THE PRIMER (INTRO)

I have been entranced by medical-grade skincare—or even the term “medical-grade”—for a few years now.

I’ve spent many hours drooling over new Medik8, Skin Ceuticals, and PCA Skin on Dermstore.

The elephant in the room is that the prices are insane.

To boot, a good reminder from our friend Shereene Idriss (on this week’s Well by Arielle Lorre), is that consistency remains penultimate as the biggest skincare tool. Adding two and two together, if you want medical-grade skincare in your cabinet, get ready to spend, spend, spend again, and spend some more.

All of this begs the question:

Which affordable skincare products are actually effective, pleasant enough to use consistently, and worth buying again?

It’s an age-old question we have all spent hours on reddit trying to figure out (no? just me? Do I have any R/SkincareAddictionLux hotties in here?).

THE FULL BEAT (PRODUCTS IN QUESTION)

In any event, I have compiled an [intentionally short] list of products that are worth the money but don’t break the bank. To me, these are medical-grade worthy, even though they do not fit the bill of actually being medical-grade.

#1: Supergoop Mineral Glow Screen SPF 40

Bonus points if you get it in shade “SUNSET”

This. Product. Is just insane.

It gives you a beautiful, dewy, glow + quality sun protection that is perfect for every day. Oftentimes, these tinted sunscreen products come out orange, don’t blend well, or make your face feel ‘dirty.’ This product doubles as foundation or just a quick ‘slap it on’ when you want that Hailey Bieber ‘no makeup-makeup’ look. I am on my third bottle and will be on my fourth soon.

Best for: Dewy no-makeup days, makeup prep, and anyone who wants their sunscreen to double as a foundation/base product.

$40 at Sephora

#2: Aestura Aetobarrier Cream

This is the only product to fix my barrier after I fried it with Mandelic Acid last fall. It is so neutral, soothing, and moisturizing without being pore-clogging. Perfect or day or night, I really feel like this $30 cream rivals the ‘greats’ of the medical-grade creams.

Best for: sensitive skin, destroyed barrier, layering with actives, AM/PM support.

$32 at Sephora

#3: Beauty of Joseon Day Dew Sunscreen

The perfect every day, non-tinted sunscreen. This product manages to give you a dewy ‘your skin but better’ glow with absolutely no tint, non-comedogenic ingredients, and a non-greasy feel. A lot of sunscreens just make me feel gross, greasy, and like I have a film over my face. But the Day Dew makes me feel like I just put on a luxurious moisturizer with the added benefit of SPF!

Best for: Everyday wear, no-makeup days, and anyone who wants sunscreen to feel more like skincare.

$18 at Sephora

#4: Innisfree Vitamin C & Niacinamide Brightening Eye Serum

This is one of those products that I bought and said, “I guess we’ll see.” Honestly, I’d do anything to fix my dark circles—so I thought this was just going to be another drop in the bucket. Nope. This is the one product that I have actually seen a real difference with. I use it in the morning and tap it under my eyes, and it immediately brightens & hydrates. Great under makeup too—I notice that my concealer does not crease as much when I use this as skin prep before.

Best for: Dehydrated and dark under-eyes, makeup skin-prep, and light-active support for the AM.

$23 at Sephora

THE SETTING SPRAY (END)

Skin, like I preach with wellness generally, is of course bio individual.

There are some products that have stood the test of time, and some that have had their moment in the sun and retreated back to the [metaphorical and literal] clearance aisle.

But these products have accomplished something surprisingly rare: they have earned their place in my routine.

I use them. I finish them. I notice when I run out. And then I buy them again, and again!!

Because a $30 cream you use every night will almost always be more valuable than a $150 cream you are afraid to finish.

TLDR; Best affordable skincare recs that ACTUALLY do the work

XOXO & TIL NEXT TIME,

RE

Leave a comment

INTRO

As I’ve screamed it from the rooftops many times, I just LOVE a podcast. On a walk, in the gym, doing laundry, literally whenever. Recently, I have been finding new podcasts to listen to since my most favorite ones only come out 1x per week (looking at you, Arielle & Elizabeth…). In any event, I thought it may be fun to share the ones on my playlist for this week. I love to keep it fresh with different topics spanning fitness, wellness, female founders, business, beauty, and anything else that sounds interesting!

#1: Claudia Sulewski (Founder of Cyklar) on Hot Smart Rich

I’ve been loooooooving HSR (Hot Smart Rich) so much lately. Maggie is so sharp and always gets to the meat of the discussion immediately, not to mention having impeccable and of-the-moment guest selection. To be honest, I had to google who Claudia Sulewski was but immediately felt embarrassed to not know that she was perhaps the first beauty influencer on YouTube (2.43M subscribers to date), and founded the sensational new body care brand Cyklar. Can’t wait to hear this one!

#2: Patrick Ta on Aspire

Link

It needs no explaining that Emma Grede just rocks, and I recently found her podcast (go listen to her podcast with Bethany Frankel, it is standout). So when I saw she recently interviewed one of my favorite MUA/Makeup founders Patrick Ta, I knew I had to save this one for later. I am sure this conversation will be just as good as his Major Skin Soft Blur Brightening Hydrating Concealer that I aggressively use every day!!

#3: Dr. Tony Jimenez on The Wellness Process

Link

Ugh, a tried and true. Elizabeth Endres, no one could make me hate you. Truthfully, I am going to eat up every single one of her podcast episodes, but this one in particular caught my eye because I always appreciate a medical doctor on a wellness podcast. Real science mixed with whole-body integrative and preventative measures is my sweet spot. This one may be a sit-down listen, thank you Elizabeth for bringing the facts this week!

#4: Emma Seibold (Founder of Barre Body) on Selfdom

Link

I am not familiar with Emma herself, but have come across her fitness platform, Barre Body a few times. I recently found Selfdom and I just cannot get enough of host Dominique Elissa. At first, I thought it may be her endearing Australian accent but realized it’s really her nourishing approach to wellness and natural curiosity she brings to every guest on her podcast. I am sure this episode will be no different!

#5: Hannah Pointer (Host, Founder of Macrohabits) on Macrohabits Podcast

Link

Last, but CERTAINTLY not least, Hannah Pointer on her own Macrohabits Podcast. I have a borderline-weird parasocial relationship with Hannah because I am so obsessed with her. So, a Q&A episode is going to be perfect for my treadmill or outdoor walk. Cannot wait, she is always so honest, real, and is on point with all the tips & tricks!!!

TLDR; Podcast recs, hot girl walk sounds, you know the drill…

TIL NEXT TIME,

xoxo RE

THE SKIN

Skin Ceuticals C E Ferulic

Link

The best antioxidant/vitamin C serum, according to the internet. Everytime I think this product has escaped me (Dermstore cart has emptied…due to too many things in it…guilty), someone else talks about it. Whether it’s a testimonial like this Allure article, Tamara Kalinic on YouTube, or catching a glimpse in my mom’s bathroom, this product never leaves the cultural conscious. It may be making its way into a vanity near me soon…

iS Clinical Cleansing Complex

Link

I have heard about this cleanser from everyone under the sun. I know the hype must be real, but I don’t want to get locked-in to spending $50 every time I want to wash my face. I know I would like it—and would be very curious to experience an allegedly life-changing cleanser—especially because that type of praise is usually reserved for serums, treatments, masks, etc. Let me know if I need to make the investment.

THE RITUALS

Liforme Yoga Mat [Custom]

Link

Only the real yoga divas know about this one. Every time I see someone with a Liforme, they are immediately mysterious and cool to me. Liforme mats are lifetime-guaranteed, gorgeous, and customizable. But they are also expensive AF. I feel like it would be a good investment, but I also have like 3 yoga mats already. In my mind, this mat would make me better at yoga (crow, I am coming for you…). I wish I found out about these sooner!!

Vibration Plate

Link

I cannot for the life of me figure out if this thing is snake oil or not. The idea is that it ‘shakes’ all the lymphatic fluid loose in your body to aid in drainage and flushing processes. I always see ‘morning routine’ vlogs of people standing on these but thought that it was just another trendy thing to spend $100 on. almost convinced me this morning—she was saying her favorite at-home lymphatic specialist in NYC brings a vibration plate for every massage—so there has to be something to it. I am not sure if the ‘shakes’ (outside of solidcore, at least, lol) are in my future, but I am curious!

THE UNIFORM

SET Active Sportwear

Link

OK, I feel like I am cheating a little bit on this one. I have so much SET already. But there is something about their founder’s energy (), the amazing material, and instant ‘put togetherness’ of a SET that keeps me coming back. Every new drop has me literally frothing at the mouth. After missing the mark on the V-day drop I wanted so bad (I swear I was on the website at 11AM sharp…), this may turn into purchase-territory.

