What do you think about, creatively, when you’re designing your Fall Collection?

It’s never the same. I can’t control when I get an idea or am feeling creative. I just wait for those moments, whenever they are, and work off of them.

Where do you find inspiration?

All over. A lot of old books and movies, vintage clothing and art. Interiors.

What cities are on your travel bucket list?

Kenya is at the top of my list! Also, Lake Louise in Alberta.

Did you always want to be a clothing/jewelry designer?

Not at all. I always knew I would work in fashion, but truly never thought as a designer.

Background on your phone?

Favorite photo of me and my dad.

What are your go-to daily beauty products, and why?

Always start with the Pure Start cleanser, I love the gentle consistency and gets my skin ready for the day. Then I mix Vital Boost with Mara Universal Oil for my moisturizer and top with Saie Glowy Super Gel. Perfect combo for a natural glow.

Why is clean beauty important for you?

Not only are clean product better for you, but I have also found they work better for me/my skin as well.

How do you de-stress?

Walks with my dog and laying by the fire.

Favorite mood-boosting meal?

Sushi!  

What is your daily mantra? 

Do your best and make your loved ones proud.

Name: Hélène Heath

Location: Brooklyn, New York

Age: over 30 🙃

 

Tell us a little about yourself…

I’m a freelance content creator and writer with a penchant for all things style, beauty, food, and travel. I’m originally from Canada but have lived in NYC for almost 10 years with my sidekick, Wally, a mini Australian Shepherd, and my husband. You can find me on Instagram at @heleneisfor, where I share my daily musings on all things aesthetic.

What are your bodycare goals? 

To keep my skin hydrated, first and foremost. This becomes all the more important as we age! Hydrated skin is healthy skin, both in terms of feeling and appearance. 

Do you have any specific body skin concerns? 

There are areas on my skin that could use a whole lot of extra love: roughness, granular appearance, clogged pores, creasing, loss of elasticity… Mostly around my ankles/top of my feet, around my knees, on my stomach, and decolleté. 

What do you look for when creating a bodycare routine? 

For me, it’s more about function than anything. I’m always trying to find the most effective products for my concerns so that I can remedy them, versus making every shower a spa moment. I sadly don’t have time for that!

First thoughts when trying the Bodycare Regimen:

1st week…

The appearance of my skin hadn’t really changed after the first week, but it felt a hundred times softer to the touch. While I can’t SEE the difference yet, I can certainly FEEL it.

2nd week… 

After only two weeks, my skin’s texture had noticeably improved and felt so much softer on the areas where I’ve been applying the products. My skin is especially baby smooth after using the scrub in the shower. It feels really great.

3rd week…

My decolleté and stomach are smoother in appearance, but even more so to the touch. My pores are also looking much cleaner on my chest, which doesn’t feel bumpy at all anymore, and my other body parts are more hydrated overall (something I can both see and feel). While the folds on my skin around the feet and ankles are a little tougher to treat, I can only imagine the positive progression over time, beyond three weeks of usage.

Is clean beauty something that you feel passionate about?

Yes, it absolutely is. My overall approach to beauty is very holistic, and that unequivocally includes the products that I use. I also believe that whatever is found in nature is what’s best for us humans–it’s part of our ecosystem. I don’t believe in cutting corners with known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors to make products cheaper.

What else do you feel passionate about?

To elaborate a little on my holistic philosophy: I very much believe that whatever goes into our bodies, along with our lifestyle habits, has a direct impact on how we feel on the inside and how we look on the outside. I’m a big proponent for balance and for people living their truth. By that, I mean that imposing ourselves too many boundaries or restrictions is a set-up for failure, and also that everyone’s system and body chemistry is different. Whatever may work for you won’t necessarily work for someone else. We have to listen to our bodies and figure out what we respond best to as individuals. 

Best advice you’ve ever received in regards to caring for your body?

Moisturize every day. Every single day. Never miss a day. DO NOT MISS A DAY!

How do you stay focused and motivated throughout the day?

Oof, lots of coffee?! Lol. All joking aside, I go through phases where I’m on top of things and feeling incredibly inspired and focused, while there are periods where I just can’t get it together and struggle to get things done. My solution to this has been to understand the times of day when my brain works best and try to take advantage of that. I’m a huge list person, so I write daily to-do lists of what I need to accomplish. I also have overarching bigger picture to-do lists that are weekly and monthly. Without them I’d be lost. 

What are some of your favorite foods that keep your skin healthy?

