At the Moment: March for Babies

The blog post for this week was going to be a follow-up to last week's post, Back to Boards, and specifically address the involvement of Generation Xers and Yers in regards to board service; however, I just returned from the March of Babies walk, a fundraising event for the March of Dimes, and I wanted to briefly touch on the experience.

First, I overtly thank all of you who supported my participation in honor of my darling twin nieces, Lucia (pronounced "lu-see-a") and Amelia, who were born two months premature. (By the way, my posts on supporters' Facebook walls do not count as my official "thank you.") Because of people's generosity, I raised $1,825! This is a success for me considering my original goal was $500, and the first and last time I participated in such a fundraising event was at the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk 2003 when I raised $1,260.

Second, as just mentioned above, I do not generally participate in these types of fundraising events but a week after I returned from New York City last month when I met L&A for the first time, my company sent out an email recruiting employees to participate in the March for Babies walk. I took the timing of the communication as a sign for me to register.

Third, the event seemed very well-attended but I must admit, I was a little overwhelmed with all the people, strollers, and dogs. I guess working predominately from home has taken its toll on my once-developed social skills. :-) Anyhoo, the walk in the brisk air took about 70 minutes but it felt good to support the March of Dimes. To babies!

And fourth, there is nothing more satisfying after a baby walk like brunch with a Bloody Mary followed by a strawberry cosmo! I so desperately wanted the lemon-ricotta hotcakes but my dairy-free diet does not tolerate such brilliance. Alas.

So anyhoo, now that I am back on the community service wagon, I have been thinking about which fundraiser I shall participate in next year. I need something bigger. The answer: the Red Ribbon Ride! This commitment is 100% inspired by my dear friend A.J. Bates (the partner of Irvin, who I have introduced to you before – happy 10 year anniversary guys!) who has participated in AIDS/LifeCycle since 2000. AIDS/LifeCycle is a seven-day bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. Oy! The Red Ribbon Ride is only four days in Minnesota – whew! But I will most definitely need the upcoming year to prepare mentally and physically. Perhaps I should start by attending a spinning class – better yet – how about I first buy a bike?! Ha!

Best,
Hadley

At the Moment: Back to Boards

… or at the very least, back to volunteering. My sabbatical from volunteering ends this year. When I look around, I see volunteer opportunities all around. When I moved to Minneapolis I told myself I would just focus on work, school, and nesting and I would resume volunteering after I graduated. I wanted to make sure the variables in my life were receiving the best of me. But graduation is in approximately four months, so the life where I thought I had no time has no more excuses.

Quite frankly, though, there was always time to serve on a board or volunteer but it was not a priority. I spent my downtime watching television, which just made me fat. But when I canceled my cable last winter and started thinking about things that were intrinsically satisfying, I thought about how much I enjoyed board service and volunteering. I also was reminded that as an educated person, it was my responsibility to give back to the community, which could come in the form of working for a nonprofit, raising a family, or as we are discussing, volunteering. Volunteering was always an opportunity to network, meet fabulous people who shared a common interest, and where I learned new skills. Do not get me wrong, though, I strive to donate 10% of my take-home salary but realistically these days it is around 4%. Giving money is a privilege but giving time is an honor.

But you may be asking, “How does one get involved in board service?” I have to admit that my board service experience fell into my lap. When I lived in my hometown of St. Louis, I was asked to join the young professional boards of membership groups at the Alzheimer’s Association and the United Way of Greater St. Louis. This is not always the case and sometimes it takes an increase of involvement with membership groups before being asked to join.

In my opinion, the most effective board service occurs when you genuinely resonate with a cause, a political, social, or cultural organization; can bring needed expertise or insight to the board; and are committed with your time and responsibilities. Last month when I started thinking about a certain cultural organization that I was really interested in volunteering for in a board or committee capacity, I consulted with my friend Robin Gillette, executive director of the Minnesota Fringe Festival, and she said, “You’re smart to pick board service in an area you love.” Apparently my emerging passion for the Minnesota Opera and its young professionals group, Tempo, was evident. But the verdict is still out on whether or not and how I will be volunteering for Tempo.