Salomon Sneakers

Link

These feel practical and come highly recommended by [almost] every trendy wellness girlie. I have bad knees, and they are supposed to be very supportive on the basis of the brand’s hiking/outdoorsy focus. I feel like they would be adorable with crew socks, a fresh matching set, and hoodie. There is something about a chunky sneaker that went from weird to cool that is always going to get me. Might need these for my daily steps. Ugh, add to cart.

THE END

In the end, this article was my personal effort to consciously consume, think about purchases, and justify to myself that I don’t NEED every new [or old] wellness thing. Wellness can be a want, something that is 100% free, and a guilty pleasure, treat-yourself moment all at once.

Exposing Myself [lol]

Okay, I did buy the Salomons. But truly, having thought about the purchase so much, I somehow enjoy them more. Firsthand evidence of conscious consumerism. And they really do rock!!

TLDR; Wellness wants ≠ wellness needs. But they sure are fun to look at…

XOXO & TIL NEXT TIME,

RE

INTRO

Sometimes you just need to throw on a good comfort show. Lately for me, that has been YouTube. There is something about watching a cute little ‘week in my life’ video that makes me feel so safe. Whether its productive and gives me inspiration to go get on the treadmill, or a crazy week in St. Barts, I am going to eat it up every time.

I think there is so much hidden inspo in watching others do their daily lives. Like, what are Bridgette and Danielle eating for lunch? What is Kiara’s workout split? (Maybe it’s just me who wonders these things, haha). Long-form content is so interesting to me because 15 seconds of a TikTok is always going to be the highlights, actually arguably anything anyone is posting has that highlight reel energy. However, I think creators are so much more willing to be themselves in a vlog format, and I love that. These are the creators I’ve hit “subscribe” on, and I think you should too!

THE GIRLS

Anastasia (Stas) Karanikolaou

Most know ‘Stas’ as Kylie Jenner’s childhood best friend, but recently I’ve discovered she is so much more. She has, hands-down, the most fun weekly vlogs full of friends, workouts, dinners, outfits, travel, and so much more. It seems like she is always doing something that is just cool-girl energy and is so in the flow of just living her life. It is super fun to watch and sometimes you’ll get a fun celebrity cameo (she often randomly gets ice cream with Kylie, lol).

Watch if: You want fast-paced life in LA, travel, influencer activities, styling/glam tips & appointments, hanging with friends and having a martini vibes!

Victoria Villarroel

I originally clicked on Victoria’s vlogs becuase Stas told me to (haha), but she is so fun to watch. If stas is the Kylie, Vic is the kendall. She is a gorgeous Latin beauty sharing her life in LA with her boyfriend and cute dog and is always sharing some sort of fun & wholesome content. Whether its dinner with the besties or how to make a high-protein lasagna or a work trip to Miami, Vic is hilarious and lighthearted through it all. A super fun girl living a super fun life.

Watch if: You want wholesome life-at-home in Sunny LA, fun dinners and cute baseballs hats, influencer life vibes!

Kiara Jaye

I originally found Kiara on tiktok and when I found her youtube, I was like “OMG.” She lives the coolest life in Australia with her co-fitness influencer boyfriend Riley. She is the type of girl who is up at 5 & walking but still remains relatable. Her video series on “locking in” was seriously motivational for me to get my steps in, eat whole foods, and keep my workouts structured, but at the same time just so real. She films every part of the process from feeling so good after a hard workout to being in a calorie deficit and wanting some ice cream. Her life & aesthetic is seriously addicting and genuinely makes me want to move to Australia, dress exclusively in CSB, and get a mini Daschund.

Watch if: You want fitness content that is truly for the girls, whole foods diet inspo, vacation/engagement, hot girl walks, and summer in Australia vibes!

Bridgette & Danielle Pheloung

Everyone knows the “morning in my life” twins from Tiktok, but their YouTube is a secret I’ve been keeping. They primarily do ‘week in my life’ style content but it’s like a 2-for-1 because you get clips of Bridgette and Danielle separately and also together. There is something about the blonde hair, daily lattes, heated sculpt energy that is addicting to watch. It is so fun to watch them build their brand PhePhe, get chicken Caesar wraps, and always have a reservation at the Polo Bar to attend.

Watch if: You want Sex in the City, fun dinners & influencer events in New York, Early A.M workouts followed by vanilla lattes, stylish outfits and twin-power vibes!

Olivia Jade

OK, yeah, this one might be controversial. The truth is, I loved her in her USC days and I still do. Her content has taken a soft-core turn, and I am so here for it. She spends her days in New York doing Pilates, lunch with friends, and making healthy, homemade baked goods! It is such a vibe. Her latest video about NYFW is a can’t-miss in my opinion. I’ve always trusted her recommendations (when you get that much PR, you know what is actually good), and she hasn’t been wrong yet!

Watch if: You want quiet life in Tribeca, homemade dinners in nice apartments, old money, high-level beauty and style inspo vibes!

Emma Pritchard

Emma just has this magnetic yet quiet energy. There is something about simply watching her eat some toast and get ready for Pilates that genuinely lowers my cortisol. She lives between Boston (her husband Payton is on the Celtics) and the Cape and is always doing relaxing activities. Whether she is on the way to a girl’s trip in NYC with her sister or just hanging around the house making dinner, this is true comfort content at its finest!

Watch if: You want chill days in chilly Boston, NBA WAG life, range-rover mom energy, Pilates & healthy eating vibes!

THE END

It might look like low-effort comfort content, but there is quiet aspiration in all of it. The routines, the discipline, and the aesthetics are all little escapes from whatever you need to get your mind off of, and it’s a plus you may learn something too. At times, motivation and inspiration comes from unlikely sources —sometimes it’s just watching someone else make their bed and go to Pilates. So, next time you’re bored of Bridgerton, pop these on!

XOXO & TIL NEXT TIME,

RE

The Wellness Language Problem

When you are trying to glow-up, you want the real tea.

Wellness culture loves to give us instructions to make this glow-up happen. I always see TikTok’s and Instagram reels of girls saying “no, seriously, tell me what made all the difference.” And every time, the comment sections flood with the same answers.

Hydrate

10k Steps

Take Quality Supplements

Eat Whole Foods

Regulate Your Nervous System

All of these things are technically correct, and almost stupidly simple. That is exactly why we are all so confused when they don’t work the way we expect. But if it’s really that straightforward, why are we all still waking up puffy, bloated, struggling with digestion issues, and battling brain fog?

The language of modern wellness is optimized for likes and quick clarity. It’s built for speed, not precision. Somewhere along the way, it becomes a game of telephone. The core ideas are aestheticized, the science fades behind “5 QUICK GLOW-UP TIPS,” and the mechanisms that actually put good habits to work are lost in translation.

The simple truth is—the advice is not wrong, but we are no longer fluent in the language of wellness culture.

The glow-up does not happen when you do more.
It happens when things stop getting lost in translation.

Let’s translate.

Myth #1: Hydration

What Everyone Says: “Drink at least 2-3L of water per day”

What They Actually Mean: Absorb enough water each day

The Shift: Hydration turned into a volume contest when in reality it is an absorption problem. Drinking more water will absolutely help until your body stops knowing what to do with it. Sodium, potassium, and minerals determine absorption which is what gives you the slim and hydrated look. When you increase your intake without worrying about key minerals, the body will hold water between cells (bloating) and may even give you fatigue and headaches (dilution of sodium).

The Fix: Incorporate electrolytes (with sodium and potassium) into your water bottle. A gentler choice is Baja Gold Sea Salt which has the most naturally occurring minerals in the world. You’ll feel the difference!

The Skinny: Hydration is less about volume and more about signaling your body to use the water.

Myth #2: 10k Steps

What Everyone Says: “Walk 10k steps per day to burn extra calories”

What They Actually Mean: Move consistently enough that your body feels calm, safe, and supported.

The Shift: 10k is an arbitrary number that turned into a wellness badge of honor. It actually originated from a Japanese Pedometer Campaign from 1965 (This Substack explains it beautifully) and has never been linked to scientific research on health. Walking works, but not because it is an intense calorie-burner. It lowers stress hormones, supports digestion, and keeps your circadian rhythm anchored. The magic is consistency, not seeing 10k on your watch.

The Fix: Aim for movement that feels sustainable. Even 30-45 minutes per day is enough (about 5k-8k steps).

The Skinny: Steps are not a calorie-burning strategy, they are an incredible method to keep your body in the safe space.

Myth #3: Take Quality Supplements

What Everyone Says: “Take these [insert number] of supplements to support [insert benefit]”

What They Actually Mean: Use supplements to solve a specific problem you actually have.

The Shift: Supplements are not a shortcut; they are a scalpel. Taking trendy supplements that are marketed as band-aids for the most popular ailment of the moment (high cortisol, bloating, etc) rarely moves the needle. Supplements are most powerful as targeted tools, not trends.

The Skinny: Take supplements that solve a known gap for you (ie: digestion issues = magnesium glycinate). View them as a ‘last 10% tool.’ Precision beats volume and empty promises!

