I'm pretty sure that only women will have more than three items in their shower. The last woman I lived with had to glue shelves onto the walls in the shower to keep the dozens (no exaggeration) of bottles evidently required for basic female bodily maintenance. Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Just an observation.

Hi duane, I want to disagree with you and yet based upon my personal experiences living with guys, so far I think you might be right. It's usually shampoo, bodywash or soap and if you're lucky, cleanser.

But it has to be said, I don't spend anywhere near as much time in the bathroom preening myself in front of the mirror - my brother beats me hands-down in that. Not to mention he sneaks in just before you are about to shower and uses up all the hot water. I don't even use up all the hot water when I wash my hair and his head is close to shaved! What is the deal. But the bro doesn't complain about the clutter of items I have (because he ends up using them! haha) so we're cool.

Ooh! Hang on! I wonder how many items Patrick Bateman in Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho had? I've not read the book but seen the film and must say he's quite the metrosexual.

I must be a shopper at heart. I can almost find something to buy, whether gifts for someone, or my kids new clothes for school, or books (yum) or CDs (more yum).

So, recently I found myself in a Bath and Body Works. I really did not need anything, but just wanted to poke around.

This store operates within the 'heavy sell' framework. Those lovely shopgirls were all over me to show me stuff. I wasn't really wanting so much attention - just wanted to look.

But I found myself quickly getting pulled into the wonderful scents that they had to offer.

Ended spending enough to entitle me to a 'free' coupon book.

but the stuff is great. My new love is for the Japanese Cherry Blossom scent. Cannot get enough of it.

Smiling just thinking about it.

Thanks for a fun post!

Snarkattack,

It's usually shampoo, bodywash or soap and if you're lucky, cleanser.

Interesting you mention bodywash for guys--I just discovered there was such a thing the other day. My wife has used it for years, and as far as I can tell, all it is is liquid soap, right? What's the point?

Seems like just another way for the soap manufacturers to market the stuff at a higher price than a plain old bar of soap.

But I'm just a curmudgeon.

I'd have to disagree with Duane too. lord, I'm all man and I sure don't primp, but minus the wife's gear I'd still have a couple of bottles of shampoo, razor, shaving cream, body wash, and conditioner in there. Probably some facial wash stuff too.

Mary K, I have to guard my wife from Bath and Body. They are so crafty, those girls, what with there buy 2 get one free scams and their minty smells and swooshy creams.

Mary K. #3 - THAT'S the spirit! This is exactly what so many beauty addicts are like!

I too was like that with books & CDs but it got to the stage where I very literally ran out of space. Thankfully, personal care products are consumables!

Oh gosh, and have I heard of the coupon situation! All that free stuff - the thriving economy of the States owes its thanks alone to 'buy one get one free' and the like. I hear there is even forums devoted to collecting and coupon swapping!

Clavos #4 - I'm very glad that you've discovered liquid soap! You know, just in case you ever go to jail...jokes. But seriously, I hate that soap always slips out of my hands and then you nearly slip over trying to pick the damn thing up. I'm not naturally a klutz - just when it comes to soap and also due to medication.

I find that the liquid stuff lasts longer, and seems to be less likely to make my skin get all irritated and so on. Solid soap seems a bit harsher, but if it were made how they used to make it pre-petrochemical industry, perhaps it'd be different.

Mat #5 - yeah, loads of guys have that stuff, but not necessarily in the shower or around the bathtub. Most ladies cleanse, tone and moisturise twice a day, but I only do that whilst showering before bed. Oh, and moisturiser with sunscreen - necessity in Australia. But cleanse in the morning?! 10 extra minutes I could use sleeping. And shock horror, no shower before bed, no skincare regime (unless I'm painted in spackle, which is...never).

But I hear you man, my bro too is all man and then some more but he's got some serious weapons of mass seduction (I wish I had've called my column that...sigh).

Alas, I only use a bar of Dove soap for everything.

I inherited oily skin, mostly on my face (thanks, Dad!), and had a horrible time with acne as a teenager. I still suffer with it a little now. I have large pores, so there's no way around it, I suppose.

The biggest problem I have is the moisturizer in the body washes and other products. If I use them, I feel greasy and disgusting; the acne flairs up, too. If I use acne products on my face, my wonderful pores compensate for the dryness, and my acne gets worse.

However, I do use a little BBW body lotion after my shower, and that works reasonably well.

My g/f has a zillion BBW products in the bathroom, and they intimidate me . . . lol. I'm afraid that taking on an elaborate routine will make me late for work everyday. She had perfect, beautiful skin. I hate her. :-P

People with good skin have flaws too! I seem to be lucky in that department, and so I tell people "gorgeous clear skin, appalling mental health".

Ah Lady D I hear your pain. It could be that the body washes are too drying on your skin, which can actually make it produce oil. Sometimes. You could try to find a light body moisturiser, nothing that feels like it's heavy on your skin.

I get the late for work etc. thing. That's why I do that stuff late at night. Even picking the lip colour sometimes. My collection gives me existentialist nausea!

Heh. With me, it's wonderfully soft, silky hair and appalling mental health. :)

I'm still unsure about what skin care product to go for. Soon, we'll be packing up all the kids (pets) and moving down to hot, sticky Florida, so I imagine my needs will change then.

Talk about being late for work! It's hard enough just getting my carcass out of bed in the morning. Now, it'll be so hot I won't want to leave the house at all!

Ugh, don't envy you there Lady D. I've lived in Australia longer than I've lived in Britain and I'm still not used to the searing heat in summer.

Alas, we must suffer for our skin/hair superpowers :P

Ah, but in Florida, it's hot and humid as hell year round (with some relief every now and then). It's going to be difficult living in a place with no seasons--and lots of mosquitoes. Well, at least I won't have to worry about my hair freezing and breaking while picking up tons of static.

Eek, alas I also know what that's like, having lived in the Philippines. I loathe humidity. I've been there 3 times and there's always been a typhoon.

Not to mention no hot water, so everyone gets cold showers (out of city areas), which isn't just a comfort thing, but makes people more prone to respiratory-type infections, especially the elderly and children. It's pretty sad, actually.