So, while you think about how to incorporate volunteerism into your life, know that there are several organizations that would welcome your experience, insight, and relationships. But select an organization that is important to you. I prefer to focus on one to three organizations rather than spreading myself too thin, especially because board service usually requires time and possibly fundraising, and I do not want to dilute the level of my commitment.

Now, if you need help figuring out what type of organization to volunteer for, click here for some fun ideas about volunteering by your Zodiac sign. Oh, and did I mention that this is National Volunteer Week?! :-)

Best,
Hadley

P.S. -- The above March for Babies badge is actually my walker page for this Sunday, April 25, 2010 come rain or shine or snow!

Leisure: Spring Mugs

Since I started working remotely more frequently, I have been drinking my morning tea from the comfort of my own home. However, the charming white, porcelain mugs that I drank tea out of (which were a part of my everyday dinnerware set) started to lose their efficacy. I found myself constantly reheating more water to make more cups of tea because the first 11 oz. went by too quickly. This was a problem for me since the basis of much of my life is about efficiency and effectiveness. So, in true Virgo fashion, I overanalyzed which kinds of mugs I was going to purchase and how many. But then the other week I walked into Crate and Barrel and was greeted with mugs of in an array of spring colors but I personally was drawn to the grass hue and an orange one. So, in a somewhat spontaneous, unlike-Virgo move, I purchased these 10 different mugs to spruce up my morning routine:

I am drinking from the blue one this morning as I type this blog post. :-)

Best,
Hadley

Leisure: OMGlysolid Skin Balm

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you the inexpensive yet highly effective Glysolid Skin Balm. During my last visit to Spalon Montage in Edina, MN, my nail technician told me to use a certain cuticle oil on my cuticles but the saloon was out of it so I opted for the .25 oz sized jar of Glysolid Skin Balm, a nice and inexpensive alternative.

For weeks, I had not taken an interest in this balm since it seemed disposable. However, this last week I have been using it and my cuticles have never looked better (and I would not say they were in a bad condition to begin with). This balm may be the most effective product I have ever used. Ever. It provided immediate results. Sometimes hand cream is just not enough. I assume it works for all skin types and areas of the body, as well.

This is a must have if you live in the Upper Midwest with these elongated winters or if your cuticles need some TLC!

Best,
Hadley

Eats: Cooking Barefoot

“If you’re going to wear pleats, wear them like you mean it!” This was the response of my dear friend and fellow gourmand, Meg Behl, when I told her about someone I had gone out with who, to my surprise, wore one-pleated pants – something I had not considered in almost 15 years. But her comment made me think about the level of intensity for which we commit to things, e.g., work, school, fitness, family, friends, and food!

These days when I cook for just myself at home, I stick to a bland diet: eggs, veggies, bananas, cinnamon raisin bagels, wheat pasta, and milk-free frozen boxed lunches. Do not be fooled – this is a new diet. In the past, my dailies included such deliciousness as pizzas of all kinds and Philly cheese steak sandwiches. And when I say daily, I mean daily.

However, when I have time to entertain and cook for friends, I like to cook like I mean it! I owe much thanks to my step-mother Madelyn Harris, Peter Nguyen, and Irvin Lin, who inspired this blog post about food due to the launch of his own blog, Eat the Love, and who I will get to see Tuesday. Yay! During the most recent years, these people have cultivated my culinary knowledge and sluggish knife skills; provided direction in menu planning with interesting yet contrasting temperatures and flavors; and helped me accept the fact that the food I serve may not look like the food in the photographs of some cookbooks.

But when I am not being supervised, I owe much thanks to the brilliant recipes of Barefoot Contessa. They are easy to follow, even for an amateur like me. And my food, more often than not, has actually looked the pictures in her cookbooks! Below are my favorite starters, soup and vegetable recipes I have tried: (1) Raspberry Royale, (2) Roasted-Tomato Basil Soup, (3) Chicken Chili, (4) Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread, and (5) Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples. The recipes come directly from the cookbooks.


