There are a few things on my mind – including a new skincare regimen that, now that I’ve shared publicly, I need to be held accountable – and I’m sharing them with you in this week’s Friday Faves.

1. Did you catch my latest post on a few minor backyard projects for this summer? Looking for ideas, so check it out here if you can.
2. After planting three strawberry plants last year and getting only one strawberry, our plants have sprouted more and now we have nine and plenty of strawberries. I’m very excited about this, especially because we’ve tasted a few and they are tasty! BUT, some rodent rascals are starting to nibble on the ones that ripen when we’re not home. I’ve sprinkled an organic snail deterrent around the plants and will lay down straw to cover the ground (did you know that the word strawberry is actually related to real straw?!). Have any of you successfully kept your strawberries from getting eaten up by bugs and rabbits and other vermin and rodents that steal fruit? If so, please let me know in the comments below.
3. One of my favorite interior designers, Leanne Ford, recently renovated her Los Angeles home, which was featured in a New York Times article. You can see her beautiful work here. And, if you want to know more about Leanne, check out the Designer Spotlight Q&A I did with her here.
4. I wrote about 2018 trends earlier this year. Since then, the spring High Point Market happened, the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world. To see the biggest interiors trends to come out of High Point Market, check out this Architectural Digest article. Lonny also has their take here.
5. And now onto skincare.

I have adult acne. Sigh. It’s just so friggin’ ugly. I didn’t have acne issues as a teenager, but here I am, in my mid-30s, looking like a friggin’ child. My skincare regimen has varied over the years, which I realize isn’t great for skin either, but it’s so hard to find products that work. I went steady with Proactiv for years and that was really helpful, but I think I have hormonal acne that just doesn’t seem to care what product or regimen I use on my face.

I’ve gotten into masks lately, and use several, including one sulfuric one from Proactiv, a charcoal one, and a rosewater one, and I like all of them. But I recently went to Saks Fifth Avenue and had a really great experience with Valmont. I was turned onto them since my cousin Daphne works there and invited me for a complimentary facial (anyone can do this, it’s not just because I’m a blood relative). First of all, I have only had one facial before and it was when I was in college and I hated it. It was just so goopy and I hate being poked, prodded and smooshed. But times have changed. I’m veering into middle age (OH MY GOD, WHAT?!) and my skin has new and different needs.

Valmont counter at Saks Fifth Avenue

Valmont counter at Saks Fifth Avenue

A lovely woman named Enzie with crazy good skin gave me my complimentary facial and talked me through a few things I should try. First of all, she said I need to cut out dairy. And I should try decreasing my sugar intake. It’s not as if I have never read this before but this time, I’m actually listening. She also gave me a great, 45-minute, free facial that included various serums, creams, and scrubs, and I absolutely loved it.

You can read more about Valmont’s origins (from Lake Geneva, Switzerland, specializing in high-performance, anti-aging treatments) here. Valmont’s products are prescribed in regimens, i.e. usually someone would buy products within a specific line, although you can cross-purchase and use too, without problem. Since I have acne, Enzie suggested I use the Purifying Pack mask. She also suggested I use a face scrub every other day, and use a toner (I don’t currently use one, which she wasn’t happy about) and consider a serum mixed with moisturizer, which sounds great to me because most moisturizers feel so heavy on my face, even in winter.

Daphne and Enzie gave me so many samples of a variety of their products, and I can’t wait to try them all. I’m particularly looking forward to the face scrub, toner, and eye cream. I also bought my own Purifying Pack mask since, as I mentioned earlier, I’ve been getting into masks. It was pricy, $145, but it’s a large container that I hope will last me a while.

So, here’s what I hope will be my new skincare regimen and, since I’m posting it here, you can help keep me honest:

1. Cutting out dairy (I won’t say completely because I don’t want to develop an intolerance so I’m allowing myself a little bit of milk in my coffee) and cutting down on my sugar intake. This started just after Memorial Day and I really hope this helps counter the hormonal driver of my acne.
2. Using eye cream, toner and some type of moisturizer (the serum kind or otherwise) every day.
3. Using the face scrub every other day.
4. Applying the Purifying Pack every day for the first week, and then slowly cutting down after that to once or twice a week.

I hope and expect to see some kind of improvement. Valmont also has its own spas where they offer various kinds of skincare experiences, including pimple extraction, which I’d like to try one day when I have money. But, if you’re new to Valmont, interested in checking them out, and in the New York area, I suggest scheduling a complimentary facial at Saks Fifth Avenue, getting a few samples, and perhaps even purchasing a product or two.

Do you have any skincare regimens that you find have worked? If so, weigh in below. And have a great weekend!