First and foremost when I think of my mother I think of Jovan White Musk.
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| Jovan White Musk Available at Most DrugStores but also on amazon.com for $12 |
Jovan White Musk is a warm/feminine fragrance with notes of jasmine, ylang-ylang, honeysuckle, sensual musk and amber. The smell immediately reminds Ms. Faux of her mom. Actually when Ms. Faux asked her sister the same question she screamed, 'MUSK!" This was a staple for my mom. She had what Ms. Faux never could commit to and that is a signature sent. Now granted she varied on types but she always came back to Jovan. Other favorites include, Sarah Jessica Parker's Lovely, The Body Shop's White Musk and Kiehl's Original Musk No. 1. They are all so very warm and inviting. My mom tends to take care of everyone but herself and is the most warm and inviting person. Always wanting to make sure everyone is pleased. She probably runs herself ragged in the process. She also does care about what she looks like and has every ounce of jewelry, hair is in place, etc... Very unlike her daughter who most times can't be bothered to wear a watch.
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| Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely (left), The Body Shop White Musk (middle), Kiehl's Original Musk Blend No. 1 (right) |
Now mom also loved another and that is Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist
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| Cashmere Mist by Donna Karan $105 for 3.4 oz. at Sephora.com |
This is a lovely sensual, intimate and soft scent has notes of Lily of the Valley, Suede Notes, Bergamot, Ylang Ylang, Jasmine Maroc, Sandalwood, Orris, Amber, Vanilla, Cedarwood, Patchouli, Musk. As much as musk reminds me of my mom so does this. As a matter of fact when I am strapped for a gift this is my go to gift for my mom. She has probably gone through a million bottles of it. I even care for this lovely scent on occasion. Unlike my mom I tend to run the gamut on scents based on my mood, well my mom has that elusive thing that most women want and it is a signature scent. Hers is a lovely musk with varying notes of white flowers, amber and woody bases.
Other things that remind me of the other mothers in my life (my grandmothers) include the following.
My lovely Gik! Short for Gikey (pronounced gikee)Don't ask why we called her Gik. First grandchild started it and we all just carried the torch on. My Gik was the quintessential southern lady. She was very no muss no fuss, but she had certain staples that I remember. Probably one thing I will always remember about her was a beautiful pair of ruby earrings and matching necklase. Perfection as her name was Ruby.
One is that she had that ebony hair that Ms. Faux inherited and she refused to let it go gray. She always went black as well.
Now Ms. Faux would like to thank Gik and she ain't afraid to dye her hair like her Gik, but she go the opposite way. Gik kept her hair that dark, dark black but I tend to lighten my, even if slightly. My favorite product to use is. L'Oreal Paris Exellence Creme in Natural Black $8 at Target.
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| L'Oreal Paris Exellence Creme in Natural Black $8 at Target |
Now my grandmother didn't have as many colors or even as gentle of a product that is available today, but I have to say this color is perfection for my hair because it is a warmer black than is natural for me. Warmer black meaning it is a brown/black which I feel features my pale features much better. Others that I recommend include again L'Oreal's Feria $9 at Target in Natural Soft Black (which I love more for winter) and John Frieda Precision Foam Colour in Deep Brown Black $11.99 at Target.
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| L'Oreal Feria (left) John Frieda (right) |
I love Feria as I said as just a variation in the hue of the color. I feel if you are gonna go darker, winter is the time. I like the John Frieda brand for two reasons, once again for the color variation and the other because the foam formula makes it more manageable to work with. Both however are wonderful and I very rarely divert from these brands and while I love John Frieda's formula I have to say in terms of hair color L'Oreal wins overall. Note the formula is what I find most advantageous of all of these problems. It doesn't feel like it is stripping the hair of moisture and even on Ms. Faux's super fine hair it is very gentle.
Next I always remember a jar of Avon Rich Moisture Cream in my Gik's medicine cabinet. As a matter of fact when she passed I remember of all the antiques an everything else that was left in her home all I really wanted was that jar which I was pretty sure was still there as I always recall it being there.
