Tag: Fresh

Kendall’s Skin Care Must-Haves

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Kendall’s Skin Care Must-Haves
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels.com

I didn’t really start taking my skin care seriously until I was about 30. According to some, my skin is already screwed. That’s a frightening thought! When I was about 27 I started purchasing more quality skin care products but I didn’t really understand WHY I was buying all this stuff that the salesperson recommended. Was I just being oversold? It wasn’t until my pregnancy that I realized I need to take my skin’s needs seriously. After giving birth, I aged. A LOT. My skin just completely changed. I don’t mind aging- that’s normal and healthy! What I do mind is not properly giving my skin what it needs. You only get one skin and you DO need to take care of it. There is no universal skin care regime for you to follow because everyone has different skin and, therefore, different needs. 

I have learned to appreciate that having healthy skin starts from the inside. I know that certain foods make me break out. Do I avoid them? Not entirely but I am more thoughtful about it and pick and choose what I feel like indulging in. Diet also plays a big part in this! You need vegetables, people! Vegetables are just wholesome for your body! Eat some. I have also discovered collagen. I am not a doctor, so speak to yours before you make any big dietary changes or try new supplements. From where I am, I can tell you that collagen has been really good for my skin with consistent use. More than that, it’s been a wonderful way to get an energy boost without having to drink any extra caffeine or energy supplements. I love the regular ole’ Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides with Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin C. You can even find the big container at Costco! 

Now, to the good stuff… products! All of the below (except the EltaMD) are also clean beauty brands… so you can take care of yourself and know that you are also helping the industry make good and healthy shifts in its ingredients, supply chain, and marketing. 

I love me some products. I like to try new things. Below is a list of some of my favorite products all ranging in prices. 

Cleansers:

First off, if you don’t double cleanse… you should try it. Especially if you wear makeup regularly. You don’t need to do this every time you cleanse but I like to do it before bed. Taking the day off is sometimes harder than you think. 

Naturium’s Niacinamide Cleansing Gelee 3%

$18.00

This product is great for taking off makeup and getting other impurities off your face. It can be a little intense for some so this is great to have in rotation for your skin.

FRESH Soy Face Cleanser

$15.00- $69.00

FRESH is amazing. They are one of my favorite all around skin care brands because it is gentle, actually works, and they are constantly updating their product ingredient list to be the most natural and effective for it’s clients. 

ReVive Foaming Cleanser

$75.00

Does the price scare you? I understand. This cleanser has an amazing, rich lather that gets your face super clean and feeling super hydrated. You do not need very much. A super small amount goes A LONG WAY. When I do purchase this product, I have it for months because I stick to using the right amount. If you can indulge, I can’t recommend this enough! 

Toners/Exfoliators:

For the longest time I was using toners the wrong way. And yes, there is such a thing. I was using a toner as the extra boost to help get my makeup and daily grime off. Like, I was relying on it more than my cleanser. Insert face palm emoji here. If you are doing this- stop! Spend some more time with your cleanser or try a double cleanse. 

Exfoliators are a great way to help unclog pores and help your skin care products absorb into your skin better!

FRESH Rose Floral Water Toner

$15.00- $40.00

I really love this product. It makes my face feel so clean and bright! It also lasts forever if you use it properly! It’s also great to spray on your face to give it a wake up if you are feeling dull. 

ReVive Balancing Toner Soothing Skin Refresher

$65.00

This toner has been wonderful to my skin. It’s great at restoring some hydration to my skin AND works as a super gentle exfoliator. 

Naturium BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%

$20.00

All I can say is this just gives me a nice glow and makes me feel good. 

Trish McEvoy Correct and Brightening Beta Hydroxy Pads Daily Exfoliator

$75.00

Steep price. I know. I feel it. You can use these daily but I don’t because my skin is a little sensitive. I use these about every other day… sometimes every three. These pads are the creme de la creme. They are just delicious for your skin. Pure luxury! 

Serums:

Ah, serums! 

Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Serum

$130.00

Talk about expensive. For me- this is also one of the only hyaluronic acids that really work on my skin and that I SEE the results with. It is a splurge, for sure. One of the great things about all things Trish is that her products are all catered to sensitive skin types and are very gentle. This serum is one of my must-haves. But hey, my husband buys guitar pedals and band staff… I buy this. Win/Win. 

