Spring Beauty, Style, and Wellness Update — As Seen On CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin

With spring officially here, it’s time to embrace the optimism of the season and look for new ways in which we can flourish and bloom like the flowers all around us — whether it’s by Marie Kondo-ing our homes, making some adjustments to our beauty regimens, establishing greener lifestyle habits, prioritizing our health and wellness, or adding new confidence-boosting pieces to our closets. To chat about how to kick off the spring season with nothing but positivity and joy I stopped by CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” today. Make sure to click here to view the segment on CBSAustin.com and read on for some tips on how to hit that refresh button this season!

REBOOT YOUR WARDROBE WITH STITCH FIX

Considering how brutal this winter was, I don’t even want to look at another turtleneck or chunky sweater until about November. But, of course, now that all I want to wear are skirts and dresses, I find myself staring into my closet and saying the five words every fashionistas has uttered at some point in  her life: “I have nothing to wear!” This, of course, is hyperbolic at best and flat-out false at worst, but it feels true. After all, I have plenty of pieces that I haven’t worn in years but keep around for sentimental reasons (this is where Marie Kondo would swoop in and tell me to bid those adieu, but the actual act of purging your closet is much harder IRL). There also those statement-making separates that, while beautiful, don’t seem to go with anything else in my wardrobe, largely because I tend to forget to buy those staples that ground your wardrobe and expand your outfit possibilities. So what do do? After all, buying clothing online can be a hit-or-miss operation since there’s no telling how anything will actually fit your frame. And finding the time to visit a mall or bounce from one boutique to the next is practically impossible. Well, I now have the answer: Stitch Fix.

Stitch Fix is the leading online personalizing service, providing a truly personalized online shopping experience by marrying the concept of expert styling with data amassed using a streamlined algorithm. Here’s how it works: you visit StitchFix.com and create a personal style profile by taking a brief quiz that captures your individual fashion preferences and then specifying your size preferences and your budget. Once that information is in the system, you’ll be paired with an expert stylist who will handpick clothing and accessories to suit your specific wants and needs. You’ll then receive a box in the mail with 5 items so you can try out the selections, figure out what you wish to purchase and return anything you don’t love using the pre-paid label included in the box. It’s the simplest way to shop — no online browsing, no guesswork, and no setting foot in a store.

Already curious? Well, get this: there’s no subscription necessary, so you won’t be tied into a contract and you’ll have no obligation to purchase anything. Plus, you can shop for the whole family since Stitch Fix has options for Women, Men, and Kids.

Another plus: Stitch Fix has options for Petite, Plus, and Maternity, plus it’s all about inclusivity with sizes ranging from 0 to 24W and from XS to 3X, so there’s something for every size and body type.

BRING SOME OF THAT SPRINGTIME INTO YOUR HOME WITH JCPENNEY HOME

I love changing seasons because it really breaks up the monotony — especially when you dive right into that season and embrace all of its charm.  For me, part of embracing spring means having my home capture the energy of the season via accents that provide a pop of color, by infusing my space with a zesty citrus scents or a lush green aroma, and by adding floral motifs to my decor. To bring some of the buoyancy and effervescence of springtime into your living space, you can head over to JCPenney.com and pick up some of playful, pretty, and affordable home decor items as well as tableware pieces that will make those backyard cookouts feel particularly festive.

Among my favorite picks for the season are the JCPenney Home Cactus Decor Pillow shown above ($30 at JCPenney.com), which feels particularly apropos for my city since we Austinites love our succulents! And now that the temperatures are much more agreeable, we’ll want to do some entertaining in our patios and backyards, so it’s wise to pick up some party-ready tableware items for any upcoming hostess duties. The Outdoor Oasis Set of Four Pineapple Figural Novelty Glasses ($70 at JCPenney.com) will make your guests chuckle and smile, all while providing the perfect props for those Instagram pics. The JCPenney Home Brunch 4-Piece Stemless Wine Glass Set ($47 at JCPenney.com) will add a dreamy hint of painterly color to your Sunday brunch table setting, as well as a add a playful vibe thanks to the sayings on each glass which include phrases like, “Sip Sip Rosé” and “On Sundays We Brunch.” And the next time you serve up some chips, queso, and guac, you can do so with the JCPenney Home Brunch Serving Platter ($50 at JCPenney.com), which includes three compartments, one reading “When You Dip,” the next one reading “I Dip,” and the last one reading “We Dip” — a cheeky reference to Freak Nasty’s 1996 party anthem “Da’ Dip.”

