How "American" is my bathroom??

So I thought it would be fun to see how many items in my bathroom are actually made in America.  I took pictures so you can see my lovely mess! Don't judge!

This is what is under my sink:

And this is my medicine cabinet:

So now that I have embarrassed myself, I will list each item and see where the American chips fall!

1. Gillette After Shave Skin Conditioner Sensitive Skin Gel (not mine by the way) - Made in the USA!

2. New Skin Liquid Bandage - not clear where it is manufactured, so iffy...

3. L'oreal Wrinkle De-Crease Collagen Filler - no comments please! :) L’oreal has a USA branch, but I could not find out whether or not this product was made in the USA.

4. Roc - Multi-Correxion Night Treatment - Made in France 

5. Neosporin + Pain Relief - for all my paper cuts!  Again, does not disclose where it is made, only that it is distributed by a US company.

6. Walgreens Mucus Relief Chest Congestion - Expectorant - this is a generic of Mucinex (the expectorant). Does not disclose where it is made, only that it is distributed from the US.

7. Auro-Dri Ear Drying Aid - I get swimmer’s ear every summer and this really helps! Made in the USA!

8. The Body Shop Perfume Oil (White Musk) Love this stuff! It is a part of the L’oreal Corporation so who knows where it was made.

9. Vaseline - good for chapped lips in the winter. Could have been made in 1 of 60 countries around the world.

10. Rite Aid Flexible Fabric Bandages - because I am always cutting myself accidently! Again not sure where they’re made but distributed by USA.

11. Kirkland Ibuprofen (Costco’s Advil) Made in the USA! Yay Costco!!!

12. Harris Teeter Dental Floss (Mint flavor of course) No information whatsoever for this product other than it’s on sale this week!

13. Up & Up Daily Facial Moisturizing Lotion (Target’s version of Oil of Olay moisturizer) Really love this stuff!  And it’s made in the USA!

14. Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion and Peel system with Regenerating Serum - Olay is a division of Proctor & Gamble who manufactures products all over the world.

15.  Food Lion Rubbing Alcohol - I never really use this but I’m told it’s a staple. Again, it is not clear where it is made.

16.  Harris Teeter Baby Oil - not clear where it is made

17. Band Aid Variety Pack - I told you I have a lot of boo boos! Manufacturing facilities are located in Brazil and China.

18. Desitin Diapher Rash Cream - no I don’t have a kid, but this stuff works wonders on razor bumps!  A brand of the Johnson & Johnson company meaning it could have been manufactured anywhere.

19. Healthy Choice Eye Makeup Remover - this stuff really works! I got it at Bloom which is related to Food Lion which means...who knows where it was made?

20. Aussie Catch the Wave Mousse and Leave in Conditioner - I don’t have wavy hair, but love the conditioner! You would think Aussie products would be made in Australia but not so! Aussie is a brand of Proctor & Gamble so the manufacturing possibilities are endless.

21. Victoria’s Secret Love Spell and Merry Vanilla Twirl Refreshing Body Mists - both smell super yummy and both made in the USA!

22. Dove Damage Therapy Flexible Hold Hairspray - Made in the USA!

23. Frizz Ease Secret Weapon Flawless Finishing Cream - gets rid of flyaways and made in the USA!

24. Plus White 5 minute Speed Whitening Gel - I leave it on longer hoping for better results! If only I could give up coffee! Made in the USA!

25. Suave Dry Shampoo Spray - this has never worked for me but I keep it just in case. And it’s made in the USA!

26. Zero Frizz Quick Fix - love this stuff, but am unable to find it in stores anymore. Made in the USA!

27. Nair Shower Power - for when I want to wear short shorts :) Made in the USA!

28. Harris Teeter Hydrogen Peroxide - this is a must have item in my house, a great infection killer! Too bad Harris Teeter doesn’t tell you where it’s manufactured!

29. Aquafresh Toothpaste - Made in the USA!

So out of the 29 items in my bathroom (wow that’s not counting my makeup...does that mean I’m super vain?), only 12 items were made in the USA.  That’s around 41%.  I only counted the ones that said for sure on the label.  So I am going to start paying more attention to labels when I’m shopping.

Happy Medicine Cabinets!

Get Rid of Frizz!

Frizzy hair...my nemesis!

Being outside in the sun, swimming in the pool or ocean, being out in the humidity..all of these things lead to frizzy hair.

