Easy Ways To Make Self-Care More Intentional This National Wellness Month (Seen on CBS Austin)
August is National Wellness Month so, today on CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin,” I chatted about some great products and experiences to help promote skin health and improve athletic performance, sleep quality, cognitive functioning, stress management, and more.
Make sure to check out the segment here and continue reading for the tea on everything shown on TV!
Borghese Advanced Fango Active Mud for Face and Body
Even when life feels chaotic and we’re expending most of our energy on work- or family-related duties, it’s important to squeeze in some time to prioritize our own needs. Skincare can be a great way to practice self-care, to slow down and enjoy a moment of stillness without worrying about deadlines, to-do lists and any other stressors. It can also boost our confidence, making us feel more ready to take on all of life’s challenges. And, with Borghese’s Advanced Fango Active Mud for Face and Body ($58 on Borghese.com), you can enjoy an indulgent, relaxing, spa-like experience at home.
This iconic Italian mud mask has been a go-to for generations, with over 20 million jars sold worldwide. Designed for use on both the face and body, this mask detoxifies, nourishes, and visibly refines pores in just 5 minutes, leaving skin feeling balanced, hydrated, and refreshed.
It’s powered by mineral-rich bentonite clay, which draws out dirt and impurities from deep inside pores. It also features: avocado oil to nourish and restore suppleness to dry and dull skin; vitamins A, C, D and E to support skin health; radish root ferment to support a balanced skin microbiome; and an Anti-Stress Adaptogen Complex that contains Chaga mushroom, Rhodiola rosea, Siberian ginseng, and Maral root to counteract environmental pollution and boost skin’s resilience.
Mad Hippie Brightening Gel Moisturizer
It’s entirely too hot and humid in Austin right now for a dense, rich, balmy face cream, but that doesn’t mean you can skip the moisturizer. Instead, reach for a powerful but truly lightweight option like the new Mad Hippie Brightening Gel Moisturizer ($29.99 on ULTA.com and MadHippie.com). Ideal for normal, combination, and oily skin types, this oil-free moisturizer features a lightweight gel consistency, and it infuses skin with nourishing actives, restoring moisture and visibly brightening dull and discolored skin — all without any heaviness or greasy, sticky reside.
The formula contains ethyl ascorbic acid, a stable form of vitamin C that brightens skin and promotes collagen production, as well as hyaluronic acid to hydrate and plump skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines. It also contains niacinamide to calm irritation and even skin tone alongside betaine to hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier.
And if you want to discover more of Mad Hippie’s plant-powered, cruelty-free, active-rich products, make sure to stop by the brand’s first flagship store, which just opened here in Austin!
Ludient Radiance Glass Serum
Reducing skincare formulations to four different skin types (dry, normal, combination and oily) seems absolutely archaic in this day and age. Luckily, Ludient is helping to change this paradigm, using technology to help consumers take the guesswork out of skincare. This next-generation, clinical skincare brand from Korea uses AI and real skin data — not as a bonus feature, but as the starting point for product development.
Powered by lululab’s proprietary LuluTI technology, the brand analyzes more than 5 million skin data points and classifies skin into 16 distinct skin types. In fact, its skin intelligence technology analyzes how your skin behaves beneath the surface so as to recognize patterns like barrier instability, recovery speed, and sensitivity response. Rather than reduce skin to overly simplistic categories such as “dry” or “oily,” Ludient recommends solutions based on how your skin actually functions. This approach allows Ludient to develop formulas that address specific skin concerns such as visible aging signs, blemish-prone skin, texture, and hyperpigmentation.
Ludient’s Radiance Glass Serum ($33.90 on TheLudient.com) is designed to boost luminosity, even skin tone and yield that coveted “glass skin” look. The formula is powered by NAGLOWTHIONE, a proprietary complex that contains 20% niacinamide and glutathione to fade dark spots and even skin tone. It also contains a hyaluronic acid complex that gives skin a bouncy glow; vitamin C and ferulic acid to boost radiance and promote collagen synthesis; and allantoin and Centella asiatica to soothe any redness and inflammation.
Epic Light Beauty Luminizing Glow Gel and Lip Flip Tints
While makeup can give us a confidence boost, when formulas wind up accentuating fine lines or emphasizing texture, they can wind up having the opposite effect, leaving our egos feeling a bit deflated and underlining our insecurities. Many makeup brands target a very young demographic, leaving older consumers struggling to decipher which products will best suit their oft-neglected needs — whether that’s an eyeliner that doesn’t tug at the gentle skin on the eyelid, a concealer that doesn’t settle into fine lines, a foundation that doesn’t cling to dry patches or exacerbate any dryness, or lipstick that won’t feather and bleed.
