Episode 155 - Product Junkies - May: Summer Here We Come (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 155.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

SPEAKER_01:

Welcome to Nirvana Sisters Podcast, where we take the intimidation out of well-being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are sisters-in-law and your hosts.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm Amy Sherman. And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation. Welcome back to the show, Nirvana Sisters family. Today, we are kicking off our May product junkies. We didn't have product junkies in April, so it is good to send it out to you. Good to be back. Yeah, early this month. So, Amy, why don't you start? What's your first product today?

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. First product is random, and I've been wanting to talk about it because it's really good. Have you seen these headache hat things on Amazon? and telling you, it's so good. So I got a two pack, one pink, one black, one for me, one for Stu. And like, I don't even know if I can put it on because it's so embarrassing, but like, it's so cool inside. I'll just give you an example. Hold on. Should I show you what this looks like? You literally like put it on. But it feels so good.

SPEAKER_00:

Hold on, I can't hear you. What does it feel like? What does it do?

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, so basically, if you have a headache or migraine, it holds, it's very cold inside, you keep it in the refrigerator, or even if it's not in the fridge, it somehow is cold inside, and it's tight, but not too tight, where it can give you a headache, and it's just snug around your head, and it just relaxes you, and it's over your eyes, so it's totally black. So if you just lay in bed with that on, it really has relieved my headaches. And I sometimes put it on at night when I can't sleep. Like if I get up in the middle of the night and then I can't fall back asleep, I'll put it on. Sometimes I don't put it over my eyes. I'll just put it above my head. But the coolness of it and the tightness of it relaxes your head and your face. And it just brings your temperature down. I don't know what it is, but it's really good. It really, it really helps. It's really good for migraines. I don't know what it's called. Well, this brand is Only Care, but we'll put the link. It's it's on Amazon, but it really works. It's it's. a great solve for a headache. Nice.

SPEAKER_00:

I just don't want to try it, but whatever. I know I've seen them on probably TikTok or something. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's really good. Has Jackson or Amy's? I don't know if you want to talk about it on the air, but Amy's son has concussion. Has he is he can he use it?

SPEAKER_01:

You know, I thought about that and I wonder if it would help him, but I'm not sure. I was going to ask the doctor. I don't I can't imagine it would be damaging, but I don't know if you should. I don't know. Yeah, question. Yeah, I should ask the doctor. Maybe maybe it would help relieve his headache.

SPEAKER_00:

Nice. All right. Well, that's a fun one. Mine is a perfume. You know how we're always. looking for perfumes that don't give us headaches, which so many do these days. I don't know. I don't know where I even stumbled across it, but I had read about it or heard about it. The brand is called AERIN. I hope I'm saying it right. A-E-R-I-N. They're a luxury brand. They have everything from furniture and clothes and lighting to beauty across the board. Okay. And the scent is called Rose de Grasse. It is so beautiful. I just ordered a sample because it's... Let me see the logo.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, I've seen that brand.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. I might have seen that brand. Maybe I saw it on Instagram or something, but... It's a commitment perfume. It's an investment. One bottle is almost $300. Oh my god. Okay. So of course I needed to test first to see if I liked it and if I could even tolerate it. And I can tolerate it. I really love the smell. It's obviously the smell of roses on their website it says, the rose is a timeless symbol of beauty and femininity. This one is meticulously crafted with an artisanal attention to detail. At its heart is a fusion of roses including the hundred-petaled rose centifolia, hand-picked in grass. It says it scents our rich floral rose, amarette seeds, rose centifolia, rose auto bulgarian, rose absolute, ambroxan musk. When I think of rose and florals, I get really turned off. Me too. Florals really give me a headache. Crush me, yeah. Crush me. For whatever reason, this one doesn't and it is almost a little herbaceous and it's very bright and get ready for a laugh, but it smells like It reminds me of the part of Sauvignon Blanc that I really like the smell of. Like the brightness. I know what you're talking about. Yeah. And like the crispness. It has those notes to it, too. And then it has the rose. It's really pretty. It's a beautiful scent. And it's also kind of like a signature. You recognize that scent. A client of mine just randomly was also wearing it. And as soon as I smelled it on her, I knew it. Oh, that's so funny.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay, so Erin, and what is the name of the scent called? Rose de Grasse. Rose de Grasse. Okay, great. I have to try it.

SPEAKER_00:

It's so nice. The only thing is, one day I was wearing a body lotion that I now know that I can't wear during the day. I can only use it at night because it has a little bit of a scent to it, and it did not complement it. So that day, I had a headache all day from that. But yeah, as long as I do it with my you know, scent-free lotions. It's all good.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. So speaking of scents, I don't know if I reviewed this brand before, but I really like it. I have one of their perfumes, which I can also talk about, but I bought this guy during the Sephora sale. It's the Skylar Hair and Body Mist. Nice. And this, this one is called, well, it says Pure Vanilla Cotton Candy Coconut Milk. So it's like really sweet. They describe it as, they describe it, the fragrance family, they say, is warm and spicy and the scent type is warm and sweet gourmand. And I've decided that's kind of what I like because another perfume I got, which is the same brand, is in the same category. But anyway, it's a hair and body mist. And sometimes when I don't want to wear perfume, perfume, I just spray this on. It smells so good. Just like a lovely, light, sweet, but not too sweet scent. And you could just like spray it in your hair, spray it on your body, like walk through it kind of deal. And I love it. It's great.

SPEAKER_00:

I really like it. I made a lot of a hair and body mist. I like that.

SPEAKER_01:

Hair and body mist. And this specific one's called Boardwalk Delight. They have other ones too, but I really like this one. It kind of smells like summer, beach, like it's really, really, really good. So I love this. And speaking of, so Skylar is this new brand I found, it's Clean Beauty, and they also have a perfume that I've been wearing, which I don't think I've talked about, but I've been wearing it for months. The flavor that I have, I think it's called Vanilla Sky, and it's, they have it in a eau de, how do you say, how do you say?

SPEAKER_00:

Eau de Parfum. Eau de Parfum.

SPEAKER_01:

Eau de Parfum. So they have it in that, but I actually have it in the roller. So they sell it like in the tube rollers. You know how they have that at Sephora? And I like it on the roller just because like it's just easier and you can travel with it. But that's a really, really good one. And again, it doesn't give me a headache. And now that I'm looking, it's in the same scent type and fragrance, fragrance family of warm and spicy and warm and sweet gourmand. And the keynotes to that, to the perfume is Cappuccino Pure Vanilla Caramelized Cedar.

SPEAKER_00:

Cappuccino, say those again?

SPEAKER_01:

Pure vanilla. Cappuccino, pure vanilla, and caramelized cedar. It says, vanilla sky is the smell of comfort in a super sensual gourmand fragrance. Rich warm vanilla notes blend with delicious hints of cappuccino. Caramelized cedarwood lies at the base of the fragrance, why can't I say that word, to give a rich golden warmth to remind you of stunning golden hour skies.

SPEAKER_00:

Nice. Does the gourmand part mean like it has scents that you find in food? I don't know.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm not sure. To me, that just means kind of sweet or like, yeah. But anyway, it's like I wear that with another perfume that I'll review at another time that I also found that's clean and doesn't give me a headache. And I layer it with that and it works really well. Or sometimes I'll just do this hair and body mist because this hair and body mist is in the same family. I'll do this and then I'll do the perfume just to give it like more of a scent for like nighttime or something. And also the way that they describe this hair and body mist, just because I love the description. I said it was warm and spicy, warm and sweet, but the key notes are pure vanilla, cotton candy, and coconut milk. And the fragrance description says, Sandy toast, sweet treats and smiles on the shore are brought to life with notes of sweet cotton candy, raspberries, sorbet and creamy coconut milk balanced by pure vanilla in the base. The scent is meant to inspire you to relieve and recreate the memories of your youth with the power of fragrance. So anyway, it's kind of like that beat. That's what I was kind of saying before. But anyway, really nice brand Skylar Clean Beauty. I love it.

SPEAKER_00:

I haven't heard of it. I got to check it out. OK. Yeah. My next one is Pixi On The Glow Blush. Did you review this? Oh, I didn't, but I've seen it. OK, so I was just I was at Ulta with Madeline recently, who is asking me to buy her Sol de Janeiro or some skincare product daily. Oh, yeah, of course.

SPEAKER_01:

Constantly, which I have that I can give it to her. I have the sold as you narrow.

SPEAKER_00:

She has them all now. It's like absurd. It's ridiculous. But like the skin care piece, I'm I'm trying to stay really firm on because I don't I feel strongly that a 10 year old does not need anything besides hydration and SPF. Totally agree. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

And I listen and read a lot of articles about this that like younger kids skin is getting messed up because they're using all these things because they see them online, like all the drunk elephant or whatever. And it's so bad for their skin.

SPEAKER_00:

The drunk elephant is so bad for their skin. And the marketing on that is so that's the only reason why they want it is because it's such good like packaging and everything. It's and all of their friends have it. So anyway, I was rewarding her with some Sol de Janeiro for how hard she worked on her play. And yeah, but Alta and I found this pixie and it's just a really cute color. It's a nice it's tinted moisture stick. This color in particular is floor. But it's like, oh, sorry. It's a it's a very fun, like punchy pink. Good for spring. And it looks so easy to apply, too. It is. Yeah, that's what I really like about it.

SPEAKER_01:

And it almost has like a pretty highlighter to it. It's really pretty. Is it like is the consistency like a bomb? It looks like it would be like a bomb.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. And I've actually when I wear it on my cheek, sometimes I put it on my lips, too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

So on your nose, too, for a little color.

SPEAKER_00:

it has a really nice feeling when you put it on like especially if your skin is maybe a little dry it's going to give really a little bit a little bit of moisture so anyway so that's a good one that's a good one i've seen that but i've never tried it okay they have they have hold on really quick one two three they have four shades

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, Gore shades. Nice. OK, next one. Another one that I got from the Sephora sale that I'm really liking is the Fenty Beauty. It's called Invisimat. And I just want to see if this is a specific color, but it's just Invisimat Instant Setting Blotting Powder. This one's called Universal. First of all, I like it because it's like little, just like a little palette and I can bring it with me. So, you know, in my bag for touch-ups and I never like I feel like my face usually doesn't get shiny but like sometimes you know if you're out a long time you get like a little greasy and this is just a really nice mattifying powder but not not matte matte but it's just you could just take a little bit and just kind of, you know, blot. Mm-hmm. And it's great.