Myth #4: Eat Whole Foods

What Everyone Says: Eat a whole foods diet to reduce bloating, indigestion, and reveal your 6-pack.

What They Actually Mean: Eat real food in a way your body can actually digest.

The Shift: What really matters is how your body digests, absorbs, and responds to food, whole or fake. Two people can eat the same meal and feel completely different afterwards because digestion is deeply bio-individual. It may work for someone else to fill up on volume and eat mountains of raw vegetables, but this may bloat you worse than a Kit-Kat (this is what happened to me; now I prioritize cooked vegetables, and it has changed everything!). Eating whole foods is the recipe, but finding the specific methods, foods, and diet plan that works for you is the secret sauce.

The Skinny: There is no universally perfect diet, and ‘eating whole foods,’ is often too vague to get targeted results.

Myth #5: Regulate Your Nervous System

What Everyone Says: Meditate every day, get on the vibration plate, journal your heart out, optimize your calm.

What They Actually Mean: Reduce constant physiological stress signals; your body is at its best when it’s safe.

The Shift: Nervous system regulation is branded as another list of “to-do’s.” The truth is, some of the trendy things may help, but not all of them will work for you. It takes effort and work to figure out what this looks like for you, but it removes the friction of “I don’t even know why I am doing this” within your wellness routine. Maybe journaling is impactful for you but only for 15 minutes before bed, maybe a 10-minute meditation is so much better for your brain than an hour of silence, perhaps simply going in the sauna is your form of down-regulating. Maybe it is none of those things and it’s that you need to “play dead” (As Arielle Lorre likes to say; meaning you turn off your phone and just do nothing!) for 30 minutes per day.

The Skinny: Move away from performative regulation and into practical regulation. Regulation is not about stacking calming habits per the internet’s suggestions, it’s about building a life your body stops fighting.

Glow-Up Fluency

The wellness language problem is not content-oriented. It’s bad translation.

You don’t feel like that girl yet because you lack discipline or the ability to understand simple instructions. It is because the why, the nuance, and the details got erased from the discourse.

The problem was never 8k steps instead of 10k or eating a protein bar vs. cottage cheese. The problem was trying to iterate off a model that was unfinished, and unexplained. We began performing wellness instead of feeling it.

Once you understand the language, the glow-up stops feeling like work and starts feeling inevitable. You are no longer trying to follow or keep up with the conversation anymore; you are simply fluent in it.

XOXO & til next time,

RE <3

THE THESIS

January is always branded as a "new year, new me” month and that tends to come with a lot of pressure. Whether the pressure means new workouts, new diets, or one million new diagnosed problems you allegedly have to fix in 30 days, I don’t buy it.

For me, this January was about visualizing the new year and yes, some changes, but also how I can enrich my daily life through deepening or slightly tweaking practices that are tried and true for me. Here we go!

THE LIST

Spending Time with the Journal (not a chore)

Everyone talks about writing in the journal as if it’s the most sacred time and space in the world. And that can sometimes be true. But I will break the stigma and be the first to say: sometimes it feels like another f*cking thing to do.

This January, I have given myself a sabbatical from a structured morning journaling routine, and funny enough, it has made me want to pick up the journal even more. Sometimes at 7AM, the truth is I don’t have much to say. I think the practice of having the journal available to you when inspiration (or mental crisis) strikes is so much more meaningful and authentic than forcing a few morning pages when the only thought coming to your mind is “I need a coffee right now.” I still believe that the journal is somewhat of an essential for a healthy mind, but only when the practice of it is less structured, flows freely, and is totally you.

I’ve also fallen victim to the content perfection within the journal. I’ve let that go. My handwriting is messy, sometimes I don’t write full paragraphs anymore—just lists, and sometimes just random pictures. The lesson is: let the journal truly be a safe space both in timing and in content.

Not Being Scared of Actives on your Skin (within reason)

Around October/November, I went through a skin calamity. I wanted to start using actives on my skin, and after much research, decided on the Sofie Pavitt Mandelic Acid Serum. The first week or so, I was loving it. My skin felt like whipped cashmere. Then, tragedy struck. My skin felt inflamed, red, fried, alllll the bad feelings you DON’T want to feel on your face.

So, I had to take a break from actives, and my doctor ChatGPT told me I needed to repair my barrier. I used the Aestura ATOBARRIER365 Cream Moisturizer and Beauty of Joseon Daily Relief Sunscreen religiously and it really fixed my problem. A few weeks ago, I decided to be brave and use the Sofie Pavitt again, BUT only 1-2x per week. This has really been working for me, and my skin has honestly never looked better. The lesson is to use actives, but only sparingly!

Sticking to (and loving) the Same Workout

I think we all get caught up in group fitness culture (or at least I am guilty of this). The only thing more attractive than the possibility of trying a new studio is purchasing your entire Revolve cart (starting to think I am maybe the only one—lol). However, this January, instead of switching my entire routine to keep up with the crowd, I’m sticking to what I know works. For me, this is solidcore/lagree method workouts + walking. I think there is something pretty magical about seeing your progression and staying consistent with something, and fitness is an area I am focusing this mindset right now.

Here is me when I was <10 classes in (September/October):

& this is a recent picture of me now just shy of 90 classes:

The lesson is that consistency matters & is chic!

Making a Handmade Card (valentine’s day, birthdays, whatever)

There is almost nothing better than giving or receiving a handwritten note, especially in today’s digital age. There is just something so intimate about it. I used to try to make them all perfect as if I myself was Papyrus, but lately I’ve realized the beauty and tenderness of it lies in the imperfection. Almost to say: I’m no artist, but I did this and spent this time because I love you.

Okay, no further need to get sappy but you see my point. It’s a special thing I’ve done since childhood and have no intention of stopping soon, but with valentine’s day coming up, I urge you to engage in the lost art of something handwritten and have some fun with it!!

Pro Tips: spruce yours up with glitter, use Pinterest as inspo, if you want to get really professional order blank cards & envelopes, and don’t forget to play around with different mediums (colored pencil, metallic pens, etc)!

YouTube Vlogs

I’ve been loving long-form content lately, specifically the ‘day in my life/week in my life’ style vlogs. I have a few favorite creators that keep coming back to, but always on the prowl for new ones! I think it’s a fun thing to throw on when you need good & happy vibes but can’t sit down for a 40-minute episode of a show. My next article will be a full YouTube review on my favorite vloggers!

Anti-Inflammatory, Chinese Medicine Inspired Diet Choices

As you guys know, diet is super important to me and I have gone through many phases of what I eat and don’t, what I am prioritizing, and playing with different goals that can be achieved through nutrition. For this ‘gentle reset’ month, I think I may have learned what actually works for my ultra-sensitive stomach.

Prioritizing cooked, low-fodmap vegetables and plain, simple carbs is the new backbone of my nutrition philosophy. This sounds really simple—but it was a gamechanger for me. I feel generally less bloated and sluggish after meals, and my digestion has improved SO much. To better illustrate the change, I will give a before and after:

It’s misleading because both sets of meals are incredibly healthy, fit macros, and honestly felt good to eat. However, the journey of health and wellness is just that! A journey! Right now, I’m happy I’ve found my solution for the moment, but that is not to say I won’t go back, tamper with it more, and of course have more flexibility & balance when I need it.

THE LAST BITE

January didn’t need to be dramatic and turns out I didn’t need to become a brand-new b*tch in 30 days. If I’m learning anything, it’s that wellness is not (or shouldn’t be) a revolving door of new products, workouts, bio hacks, etc. Because: Consistency is cooler than reinvention.

Back to the drawing board for more inspiration & cool girl wellness for you guys. Chat soon & hit subscribe!!

XOXO & STAY REGULATED IN 2026.

All of the creators mentioned below deserve to have 1M+ but are still well-within that more niche category, so I have to put you on to them!

I’ve gone deep and wide on the wellness oasis that can be found in podcasting—but TikTok has been my new pot of gold for micro-learning (and let’s be honest, just plain fun) within the wellness/fitness/beauty/holistic atmosphere, and these girls are my absolute favorites. Let’s get into it!

Olivia Sever (Pfeiffer): “The La Jolla Lagree”

@oliviasever

Olivia is a breath of fresh air to the max. I found her content when she was doing her “wedding prep morning routine” videos (she is now happily married—and had the most gorgeous wedding in Hawaii!). She has a huge emphasis on listening to your body, healthy eating, fun workouts, and overall wellness in her fun, coastal/California way.

Victoria Coffer: “The Strict Woman”

@victoriacoffer

Victoria is my new roman empire. After discovering her due to her viral “how to be a strict woman” content, I am just obsessed. I will let you find out what she means by ‘strict woman,’ but it’s essentially her version of how to have boundaries, self-esteem, and be your best self. She is to-the-point, has the best fitness/beauty/nutrition recommendations and, just has her sh*t together. An immediate follow that deserves WAY more hype!

