Real Clinical, Radiant Results with Heather Lilleston

Name: Heather Lilleston

Location: Venice, California

Age: 38

Spent half my life in New York City and half my life in California. I have been teaching yoga since 2003, run a travel yoga company called YOGA FOR BAD PEOPLE (www.yogaforbadpeople.com) leading yoga retreats and trainings around the world, and am in my second year pursuing a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. To learn more: heatherlilleston.com.

My body care goals are to feel good in my skin – this means staying hydrated and moisturized, spending time exercising in nature (circulation is so key to happiness, health and being able to think clearly and feel good in your body), to have a good balance of fun and discipline, and to be able to spend a lot of time in the sun without totally destroying my skin. I want to make sure that the products I use on my body are made with – and sold in – environmentally considerate products and packaging, and don’t contribute to the burden of chemicals and toxins eating away at the harmony of our planet. I also want to spend the least amount of time possible on skincare and what I “look like”; it’s so important for me to have an efficient and realistic daily routine.

Do you have any specific body skin concerns? I have very dry skin and have to monitor my beauty marks with all the time I spend in the sun, but other than that, my skin situation is pretty simple. I take daily showers and moisturize at least twice daily, but really don’t encounter much difficulty besides sun damage.

What do you look for when creating a bodycare routine? Something environmentally conscious, smells good (not too perfumey) and fast and easy. I don’t like to worry about too many steps. I like products that smell good and are healing and made from natural ingredients – I can’t stand products that have such a strong scent they take over the room.

1st week …I love the products so far. They are essentially unscented and feel gentle on the body. I love how small the scrubs are and nothing is too thick or oily, even though it is moisturizing. So far, so good!

2nd week… I am enjoying getting into the routine of scrubbing. Especially during the California fires where the air has been so thick and intense, it’s been key to come home and scrub and then moisturize and firm.

3rd week… My skin feels really soft after the scrub and the firming lotion has gotten me into a routine of making sure to rub lotion into the skin using an upwards motion. I never considered that before, but I think it’s making a difference. I am happy I have chosen to collaborate with Goldfadden and really respect this trial period with the product. I definitely would recommend it to friends. I have never really committed to scrubs before but I look forward to using the lightness of the Goldfadden scrubs.

Is clean beauty something that you feel passionate about? Absolutely! The beauty industry needs much improvement in terms of environmental standards and accessibility to all people regardless of economic status. Making organic, non toxic products available and standard, removing chemicals and toxins lotions, sunscreens, and makeup and anything that isn’t of medical-grade – everyday products – should be environmentally sound and affordable. FDA regulations can set the standards for that, but also individual companies can change their ingredients – as well as evolve packaging from plastics – this is vital and necessary. I love how proud I can be when products are 100% environmentally sound.

Social justice, a radical shift in America away from corporate-run governments and back to a truer democracy, environmental issues, revamping the entire education system in our country, the importance of taking many of the funds used for policing and reverting them to other programs that better reflect the actual help that is needed for the majority of police calls, and ending homelessness. It is time for massive change in the United States – our entire country needs healing. COVID made all our issues obvious. Now we have to deal with them. I think our generation got apathetic about justice issues and politics and now we are realizing politics aren’t just for politicians. We have a massive amount of catch up to do – especially white people regarding facing and being honest about the reality of racism in America – and I feel a sense of urgency in our catch up. Especially with the election not that far away. I am passionate about being fearless about this. The time is now.

Best advice you’ve ever received in regards to caring for your body? Rest is just as important as effort in working out and doing a lot. Chewing your food and drinking more water than you think you need. Getting yourself into nature and spending time alone too. Your body is a reflection of your emotional and psychological states, so this comes into play as well. You have to take care of your heart, and sometimes this means solo time and sometimes this means making more effort to connect to your community and support systems, playing and dancing, and leaving some space to be spontaneous – all of these are so key.

How do you stay focused and motivated throughout the day? I make sure that anything I am involved in I believe in – reflects my values and passions – and is never just for money. Also, balance. Taking a moment to walk around the block or lay down with your legs up the wall, standing up and listening to a song and walking into the other room – all of this is important to go back to the drawing board and meet the task at hand. Oh, and odd elixirs – like homemade hibiscus iced tea mixed with sparkling water and a dash of apple cider vinegar  – with ice – this gets me going.

Spirulina, Avocado, Passion Fruit, Apple Cider vinegar mixed with sparkling water and an iced tea or fruit juice, dandelion greens, chlorella tablets, lemon water, and let’s not forget the most important – STRAIGHT UP WATER!

The albums I can listen to and still get work done are:

The Ethiopiques, vol. 21 and vol. 4 collection

All Melody by Nils Frahm

Sous la direction de Traore Keletigui, vol. 1 by Orchestre Paillote

Angel’s Rest by East Forest

Devi Prayer by Craig Pruess

Talking Timbuktu by Al Farka Toure with Ry Cooder

The Best of Caetano Veloso

Horizon Unlimited by Lijadu Sisters

Fill in the blank:     Spending time alone     is underrated.