SPEAKER_00:

So what's the brand again? I miss that part. Fenty. Oh, nice. Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

And I like it because see it has this little tiny pad you can put inside. And a nice mirror. And a nice mirror and it's like perfect. So I literally bought it to just have in my bag when I need a little touch up. So I don't have anything like this. It's called Fenty Beauty Invisimat Instant Setting and Blotting Powder. And it's a matte finish, long-wearing. It says, a refillable universal finishing powder that blurs the look of pores, absorbs shine, and extends makeup wear all day. Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

So it's not necessarily translucent. It's a finishing powder.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, it's a finishing powder. I don't know the difference between a powder and a finishing powder, but it's called universal. So it's just kind of like white, but it's not really a color.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01:

So then it is translucent. Yeah, I guess. I mean, here, look, I'll show you. It's like a whitish pinkish.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. It's versus like when you put it on, if it had like a tint to it, like a concealer tint. No, no, no, no, no, no. Yeah. So that's that's a translucent powder.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. So I think it's like you just put it on at the end just for a little whatever or you just keep it with you if you need like a little touch up. Yeah, like, yeah, it's nice. It's really nice. Thirty seven dollars. I need something like that because I don't probably last like for 20 years. You know, I'm sure like those things just stay around. They like never they never get lower. You know what I mean?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, 100 percent. All right, my next one is a new ride-or-die holy grail, and it is the, it's kind of silly, but it's toothpaste, the TOMS of Maine Original Sensitive and Whitening Toothpaste. It's for sensitive teeth, and specifically, the reason why I started using it is because it's fluoride-free. So I was getting this, and listen closely, listener, because if this is happening to you and you don't know why, This is it. I was getting these like red bumps around my mouth and like sometimes like a little bit of a rash and I could cover it up with concealer, but sometimes it would be really bad. And if I didn't have makeup on, you could really see it. And sometimes it would kind of go away. And it was off and on for, I don't know, like maybe a year. And I finally, I was doing some digging and I found out that it was perioral dermatitis, which can be caused by multiple things, but most often caused by fluoride. So fluoride in your toothpaste, fluoride it can be in your mouthwash. But it's not internal, it's external, like it's on your skin? It's external, like it was, I don't have it anymore, but it was all through here and that like red rashy through here and then like lots of little bumps around here. And it's from fluoride toothpaste? You can get it from fluoride toothpaste, you can get it from steroid inhalers, like Flonase, that can cause it too. Interesting. So apparently it's pretty common and some people get it really bad. Like there's an image online that I'm looking with this website and it's really, really bad. Mine was never that bad. But as soon as I started using fluoride-free products, even your floss can have fluoride on it. Oh, interesting. Yeah, I started using fluoride-free products and it went away. But what I love even more about this toothpaste is this is the best whitening toothpaste I've ever used in my life. I my teeth are getting really white and I have I have I ran out of my Guru Nanda whitening strips. I haven't been using those. This is all I've been using and it's really Legit. This is legit whitening toothpaste.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. And it's Tom's, which is good because that's organic or clean or whatever.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, it's natural. So it's completely natural.

SPEAKER_01:

I use like Sensodyne, but I wonder if that has fluoride in it. I have no idea.

SPEAKER_00:

It probably does. You have to really look for fluoride-free toothpaste. It's like most of them have fluoride in it. Good to know. Yeah. But this one also for sensitive teeth, which is nice. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. Awesome. Yeah. Okay. So the last thing I have, like I feel like a lot of our things are kind of like edging into spring summer, is a new self-tanner that I've been testing. Oh, nice. I know. It's the Saint-Tropez, which I think I've reviewed, like they have a face one that I might have reviewed in the past. I can't remember which I really like. But this one is for a natural deep olive tan, St. Tropez Self Tan Supreme Violet Bronzing Mousse. It's really good. It makes you really dark and so far so good. It doesn't have that smell that I hate. So I've only used it a couple of times. I'm going to use this this weekend because I have an event and it's a good one. So I'm always on the hunt, as you know, for good self tanners. And I really like this one.

SPEAKER_00:

What kind of application is it? Is it a spray? It's a mousse. It's a mousse. Okay. Do you use something to apply it or do you just use your hands?

SPEAKER_01:

I use the mitts. I could probably use my hands and then wash them, but I just use the mitt because I just feel like it spreads better. But yeah, so so far so good. I mean, I just think Saint-Tropez has like the best self-tanner. There's another brand that I reviewed that I got on Amazon. I can't remember the name of it. I reviewed it last year, which I still use, but I ran out of it. So I just bought this one to try it. And it's a really good one because I like the color because it's it's just like a dark color instead of like an orangey like, you know, sometimes you could do a self-tanner and it's like a brown, but it's not like dark. This one's super dark. Does it come out violet? No, I don't know why they call it violet. Maybe it's just the line, but it's just like a deep olive tan. I don't know why they call it violet. I have no idea. But maybe it's just, I don't know, the line. But it's great.

SPEAKER_00:

I wonder, I'm just out of curiosity, the level of like if clean beauty is at all in tanning products, self-tanner. Is Centrepay? Centrepay is not necessarily clean beauty brand.

SPEAKER_01:

I don't think so. But the one that I reviewed last year, I think it was called

SPEAKER_00:

tan be or be tan like be tan yeah that one is clean i'm pretty sure that one was clean yeah that one's really good i just ran out of it or yeah expired or whatever it was i mean pretty sure that one is clean it's not like every product that we use is clean like wherever we can use it whenever we can great and it's just super realistic to have everything clean in your life those there are people that do it and more power to you but that's a lot of yeah a lot of tanning stuff i feel like it's hard i actually have a

SPEAKER_01:

person like when I really want a good tan that's like a spray tanner person and all her stuff her spray is clean it's made out of like beets and like all this like plant based. That's cool. Yeah it's fabulous but it's like you have to go there and get a whole thing done that's for like when I really I'm like going on vacation or something.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah you just reminded me of a funny story I had it before we went to Mexico for Adams birthday last year I had a woman come to do my spray tan and I don't know why I was expecting just like any woman this woman walked in she looked like she stepped off the cover of like a men's magazine but like still classy like she was stunning oh my god as insane she was like a little uh like like exotic looking. And meanwhile, you know, when you do yourself tan, like you're naked. You put on so vulnerable. I hate it. So vulnerable. And she's right. And I'm just thinking if my husband walked in right now, this. Wait, was she like a bodybuilder type? No, she was like curvy, probably like Brazilian or something, just like really beautiful.

SPEAKER_01:

And it was just so funny. How'd she do it in your house? Did she have a bubble or did you do it outside?

SPEAKER_00:

She didn't even use a bubble. We went into my gym, of course, I closed the lines and everything, and I stood on a towel and there was no residue. There was nothing. Oh, interesting. Was it a good tan? It was good. It was good. I could have gone darker, but I'm always so nervous that I'm going to look crazy. So I always go conservative.

SPEAKER_01:

But yeah, the color was good. I find that different parts of my body tan in different ways when I do those spray tans or even just like a self tan. the lower half of my legs like the front like my shin for some reason that area doesn't get as tan so I do like a double layer and when I was telling the self-tanner woman that she's like oh yeah that happens to a lot of people I'm like really she's like yeah it's just the way I don't know I'm like oh interesting

SPEAKER_00:

Huh. I've never paid enough attention to it. All right. So here's my last one. And, you know, not every product is a five star review. This is more of like I'm sharing my opinion. De-influencing. Yeah. So I've been trying to find a good setting mist because when I go to work, I'm like pulling on and off my face all day. Like my makeup wipes off so easily. And I ran out of my last one, which was the NYX. And I actually really liked it. And I picked up the Elf Stay All Night Microfine Setting Mist. Uh-huh. Not performing. It's really it's not performing. I maybe if I didn't have things like rubbing my makeup Constantly, but the Knicks really would hold up right that one.

SPEAKER_01:

I remember I think you reviewed and you liked it Yeah, you reviewed you said you didn't like and then you went back and you said you liked it because you were like doing It wrong. Was it the Knicks?

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that was the next. So I have educated myself completely on how to use these things now, and it's still, it's just not, it's not bringing the magic. But I am testing the, I just ordered it, the one size setting. Oh, I have that too. I just ordered it on the Sephora sale, the trial. Yeah, same. So I've heard it is really good.

SPEAKER_01:

I've heard it's good and I like the applicator. I haven't used it yet, but it seems like it's one of those continuous sprays, like it's like a mist versus like a pump. So I think that makes a difference. I actually have, I was going to tell you to try because this one's fantastic. I don't know if I reviewed it before, but it's the Morphe setting spray. Lauren Miller actually used that on me, and I bought it after she used it. And again, it's like a mist that is like that continuous mist. You just, it's great.

SPEAKER_00:

I just ran out of it. And does it work? Does it, like, keeps the makeup on?

SPEAKER_01:

Makeup does not move. It's fantastic. So the Morphe, I think they sell it in Ulta and on Amazon. I've seen it before. But I ran out of it, so I got the one size because I wanted to try that. Yep.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm hoping mine's going to come in a couple weeks. I actually ordered mine off of TikTok shop. I forgot that that's where I got it.

SPEAKER_01:

Never order off TikTok shop. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00:

I understand that some people think it could be sketch, but they have deals that are insane. I know.

SPEAKER_01:

I think everybody orders from there. I've ordered like once or twice, and when I get stuff, I feel like it comes from a rando place. It's not like Amazon and Amazon packaging. It's not like a TikTok.

SPEAKER_00:

You're right. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, you're right.

SPEAKER_01:

It's hard to know if it's legit.

SPEAKER_00:

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01:

It's probably fine, but it's hard to know if it's legit.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Yep. I ordered my Beauty of Josene.

SPEAKER_01:

from there. Right. Oh, you got the moisturizer. I got it still.

SPEAKER_00:

It has the retinol cream. Yeah, the eye cream. But like it could be counterfeit, apparently. I know I've felt the buzz.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, you have to be careful. I mean, if you bought it from a legitimate person, if you read their reviews, it usually should be fine in TikTok shop. That's what I've heard. But like beauty interesting, especially like I bought one on Amazon and it was fine. But then I ended up finding a website that sells a lot of Korean beauty and I buy it from there now because you just never know. But yeah, I mean, I feel like I'm into TikTok shop, but I'm like a little bit it like doesn't come quickly. I don't know. We're just so used to Amazon or like it's there the next day. So but yeah, I know they have really good deals.

SPEAKER_00:

And also maybe not the best place for me to be getting my skin care, but like they I bought this really cute. It's not a caddy. I don't know what you describe, but it's like it's on a pedestal. It's round and you put all of your products in it and it can spin and it's like a turntable kind of thing. Yeah. And Lazy Susan. Yeah, exactly. I got that for one for Adam and myself. That's five dollars. Yeah, I know. That's a good fine.

SPEAKER_01:

Amazing. Totally. All right. Well, that will do it for. May product junkies. It was good to be back and doing some reviews and hope everyone is well and see you next time.

SPEAKER_00:

And also, guys, don't forget our Amazon storefront is where you can find most of these products. And we have some really exciting guests coming up. So I'm super psyched for them.

SPEAKER_01:

But all the links in the show notes. Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes, please subscribe and leave us a review. Also find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 147 - Insider Tips For Natural Skincare & Haircare With Ayurvedic Therapist, Kirti Tewani (Full Transcript)

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to Nirvana Sisters Podcast, where we take the intimidation out of well-being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are sisters-in-law and your hosts.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm Amy Sherman. And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation. Welcome back to the show, Nirvana Sisters family. Today we are sitting down with Kirti Tejwani. Kirti, a cross-cultural individual born in India, raised in Spain, and currently residing in New York, is a dedicated Ayurvedic therapist, speaker, and founder of Better Green Health. Her mission is to inspire individuals to seize control of their health and well-being and lead a life of balance and fulfillment. Kirti's commitment to holistic living also extends to her approach to skincare and beauty. She integrates 14 years of experience in beauty with Ayurvedic principles and modern techniques to find non-toxic and efficacious beauty products. In her view, authentic beauty originates from within, and we can radiate beauty and vitality by nourishing the body and mind with wholesome foods, herbs, and self-care practices in addition to maintaining good skincare. So I feel like you could not possibly be more aligned with all of the things we think and feel as well. So welcome to the show, Kirti. Thanks for being here.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you so much. Thank you for having me, ladies.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, we'd like to kick it off with our Nirvana of the week. So I'm going to let you, Amy, you go first. What was your Nirvana? Get the ball rolling.

