Consistency x chemistry. I’ve been using Adipeau everyday for one year. Maintaining the ideal balance of healthy fat and muscle is my life’s work. But when it comes to the face and aging, it’s really all about the fat. I’ve been using Adipeau’s Fat Balance Activator as a sleeping mask for one year now and I’m lifted, tighter, plump and more contoured. My skin absolutely reads 10+ years younger.
I’m wearing Lula balm, tinted moisturizer, lipliner and eye makeup in the photo above.
Your SLB practice comes with a ton of small perks, like stress management, better sleep, lifted glutes, and an overall healthy body, which add up to a more radiant, gorgeous you. In my opinion, the ultimate outcome of any fitness program is feeling GREAT in your skin. So many of you ask me how I look so “young” (THANK YOU) and I really do have to credit SLB and a healthy diet, of course.
We all know that our overall health radiates from the inside out. Exercise has been shown to not only keeps us fit, and strong but to have a cascade of positive effects that benefit our bodies in many ways:
Do you feel sexy? You should - you deserve to! SLB not only makes you look sexy, it also makes you feel sexy by balancing the body's sex hormone levels, which in turn can improve the appearance of hair, skin and muscle tone. The most studied hormones linked to exercise are endorphins, and sex hormones, such as testosterone and human growth hormone HGH — which both get a boost by moving your body. And, remember, testosterone fuels sex drive in both men and women, so this isn’t one-sided.
What’s really interesting is I recently had my hormone panel checked by my friend, Urologist Dr. Joshua Gonzalez here in LA and everything was normal but my testosterone was elevated and I think that SLB could absolutely be why.
You can tailor your workout to produce more testosterone, says C.W. Randolph, MD. cofounder of the Natural Hormone Institute of America and coauthor of In The Mood Again. At SLB we are always doing compound movements and working large muscle groups. Randolph says working large muscle groups — doing things like squats, lunges, dead lifts, bench presses and rows — ramps up testosterone more than single-joint, small-muscle-group movements like biceps curls or triceps extensions. (For more on the sex appeal of good health, see “Faked Fitness”.)
The Texas Heart Institute reports that a person who exercises vigorously and regularly has lower levels of circulating stress-related hormones, which helps improve the health of the blood vessel lining. Moderate exercise everyday can strengthen the heart and arteries, making the circulatory system more efficient. That improved circulation floods our skin with oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood cells. The results: A healthier complexion with clearer skin with a more healthy coloration. But consistency counts: Researchers at the Institute found that the heart goes back to its baseline strength after just 2-3 weeks off of exercise.
Researchers have been looking into the link between exercise and cognition for several decades. One conclusive and undeniable truth has emerged from these studies: Exercise boosts your mood because it fundamentally changes your brain, both in the moment and over time.
What kind of impact, you ask? For starters, when you exercise, your heart rate increases and your body pumps more oxygen to your brain. That process can affect your overall positivity, as multiple studies have found that a well-oxygenated brain helps manage anxiety and depression. Other studies have found that exercise may help alleviate depression and anxiety overall.
Research has also shown that after 20 or 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins that interact with receptors in your brain that reduce your perception of pain—meaning you're more likely to feel positive and upbeat during a tough workout. It also releases other mood-enhancing chemicals like serotonin and dopamine that can stick around in your brain for a couple of hours after you exercise (all via Mindbodygreen).
Breaking a sweat isn’t the only way exercise benefits the skin — it also reduces body-wide inflammation, helps regulate skin-significant hormones and prevents free-radical damage. When you exercise, the tiny arteries in your skin open up, allowing more blood to reach the skin’s surface and deliver nutrients that repair damage from the sun and environmental pollutants. These nutrients also rev up the skin’s collagen production, thwarting wrinkles and help fibroblasts work more efficiently so the skin looks younger.
Exercise also keeps the lymph system happy. The body has roughly 500 lymph nodes — little nodules of tissue that take out metabolic trash. But the nodes can’t haul garbage to the curb without the help of nearby muscles. When muscles contract during exercise, they put the squeeze on lymph nodes, helping them pump waste out of your system. Result: You look less puffy and polluted.
