First, for those of you that don't usually read my site, you should know that I am an ICU doctor, and sometimes get called back in to work at random times of the night. Sometimes, this can be for a really long time. I have a chair in my office that folds out into a bed. For real. My employer bought it.
To go with said (uncomfortable) bed, I have a drawer designated for products. I was once much more organized about my on call bag (check out that post from when I was still in training and taking fairly regular every 4 night in house call. That's a 30 hour shift people!) With my current job, I get to go home, sleep in my bed (though I get a lot of calls), and I go in much less frequently. Though, when I do go in I want to have some stuff to freshen up with!
Clearly, there are a few defining themes here. I seem to be very worried about dry skin, fresh breath and pretty hair. As always, I want to have many lippie options (my purse currently has easily 30 lipsticks or glosses in it), and of course a few ways to mattify my face. I previously had more color cosmetics in my overnight call bag including shadow, liner and mascara. I no longer keep those around, as long as I don't look super blotchy having been at work for a long time I don't really seem to care if my lashes are curled and have mascara on.
The air in the hospital is pretty dry, I swear I can feel a difference in my moisture level after a regular day's work in the hospital. I try to always keep a hand cream in my pocket and I have them all over my office. That pump lives next to my computer, I used up the free one Kiehl's sent me and repurchased it about 2 months ago.
The ProActiv Oil Blotter Sheets are amazing. The packet has a ton of sheets and it even comes with a refill. They suck up oil like no one's business and don't leave any powdery stuff behind.
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream tends to go on extra dry skin areas, my cuticles, my lips, etc. I use the Anti-Bac Gels when my hands are particularly dry. The hospital's foam wash likes to mess with my skin, and the Bath & Body Works gels are better for me, but it is annoying to have to keep it in my pocket. So, I swap back and forth.
So, yeah. A lot of stuff in my desk drawer. I obviously should re-assess the products, and I need a few other basics in there. Like a mirror. And makeup cleansing cloths (they were in a different drawer that I forgot to search. Oops! They're also from ProActiv).
What do you keep in your desk drawer at work?
Great post Christine!!! I am a huge fan of 8-hour cream too! While I am no longer working, I had a drawer much like yours for years in my office! I always kept deoderant (you are right, great for freshening up!), anti-bac gels, hand lotion, facial moisturizer, hair ties and clips, pressed powder, blotting papers, a variety of body mists (my other favorite for freshening up!), baby wipes, covergirl shimmering sands trio (so basic and great for a quick eye), blush, lipbalms, and a variety of lipglosses.
ReplyDeleteWow! Saving dying children while still looking good. You are amazing!
ReplyDeleteI don't have a desk drawer at work however I do work in the hospital, more specifically as a scrub nurse in theatre. When i do nightshift it's 7 on and like you I swear the moisture just leaves my body as soon as I walk in the door. I always fill a bag with various product to keep me moisturised and fresh! Even during a normal day its so drying and with scrubbing my hands and arms get uber dry. Oh and I always keep a toothpaste and toothbrush in my locker!
ReplyDeleteI also had a few products at work, as I sometimes have functions in the evening. It includes toothbrush and toothpaste, lipbalm, dry shampoo, hand cream, mascara and a hairbrush. I don't keep particular brands, they are usually ok products but not overwelming, just to keep handy!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! so fun to peak into your life like this!
ReplyDeleteWhere I can then be stuck (aka- taking care of dying children)
ReplyDelete??
I am a fan of your blog and thank God for people like you who care for others in need but something about this comment sounds a little off to me.
@ Anon, You're right, I should have read that again!
ReplyDeleteA lot of people don't understand that if I'm called in, even if a kiddo is "stabilized" that I can't really leave. There's a chance something could happen, and truthfully I probably stick around a lot longer than I need to, but I don't want to leave just in case. Does that make sense?
I'm kind of stuck in the hospital because I'm clingy, but I definitely worded that comment wrong (I fixed it, hopefully it makes more sense now!)
I am a major bare bones gal when it comes to beauty products anywhere outside of bedside or bathroom. I carry a couple lip products in my purse, a cutical cream of some kind, a tooth refresher/whiting stix and usually have a eye liner pencil somewhere tucked in just in case I am gone all day and my liner runs or fades and I catch a look at myself thinking I look pale without it. Other than that - zip - I have a cream/hydrating hand sanitizer in the car that lives there (Gold Bond). I also am 'stuck' at the 'pital often for 18 hrs. Anything else I don't need or I can grab at the hospital. I have drawers and a locker at the hospital but I really try to keep it super cleaned out of 'stuff.' If 'stuff' goes in there, I tend not to use it. I have a small size of other beauty products I will take to the gym with me however. I want to come out of there clean and moisturized.
ReplyDeleteYou have a nice list here. I like how you separated products into categories - very helpful to readers.
ReplyDeleteMom Fitness Journal | Beauty and Fashion in Seattle | Cheap Makeup Reviews
I don't think this is overkill at all! If I worked insane hours at a hospital and needed products on hand to freshen up, I would probably have 10 times the amount of products you have :P Yours are very practical and I like that you have all the necessities :)
ReplyDeleteGot ya
ReplyDeleteSince I office at home, I only need a few things in my desk. I have a nail file and 3 lip balms. I don't know why I have three...variety?
ReplyDeleteNow ON the desk, I have cuticle oil, a variety of top coats and one bottom coat, one hand lotion, and another lip rescue cream.
I don't work in a hospital, but I spent nearly a week in one giving birth, and I only expected to be there no longer than 48 hours, so I totally get the dry skin issue. Having expected to be there a short time, I didn't pack my heavy-duty products, and my skin felt so tight, head to toe.
ReplyDeleteMy last job was in a bank, and after a few hours, it can have a bad effect on the skin, as well. I had three drawers, one of which was for me to keep "necessities" in, like paper clips, rubberbands, pens, etc, but I also crammed it with hand salve, lotions, lip balm, hand sanitizer, breath mints, and who knows what else. My co-workers made fun, but they were always borrowing things.
I love mini sizes. So darn easy to travel with!
ReplyDeleteI thought your blog was absolutely incredible to begin with, but to learn that you are also an ICU doctor - Good lord, you are superwoman!
ReplyDeleteAlso, that deodorant is in incredible. I have switched brands before, but always keep coming back.
What a great selection. I seem to have a huge amount of hand creams and lip balms in my drawer at work, I just seem to keep bringing more in, not sure why! :)
ReplyDeleteI love to care my skin . so i always carry moisturizer and deo.
ReplyDeleteAwesome thanks for sharing! My husband doesn't seem to understand why we need all these things. I won't even try to explain lol.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to see what people has at their work place. You don't have too much products. I tend to use up product faster at office than at home. You have the same experience?
ReplyDelete@Coco, I actually use these things (other than hand lotion) much slower. I spend almost no time in my actual office and I actually only am at work about 10-12 days a month depending on my schedule and meetings and such. If I was in there more often, I KNOW I'd use things way more!
ReplyDeleteAhh now I do not feel so bad for all I have in here! I do not do what you do, but I work for a University Medical School, in the GME office, and we often have meetings in our hospitals (2 Hospitals on campus, so at those all the time) and even then I feel drier just from a 2 hour meeting in the admin pavilions! I hear ya on wanting to be moisturized!
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