SPEAKER_00:

I would say that my mother-in-law's in town, which is really nice because She doesn't come up that much and she doesn't come up without her husband and dog usually. So she's just here by herself, which is nice just to get some quality time one-on-one. So she came in last night and is here for the weekend. So I'm enjoying my time with her so far and just looking forward to just having good conversations and spending time with her and the kids and everything. So I would say that's my nirvana. What about you, Katie?

SPEAKER_01:

Nice. We love Judy. I think mine was yesterday. I had one of those great days of balance. I was able to spend my morning volunteering at school for my oldest daughter. And then I went into the city and did my work there and had a great afternoon. And then I came home and prepped a little bit for this podcast and had some family time. And it was just one of those days where I was like, oh, I checked like all the boxes. Got to check today.

SPEAKER_00:

You're like, can't every day just be like this?

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, it was so nice and like nothing was overly crazy. It was like, you know, everything was like, it was like just the right amounts of things. So I was able to manage it all. So it was it was really nice. What about you, T? What was your nirvana this week?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh my God, so many things. But if I have to pick one, I actually socialized yesterday. We had like a little mom's night out. Not once I checked my phone. And that was such a big accomplishment because usually I'm worried if the kids are by themselves, but because my husband was home, so I wasn't worried about the kids. I wasn't worried about work. It was late night and not late night, but like more into the evening and yes, it was nice to like completely disconnect and be present in the moment. And I feel like in the world that we're living in, we're spending less and less time in the present and we're always like distracted by so many things around us. It was nice to actually connect with people who were also not on their phones. So everyone in that room was fully present or as present as they could be.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, that's fantastic. Doesn't that time just fill your cup so much, that time with friends, right? Yeah, for sure. All right, well, let's get into it. First, really quickly, let's just touch on Better Green Health. It's your blog, is that correct? Correct.

SPEAKER_02:

It's my blog. On and off, I've had it for two years, but then I worked on it for a little bit and I wanted other Ayurvedic practitioners and doctors to kind of be a part of it. But it's really hard to find good quality writers all the time. So it went back on the back burner because life kept happening. And then I revived it again in January. So we've been posting pretty consistently, updating new blogs about self-care practices, Ayurvedic practices, basically practical things that will improve your life. A lot of us are living in this thing, I need supplements. You don't need supplements. Sometimes you just need sleep. And even understand that from the inside and listen to yourself and listen to what your body wants can actually solve so many problems, but we often just ignore that inner voice. So the blog is mostly a reflection of if you want supplements, there's an option, but let's choose what else we can do in life to make our life easy, which is completely in our control.

SPEAKER_01:

I was looking through it earlier, and it is such a great resource. And I feel like for our listeners, most of the things, if not everything that we talk about today, they can probably find something tied back to on your blog if they want a resource to dive deeper. So we've had someone on before, an Ayurvedic specialist, a couple of years ago. Justine Lemos, and she was the first person that gave us a really deep dive understanding of what it is. And for our listeners, go if you want to go back and listen so that you better understand Ayurvedic practices. But what we would love to talk to you about today is because you have the most amazing content on your Instagram channel, with all of your skincare practices, and your hair practices, and all of these great things that we can do at home DIY things. So we would love to get into that with you. Does that sound good? Oh, it sounds amazing. Okay, great. All right. So Amy, do you want to kick it off since I'm doing so much talk?

SPEAKER_00:

Sure. No, no, no. So first topic, and I feel like this has been so prominent over the last few years, hearing more and more about it. So firstly, hair loss, hair growth, that category I feel like is just booming for women post-COVID. So we'd love to hear about that and hair oiling because I started doing that actually in January as part of my mood board for the year. I'm going to take better care of my hair and I started doing a bit, but I actually don't know if I'm doing it right. I'm just experimenting. So I would love to hear more about that practice and actually how to do it right and how that may or may not contribute to hair growth.

SPEAKER_02:

Everything starts from the inside, right? Hair oiling is an amazing practice. And I am obsessed. If you guys haven't seen my channel, I'm sure you have seen my channel, but I am obsessed with hair oiling because a lot of us just focus hair oiling equals to hair health. But if you think about it in the deeper sense, in the Ayurvedic sense, yes, it does benefit your hair. But at the same time, when you are massaging your hair, you're also getting psychosomatic benefits because you are relaxing your mind, your nervous system is decompressing, your body is decompressing, you are forced to be in the moment. And just that movement is not only helping your hair thrive, but also your inner body heal. And that is one thing that a lot of people don't understand. And when it comes to hair oiling, You know, it is great for your shaft. It is great for your scalp. Ayurveda has recommended hair oiling as a part of your hair care routine. It's like a pre-wash regimen that I also recommend to people to do. But at the same time, it is some you time, you know, even if it's five minutes or 10 minutes that you're giving to yourself to nourish your own body, your own mind, and that self-care practice. In addition to having great hair, does hair oiling prevent hair loss? Absolutely. Because one of the biggest reasons of hair loss is stress. So when you're doing hair oiling, you're not just protecting your hair from the outside, but you're actually having those psychosomatic benefits, which is helping you decompress. So you are reducing hair loss and not just for the nourishment. Because a lot of people are like, well, you know, it's going to clog my pores. I'm like, no, it's not. Your skin, it's the same skin that is on your body, your face, and your scalp. It's skin. So if you're moisturizing your body, your face, and you're not moisturizing your scalp, it doesn't make sense. So no, it won't. If you correctly hair oil, you warm up your oil, you massage it all over your head, and there are certain marma points that are more beneficial to massage, you will see benefits on the long run. To shampoo it correctly, I've posted multiple videos on like, a lot of people are like, well, I have to shampoo four or five times. I'm like, because you're not shampooing correctly. You do not need to shampoo even twice if you shampoo correctly. The two ways to get oil out of your hair in one shot. First one is flip your hair upside down. and then shampoo it and add a little bit of water and keep massaging your scalp with the same amount of shampoo that you took. And the second, if you have curly hair, you know, that's going to be a little bit difficult. But if you have that situation, you can section your hair. You know how you go to a hair salon, when they blow dry your hair, they section your hair. And when you section your hair and shampoo your hair, you're actually thoroughly cleaning your scalp. Bajing gave you benefits, but now we need to get rid of that oil in order to refresh. Same way we clean our body, now we need to clean our scalp. pore cloggings and all those problems only come if that oil is sitting for ages and ages in your head and you're not able to clean it properly. So if you do things properly, you know, there's so many benefits that it just doesn't stop at one thing.

SPEAKER_01:

And what type of oil do you use for hair oiling? Does it matter?

SPEAKER_02:

In Ayurveda, we call it different doshas have different hair types, and those different hair types could benefit from different hair oils. Like people who have vata dosha, for example, which is excess air element in the body will benefit more from something that's warming. you know, a warm oil. So something like sesame oil, which has warming qualities. Now somebody who has spitta dosha, they will benefit because they already have excess fire element in their body, they're going to benefit more with cooling oils. So jasmine, amla, almond, all of those have cooling properties. And then somebody kasa dosha, now they again want to increase the fire because they are too grounded. So again, something heated, is going to be more beneficial. So depending on what hair you have, what type of hair you have, certain oils can benefit you more. But at the same time, there are certain oils and certain herbs that are particularly focused on your hair that can benefit everyone. Brinjal is a great herb for your hair that can benefit anyone. Hibiscus. Jasmine, amla, one of my favorite things that I speak a lot about is amla. And again, the benefits are way beyond just hair and not just externally, but even consuming some of these herbs internally can help you have amazing hair.

SPEAKER_00:

What was the first one you said? It cut out a little bit on me. I just wanted to make sure I heard it. Sorry, the reception's bad right now. What did you say? It's called Bhringraj. Bhringraj. Okay. Yeah. The reason why I was asking is because I think the majority of our listeners, or some of them, may not know their dosha like me. And so if there's certain oils that kind of like work for everyone, I think that's great feedback. So we know kind of like if we use that, we'll be okay if we don't know our dosha and haven't gone that far into Ayurvedic. So that's great.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I mean, Amla oil works great for most people. Just make sure when you're buying your Amla, it actually is Amla oil and it's not, you know, mineral oil infused with 5% Amla.

SPEAKER_00:

You want to make sure, is it like 100% that we're looking for?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, so Amla oil, you can either get Amla seed oil or you can get Amla extract. infused into a carrier oil. So those would be the two different things. But then there are certain universal hair oils from certain companies that work for a lot of hair, all hair types. And everything you buy mostly would work for all hair types, unless you are very highly, extremely imbalanced in your doshas, then you should try to opt for something that is more dosha prominent. And if you want to take a dosage test, it is available to take on the Better Green Health site.

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, perfect. I will do that then. Question. So, okay. Once you've picked your oil, then what do you do? Like break it down and like, if our listeners want to, you know, hair oil in 101.

SPEAKER_02:

So once you have your oil, warm it up. The first step, warm your oil with a double oiling method. And then one of the easiest way to find your crown chakra, which is right here, anterior fontanel. You know, when the babies are born, they have this jelly belly spot, like a really soft spot on their forehead. That's the spot we're going to start hair oiling with. Okay. And the reason we started here is because this is in the Vedic world, they believe once you have achieved wisdom, there's a Lotus that's going to open up and you're going to connect yourself to the divine. So this is where all your energy is coming in from. And then there are important marma points here that is connecting your entire body as well. So you start the massage from here, then you go on this next point, which is If you see people balding, this is the first spot they're going to start losing hair. If you need a high ponytail, that's going to be another way to kind of recognize that spot. That's the next spot. And then the third one is in the back of your hair. So like, let's say about three inches from your hairline above. That's the Krikatika Marma. And that's another very important point to massage your hair. And then you can slowly massage it all over your hair. So the first step would be to take your head, hand, sorry, your fingers, and you go up and down in the movement. And you do it on your entire hair, just like a wave. You know how a wave moves up and down and you do it and you repeat that process three times. The second movement is a round movement and I call it my special chumpy way. So you do the round movement again, all over your hair. You start from front to back, all over your head, taking sections and going all the way in the back and then the middle of your hair. And again, you repeat this three times. And now how does a spider move? Like up and down. And you go all the way up and all the way down. And you again, repeat the entire process three times. If you want, now you can repeat this entire process again to kind of extend the time. But if you even do it once, you're immediately going to feel like And that is one of the goals with the Chumpy because again, I know that people are extremely focused when it comes to hair oiling on their hair health, but the benefits go way beyond just the hair health.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, so I have a silly question. So how much oil, I'm very specific, how much oil do you actually put in those areas before you do the massage?

SPEAKER_02:

So again, it depends. If you are someone who has extremely oily hair, you don't need to put a lot of oil. You can also work with your existing oil on the hair, so you need a little bit. But if you have extremely dry scalp, you know, irritated scalp, somebody with scalp psoriasis or problems, you can perhaps use a little bit more oil.

SPEAKER_00:

And is that like when you say a little bit more, is that like a full like droppers worth or like? Oh, absolutely.

SPEAKER_02:

You can use at least like five to six droppers. Oh, okay. Wow. It depends how much oil you want to use. But if like there are moments where I would completely drench my hair in oil. But I don't recommend doing that all the time. Because again, too much of anything is not good. But once in a while, if you want to do that for a full experience where your hands can just completely move without your hair blocking anything, you know, the more you oil your hair strands and everything, and it's an amazing experience. And it's extremely beneficial if you have access to steaming. after hair oiling, because then you go in the shower or even like a steam room, then the pores open up and that oil gets an opportunity to penetrate inside even deeper. So that's where you're going to find tons and tons of benefits. And Ayurveda is big about steaming, especially after body massage or hair massage.