Yes, exercise can help you lose your love handles, but it’s the loss of excess fat deep inside the body that boosts your overall vitality and your looks.
The body contains two types of fat. The one you can pinch (subcutaneous) is relatively benign. But the less visible stuff, the visceral fat that pads the abdominal organs like so many packing peanuts, can be a killer. Excess visceral fat fuels low-grade inflammation in the body and is tied to a virtual who’s who of 21st-century ills, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, colon cancer, breast cancer and dementia. It can also upset the balance of important hormones (more on that to come) that affect your skin, hair and general appearance.
It’s high summer and I’m sharing a few of my favorite beauty and wellness hero products that I lean on as the weather heats up. Hero products are those that have changed my life, make me feel beautiful and that I honestly can’t live without. Feeling and looking beautiful is all about self-discovery and adopting what works for you, individually. There is no singular magic product but some really are next level.
Koniver Wellness Peptides - I’ve been on a peptide regimen for the past five years. They help me with recovery and just make such an impact on my overall well-bing. Koniver Wellness GLOW Peptides are next level. It has increased my skin’s glow, eradicated my acne rosacea, reduces healing time and full body recovery, post-workout. It’s an investment that’s 100% worth it.
Green Juice - I start everyday with an alkaline, low-glycemic green juice. I’ve named it the 6:15 and my recipe (and favorite at-home juicer) will be hitting your inbox soon!
Eye Cream - Shani Darden Intensive Renewal Eye Cream works. It’s on my face every day, twice a day.
Mask - I’ve been using Adipeau as a sleeping mask religiously since September 2020 and it keeps my face as fit as my body. It is an anti-inflammatory and prevents skin atrophy (thinning of skin cells), wrinkling of the skin, and loss of elasticity.
Tinted Moisturizer/SPF - Saie knocked it out of the park with Sunvisor, which is a serum, oil, moisturizer and sunscreen all in one. I have one in my car and every bag. I can’t imagine going without it.
Faux Freckles - I’m rarely in the sun but Freck gives me my freckles back without the damage. I love it’s build-ability and believablity.
Alkaline Water - I drink alkaline water everyday but I always struggle getting enough water in everyday. The Bodum Water Kettle changed that. It’s my secret to drinking more water daily. The sleek modern design looks great in any kitchen and you can’t beat hot water in less than one minute.
Stress Management Supplement - Moon Juice SuperYou is an adaptogen that I take every morning and it just makes me feel great and takes the edge off. I’m more focused and a better human and mom.
CBD Skincare - Happy Dance™ is a line of premium CBD products by Kristin Bell made with moms in mind and I swear the bath bomb helped get me through the pandemic. I love it so much that I’m on the subscription. It’s next level moisturizing and knocks you out cold and I use the coconut melt and body butter everyday.
Body Lotion - I’m obsessed with DNA Skin Institute’s Island Infusion Body Nectar. It’s SO dry here in LA and this lotion brings my skin back to balance and smells so so good. I’ve never met a lotion like this one. Thanks to Heather Nicole Skincare for the introduction.
When you show up for yourself and focus on whole health and well-being it really becomes a fulfilling lifestyle. A sense of equilibrium and overall calm in our mind-body connection is so key. Between work, family, social, personal development, and health obligations, our days zoom by in a hectic frenzy and it’s typically after our workout that we’re actually re-centered. Here are a few ways to stay in that zone and keep the balance going.
Epsom Salt Bath
I find that women often avoid self-care practices like long, luxurious baths and consider them selfish, a misuse of time, or overly indulgent. Have you felt that way? Well let me be the one to tell you: you totally deserve it. If I’ve had a long day filming and feel muscle soreness, an epsom salt bath and a book are exactly what I need.
Wine Down
I’ll often skip wine or a cocktail with dinner in favor of having one either during my bath or just before bed. A Ramona or a great glass of red - sometimes super light Pinot Noir or something spicy like a Tempranillo - helps me chill out and slow down. In moderation, polyphenol antioxidants in red wine like resveratrol have been shown to be heart healthy which is a nice bonus.
