Spending Christmas alone this year. Well, not entirely alone but my boyfriend moved to French Guyana a few months ago and I've been stranded alone in Martinique since. I'm tying up lose ends which seems to involve struggling to navigate French bureaucratic labyrinths, taking former dishonest, thieving, late paying, non-paying bosses to court and working out the end of the most torturous work contract. I'm also waiting for a new passport to come through which has alarmingly bought highlighted that English bureaucracy has somehow (I didn't think this was possible) shamefully proved itself WORSE than its French counterpart. I think the lesson learnt here has been that it is a time to draw an end to my nomadic style of living. Cain is stirring inside, sharpening his knife, it's not practical living out of a backpack long term. Roots must be planted but NOT in Martinique. I've spent far too long here, I'm getting the hell out.
On the positive side of things I'm in a cool house share at last but I'm kind of couch surfing/squatting. Had the most awful experience, which I will blog about, living in house with medical students. Dysfunctional as HELL. The worst experience of my life to date. Ever since I met a south London sculptor who blazed like a comet through my life for three entire weeks, leaving a trail of dust, I've wanted to squat. Traveling through South America, I wanted to do more couch surfing but went with the comfortable option of joining up with people and traveling and hosteling with them. Strange how you somehow get what you wish for but never under he terms you wished for the wish to be.
So I felt I needed to spoil myself a little given the bleak reality I've been subjected to in recent months here in Martinique and I decided upon a free facial (no obligation to purchase, but I did because it's Christmas and I wanted a new moisturiser). Alarmingly, it was conducted on the shop floor of a local pharmacy, much to my horror upon arrival. In spite of my initial fear of being on display, I let myself go to the relaxing sensation, closed my eyes and very much enjoyed the experience. I had happened upon the offer by pure chance and decided to book myself an appointment not really knowing what to expect. I don't know anything about French skin care companies, at least not the ones on sale here which are within my price range.
I'm a discreet skin care addict, I can't cope if I don't have a refreshing, gentle yet deep cleaning cleanser and a skin plumping moisturiser. Bad skin care products make for very bad days, it's uncomfortable more than anything. Thanks to my mum, her lotions and potions, instilled fear of aging and difficult skin as a teenager I'm in the skin care freak cult. Skin care is a religion. Having said that, I have been thieved out of hundreds of pounds from skilled sales staff at beauty counters who have convinced me that I'll live life long in second rate, dull, problem riddled skin if I get out my visa debit and purchase their outrageously priced product. It could be seen as a vice, only if you don't inform yourself and buy the right products. I'm not so much a fan of the high price tag stuff that does much the same, or sometimes doesn't even work as well as a product that is half the price or less. Companies know that great looking skin is priceless but I don't like being ripped off.
I'm a fan of plant based, good quality skin care that is reasonably priced. My skin is sensitive. So I was pleasantly surprised to be introduced to this product - Caudalie. Made entirely from anti-oxidant rich grapes and vines and born as a by-product of a vineyard in Bordeaux. A very clever entrepreneurial off-shoot, I say.
It's been a long time since I had a facial, something I should do more regularly. Since it was free I was more willing to spend out on the products afterwards, I'm going to make this my tack-tic from now on and see what I can try before I buy. Many shops have a beauty advisers which I never take the time to talk to for advice, unfortunate but practical consequence of my fear of being attacked by hard sales driving. She used a variety of products, cleansers, an exfoliator, even a mask which was unexpected, finishing off with serums and moisturisers, leaving me a Caudalie convert. The products ranged from vine-like to wine shop-like in scent and were fresh, light and gentle. Not over scented, which is a good sign and testament for the quality of the product, ie 100% natural, no pafums or corners cut. The web page has filled me with even more confidence that this is a brand to invest in - click the cosm'ethique section. They support and re-invest in rain forest trusts giving 1% from every sale to reforestation programs and charities. They are eco-friendly AND they have opened a few Caudalie spas.
I paid a mere €14.90 for a cleanser(bargain!) and €20.90 for a moisturiser and she kindly gave me FIVE free samples!! Yes, Merry Christmas indeed. The staff in the shop were nice and their glowing smiles when I paid put me strangely at ease with my shop-floor facial experience. 'You looked so relaxed, did you enjoy it, what did you think?'
Instant foaming cleanser, grapes and sage and Vinosource Creme sorbet hidratante
You know you're old when you become your own Father Christmas. At least he did his homework this year. Nevertheless, I'm hoping to spend Christmas 2014 with family and friends. I was depressingly homesick this year, Martinique has turned me into a hermit and I really don't like this isolated existence. It's a shame that the consequences of the high saturation of users, weirdos and arseholes here has such a profound effect on one's way of being. I always considered myself sociable and positive towards getting 'out there'. I can't wait for this misadventure to end, I have my fingers crossed that things can only get better after this because another turn for the worse is more than I can muster the strength to cope with at the moment.
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