SPEAKER_01:

Nice. I have a steam shower. I'm going to have to try it. I've never done any of this before. Just practicing what you were doing, trying to do it, was relaxing. I can only imagine how much of a relaxing practice it can be. Do you also believe you use rosemary oil as well for hair growth? Yes, you can.

SPEAKER_02:

And I've spoken to a bunch of people regarding what has worked and what has not worked for them. Using just rosemary oil doesn't work for everybody else. And I have posted tons of recipes where you have fenugreek, curry leaves, rosemary, aloe vera, you know, a mix of everything, because I would always believe in a balance. Every ingredient has its own potency. It's either hot or cold. But if you make a combination, then you have certain heated herbs and certain cooling herbs. And that's just kind of a good balance. So now you have this mixture of compound, but you need And every ingredient has its own benefit for your hair, but at the same time, it also has other benefits. The smell and all of those, a combination of all of those is so beneficial. So rather than focusing on maybe just one single ingredient, sometimes it's beneficial to go and get something that has multiple ingredients in, or if you want to make your own, you can do that too. Again, there is nothing wrong with just using plain coconut oil either. Like if there are some people who swear, like my hair, amazing, they feel amazing after using just plain, simple coconut oil. But then all of those depends how damaged are your hair. Does it need a little bit more? Overall, your head likes a cooling environment. And that is going to be beneficial. And not even just for your hair, but even your brain inside, you know, it's always go, go, go, go, go, go, go. So something cooling is more appreciative for your hair. So herbs like hibiscus, herbs like amla that have cooling properties, even coconut oil has cooling properties. All of those can be very beneficial for your hair.

SPEAKER_00:

And how often do you recommend doing it? Like once a week or?

SPEAKER_02:

Well, it depends how many times. It's like a pre-wash regimen, right? Okay. Before you wash your hair.

SPEAKER_00:

So for me, that'd be once a week because I don't wash my hair that much because I have dry hair. But for others who wash their hair a couple of times a week, like you could do it a couple of times a week. Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, let's dig into some skincare tips. You have so many great pieces of advice on your IG content, on your feed.

SPEAKER_00:

And your skin is glowing as I'm looking at it, Alice, of like the glow.

SPEAKER_01:

Glowing, absolutely gorgeous skin. And plump. I also saw on your Instagram how all of these people are asking you your age. And this was like a whole thing going on and on about your age.

SPEAKER_00:

And I was wondering that myself.

SPEAKER_01:

From like 23 and up, right? Totally.

SPEAKER_02:

It was funny. Every time, at least once a week, I get like these weird comments. Like, why do you look 25 and 55 at the same time? Like, somewhere around that. Why do you look 23 and 53 at the same time? Like, it's always in between 20s and 50s that people start guessing my age. And I was like, all right, you know, if you guess my age correctly, um, you know, you're gonna win something. And I did pick some winners and I sent them a little something but it was really fun to do that to see I think over 4,000 people tried to guess my age, and it was fascinating to see that, and how much people were interested in just guessing a random person's age they saw online, or maybe they follow me, I don't know that. But the reason I did that was, first, it was fun, and second, just to kind of see how people would act and react. And there were a lot of comments would say like, I would give like, you know, 28, but I'm giving you 41 because I follow you and I see how much you know and like those kind of comments or people would be like I would give you 32 but then you have gray hair so maybe I'll give you 52 like that was the assumption like generally people just associate gray hair with age. people don't understand the concept of premature graying, or they don't understand some people get premature graying in their 20s, but they color it. So you don't see it.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah. I know someone that went premature gray when they were 16. That's a thing. All right. Well, give us all the tips. All the tips on glowing, gorgeous skin.

SPEAKER_02:

So I think one of the simplest thing is to get plenty of sleep. And we all underestimate the power of sleep, but you know, beauty sleep is not just a cliche word. It's actually a real thing. The more you sleep, the more your skin is going to glow. There is no doubts. And even for hair, like you could be doing all the hair oiling in the world, but if you're not sleeping enough hours, your hair loss and your hair fall might not stop. So sleep is one of the most important factors when it comes to your health. Number two is your gut health. And people, again, underestimate that so much. Well, I'm going to eat whatever I want. Well, then skin is the visual representation of your gut. Like whatever is going in your mouth, reaching your gut is what is going to show up on your skin. So find that balance. You don't have to eat salads every single day, but you don't have to eat a bunch of candy every single day. You have to find a balance of how much good food I am feeding my body because that's eventually going to show up on my skin. Number three, one of the most underrated or underestimated things is emotions. Nobody understands how emotions have an impact on your skin. And I always tell people when somebody is like, well, you know, I keep breaking out. And one of the first questions I'm like, how many hours do you sleep? Okay. Eight hours. That's almost good. How much stress do you have? Oh my God. I live on like the top of the edge all the time. I'm like, try doing some incorporating some practices and you might see a big difference in how you will have these internal hormonal shift towards having good skin just by reducing your stress levels. And I believe now science also agrees to that. high levels of stress, high levels of anger, and all of those things can lead to inflammation in the body, which will result in bad skin and even toxic relationships. Sometimes people are like, well, everything is fine, but they constantly have issues with their partner, with their parents, or one or the other relationship that they're carrying that baggage with them. So even those toxic relationships can have a huge impact on how your skin looks. And then yes, of course, the skincare that you're using needs to be as clean as possible, good quality. But I think that is the last factor that plays a very important role on how your skin looks. There's so many other factors. I actually was looking into this company that claims that their supplements can help people reverse aging. And when I took the test, it literally says 90% still depends on your lifestyle and your diet. Amlas are only working 10% here. And it's just a fact. It's just a fact. You can take all the amla in the world, but if you are constantly living on the edge, you are still going to age really quickly. You can eat all the pomegranate because now, you know, modern science confirms the pomegranate extract helps to produce more urolithin A, which is a gut microbiota that helps to really reverse aging. There is scientific proof now. And what's funny to me is, Both research that goes with Urolithin A incorporates pomegranate and amla, but I'd rather recognize this 5,000 years ago without the research. Very fascinating to see how Ayurveda has categorized amla as one of the biggest rasayana, and now modern science is catching up with it. Sometimes I see this research and I laugh. I'm like, okay, so you kind of agree with what Ayurveda has to say, but in a different way. The language is different, right? And I think it's easier, it's never been easier to actually take care of yourself with the amount of awareness we have. We have so much awareness. And if someone comes to me and be like, well, my acne is not going away. I'm like, all right, let's start here. Let's figure out what could be the problem. Even if hormones are the problem, then something is off in your lifestyle. Something is off in, you know, your diet. There are people who are like, well, I constantly like, have you done any A-B testing with your food? Maybe you're eating something that your body's not able to digest well. You're not celiac, but maybe your body has a very hard time digesting gluten and just try to cut it out for a few days or minimize the consumption of gluten and see how your skin reacts to that. So there's so many simple ways, but you just have to, again, listen to your body. Like, I ate this today. Did I go to the bathroom the next day? I ate this today. How do I feel? Do I feel bloated after a salad or do I feel great after a salad? So those are, I think, really simple things that are directly connected, again, to your skin.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, there is such a strong disconnect. I feel like in the Western world, and we've talked about this many times about people wanting to accept that what you put into your body is such a huge factor of what is happening to your body. You know, it's really, it's like a part of our culture. There's a disbelief in it. Right? And these practices have been going on for so many years. There's so much efficacy behind it. It's really amazing. I mean, my husband has psoriasis, and he used to travel all the time, constantly, and his psoriasis would be horrible. And now his stress levels are down dramatically because his travel is down drastically, and his psoriasis is completely gone. So, you know, something as simple, he's not taking any medication. He hasn't changed much of anything else. He does take good care of himself. But it's, you know, it's an example right there.

SPEAKER_00:

Right. Of lower stress. I was also going to say, even for like teenagers, like a lot of teenagers obviously like go through puberty and have bad skin, but they also don't eat well. Most teenagers are like sugar and like crappy food. And I was talking to a friend of mine's daughter recently, and she was saying that she had really bad skin, but she was able to clear it up. And I was like, oh, how did you clear it up? And she's like, I cut back on sugar. And I was like, smart. But to have awareness as a teenager and be able to do that, I thought was really impressive. But Yes, it's so true that we're so focused and even we always talk about different products and all these things, but if you're not doing those basic things like you're never going to get anywhere and then the products only help, but they're not going to make or break you. It's really like how you take care of your gut and what you're putting in your mouth, which is so true.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, especially for young kids, you know, when they're at that sensitive age of puberty and they start feeling less confident because, you know, their friends start judging them and it's just a normal thing. Kids do that at that age. You know, but I think we as parents should have the ability to just not go to Sephora and buy them products, but actually make them understand that, you know, your skin is it is what it is because something is off in your gut. A dermatologist is going to give you and I'm not saying don't go to the dermatologist you should probably go to the dermatologist and get a quick fix on the top so your confidence level as a teenager you know doesn't disappear but at the same time while you're doing that you should also start focusing on your inner body because that's where everything is going wrong. The topical products will help you suppress it but it will not help you from not coming back. It will keep coming back and you'll get addicted eventually at a very young age to these topical ointments. But so you have to take care of your body from the inside. And I think that's why like, with the awareness that we have right now, I think we should constantly encourage our kids, okay, you want an ice cream? How about we eat vegetables this entire week, you know, and towards the end of the week, we can go have an ice cream. And there's nothing wrong with that, instead of giving them an ice cream option every single day. But I think we as parents need to have a little bit of accountability on that.

SPEAKER_00:

I also try to explain to my kids, which they don't fully get, but at least I put it in their head and maybe they'll think about it one day, is just the ingredient list. Because even if they are having chips, if the chips have five ingredients instead of 30, they're going to be in a better place. So I try to just, because they don't equate it to gut health and skin health. They equate it to like, oh, I can eat whatever I want. What does it matter? And I'm like, no, it's not healthy, right? And it's, it's hard, I think, especially for like young boys to understand that, but at least trying to put it out there, like less ingredients, the better, because, you know, just looking at these ingredient lists and like, you know, Doritos and all this stuff, it's so nasty that, you know, just getting that awareness out there, I think in general, which I think is out there, like just, you know, on TikTok and all the social media platforms, I think there, there's a lot more to your point awareness of this stuff than there was, you know, when we were younger. So I think it's positive. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

I think most of our listeners, I would assume, probably are aligned with, you know, working on the inside out. So I would love to, because you have some fantastic tips for natural skin care that I've seen. You create masks at home, you use rose water, I think you used honey. So give us a couple of those because I'm sure our listeners would love to hear and be able to do something like that at home themselves.

