With 34 fabulous years in the beauty industry, I’ve become the go-to gal for product recommendations. I’m often asked, “What are your absolute must-haves?” Well, today, I’m spilling the tea on the products I truly love and trust, because sharing is caring (and looking fabulous is a must)!

xoxo

-Renée

Things That Sound Like BS…But Aren’t Vol. 1

I love completely useless—but somehow incredibly useful—random information.

You know when someone tells you something and your immediate response is, “That sounds like complete BS.”

Well, sometimes it isn't.

I started going down one of my usual rabbit holes and discovered a few things that sounded absolutely ridiculous, but actually have some truth behind them.

So naturally, I had to share.

Welcome to the first edition of:

THINGS THAT SOUND LIKE BS…BUT AREN'T.

Here are my three for this week.

#1 — GRANDMA'S PENNIES REALLY WERE BETTER

Okay, this one sounds completely ridiculous:

Put a couple of old pennies in a vase of fresh-cut flowers and they can help your flowers stay fresh longer.

Seriously. Pennies.

I had heard this before and assumed it was one of those things someone's grandmother made up 75 years ago.

Turns out, Grandma may have been onto something.

The secret isn't actually the penny—it's the copper.

Copper has antimicrobial properties that can help slow the growth of some of the bacteria and fungi in vase water. And those microorganisms are one of the things that can shorten the life of cut flowers.

So a couple of old copper pennies in your vase may actually help keep the water—and your flowers—fresher longer.

BUT HERE'S THE CATCH: THEY HAVE TO BE OLD PENNIES.

U.S. pennies dated 1981 and earlier are 95% copper.

In 1982, the U.S. Mint began switching pennies to mostly zinc with only a thin copper coating. Both versions were made that year, so 1982 gets complicated.

Basically:

1981 OR EARLIER = THE PENNIES YOU WANT.

And come on—we ALL have a jar, junk drawer, purse or random bowl of change that we've been moving from house to house for the last 20 years.

Go look at your pennies.

If you find those pre-1982 oldie but goodies, don't toss them. Put a couple in your next vase of flowers and see what happens.

But then my penny rabbit hole got even better.

Copper is also used in gardens as a barrier against slugs and snails because they don't like crossing it. And copper compounds are even used to help control algae in water.

Which immediately made me wonder:

WAIT. Is THAT why we throw pennies into fountains?

Nope.

Apparently I've been giving our ancestors way too much credit for fountain maintenance.

The real reason is much prettier.

For thousands of years, people tossed coins and other valuables into springs, wells and bodies of water considered sacred. They were offerings made in hopes of receiving good luck, healing, protection or safe passage.

Eventually, that ancient ritual became something we still do today:

Throw in a coin. Make a wish.

Somewhere along the way, the offering became a wish.

I absolutely love that.

WHO KNEW? 🪙🌸✨

#2 — APPARENTLY MOSQUITOES DON’T LIKE COFFEE EITHER

I lovingly refer to my husband as “The All-You-Can-Eat Buffet” for mosquitoes.

The poor thing gets eaten alive, and to make matters worse, he's highly allergic to the bites. One mosquito can find him in a crowd of 50 people and apparently send out a group text inviting all of its friends.

And he knows I'm a complete freak about using chemicals, so God bless him, he indulges me.

We try everything natural first before he finally looks at me like, Enough, Renée, and breaks out the OFF.

So I have become slightly obsessed with finding something natural that actually works.

Then I heard this:

BURN USED COFFEE GROUNDS.

Excuse me?

You're telling me the answer might be sitting inside yesterday's Nespresso?

Obviously, we tried it.

And believe it or not…

IT ACTUALLY WORKED FOR US.

Not once. We've tried it multiple times now, and so far, so good.

We put used coffee grounds in a fire-safe container outside and let them smolder. While they're smoking, the mosquitoes seem to leave him alone.

There is, however, one small problem.

The minute the coffee stops burning, it's as though we've personally invited Dracula into our home and given him permission to suck my husband's blood.

They're BACK.

So, naturally, I had to find out what the hell was going on.

