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Do you still use talcum powder ?

(71 Posts)
NanKate Mon 10-Mar-14 21:10:48

When I was staying with my DIL recently she commented on my lavender talc in the bathroom. She wanted to know where I put it, never having used it before.

I told her in the hot weather I smoothed it under my boobs and on the inside of my thighs, explaining that I did this with my pants on as it is dangerous to get talc near one's private parts.

I buy the small pack of 4 talcs from m and s as they are convenient to take on travels and do not clutter the bathroom.

goldengirl Wed 12-Mar-14 16:50:16

Always! Johnsons Baby Powder, Cuticura when I can get it and Simple if I'm desperate. My mother used Yardleys Lavender a lot which is still going strong I believe.
I swim a lot in summer and find talc vital in keeping between the toes dry but I use talc every day of the year virtually all over

Deedaa Tue 11-Mar-14 21:38:09

I use a very light dusting under the boobs where it might get hot and sweaty. Other than that I leave it to MiL who has always been renowned for her lavish use of talc. Before she went into a home you could hardly breathe in her bathroom because of the amount of talc in the air. Apparently she covered herself in it because it was easier than drying herself. Every flat surface,including the floor, was covered in a layer of talc and she still makes the nurses in the home use it on her. It's always Johnson's Baby Powder. I could never see why a grown woman would want to smell like a baby - but that might just be me.
Even 40 years ago when DD was born we were being warned never to use talc on our babies because it was dangerous for their lungs and her own children have certainly never had it used on them.

specki4eyes Tue 11-Mar-14 19:18:54

I love it - always have even though I'm not a sweaty or sticky person - it just feels er.......nice. I buy Cuticura and a large tin lasts me about 5 years because I just do a quick puff in the nethers every morning after my shower. If I could get Johnsons Baby Powder here in France, I would use that too - it makes a wonderful light translucent face powder, sets lipstick when dusted on lips lightly and generally makes one feel good about the world. I'm sure that sensation is linked to the smell of our babies after their baths when we smoothed them over with it and then swaddled them in their cotton blankets and placed them in their cots. Oh what joy! Whatever happened to Johnsons Baby Lotion - the unique smell of it is now changed - not nearly so fresh and appealing now.

Ariadne Tue 11-Mar-14 17:23:59

And don't have a navy blue bedroom carpet!

annodomini Tue 11-Mar-14 17:00:51

PS: Stand on a white bath mat if you're using body powder.

annodomini Tue 11-Mar-14 16:54:57

If you Google talc-free powder, you will find quite a variety on various sites including Amazon and Ebay.

Marelli Tue 11-Mar-14 16:12:01

Has anyone bought Johnson's Baby Powder recently, though? It hasn't got the same scent as it used to do. I use it for under boobs and inner thighs after bath or shower.

Brendawymms Tue 11-Mar-14 15:38:30

There is about a 3% natural risk of getting cervical cancer. Using talc on the genital area increases that risk by 0.03%. A tiny increase and not proven really. So don't powder the genital area for many reasons but ok anywhere else.

gettingonabit Tue 11-Mar-14 15:27:56

I find it quite hard to get hold of. I used to have a Chanel 5 one plus powder puff. I can only get baby powder or similar now. I always take it swimming as it makes getting dressed easier. Messy, though.

Flowerofthewest Tue 11-Mar-14 15:22:13

Love the smell of Johnson's Baby Talc. Yes I do remember it on sandy legs and feet and passed on the idea to my children they too used it to remove sand.

Pittcity Tue 11-Mar-14 12:17:17

I use it in the folds on sweaty days, wouldn't be without it. But it is tucked away on a bottom shelf in our local (largish) Boots, so obviously not a best seller.

rosequartz Tue 11-Mar-14 09:15:54

Talcum powder used to contain asbestos but this is no longer the case. Perhaps the cases mentioned were caused by the use of talcum powder in the days before asbestos was removed from talc. Mineral face powder is now very popular - does anyone know if it has similar constituents?

NfkDumpling Tue 11-Mar-14 08:57:31

I didn't realise you could still buy it either - apart from baby powder and none of my DC use that on their babies either. (Should this be on the 'Now I'm Officially Old' thread?!)

shysal Tue 11-Mar-14 08:48:59

I use Lanacane these days, but used to buy Imperial Leather talc, which has a lovely clean, fresh scent. The under-boob area definitely needs powdering in hot weather or, in my case, all year round as I am a hot body.

FlicketyB Tue 11-Mar-14 08:12:55

I cannot bear either the feel of talc or the feel of flour on my hands so do not use it - and always make pastry and crumble in a mixer.

J52 Tue 11-Mar-14 08:06:07

Stopped using it when DS developed asthma aged 2. Have been told it cures squeaky floorboards and stairs! X

Aka Tue 11-Mar-14 07:54:15

I've stopped using it since my daughter told me there was a link between it and ovarian cancer. As this cancer runs in my family I thought best to avoid just in case.

NanKate Tue 11-Mar-14 07:31:03

Oh I too miss the smell of talc on a young bathed baby. Neither of my grandsons are allowed to use it.

NanKate Tue 11-Mar-14 07:29:05

As a child we put talc on our feet when leaving the beach and it made the sand just fall way. Does anyone else remember this ?

NannaAnna Mon 10-Mar-14 23:24:36

I didn't realise you could still buy the stuff!! I thought it was one of those products of a bygone age, no longer made. confused

MaggieP Mon 10-Mar-14 23:09:02

I have always used talc after showering or bath, likewise we always used baby powder on the kids, that was what you did 35+ years ago, made them smell delightful, shock horror on today's young mother faces if you mention that word near the babyshock

absent Mon 10-Mar-14 22:50:33

A small amount of baby powder inside washing up gloves and occasionally inside shoes if it's hot and they are the posh ones.

rockgran Mon 10-Mar-14 22:39:53

I don't feel finished off without a dusting of talc here and there. I use baby powder but managed to find some Avon recently which I keep for posh days.

rosequartz Mon 10-Mar-14 22:35:57

Don 't know what happened there.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jun/23/should-i-stop-using-talcum-powder

Flowerofthewest Mon 10-Mar-14 22:33:24

meant urethra!