During this time, I like to stop any endless scrolling on the phone or working on my laptop and fully unplug. Some nights it means enjoying comfortable silence solo, and others it means downloading with Jordan when he’s in LA.
CBD
You guys know that I’m a believer. From oil to high potency CBD bombs, it’s in my life (especially at night) on the regular.
Roll
Myofascial release is so undervalued, and if you commit to a regular foam rolling habit the results are incredible. In the AM, I recommend rolling vigorously to stimulate blood flow and wake your limbs up. Nighttime rolling should be gentler, slower and over time it starts to feel relaxing. Personally I find it most beneficial to hit my hamstrings and back before heading to sleep. I’ll admit there’s a pretty high barrier to entry, since the first few times rolling can feel very uncomfortable. I like to find the points of tension as I roll, and pause on them breathing into that spot. Breaking up the fascia feels so good and therapeutic to me before bed.
We’re tilting towards the sun and I’m sharing a few of my favorite hero products, superfoods, beauty and wellness staples that help me stay healthy (and feel pretty) now and throughout the pandemic.
What does “superfood” mean to you? The word itself may invoke imagery of kale and flax, but I like to think of it on a more personal level. Eating healthy is all about self-discovery and what works for you individually. There is no magic food that will keep you 100% healthy but some are really next level. Hero products are those that have changed my life, and that I can’t live without.
Olive Oil - I love olive oil and being Italian it’s the one food that I’ve grown up enjoying everyday. I’d bathe in it if I could! Just as olives are a superfood, high-quality olive oils are as well. Wonder Valley and Flamingo Estate are my favorites.
Alkaline Water - I drink alkaline water everyday but I always struggle getting enough water in everyday. The Bodum Water Kettle changed that. It’s my secret to drinking more water daily. The sleek modern design looks great in any kitchen and you can’t beat hot water in less than one minute.
Stress Management Supplement - Moon Juice SuperYou is an adoptogen that I take every morning and it just makes me feel great and takes the edge off. I’m more focused and a better human and mom.
CBD Skincare - Happy Dance™ is a line of premium CBD products by Kristin Bell made with moms in mind and I swear the bath bomb has helped get me through the pandemic. I love it so much that I’m on the subscription. It’s next level moisturizing and knocks you out cold and I use the coconut melt and body butter everyday.
Mask - I’ve been using Adipeau as a sleeping mask religiously since September and it keeps my face as fit as my body. It is an anti-inflammatory and prevents skin atrophy (thinning of skin cells), wrinkling of the skin, and loss of elasticity.
BTS of me tapping in-between shots. You guys ask me all the time how I get a lit from within glow. I work from the inside out by sweating everyday with SLB and I follow a low glycemic, whole foods diet but I also take my skincare really seriously. A few key products that I swear by:
Shani Darden Retinol Reform is key to keeping my skin glowing and exfoliated without irritation or dryness.
Adipeau Fat Balance Activator plumps. I use it as a sleeping mask nightly.
Deesse Pro Mask Next Generation (via Shani Darden) - I rely on red + blue light therapy daily for anti-aging and treating acne rosacea.
Lauren’s results after 3 months of Adipeau
Lauren using the Deesse Pro Next Generation
Let’s be honest. Whoever and whatever lifts you up has never felt more valuable. Most asked question besides fitness? You guys ask me everyday about my brows and lashes. I’m Italian so genetics probably has everything to do with it. My lashes are natural although I did have lash extensions for years and I’m shocked that they bounced back with the pandemic. I do absolutely nothing to my brows although I probably should. I love a glossy, lifted eye look for everyday. A few of my favorite eye products that really help out: Saie Brow Butter in Clear, Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint in Dew, SuperGoop Bright-Eyed Mineral Eye Cream, Saie Mascara 101, Tata Harper Elixir Vitae Eye Serum and Joanna Vargas Bright Eye Hydrating Mask.
Three things that are changing my life this week: NIke’s Air Force 1 Shadow in Speed Yellow and Barely Rose, Amy Chaplin’s Whole Food Cooking Everyday, and Glossier hand cream.