The theory is that mosquitoes don't particularly like the smoke and strong aroma produced by the smoldering grounds. Smoke itself is known to discourage mosquitoes—but here's the little asterisk:

There isn't strong scientific evidence yet proving that burning coffee grounds specifically is an effective mosquito repellent.

BUT WAIT—because this gets even stranger.

There actually is scientific research connecting coffee and mosquitoes. Caffeine and spent coffee grounds have been studied for their effects on mosquito larvae, including interfering with their development and survival.

So while science hasn't officially declared your morning Nespresso the new OFF, the coffee-and-mosquito connection isn't complete BS.

And in our completely unscientific experiment of one extremely delicious husband?

So far, it's working.

Will we still keep the OFF nearby for when things get desperate?

Absolutely.

But will I continue saving our used coffee grounds and burning them outside?

You bet your ass I will.

Because apparently the only thing standing between my husband and Dracula is yesterday's coffee.

WHO KNEW? ☕🦟🧛🏻‍♂️

#3 — GARDENING IS ACTUALLY EXERCISE

If you know me at all, you know I'm not exactly the exercise type.

I've never experienced that magical endorphin rush everyone keeps talking about. I've never finished a workout and thought, God, I feel AMAZING.

No.

I usually feel worse.

Now I'm sweaty, I'm sore, something hurts that didn't hurt before, and—bonus—I probably won't sleep tonight.

So, NO. I don't like working out.

But I do like being active.

Whatever the hell that means.

I can spend hours running around, working, riding, cleaning, moving things—and lately, gardening.

Gardening somehow doesn't feel like exercise because it starts so innocently.

I'm just going outside to do a little gardening.

I'll pull a couple of weeds.

Prune that.

Plant this.

Move one pot.

Maybe trim that thing over there…

FOUR HOURS LATER.

I'm filthy.

My hair looks insane.

I've apparently moved 400 pounds of dirt.

And I'm standing in the middle of my garden wondering how the hell it's already 5:00.

Then the next morning?

I can't move.

Well, apparently there's a reason.

Gardening really can qualify as moderate physical activity.

Think about what you're actually doing: digging, bending, squatting, lifting, pulling, carrying, raking, reaching, pushing…

You're working your legs, arms, back and core without ever realizing you're exercising.

THIS is apparently my kind of workout.

Don't put me on a treadmill and tell me I'm going nowhere for 45 minutes.

Give me a garden and let me accomplish something while I'm unknowingly exercising.

Of course, there's one small problem.

When you spend Monday through Friday sitting behind a desk and then wake up Saturday morning and suddenly decide you're the head gardener at Versailles, your body has a few things to say about it on Sunday.

Everything hurts.

Which brings me very conveniently to…

CBD. 😂

❤️ ONE LAST CBD MOMENT

You knew I was going to sneak this in here.

Our CBD + CBG collection is officially saying goodbye, and I am still not happy about it.

I fought hard to keep these products because I genuinely love them and use them. Our Huile de Bien-Être Wellness Oil is one of those things I reach for when I'm sore, achy or wake up wondering:

“What the hell did I do to myself yesterday?”

Apparently the answer may simply be:

Gardening.

So while we still have inventory, we're having a very serious:

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE MOMENT.

Buy ONE CBD + CBG product and get ONE FREE.

This isn't a fake goodbye.

We're not putting them “back in stock” next month.

When they're gone, they're gone.

If you already love them, STOCK UP.

If you've always wanted to try them, this is your chance.

I'm still working on finding ways to recreate some of the benefits I love about these formulas without CBD—and I haven't given up.

But for now, this really is our final send-off.

So maybe grab a Huile de Bien-Être before you decide to become Martha Stewart in the garden this weekend.

Your back may thank you. 😂

Until next week,

Renée xx

P.S. I THINK I'VE CREATED A MONSTER.

Because now I can't stop looking for things that sound like complete BS.

Apparently I need to investigate why bananas are berries but strawberries aren't, whether a spoon really keeps Champagne bubbly, why we knock on wood, why we say “Bless you,” why wedding rings go on THAT finger, and how sharks somehow managed to exist before trees.

So yes.

There will absolutely be a Vol. 2.

Stay fabulous.

xx Renée

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