GREEN YOUR SPRING CLEANING ROUTINE BY USING ECOS LAUNDRY DETERGENT AND HAND SOAP

You can make your spring-cleaning session greener this year by using eco-friendly, gentle and safe, non-toxic products from ECOS, a family-owned and -operated company that’s been around for over 50 years. All ECOS products feature powerful and effective plant-derived cleansing agents and are manufactured in carbon neutral, zero waste facilities powered by renewable energy. Moreover, ECOS products are remarkably affordable, so they truly disprove the myth that going green entails spending large sums of money.

I’ve taken the ECOS Hypoallergenic Laundry Detergent ($9.99 at Whole Foods Market, Randall’s, and Sprouts stores) on many a trip to the laundromat, and I’m always stunned by how well it lifts dirt and removes stubborn stains — all while safeguarding fabric colors, keeping them from fading and losing their vibrancy. The detergent is hypoallergenic so it’s great for those with sensitive skin, and it comes in Free & Clear, an unscented option, and in Magnolia & Lily, which has a light floral aroma.

To keep hands clean and germ-free, I make sure to place an ECOS Hypoallergenic Hand Soap in every bathroom in my home, as well as by the kitchen sink.  This gentle cleanser cuts through dirt and grease without drying hands out, so it’s my go-to hand soap for the whole family. Plus, it’s available in an unscented Free & Clear version or in crowd-pleasing scents like Orange Blossom, Lemongrass, and Lavender.

KISS STRESS GOODBYE WITH SOOTHE ON-DEMAND MASSAGE

When is the last time you blocked off some time in your schedule to visit a spa and decompress with a professional massage? If you can’t remember the last time you received a massage, it’s time to fix that! Soothe, the leading on-demand massage service, makes it easy to book a relaxing massage without the need to book an appointment at a spa days or weeks in advance, then drive to and from the spa on the day of your appointment (a time-consuming headache). With Soothe, you don’t have to worry about complicated logistics: you can simply order a massage and, within 60 minutes, a licensed and thoroughly background-checked massage therapist will arrive at your home or hotel. And, since massages are available from 8 am until midnight, there are plenty of time frames to work with!

Massage therapy isn’t just about pampering, after all — it really is an important self-care practice with tons of health benefits including reducing stress, relieving muscle pain, improving sleep quality, enhancing mental clarity, lifting one’s mood, and boosting circulation. With April being Stress Awareness Month,  so there’s no better time to find ways to manage and relieve all that tension and anxiety building up in your body and psyche.

And if you’re looking to boost morale among your employees, Soothe just launched a corporate wellness program called Soothe at Work that delivers chair massages and assisted stretching at the workplace. Who wouldn’t love a workplace that offers such great perks?

Make sure to visit Soothe.com or download the Soothe app on your phone, and don’t forget to enter the code CBSATX25 to receive $25 off your first Soothe massage.

ENJOY A REFRESHING DRINK FILLED WITH PROBIOTICS WITH KOE ORGANIC KOMBUCHA

By now, you’ve likely heard of kombucha, a fizzy and fermented tea that’s loaded with probiotics that promote gut health and help to strengthen the immune system. Perhaps you’ve even bought a few kombucha bottles at the store to find out what the hype is all about. If so, then you’ve likely had some mixed experiences on the flavor front — after all, some kombuchas taste uncomfortably acidic while others leave a vinegar aftertaste behind that’s far from pleasant. To take advantage of kombucha’s health benefits without ever sacrificing taste, check out Köe Organic Kombucha ($2.99 each at HEB stores).

These sparkling, effervescent, fruit-forward kombuchas are refreshing, tangy, and tasty, with flavors like Lemon Ginger, Blueberry Ginger, Raspberry Dragonfruit, Raspberry Lemon, and Mango.

All Köe kombuchas are USDA certified organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, and non-alcoholic, and they’re made without any artificial flavors or sweeteners, plus they’re shelf-stable, differentiating them from many other kombucha brands on the market.

FEED YOUR SCALP WITH THE THICKER FULLER HAIR NOURISHING DAILY SCALP TONIC

See all those flowers blooming around you? The recently-barren tree branches now flaunting lush green leaves? Well, since spring is the season of new growth, apply that same philosophy to your hair and make this the time when you transform thinning, limp, dull, damaged strands, bringing them back to life — all while encouraging new hair growth, To complete your mission, you’ll need the Thicker Fuller Hair Nourishing Daily Scalp Tonic ($13.99 at Amazon.com), which is formulated to feed the scalp all the essential nutrients needed to promote hair growth and strengthen strands. Think of it as a naturally-derived fertilizer for your scalp — after all, healthy hair starts at the root!