A few things that have been making my life better the last 20 days. From the top left clockwise…
My bestie, Salvage Maria serape three layered face mask for provisioning, Saie Glowy Supergel and Glossier Skywash in Echo are all I need for off and on-camera (or Zoom)…really all I’m wearing beyond mascara in the top right pic. Joah Brown everything - They do sexy/sporty like no other and the quality and fit are unmatched. Studio LB is keeping me healthy, fit and sane, Bala Bangles for the walks and Studio LB, D-Nice Club Quarantine is my new going out, Hedley & Bennett Wake Up & Fight Mask by Ellen & Bob Cho for provisioning or when you don’t want to look medical. Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash makes washing luxe and it’s worth every penny.
Spring is at our heels and it’s the perfect time to swap out your palate. You guys are always asking me what products I’m using and right now I’m loving this golden look that is glowy, isn’t overdone and works both on and off-camera.
Skin: Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation & RMS Beauty Master Mixer
Eyes: Glossier Skywash in Pebble Glossier Boy Brow in Clear & Westman Atelier Eye Love You Mascara in Clean Black
Lips: Generation-G in Like
Cheeks: Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Chouchette
After reading this story from 2012 and this 2018 article about makeup causing early menopause sent me into total obsessive freak-out mode, I decided to do a beauty re-haul and educate myself on endocrine disruptors. Tbh, I’ve loved refreshing my products (Violet Grey and Sephora both carry great clean beauty lines), but it was a little bit challenging because I never want crunchy-granola items that are less effective than my regular products and I don’t want to smell like a natural foods store. When it comes to beauty, I just refuse to settle.
Let me preface by saying this is a huge subject to take on, I’m not a scientist, and I’m focusing only on cosmetics here not any processed foods, toys, building materials, medical devices, etc that contain either parabens or phthalates. Personally, I’ve been trying to avoid these in my beauty routine as their effects on our health are still unclear in the long term and are continuing to be studied worldwide. So here we go!
A paraben is any of a group of compounds used as preservatives in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and in the food industry. They were introduced in the 1950s to improve safety and quality control in mass produced items, blocking bacterial and mold growth and extending their shelf life. Methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and ethylparaben are a couple of the most common ones you’ll see on ingredient lists.
Phthalates are various salts or esters of phthalic acid used especially as plasticizers and in solvents (say what?) . You’ll find phthalates in nail polish, hairspray, perfume, lotions, etc. They give products durability and uniform texture - like helping nail polish to not crack or giving flexible hold in hairspray. Like parabens, there are a many different types, but they all end in the actual word “phthalate” like diethylphthalate (DEP).
For the last 20 years, studies have been carried out examining whether parabens were linked with breast cancer as well as looking into the possibility for endocrine disruption based on urine samples. A 2004 breast cancer study did not indicate that parabens are cancer causing, but did say that the “body burden” of these preservatives had not been thoroughly examined and that that they can seep into our skin and remain in breast tissue.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, do not need FDA approval before they go on the market but they must be properly labeled. This was part of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA), which requires a declaration on packaging of ingredients for goods sold to retail consumers.
The CDC and FDA have both reviewed the effects of phthalates on human health and declined to issue any decisive warnings. “Human health effects from exposure to low levels of phthalates are unknown… More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to phthalates,” the CDC states. Keep in mind that phthalates are harder to track, since they’re often just listed under the umbrella of “fragrance.” Like I mentioned with ingredients found in chemical versus mineral sunscreens, the European Union has taken a stronger anti-phthalate stance than the United States.
Many beauty companies have rolled out paraben- and phthalate-free product lines, and instead are using alternative natural preservatives and fragrances like essential oils and botanicals, vitamins, sodium benzoate, and glycerin. For example, lemon and rosemary essential oils have natural antibacterial properties as an alternative to paraben preservatives. While these products are safe and effective alternatives to parabens, they often have a shorter shelf life and can be more expensive to produce so the retail price is generally higher too.