Daphne Nunez: “The Debloat Diva”

@daphnenunez

I stop and LISTEN when Daph comes on my FYP. She has the most incredible ‘skinny hacks’ from yogurt bowls to afternoon adrenal drinks and just gives the girls what we want. From product recommendations, to recipes, to fitness advice, she is really that girl.

Caroline McHugh: “The Whole Foods Princess”

@caroline__mchugh

Caroline really roped me in with her “what I eat in a day on an anti-inflammatory diet” videos. She is incredibly balanced and simply thrives in the kitchen. The pictures she shares genuinely make me want to go have some japanese sweet potato, grass-fed beef, and avocado! A great follow for dinner inspo, whole foods dieting, and general wellness advice.

Jamie Santer: “The Gym Girl Dumpy/Pilates Tummy”

@jamiesanter

A lot of gym-fluencers are tough to relate to and it feels like they’ve ‘always’ had the perfect body. Jamie is real about her progress and exactly what she did to get there. She really bridges the gap between “gym girl” and “wellness girl” so beautifully and her content is just FUN to watch.

Meg McLaughlin: “The Skincare Fairy Godmother”

@girlwiththeslickback

I really like Meg. I watch her videos and feel like I was just told a secret (if that makes sense). She is older-sister vibes and no bullsh*t when it comes to wedding prep, skincare routines, and other wellness topics. She kindly puts me in my place everytime she comes on my FYP. Love her!

XOXO & stay regulated!

As 2026 is off and running, one trend that has been getting a lot of attention is the Pinterest “2026 moodboard.” Safe to say, I have participated. My computer and phone backgrounds are now full of manifestations, gorgeous scenes, and birkins (lol).

However, this was not my first moodboard rodeo. I think the art of creating a moodboard can be fun, inspirational, but also powerful in a strange way. It seems easy, but when you sit down to do it, you’re like, “what am I actually supposed to put on here??” I’m here to help.

Above all else, a moodboard has to feel you. The best place to start is your 2026 goals list (this can be serious but also fun) + some quotes that mean something to you. It helps if you already have a Pinterest going and can pull from past pins, but I recommend starting a new board labelled “2026.”

PHOTOS & MEMES

You cannot let the idea of the moodboard ‘fixing your life’ interfere with your whimsy. Put in photos, quotes, and memes that touch you in some way. It doesn’t always have to be a serious way at all. It can be funny.

Example from my 2026 Moodboard:

Finding the right photos can be hard because a ton of them are generic and overused. This totally voids the idea of the moodboard because it is supposed to be specific and impactful to you personally, not easily interchangeable.

My tip: when you see something you like that is unique, save it to a specifically curated board (ie; “2026”) and after only a few photos saved, go to the “more ideas” tab and pinterest will do the rest.

Example: If you search “Pilates Princess,” this is what comes up:

Super cute, but you’ve probably seen this picture 100x. Instead, literally word-vomit into the search bar. & try different and tangential concepts.

If I was trying to find “Pilates Princess” aesthetic, I’d search:

• “Clean girl wellness aesthetic niche”

• “Anti-inflammatory lifestyle”

• “Rich girl workout set”

Example: If you get specific with your searches & use the “more ideas” section:

This is more along the lines of what you’d get! More niche, more interesting, and more specific pins.

QUOTES, WORDS, & SAYINGS

One thing that really makes a moodboard POP is the contrast of pictures & pictures of words. That sounds dumb but it really gives variation to the look & feel of the board as a whole.

Overlaying meaningful & inspirational quotes onto your moodboard takes it up 1000x notches.

You can find these pretty easily if you search things like:

• “Wellness girl manifestations”

• “inner work text posts”

• “spiritual text collage illustration”

• “vintage paper confidence quote”

Example: a great search I found:

Example: Here are some of my favorite ones I’ve found overall!

CANVA & METHODS

The easiest way to do this is find pictures on Pinterest or screenshots from Instagram and just copy them into Canva. The free version is totally fine— that is what I use!

I like the look of overlaps, and it looks super cool (in my opinion) to do a couple large pictures with a small quote overlayed on top.

For desktop backgrounds, I use the “presentation” template (1920 x 1080 pixels).

For iPhone backgrounds, I do a custom template (1125 x 2436 pixels).

• *Tip for iPhone backgrounds: Use a larger picture in the center up at the top or else it’ll look weird/too busy on your lock screen as your phone displays the time!

Example: My current iphone background I made using these methods!

Mood boards are one of my favorite calming activities & manifestation rituals. Shoutout to Eli Rallo for inspiring me to make one for my iPhone lockscreen!!

XOXO & stay regulated.

Sarah Wragge on The Wellness Process: It doesn’t have to be glamorous; it just has to work.

Topic: Balance, Eating, Detoxing, Constipation, Feeling your Best

Who is it for: Busy girls, Sensitive stomach divas, anyone who needs a ‘recipe that won’t blow up the kitchen’

As we all know, I have an Elizabeth Endress/The Wellness Process obsession. I’ve known about Sarah Wragge and her infamous ‘alkalize’ protocol for a while and actually had the opportunity to try her product. It rocks. But what I like even better is her mindset and mentality around health and wellness. She had lifelong health issues of constipation, bloating, and just plain not feeling good (can relate). She boils her health and wellness theory down to alkalizing: essentially the idea that everything is either acidic or basic (coffee=acidic, working out on an empty stomach= acidic). In her conversation with Elizabeth, she constantly stresses that no one has time for this all-day wellness routine that many creators preach. We all have kids, we are all busy, we are all running out the door — so how do you still feel good? She says that her most important ‘wins’ are:

• “Drinking a liter of water before your feet hit the floor”: Okay, not actually, she jokes. However, she says this has fixed her constipation. As much water as possible as early in the day!

• Snack mentality: You may have seen her viral post a few months ago of Sarah eating chicken and bell peppers out of a bag as a snack on a long workday. I think this perfectly resembles her overall wellness mindset. Not glamorous, but effective, simple, and fueling.

• “Sleep is a learned behavior; I will crush a five-hour night of sleep because quality>quantity”: Sarah says she learned this from her kids (“we are no different from a five-year-old child in this way”). They need routine and cues, and so do we! She does this by 1. heating her body up before sleep, 2. legs up the wall, 3. get off the phone.

I think this one really stuck with me because it feels approachable, easy, and functional for on-the-go wellness. We are all busy and can only devote so much time to these things even though they are incredibly important. Sarah’s routines may seem random and strict, but it allows her to do her life in the way that she needs to (being a mom, running a business, meeting with clients, being on podcasts like this one!).

Main takeaway: Cueing, biohacking, and routines (whether they take 5 minutes or 20 minutes) are so important for everyday feeling good. Steal Sarah’s simple secrets: hydration, protein, set yourself up for success!

Listen here: Why You Should Alkalize Your Body ASAP with Sarah Wragge

Shani Darden on Well Pod: Cut the sh*t, only do what works

Topic: Skincare routine, products, procedures, sun care/damage

Who is it for: Those interested in the real-real on skincare from a long-time, honest industry professional who don’t want a 10-step routine or laundry list of procedures

Arielle does it again. Shani Darden, the “celebrity favorite esthetician” is seriously not about the fluff. In the episode, she gives targeted product recommendations, tells us what procedures to skip, and stresses again and again the importance of sun protection. We are all too busy for expensive and complicated routines. Shani says that these things are the most impactful:

• “Most people use the wrong products for their skin type:” All you need in the morning is cleanser, vitamin C (Proheal Vitamin C), moisturizer/sunscreen. At night, all you need is cleanser, retinol (she uses actives every day!), moisturizer. This is what Shani does—she says— “I’m simple.” At 51 years old, she proves that simplicity works. Her skin is, as Arielle says, “bananas.”

• “Whatever sunscreen you’re going to use is the best sunscreen”: Shani does not care about chemical vs. mineral sunscreen—bottom-line—just use it! Here are her favorites, linked: Control Correctives, Supergoop, Dr. Idriss.

• Don’t overdo peels & lasers: Shani has “never seen real results” from more-intensive (in-office) peels, she uses her at home peel most often. She cautions against intense lasers and newer technologies—she says, “let’s wait and see.” She mentions skin starts looking ‘leathery’ after too many procedures.

Main Takeaway: From Jessica Alba’s esthetician herself: more is less. Shani is real and to-the-point which makes her conversation with Arielle so fun and so educational. She provides easily applicable takeaways for everyone that do not include a laundry list of expensive stuff or time-consuming ideals.

Listen Here: Lasers, Retinol, and Sun Damage: The Skincare Mistakes Your Favorite Celebrity’s Favorite Esthetician Sees Every Day

Izzy Utterson on Beyond the Mat: Not “I want to run a marathon” but “I want to be a runner”

Topic: Building confidence, habits/neuroplasticity, self-concept, becoming who you want to be

Who is it for: Anyone and everyone. But especially for the people that want to stop starting over and start progressing (in anything!).

