After weeks of literally pummeling my body with multiple Barre workouts in order to get my Instructor certification, I soaked in the bath tub with epsom salt and realized that my fingernails were chipped. (I gave up gel manicures a few months ago due to the fact that I didn’t find they lasted much past a week.) I glanced at my toes – they were chipping too. I literally had just painted them two days before. My face was undergoing a hormonal break-out phase so I was cleansing with my Clarisonic facial brush.
When I got out of the tub, I lotioned up with some scented lotion and applied deodorant, facial moisturizer and nighttime serum, and spritzed some volumizing spray and heat protectant in my hair to blow dry it. As I went to put my daughter to bed, I realized that being a female is a tough gig. The skin care regimes, the beauty routines, the fashion updates, the hair care…..OH MY GOSH.
I love all the things, ya’ll. Nobody loves a goody bag from the beauty counter like me. I love perfume samples and spa days and my hair stylist appointments with my favorite guy – Brad.
I went down the list of all the “upkeep” I do on a daily – weekly- monthly-quarterly basis for myself and WOW….it’s a long list. I won’t bore you with the details….but do men need all the things?
When Bryan and I go on a trip, his toiletry bag includes: deodorant, shave soap, a razor, shampoo, conditioner, hair gel, toothpaste and toothbrush, cologne, face wash, tweezers, nail clippers, and occasionally a spot-treatment gel for a blemish that may come up. 
Let me just say – my toiletry bag is it’s own suitcase. I carry that and MUCH MUCH MORE. It’s not just because I’m an overpacker. I have tried to simplify the daily routine. I have my daily make up routine down to 5 products. Seriously – FIVE. But it’s all the other stuff. The flat iron or curling wand (or both). The nighttime serum. The multivitamin. The Hair/skin/nail gummy. The masks. The body wash. The make up brushes. And the list goes on….and on. 
Also – it’s not just the items needed for the routines. It’s all the TIME necessary to perform these things. The appointments for waxing, hair cuts, hair colors, manicures, pedicures, and whatever else you may need to feel halfway human.
So, yes, being a female is hard, but what is required to change it? Give up shaving? Or waxing my upper lip? Or maybe give up nail polish completely?
NOPE.
I’ll just keep dragging along my suitcase of personal care items – in high heels – while wearing my LipSense – and some smashing outfit I found on Amazon – because THAT’s what being a female is all about.
xoxo, Brandi’