Thankfully, consumers of all ages can look their very best when they turn to Epic Light Beauty, a peptide-powered, skincare-infused makeup brand built on the belief that beauty should evolve with you. The brand’s founders understand that skin changes over time and that, as such, our makeup formulas should evolve accordingly. Epic Light Beauty’s skin-enhancing formulas are vegan, cruelty-free and incorporate peptides that support healthier-looking skin.
When you want to infuse a bit of life into dull or tired-looking skin, reach for the Luminizing Glow Gel ($45 on EpicLightBeauty.com). Known as the “Glow That Does More,” this luminizing gel features three peptides (including Argireline, which is referred to as a “Botox-inspired peptide” thanks to its wrinkle0-minimizing powers) as well as collagen peptides, vitamin E, and chamomile, calendula, and prickly pear extracts that help to nourish, soothe, hydrate, and give skin a smoother appearance.
And, as its name implies, this lightweight gel provides an instant radiance boost through its usage of optical pearls, yielding a lit-from-within-glow without any glitter. You can wear it alone for a barefaced and radiant look, mix it with foundation to give your makeup look a bit of warmth, or apply it onto then high points of the face and use it as a highlighter. It’s available in 4 shades: Flushed, Molten, Rose Gold and Universal Bronze.
And to give our pouts a plumper look without any stinging our burning, Epic Light Beauty offers a range of Lip Flip Tints that deliver sheer, buildable color while hydrating lips, smoothing fine lines, and providing a volume boost.
Each Lip Flip Tint is formulated with two peptides that boost volume immediately while improving the appearance of the lip contour over time: Maxi-Lip, a peptide that’s been proven to boost volume by 40% in clinical trials, and Dermaxyl, which stimulates cell communication and repairs age-related skin damage, plumping skin, minimizing fine lines, and giving skin a smoother look.
Each Lip Flip Tint is $32 on EpicLightBeauty.com
Creatine+ by Elysium Health
Creatine is arguably the most extensively researched and scientifically validated sports supplement, helping to increase strength and power and supporting muscle growth. Additional studies suggest that creatine supplementation may support healthy aging by preserving muscle mass, supporting bone health and enhancing cognitive function, with new trials pointing to meaningful improvements in memory, information retention, attention span, and reaction times among menopausal women (lower estrogen levels can produce brain fog and adversely affect memory), older adults, and individuals in high-stress environments.
Formulated with the advisement of Michael Fredericson, M.D., Co-Director of the Stanford Center on Longevity and Professor of PM&R Sports Medicine at Stanford University, Creatine+ by Elysium Health is a 3-in-1 advanced creatine system that supports strength, recovery and cognition as we age. Creatine+ combines creatine monohydrate, the purest and most bioavailable form of creatine, with HMB, which works additively with creatine to enhance muscle recovery. This synergistic combination is scientifically proven to significantly improve gains in lean body mass and strength, so you can get the most out of your workouts. Creatine+ also contains pomegranate polyphenols that promote mitochondrial renewal and energy production throughout the body.
A one-month supply of Creatine+ retails for $70 on ElysiumHealth.com and you can subscribe for additional savings!
Each bag contains 30 individual creatine packets, half in a Raspberry flavor and half in a Pom Lemonade flavor.
Sunrider SunFit Protein Plus
In order to build and replenish our muscles after each strength training session, it’s crucial that we consume enough protein. And, while protein powder makes hitting those daily protein goals easy and convenient, it can be challenging to find an option that’s tasty, easy on the stomach, and which doesn’t contain excess sugar or artificial flavors.
Sunrider’s SunFit Protein Plus ($76.74 on Sunrider.com) is sure to fit all your criteria — and more! It features a 100% vegan formula, offering 20 grams of easy-to-digest, plant-based protein (a blend of pea and rice protein that contains all 9 essential amino acids) per serving to support athletic recovery and muscle growth.
In addition to protein, the formula contains bamboo fiber, chicory root and coix fruit to improve digestion and support a balanced gut microbiome, so you don’t have to worry about bloating or upset stomach. It also incorporates vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, C, E, and K1, as well as minerals like zinc, selenium, iron, and magnesium, and antioxidant-rich botanicals like Chinese yam and waterlily extracts.
SunFit Protein Plus contains no added sugar and is free of artificial sweeteners, colors and flavors. It’s available in delicious flavors like Caramel Macchiato and Chocolate Mint.