Not a food, but water is a big one! I drink a lot of water and when I slack on my h20 intake, I can actually physically see it. I look and feel healthier when I eat fresh, unprocessed foods, as well as less dairy and meat. Everything in moderation!

What’s on your WFH playlist?

Lots of Robyn, Sharon Van Etten, and Tei Shi. But recently I’ve been listening to a lot of French Canadian music classics cause I’ve been homesick.

Fill in the blank:      Nighttime showers      are underrated.

 

At this point in quarantine, a sweet escape from your bucket list sounds heaven-sent and much needed. Let’s face it, travel blues are a real thing, especially for wanderers who live for passport stamps. Thankfully, the world of skincare provides a global beauty getaway within minutes. Exploring formulas and ingredients can take you to new places as you understand the origin and science behind those youthful, hydrating, and radiant results. International trips are officially on pause; however, experts agree, healthy, glowing at-home facials are timeless. Use your skincare routine to teleport you wherever your heart desires. Create a luxurious spa-inspired regiment with global beauty gems from different parts of the world. Since vacationing feels and looks different this year, get ready for a beauty voyage beyond your wildest dreams with an array of products. You’ll feel rejuvenated and refreshed as if you just got back from a peaceful trip. Let’s stamp our beauty passports with Mexico, Turkey, and South Africa with botanical-infused elements below. 

Bring to life at-home a relaxing aromatherapy facial massage from a five-star spa resort in Mexico. As you teleport yourself within a tropical atmosphere, prepare to enjoy a celebrity-approved skincare encounter.  Formulated with Alpha-Lipoic Acid, Co-Enzyme Q10, avocado oil, Dr. Goldfaden’s Overnight Creamy Facial Treatment ($85), will leave you with luminous, youthful-looking skin. The buttery texture comes from avocados found in west-central Mexico, where there are sunny skies year-round. Stroke your temples as you experience the super surge of hydration from the miracle jar. Along with powerful anti-aging and moisturizing benefits, the firming ingredients help reduce fine lines, while creating long-lasting hydration overnight. While the avocado oil boosts a dewy finish, it’s essential to know the other elements at play within this beauty buy. The Co-Enzyme also aids skin from pollution, while the alpha-lipoic acid reduces the appearance of puffiness. Begin to massage the creamy texture all over and watch the instant results flourish in less than 24-hours.

Next stop, Turkey! Famous for its sizzling hot summers, this destination requires a dose of hydration and coolness. Today, dark circles around the eyes due to lack of sleep are one of the most significant skincare concerns. Hence why we’re tapping into the country’s most celebrated fruit, apricot as a skincare superfood. As you envision yourself exploring the colorful vibrancy Istanbul has to offer, try Dr. Goldfaden’s Dark Circle Radiance Concentrate ($55). The eye cream is full of prestigious elements such as Soy Peptide, Arnica Tincture, Hyaluronic acid, and apricot kernels. Together the properties brighten, minimize darkness, puffiness, and fine lines, and provide a youthful-looking finish. The travel to the Mediterranean destination with this experience will simply be unforgettable. 

Visualize yourself on a South African safari. Take a moment to envision discovering the elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, and zebras as well as other species. That’s right, one encounter with Dr. Goldfaden’s Ruby Crystal Power Exfoliator ($98) will take you there. Filled with South African Organic Red Tea Extract, Ruby Crystals, seaweed extract, and hyaluronic acid, this multi-purpose scrub does it all. Treat yourself to a weekly exfoliating treatment that removes dead skin, dirt, and oils for brighter, smoother, and more radiant skin. Rich with antioxidants and vitamins from the tea extract and ruby crystals, the cruelty-free exfoliatin also firms and soothes the skin.  

Here’s to taking more beauty-inspired trip worth your wild in real life soon, until then open your cabinets and explore the world of ingredients. Allow your lotions and potions to take you places you’ve never been to!

Ashley Jimenez’s Bio

Ashley Jimenez is a multi-media journalist and Co-Founder of LatinaWatch. She oversees LatinaWatch.com and all of the website’s editorial and video content and strategy, as well as social media channels. As the former Beauty Director of HOLA! USA, the Puerto Rican-Dominican reporter, is an expert in identifying trends, highlighting multicultural content, and exploring thoughtful conversations within the influential Latina beauty segment. Her past roles include Senior Beauty Editor at Latina Magazine, where she created beauty, wellness, and lifestyle content specifically for women of color. She explored intersections of vision, Afro-Latina identity within the hair industry, socially conscious skin care, mental health topics. Ashley’s dedication to storytelling has created groundbreaking content that speaks to the duality women face as they navigate the world while honoring traditions and crafting new age customs.