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Kneedles & Life

a little bit of yarn. a little bit of life.

January 7, 2021

My easy and affordable skincare routine

Hey you! What’s one good thing you’ve done for yourself recently? Even thought 2020 was a pretty tough year, I think a lot of us started taking self-care a big more seriously as a result. Last year was the first time in my 28 years of existence that I FINALLY developed a consistent routine for my skin. I always thought skincare was expensive so I only used a cleanser and cheap moisturizer from Target. I would dabble here and there with masks I got at TJMaxx or free samples of things. I’m blessed to have fairly good skin, but pregnancy, postpartum, and just getting older in general has done my no favors and I’ve noticed my skin getting dull.

A friend introduced me to The Ordinary brand a couple years ago but I only bought one item. Last year I went a little crazy and now they are about 90% of the products I use LOL but it’s because they’re clean, high quality products at an amazing price!

I’m obviously no expert and you should only use what you’ve researched and found to be best for yourself, but I wanted to share what I use and love in case it helps you! I also purchase all of these products myself and have not been given anything for free. If you do purchase through one of my links, however, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps me continue to share free content with you so thank you for supporting me and my blog in this way!

Morning Routine

  • First, I cleanse with the La-Roche Posay Purifying Foaming Face Wash. I have combination skin that errs on the dry side and this cleaner is gentle and doesn’t dry my face out. It’s also a pretty good makeup remover if you don’t have much on. I usually use it to take off mascara in the evenings if that’s all I wore that day.
  • Next, I use The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA. I LOVE this moisturizer because it’s not oily or greasy and is great under makeup. It also doesn’t smell. The tube is pretty big so it lasts awhile.
  • The last thing I use before putting on my makeup is The Ordinary Caffeine Solution. This cools and reduces puffiness under your eyes.

Nighttime Routine

  • If I’m wearing makeup I remove it with a wipe. My favorite are the blue Neutrogena packs you can get anywhere.
  • Next, I use the same face wash I use in the mornings.
  • Then I apply The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution. I bought this bottle 2 months ago and it’s only half empty so it lasts awhile. Just put some on a cotton ball and apply all over your face and neck. If you have sensitive skin, I suggest just trying a small patch because I have heard it’s strong. I have not personally had any issues. You should also only use once a day. I highly recommend reading about glycolic acid and its benefits!
  • After the toner dries, I apply The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. If you have ever used Rose Hip oil then you know it is so magical. It’s a great moisturizer, evens skin tones, and heals scars. Ladies, put this on your stretch marks! It’ll look and feel like you’re putting olive oil on your face so have fun with that ha! I know some people use this as a moisturizer in the morning but it’s just too oily for me so I only sleep in it.

Extra Products

  • I shave my whole face about every 2-3 weeks. You can read all about dermaplaning with a quick Google search but by removing the peach fuzz and dead skin, your skin can absorb the products you use better. Your makeup will also look 10 times better! I use these tiny razors from Amazon and watched a youtube video to learn how to use them. They’re gentle and I have never cut myself – just be careful around your hairline and eyebrows.
  • I use these tanning drops about once a week with my morning moisturizer for a little color and glow because I’m sure pale. I use the lightest shade. It may seem expensive but I only use 2-3 drops so the bottle is going to last forever.
  • I use The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution whenever I feel like I need something extra. You put it on your face for 10 minutes and then wash it off. It makes your skin sooooo soft and clean feeling.
  • I use Palmer’s Coconut Sugar Scrub in the shower on days I wash my hair, so twice a week. I LOVE this stuff! It’s gentle, but cleans well and smells yummy too.

A few more tips…

I drink A LOT of water and I believe that really helps with having good skin. I also take biotin every day for my hair but it’s great for your skin and nails as well. Forget the hair/skin/nails gummies and expensive supplements, this is the main ingredient. Lastly, aside from the holidays, I almost never eat sugar, snacks or desserts. When I do eat a lot of these things I notice a change in my skin and start having breakouts.

Hope this post helps! If you use any of these products too, let me know in a comment!

XOXO, Kalley

Filed in: Self Help • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

August 18, 2020

ten easy things i do to save money

Something you may or may not know about me and my family is that we live on one income – a teacher income. We have been blessed in many ways, including my small income on the side, but we are also smart with our money and make sacrifices each day. We are able to live an enjoyable life and say “yes” to most things we want for a number of reasons that I want to share with you.

You may wonder about my income. Blogging and designing pays for our groceries and any personal shopping (more yarn lol) I do, but my husband’s income pays all the bills, big purchases, traveling, etc.

I want to share this list with you incase you’re trying to make the switch to a single income, or you’re living paycheck to paycheck and can’t figure out why. Nothing here is really profound or unique, just personal ways we save money each day in our own lives. We are fairly minimalist in how we live and don’t have a lot of stuff (besides kids toys now haha). I’m sure many of you can relate to a lot of these!

So here’s what has been working for us. Like I said, we are very blessed in many ways. Also what works for us may not work for you and that’s the beauty of life. Everyone is different! Comment and let me know a way that you save money each day that may help me or someone else!

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Filed in: Self Help • by Kalley • 2 Comments

August 11, 2020

little obsessions bringing me joy in 2020 quarantine

I made a short list of some of my favorite things (besides family, obviously) right now that have been making me happy! Comment and let me know if you’ve tried any or there’s something currently bringing you joy!

Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. This means if you purchase through my link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog in this way and helping me create more content!

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Filed in: About Me, Reviews, Self Help • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

August 2, 2020

how to make the most of your mornings as a mom

I write this to you at 10:33 on a Saturday morning. I have about 20-30 minutes before my daughter wakes up, and I feel like I’ve had a fairly productive morning, especially for a Saturday. I am a mom and do not work a conventional job so I have the blessing of staying home with my daughter, but I won’t lie, those nap times are super special and important. I am a wife, homemaker, blogger/influencer, and small business owner on top of being a stay-at-home mom. Since having my daughter, it is a daily challenge to get things done, but being her mom is my first priority and everything else gets done around caring for her.

If you’re anything like me, mornings are your most productive time of the day. I know that if I don’t do certain things in the morning (like cleaning) they won’t happen at all. But the time feels like it FLIES by too quickly every. single. day. Something that helps me is having the same routine. Every day we wake up at the same time, eat breakfast at the same time, play, nap, etc.

In this post I will walk you through MY morning routine. The things I get done are sometimes different but the general flow is the same. I hope it helps you organize your mornings too!

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Filed in: Self Help • by Kalley • Leave a Comment

Hi, I’m Kalley!

Hi, I’m Kalley!

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