Raspberry Royale (Makes 4 to 6 drinks)
Heaven! And if you do not believe in heaven then believe in this raspberry royale! I served this at a brunch last summer and it was a major hit. Major!

· 6 teaspoons raspberry liqueur
· ½ pint fresh raspberries
· 1 bottle of good Champagne, chilled

Pour 1 teaspoon of raspberry liqueur into each champagne glass and add 2 or 3 raspberries. When guests arrive, pop the cork and fill each glass with Champagne. Serve immediately.


Roasted-Tomato Basil Soup (Serves 6 to 8)
I served this last August for friends at a “last minute summer supper.” It was delicious and spicy. The recipe was perfect.

· 3 pounds ripe tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
· ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons good olive oil
· 1 tablespoon kosher salt
· 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
· 2 cups chopped yellow onions
· 6 garlic cloves, minced
· 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
· ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
· 28 ounces canned plum tomatoes with their juice
· 4 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
· 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
· 1 quart chicken stock or water

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Toss together the tomatoes, ¼ cup olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the tomatoes in one layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.

In an 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, sauté the onions and garlic with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, butter, and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade. Taste for seasonings. Serve hot or cold.


Chicken Chili (Serves 12)
I served this in January for a dinner party for some colleauges. It was unpretentious, delicious and allowed the company to be the main entrée.

· 8 cups chopped yellow onions (6 small onions)
· ¼ cup good olive oil, plus extra for chicken
· ¼ cup minced garlic (8 cloves)
· 4 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
· 4 yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
· 2 teaspoons chili powder
· 2 teaspoons ground cumin
· ½ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, or to taste
· ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
· 4 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for chicken
· 4 28-ounce cans whole peeled plum tomatoes in puree, undrained
· ½ cup minced fresh basil leaves
· 8 split chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
· Freshly ground black pepper

For serving:

· Chopped onions, corn chips, grated cheddar, sour cream

Cook the onions in the oil over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Crush the tomatoes by hand or in batches in a food processor fitted with a steel blade (pulse 6 to 8 times). Add to the pot with the basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until just cooked. Let cool slightly. Separate the meat from the bones and skin and cut it into 3/4-inch chunks. Add to the chili and simmer, uncovered, for another 20 minutes. Serve with the toppings, or refrigerate and reheat gently before serving.


Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread (Makes 12 large pieces)
Flavorful, impactful, all kinds of goodness! I served this with the Chicken Chili above. Please note that I modified the original recipe. My version is below.

· 2 cups all-purpose flour
· 2 cups yellow cornmeal
· ½ cup sugar
· 2 tablespoons baking powder
· 2 teaspoons kosher salt
· 2 cups buttermilk
· 3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
· 1/2 pound (2 sticks) salted butter, melted, plus extra to grease the pan
· 8 ounces aged extra-sharp Cheddar, grated, divided
· 1/3 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts, plus extra for garnish (3 scallions)
· 4 oz diced jalapeño peppers
· Small can of Mexican corn

Combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and butter. With a wooden spoon, stir the wet ingredients into the dry until most of the lumps are dissolved. Don’t overmix! Mix in 2 cups of the grated Cheddar, the scallions and jalapeños, and allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with the remaining grated Cheddar and extra chopped scallions. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and cut into large squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples (Serves 8)
I think this was the first Barefoot Contessa recipe I ever cooked without supervision … Valentine’s Day 2008. This is also a family favorite.

