Sharing is Caring!

I have Type 3B/C curly hair. It is dry and often unruly. This list stems from years of trial-and-error (including a mistep into doing keratin on my hair, which took years to recover from) and finally coming to a place of accepting my curly hair and wanting to nourish and care for it.

Welcome to my carefully curated world of aromas! Each scent was chosen for its ability to evoke emotions and bring small joys into everyday life, whether it’s the embrace of a long‑loved perfume or the satisfaction of a crisp floral candle that brings my living room to life. I hope this guide helps you find new scents to pique your interest!

OK, here’s my labile skin’s backstory, so you can gauge whether this list contains products that will be useful to you: • I’m in my late 30s and cisfemale. My skin has become incredibly reactive in the past decade. For example: Supposedly gentle products like Neutrogena makeup wipes are problematic for me… biotin causes me to break out… I can’t have my upper lip or the area between or below my brows waxed because I get an allergic reaction (but above my brow seems fine if I apply Neosporin right away?)… most “gentle” facial cleansers are far too stripping on me… freaking WATER has started to make my body skin itchy so I have to limit my showers to 5 minutes (tough on hair wash days), keep the water cool/lukewarm, and use the gentlest of body washes. • I have sensory issues with body lotion, which means that I’ve sporadically applied it (read: once a year) for most of my life. I’ve gotten into dry oils of late, and those have been far more appealing than lotions. • I have keratosis pilaris (KP) on the backs of my arms. I have ADHD so I struggle with regular application of any products. As a result, KP has remained an issue over the years, but has gotten slightly better once I discovered dry oils. • I did laser on my facial hairs in my 20s and this actually *stimulated* hair growth (it’s called paradoxical hypertrichosis), so I often have to shave my face and this leads to razor burn and acne (plus plenty of shame and self-consciousness). • On my face, I have rather dry skin that I think is technically combination because I tend to get blemishes. • Body washes that are fragranced are a big no-no for me, but oils and moisturizers that have a bit of fragrance seem to be OK. Unclear why…

I've had migraines since age 3 and have struggled all my life to manage them effectively. Trial-and-error elimination diets led me to realize that gluten, tyramine (which comes from fermented/aged products like tamari and delicious cheeses), and aspartame are significant triggers for me. I've also tried a slew of prophylatic and rescue meds over the years, and am finally on a regimen that has led to a reduction in migraine intensity and frequency: - 400 mg of riboflavin and 400 mg vitamin D daily (in gummy form, because I only remember to take vitamins when they taste good) - Ajovy monthly injection - Botox every 3 months - Ubrelvy immediately upon migraine onset (I used to wait because I didn't want to use up my precious med horde, but I've learned that it's important to take rescue meds in the prodrome before I've reached the point of no return) - Advil as a supplement to Ubrelvy when I have a really resistant migraine Other tools that have helped are: - The Juva app, which teaches biofeedback (for a limited time, a free year is being offered, as they are recruiting users to help test the app--I have no affiliation with the app or possibility of monetary gain, I just want to share a good resource) - Migraine Buddy (a migraine tracking app) - A weighted eye mask helps with relaxation and blocking out light - Hypnosis audios for chronic pain have helped, too The list below was constructed to offer product suggestions to others who might be seeking relief from the agony and despair of a migraine-ridden life. I also recommend reddit.com/r/migraine for advice and compassionate support and askjan.org/disabilities/Migraines.cfm for school/work accommodation ideas.

I love a good hot beverage! Though I must admit that I am by no means a coffee purist. I like to add milk to and sweeten my coffee.