Abigail Watson 🥉

I’d back the countertop diverter too and pick a carbon-block unit rated around 300–600 gallons; for most renters that means swapping the cartridge every 4–6 months versus about 2–3 months for faucet mounts and 1–2 months for pitchers if you want taste to stay consistent. Make sure it comes with thread adapters and a decent hose length so you can park the outlet over pots and your kettle.

Hey Ann! I'm 56 with redness prone that model and I live in a high desert climate and so I feel your pain :) What finally worked was switching from thick creams to a gel cream or light lotion that has glycerin and hyaluronic acid for immediate hydration, plus squalane and ceramides for barrier support. Make sure it is fragrance free and free of essential oils, since those were sneaky triggers for my flushing. I apply on damp that model so it spreads fast and sinks in quickly. Works great. On that model I search phrases like fragrance free ceramide face lotion non comedogenic quick absorbing. Read the first part of the ingredient list and skip anything heavy on denatured alcohol, menthol, eucalyptus, citrus oils, or lanolin. Patch test behind the ear for two nights to be safe but then if you still feel tight by midday, press a tiny extra layer of the same lotion onto the driest patches instead of switching to a heavier cream. At night I sometimes seal the cheeks with one drop of squalane or a light dimethicone based lotion over the moisturizer so it lasts until morning without that greasy feel.

Okay, the trick that finally freed me was warm thanks plus clear reason plus action word. I literally practice one-liners so my brain does not freeze. Something like I'm loving this, and I need to catch our project lead before she leaves, so I'm going to go say hi. If they are mid-story, I smile big and say I don't want to miss the rest, can I grab you later, then I step away. It feels bold for two seconds and then it's done. I also set tiny goals, like talk to three people, then break. That gives me a non-awkward reason to pivot. A light touch on my badge and a small step backward help my mouth follow my feet. People respond well to kindness plus movement, and I walk off feeling proud instead of trapped.