This is going to be one I listen to on repeat this year & beyond. Bryony shines with her soft and gentle way of doing things, but her guest selection has been the star of the show recently. Izzy gets into the nitty-gritty of why ‘all-or-nothing’ doesn’t work and why willpower isn’t what is holding us back from our goals. She explains how the idea of self-concept translates not only into how we feel about ourselves, but our habits, thoughts, and daily life. She impresses upon the audience that everyone has agency to control their outcomes, but there are easier ways to get there than ‘white knuckling’ it. Her top ideas:

• “Your subconscious mind loves lots of things, but what it really loves is to prove itself right”: If you tell yourself that you're an unmotivated loser, then your subconscious will find ways to confirm this bias. The opposite is also true. Izzy stresses the importance of positive signaling through visualization so that your subconscious mind can think (and prove) good things to itself. She says this messaging is the most important in the first five and last five minutes of the day (when your brain is in its vulnerable ‘alpha-theta’ state).

• “Don’t chase outcomes, chase embodiment of [your] ideal identity”: This was the point that resonated with me the most. Doing certain things to get an outcome is necessary in objective and impersonal pursuits, but when it comes to yourself, the work never really stops (or shouldn’t). Chasing who you want to be is so much more important than any single outcome because it forces you to look at things holistically. It swaps the action from regressive to progressive in a sense: doing things to get to a goal is attempting to manipulate reality, while doing things to embody who you want to be is creating a new reality from scratch.

• “No Zero Days”: It is no secret that there is no perfect and you cannot make huge strides every day. However, back to the topic of proof in the subconscious mind, doing the thing you said you would do to be the person you want to be is hugely important for self-concept. A 10-minute walk counts even if your goal was 10k steps, a few more sips of water counts even if your goal was 3 liters. It is less about the incremental act of doing the habit that is adding to your ultimate goal and more about proving to your subconscious mind that ‘even on days I don’t feel great, I do what I need to do, not because of discipline, but because it is who I am.’

Main Takeaway: Show up every day as the person you want to be, and ask yourself, “what would this person do"?”

Listen Here: The 4 Step Method to Build Confidence, Train Your Brain and Create Transformative Results with Izzy Utterson

These were some of my favorites that I will be carrying through 2026 and beyond! As always, thanks for reading & please subscribe!

Over the last few months, the wellness consumer-scene has continued to explode. I will say it because others won’t, 2025 is the year of wellness. From fitness TikTok’s flooding everyone’s FYP, the gut health craze (hello, coconut cult), one can almost feel the eminence of red light coming from every hot girl’s bedroom. I wouldn’t be surprised if ‘biohacking’ or ‘hot girl walk’ was added to Webster’s in 2026. All of that being said, I have taken it upon myself to select what are, in my opinion, the most exciting wellness launches of the last few months!

Read more

October was such a fun month. I feel like I’ve finally got my fitness and eating back on track, wellness routine down, and I am feeling good. My October focus has been on food=fuel insofar as high-protein breakfasts & nourishing myself with whole foods, movement as religion (see bullet point #1!), and taking care of my gut microbiome amongst other wellness biohacking!

Solidcore/ Lagree

I have done enough solidcore (30 classes) at this point to be able to speak on it. It is the best workout I’ve ever done, by far. It is ridiculously difficult, but in an intentional way. The goal is reaching second-stage muscle failure, and the [even short-term] results show the merit in that. Solidcore and other lagree classes have honestly made me feel so confident in my body and this may sound stupid, but wildly grateful. I leave the studio genuinely feeling grateful to be alive, move my body, and feel so good. I didn’t think a workout could ever do that for me, but solidcore does. Hence it’s #1 spot!!

Egg Whites & Ezekiel Toast

I have a breakfast obsession, and I may never go back. Egg whites with a ton of veggies, salt, pepper, maybe some cheeky old bay + a slice of airfryed (very important) Ezekiel toast is just IT. No other breakfast makes me feel as good, light, and energized, especially for 25g+ of protein before 10AM. It’s a game changer, a lifehack, and I look forward to it every morning.

Night Routine

This has been spoken on one million times—but they’re right—having a solid night routine to look forward to is amazing. I get home from solidcore, shower, habit stack of PEMF + Red Light Therapy Mask, make dinner, sit and watch an episode of my show (loving Loot on AppleTV right now), make my tea (ginger honey or this ayurvedic tea), drink my creatine, then get in bed with my gua sha + heated sachet pad, take my supplements, and drift off. It seems dramatic and like a lot to be doing at 9PM, but I’ve realized I am one of those ‘ritual’ people, and I never thought I was. Try instituting even a micro-night routine that you do every day; I have found so much comfort in the routine that I know will make me feel good.

Armra Colostrum

My amazing aunt is to thank for this one. She sent me an Armra jar and I have been taking it everyday. I didn’t really believe it, but my stomach is noticeably better bloating/digestion wise, and my skin is so clear. It is not a scam you guys. Seriously, if there is one supplement on my mind right now, its Armra. I also tried their vine watermelon superfood powder—not sure exactly what it does/is supposed to do— but the watermelon vine flavor is delicious!!

Apple Cider Vinegar

A shot of ACV in the morning before coffee & breakfast is my roman empire right now. I did this years ago and wasn’t really self-aware enough at the time to notice a difference, so I forgot about it. After reading some research and seeing it pop up again in the trend cycle, I thought, its $5, let’s give her another go. And I’m loving it. It feels like my stomach is being “coated” before the first meal of the day in some sort of protective layer. Turns out, it actually reduces your blood sugar and the acidity of the vinegar allows gluten to be broken down more easily in your gut. Loving it!

[DIY] At Home Cold Foam

A goal of mine has been to make coffee at home more this fall. Of course, it is the hardest season to do so given the intoxicatingly delicious fall flavors and cutesy coffee shop vibes. After a ton of trial & error, I think I found the healthiest & best way to do it. 2 ingredients!

Cold Foam How-To

★ Cinnamon + Fairlife Milk (I use fat-free, but the fattier versions froth up even better). You can definitely use other milks —but the problem is they have to be from the cow—plant milks unfortunately do not froth as well (and I have tried tirelessly!!)

★ A frother. This frother from amazon is undoubtedly the best one—I have had mine for years.

★ [Optional] 1-1.5 TBSP Fage Greek Yogurt. Sounds super weird—but adding a tiny bit of greek yogurt to your milk + frother + cinnamon makes it so creamy—just like coffee shop cold foam! I don’t always do this extra step, but when I do, I am never disappointed.

Froth for 30-45 seconds, wait about a minute for the foam to fully form, and pour over your cold brew!

Pro tip: Use a little bit of coconut milk (I am loving this one right now—thank you Elizabeth Endress for the rec!) with your cold brew, then pour the foam, it is literally unreal.

With that being said, my philosophy as of late has been simplicity. I mean real simplicity, not TikTok-inspired “slow mornings” with a hidden 50-step routine.

I still use my wellness tools like the HigherDose PEMF mat and gua sha, but I have taken a step back from the wellness overconsumption, because I’ve decided that is not really wellness at the end of the day. It is just overconsumption.

Bio Individuality

I recently listened to a fantastic podcast (of course it was my queen, Arielle Lorre) with Kay Linker, a neuroscientist. She gave so many helpful tips, tricks, and learnings within the episode, but there was one topic I zeroed in on: this concept of ‘bio individuality.’ Kay says that bio individuality is very real, and for the practical purposes here this means that what works for someone else, or even a proven, scientific fact may not work for you. For example, many women do intermittent fasting, and it really works, but I have recently discovered that my body and histamine cannot handle it. It spikes my blood sugar, the hunger is intolerable for me, and it negatively affects me throughout the day if I fast. But for my mom, it really works and she feels great. Lesson one, just because its proven or it works for your favorite influencer, it may not be your fix.

Another great example of this is diet. A lot of the ‘whole foods’ influencers (many of whom I love, don’t get me wrong!) prioritize fiber and carbs over protein. Think: an herby couscous bowl with cabbage and a small slice of salmon. It sounds delicious to me, but it is not the way my body needs to be nourished to feel its best. For me, forsaking presentation and temperature, the ‘trendy’ items in whole foods dieting right now (there seems to be a huge push against cold foods for digestion; although well-founded, it is not something that affects me personally, so I leave that advice to the side). As opposed to the incredible-sounding bowl, my body does better with a big portion of ground turkey in a romaine lettuce wrap topped with tomatoes, fage 0% yogurt, red onion, grated carrots, and avocado. Not aesthetic at all, probably not as balanced as most people say it should be, but it works for me and that is all that matters.

