Tag Archive for: plant-based

Sugar is sweet but not when it comes to the health and look of the skin. Eating excess sugar is one of the worst things you can do to your skin. For starters sugar and foods with a high glycemic number (carbohydrates, fried foods and alcohol) trigger insulin which causes inflammation in the body. Inflammation is a culprit for acne-prone skin, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis. Sugar also breakdowns collagen: ie Glycation– when sugar binds to collagen and form AGES (advanced glycation end products ) this makes the collagen fibers hard and brittle which ultimately causes the skin to look old. Glycation equals loss of elasticity and collagen, which equals sagging, dull and aging skin.

Sugar weakens the immune system, dehydrates skin by pulling out moisture, creates a lackluster appearance and can cause breakouts and redness and dryness. So what should you do? Firstly, cut back on your sugar intake. Processed carbohydrates, alcohol and sugar-heavy foods should be limited.

If you’re prone to redness or rosacea and sugar is making this worse, try our Radical Difference serum. This concentrated rehydrating serum helps to rejuvenate the appearance of skin imperfections, illuminate dull skin and reduce the appearance of unwanted red areas to leave skin appearing glowing and vibrant.

If breakouts are your issue, try our Detox collection to get your skin in check and clear. Detox Facial Clarifying AHA Wash is a power-packed foaming cleanser specifically designed to address the appearance of problem skin, by reaching deep into pores and boosting out stubborn dirt and oils. Skin is left appearing smoother, feeling more refined and rejuvenated. Follow with Facial Detox, a purifying mask that works to draw out dirt and pore-clogging debris to reveal skin that looks clear and appears flawless. Facial Detox leaves skin looking even and appearing balanced, cleans blemish-prone skin and minimizes the appearance of pores and soothes and calms appearance.

Learning to balance your sugar intake will assure clean, clear and glowing skin in the future.

 

Olivia Muniak is a Brand Marketer.

She has an incredible eye and an innate sensibility for the luxury market. She works with businesses to tell cohesive stories through developing a visual vocabulary and creative materials. Olivia is instrumental in implementing marketing initiatives and real-time events that drive brand awareness.

Olivia began her career styling in San Francisco working with Benefit Cosmetics. Moving back to New York City in 2012 to pursue a career in fashion, she went on to manage North American sales in luxury fashion for Aquazzura and Fratelli Rossetti.

Her expansive background and expertise has made Olivia a true standout and we had a chance to sit down with this star to find out about how she balances wellness sustainability in her everyday hectic life.

How do you practice sustainability? 

I strive to practice sustainability in all facets of my life. I want to be able to share the beautiful world I grew up in with my future children and grandchildren. When I grocery shop I use reuseable mesh bags for produce – whether I’m at the farmers market or grocery store. On the go, I use metal straws, travel coffee cups + water bottles, and at glass containers and reusable silicon bags for food storage. But I think that’s only a small imprint, I’m also very conscious of the product packaging from everything to beauty and bathroom products (so many brands are creating refillable products or 100% compostable packaging). I don’t allow myself to buy new, comparable skincare, makeup or hair products until I’ve completely used what I have at home. It’s easy to consume these products and amass a collection of half used products. In the kitchen I don’t use paper towels daily, I have a set of cleaning rags my favorite are these unpaper clothes (I save the paper for big messes )  

Most importantly I also consider what is in the product – if it’s toxic for my body, it’s toxic for this earth. I try and use clean products for the home so that everything that washes down my drain is natural and not harmful to the ocean. 

What are your favorite Eco-Friendly Products? 

Branch Basics and Thieves. It’s also super easy to make an at home everyday spray with a bit of distilled vinegar and essential oils and water, I find this to the best for glass and countertops!

What does wellness mean to you?

Gosh, I think wellness is such a broad term and a widely used buzzword these days. For me, wellness is about the way I live my life. It encompasses my emotional, spiritual and physical wellbeing. Being “well” is about balance, joy, and feeling sated in my current life. My work, my friendships, my family, my body etc…this doesn’t mean they are all wonderful at once, they rarely are! I appreciate the realness, being present through the challenging times, the optimistic and the everyday. The attention and care I put into creating routines (allowing myself to fall out) keeps me “well”. 


Any advice for people wanting to make the switch towards a more mindful existence (increased wellness) but who are not sure where to start?

Create a routine, add one small element in a realistic way ( i.e. something you can keep up with ) wellness is about trial and error and discovering what you need that makes you feel well. Pick one to three things, set a numerical goal to it and try it for 14 days. I’d suggest choosing one small practice; whether that’s journaling for 4 minutes in the morning x 4 a week, switching your morning croissant for a clean smoothie, walking for 30 minutes a few times a week, swapping clean products into your home etc. Keeping the goal small, with a numerical goal helps us feel successful, positive and…”well” when we meet it. Adding too many or an aggressive number of practices often backfires and makes us feel unsuccessful. I’m fully aware of over-commitment practice! By the end of the 14 days, it always felt a part of my routine, and then I could add in something else. Wellness for me is just about finding out what makes me feel good, listen to that small voice inside. Mine got louder, the more I listened and now I feel like I’ve strengthened my intuition and I know what’s in alignment for me at any given time. Just trust yourself!

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

The skincare I can’t live without: 

  1. Goldfaden Doctors Scrub: makes my skin super soft, clear, and fresh looking. 
  2. True Botanicals Nutrient Mist: I used this multiple times a day to freshen my skin with essential antioxidants, also the scent is ahmazing!! 
  3. True Botancials Clear Face Oil: hydrates my skin, gives me that dewey appearance that I love. 
  4. Goldfaden Brightening Serum, this has helped clear my complexion, sun damage and heal breakouts. 
  5. True Botanicals Vitamin C Booster + Clear Serum I swap between these and Goldfaden Serum and keeps my skin clear and bright. 
  6. Goldfaden Wake Up Call: this year my skin became super dry, this moisturizer helped soothe and hydrate and I wake up in the morning with baby soft skin. 
  7. Goldfaden Bright Eyes paired with Odacite Eye Serum: this helps de-puff, hydrate and erase fine lines 
  8. EIR Surf Mud: This is my daily sunblock, make-up primer (if I wear, also great on it’s own) and obviously great for a day out surfing. So clean you can actually eat it, its got chocolate in it! 