The formula is s 100% vegan, gluten-free, and paraben- and sulfate-free. It contains organic quinoa, which is packed with amino acids that strengthen and protect strands; pea sprout to revitalize and refresh the scalp; and a Vitamineral Boost complex comprised of copper, magnesium and zinc that work together to promote follicle health and stimulate hair growth. Together, these ingredients form a daily supershot designed to help you attain healthier, thicker, more luscious strands.

ENJOY GLAM LASHES AND BROWS WITH THE RAPIDLASH EYELASH ENHANCING SERUM, RAPIDBROW EYEBROW ENHANCING SERUM, AND RAPIDSHIELD DAILY EYELASH CONDITIONER

Frustrated by your stubby, brittle lashes? Regretting over-plucking those brows? Well, you can get va-va-va-voom lashes and brows with this trifecta of products.

To achieve fuller and longer lashes, make sure to pick up the RapidLash Eyelash & Eyebrow Enhancing Serum ($49.99 at Walgreens.com), a clinically-proven, paraben-free serum that helps you achieve luscious lashes in as little as 30 days thanks to a proprietary mix of peptides, amino acids, biotin, soybean oil, and pumpkin seed extract.. And if you want stronger, more defined, fuller arches like those that have made Cara Delevingne a beauty icon,  you can use the RapidBrow Eyebrow Enhancing Serum,($49.99 at Walgreens.com), which contains peptides, biotin, amino acids, apple fruit cell extract, and sweet almond oil, and which is yield results in as little as 60 days. You can complete your regimen with the RapidShield Eyelash Daily Conditioner ($37.95 at Walgreens.com) which protects lashes from external aggressors while moisturizing and amplifying. You can use the RapidLash daily conditioner on clean lashes in the morning to enhance the look of your natural lashes or use it as a primer and apply under mascara.

With these three serums, you’ll have ultra-glam brows and lashes in no time— no falsies or brow pencils needed!

GET GLOWING WITH HYDRAFACIAL

Every 15 seconds, somewhere in the world, a HydraFacial treatment is being performed. Why is it so popular? Well, for starters, this painless, non-invasive, non-irritating skin resurfacing treatment can give you a lit-from-within glow in just 30 minutes. Each Hydrafacial treatment involves a medical-grade hydradermabrasion device that cleanses, exfoliates, and hydrates the skin. And, unlike other treatments that hone in on only one skin issue, Hydrafacial addresses all skincare needs, so that it helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, improve skin texture, minimize pores, fade brown spots, even out skin tone, and purify oily and congested skin. Plus, it’s a treatment that works with all skin types!

To find a provider near you, visit Hydrafacial.com. And to prolong the benefits of your treatment, you can now purchase the Hydrafacial Essentials collection, which is comprised of the Clean Cream Cleanser, the Protect Day Cream SPF 40  (available in a tinted or non-tinted version), and the Restore Night Ceam.

MOISTURIZE PARCHED STRANDS WITH THE AVALON ORGANICS DEEP HYDRATION MAPLE SAP & MAGNOLIA SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

Because the cold air outside in the winter season lacks moisture, many of us find ourselves leaping into spring with dry, brittle, damaged, and unruly strands. If your hair is feeling thirstier than usual, you can reach for the Avalon Organics Deep Hydration Maple Sap & Magnolia Shampoo and Conditioner ($11.99 each at Whole Foods Market).

Now you may associate maple syrup with pancake stacks, but this ingredient has long been used in DIY hair masks because it’s rich in amino acids and it acts as a natural humectant, drawing moisture to strands. The problem, of course, is that its sticky nature makes it very difficult to use without creating one giant mess.  This Avalon Organics collection, then, eliminates the need for those kitchen experiments that wind up as #PinterestFails, providing you with all the benefits of maple sap without any of the gooeyness.

Beyond raw maple sap, these products contain magnolia extract, and argan, jojoba, and coconut oils that work to repair, nourish and moisturize hair.

In addition to being certified organic, Avalon Organics’ shampoo and conditioner formulas are now Environmental Working Group Verified, which means they meet EWG’s strict criteria. The products are also formulated without GMOs, parabens, sulfates, phtalalates, and synthetic colors or fragrances.