Simple Foods, Simple Diet

For me, it is really easy to get caught up in the obsession with food and eating healthy. It is overall a positive, but I find myself thinking about my next meal, which is really just the food noise creeping back in. Intuitive eating is real and a great strategy, but to be honest, I need to be a bit more disciplined right now to get myself back on track. My diet philosophy right now is to eat the simplest, highest-protein meals I can and I am leaving it at that. Brazil nuts, wellness elixirs, probiotic desserts, and complicated dinners are fun and great but right now it is giving me wellness-fog. Eat simple, eat healthy!

What I am eating instead:

• Egg whites, avocado, Ezekiel toast, cilantro + dill, cottage cheese

• Tuna (no mayo), red onion, relish, cilantro + dill, thin rice cakes

• Salmon, quinoa, broccolini

• Chicken, sweet potato topped with Greek yogurt, asparagus

• 2 squares of beyond good chocolate or 100% raw cacao + pineapple as a late-night sweet treat

It may seem restrictive, but this is how I feel my best. I am guilty of being a repeat-mealer, but my body does really well with consistency as opposed to variation. Bio individuality again!

Working out for YOU

I have tried all the workout classes—corepower, barre, traditional yoga—etc. And a ton of them are great! But I also think that deinfluencing culture needs to come to the workout side of the wellness space. I find that workouts can be the trendiest thing, but also the most bio individual. For example, I cannot run/job because of my arthritis, or incline walk at 12% because it makes my back hurt (cripple, lol). Instead, I found a way to walk that works best for me (3.5 speed, 4-6% incline) and because it works best for me, I actually enjoy my time on the treadmill. Drop the 12-3-30, and do what works for you.

I also was ‘on’ CorePower last year because it was super trendy. I do love CorePower, don’t get me wrong, but recently tried solidcore and have fallen in love. Doing solidcore as much as I can and walking on the treadmill as much as I can has been the shift I needed to get the most out of moving my body in the time I have. The way I feel after a solidcore class genuinely cannot be described, it is crazy how good you feel when you do something that works for you.

Be a try-a-holic, but not a trend-a-holic

I think this may be another Arielle Lorre quote, but one time she said “I used to be such a try-a-holic.” She meant it in the context of cosmetic procedures and surgery, but I loved the term and now use it regularly. Moral of the story on all of this: it is fine, good actually, to be exposed to and to try new things but confining yourself to a workout, diet, skincare product, or ritual without bringing awareness to asking if it really does work for you will lead you down a bad rabbithole. I have been there and back one million times. It makes you start to question whether being ‘chronically online’ and constantly consuming media is actually helpful—and I think that it can be—as long as you have discipline and are in tune with your body first, and your tiktok second.

TLDR;

Think about all the wellness you see on the internet as a menu, not a to-do list.

Intro

I’ll start this by saying I am not a meal prepper by any means. I know that is immediately confusing based on the title of this article but stay with me. I am not the person who preps beef teriyaki with white rice and eats it for a week. There is nothing wrong with that, and sometimes I wish I was more like those folks, but I just cannot do it. I don’t know if it’s because I love cooking so much, or the satisfaction of making myself a meal, or just get tired of having the same thing, but I am not that diva. Instead, I meal prep specific ingredients for the week I know I’ll use. Here is what I did this Sunday, recipes included, for your [sort-of] meal-prep inspiration.

Read more

Intro

As Eli Rallo likes to say, I have opinions, and you have ears (or I guess, eyes in this case? IDK). My August favorites are pretty well-rounded. This month I have been focusing on quality habits, functional wellness, and little upgrades that make simple things better. My list is pretty well rounded, 1 wellness tool, 1 add-on/supplement, 1 clothing item, 1 habit, and 1 fun recipe! Enjoy, and let me know your August faves in the comments, new things I should try, & anything else!

Read more

Intro

A few months ago I made a post about my favorite wellness creators. I have a worthy addition to the list. I am not sure how I found Note to Self in the first place, but I am so glad I did. Peyton Sartain, the voice behind it all, brings such cool girl vibes to the wellness space. So, here is my review of the Note to Self podcast and a few favorite episodes.

When you first turn it on, Note to Self seems like it’ll be another ‘self-help’ or ‘day in my life’ style podcast, but it is so much more. Payton is smart, understands herself, and her audience right off the bat. You’ll notice she has this monotone voice which is a huge switch-up from the usual “HI! How are we??” of seemingly every other podcast. In the first 30 seconds of every episode, she draws attention to her ‘signature monotone voice,’ and you immediately know she’s a real one.

The Vibes, the Content, the “there there”

Payton discusses every topic under the sun. From more surface level stuff like ‘how to be hotter and less depressed,’ new beauty trends, and what shows to watch, all the way to her struggles with mental health, how to know if you’re with the right person, and so much more. Her ability to pinpoint an interesting, deep, but highly palatable topic and dig right in is astounding.

You’ll notice she doesn’t have a ton of guests on her podcast, which at first glance seems like it may get old fast, but she is actually better alone. I do not find this to be the case with 99% of podcasts, but Payton’s highly original “lone wolf” energy and willingness to be honest with her audience will keep you on the edge of your seat all by itself.

My Favorite Episodes

Love this one. P discusses her favorite things for Spring, new finds on the content and product front, and generally talks about her mindset, and things going on in her life. Perfect thing to listen to on a chill afternoon walk or while doing your makeup!

The “Ask P” episodes are always so wide-ranging, fun, and honest. Peyton delves into listener questions, shares her experience, and gives advice. Never a skip!

This episode is so awesome. Peyton connects with Jade Beguelin, founder of cool-girl, new-age skincare brand 4AM skin on her relationship with her co-founder, leaving banking to be an entrepreneur, and so much more. In one of her few and far between guest episodes, this one is a can’t miss. 

Final Thoughts

I think what makes Note to Self so different is that Payton has really created her own genre here. It is not a specifically wellness-focused podcast, it is not just a girly and chatty source for the ‘tea',’ it’s not even a mental-health podcast, it’s kinda everything. It is hard to keep your audience interested in your personal brand, but Payton does it organically because her secret sauce is being radically real. She will not tell you that you need to buy a $2k dress or only eat vegetables, instead she’ll open up about not working out as of late and share her goal of 2 Pilates classes per week. She won’t brag about her house renovations, she’ll complain about how they’re expensive and she’s cutting lifestyle costs elsewhere to be fiscally responsible. Payton is not influencer-vibes at all, and that is what makes her stand out from the crowd in the best way possible.

TLDR; Go listen to Note to Self for refreshing takes, radical honesty, and unfiltered ‘get off your ass’ encouragement from a girl just like us!

Subscribe now

⋆.˚🦋༘⋆ Regulated Era - for Wellness on Your Own Terms ⋆.˚🦋༘⋆

Subscribe now

Ok, let’s dream for a minute. You wake up at 7AM (the perfect time to wake up, in my opinion), throw on a matching set, walk out the door to coffee & Pilates. You then get to go on a long walk, have a nourishing breakfast, journal, and hop in the sauna.

Then your alarm actually goes off, its 6AM, your cortisol is already spiked, you have to get up, grab whatever protein bar is nearby and go to straight to work.

Sometimes it really feels this way— that we have no time for ourselves— and therefore wellness cannot come first, second, or even last. It’s a hard thing especially when you’re gradually trying to heal so it feels like every day is either a win or a setback. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Part of it is mental perception and reminding yourself that you are entitled to make your life manageable, and that is entirely contextual to the day you’re having, how you’re feeling, and what you realistically have time for. We would all like to be full wellness all the time, but it’s just not possible in this world we live in. So, below I will tell you what my ideal wellness morning looks like (mostly for fun, lol), then give hopefully helpful substitutions and suggestions on how to fit wellness into a busy day, a busy life, and a busy mind.

My Ideal Wellness Morning

I would love to wake up naturally in a bright, light-filled bedroom after 8 hours of sleep, feeling unstressed, peel off my sleep mask, and immediately stand up (I dream of not picking up my phone first thing in the AM, lol). Next, I’d love to drink a full glass of room temperature salted lemon water and then go on a little walk for a coffee. Ideally the walk would be 15-20 minutes there, and 15-20 minutes back. Upon returning, I’d sit down for an extended journal session and perhaps read 10-15 minutes of a motivational book (my copy of The Daily Stoic is currently on order, no spoilers please). Then, I would want to put on an aesthetic matching activewear set (Pilates pink, please) and do either hot yoga or a tough but doable Pilates class. Upon my arrival home (or if it’s REALLY ideal I have a studio in my house…. we’re really dreaming now though), I’d make a healthy high-protein breakfast: either eggs on sourdough or a yogurt bowl with a matcha & some peppermint tea. Afterwards, I’d love to pop into the sauna, then do some contrast therapy followed by a long bath or hot tub. Then skincare, then a cute outfit, and that completes my PERFECT morning!

