Favorites
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During December 2020, I was asked everything from my favorite skillet to what moisturizer I use. Based on what I am most commonly asked, I've compiled this handy dandy list of my favorite products. These are my tried and true, can't live without items that I highly recommend.
In the kitchen:
Beauty items:
For travel:
Miscellaneous:
There you have it. My list of favorite products that I have used for years and highly recommend. I'll be sure to amend and add to this list as I discover other products that make my life easier and more enjoyable.
During December 2020, I was asked everything from my favorite skillet to what moisturizer I use. Based on what I am most commonly asked, I've compiled this handy dandy list of my favorite products. These are my tried and true, can't live without items that I highly recommend.
In the kitchen:
- OXO cruet for making and storing salad dressings.
- Le Creuset Dutch Oven (5.5 quart) for making everything from risotto to chicken (see photo above) to my chicken chili.
- Masking tape and a Sharpie are my two favorite kitchen tools. All leftovers and some fresh ingredients go into the fridge or freezer with a label including the date. Knowing how old something is means I am more likely to eat it and less likely to let it go to waste.
- Scan Pan 12-inch skillet. Heats evenly and cleans easily. PFOA free so safe for humans and the environment. What more could you want in a pan?!
- If you need a good, basic chef's knife or serrated knife, check out Victorinox. For a chef's knife, I prefer a 10-inch length, and my husband likes an 8-inch length.
Beauty items:
- For keeping my skin bright and beautiful, Beautycounter Counter+ All Bright Vitamin C serum. It worked wonders on sun spots after I kayaked every day for a week straight during the early fall.
- For keeping my skin moisturized throughout the day, my face loves the Beautycounter Countermatch Adaptive Moisture Lotion.
- For foundation that looks like my skin, but better, I keep going through bottles of the Inika Organic BB Cream in the Cream color. It's make-up as skin care so after wearing it all day I end up with lovely, soft skin and no clogged pores.
- For exfoliation that has taken care of a lot of keratin deposits in my skin (bumps), the Beautycounter Counter+ Overnight Resurfacing Peel applied once-a-week has been a game-changer. Be sure to use a good moisturizer after applying this and letting it soak in.
- My favorite skin oil because it's great for my sensitive skin and is working miracles this dry winter is the Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil.
- The body lotion I return to again and again is the Everyone for Every Body Lotion in Coconut+Lemon. I am super sensitive to fragrance and essential oil and this one has a subtle sweet scent and my skin soaks up the lotion so there is no greasy effect. This lotion also comes in Unscented.
- I rarely ever go through an entire bottle of lip gloss before it reaches its expiration and I need to toss it. That is not the case with Beautycounter's Beyond Gloss. It's moisturizing! The colors are buildable so you can have something subtle on your lips or something a little more bold. It doesn't bunch at the lips. And unlike most glosses I've tried, this one lasts hours on Zoom.
For travel:
- Brian and I each have eBags carry-ons that we enjoy and have had for years. If you want something with wheels, try the Mother Lode. If you like a backpack version, which I use for road trips and car camping, I recommend the Mother Load Travel Backpack.
- I have had this Travelpro international carry-on for nearly 7 years. I've used it for weekend getaways and three-week trips to Italy. It's a workhorse, and I am really looking forward to the day when I can use it again.
- For medium hard-sided suitcases, we both have 24-inch models from eBags. While ours are no longer sold, they have lots of great options.
- I have a soft spot for Le Sportsac products because my maternal grandmother liked their products. I like this backpack and their totes (this one is similar to the one pictured above) because, as one of my travel students said, wow, those bags are like clown cars - you can store so much stuff! Also, I love it when a product is both functional and pretty. And I appreciate a good secret interior zipped pocket or two to thwart thieves.
- I cannot recommend packing cubes enough. Get various sizes (small / medium / large), each in a different color so you know, for example, that all your small cubes are red and large ones are blue. They become the dresser drawers of your suitcase. You'll never rummage through your suitcase looking for that one shirt again (unless you forgot to pack it).
Miscellaneous:
- Can you believe I have a favorite dog bed? I do! We've had the Molly Mutt bed in the Medium/Large size in the "Your Hand in Mine" pattern for over 11 years. It's great because you can stuff it with old pillows and clothes, instead of dumping them in a landfill. And the bed holds up really well to multiple launderings. Highly recommend!
There you have it. My list of favorite products that I have used for years and highly recommend. I'll be sure to amend and add to this list as I discover other products that make my life easier and more enjoyable.