SPEAKER_02:

I mean, I've always said honey is one of, one of my favorite cleansers. It leaves your skin like with the feeling of a baby, you're going to literally feel like a baby skin with honey. But again, it's not a makeup cleanser, right? It is not, it will not remove your sunscreens because you need oil-based cleansers to remove sunscreen. But if you are, you know, somewhere you're not using makeup, you're not using sunscreen, you're indoors all day. then I would highly recommend just use honey for cleaning your skin. Clay masks. There are tons of clay masks that are available in the market, but something as simple as a little bit of a pinch of turmeric in Greek yogurt, that's an amazing mask. Wow. One of my favorite go-to masks. You will get instant brightening. The lactic acid from the yogurt and the anti-inflammatory and brightening properties of saffron, you are going to see your skin, whoa, I just had. And a lot of people are like, well, you know, turmeric is gonna stain. No, it's not gonna because of an addition of the yogurt, it is not going to stain your skin. And if it is staining your skin, it's probably because you're putting too much of turmeric in there. You just need like a little pinch of it. And like, there's so many simple things. You can make your own rose water. I posted a video about how it's very simple. It takes literally 20 minutes to make your own rose water. If you're not confident in the brand, you know, for the most part, people don't do that because it's still time consuming, but there's so many of these simple tips. Don't aggressively exfoliate your skin. You know, if you really want like one of the simplest exfoliator, Coffee, you made coffee, you had coffee, you have now grinds that you don't know what to do. You can use that as an exfoliator on your skin. Coffee is amazing for brightening your skin, for aging, for signs of aging, so many things. So not necessarily you need to spend a lot of money in order to have good skin. You can have everything in your home. I've also posted like an affordable skincare hack where you can take jojoba oil because the sebum off your skin is very natural compared to the chemical aspect of the jojoba oil. So it absorbs into the skin really quickly and add a few drops of frankincense to it, an essential oil. So now you take a $10 carrier oil, you know, buy from a good company, and then you add this essential oil that is going to last you forever. The ratio is for every ounce, you add four drops of essential oils or five drops of essential oils maximum, and you're going to see your skin thriving. And if you have a few strands of saffron at home, infuse it. Now you have your own saffron oil, which is amazing for depigmentation, skin repair. Saffron actually has the ability to repair your skin's barrier. So there's so many DIY things. If people are like, I don't want to go spend a lot of money, you don't have to. But again, you make the commitment to consistently do things. If you have the budget, then there are plenty of good companies that sell good saffron oil. Everybody has their own favorites, but you have the options of getting things if you don't want to make them at home. But if you want to make that at home, again, you have plenty of options to do that.

SPEAKER_00:

Wait, how do you wash your face with honey? Is it really sticky or do you mix it with something?

SPEAKER_02:

No, you just wet your face, just rinse your face with water, take a little teaspoon of honey, just rub it on your palm, your hands are still wet, and then just start cleansing your face with honey. That's it. That's so cool.

SPEAKER_01:

You can do that first thing in the morning, right? Because if it's first thing in the morning, you're not rinsing off your makeup and your skin, you can start your day with it. You may not have to try it.

SPEAKER_00:

I know. It sounds lovely.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, well, let's get into oh, you know what I really want to talk about is tongue scraping because I saw we we have talked a little bit about this Amy, but I don't think we've ever been able to do too much of a deep dive on it. We did with Oh, I will edit this out. I can't think of her name. But tell us a little bit about tongue scraping. And maybe if you could just break down into like the two or three things that you see the most when you look at someone's tongue, what does that mean? And then why do we scrape our tongue?

SPEAKER_02:

So in Ayurveda, tongue scraping is recommended because when you sleep at nighttime and you wake up in the morning, all the metabolic waste, it basically goes up because your oral health and your gut health is connected. It just goes back and sits on your tongue. So when you wake up in the morning, we have this white coating on the tongue. Majority of the people have it. I think everybody has it. Some have it more, some have it less. And that is a sign of the metabolic waste. So if you clean that out, not only you're increasing the perception of taste in your body, but you're also enhancing your oral microbiome. Some people, and again, your tongue, even according to Ayurveda and Chinese medicine can actually talk a lot about your internal health. But focusing on Ayurveda, if your tongue is extremely highly red, you have a pitta imbalance. If it's extremely pale, then you have an extreme mata imbalance. So when you go to an Ayurvedic doctor, the first thing they do is like, show me your tongue.

SPEAKER_00:

That's what my acupuncturist used to do every time I went in there. Yep.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah. They really want to see the tongue because it can literally translate what's going inside your body. The cracks, the shapes, everything can be connected. Something's off in the body. Let's see the tongue.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. And so when you scrape your tongue in the morning, is it, you're kind of like giving it a fresh start almost so that the, what did you say? The metabolic waste? Is that what you said? The metabolic waste doesn't just build up essentially. Exactly. And then that in turn affects your microbiome positively.

SPEAKER_00:

I've actually been doing tongue scraping for years and I probably haven't talked about on the show, Katie, but it's made a huge difference I feel like in my oral health and just like I can't even if I don't do it I feel gross like I can't even drink anything because I just feel like I'm taking germs and like you know um I love once you start scraping you're never going back to not you can't and it's not like with you it's just for our listeners we don't mean tongue scraping with like a toothbrush we mean with an actual tool that you just do it for a second and it like I also think it helps with, and I don't know if this is right, but immunity. I feel like it keeps you healthy. I mean, not to jinx, but I haven't gotten a lot of colds and stuff.

SPEAKER_02:

So again, internally, your entire body is connected, right? And even modern science agrees with it. Your good oral health is connected to your gut health. Your gut health is connected to your brain health. Your cognitive health increases your immunity. And all of those things again are interrelated. So a good oral microbiome, a healthy oral microbiome is again, is going to help your body internally function really, really well.

SPEAKER_01:

I have a tongue scraper and I tried to use it and I don't know if I was like too aggressive or something, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't get into it. Maybe I'm just being too aggressive.

SPEAKER_00:

That's what happened with my husband and he was like, Joey. I'm like, no, you don't have to do it that hard, right?

SPEAKER_01:

It can be a little bit more superficial than that. You don't have to like

SPEAKER_02:

No, no, you don't have to be aggressive on your tongue. Definitely not ideal to be aggressive with your tongue. I just do it quickly. I don't know. Well, your gag reflex sometimes, it's a muscle. Your gag reflex is a muscle, right? And it can be trained over time because sometimes people go like with the tongue sweeper all the way inside. I'm like, yeah, you need to go that back. And if it's not trained very well, you know, you start and then you slowly train yourself in your muscle to work. And the more you do it, the better you're going to get just like oil pulling or anything else.

SPEAKER_01:

Sure. Okay, great.

SPEAKER_00:

I want to hear about oil pulling because that I haven't done and I feel like I've seen things about that and I don't know much about it.

SPEAKER_02:

So oil pulling, Ayurveda sees it as a preventative practice. But as you might have seen on TikTok, now everybody, especially this one company, and I work with them, it's very interesting how they have literally changed the scope of oil pulling because It's not easy to swish oil in your mouth. If you take traditional sesame oil, which even I can't do because I don't like the taste of sesame oil, or traditional coconut oil, because then you have to go melt it. And so they created this fractionated coconut oil, added menthol and some essential oils, which are beneficial like cardamom and fennel are very effective for bad breath, clove oil, which is very effective for your gums as well as your teeth. So they've added all of these tea tree oregano essential oils to it and made it palatable, basically, for people to do it. And because you have all of these essential oils, and even traditionally, Ayurveda never said to oil pull for 20 minutes or 30 minutes like people were doing. I'm like, you're going to have a TMJ if you do it for that long. No, two to five minutes is more than enough. But I feel like what the company has done very successfully is made the oil more palatable for people. And that's why people have been able to sustain their practice. So a lot of people were like, well, my teeth are not whiter. I don't have bad breath anymore. And some people are like, my gums are regrowing. I'm like, your gums cannot regrow. That's just not how it works. What probably happened, because their gums were inflamed, now because of oil pulling and all these essential oils added to it, the inflammation has gone down. So now the gums are becoming normal. And because they're normal, and they're not swollen, you know, they feel like they're growing back. And I'm like, because your gums are not going to grow back. That's just not how it works. Some of the claims do not make sense to me at all. But because I know the practice, I'm kind of able to put a little bit of logic behind it. And I always tell people, well, I don't think your gums are growing back. I think the inflammation is going down. What are the benefits of it? So bad breath, again, a good oral microbiome, especially if you're a mouth breather, you are going to have dry mouth. It's going to help you with that. And a lot of people, when they sleep, they put retainers in and, you know, you tend to have this biofilm covering your teeth. So it's able to get into those deeper corners and help you clean your mouth even more than just traditional brushing and flossing.

SPEAKER_00:

Does it help with whitening teeth or it doesn't? Because I feel like I've seen. Doesn't help.

SPEAKER_02:

So traditional oil pulling doesn't help with whitening your teeth, but it can help to, if you're someone who drinks a lot of coffee, coffee is going to stain your teeth, right? So it's going to help with the decoloration because you're swishing it in your mouth. It is kind of cleaning your teeth a little bit. So it's not like it's whitening your teeth, but it's doing a better job in cleaning your teeth, which makes it feel like, oh, my teeth are whiter. But your teeth are not. It's not whitening. It's not doing the job of whitening your teeth. It cannot whiten your teeth.

SPEAKER_00:

Right. So what was the brand you were talking about? This brand is Gurunatha. So I have to tell you something funny about this brand. So Katie had recently recommended this brand. They sell a teeth whitener, which Katie has found really helpful. But I was in my son's room, which is so funny, and he had that oil on his sink. And I don't really go in there that much. And I was like, where? Wait, which one? Jackson? Yeah, Jackson, my 17-year-old. I was like, where did you get this oil? He's like, oh, I bought it online. I was like, oh my God, he saw that video on TikTok that everybody's seen. I was like, well, why did you get it? Have you tried it? He's like, I haven't tried it that much, but I don't know. I think it's going to make my teeth whiter. I'm like, okay. I just thought it was hilarious because you know, teenagers are finding this stuff and using it, which is great, right? Holistic, it's good for you. But like, I was like, it's so not like him to have something like that. I'm like, is this yours? Is this your girlfriend's? Like, how do you have an oil pull? I'm like, I got to try that.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, that's so funny. And it's good to know to like, you know, the younger kids are also doing. It's a practice once you get into it. Again, it's like tongue scraping. Once you start oil pulling and then you stop oil pulling, you're going to be like, something's missing. I won't feel clean enough.

SPEAKER_01:

What is the order in which we do all of these oral practices? Do you brush your teeth, tongue scrape, oil pull or back?

SPEAKER_02:

Tongue scraping first, always, first thing in the morning. And then traditionally, according to Ayurveda, you're supposed to brush first and then oil pull. Then rinse your mouth with salt water or modern salt. But out of convenience, people clean their tongue, they oil pull, and then they brush their teeth. because then whatever toxins are sitting, you know, you collect a lot of bacteria with that oil and it's going to sit in your mouth. But if you brush after, then you're able to remove everything and clean the oil that is sitting in your mouth better because you do not want that oil to reach your gut. Right. Neither is doing it even before brushing. It's not wrong. In fact, it's just a little bit more practical. And then you just thoroughly rinse your mouth with warm water.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. I'm going to try it. I was hesitant on the oil pulling. I don't know why. I guess it just seemed unappealing to me. But you don't have to do it for that long. How many minutes did you do? Two to five minutes.

SPEAKER_02:

More than enough. Okay. No, absolutely. Don't do it for ten. No. Even those two to five minutes are going to give you a nice, nice jawline.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, seriously. It's like exercising. Exactly. Exercising that jawline.

SPEAKER_01:

Alright, great. I'm trying it. Guru Ananda, I love their whitening strips. They work really, really well. I saw you use them as well.

SPEAKER_02:

Yeah, I use them and I like the fact that it's the only whitening strip that doesn't leave my teeth extremely sensitive.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, same. That's exactly why I like them.

SPEAKER_00:

I need to try that. I know you recommended it.

SPEAKER_01:

So before we let you go, this can be such a vast, broad question because I can only imagine the amount of herbs and everything that can be in one's Ayurveda practice. But what are some of your favorites? What is in your routine that you use and why or that you suggest the most?