Like I mentioned earlier, this is a topic that could be discussed at great length (environmental & marine effects, safety concerns, the EU vs US approach, unscented vs fragrance-free, hundreds of scientific studies…) but we’re just scraping the surface here. If you prefer to play it safe (and I do!), it’s pretty simple now to seek out paraben- and phthalate-free beauty products. Many popular cosmetic brands have rolled out green or natural lines that are widely available in stores and online. Also shopping local, small brands can be a solid option but keep in mind that your products will have a shorter shelf life and you have to trust the seller. If you have any great product recommendations or resources, let me know!
Image via Beboe Therapies
I believe in the power of CBD and also working with brands that I truly believe in. Check out bts with Beboe Therapies.
A sense of equilibrium, wellbeing and overall calm in our mind-body connection is key to a rejuvenating night of sleep. Between work, family, LA fires, social, personal development, and health obligations, my day sometimes zooms by in a hectic frenzy and I’m left both wound up and drained by bedtime. At the end of each day I try to unwind and re-center in a few ways that help bring me back down to earth and into balance.
Bath Time
I find that women often avoid self care practices like long, luxurious baths and consider them selfish, a misuse of time, or overly indulgent. Have you felt that way? Well let me be the one to tell you: you totally deserve it. If I’ve had a long day filming Studio LB workouts and feel muscle soreness, an epsom salt bath and a book are exactly what I need. A bath versus a shower also means I can toss my hair on top of my head in a bun and extend a good blow out for a few days without having to put on a fugly shower cap.
Wine Down
I’ll often skip wine or a cocktail with dinner in favor of having one either during my bath or just before bed. A great glass of red - sometimes super light Pinot Noir or something spicy like a Tempranillo - helps me chill out and slow down. In moderation, polyphenol antioxidants in red wine like resveratrol have been shown to be heart healthy which is a nice bonus.
During this time, I like to stop any endless scrolling on the phone or working on my laptop and fully unplug. Some nights it means enjoying comfortable silence solo, and others it means downloading with Jordan when he’s in LA. When I look at my own family, the ones that share Italian roots definitely stress less and laugh more than most people I know. They must be doing something right. Maybe it’s the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo?
CBD
You guys know that I’m a believer. From oil to high potency CBD balms, it’s in my life (especially at night) on the regular.
Melt
I heard once that Mariah Carey demands marathon, hours-long massages while she watches movies like Mean Girls and Bruno on repeat to fall asleep. I don’t have that diva level of disposable income sadly, so instead my foam roller and I are buds.
Myofascial release is so undervalued, and if you commit to a regular foam rolling habit the results are incredible. In the AM, I recommend rolling vigorously to stimulate blood flow and wake your limbs up. Nighttime rolling should be gentler, slower and over time it starts to feel relaxing. Personally I find it most beneficial to hit my hamstrings and back before heading to sleep. I’ll admit there’s a pretty high barrier to entry, since the first few times rolling can feel very uncomfortable. I like to find the points of tension as I roll, and pause on them breathing into that spot. Breaking up the fascia feels so good and therapeutic to me before bed.
I’d definitely also recommend trying out one of my flow style workouts before bed as a supplement to your regular daily practice. Studio LB’s 15-minute core stretch and 13-minute stretch are both great to help realign posture and shake off some stress of the day before climbing into bed.
Less is more. I wear an obscene amount of makeup when I’m working on-camera, but my off-duty routine is pretty bare-skinned, and minimal. A few things I can't live without: Dove Beauty Bar, Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen, SPF 50, Shani Darden's Retinol Reform magically erases all my sun damage and keeps my skin glowing, and Supergoop Lipscreen in SPF 50 protects my lips from the intense California sun. As for makeup, I love Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer.
I want to preface this post by saying that I’m a huge believer in the benefits and power of cannabis. The plant has enhanced my wellness and self-care routine, relieves joint pain, makes my skin radiant, helps me sleep better, and helps to relieve stress. By writing about it, I hope to help normalize it’s use.