But I found a product that helps with the frizziness...Bedhead’s Some Like it Hot Serum.

This stuff smells sooo good!  I put it on my hair after I get out of the shower and style as usual.  It also protects against damage from blow drying or flat ironing your hair.  And did I mention that it smells amazing!

This product is a little bit difficult to find.  I get it either from my salon or on Amazon.  This is a summer product so it is harder to find before summer.  

My hair is fine so I’m not sure how it works on really thick, coarse hair.  If any of you have tried this product, let me know what you think.

Happy De-Frizzing!

Get Rid of Your Acne!

Ok, we’ve all seen the commercials, with Jessica Simpson, Katy Perry, and Avril Lavigne all telling us the same thing...Proactiv gets rid of acne.

But does it really work?  YES!  I used to have really bad, icky acne.  I tried everything including Retin-A, Differin, Oxy Clean, Noxema, antibiotics...you name it, I tried it.  Differin was really the only cream that worked for me...but it was an expensive prescription at around $50 a pop.

So I ordered Proactiv on a whim and have been using it ever since.  The starter kit comes with a Renewing Cleanser, a Revitalizing Toner and Repairing Treatment (cream).  I started off using the whole system and joined the Preferred Customer Program where they send you refills of the products every 4-6 weeks.  I found that I didn’t really need it that often (it takes a while to go through the toner and the repairing cream). So I started buying the products from a kiosk at a local mall.  It is the same price as ordering it online.

I use the  Renewing Cleaner with exfoliating beads religiously so I go through it faster.  But I only use the toner and cream every now and then for spot treatment.

I don’t remember how long it took but I think within a month my skin was totally clear.  I know I saw results early on and it was amazing!

I also use the Refining mask as spot treatment when I get one of those blemishes that just pops out of nowhere and doesn’t want to go away.  I dab it on the spot and leave it overnight and usually in the morning it is gone!  Amazing!

So I highly recommend this made in the USA product! You can get it at www.proactiv.com, or www.amazon.com, or at your local mall kiosk.

Happy Zit Zapping!

Rico Suave!

Happy Birthday America! I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July holiday!

After a VERY long hiatus, I am back to the blogosphere and ready to share some new info with you on buying American.

So summertime to me means lots of time at the pool and the beach which in turn means lots of showers afterwards!  Chlorinated, salty, sun tanned lotioned skin is not very attractive so I am picky about my body wash for the summer time.  I have used all kinds of body washes and soaps...cheap and inexpensive, and I have found that Suave Apricot Exfoliating Body Wash is the one that works for me.  It costs around $1.25 (at Harris Teeter) and it is really creamy and has exfoliating beads mixed in and smells really yummy.

Love this stuff!!  It exfoliates my skin, taking off all the sand, suntan lotion, and chlorine and leaves it feeling smooth. I highly recommend it (and they didn’t pay me to say this!)

And for you guys, I did a little looking for you cause I know you probably don’t want to smell like an apricot! :) Suave makes several body washes for men.  You will have to look on the label to see about where it is manufactured.  The website states that most of their products are made in the USA unless otherwise stated.  If any of you use this body wash, please let me know where it’s made.

Happy Suaveing!

Maui Baby!

It's that time again!  Time for spring dresses and flip flops and of course...a tan!  Now if you are like me, VERY fair, you probably have trouble tanning.  I usually am either white or red :)  But when I lived in Hawaii, I found a product that helped me tan called Maui Babe.  Now I still don't get a dark tan, but this seems to be the only product that helps me get any color other than red!

I use the Maui Babe Browning Lotion.  It smells a little like coffee and is a little messy, so I recommend putting it on before you go out in the sun and let it dry a little bit. 

Maui Babe is made on the island of Maui.  You can read about the Maui Babe story here.

You can buy Maui Babe at http://www.mauibabe.com/.  You can also find this product at Ulta stores (http://www.ulta.com/).

Happy Tanning!

Flawless skin without going to the dermatologist

I read Kandee Johnson's makeup blog and she is really amazing and has all kinds of tips on skin care, makeup, etc.  A while back I saw this video:

I don't know about you but I cannot afford to go to the dermatologist to get microdermabrasion!  Too expensive!!!!  So I thought I would try the DermaNew Facial Rejuvenation System.  Kandee suggests getting it on www.beautychoice.com, but I ended up getting mine on Overstock.com.  It was a little cheaper.  They are also listed on ebay.

