What is the sign of the well-accoutered Black Gay Man? Why beauty products, of course! Go into the bathroom of any self-respecting Black gay man and you'll find an assortment of beauty and hygiene implements. With coins come premium accoutrements, but I'm going to share beauty tips for body, face and hair that you can use whether you're charging it at Saks or pinching pennies at Rite Aid. We all can afford to look and feel our best! In fact, I think our lives depend on it. 
For me, this process begins with the body and that means a luxurious shower. Or a bath, if I'm feeling really decadant and/or if I'm taking this drought into consideration. If I have time and I'm feeling extra special, I'll burn some incense and fire up a sexy playlist in iTunes.
I'm a poofy puff kinda guy (as if you didn't know), so I love an assortment of body washes that get me squeaky clean without drying out my skin. Darrell turned me on to Kiehl's Coriander Liquid Body Cleanser and it's been my favorite ever since. (His favorite is Alpine Herbs.) Another body wash that I like almost as much is The Body Shop's Bergamot Body Wash. The scent is divine! I really like Dr. Bronner's Castile Soaps, too. I discovered Peppermint while attending the University of Maryland, College Park. A word of warning: the Peppermint and Eucalyptus varieties are particularly strong, so remember to dilute this stuff judiciously. I must be humanoid because I mix both of these together with no problem. You'll become addicted to that tingly sensation; it's such a great way to start the day invigorated! And if you're REALLY looking for some adventure, read the labels. I also like St. Ives Body Washes. The most sensual fragance is Vanilla & Vitamin E, but Vitamin C & Fresh Berry and Cucumber, Melon & Vitamin E are cute, too. They moisturize without leaving my skin feeling clammy. Sometimes I do feel like a washcloth kinda guy and when I do, I use bar soaps. I recently tried Herban Cowboy's Milled Body Soap with "Skin Soothing Carrot Root" and "Deep Cleaning Ginger Root" but it left my skin feeling a little too tight and stripped. I love Kirk's Coco Hardwater Castile Soap for the creamy, rich coconut-tinged lather! Lever 2000 is great as an everyday soap with extra moisturizers that gets you squeaky clean.
Meanwhile, my feet are soaking in preparation for an intense scrub. It's truly war and my Terra Cotta Foot Scrubber is the perfect weapon against dry, scaly feet. I use that thang with a little body wash to slough off all that tough dead skin. When I'm done these feet are soft and pretty enough to put up in ya mouth! (You know who you are! *grin!*)
Next, it's time to moisturize. Moisturize Moisturize Moisturize! Don't skimp when it comes to moisturizing your skin! Moisture is THE key element of a soft, healthy glow. My favorite lotion is Alba-Botanica's Very Emollient Original Unscented Body Lotion. Nothing else even comes close. It is truly very emollient - very soothing and softening. It has just the right amount of grease to combat ashy dry skin. When I can't afford that, I use St. Ives Body Lotions or a mixture of Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula, Fruit of the Earth's 100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel and either some pure Coconut Oil, pure Sweet Almond Oil or Hawaiian Tropic's Dark Tanning Oil. Kiehl's Creme de Corps and The Body Shop's Nut Body Butter are pretty good, too. To keep some of that moisture on my feet, knees and elbows a little longer, I'll also use some cheap drugstore cocoa butter or Vaseline. Or The Body Shop's exquisite HEMP Elbow Cream. (Vote Hemp!) And I'll put some cotton socks on to keep all that stuff from drying up and coming off my feet.
Regardless of what lotion I use, I create my own fragrance by adding pure essential oils. (No, I don't like smelling like flowers, but my favorite flower is the Stargazer Lily.) I use to have a boyfriend who would buy me these synthetic oils from street vendors. That stuff would tear my poor skin up - and I like to add fragance to every part of my body! Suffice it to say that our relationship did not last long. Anyway, I went looking for the real thing and found them at various health food stores. A popular brand of essential oil is Aura Cacia. Some varieties that you'll find in my arsenal include Ylang Ylang, Mandarin Orange, Clove Bud, Lemon Eucalyptus, Sweet Fennel and Bergamot. 
Now even though these are pure oils, they can irritate your skin as quickly as the fake stuff. You shouldn't use them directly on your skin - use a few drops with some sweet almond oil or your favorite body lotion.
After I'm done, my body feels clean, perky, relaxed, invigorated and moist, and smells delicious - and I feel cute! Now it's time to beat this face ...
One of the things I hate the most about being unemployed is not having the $$ to spend on my products habit. These days I’m a very, very frugal girl. I need a good exfoliating body scrub like nobody’s business, and maybe that will come soon, but my favorite, favorite, favorite things to have in the shower are Dove Body Wash (not that Nutrium ish, the regular) and my Kiss My Face Honey and Calendula soap. The Dove body wash doubles as shaving gel for the legs, underarms, and any other sensitive areas that I feel saucy enough to shave. I use the Kiss My Face soap all over, especially when it’s warm and dry in Vancouver (and the scent is absolutely wonderful).
I thought I was the consummate product junkie but I tip my hat and hand over the crown to you, Donald.
Honey, you don’t even KNOW how much I relate to that statement! I’ve been un/underemployed since September. Thankfully, I’ve culled a couple of web jobs out the people I know, but my life has overwhelmingly necessitated the frugality you speak of.
I have to remember that times won’t always be like this, but I also have to take care of myself now. In fact, right now. I’ve been slacking off on some things (like my dishes), and you’ve inspired me to get up, shut this thing off and go take care of myself. Thank you Cecily, thank you so much. hug!
shuts this girl DOWN!