What's in K's skincare toolbox?

(The following exercise is procrastination of the first degree. I have packed exactly one box today, and evidently the ergonomics of a rice cooker and a cake pan were just altogether a heady business because I spent the afternoon funnin' and saying worshipful things to my wonderful baby daddy on Father's Day.) So, to satisfy the gnawing question of how I maintain this youthful glow, this natural vivaciousness, this easy breezy beautiful like I just stepped out of a salon sometimes I need a little finesse sometimes I don't general aura...here are a few products I use daily to prime my canvas:

1. Cleanser with light exfolliant: I'm a Mary Kay consultant, so I drink that kool-aid (even if I will never qualify for a pink Cadi because I reinvest all my profits in lip gloss inventory) but I do sincerely think their 3-in-1 cleanser is phenomenal.

2. White Tea extract: I have chronic eczema and the only non-prescription product I've found to help is this by Origins.

3. Eye cream: I use MK's. Because gravity is still turned on.

4. Something that boosts collagen. I know this sounds like one of those "let's simulate science!" commercials that uses lots of venn diagrams to show you what happens to your epidermis when free radicals attack it, that is totally not based on hard science and is completely watered down for laymen consumers, but I will attest that I have seen the importance of collagen in my life, particularly in my huge Cabbage Patch Doll cheeks. Again, I use MK's night solution and I'm happy.

5. Lip balm with SPF. I love this one by fresh so much I wanna marry it.

6. Daytime moisturizer with SPF. I find most moisturizers come with an SPF 15, but I am the At-Risk Skin Cancer Society poster child so I best be using one that comes with at least 25.

Stay tuned for: "What's in K's make-up bag?"

Review: "All the Better to Kiss You With" Organic Lip Balm

I know you thought that I was done talking about my pregnancy and blah blah blah the baby's here, Kendra, your ankles aren't swollen anymore, but evidently your brain is because you keep blah blah talking about your pregnancy. However, this lip balm review just absolutely necessitates that I hearken back to my third trimester when I was compelled to buy everything, go everywhere, and see everyone like I was giving my Last Lecture. Heather B. Armstrong endorsed this lip balm and before she could even say chai flavor sweetness for our lips, I was clicking my paypal SEND CASH NOW to the makers of Organic Lip Balm. And wouldn't you know that it arrived while the baby bundle was being born! It was so nice because when I arrived home from the hospital, there was this clever little envelope with a pack o' 3 lip balm containers which sort of reminded me of the mini Altoid compacts, except with a sliding lid. I saved one for Lovey Loverpants' valentine, and I did give it to him, but I eventually reclaimed it because he said the packaging was too pansy for him to carry in public. I also sent one to CBear who is now in her third trimester YAHOO and the significance of all of this is that I got so mad parched during my c-section that I actually asked the surgeon if she could get me some lip balm. I know you're thinking, Good one, Kendra, go all Napoleon Dynamite when you're about to meet your child for the first time, but I was a bit delirious due to the gallons of anesthesia chugging through my bloodstream, and my LIPS HURT REAL BAD. Wish I could've glossed some of this smoooove organicness on my lips. The flavors are delicious and while I wouldn't say the stuff is exceptionally long-lasting, it's nice to know that it's made from ingredients you can pronounce, by a real nice little indie operation.

Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine/Breath Freshener

In honor of the passing of poor portley Pavarotti, I would like to promote another wonderful thing to do with one's mouth other than singing tenor in a lyric opera: wearing lip balm (which is almost as noble). Specifically, wearing C.O. Bigelow's Mentha Lip Shine. I really know nothing finer when it comes to lasting, minty balm that freshens breath. Now let me confess, beauties. This is no trade secret. I'm not to thank for discovering this product, even though "discovery" is practically abused as a word these days. I side with David Sedaris. He says that he cannot stand it when others refer to a restaurant as one that they've discovered, like Ponce de Leon discovering the fountain of freakin' youth, when all along the restaurant was listed IN THE PHONEBOOK. You didn't discover it. It was yours to be discovered. You could have used a map. But you didn't. However, I like to think myself almost as cool as good old Ponce, now that I've got my small tube of youth, otherwise known as Bigelow's Mentha Lip Shine.

Like I mentioned, though, I didn't discover it. First, Ellen gave it to me. Then, I told Ellen how wonderful I found this product to be. Ellen told me that she had propagated the love for Mentha, as well, and had all of her co-workers puckering up with their own tubes. Then, I told Eunis, who bought some for herself and her gaggle of girlfriends. Then, just recently, I saw that Jenny (who would *never* set foot in any manner of cosmetics stand!) was rocking Sir Bigelow's best balm, as well. Clearly this goodness is contagious. What are you sticking around being parched for, beauties? Get hip to the apothecary!

This balm comes in a .5 oz tube, but a little really does go a long way. I haven't had the contents-under-pressure problem with this one as I have had with other balms (ahem: see also this oozy doozie). Plus, if you are inclined to buy balm for ya man, the nice minty color of the tube is fairly unisex, as masculine as Burt's Bees, or Chapstick, but with a tasty smell that will keep his breath from stankocity, and that, beauties, is a very good thing.

C.O. Bigelow has a lovely website if you are interested to learn more.