SPEAKER_02:

I take amla every day versus vitamin C, high in antioxidants. You're going to get sick less. And one of the most important things that people don't kind of relate with each other, vitamin C helps to synthesize collagen naturally in your body. And collagen, the more collagen, the less you age. And that is not just for your skin, but pretty much your entire body, right? Collagen is good for your bones, your hair, your skin, your nails, everything. I always tell people, like, if there's one supplement that I recommend people to consume is Amla. And get your herbs from a reputated company. Don't buy your herbs from a random Amazon company. I always say that. Make sure you know where their sourcing is coming from and then get your herbs. And one practice that I live by and I absolutely love is just massaging your feet for two minutes before going to bed, especially if you have sleeping issues or, you know, insomnia or whatever, like that one practice is going to be insanely benefit for people.

SPEAKER_01:

I love that. And massage your feet with lotion, oil?

SPEAKER_02:

Oil, preferably warm oil. Just massage your feet for like two minutes, you know, like reflexology, basically giving it to yourself. You're going to sleep like a baby after that.

SPEAKER_01:

Nice. Okay. All right. So where can our listeners find you? Your Instagram is?

SPEAKER_02:

kirtitawani, just my name. And TikTok is also kirtitawani, just my name. And my YouTube is also just my name, Kirstie Tuani.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay. Well, let's do our wrap session. You might've just given away some of your secrets, but let's do it just in case there's some more, which I'm sure there probably is. So what is your favorite wellness or beauty hack?

SPEAKER_02:

Hack? I think saffron. It is the key to, it has so many benefits for your skin. Consuming saffron also enhances like, you know, saffron tea or saffron milk. also enhances your cognitive health, because your brain health is really important. It's not just how I look, it's also about where my brain is functioning, right? And then saffron also has immense amount of benefits for your skin.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay, the next one we call our five minute flow. You've just got it in the shower and Uber pings you. They're five minutes away. What is your quick, you know, what are your quick things that you do to get right off and get ready and get out the door in five minutes? Like what do you put in your face, your hair, et cetera?

SPEAKER_02:

I think my hair, I would just leave as is unless I washed it. Even then I would just leave it as is. I might put a little bit of oil if it's just too frizzy or depending on if it's raining outside or something like that. But I would just take any oil that I have available on my counter. I would put it from head to toe and grab a multi-stick and run. like a multi-step for your eyes, cheeks, blush, whatever you can use. Oil will give you all the glow you need. You're moisturized. That's one of the most important things. A hair tie. If my hair is looking messy, just put it in a bun and just get going.

SPEAKER_00:

Love it.

SPEAKER_01:

How many oils do you have on your counter?

SPEAKER_02:

More than I can count some days. I have a lot of oils. I mean, everybody who knows me knows that I'm absolutely obsessed with oils for face, oils for body. And again, my kids, I drench them every day after the shower. Now they know, they come out of their own shower. My son is now old enough. he puts oil on his own body and then he gets stressed and just use regular olive oil. In the summertime, we use regular coconut oil, sometimes sesame oil, and then I give them oil massages and they get very excited for their weekly full body massage. Again, a body oil. One of my favorite body oils is from this Ayurvedic company, called Sahajan. They have this beautiful, gorgeous body oil that smells divine. It's just amazing. And it absorbs into the body really well. And I think the base does have a little bit of sesame oil, which traditionally Ayurveda recommends.

SPEAKER_00:

Well, I'm going to get that. I need a new body oil. What's your favorite face oil now that you're on the body oil topic?

SPEAKER_02:

Ranava, saffron serum. 100%. Like one of my all the way at the top.

SPEAKER_00:

What's the brand? Ranavath. Okay.

SPEAKER_01:

We'll have to get the spelling.

SPEAKER_02:

We have that in Sephora too now.

SPEAKER_00:

Okay. Sephora sells it. Great. Ranavath, face oil. Okay. Love it.

SPEAKER_01:

All right. And then our last question is how do you maintain your daily nirvana?

SPEAKER_02:

By taking small breaks. So everything, I'm trying not to just go back to back to back to back all the time, because that is what causes a lot of stress, a lot of anxiety. So I make sure sometimes I even block like those five-minute things. I put, you know, do some inversions because the head needs a little bit of more blood flow. It's also good for premature gray hair. And just take those tiny little breaks, just for my brain health, my soul health, myself. and get back to work. And I think that has definitely increased productivity. That has definitely changed the way I react to certain situations. So yeah, I think Everybody should have these tiny little me time breaks where you're doing nothing. You're not on your phone. Taking a break doesn't mean I'm going to scroll on Instagram or TikTok. Taking a break means I'm just catching up with my own breath, just being conscious in the moment and letting everything go.

SPEAKER_00:

That's a good reminder. And before you leave, and you can say pass if you don't want to answer, but now I'm curious. I need to know how old you are. If you don't want to say it, just say pass. That's fine too. I'm 38.

SPEAKER_01:

Oh, beautiful. Yeah. You could be 22.

SPEAKER_00:

I know. I was like, I'm like, she has kids. So she's not in her twenties. I was thinking like somewhere between like 30 and 35, but okay. Yeah. But I'm 38. You look amazing.

SPEAKER_02:

Thank you.

SPEAKER_01:

All right, well, Kirti, thank you so much for being with us today. I feel like we've got so much great, fun information from you and our listeners are going to love it. So we appreciate it. Thank you. Of course.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you for having me. Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes, please subscribe and leave us a review. Also, find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 142 - Taking Big Bites with Kat Ashmore (@katcancook) - Easy Week Night Recipes, Her Full Skincare Routine, Life, And All The Things (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 142, Taking Big Bites with Kat Ashmore (@katcancook) - Easy Week Night Recipes, Her Full Skincare Routine, Life, And All The Things Write Out The Title.

Amy Sherman 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Katie Chandler 0:18

And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation

Amy Sherman 0:27

Welcome back to the show Nirvana sisters family. It's Amy and Katie and we're so excited to have Kat Ashmore back with us. Yay. It's been years. So just for the history. So cat came on our show a couple of years ago, I looked back it was episode 38. Now we're like on 150 or something which is crazy. You were not just starting but like somewhat new to the space now you've obviously evolved and we're so excited to catch up with you and hear more but let me give our listeners because we have so many more listeners. Now. The scoop on cat Ashmore aka cat can cook so, cat Ashmore is the chef recipe developer and digital creator behind cat Ken cook graduated from the award winning Institute of Culinary Education in New York and went on to work for Martha Stewart developing retail recipes and producing cooking segment segments. On the eight time Emmy award winning the Martha Stewart show Kat lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut with her husband Michael and their family. Welcome back to the show. We are so excited to have you here. We've been following you are so proud of everything you've done. We can't wait to hear everything. So welcome. Welcome. Oh,

Kat Ashmore 1:30

so so great to be here. I can't believe it was it was what, two years ago?

Amy Sherman 1:35

Yeah, it was like 2022 I looked back. I can't remember what month but yeah, I was looking back and I'm like God, Episode 38. That's crazy.

Kat Ashmore 1:42

So Oh, wow. So long ago. I know. Time is such a funny thing. I don't even know half the time like what was last month what was five years ago. It's I know it all together. Now. It's so it's so great to be back here with you. Yeah, thanks. So good to be here.

Katie Chandler 2:01

We start with our nirvana. Before we get into it. We're so excited

Amy Sherman 2:04

to catch up. And let's let's start off with we haven't done this in a while. Katie,

Katie Chandler 2:08

I know what was your Nirvana this week, baby? Did you?

Amy Sherman 2:12

I did. So Katie knows I love I get crazy sometimes with organizing. And so I went to the container service like my favorite place. And I got these like new closet organizers for all my sweaters. Because all my sweaters and how like they pile up. And I've been trying to figure out for years, like, how do I do my sweaters needs they don't fall over. So anyway, I got these like, closet organizers for my sweater. And now they're all like neat and organized. So when I walk in, I feel so good. So I did that organizing. And then I also did organizing, like all my makeup and skincare. So I move stuff that stuff out of my bathroom and put it like I have like a little vanity, which I never used. And I'm like actually using it and I organized it and everything's like has a home. And it just feels clean and organized and lovely. And I just love that feeling. And I don't do it enough. But sometimes I get crazy and I start organizing and then I don't do it for like months, but it just feels good to have that organization. Does my Nirvana this week. What about you, Katie? I

Katie Chandler 3:10

would say mine was I found my favorite game that I used to play. It sounds so nerdy, but I use my friends and I used to play this game until like, midnight all the time on like Friday nights. Instead of going to the club. We would play rummy cube. And I first got it all these years. I forgot about that game. Yeah. Oh, fun. My My kids are old enough to play now. So I found the game. And we've been playing it after some weekends. So we did it a couple times this weekend was it's fun. I love it. I'm obsessed. That's so fun. That was mind blowing. What about your cat?

Kat Ashmore 3:43

My Nirvana was probably. So we recently moved into a new home and we have a hot tub. And we've been going in the hot tub, like every couple of nights, I would say. And we had a big snow here in Connecticut. We're not big. But it was our first one of the seasons, which is always really pretty, right? Because it's not gray. And yeah, it's all just really white and beautiful. And there was one night where it was snowing and we were out in the hot tub and I was with the kids who are five and seven now. So even my seven year old and I wasn't expecting this but he's he doesn't want to be with me as much. You know, he's got like, the video games and these things that I'm not really a part of. So when we have an opportunity to just all get on the same level and just enjoy something together and there's no distractions and we're like catching snowflakes on our tongue. And it was one of those moments, you know, where you kind of like hover above your life and you're like, This is joy. Like these are the good old days, like snapshot. Yeah, it was very powerful, you know? And then I was like, Yeah, Looking at them, like 30 minutes. Right? It was pure bliss. And I just think it's so important to recognize those moments of like, this is happiness. This is happiness. tuck it away somewhere, you know, tuck it away and take this

Katie Chandler 5:17

opportunity. And I feel like as they get older, a gray.

Amy Sherman 5:22

Yeah, that's so good. And it's crazy, because last time you were here, your kids were like really? Little, little little. Yeah,

Kat Ashmore 5:27

yeah. While Okay,

Katie Chandler 5:29

that's when you had just gotten back to work. So that's yes. Certainly back to your work you when we talk to you, you just kind of been in was it maybe a few months that you had done the transition into Captain Cook and really diving into to your tick tock following and everything. And now here we are huge fans, tell

Amy Sherman 5:47

us tell us all things tell us.