Read more

How I Feel & Mindset Chat

When you let yourself go a little bit it can mean a lot of things. It can be getting out of a routine that was really good for you, eating too much, eating the wrong things, or even not drinking enough water. Falling back into what’s comfortable, or how things used to be. When you become self-aware of these regressions in yourself, you obviously want to get back on track. That is kind of where I am. Lately, I have been having a lot of food noise and emotional eating, and I just decided I am done letting it make me upset, and I am getting back to healthy habits. The primary mistakes I made last time were all surrounding being too hard on myself. That does not mean refusing to do hard things. It means approaching hard things with grace for yourself and recognizing and acknowledging they are hard. With this positivity, you do the hard thing but never out of spite, hate, or desperation.

For me, I got completely out of wack with my eating. I was eating when I wasn’t truly hungry, eating things I knew would be bad for me out of emotion, and just had too much of a scarcity mindset around food generally. In the spring, I had a really good eating mindset, routine, and knew the things that worked for me and was happy sticking to that. Over the summer, I was in a rough place and rough environment and really lost myself in this capacity. Now, I am resetting, which I have done before, but I am approaching it with love, alignment, and hope instead of as a punishment for my regression.

What I’m Doing

I had to get back to basics. A lot of that is just eating less and eating clean. Keep it simple, stupid (lol). For the first few weeks, I am doing somewhat of a ‘hard’ reset which sounds counterintuitive to my above points, but it works for me because it’s a period of time. No, there is no way I am cutting out normal bread and sweets forever (I love them way too much), but right now I am, and I am okay with that because its temporary. I think when we think in extremes like “I am DONE with this FOREVER,” it actually makes it so much easier to fall down because the brain is okay with losing 1/infinity days, but it’s so much harder to lose 1/30 days or 1/15 days. It isn’t even about proving to yourself you can do it, for me it’s about feeling like myself again and feeling good in my body. One must have a driving force, and that is mine. I know that if I can commit to something that feels hard for a period of time, my mindset on the other end will be different and I will get my confidence back and be able to decide what is right for me long-term.

I like to joke that I’ve put myself on an “adult meal plan,” but it’s actually kind of true. Here is a snapshot of what I’ve been eating, how I’m portion-controlling, and staying positive:

Breakfasts

• Fage yogurt with berries & cinnamon, sometimes 1/2 spoonful of PB (portion it out before you eat to keep yourself honest, lol)

• 2 hard boiled eggs & an apple

• Mezcla bar & a banana

Lunches

• Scoop of no-mayo tuna (I just like it better this way), 1 slice of flourless Ezekiel bread, 1/4 avocado, 3 mini cucumbers, cilantro & capers

• Spinach salad (+tomatoes, peeled carrots, and cilantro) with an air-fried salmon filet with TONS of lemon juice & cilantro-shallot dressing (my mum’s recipe—will share!)

• 2 thin rice cakes (I like these Lundberg ones), cottage cheese, drizzle of balsamic glaze, and some tomatoes on top

Dinners

*I have been keeping dinner super simple just for ease, but there are so many healthy, whole foods options here!

• Baked chicken, air-fried sweet potatoes, roasted veggies (I do carrots, red onion, tomatoes, zucchini, bell peppers)

• Air-fried salmon filet, air-fried sweet potatoes, spinach salad with cilantro-shallot dressing

Dessert

• Frozen grapes, 1 square of 92% dark chocolate

• Frozen pineapple, 1 square of 92% dark chocolate

• Small serving of chia pudding & raspberries

Extras/Supplements

I also finally got my supplement routine solidified & I think that has been helping too. I am taking:

• Multivitamin

• Align Probiotic

• L-Lysine (essential amino acid)

• Magnesium

• Dandelion Root

• Melatonin (before bed)

• Lymphatic drainage drops

• Trace mineral drops & baja sea salt in my water (trying to do 1.5-2L per day!)

I have two main ‘extras’ that I guess you could call supplements, that I feel are absolutely non-negotiable for me:

• Coconut Cult (I switched to the plain coconut flavor, and I think it’s been better for me because it has less sugar)

• My homemade wellness shots are so back!! I have always loved these and believe in them 100%. I put orange juice, pineapple slices, raw turmeric, black pepper (to activate the turmeric), raw ginger, and baja sea salt in the blender, don’t bother straining, and put it in a glass bottle. I have it every morning with my coffee and it never misses!

• Cashew Malk is a new one for me. I have been a bit scared of milk (I know that sounds insane), because sometimes cow milk makes me feel ill, sometimes it’s delicious and exactly what I needed. I am…lactose ambiguous, I guess. But this week I have just been having a splash of cashew malk & sprinkle of cinnamon in my coffee, and it’s been great.

• Welleco Evening Elixr is so good. It is essentially a healthy hot chocolate mix that is perfect for winding down before bed. It has MCT oil, magnesium citrate, lemon balm, and natural vitamin C (from acerola). It is not too sweet but hits in just the right place if you have chocolate cravings before bed like I do. I mix it with hot water usually, but you could also do milk and that would probably make it even more delicious. I also do a sprinkle of cinnamon, and it is chef’s kiss. I look forward to having it every night!

I made it a point to keep all of these meals super simple and revolving around the same ingredients, so that the only place you really need to be disciplined is the grocery store itself (although I know my supplements & extras can definitely lean more on the side of *extra*). Just sticking to the list, getting exactly what you need, and getting out is setting yourself up for success! It’s honestly one of the hardest parts for me because I am a grocery-store connoisseur and always looking for new clean brands and inventive healthy treats.

How I Feel

I am on day 6 (or 7?) now, and I know that does not seem like enough time, but I have not felt this good in MONTHS. You may not see the change after only a week, but you will FEEL it, and that is the best reward in my mind. Feeling better almost immediately is my motivation to keep going with this, and reassurance I am doing the right thing. When I feel like slipping up, eating an extra piece of chocolate, or giving up and ordering pasta, I have to remind myself this is not a punishment I need to rebel from. It is literally the best and most respectful thing I can do for myself and my body. I am tired of feeling awful all the time, and I have gotten over the fact that some people can eat whatever and still feel good. That is not me and that is okay! I also made a list of affirmations that I read back when I am having moments of weakness. Some of them are:

• Chew & swallow slowly

• Taste every bite of the food you worked so hard to prepare for yourself

• It is okay to feel completely full after a meal, and it’s also okay to feel 80% full. Eat what you portioned out and feel good about it; know you are doing all you can for your body.

• If you want to have more sweets or are having unhealthy cravings, check in with yourself and understand where exactly that craving is coming from. Is it because you’re bored? Sad? Oftentimes it is coming from the brain, not from the stomach.

• You can always have a peppermint/lemon ginger/chamomile tea!

What’s Next

Another beautiful part about this is I have no long-term, structured plan for the next step of my process. I am just seeing how I feel and trusting my body. The next stage may be getting into lifting/strength training more and focusing on protein, or getting deeply back into yoga, or ??? But that’s the fun part. Getting back into a good routine feels SO GOOD and rewarding, but it is safe to say that sh*t is not easy. It is fun to think about what my next stage looks like, but for right now I am focusing on my simple, healthy reset mindset.

Like I said before, it is not easy, there are 100% moments of self-doubt (‘I can’t do it, I can’t stick to it, it won’t make a difference), and even moments of ‘f*ck it all'.’ I have to keep reminding myself, feeling good (& looking good, secondarily of course though) is all on the other side of hard. The best part about all of this though, is you get to choose your hard. Make your ‘hard’ work for you, make your ‘hard’ feel aligned to your motivator and purpose, and never forget that the ‘hard’ itself IS the journey, never the destination, so give yourself grace whether you are 1 day in, or 100 days in.

Subscribe now

TLDR; Do the hard thing that you know you should do but do it for the right reasons with the mindset that feels authentic to you. Whether it’s starting a new routine, picking up an old one, doing a ‘hard reset’ for a period of time, or just committing to go on a walk every day. Be present & balance the hard truth with your truth!

It’s good to always have a wishlist of big & small things that you want & need. I think having some things that are attainable, and some things that aren’t (at least right now!) is a good balance of motivation & aspiration. So, for the fall, I created a mini-wishlist of items that I think would improve my life & honestly just make me happy. So here it is!

*None of this is sponsored, literally just my opinion, lol

Subscribe now

1. OnCloud CloudNova2 in Ice & Mulberry

I think brown is going to be my color for the fall, and I am always wearing sneakers. I had all-white onclouds before and really loved them but ended up having to retire them because I wore them hiking in the Colorado red dirt (my mistake, haha). I think I am ready for my next pair!

Pro tip: if you’re a student, you can get 10% off via Unidays.