I’ve been using CBD for a few years now, but when I started hearing a lot about CBD products I thought it was just a function of moving from the East Coast to the West Coast. California definitely has a more laid back, open vibe, and I just figured I was hearing about CBD and cannabis more because of that. I think it’s safe to say, however, that cannabis has swept the nation and isn’t just for stoners on a dorm room futon anymore. I’m using it, your dad is using it, your coworkers, and even your dog. I figured I’d share with you some of the pros and cons of cannabis and CBD in my opinion, and introduce you to one of my personal favorite brands, Beboe.
This past spring, I was excited to be invited to a women in cannabis luncheon for wellness-minded women and it sparked my interest in learning more about the “green rush” in the food and beauty industries, which are two passions of mine.
A cannabis plant is made up of many chemical compounds called cannabinoids. Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two of the most abundant and well known of these, with a primary difference being that THC is intoxicating/psychoactive and CBD is not.
CBD is said to help with anxiety, insomnia, inflammation, and chronic pain and can provide a sense of peace or wellbeing without experiencing a high. It can come in many forms, including sublingual oil in a tincture, creams, edibles, infused drinks, and more. One con of using CBD oil is if it contains even trace amounts of THC in the product, a drug test can potentially read positive which could interfere with professional and personal obligations.
You can purchase CBD products across the United States without a prescription, while only a few states in the nation (ahem, Cali!) allow the purchase of cannabis containing THC without an Rx. Recently, I had a photoshoot for an incredible luxury brand of cannabis products - both with or without THC - called Beboe / Beboe Therapies and I’m 100% obsessed with them.
Beboe has both beautiful branding and high quality products from Pastilles candies to an incredible face serum. I particularly love using their skincare line’s face mask. A 30 minute sheet mask full of AHAs, Vitamin C, Aloe, Algae Extract, and 50mg of CBD (among other ingredients) leaves my face glowing and feeling rejuvenated .
While cannabis usage is obviously a personal preference, to me the calming and centering effects of CBD are tops. And no hangover or high effect is pretty great too. I’d be interested in hearing what you all have to say about the cannabis industry, both CBD products and THC where it has become legalized. Reach out and let me know! If you’re interested in checking out CBD products, check out Missgrass.
Lauren wearing Solid & Striped
A big topic that came up on our recent LB Activation to Sayulita was sunscreen and choosing between mineral and chemical sunscreens, and the debate has stuck with me all summer long as I ramped up sun protection for myself and my family. If you remember the conversation from our Studio LB facebook group, our community’s clear favorite for nontoxic and reef-safe sunscreen was Blue Lizard’s sensitive formula. While I’m not brand or type loyal, I’ve been good about wearing SPF on my face my entire life and I’m aiming to be more consistent with wearing sunscreen on body since living in California. I tend to stay out of the sun and I do eat tomatoes and tomato paste everyday and I feel that it helps me tremendously, as I rarely burn.
There are two main types of sunscreen types, and I feel like it’s important to take a look at chemical versus physical or mineral sunscreens and where each shines. While these two main types of sunscreens work differently, they both provide protection against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays. Mineral, or physical, sunscreen contains two main ingredients: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Honestly, I use both. even if I do look a tiny bit like a 1980s lifeguard with a bright white zinc nose.
Mineral sunscreens are more commonly reef safe, and gentler on our environment. They form a barrier on the surface of your skin to reflect UV rays, and require liberal application. Try putting a thick mineral sunscreen on a squirmy toddler or an 8 year old kid (Mars goes to both camp and school with Sun Bum or Neutrogena Kids wet skin spray packed in his bookbag - it just works best for our family. Mineral would be a hot mess for him to apply on his own and would ruin his clothes). In my mind, the only downside of mineral sunscreen is application! You really have to cover fully, and it can be less user friendly than chemical sunscreen formulas.
Chemical sunscreen ingredients include avobenzone, oxybenzone, octisalate, octocrylene, homosalate, and octinoxate. Whew, that’s a mouthful. You probably grew up with chemical sunscreens: Banana Boat, Coppertone, Neutrogena, Hawaiian Tropic, etc. Chemical sunscreen penetrates the top layer of your skin to absorb UV rays before they damage the skin. Unfortunately, there is data to support that some chemical sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone are detrimental to coral reefs, and the FDA has suggested they could act as hormone disruptors. Pros certain chemical sunscreens include ease of application, and that they can contain antioxidants and other anti-aging ingredients like green tea or reservatrol.
