All posts filed under: Self-Care Insiders

FāTH Is a Meditative Skincare Line That Will Have You Glowing: Conversation With Founder, Faith Appleton

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Feel nature on your skin! Let’s face it – we all have a lot on our plate lately. Thinking about what might be lurking in your skincare products should not be on your to-do list. Taking a deep dive into the infinite market of botanical and clean skincare we continue to emerge with new favorites. If you asked me to name all the skincare brands I love, I would name FāTH high up on the list. FaTH is an example of a brand that thrives on transparency every step of the way. Their small batch, soil-to-skin process, beautiful packaging, and mindful range of products help insert romance into our every day lives. For far too long beauty and personal hygiene brands remained a mystery. Today consumers pay a lot more attention to brand philosophy, transparency, ingredient sources and carbon footprint. Not only that, we have all learned to pay closer attention to the back of the bottle. I applaud FaTH for using EU quality standards, and for making my skincare routine a lot less stressful. …

Be Your Own Wellness Hero: Your Guide To Self-Love With The Help Of Experts

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Self-love might seem straight forward, but for anyone who struggles with acquiring it, self-love is complicated. First let me say, this is a no judgement zone. The very idea that we lack self-love can be triggering. Like many out there, I was never told I am a special or a princess. I was not told that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to. In fact, it was the opposite, but that is a story for another time. I grew up without praise, and yes, it effected my self-esteem. As an adult it is up to me to re-wire my brain and build myself up. I know what you might be thinking. That is no easy task and mistakes will be made. My only advice would be that in order to start on your self-love journey, you have to start someplace. Start by appreciating yourself. This means waking up in the morning and appreciating your body, your face, your heart, your mind, and even your past mistakes. It helps if you think of past …

Get Blessed With Benedetta: Talking With Skincare Founder, Julia Faller

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In an industry known for its fickle attitude, the year 2021 has decidedly remained to be the one year we all seek skinimalism. Benedetta’s founder, Julia Faller, has been loyal to the less is more philosophy since the 80s. Calling the founder and president of Benedetta, Julia Faller, a pioneer in the clean beauty industry would be an understatement. What makes one a pioneer? If we had to define such a person it would be someone who questions the norm and goes against the grain, pushing aside fear of scrutiny and failure. As a licensed esthetician and clinician in the 80’s and 90’s, Julia found herself questioning the cosmetic and skincare industries. When no laboratory or even botanical suppliers, were willing to accommodate her wish for petro-chemical free ingredients she decided to do it on her own. She accomplished this by going directly to the source of ingredients and marrying science with the natural world. Today, the brand continues its trailblazing quest with transparency and conscious beauty. Benedetta is Farm-Sourced®, organic, vegan and cruelty-free. This …

Conversation With Wander Beauty Founders, Divya Gugnani and Lindsay Ellingson

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Shopping for clean and cruelty-free beauty at Sephora is still an impossible task – fortunately the list of brands available just got an update with Wander Beauty on the shelves. When it comes to shopping for products that go on or in your body, transparency should be a given, but is not always provided. With US clean beauty regulations being in the grey area, this brand takes a fresh and simple approach to ingredients – blending the natural with the synthetic (safely). We refuse to believe that today’s savvy and educated beauty community falls for marketing schemes, they say clean beauty is here to stay. It was only a matter time before Wander Beauty made it into Sephora. If you had to consider just one clean brand for all your essentials, you might make it Wander Beauty for their multitasking abilities alone. Wander beauty checks off all the boxes: the packaging and colors are pretty, the ingredients healthy, and the textures non-sticky. Let’s talk makeup. It can be hard to pick a favorite. The Liquid …

Plug Into Your Subconscious With Cynthia Morgan’s HappiSeek App

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Mental health awareness has been on the rise, but so has the number of people suffering with mental health conditions. According to a CDC report, 40% of adults in United States have reported considerably elevated adverse mental health conditions, which were directly associated with COVID-19. It is no wonder than that the demand for mindfulness apps has been on the rise as well. While there is something to be said for unplugging from our devices, these helpful apps can help us use technology in a healthy way. Enter HappiSeek, created by board-certified hypnotherapist, Cynthia Morgan. HappiSeek is one of the newest apps to come out this year in order to help users plug into their subconscious minds through gentle rewiring, science and relaxation. Scientific studies are proving that hypnotherapy can help you make meaningful changes in your life. This hypnotherapy app guides users step by step, opening doors to: trust, honesty, tolerance, gentleness, joy, defenselessness, generosity, patience, faithfulness and open-mindedness. Through it all, you will hear Cynthia Morgan’s friendly and calming voice. Cynthia Morgan is …

Talking Art and Career with Street and Graffiti Artist, Elle Street Art

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A new mural was going up in my neighborhood. It was colorful, timely, and drew a crowd. The mural was of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the artist was Elle Street Art. I stood on the sidewalk with my East Village neighbors, we cheered on the artist, and some discussed the mural in detail. There were a lot of conflicting ideas. While Ruth Bader Ginsburg is at the center of the mural, there are quite a few symbols around her. It is a hopeful feast for the eyes. To clear things up, Elle was quick to explain the mural on her Instagram. The flowers to the bottom left are Black Eyed Susans, which represent justice. Above that is the Brooklyn Bridge, signifying Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s childhood borough. Above her head are hits of a crown composed of her many collars. This is also a gentle nod to Biggie, the namesake of her nickname Notorious RBG. The justice of the Supreme Court seemed to enjoy the nickname. To the right of the justice’s heads is the turquoise …