· 4 pounds sweet potatoes (about 6 large)
· ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
· ½ cup heavy cream
· 4 tablespoons (½ stick), melted
· ¼ cup light brown sugar
· 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
· ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 2 teaspoons kosher salt
· 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the topping:

· 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
· 3 McIntosh or Macoun apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
· 3 tablespoons light brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Scrub the potatoes, prick them several times with a knife or fork, and bake them for 1 hour, or until very soft when pierced with a knife. Remove from the oven and scoop out the insides as soon as they are cool enough to handle. Place the sweet potato meat into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and add the orange juice, cream, butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Mix together until combined but not smooth, and pour into a baking dish.

Bake the potatoes and apples for 20 to 30 minutes, until heated through.

Looks like I still have my work cut out for me to try some Barefoot Contessa salad, dinner, and dessert recipes!

Best,
Hadley

At the Moment: All About My Name

I just returned from a long weekend in New York City, where I had the pleasure of reuniting with friends from undergrad and those from St. Louis, who had moved there. I also met several delightful people who I hope to see again. I met my new and darling twin nieces and fed and unsuccessfully burped one of them.

I ate at Michelin starred restaurants Perry Street and Rouge Tomate, both which were delicious. I saw “West Side Story” on Broadway, my first time in Times Square. And I saw an outstanding dance performance by KEIGWIN + Company.

I may have overcompensated in activities for my eleven and a half year absence since this was my first real visit to the city since I moved away on August 20, 1999. A lot of memories came back to me including the history of my name. The following is that history. I figured it was time to get everyone on the same page.


Srisak Veggabul, 1975 – 1976
On September 11, 1975, I was born in an orphanage in Thailand. I remember at one point my (adoptive) mother told me that it was rumored that my biological father was a cop and my biological mother was a grad student from up-country Thailand. I was given the name Srisak Veggabul (to my understanding it was pronounced “See-sok Wech-a-boon”). I believe all of us orphans were given the last name of Veggabul either because that was the last name of the lady who ran the orphanage, the doctor who delivered us, or maybe it was for both reasons – sadly, I do not recall what my mother told me because I do not always do a good job at listening. :-)

Anyhow, I lived in the orphanage for six months before my paternal grandmother, Gram (a.k.a., Dorothy Wilson), visited my maternal aunt, Suchada Holmes, and grandmother, Yai (rhymes with “lie” and means grandmother in Thai). During Gram’s visit my parents had asked that Gram go to the orphanage to inquire about the adoption process. So, Gram went to the orphanage and unbeknownst to them all, was able to choose me right then and there. Gram said she chose me because I was the “longest baby in the orphanage” and she wanted to make sure I would fit in well back in the United States.


Brian Wilson, 1976 – 1998
In 1976, I was legally adopted by Peter and Pun Wilson in the United States and given the name Brian Wilson. I grew up my entire life with references to the Beach Boy Brian Wilson: “You don’t look like Brian Wilson” or “How’s Carnie?” But none of this made me think to change my name.

It was then in the fall of 1998 that my dear friend Peter Nguyen asked me what my initials were because he needed them for the monogrammed business card holder that he gave me as a graduation gift.

“B.W.,” I told him.
“What’s your middle initial?” he asked.
“I don’t a have one,” I replied.
“I guess they can monogram it with just B.W.”
“No, they can’t!” I quickly responded. “Give me a week! I’ll find a middle name!”


B. Hadley Wilson, 1998 – 2006
So for one week I researched names. The first thing I did was see how each letter looked straight forward, i.e., BHW, and then in an actual monogram format, i.e., BWH. But before selecting H, I had narrowed it down to G and D. So from there, I researched the meanings of names or found names that I thought sounded good with Brian and Wilson. By midweek I came up with Greer and Dean. I actually thought Greer was kind of cool for a middle name and I told another friend about Greer and she said, “No, you can’t use Greer. That was the name of that strange model I hooked up with.” Ha! So, I scratched that one and chose Dean.

However, before I committed to Dean, I sent an email to the Brian Wilson fan club and asked if Brian Wilson’s middle name was Dean and that I was hoping it was not because I wanted to differentiate our names. The president of the fan club replied and said, “It’s not Dean but close, it’s Douglas.” Well, here was an opportunity for me to end the Beach Boy jokes but with Dean our initials would have stayed the same, so I called Peter Nguyen and told him I needed another week to find a middle name.