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| Vintage Bottle of Avon Rich Moisture Cream $6 at Avon.com for the current version |
Now while I don't use this cream oh what I wouldn't give to have that vintage bottle. That's right my dad and uncle being the men that they are threw it away when cleaning out her house. Meant nothing to most people. Meant the world to Ms. Faux. I do however carry on in the spirit of my grandmother with moisturizing, I however am all over the place with my choices. As of late I have been using Nip + Fab Bee Sting Fix Deluxe Creme $20 at ULTA.
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| Nip + Fab Bee Sting Fix Deluxe Creme $20 at ULTA |
Although my Gik instilled in me the virtues of moisturizing it was not only until recently did I realize that you should vary your products and use what you skin needs at that time. There is such a virtue of too much of a good thing. Like your diet (if you eat the same things all the time) you skin stops responding to the same moisturizer. This is a great go to for when my skin is feeling a little tight. It usually snaps it back in shape really quick.
Next there was my Granny. She was a feisty one and although I carry most of the body type and skin and hair of my Gik, Ms. Faux's personality was all Granny. I have to admit she would most times embarrass the hell out of me as a kid, but as I have grown I have hella respect for my Granny. She was a very modern woman when it was not cool to be modern. She was feisty, spoke her mind and let no man, woman or child tell her what to say. That being said she was also one of the most caring women ever. She never had much but what she did have she passed along.
Granny always reminded Ms. Faux of Sophia Loren. She was one of the most caring women in the world but would also curse you for dead if you crossed her. She would smoke a cigarette and swig a glass of whiskey like a boss. I can't even remember what it was she drank but more than anything my Granny instilled in me the virtue of the hot toddy when you were sick. Shut your mouth. It works. Basically pre-NyQuil, NyQuil.
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| The Perfect Hot Toddy Recipe Some Will Use Tea. Water is All You Need |
While any solid bourbon or whiskey will do, my go to is typically Knob Creek. It is a full flavored bourbon made in small batches. Now Ms. Faux is not a whiskey gal, but this is her hot toddy go to.
Lastly I remembered my Granny ALWAYS had Scope. To this day Scope remains my absolute favorite mouthwash. I don't know why but I thought she was so amazingly fancy as a kid because she is the only one that had this. My Gik always went the Listerine route, probably to keep my green, original minty Scope loving ass out of her wash. Oh but my Granny was always the wizard with her Original Mint Scope.
Lastly when I think of my Granny I remember her perfect brows. I have a picture of her somewhere but when I came to put it in this morning I could not find it. That apple didn't fall far from the tree. Ms. Faux considers that to be the single most important thing a woman can do to herself to look put together.
Now I'm not sure what my Granny did to make her brows look so fierce but I can tell you a few of Ms. FauxPrah's tricks. First is the good ladies of Benefit and their lovely Brow Bar. It is $20 well spent. Otherwise I don't think you can go wrong with Anastasia Beverly Hills
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| Anastasia Beverly Hills |
They have various products from pomades, powders, pencils, gels, you name it. They are the first name in brow perfection.
For more brow tips check out a couple of previous blogs from www.fauxprah.com.
So there you go hunties. Regardless of whatever relationship we have with our mothers lets just know they have the hardest job in life. While some falter (most times due to circumstances) I'm pretty sure all mothers (even the estranged) have paralyzing guilt and worry at all times that they didn't teach their children enough or that they are o.k. It is the nature of their being as mothers.
Ms. Faux and her son (my cat Simba) just watched a documentary on African Cats and watched a mother (as she was dying) work very hard to make sure that her cub was taken into the fold of her tribe to assure his well being.
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| You'll excuse Simba. This ungrateful child could not be raised from his slumber. Even for a single damn picture. So you get his feet. |
She knew he did not have the tools to survive and her own demise was nearing. When it came time for her to pass, she went away (basically without notifying any of the other cats) and passed. Why? She wanted to make sure her baby didn't hunt her down and thus pull himself from the tribe and survival. If that isn't what it exactly means to be a mother, I don't know what does.
Make sure to call your mom an wish her a Happy Mother's Day!!! Happy Mother's Day to all my Mom readers. Happy Mothers Day to all my mom Friends. Happy Mother's Day to my grandmas who are no longer with me. Most of all Happy Mother's Day to my Angel Mother. Remember...
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What products remind you of your mother or grandmother?
Faux wants to know. Leave it in the comments.
Peace & Love,
Faux
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