Kat Ashmore 5:51

I mean, everything's, everything's great. It's like, everything's good. Everything is really great. Yeah, it'll be four years this summer, since I started creating on, cat can cook. But really, you know, I would say 2021 is, I mean, that's the first year that I was able to monetize it all. It was the first year you know, I switched my website over from Squarespace to WordPress, like I could started to, like, actually make it a real business. Yeah. And so it hasn't been a long time. But so much has happened. And I feel like when you put when you place yourself in the right position, sometimes the universe just kind of like, does works really quickly. And it's like, okay, she's, she's here. She's ready. Like, yeah, let's go. Yeah, it's

Amy Sherman 6:45

amazing. And it's so fun to just have watched you grow over these last few years. And like, tada, hello, cookbook. I mean, amazing. Congratulations. You I remember, because it was so impactful. I remember when you filmed yourself, getting the call about doing the book, or like the deal had closed, or whatever it was that it was like so much. No, I remember that. And now it's like, it's here. And you have this beautiful, incredible book. As I just said, like just going through the last few days, I'm obsessed. Thank

Kat Ashmore 7:25

you. It, it feels to me like the book I would want to have. Yeah, the book that, you know, I waited a while to do a cookbook, having been in the industry, having gone to culinary school and working for Martha and I have had a couple of opportunities to do cookbooks in the past. But it didn't feel like I needed to do a cookbook until until now. All right, until it felt right, because it's out of immense respect, and appreciation for the cookbook industry, that I just didn't want to do a book unless it was going to be something really different. And it was really adding to the conversation, changing the conversation. And it feels like this book is that it

Amy Sherman 8:13

really is I mean, I am not a good cook by any stretch Katie's much better than me. And I'm always looking for like really simple, easy. And I was going through this and I have like a few cookbooks that I sometimes like out but like, this is just so user friendly. When I was I was saying to Katie, what I really enjoyed is that in the beginning of the book, you have the pantry staples, which I think it's so helpful. So for our listeners, there's like little section on salt and pepper and oils and what kind of milk and gluten free and just all these staples so that way when you go to the recipes, it's all like you have all the answers you need. And then when I was looking at these recipes, I was like, Oh, this recipe is three steps. This just these four steps. Perfect. So that's that's like amazing for someone like me who really doesn't cook a lot but like I just told my son, my younger one who's now in eighth grade, but he's like in the phase where he is eating non stop. I can't keep up with him. And I wish I'm always like I wish he was like a good cook so I could just make all this stuff so he would just have stuff so I told him I was like go through the book I just got this weekend, pick out recipes that you want me to make for you and I'll have these ready to go but like I don't know exactly what you like your your tastes are changing all the time. So like pick some recipes, so he's been

Kat Ashmore 9:27

phenomenal. If he likes if he likes meatballs, the chimichurri meatballs are a great one because you can you can form them and freeze them or you can just make like a double or triple batch and then freeze them and they're just ready to go. You put them on green bowls, you tuck them into Pietas you you know just eat with your fingers, which is usually what I do. Yeah, so that kind of thing. But these recipes are really it's what I make at home. Yeah, like I don't make multiple meals for dinner idea. I know people are like, how do you do that? It doesn't mean that my kids eat every single thing on the plate, I make sure that there's a safe food on the plate that I know they're going to eat, or to usually that I know that they're going to eat. Sometimes they'll take a little bite and be like, No, but like the turkey feta burgers that I just made them a few days ago, and my kids ate them two nights in a row. And it's like, they have kale in them. I mean, they wouldn't eat kale on its own, but they will eat them. Now, they wouldn't eat them last year, but things change. Those kinds of recipes, I think are just so helpful. And it's really familiar concepts, right? It's just taken in a modern kind of unique direction, like the meatloaf, for instance. You know, like, everybody knows Mila, but like, this is just the amazing meatloaf with caramelized onions and horseradish, and it just like keeps up the flavor. And it's familiar, but it's different at the same time. It's not intimidating at all. Which is why I like it. I find most cookbooks just like out of my reach. Like they're just too complicated or just feels too like, yeah,

Amy Sherman 11:11

it's very approachable. Very, like I said before, like very user friendly, not intimidating. Like it's, it's fabulous. So what is your I mean, there's like, how many recipes in here over 100? I think, like whichever one? Well, I have like two questions on this. Like, what's your favorite one? And then like, give our listeners three. easy and quick weekdays like weekday meals, you can make them every week?

Kat Ashmore 11:31

Week? Yeah. Yep. And so look, so the first recipe that always comes to mind when people ask about this is the most complicated recipe in the book. Now, when I say that, it's not complicated. It was very complicated for me to develop it because it took me three years, but it's the three year gluten free bread. And it literally took me three years to perfect this recipe, okay, 1000s of hours of iterations. By the end, I was like asking my husband like, what do you think about the crust on this? And he was just like, I don't know, like, always the same thing, you know? So my new but I'm obsessive. And this is a bread that it's gluten free. So yes, you buy some of the ingredients that maybe you don't have on hand, but like you buy them, you have them. You can mix the dough, you can bake it, and you can eat it in the same day. There's no overnight rest. So if you wake up on a Sunday, I make it every single Sunday, wake up on a Sunday morning, you're like I want fresh bread for dinner. You can have that. So that is a recipe that I'm really, really proud of. And people have been chomping at the bit to get this recipe and it was the one recipe I knew I had to save. Yes. Yeah. Well, I was like, this has to be in the cookbook. The beaks good. All of the baked good recipes are fantastic. It's like my husband is often like, I don't know why people are so crazy about your salads, like it's your baked goods. They're like crazy good and a lot of them are gluten and dairy free or just have less sugar. I'm always looking at how to make how to keep the integrity of a recipe. So that it tastes like you know it is a brownie it is a piece of cake it is those things. It's just like how much can I cut back on the sugar without it affecting the integrity of the recipe and how can I be importing flavor another way? What is the role that this ingredient so I a lot of things go into account. But the New York style Crumb Cake is fantastic. And it basically mimics those, like big squares of crumb cake that every New York corner store sells in cellophane that like vanilla cake with like the bolder size crumb topping. Yeah. Yeah. looks phenomenal.

Katie Chandler 14:02

That's for sure. Yeah.

Kat Ashmore 14:04

I mean, it's just phenomenal. But I really think as you said that dinner is really the Achilles heel for a lot of people. A lot of kills me, right? It's just like, and it's often not very fun to make dinner with your family. I mean, even for me, and I love to cook but usually it's just like I have to cook something because I'm their parent, and that's part of the deal and like, supposed to feed them. I wish they would intermittent fast, but I haven't been successful with that yet. So when it comes to dinner recipes, so I've got two different chapters. There's the Sunday suppers, and then there's the weeknights, chapter. And one of the most popular recipes with my kids aside from the chimichurri meatballs, that kill and betta turkey burgers, like they love the miso teriyaki pork tenderloin, Wine. And it's a really quick thing to make because pork tenderloin, it's, you know, it's lean, it's not expensive, it is quick to make. And you just have this beautiful miso teriyaki glaze that is literally I mean how many ingredients the I think it's five ingredients, and it's fantastic. So stuff like that, where you're able to all enjoy the same protein, maybe your kids won't eat the vegetable or you know, something like that. But at least you're not making completely separate meals all the time. Yeah,

Katie Chandler 15:35

that's what I feel like I'm doing with my youngest and she's my oldest has come around and she'll eat just about anything. I've been in front of her. But your tip, you told us this when you're on the first time of having a safe food that they you know, without a doubt, they're both going to eat. I've been using that ever since and it really does work. But you know, then I end up cooking like an extra protein just to get that in her as well. But I feel like the weeknight thing. It's the time crunch, right? That's why ball so it's not super fun to cook when your bedtime routine is in half an hour. They have to get up early. So blah, blah, blah. You know, it's a totally different story when it's on the weekend. Coming

Amy Sherman 16:13

up with what you're gonna make it That's the worst part. Like every night, like, what are we going to eat? I mean, yesterday. Yeah, when I think about it, like yesterday, I marinated chicken and I did like slip over all day, just throw it in there. And I like forgot I did it. And then at five o'clock, I was like, Ah,

Kat Ashmore 16:27

I forgot I already put that in. So like that was like I don't think about it every day. But like the thinking about it is the worst part, right? You're like, oh, like, plastic problem, right? And everyone says the same thing about it. It's nice to think about it in the morning. Yes. When you're sharper. Ideally, plan out your meals on a Sunday, that's when I like to do it. I do my grocery shop on the weekend. And then I plan out my meals on a Sunday where I'm rested, because nobody's going to be innovative or creative or, you know, even that mindful when they're in a rush, right? Make it enjoyable. But even in the morning, okay, even in the morning, get up out your protein, take a quick look at it, it'll take you five minutes, just like wrap your head around. This is what's happening, even if you do nothing with it, right? It's, it's the mental shift of like, Oh, now I have to think about this. Yeah, in the morning, when you've got the most motivation, the most energy. So

Katie Chandler 17:30

true. Well, and that's what I love about in your book that you hear at Staples, because if everyone has these in their pantry at all times, and you know when they're running low, that's an easy thing to add to the grocery list. And then you pick out a couple of things to add to the grocery list the proteins, vegetables in your set. I mean, sometimes the meal planning through the week, what I need to make those meals happen is overwhelming. So to be able to have something to have your book where it's it's people don't use cookbooks as much as I feel like they used to. And it's all like Google and searching online and Pinterest. It's there's something so refreshing about having a book in my hand, I can open it up and I can say oh, I need 12345 ingredients. And I've got my pantry staples. It's it just simplifies the whole thing. I really thought What is one of your favorite meals to cook when you have like all the time, and you're on it?

Kat Ashmore 18:21

Yeah, when I have all the time. I mean, that's more project cooking. So I love to do things that are just like slow cooked that can kind of like bubble away. I love soups and stews because there's so many different directions you can take them in. They're all about building flavor, which is something I'm really big on. Like the whole soups and stews chapter is. I mean, I hope it's obvious that they're like knock out of the park. Good. But one of the things that my kids actually love are these slow cooked indoor ribs because and they could not when I tell you they are the one of the easiest recipes in the entire book really they cook they literally cook themselves. Okay, so you are doing a combination. I've got spices here I add a little bit of dark brown sugar, you've got paprika, oregano, garlic, onion, coriander, but you can use whatever spice blend you want to. You don't need you I'm not dogmatic about what spices you use. And then the key is just cooking them low and slow. We're talking like 250 degrees for like three and a half to four hours and just forget about them. You take off the tinfoil you Yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, just so simple. So on a Sunday and the nice thing about that is that when you've got something that you can just forget about, you've got mental energy and physical energy and time to maybe be a little bit more creative and make your own salad dressing. You know, pair it with something else. instead of like, I just have to like steam up some broccoli because I'm supposed to have a vegetable, right?

Amy Sherman 20:06

recipe actually, like doesn't look intimidating at all like this looks like oh, wait, I could make this. Maybe I'll make

Kat Ashmore 20:12

your hiring imitating Yeah, it's not intimidating at all. I

Katie Chandler 20:17

feel I feel like all of your recipes are really approachable. I mean, as I'm flipping through, they're like, five steps, six steps, right, again, five steps.

Amy Sherman 20:27

I mean, it's really figuring out how long

Katie Chandler 20:29

you could do it.

Kat Ashmore 20:30

I think kids. Yeah, that is, that is a huge, a huge part of the recipe development process for me is that much like Coco Chanel says, like, a woman should accessorize and then take one thing off before leaving the house. I am. A lot of my editing is removing things, removing ingredients, removing steps, like how much does this really needs to be done in two bowls? Can it be done in one bowl? Like, maybe I'll add the baking soda at this stage instead. So it activates more. So a lot goes into a recipe being simple, and spirit

Amy Sherman 21:05

thoughtful, almost like harder to make it simple. I would think hard enough to iterate constantly to get it.

Kat Ashmore 21:11

They're harder. I wanted the recipes to almost all be on one page. I I'm always eliminating steps like how much does this really need to chill on the refrigerator? Like, can I get away with it? Maybe I need to replace it with a different ingredient. So I'm always looking at how can I make this? easier, less time consuming? And really just take up less mental energy, you know, and love? Yeah, one

Katie Chandler 21:37

of many reasons why you have three plus million followers on? Is that right? 3 million plus?

Kat Ashmore 21:46

It's not quite it's, I mean, between Instagram and Tiktok on like just under 3 million. Yeah, yeah.