FRESH Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil

$53.00

I love this face oil. Sometimes, I use this as my moisturizer. But it’s also great in conjunction with one which is why this is in my serums category. This will also last you a good long while. You do not need to use this every day OR a lot of. I can sometimes keep a bottle for a year- a little more. But that’s me! 

Moisturizers: 

So I use one moisturizer for the daytime and one for the nighttime. During the day, I like to have one that also has SPF in it. Finding something with the right combination (not too cakey or an odd texture) can be rough. And at nighttime, I want something super hydrating and that will lock in my serums to really give my skin some TLC. 

Daytime Moisturizer:

Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Cream SPF 30

$92.00

All things Trish aren’t exactly cheap. I know. This also lasts me forever (about 5 months). I just spent two months getting the last bit pumped out… don’t throw it away if you think it’s empty! Keep going! This is a great moisturizer/SPF duo and keeps my skin nice and dewy while protecting it from the sun. 

Night Time Moisturizer:

I either use the seaberry oil mentioned above OR I use…

Naturium’s Intense Overnight Sleeping Cream

$25.00

This stuff is just lovely. It feels super thick but actually feels light and moisturizing on your skin. AND- it’s super affordable. It’s my current night time favorite! 

Misc.:

SPF SPF SPF. I am late to the SPF game. I really just started wearing it. Shame on me. But you all need it. So wear it. One of my favorites right now is the EltaMD UV Broad-Spectrum SPF 50+. It’s water and sweat resistant for up to 80 minutes. If I know I am going to be running around with my toddler outside or in our pool, I use this instead of my daytime moisturizer. It’s amazing and keeps me hydrated and safe! 

Anyways, that’s the list. Do you have any products you love? PLEASE share! I am always looking for new stuff to try. Happy cleansing!

Shari: Bye-bye Garden

by thesaltyexchangeLeave a Comment on Shari: Bye-bye Garden

Tis’ the season to say goodbye to your summer garden. Last week I pulled out almost all of my summer plants and started the process of winterizing my garden. Gardening has always been therapeutic for me and a place I feel at peace. There is something special about sticking your hands in the soil and growing something from a little seed that nourishes your body and also makes you feel a sense of accomplishment. I get it. I get why so many people garden. I almost wish I had a year round garden but if I am being honest, it is also a lot of work.

I decided not to do a garden next year. I seem to be on an every other year trajectory since my previous garden was in 2019. And I am totally fine with that. However, I don’t expect myself to remember everything I learned this year come the Spring of 2023 so here are some tips to help me remember and, maybe in the process, they will help you too.

Succession planting: Next time I have a garden I want to plant my vegetables in a way that allows me to maximize my space and produce. Once I pull my first batch of radishes, plant more! Same with carrots and anything else that could produce another round of harvest fairly quickly. Also if I don’t want to plant the same thing, like putting cabbage where the radishes were, then I can plant something else in place of it that utilizes the space properly. Key words there, only plant something that is space appropriate which leads me to my next point…

Spacing: My spacing was a smidge off this year. I didn’t realize how big my yellow squash or cucumber plants would get (whoops). Next time I need to remember this and space them out accordingly to avoid overcrowding. Thankfully I used tomato plant cages for the yellow squash and it kept them really contained. I also used a square cage for the cucumber plants to grow up and it worked so nicely; these are definitely two things I plan to do again.

Thinning: I need to remember to take thinning out my plants seriously. I learned the hard way with my carrots and leeks. The leeks were the worst, I thought I thinned them out but to my surprise they never got very big and still seemed overcrowded when I finally pulled them last weekend. Next time I need to make sure I follow the directions and give them the proper thinning and spacing that they require to thrive.

Weeding: A note to myself and to you… make sure to weed your garden daily or at least weekly before you water, this way you will stay on top of them as your garden continues to grow. Also a perk of thinning out your plants is that you can see weeds that grow in between your plants better. If your plants are too close together it can be hard to see the weeds that are growing right next to your plant.

There you have it, those are my final thoughts as I close out my spring and summer of gardening. I am thankful for all the kale, cucumbers, carrots, and more that I have grown and consumed this year. I have loved watching my garden thrive and tending to it. But in all honesty, I am ready for this season to end and to cozy on up for the fall and winter. I guess my houseplants and friends’ gardens will have to keep me occupied for the next year. Bye-bye garden, it’s been fun!