It comes with a resurfacing tool, 2 foam applicators, 1 brush applicator and microdermabrasion creme.  So far I really love this product.  It gives your face a massage that feels nice.  My only complaint is that my hand feels weird after holding the resurfacing tool for 2 minutes...but nothing I can't handle! :) 

After I use the resurfacing tool and wash off the cream, I use the Target brand Up & Up All Day Complete UV moisturizer (compare to Olay All Day Complete UV Moisture Lotion), also made in the USA.  I love this stuff!

I hope to have skin like Kandee's one day!  I'm glad to have found a microdermabrasion product that I can use at home, that costs less than 1 visit to the dermatologist...and it is made in the USA!

Happy Smoothing!

Juicy Couture'

So I was in TJ Maxx the other day and noticed they got a shipment of Juicy Couture' clothing.  When I think of Juicy, I think of velour track suits which are not really my style…but to each his/her own! J

But I was surprised to see the Juicy label in some really cute clothes like this:

And the best part was the clothes were half price!  Along with Women’s clothing you can also find handbags, jewelry and of course track suits at www.juicycouture.com.

 

I would love to hear your reviews of Juicy clothes…since I don’t own any…yet… J

Happy shopping!

Well Kiss My Face!

Located in New York’s Hudson Valley, Kiss My Face operates out of a former feed store/converted barn. The company was started by 2 vegetarians searching for healthy body care products. They offer liquid soaps, shower gels, toothpastes, shaves, deodorants, hair products, sunscreen, lip color, and more!

Want to know the whole Kiss My Face story?  Go to: http://www.kissmyface.com/kmfstory.html



All products are made in the USA except the toothpaste (Italy) and the olive oil soap (Greece).

They use no artificial colors, no animal testing, no animal ingredients, and no unnecessary chemicals.

You can find KMF products online at www.kissmyface.com or at local retailers such as Walgreens, Wal-mart, CVS, or GNC.

Check em out and let me know what you think!

Happy Face Kissing!

Maui is calling...

I really miss living in Maui…walking to class in the morning and picking a plumeria to put in my hair, the smell of the ocean and the tropical flowers and fruits…

The scents of Hawaii are amazing!  This company really helps you “Remember Maui”!  It specializes in handmade soaps and lotions, made in Hawaii, with the scents of all the tropical flowers you love. 

 

My favorite is the Plumeria lotion.  I also like the Tuberose lotion (it was left for us in a gift basket on our honeymoon).   They have many different scents such as Coconut Mango, Mango Mandarin, Gardenia, Plumeria, Pikake (not sure what this smells like), Hana Rain, Tuberose, White Ginger, Lavender, and Lavender/Hibiscus.

Check out http://www.remembermaui.com/ to remember Maui in all its wonderfulness!

Aloha!

Did Someone Need A Doctor?

Manufactured in Fenton, MO, the Rug Doctor is a carpet cleaning machine that combines brush action, warm soapy water and a strong vacuum to produce professional results.  I have rented a Rug Doctor to clean my carpets and they work great!  You can usually rent them at Food Lion, Farm Fresh, Bloom, Kroger, and various hardware stores.  They are also available for purchase starting @ $700 but unless you plan on cleaning your carpets and your whole neighborhood’s carpets, you can probably just rent one.   

Check em out at http://www.rugdoctor.com/!

Happy Cleaning!



Need Some Balance?

I have always loved New Balance shoes.  They are the most comfortable pair of running shoes I have ever owned. 

I used to think they were kind of dorky because my high school gym teacher Coach Coggins used to wear the old-school New Balance.



Now they kind of look cool.

But I really like these mainly because they are purple! J And they are reasonably priced at $57.79.

 

“25% of all New Balance shoes sold in North America are produced by our US workforce using US and imported materials”  according to their website http://www.newbalance.com/. 

Make sure you check the label before you buy.

Happy Balancing!

"Brad's Drink"...uh huh!

In 1898, a pharmacist named Caleb Bradham created Pepsi Cola in New Bern, NC. Now, many years later, PepsiCo is the 2nd largest food and beverage business in the world.  Their headquarters is in Purchase Hamlet, Harrison, NY. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PepsiCo)

PepsiCo North America’s brands include, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi ONE, Pepsi Twist, Pepsi Vanilla, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Mountain Dew Code Red, Mountain Dew Live Wire, Sierra Mist, Mug, Slice, Aquafina, Dole Single-Serve Juices, Tropicana Juice Drinks, and SoBe (according to http://www.pepsi.com/PepsiLegacy_Book.pdf). 