When I asked Board Certified Cosmetic Dermatologist Dr. Kimberly Jerdan her take, she said “although chemical sunscreens can be formulated to last longer, the heat generated by the absorption can worsen skin conditions like melasma and rosacea.” She’s strongly pro-mineral sunblock over chemical formulations. Dr. Jerdan suggests finding mineral sunscreens with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with a concentration above 10%, and stresses that reapplication is key every two hours when outside, sweating, or physically active. She regularly shares insider skincare information on Instagram @drskinberly.
Whatever you choose to wear, make sure to wear it regularly. Always look for the term “broad spectrum” which means it protects against both UVA and UVB rays, and I’ve routinely heard that SPF 30 or higher is a good idea. Then reapply reapply reapply as you’re in the sun, or after going for a dip. And of course, talk to your dermatologist about which brand is right for you and your skin type!
image via chillhouse
When it comes to skincare, I’ll never give up on my peels, serums, microcurrent, and jade roller, but lately I’ve been loving a more low tech approach that yields amazing results instead, using a super old school Chinese method called Gua Sha. “Gua Sha,” which directly translates to “scraping” in Chinese, is a healing technique in traditional East Asian medicine that uses a smooth crystal tool for facial massage (and other body parts too).
I had been using a jade roller for a few years intermittently, but prefer the gentle “scraping” motion I’ve learned with this method. It invigorates my skin and I can immediately feel a boost in blood flow, like nothing below the surface is stagnating. Gua sha can relieve facial and jaw tension, promote cell renewal, renews facial contour, firms and lifts sagging skin, reduces inflammation, puffiness, diminishes blemishes, relieves encourage lymphatic draining, provides a great brow lift, and breaks up fascia. I swear I have fewer headaches, and my face looks contoured and more youthful after a session. Research shows the stimulating blood flow through this therapy can have anti-inflammatory and immune-protective effects that last for days following a single treatment.
Personally, I learned how to do an at-home facial and the proper directional method from pro Kari Jansen of Poppy and Someday in Laurel Canyon and it was so helpful. The gua sha workshop I attended was part of a day long wellness retreat full of yoga, meditation, tarot readings, and fresh seasonal meals so basically heaven. Two big takeaways from the lesson I had was to work until the skin is red and to look for a tool made from rose quartz or jade, rather than acrylic. Kari says, “You want to Gua Sha until your skin turns pink or even red. For it releasing toxins, excess fire or inflammation, increases blood flow, and breaks up congested & cold lymph. When it’s deep red your body is releasing lactic acid and moving stagnation.”
I’m totally giving gua sha credit for clearer, brighter skin that feels and looks invigorated. The larger tool I have is also great for massaging my chest, arms, and thighs, boosting blood flow and improving the look of my skin’s texture. I’d definitely recommend seeking out a gua sha treatment or trying an at home facial.
If you’re looking for inspo, check out holistic skincare Britta Beauty on instagram. Her videos are not only great to have on hand if you're new to gua sha.
How To:
1. You’ll notice how much heat gua sha produces so, you can prime your skin with a bit of facial oil or moisturizer to ease friction. This is not at all a critical step, but it definitely feels great.
2. Starting at the base of your neck, take the flat side of the tool and move upwards towards your chin applying reasonable pressure.
3. Move to the chin. From the base of your chin, take the same flat edge and sweep upwards towards your cheekbones. Repeat this step on each side of your face three times. If you feel particularly tense in your jaw, you might want to focus on this area. The jaw is my favorite part and Kari taught me how to identify and blast the stagnation “crystals” that accumulate there.
4. Switching to one of the smaller angles on your tool (there are usually a few, you can choose the most comfortable for your face shape), begin on the side of your nose and sweep outwards over the cheekbones towards the temples and over your brows for a lift. End with a few swipes up the nose towards the forehead.
