Hairy armpits

Dove recently contacted to me to see if I'd be interested in blogging about their new deodorant. At first I thought, Meh, but then I read that it's supposed to reduce stubble! Wha?! And just so we're clear, no, Dove is not paying me to blog about them, I'm doing this of my own volition.

They sent me some deodorant and I'm going to blog about whether or not it actually works. I already use Dove, so it's not really much of a stretch to switch to a different line of their products. I started using their new Visibly Smooth line last week and I'm going to revisit this topic in a month. And I promise, no pictures of my armpits. But I have a feeling it's going to be hard to tell if it really does reduce the appearance of stubble. For most deodorants, when they don't work, you know. And so does everyone around you. For this though, the results will have to be dramatic to even be visible. My armpits and I eagerly await the results.

Skinny actresses on ELLE magazine covers

I've been doing some digital publishing research for school, and I came across some troubling magazine covers from ELLE magazine.

Are these actresses actually this thin? Or were they photoshopped to look like this? Either way, I find this very disturbing. I used to read ELLE in high school and university, and these are three consecutive months of unrealistic body images. I can't imagine being confronted with these cover models (ahem, actresses...) when I was a teenager. Even now, with more healthy body-image campaigns out there and having more acceptance of my own body, I have a hard time looking at these. 

And if anyone is tempted to tell me that I shouldn't be condemning people for being thin, that's not at all my angle. There are plenty of naturally thin, naturally petite women out there..but I dare anyone to call these three women natural looking. 

This is a Post-Wedding Chop

Long hair before the wedding

Visit your friendly neighbourhood salon for a good old post-wedding chop and....

Short hair after the wedding

Eyebrow threading

I have only one thing to say: do it, do it now! And obviously I'm going to say more than just that. I went to She to Shic Beauty Lounge for my first eyebrow threading this afternoon and I left a changed woman. Not only do I have a finely manicured brow for the first time in my life (for the incredibly reasonable price of $8) but I have a new monthly routine. I mean, she told me to come back every 2 weeks....but that seems like overkill. If I had a regular beauty regimen, this would definitely be number one on the list.

The eyebrow threading experience

When I arrived and laid back in the chair, I started to say that I didn't want them thin and I got as far as, "I..." before the woman cut me off saying, "NO! No, don't say anything...NO...." even as I tried to get a word in edgewise, she kept cutting me right off. Then she told me how messy my eyebrows were, how bad I was at plucking them, how they were two different shapes and then told me not to say anything...again.

My palms started to sweat and I was getting really nervous...letting her go wild on a facial feature—with no direction or indication of how I wanted them done—two weeks before I'm getting married. Not smart. But maybe I just have trust issues, because she did a fantastic job. I like it when someone tells you how it's going to be and they don't let you down. This woman just found herself a loyal customer!

Eyebrows are one of those things that you don't notice how bad they are until you see them looking good. So if you haven't tried eyebrow threading, here's all you need to know...

Eyebrow threading 101

-Cheap (mine was $8 at She to Shic in Kerrisdale)
-Takes about 5 minutes
-Yields unbelievable results
-Less painful than waxing
-Your eyes will water a lot