Forever35: Mini-Ep 485 "Judge Not By Smell?"
Hosts: Doree Shafrir & Elise Hu
Release Date: March 25, 2026
Episode Overview
In this lively mini-episode, Doree and Elise dive into a flurry of practical listener questions and share collective wisdom around self-care, with their signature mix of humor and self-awareness. Key topics include navigating cough remedies, the evolution of shampoo bars, the mysteries of vitamin C serums, sustainable product choices, and the perennial quest for the perfect pair of soft pants. As always, the hosts contextualize these everyday queries with insightful (and often funny) commentary about aging, wellness trends, and the subtle art of feeling good.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Cough Remedies & Listener Support
- Elise reports feeling better after a nagging cough, thanks to helpful listener tips and messages.
- Doree reads a listener text recommending Fisherman’s Friend cough drops and building “pillow mountains” to ease nighttime coughing (04:01). Elise shares:
- “It does feel nice to have a lozenge. I’ve just been using the Ricola.” (04:34)
- Pillow mountains didn’t work for her dry, croup-like cough but she's now on the mend.
- Both express gratitude for their supportive audience.
2. Life as (Unexpected) Content Creators
- Elise recounts attending a Blueair tennis retreat where, much to her surprise, she ended up featured in a yoga photo — butt in the air — on the brand’s Instagram.
- Elise: “Whose ass is in the air closest to the camera? Yours truly. You can imagine my shock when I got that Instagram tag notification.” (07:00)
- “If you agree to the terms of a content creator situation…your butt in the air is all over Instagram.” (08:02)
- She jokes about never getting her portrait, only butt shots.
- Doree commiserates with good humor.
3. Micro Joys: Raising Butterflies Amid the March Gloom
- Nora, the “unofficial education correspondent” from Rhode Island, calls in to share her micro joy: raising caterpillars into butterflies in her classroom.
- “It does help to have small, hopeful things.” (11:25)
- Elise is reminded of author Eleanor Cleghorn's adage:
- “The horrors persist, but you have your little crafts.” (11:57)
4. Shampoo Bars: Brands, Tips & Plastic Waste
Techniques & Listener Advice:
- Emily (text): Lather shampoo bars in your hands, don’t rub directly on hair to avoid tangling and breakage. (15:46)
- Elise: “I would probably just put it straight to my head and then rip my hair out.” (16:05)
Product Recommendations:
- Multiple listeners highlight brands:
- HiBAR (noted for environmental commitment) (16:48)
- Ethique and Kitsch (17:30)
- Earthling Company (recommended for allergy sufferers, variety of scents, longevity) (18:33)
- Tips: Get unscented conditioner bars for versatility and extended use (19:16), bars are great for travel due to lack of liquids.
- Allison from Vancouver, WA: “The bars run about $15 and seem to last a long time. Also easy to travel with — no liquids.” (19:54)
Alternative to Bars:
- One caller advocates for buying bulk liquid shampoo to reduce plastic (Ouidad mentioned).
- “I use the brand O U I D A D and they have a giant like 33 ounce size bottle...coming up on one year old and I’m just replacing it now for the first time.” (20:13)
- Encourages listeners to look for plastic reduction opportunities elsewhere, if bars aren’t for them.
Travel Tip:
- Use travel-sized Nalgene bottles/jars from The Container Store: “They’ve never leaked on me in 10 years.” (21:32)
5. Vitamin C Serum: Color vs. Smell
- Follow-up on a previous vitamin C serum question: should you judge by smell or color?
- Listener relays advice from Chemist Confessions:
- “All vitamin C serums…are all going to smell like…hot dog water. That’s just the way it is.” (26:34)
- Efficacy is about color; amber is normal, but toss if “straight up brown.” (26:54)
- Doree & Elise express reluctance about the hot-dog water scent.
- Elise: “I just don’t want to put that smell on my face!” (27:48)
- Doree: “Sometimes it’s really salty, sometimes it’s really stinky.” (27:54)
- Elise plugs Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum for a pleasant scent.
- Listener relays advice from Chemist Confessions:
6. Sunscreen: What's 'Best' Is What You Use
- Same Chemist Confessions-inspired advice: “The best sunscreen is the sunscreen you use.” (28:25)
- Texture matters; stick with what you’ll apply consistently.
- “Let’s get real. We have lives and it’s hard to [reapply]. So I think if you’re doing it every morning, I think you’re doing an amazing job.” (28:54)
- Elise mentions Michelle Monahan’s new children’s book: A Kid’s Book About Sun Safety (30:08)
7. Soft Pants: Listener-Approved Pick
- Athleta’s Venice High Rise Wide Leg Pant gets a glowing review: “Soft and comfy, looks put-together while traveling, wide waistband, pockets...” (31:25)
- Doree notes sizing tips and that she might get the petite size for length.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On low-stakes self-care:
- “The horrors persist, but you have your little caterpillars.” (11:57, Elise)
- On unexpected social media fame:
- “Your butt in the air is all over Instagram.” (08:02, Elise)
- On cold medicine efficacy:
- “You’ve really gotta just go ahead and show your ID and get it from behind the counter because of that one ingredient…” (02:44, Elise)
- On vitamin C odor:
- “They call it like hot dog water. That’s just the way it is.” (26:37, Voicemail Caller)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Time | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:07 | Start of main episode/content | | 04:00 | Listener advice for cough remedies | | 05:31 | Blueair yoga retreat saga | | 10:04 | Announcement: Patreon live casual chat | | 10:13 | Voicemail: Micro joy with butterflies | | 15:46 | Listener techniques: Shampoo bar advice | | 16:48 | Voicemail: Eco-friendly shampoo bar brands | | 18:33 | More recommendations: Earthling Company, tips for conditioner bars | | 20:05 | Alternative take: Bulk liquid shampoo & plastic reduction elsewhere | | 21:32 | Travel size bottle recommendation (Nalgene) | | 26:28 | Vitamin C serum: Chemist Confessions on color vs. smell | | 28:25 | Sunscreen: "Best is what you use" - listener insight | | 30:08 | Michelle Monahan’s new kids book on sun safety | | 31:25 | Soft pants recommendation from a listener (Athleta Venice) |
Tone and Style
- Warm, chatty, supportive, with a blend of practical seriousness and playful self-deprecation.
- The hosts and callers create an environment where imperfect solutions and honest sharing are encouraged.
Summary Takeaways
- Self-care doesn’t have to be high-stakes or perfect. Micro joys, listener crowdsourcing, and delight over a good pair of trousers are all valid victories.
- For wellness products: Efficacy, environmental impact, and comfort play a huge role in personal decision-making—there's no one-size-fits-all.
- Judge vitamin C serum by color, not (questionable) smell; use sunscreen you’ll actually apply, and celebrate small, hopeful rituals—even if it’s watching caterpillars become butterflies.
For product recs, listener tips, and full show notes, visit forever35podcast.com.