me. Once again, Adrienne Arpel combines aromatherapy with skin conditioning in her:
Five Essentials Body Treatment Crème with Alpha Hydroxy and Retinol – Unlike so many other things in life that are enjoyable, this product is not illegal, immoral or fattening. I make a point of spending the last few minutes of the day spoiling myself by slathering on this delicious vanilla scented body treatment. Feet, legs, arms, hands and every part of my body from the neck down receive the benefits of this high performance body crème. Simply opening up the jar puts me in the mood to relax. The scent of vanilla wafts as I massage the rich formula into my skin. Vitamins C and E heal and enhance while the Alpha Hydroxy and Retinol refine and freshen. Even tired, dry feet, elbows and knees benefit from my nightly indulgence. This product is truly spa quality. If you purchase none of the other products in Ms. Arpel’s impressive line, this is the one to try. Packaged in 2-ounce tubes, 4.5 ounce and 9 ounce jars, this is perfect skin care in a jar for your whole body. (Item #22143 - the 9-ounce jar retails for $24.95.)
I Hate to Pack and Run…
Being on the road is no excuse to abandon a healthy albeit truly self-indulgent skin care ritual. Keeping my carry-on bag packed and ready to go with duplicates of my favorite products makes travel a much less stressful endeavor. I find keeping up familiar habits when away from home makes me feel more in control of my situation. Besides, nothing beats room service followed by a facial and body treatment that leaves you dreamy eyed, relaxed and smelling delicious. Who says you cannot take it with you? I do! Thank you, Adrienne!
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Afterthoughts
In response to the many kind members who wrote asking where to purchase Adrienne Arpel's Signature Club A® line of products, please copy and paste the following link into the address bar of your browser:
http://www.hsn.com/content/sf/dept/default.asp?sz=2&sf=BS&dept=SCA
From what I understand, Ms. Arpel phased out her salon and department store kiosks and sells her cosmetic and skin care lines on the Internet, in catalogues and on the Home Shopping Network. Also, other Adrienne Arpel lines are available at:
http://www.adrienarpel.com/products.html
Not only do the products come in my favorite Vanilla scent, many come in Sea Mist, citrus varieties and other delicious fragrances. None are overpowering and all items come with a 30-day 'no questions asked' return guarantee.
For real savings, check out the gift packages offered online and on HSN's Adrienne Arpel special presentations. Many of these kits, collections and bonus sales come with attractive and well constructed tote bags, cosmetic cases and other decorative containers.
I hope this answers some of your questions; please feel free to email or place a comment. Thank you!
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Epinions.com ID:
pogomom
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 in Home and Garden |
 - Top 200 |
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Reviews written: 193
Trusted by: 726 members
About Me:
Web/puter person who, disguised as mild-mannered Pogomom, offers unsolicited opinions to all she encounters.
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