The makeup I can’t live without: 

  1. RMS Uncover up: light, natural coverage
  2. RMS Luminous Highlighter: adds the dewey touch, when I’m not so dewey 
  3. Ilia Cream Blush Stick: adds that touch of color that makes me look fresh
  4. Kjaer Weiss Cream Bronzer: adds that sun kissed glow
  5. LiliLolo Mascara: hands down the best natural mascara
  6. Chantecaille Tinted Brow Gel: holds my unruly eyebrows all day

Why is clean beauty important for you?

Honestly, because I’m a little vain and I have found clean beauty to keep me looking young and fresh. And of course, I care about the planet too. Beauty industry is one of the worlds major polluters, just think about how easy it is to amass a collection of products that we rarely use. 

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How do you de-stress?


Bathtime! I’m a huge proponent of baths at any time. I don’t soak for long period but it helps calm my nervous system. I also cook to de-stress, if I have a terrible or overstimulated day, coming home and cooking centers me and makes me bubbly with joy. 


Favorite mood-boosting meal?

It’s not a meal, but I make my own almond milk weekly and it’s a religious experience for me, it tastes so rich and creamy and I use it for few things but mostly for my morning flat white. Some of my go-to’s meals are grilled salmon with charmoula and a simple green salad. I love making my own homemade pasta with fresh pesto, it’s very nostalgic for me – reminds me of summer in the Hamptons as a child. For a lazy weekend morning, I make a stack of almond flour pancakes with melted coconut butter, maple syrup and flakey sea salt. 

What is your daily mantra?


Does it make me feel good? Yes…follow that. If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no. Why expend the energy obsessing when things don’t align, something better is on its way. Be yourself, you’re awesome. Life is short, speak up, go for it. Don’t take it all so seriously, laugh! Allow myself the freedom to experience it. 

 

A daily regimen is on everyone’s mind, but how many steps and products do you really need? Sadly there is no magic bullet to deliver all our skincare goals, but with 5 easy steps, you can turn back the hands of time and keep your skin looking youthful. Five may sound daunting but below explains why you need each step to achieve glowing healthy skin.

Exfoliate:

The process of exfoliation is a lot like peeling away the dry, outer skin of an onion to reveal the living layers beneath. Whether the exfoliation is done using mechanical abrasion or a controlled chemical reaction, removing dead and damaged skin cells on the surface allows the fresh new skin underneath to become visible. This newly exposed layer of skin feels much softer and smoother. Its surface reflects light better, making fine lines and other small imperfections harder to see. Age spots and other areas of unwanted pigmentation are less noticeable because the dead skin cells containing the pigment have been removed. Exfoliation unplugs clogged pores and allows for the release of natural skin oils. Regular exfoliation also helps to maintain open pores, decreases pore size, and minimizes many types of superficial scarring. In addition, removing the top layer of dead and damaged cells allows treatment ingredients to penetrate the skin and work more effectively.

**Exfoliate your skin two to three times a week, unless you suffer from rosacea or eczema. Depending on the season and climate where you live, exfoliation can be increased or decreased.

Cleanse:

Cleansing or washing the face should happen at least once a day if not twice. Upon waking, washing the face will remove the residue from applied night treatments and regimen. If you choose to cleanse in the AM, make sure to use a cleanser that won’t strip or dry the skin. Cleansing the skin at night is a must! No exceptions here. The skin is exposed to many pollutants from just stepping foot outside your home. Soot, car exhaust, sun, second-hand smoke, and many other pollutants wreak havoc on the skin leaving a layer of dirt and free radicals. Makeup also needs to be removed no matter what.

**Sleeping in makeup is one of the worst things you can do for your skin. Clogged pores will lead to breakouts and or rashes.

Treat:

Pollution releases microscopic particles or free radicals that can go deep into the skin and cause damage to otherwise healthy cells. The outcome is a loss of elasticity (wrinkles and sagging) and Hyperpigmentation (dark spots). Pollution can cause uneven skin tone, dehydration, dryness, dark spots, expedited aging, wrinkles, sagging and deterioration of collagen.  Consider using products that employ the highest regarded pollution fighting ingredients, such as, Organic Red Tea, Ferulic Acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin B, Vitamin E, Retinol and Resveratrol.

Hydrate:

Look for ingredients that hydrate and repair. Plant stem cells are powerful ingredients that hydrate and repair damaged, aging, sagging skin. Organic Red Tea extract also restores important anti-oxidants and Birds of Paradise restore skin’s youthful appearance by reducing uneven skin pigmentation, dull and lackluster complexion resulting in an increased illuminated glow. Plant and botanical based oils are also a terrific way to get hydrated! Loaded with Vitamins C , E and F, Baobob, Kalahari, Marula, and Mongogo oils not only deliver hydration but also overall brightness and luminosity.

Protect:

Sun protection is crucial all times of the year but especially during the summer. Reapplication every hour when in direct sunlight and up to three times daily (AM/Mid—day/Afternoon) when going in and out of indoor/outdoor areas. As a general rule of thumb: if you are going to be outside for 20 minutes or more, SPF is recommended.

** “I always recommend an SPF of at least a 30. Wearing SPF safe clothing, like hats and glasses are crucial and extremely beneficial for sun protection.” Dr. G.