Poetic Apothecary Functional Seasoning Blends
Created by trusted brand Starwest Botanicals, Poetic Apothecary is a line of terpene-driven, functional seasoning blends designed to make everyday meals feel more intentional. Rather than simply adding taste, these functional seasoning blends are designed to shape how flavor is perceived and how we feel after eating. The key to these blends are terpenes, which are naturally occurring aromatic compounds found in herbs, spices, and other plants. They’re what gives rosemary and black pepper their distinctive scents. Since smell and taste are interconnected, terpenes influence how flavor is perceived. The aromas in these seasoning blends, then, are an integral part of the experience.
Each of these blends has a distinctive aroma and a carefully crafted flavor profile meant to create an intended experience.
The Eclipse blend, for example, features the terpenes eucalyptol (naturally found in bay leaf and rosemary) and cuminaldehyde (found in cumin), which promote a sense of clarity, focus, and grounded energy. The Solace blend, meanwhile, was crafted to support digestive ease and calm energy through the terpenes zingiberene (found in ginger), citral (found in citrus peel), and menthol (found in mint).
Every label clearly explains the flavor notes, featured terpenes, and how to best use that seasoning blend when cooking.
You can find the complete Poetic Apothecary collection on Starwest-Botanicals.com
Burtran Recharge Mask
Just like your muscles, your brain needs rest in order to function at its highest capacity. So, in order to stay sharp and problem solve quickly, you need to give your mind time to recharge. Wellness technology company Burtran is facilitating this need for curative down time with its newest wearable device.
Burtran’s new Recharge Mask ($199.99 on Burtran.com) is an AI-powered, wearable recovery device designed to help make the most of 20-to-60 minute rest sessions — whether you’re traveling, resetting in between meetings, or trying to squeeze in a power nap. This device is meant to support truly restorative rest when ideal sleep conditions simply aren’t available.
Research suggests that the brain needs regular breaks in order to retain and process information — and, in the day of social media feeds, we often find ourselves mindlessly scrolling for long periods of time rather than enjoying some stimulus-free downtime. Burtran’s Recharge Mask, then, is a great way to fully disconnect from our online lives and create an atmosphere for relaxation.
What makes this device so unique is that personalizes each recovery session using AI and EEG sensing while also incorporating Bluetooth audio, binaural beats, gentle warming therapy, and light blocking technology. Whether you’re traveling or meditating, the Recharge Mask will offer the personalized experience you need for a restorative reset.
Lifewave X39
Lifewave X39 is a wearable, non-transdermal patch designed to complement a healthy lifestyle. Featuring Lifewave’s patented phototherapy technology, X39 traps the infrared light emitted by the body, reflecting it back to stimulate specific points on the skin that, in turn, support the flow of energy in within the body.
Each drug-free and stimulant-free patch is designed to support overall vitality, energy, strength, stamina and overall wellbeing.
A one-time order of 30 patches is $169.95 on LifeWave.com or you can subscribe and save!
SweatHouz
Contrast therapy, the practice of alternating between cold and heat exposure, has long been employed by professional athletes to speed up athletic recovery and reduce muscle soreness. The heat phase typically involves soaking in hot water or entering a sauna and is intended to facilitate vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow to skin and muscles and supporting the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to these tissues. The cold phase typically involves an ice bath or cold plunge and prioritizes vasoconstriction, the tightening of blood vessels, to move blood away from extremities and reduce inflammation therein. By alternating between vasodilation and vasoconstriction, contrast therapy helps to relax tight muscles, eliminate metabolic waste, improve circulation, and dramatically improve athletic recovery.
Nowadays, contrast therapy is touted for many additional benefits that anyone (not just athletes!) can enjoy— from helping to reduce and regulate stress and improving mental alertness to boosting energy, facilitating better sleep, relieving joint stiffness, and providing immune system support.
But many facilities that provide contrast therapy involve group settings that can feel awkward and uninviting. That’s what makes SweatHouz such a breath of fresh air. One of the fastest-growing wellness destinations in the country, SweatHouz focuses on contrast therapy but it places equal emphasis on luxury and privacy. SweatHouz offers private luxury suites equipped with an infrared sauna, cold plunge tub, and vitamin C shower. During each 60-minute session, guests can move through the experience at their leisure and enjoy their privacy while doing so.
Each private suite is equipped with customizable lighting, sound, and entertainment options, so you can stream your favorite shows, cue up some relaxing music, or relish tranquility and silence. To maximize your experience, start by spending 20-30 minutes in the sauna, then hop into the shower and let the vitamin-C infused water cool you down while rejuvenating your skin. Next dive into the cold plunge tub for 2-5 minutes to complete the contrast therapy cycle. You can then begin the cycle again!
Guests can drop in for a session or sign up for a membership.Visit the new SweatHouz studio at The Grove located at 2606 Perseverance Drive here in Austin. For more info, visit SweatHouz.com