So, the search continued until I found Hadley. It was also during this time that my schoolmates and I were researching prospective employers and providing feedback on each others’ resumes. I had changed my resume from Brian Wilson to Brian H. Wilson and my friends kept asking what the H stood for, so I told them and they all said they liked Hadley. So in 1998, I changed all my information to B. Hadley Wilson and started using Hadley as my primary name.


S. B. Hadley Wilson, 2006 – Present
After my mother passed away in 2005, I felt that I owed it to her to become more engaged with my Thai heritage. I thought about taking Thai lessons but that was just too much of a commitment for me. So, in the summer of 2005, I decided that I would integrate Srisak back into my name. I played around with the four names. Such combinations included B. S. Hadley Wilson – you can imagine my own reaction to that one – and B. Hadley S. Wilson, which looked weird to me. By the end of summer, I finally decided that Srisak should come first since it was my given name.

So, a year later, I finally got around to submitting the name change request forms to the St. Louis courts where they reviewed it, filed it, and told me to come back to appear in front of a judge. They provided two dates for me to choose from to appear in court and the first date was September 11, 2006, which was my birthday, so I knew it was a sign.

And that is how S. B. Hadley Wilson was born!

Best,
Hadley

Leisure: Head-to-Toe Products

Imagine that you are a company. You have a board of directors who reviews your performance but then you have an advisory board who you have selected for when you want to seek advice to stay relevant. If my company were SBHW, Inc. and I had an advisory board that I could turn to for all things related to body, skin, hair, tools of the trade, fragrances, and grooming products other than my norm, I would most definitely seek the advice of Melissa Reel and Irvin Lin.

Melissa is the Chatecaille Product Specialist at Neiman Marcus – St. Louis but she can help you with anything throughout the entire store. Irvin’s knowledge base about historic and current trends, fads, and crazes ranging from pop culture to high culture is incomparable and beyond my level of comprehension. Anyhow, when shopping for your beauty needs or grooming products, here is a tip from Irvin:

“I highly suggest people go to their dept store cosmetic counter … find someone knowledgeable and describe their own skin. What works for me, doesn’t necessarily work for you, and every environment is different (what I would use in SF is totally different than what I would use in Minneapolis or in Hawaii).

Describe your skin type and describe what you are looking for to the person and then ask for samples. If you show a genuine interest in the product, and you are at a reputable cosmetic counter, chances are they will give you something to try out. Be sure to ask for their business card too, so if you like the product you can go back and purchase from the person that helps you.”


Body Care
Melissa says:

ReVive Sans Veines Body Repair Cream: “Deeply penetrating body moisturizer that helps skin maintain firm and supple appearance and also helps with spider veins.”
ReVive Neck Renewal Cream: “Smoothes out the décolletage area and the nasty creases we get on our neck.”

Irvin says:

“I use a glycerin based soap – usually Purely Natural,” which is inexpensive and good for sensitive skin types.

My dailies:

Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Beauty Bar
Jergens Ultra Healing
Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish: This is a new product that Melissa just introduced to me the other week and I look forward to using it once a week. I'm such a believer in this product that even without having tried the Sugar Face Polish I am ready to order some.


Skin Care
Melissa says:

Chantecaille Nano-Gold Eye Cream: “Can’t live without it! Brightens, firms and smoothes fine lines almost immediately!”
Chantecaille Vital Essence: “Can’t live with out this either. Very, very hydrating and allows your moisturizer to penetrate more effectively into your skin.”

Irvin says:

“I also use Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 15. I’m a fan of their Lip Balm SPF15 and I washed my face everyday with their Foaming Non-Detergent Washable Cleanser. It’s tough enough to clean out my pores but gentle enough that I can use it everyday, especially since I’ve got combination skin. I also use their Pineapple Papaya Facial Scrub” for exfoliating.