I have always been more of a Coca Cola girl but I do really like Mountain Dew.  Great for a pick me up when there is no Starbucks in sight!  And you all know that Pepsi products can be found pretty much anywhere: restaurants, drug stores, grocery stores, quickie marts, 7-11s, etc...

A random thought...who remembers Michael Jackson’s hair being caught on fire while filming a Pepsi commercial?  I think that was about the time he came out with his “Bad” album.  Alas, I am showing my age!

Pepsi has proven to be an all-American brand...although I did see it stocked in some stores in China when we were there, so it is gaining in popularity.

If you live in NC you’d better drink it, otherwise you may be run out of town! (I’m kidding...kind of)

Happy Carbonating!

The Buzz about Bees

It all started with bee hives and lip balm. Burt’s Bees has grown into a company with an amazing product line of natural products that are good for your body and environmentally friendly. I love their Milk and Honey Body Lotion.  It smells amazing and makes your skin soft as a baby’s.

Check out their website http://www.burtsbees.com/ to see the many different products they offer including facial and body skin care, hair care, baby care, men’s grooming, and outdoor remedies.

This company has a special place in my heart because they are located in Durham, NC not far from where I grew up.

You can find Burt’s Bees products at many stores such as Target, Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and Trader Joes.

Which Burt’s Bees products have you tried?

Happy Buzzing! 

Mixing it up

I think most women at some point in their lives want a KitchenAid mixer. KitchenAid has been making stand up mixers since 1919 and is a brand of Whirlpool Corp. They make Stand Mixers and Blenders at their Greenville, OH facility. Their coffee grinders are made in India and assembled in Greenville (not quite sure what that means but there it is).

I first fell in love with these mixers when I saw my sister in law's (she has the coolest kitchen stuff!)  I think we were making cookies and she made it look so easy...put the ingredients in and turned it on to mix.  Sooo easy!

So the Aqua Sky mixer is on my Amazon wish list if any of you are feeling generous! 

Do any of you have this product?  If so, have you tried the pasta maker attachment?  You know how I love pasta!

Happy mixing!

Lucky us!

I discovered Lucky Brand Jeans at the Williamsburg Prime Outlet mall in VA. Actually I saw these jeans from afar in Hong Kong but everything is expensive in HK so I didn't actually go in the store. Lame, I know... 

When I did finally go to the Williamsburg outlet, I was impressed by their selection of jeans. The store employee told me they had a fit for every body type. Seeing is believing my friend!  I tried on the Zoe bootleg and loved them!

Lucky products are manufactured in the USA, Mexico and Sri Lanka. All USA-manufactured Lucky jeans are made in Vernon, near downtown Los Angeles. In addition, the jeans manufactured in the United States are all hand-made, and all the detailing is done by hand, except for the actual washing process.

The Zoe bootleg jean and Charley Flare are a couple of the jeans that are made in the USA. They cost around $100 new so they are a little pricey. 

Check em out at http://www.luckybrand.com/


Happy Shamrocks! 

So what chu want????

So...I am wondering what types of things you would like to see on this blog...clothing, shoes, makeup, hair care, food, etc etc etc...

What products would you like me to find that are made in the USA?  What products do you have the most trouble finding that are made in the USA?  I have noticed that clothing is probably hardest thing for me to find.  My favorite stores usually carry clothing made in China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia, but no USA label.

So tell me what you would like to see on this blog and I will do my best!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Minerals Minerals Minerals...

Bare Minerals foundation is my favorite summer makeup made in the USA!!!  I love mineral makeup because it’s so light on the skin and it matches my very fair skin tone.  I use the Fair shade (the very lightest one because I am a really WHITE girl!) J

http://www.bareescentuals.com/

This makeup has pretty good coverage.  I use their foundation (Fair), their concealer (Bisque),their all over color (True) as a blush and their eye shadows. I like the Glimmer shadows for some extra bling on the eyes.  My sister in law introduced me to this makeup and I really love it for everyday use.  However, I don’t recommend wearing it for photos as it is pretty natural looking so you won’t look like you have much makeup on.

One more thing I love about Bare Minerals…the Primer! 

Prime Time is pretty much amazing.  It helps your makeup apply evenly and stay on.  I highly recommend this!

Which products have you tried and liked or disliked?

Happy Minerals! J