Life's little helpers

Far out, I didn't realise you were all secretly sitting there waiting for an opportunity to share your PMS stories.

It seems there are still plenty of things we don't know about each other!

As an aside, high-five to the boys who braved the surging waves of estrogen long enough to post a comment - even if it was just to pop in and mumble that were heading to the garage in order to tinker with spanners and the like.

In amongst the comments that adorned yesterday's entry, I was intrigued to discover a product I had never heard of before. Despite being warned not to Google search "Mooncup" while I was at work, that's precisely what I did. I'll save you the trouble of Googling it for youself - you can just click this handy hyperlink that I prepared earlier.

Believe it or not, I ended up ordering one of those blimmin' things because it's just that easy to sell me something - fact. I find the whole idea of the Mooncup entirely frightening, but also slightly intriguing because who knew there were other options?! I'm willing to give it a shot in the name of research and I will be sure to let you know my findings in a tasteful, yet, in all likelihood, awkward way.

Once again, I cannot believe what I am writing here.

All this chitchat about Mooncups leads me to the actual point of today's entry, which, despite the evidence thus far, is not to discuss feminine hygiene products. What I'd like us to do today is share recommendations on all those nifty products that upon discovery made us exclaim "wow, this is amazing, I wish I knew about this before now".

I'll kick off with a few of my favourites, and then you can share yours.

You know how Shower Power's slogan is "Shock - Shower Power actually works!" Well guess what? It does. It actually works. I haven't come across another shower cleaner that does the job quite like my good friend Shower Power, but beware the strong scent - when enclosed in a shower cubicle that stuff can get pretty pungent.

Also, be careful not to get stray bits of spray mist in your eyes, because ouch. Still, in my opinion Shower Power is worth every a-bit-more-expensy-than-other-cleaners cent.
Recently a friend of mine recommended I try dry shampoo for those days when my hair is taking a turn towards manky but I don't have time to wash it. This friend is a make up artist who swears by dry shampoo and always has some in her kit. The way her eyes bugged out of her head and she grabbed my arm in shock when she realised I'd never even heard of this product was all the endorsement I needed.

I went to the local pharmacy and picked up a can of dry shampoo. It looks tacky as anything, but yes, it somehow magics away those first signs of dirty hair. You just spray it on, massage it around a bit, brush it out and you're away. Neat!

I have previously detailed my obsession with Dyson vacuum cleaners, so I'll make this brief. I currently own this canister model that doubles as a time machine, and this limited edition Issey Miyake collaboration handheld, which is also useful for shooting laser beams at ghosts.

That's right, I own a limited edition vacuum cleaner, and, yes, I know I have a problem.

The simple truth is, although pricey, Dysons suck like no other vacuum cleaner I have ever used. And whey I say they suck, I am talking about the positive kind of sucking that really only occurs when you're referring to a newborn taking naturally to breastfeeding or vacuum cleaners.

Did I say I was going to keep the Dyson spiel brief? Whoops.

Now, let's talk primer cream. This doesn't come cheap, but I've found it to be a fantastic primer under make up. Primer is one of those products I figured was just the cosmetic companies' way of trying to sell you needless extras, but I am definitely a fan of this little tube of glowing goodness.

Because of the price, I only use it on days when I need a bit of a helping hand in the self-esteem department. It has a slight sheen to it that helps make your skin look radiant. On its own I find it a bit too shiny, but, like I say, it's perfect as a base under make up to give your face a bit of pep.

Next on the recommendation list... I've been using a sample of Lucy Marr's new body oil and it's pretty damn excellent. I have very dry skin and normal moisturisers don't quite cut the mustard, so I always get excited when I find a product that can rise up to the challenge. I'm pleased enough with the results so far that I'll probably invest in the full size product. I've heard it's great for eczema too by they way.

Finally, I am so pleased I grabbed a hair wrap out of the bargain bin at Smith and Caughey's. If you have long or thick hair, you should know that these things are sent from God to make your life easier, okay? You will be able to find something similar at any homewares store that has a decent bathroom section.

There you have it. A list of products that I am really glad I discoverd and am happy to endorse. I just know you are about to introduce me to a heap of exciting things I never knew existed that I can immediately run out and spend money on. Exciting! Righto then, tell me about your favourite discoveries...

Follow me on Facebook and Twitter!