10 Beauty and Wellness Gurus To Follow On Instagram Right Now

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Want to focus on self-care and skincare in 2021? Here is a list of aestheticians, spa professionals, doctors, and wellness warriors to follow and learn from right now. BEATA ALEKSANDROWICZ – THE FACE WHISPERER Since the beginning of the pandemic we talked about the power of touch, and use of our five sense, to help soothe and heal the body and the mind. Beata Aleksandrowicz has been written about many times as the go-to expert in massage, healing and wellbeing. She live streams her sought-after face massage classes to help with sculpting, lifting, soothing and general Face Therapy. We cannot stop watching. Learn from a real professional and follow her: beata_aleksandrowicz. DR. BARBARA STRUM – THE YOUTH EXPERT Dr. Barbara Strum is everyone’s favorite aesthetics doctor. The German doctor never seems to age and has developed cutting-edge and non-surgical treatments that help fight inflammation and aging skin. In 2014 she blessed us with a skincare line that celebrates simplicity, hydration and provides a regenerative glow. You can book a virtual consultation with the famous doctor, …

The Duo, Carlos Lamarche and Jason Lundy, That Brought Us Salt Therapy During The Pandemic

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Carlos Lamarche and Jason Lundy want you to pay more attention to your lungs. The wellness duo opened SALT Live Energized in Soho because they saw an unfulfilled need. As with any city, New York is polluted. Soot, diesel fumes, noises, second hand smoke and chemical emissions pollute the city on a daily basis and while New Yorkers have come to live with it as an unavoidable part of the city’s charm, they deserve better. Seeking respite in the city that never sleeps can be hard but not impossible. Salt Live Energized opened before Covid, but since the pandemic, more and more New Yorkers have come to SALT to experience the power of salt therapy. We had our own experience at SALT and it was a breath of fresh air. Once you are in the salt room, the salt can be felt and seen. The natural anti-bacterial salt air widens your airways, loosens clinging mucus, and reduces inflammation. Breathing becomes not just easier, but more fulfilling. The non-inhaled particles of salt land on exposed skin, …

Expert Feng Shui Bedroom Tips For Couples

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Making small changes in our home environment can often create a powerful shift in our mood and our lives. Take the pressure off Valentine’s Day with Feng Shui. The bedroom is where your love thrives, so make sure your environment is properly set up to help your relationship in positive ways. For expert tips we went to an influential Feng Shui consultant, Judith Wendell. Judith Wendell is a well-known New York City Feng Shui expert; focusing on design, space clearing and teaching the Feng Shui philosophy. Before construction goes up, she is the one who gets called in to clear the space. Even if you think the spiritual aspect of Feng Shui might not be for you, the Chinese concept of Feng Shui provides practical tips that can be applied to our everyday lives. The position of your bed is most important. You should have a clear view of the door without being in line with its path.  This usually means that the bed is diagonally across from the door.  If the bed must be in …

Get Headache Relief With Yoga Tips From Shahada Karim

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Headaches pain can be debilitating and rarely do we turn to yoga for relief, but Shahada Karim recommends just that. The Certified Yoga Instructor, Movement Therapist and Owner of Habibi Sport gives us tips on relieving headaches with the help of six different types of yoga poses. Child’s Pose (Shishuasana) Seated on your knees, touch your big toes, open your knees and lay your torso forward and down between your knees. Let your head rest comfortably on a mat, block or bolster. This position takes pressure off the need to breathe into the chest by lifting breath into the back and sides of the ribs, relieving compression in the head and neck associated with headaches.   Wall Butterfly Pose (Supta Baddha Konsana Viparita Karani) Lie on your back, extend legs to the ceiling and press the feet’s soles together, keeping the glutes loose; open your knees in the shape of a diamond. Breathe deeply, relaxing the abdominal muscles. Use support against a wall or with a bolster or pillow under the outer thighs to support the …

Talking Spa Beauty, Wellness & Seaweed with Repêchage Founder, Lydia Sarfati

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Spa industry giants everywhere know Lydia Sarfati as the seaweed skincare authority – the Repêchage founder has worked her way up from esthetician who loved formulating and creating, to spa owner on Madison Avenue, to running one of the most well-known professional skincare brands in the spa community. Beauty insiders continue to be impressed by the Repêchage Four Layer Facial (I have yet to try it for myself). It is Lydia Sarfati who has helped set the professional and business standard in the field of esthetics. Many new brand creators can learn from this founder’s contributions and dedication to giving us the gift of effective and lasting beauty. Q & A with Lydia Sarfati Cultivated: I read that as a young girl you loved science and chemistry. Where did your passion for skincare and formulating products come from?  LS: My approach has always been based on chemistry and biology coupled with a holistic approach, looking at the skin from within as well as what you put on topically. Growing up in Poland, every Friday our kitchen …

Wellness & The City: Best Places For Socially Distanced Beauty & Wellness Treatments

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In today’s uncertain world escapism is the ultimate luxury. We combed our beloved city for socially distanced beauty and wellness treatments – three places helped us indulge in beauty and wellness, standing out as the best and safest to help us practice self-care. SALT LIVE ENERGIZED 180 Avenue of the Americas Respiratory health and immune health should be our priority, and salt therapy has the potential to become your new favorite pastime. While we have been to a number of salt rooms in the city (each unique in their own way), SALT is the only one that focuses solely on the respiratory system and makes their own body care line of products. Salt air therapy is natural and it is what makes SALT unique is the dry particles of pharmaceutical grade salt, as small as 1 micrometer (aka “micron”), released in a low humidity environment. We can tell you about the science of it all, but instead we’ll just tell you that our sinus headache was relieved upon exit. So what happens in the room …