Link: OnCloud CloudNova2 in Ice & Mulberry

2. NuMilk Fresh Plant-Based Nut Milk Maker

For a long time, I was on cow-milk. And I still am—but the other day I tried homemade almond milk made with this machine and it actually changed my life. I have to have this machine, I’ve been thinking about it non-stop, but it’s obviously an investment. The almond milk that this machine makes is so nutty, not too sweet, and honestly feels like a meal in a way. It is so nutritious & passes the processed-food tests that store-bought almond milks consistently fail. No carrageenan, added sugars, or preservatives here. It is pricy, but it’s the best one. I may have to order, especially because it’s on sale on Wayfair right now!

Link: NuMilk Fresh Plant-Based Nut Milk Maker (15% off)

3. Skinny Confidential Skin Gym Mouth Tape

Okay, maybe I need to be deinfluenced. But I’ve been seeing a ton of reviews on TikTok about this specific mouth tape and that it helps you breathe more efficiently in your sleep and therefore reshape your jawline over time. It is not a huge investment, so I am willing to try, but haven’t pulled the trigger. Regardless of it changing my face shape, I think it could be good because I think I rely on mouth-breathing too much in my sleep & that is of course not good for you for a multitude of reasons. I will provide a full review if I decide to try!! But for now, it’s on the wishlist.

Link: Skinny Confidential Skin Gym Mouth Tape 

4. Staud Denim: Gus Relaxed Jean Vintage Wash

Staud, one of my favorite brands, just dropped their brand-new denim line. I am usually not a huge denim person (I have two pairs of jeans that actually fit) and am always envious of the girls who can throw on a white t-t-shirt, the perfect jeans, a cardi, and some ballet flats and look fabulous and put-together. It’s one of my fall goals to be that girl!! Okay, not really, but seriously I want these jeans. They look like a relaxed, yet structured fit and the crop length looks perfect for either sneakers or ballet flats/kitten heels. They nailed the rich, classical denim color I’m looking for, so I may be caught ordering these late at night in my bed. They are definitely pricy, but my fashion philosophy is rooted in quality basics, so I may give these a go.

Link: Gus Relaxed Jean Vintage Wash (15% off with email share for new Staud customers!)

5. Eminence Skincare Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer

I have been dying to try Eminence Skincare. I have recently become obsessed with the ideas and research behind nontoxic lifestyles & what we are putting in and on our body. What is hard when it comes to skincare is the balance between natural products that have few ingredients (but their efficacy is…unknown?) and medical-grade skincare that can really work, but sometimes has harmful irritants, fragrances, etc. Moral of the story, it is HARD to know where to draw the line. From all of my research, Eminence is one of a few brands that tows both lines beautifully. All of their ingredients are organic, and the few ‘chemicals’ they use are actually necessary for the product’s intended use and would be Gwenyth-approved. I would love to try their entire line, but of course its pricey, so I will start with this clear skin moisturizer.

Link: Eminence Skincare Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer

TLDR; Create a wishlist! & it’ll feel so much better when you buy something because you’ll know you really wanted or needed it! It is also a really fun thing to do seasonally. <3 Til next time!

When I first met my boyfriend, a calendar reminder would pop up on his phone every night at 9PM like clockwork. It said: “DYWTD?” Curiosity got the best of me, and I was finally like “what the hell does that mean?”

He said it means: “Did you win the day?”

At first, I thought it was silly. Do you really need to win every single day? Isn’t just making it through a rough one enough? But that’s the thing — it’s not about crushing massive goals or checking off some huge milestone. It’s about the little victories.

What It’s Really About

The whole concept of “did you win the day” is not as specific or direct as it sounds. It is not about closing a deal, running a marathon, or accomplishing anything huge. It is more of a concept, more like did you win something about the day.

If you said you were going to go on a run and you did, you won the day.

If you said you were going to eat a healthy dinner and you did, you won the day.

If you said you were going to meditate for five minutes and you did, you won the day.

The “Why” & the “How”

Ultimately, it comes back to positive self-talk. If you only give yourself praise and grace when crossing the finish line of a huge goal, in a way, it’s already over. What they say about the Ironman fitness challenge is that the true Ironman is not the race, it is all the training to GET to the race. Such is true in life, I think.

What it’s really about: trusting the process. If you only believe that you can do something when it’s already done, you lose the ability to build confidence and self-worth through the daily small wins that actually get you there.

I’ve been thinking about this concept a lot lately. Of course, it’s appropriate to celebrate when you actually do cross that finish line, but it is so important, arguably even more important to be positive about the process itself. If you really think about it, those moments when you feel on top of the world & have just finished accomplishing a goal are very short and quick. It is easy to feel good about yourself in those fleeting moments, but it’s hard to feel good when you’re in it. Whether that is in reference to a particularly challenging day, breaking down under the pressure, or just not being able to see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. But the trick is, these periods of “I haven’t done it yet, and I don’t know if I really can pull it out this time” is where you spend the bulk of your life. It’s frustrating, it’s hard, you don’t know if it’s going to work. So, you could doubt yourself, say “it’s not done until its done,” sit in fear, and fail to recognize your progress, or chose a different way of looking at it.

In these moments, you need to show up for yourself because no one else is going to. The way I choose to practice this is, if you are thinking about and acting on your goals every day, even if it feels like two steps forward one step back, you are still moving forward. Forward. Momentum. All in all, you might as well be ruthlessly positive in approaching and attacking your process. The time will pass anyways, and being positive makes not only the result, but the process, that much sweeter.

TLDR; No one is going to recognize & celebrate your own progress more than you are. Hope is something you give yourself throughout tough times & processes, so give yourself some grace, & go win more days!

New series: a monthly top five.

The following rituals are things I’ve recently discovered that actually yield noticeable differences in my life & increase my wellness. I think it’s easy to be content dumped with so many recommendations that you end up doing nothing, and I’ve been a victim of that recently (do we really need to be taking Hawaiian astaxanthin? I don’t know!!). As a result, I have found a lot of solace in taking a step back from content-driven recommendations and instead have been listening to my body and doing the ‘simple’ things right.

So, the theme of this month’s top five is: Back to Basics.

1. AM Walks

Just throw on whatever clothes are right in front of you, chug some water, and get out the door. Doing a good walk first thing always starts my day off in a happy state. Maybe you’re on your way to coffee, tea, or matcha, or maybe you’re not doing anything at all and just enjoying a 20-minute walk with a podcast! Trust me, it’ll change your life & your entire day.

2. Packing my Lunch Everyday (& enjoying the hell out of it)

I am so over the corporate lunch, so I decided to make my own. After eating out (almost) every lunch in June, I just needed a reset. I always try to make it easy on myself or else it won’t happen, so I prep a little salad with ground chicken (easiest pre-lunch; let me know if you want a guide!) or turkey cottage cheese toast (bonus points if you leave your cottage cheese at the office). It makes me feel so good, unbloated, and keep my energy up (and keep my blood sugar down) during the day.

Pro tip: My gorgeous friend Taylor said that if you go in the bathroom at work and do 15-20 squats after lunch, it keeps your blood sugar down. It sounds silly, but I am trying it! You should too:)

3. Hydration

Something happened between Hydro flask #3 and #4 (or maybe just May and June) that got me off my hydration grind. I used to be so good about it, and then I guess just started forgetting, getting busy, and it never helps that it’s been so hot and humid in New York. These past few weeks I have been focusing on simple hydration, just filling up my water bottle again and again, and it has helped so much. I get so many side-effects from being dehydrated it’s really not something I can let slip through the cracks. I feel so much better drinking [at least] 1L of water every day, and I am trying for more. Invest in a good water bottle and become obsessed with it!

Pro tip: I also love to add Celtic Sea Salt or Trace Minerals Salty Watermelon Electrolytes to my water a few times per week for extra hydration (especially if you’re doing heated workout classes).

4. 10 Minute Meditation Before Bed, no excuses

This one is pretty new for me. I think it was Elizabeth Endress that finally convinced me that meditating every now and again isn’t really going to get you where you want to go. Instead of her iconic “wakeup, pee, meditate,” I am doing more of a “get in bed, put-on red-light face mask, meditate” and it’s really been working for me. I usually just put on a fifteen-minute manifestation video like this one and try my best to forget about the day and get into it. It makes me feel so incredibly relaxed that I sometimes drift off before the end of the video. SO good & the best way to end the day.

5. Trying Something New

The simple act of trying something new is good for you, even when it’s something as silly as making sweet potatoes. I used to dislike sweet potatoes, but for some reason recently had the urge to try them again. I made them with my cottage cheese ground beef bowl one night, and they were incredible (will provide recipe in future posts!). I used cinnamon to sweeten them a bit, and they roasted up perfectly. Although it sounds dumb, expanding your palette for a new healthy addition is always going to be a win in my book. Try something new! Or give something you’ve written off another chance, it may surprise you.

My sweet potatoes with delicious dill honey sriracha salmon & veggies!

TLDR; Wellness = simplicity this month. Even if its something as simple as giving sweet potatoes another try (lol).

Subscribe now