My dailies:

La Mer The Cleansing Gel
La Mer The Tonic
La Mer The Eye Concentrate: Best ever!
Aquaphor Healing Ointment: For lips. Best ever!
La Mer The Moisturizing Lotion: Spring/summer.
La Mer Crème de la Mer: Fall/winter.
Chantecaille Detox Clay Mask with Rosemary and Honey: Once a week.


Hair Care
Melissa says:

Frédéric Fekkai: “I love the Brilliant Glossing Shampoo and Conditioner. I also use the Salon Technician Color Care Rapid Results Moisture Mask a couple of times a month. My hair feels and looks fabulous!”

Irvin says:

“I actually love using a variety of shampoos, and usually rotate between four to six of them. Which seems extreme, but I use a lot of product in my hair and if you use the same shampoo, your hair can get too use to it. Or so I tell myself. I’m usually way too lazy to use a different conditioner so I try to use a moisturizing shampoo. There is a local shop called Nancy Boy who’s signature shampoo is what I use most often. They also have the best shaving cream, something I am very loyal to.

Other shampoos I’ve used include Bumble and bumble Seaweed Shampoo which is great and I feel strengthens my hair a lot and Aveda Rosemary and Mint Shampoo.

For hairstyling, [my partner] AJ uses a Kiehl’s Leave-In Hair Conditioner when he has short hair, and something stronger when it gets a little longer. Here I just use a cheap product called Surf Hair by Fructis. It’s my little secret …” Not anymore! :-)

My daily:

Bumble and bumble Sumotech


Tools of the Trade
Melissa says:

neuLash: “Helps extend and thicken eye lashes within days! (I have used this and love it!)”
Clarisonic: “Electronic cleansing brush for face and body. Gently cleans pores so effectively that your skincare absorbs better into your skin. Removes 6x more makeup and reduces appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles. (I have not used this yet, but want to buy one. The people that have been using it swear by it!)”
Baby Quasar: “Stimulates the production of collagen diminishing appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores. Firms and tones skin. (This is supposed to do what light therapy treatments do at the dermatologist, but A LOT less expensive.)”
Baby Quasar Blue Anti-Acne Light Therapy: “Anti-acne skincare device. Kills acne causing bacteria. It is a light therapy treatment.”


Fragrances
Melissa says:

Chloe: “My favorite right now is Chloe.”

Irvin says:

“… my absolutely favorite fragrance is Odeur 53 by Comme de Garçons. It smells like no other fragrance out there, angular, contemporary and very avant garde (just like their clothes). It’s completely unique and though it’s been on the market for 10 years, I have yet to find another smell that comes close to what they were able to achieve with it. It’s not for everyone, and it’s definitely not a traditional smell, but I love it.”

Irvin adds a tip:

“Just as an FYI, fragrances do break down … If you own a large bottle and don’t go through the scent very fast, I suggest storing the fragrance in the refrigerator. It will help preserve the scent.” Who knew?!


Men’s Grooming
Melissa’s fellow colleague Ryan Britton can sum up his choices in one word: Kiehl’s. Below are his favorites:

Kiehl’s Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion: “Use once a week, good for very oily skin.”
Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado
Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Moisturizer with SPF 18
Kiehl’s Razor Bump Relief
Kiehl’s Grapefruit Body Scrub
ReVive Sensitif Oil Free Lotion SPF 15

Irvin says:

“I used Art of Shaving Unscented After-Shave Balm as it is a good balming feel without stickiness or weird smells. It’s expensive, but a little bit goes a long way.”

My daily:

Gilette Shave Gel for Sensitive Skin

On that note, play around, see what works for you. Just remember, it is our responsibility to maintain what our parents (or plastic surgeons) gave us.

Best,
Hadley

* All of Melissa’s and Ryan’s recommended products are available at Neiman Marcus.
* All of Irvin’s recommended products are available at Aveda, Nancy Boy, Neiman Marcus, Target, and Walgreens.