Amy Sherman 21:56

And speaking of the 3,000,001 of the big things that made you go viral was your hungry lady salads, which I know we talked about last time, which we're still obsessed with. And for our listeners, there's a huge section in the cookbook with all the hungry lady salad recipes, which is incredible. Because to have all that in one place. They're so good. If they

Kat Ashmore 22:16

are just chapter, it's the largest chapter in the book. And it's not actually all of the hungry lady salads. Oh, it's just like, your favorite. I mean, I have like 46

Amy Sherman 22:28

Oh my god seven.

Kat Ashmore 22:30

Second book, like just salad. I mean, there are gonna need to be factored in I did actually just redid just signed to do book to Oh, my

Amy Sherman 22:39

God, hey.

Kat Ashmore 22:41

Yeah, that's actually just fine to do both two and three of my

Amy Sherman 22:46

gosh.

Kat Ashmore 22:49

Oh, it's good. I mean, yes, the orders have been so strong. And the enthusiasm has been so strong that it's the way that the community has shown up. It's really our book. And I always say that, like, I am the voice. But you all are the microphone, I don't exist with that. I mean, you get the message out, you get excited about it. Or else I would just be like sitting in my kitchen, like dancing to my food without anybody there. So like that's not quite as effective. But yes, so the hungry lady salad section. So the entire book is about 90% new new recipes. And then 10% fan favorite recipes. Great hungry lady salad section is 18 recipes. So 14 of them are brand new, and four of them are fan favorite. Amazing.

Amy Sherman 23:37

Great. Yeah. Those salads, like I know, we talked about this last time, like you can make them and just have them for like how like a couple of days for the mom with your

Kat Ashmore 23:46

daughter and have them for a long time, even up to a week. I mean, it's yeah, that's I mean, that's what I'm always I'm always wanting to give back that gift of time. You know, one of the things we just never have enough of so taking advantage of when you have some time, make this salad have it in the fridge so that like you have something to look forward to for lunch every day. You know, it doesn't just get the job done. It's like and then you have more mental energy to think about dinner like it's all this all plays into each other. Like I don't want you waking up being like, what am I going to have for breakfast? What am I going to have for lunch? What am I going to have for dinner? You're not going to you're not going to do your best work that way.

Amy Sherman 24:28

It's, it's all laid out. Okay, so this book is truly gorgeous and stunning, like just the photos and the layout and all that stuff. What was your favorite part of like putting this together? I imagine it's such a creative and fun process and I'm sure very, very grueling as well but like what was your favorite part of the whole experience?

Kat Ashmore 24:48

I think my favorite part of the experience was crafting the story around the book. I'm very much a storyteller at heart that is at like the core of All of the content I do, and it has been the most common thread through my whole career, whether it was you know, telling stories on television with Martha or then on corporate side, or as a gourmet foods buyer telling the story on a retail level, and I love to write. So really creating the recipes. I mean, if I had my way I would be in my kitchen, listening to music, just creating recipes, writing recipes, editing recipes, from morning to night, that yeah, like it, there's nothing I love more. And I look at every recipe, like a story, like there are different characters that you need that round out the story. And they bring out certain things in each other. And it creates this like holistic, rich story. So creating the recipes. And then also just like writing the head notes about each recipe because it my communication style is very personal. I want people to feel like they are at home with me cooking with me. And I always love to read that in a cookbook. I want that. That personal element, you know, because it's in there are my favorite stories to read even even now. Yeah,

Amy Sherman 26:15

it's so true.

Katie Chandler 26:16

You do an excellent job with that. Feeling like someone is in in the kitchen cooking with you and

Amy Sherman 26:22

like a friend. Yeah,

Katie Chandler 26:23

it's definitely a piece of huge factor of your fan following and everything you just make. It's like you talk you're talking to your girlfriends or your friends about how to make something or, and that reminds me, we were speaking about it earlier, before we got on that you are fans that your followers are constantly asking you other questions about your life, not just about the food, because they feel like they know you so well. Right? I mean, you guys are very connected. So we were just talking about absolutely stunning your skin is so what skin is scanning all the things that are that's, you know, other things going on in your life like that gorgeous, glowing skin. How are you getting at? What are you doing?

Kat Ashmore 27:03

Thank you. You know, it's still so I'm so grateful and humbled by it. And I really receive all the compliments that I get around my skin now, because I wasn't historically someone that was complimented on their skin like not that it was like horrific at certain points. It just like wasn't that, you know, it wasn't notable. And so it's really amazing. I do work at it. I mean, there's a lot that I do, right? So some people are kind of like, Oh, that's too much. And it might be I mean, for me, I really

Amy Sherman 27:40

we need to hear the whole breakdown because we love this. We need to

Kat Ashmore 27:44

be entire everybody listening? Yes, I mean, take notes. So there's the topical stuff that I use the products and then there's the stuff that I use that I use and just lifestyle choices that help right like, I don't drink alcohol anymore. That helps. Yeah, that absolutely helps. Okay, so I'm just more hydrated on a regular basis, I eat a lot of whole foods that helps I drink a lot of water, that helps I do a cold blast at the end of my shower for 60 seconds. So like as cold as I can stand it. That helps, right? Like I do Transcendental Meditation every day. That helps, right like stress is all of it is reflected in your skin and in the way that you look and the way that you feel is also reflected right. So all of those lifestyle things matter. And then as far as like my skin routine, on a daily basis, how much like into the weeds Do you want me to go we want the weeds like the weeds. Amazing. Okay, so yeah, because it's like a non negotiable for me to do these things. So in the morning, I do my first skincare related thing I do is I do guasha every morning with a base oil. I am very like regimented with my mornings I wake up very early, usually around 434 45 I do like my workout in the mornings. I first thing I have is three two ounces of warm water with lemon and salt. Like those types of things. I do my guasha that's the first skincare related thing. And then I go upstairs before I get in the shower. And literally thinking of everything I did this morning. Before I get in the shower. I love it. I use an oil based cleanser. So I've been using is it better skin for better skin. I think that that's the name of it. Just some kind of an oil based cleanser. Yep. So I will just put that on. I hop in the shower, rinse it off. Like especially in the winter time I'm doing a lot of stuff that is hydrating even when it's cleansing. Yeah. So I will use that. I get out the net First thing I do is I put my toner on, I just like tap it all over my face my Declan Tay, my neck, my hands and then I will put on my red light therapy mask. Which do you guys use a red light therapy mask? Yeah,

Katie Chandler 30:14

fun. Yeah, I don't use it religiously. But I have one anytime you

Amy Sherman 30:17

have the Dr. Dennis gross one er, which one do you have?

Kat Ashmore 30:20

No, I have the current body one. Okay. And I have used it every day for four months. And it's made a really big difference in the, like, tone of my skin. I see brown spots have faded. That's like the biggest difference that I wow. That's how long do you wear it for? 10 minutes. Okay, so what I always do is I put on my robe, I put on the neck one and the face one. And then I do stuff like I pack the kids lunches. I'm never just like sitting hanging out, right? Like I'm always doing multiple things at once. So then I do that. I take that off. And then I use a serum I usually use so my friend Jenna launched a company called bios. And so I don't know if you see it and B Y O F stands for free. You have to look it up. It's like a pink. It's like a pink container. And it's basically like vitamin C and bakuchiol Is it bakuchiol gradient tavas li butchering it, but it's fantastic. It's, it's kind of touted as like a retinol alternative. I still use tret every few days at night, but it's just you know, I use some kind of serum. So I do my serum. And then after that I will do my moisturizer. So I've been loving the Dermalogica moisturizer lately. Fantastic. And then I spray the like a tanning spray. You know Santro PE spray. Oh yeah. So that gives you a really nice glow. And that's my morning is that like a crazy lot and then I take liquid collagen like when I go downstairs which is like completely changed my skin. But that has mostly just changed the skin from like, it's almost like a balloon was blown up in my skin. Yeah, when you plump? Very much so. Okay, it's time at

Amy Sherman 32:27

the gym because I want to shoot. Okay, so what's the nighttime routine?

Kat Ashmore 32:30

nighttime routine is I will do so I take off my makeup with either LMS or again, like an oil base. And I've been using the Dermalogica precleanse lately that I love. I love Dermalogica products, they sent me a bunch of stuff to try. And so I've been using the pre cleanse and I absolutely love it. It's really light. So I take that off. And then I do a second cleanse with just like a set of fill or something like gentle but like a proper cleanse, right? A double cleanse. Yep, yep, yep. And then every I switch it up a little bit where every few days I will use the P 50. By biology reshare shorts is like, great. It's strong. Yeah, I do that. Why is that? Yeah, every few nights, I would say I don't use that if I'm using Tretton Now when that night. I do try it like every third night as well. But one of the things that I swear by is it's called aisle lucette. And it's a French name.

Katie Chandler 33:30

I just ordered it. What is that? I

Kat Ashmore 33:34

use it every single night. It's unbelievable. Do you know how to use it? No.

Katie Chandler 33:37

I was gonna do my research before I came. I ordered it like yesterday.

Kat Ashmore 33:42

Yeah, it is very potent ironic acid cream. Okay, the treatment so it, it won't like burn your skin or anything. I mean, it's like a very nourishing treatment. But you basically put it on damp skin. So I will do that. Like right after I have the toner, I'll just put a little bit of water on my skin. Take like a good sized amount. It's not expensive, which is part of why I like it, because sometimes they'd be like, if something's too expensive. I don't want to use a lot of it. So it's like you can use a good amount. And I just put it all over my face to the point where it looks pretty white still. And then I will just take a little bit of a thick moisturizer like Egyptian magic or something like that. And then I just like Pat, I kind of slug it in in that sense. And you wake up with the most moisturized glowy Oh, yeah. So now I have like French pharmacy

Amy Sherman 34:44

same caterers just talking about that. Yeah, I need to order that. It sounds amazing. So do you do that when you put retinol on because I use Trent known as well. Like is it that you do that on top of the Trent Nolan?

Kat Ashmore 34:54

I do. Okay, some people say not to me You know, you hear different things, whatever. I think you have to be your own physician to play with your cover. What? Yes, exactly. I, I do I find it very, very nourishing. And I'll do a face mask like, maybe once a week. Yeah. Nothing crazy. But that. Yeah, that's one of my favorite products. And that's

Katie Chandler 35:22

what I read about that product is that it pulls moisture into your skin from wherever you're adding the moisture. So like you said, Your face has to be damp before and then you're putting on like a heavy slugging cream afterwards. It's really helping that moisture seep into your skin. So if you read if you use it while your face is dry, and then you don't follow up with a moisturizer, it will actually dehydrate your skin because it'll pull the moisture out.

Kat Ashmore 35:48

And that makes sense. Yeah, so a lot of sense. I like to know the why behind things. So I Yeah, hearing that, because I wasn't aware of that. I just knew you needed to use it on damp skin. Yeah, it's really, it's really fantastic. And then I use that canopy humidifier. Yeah, yeah. So I use that every night. And so I love that you just gave us the whole like, nitty gritty detail because we Yeah, I love that I am like the opposite of a gatekeeper like I want, I will share everything I know it

Amy Sherman 36:24

or not. So I ordered the college and because I had seen you talk about it so many times. And I was like, I need to order this and obviously your skin looks amazing. So I just started at like, I haven't been super disciplined. But lately I have been but I got it maybe like a month ago, so I don't Okay. You know, I know you said it has to you have to do for like a few months for you to like start here for a month. Yeah, we'd

Kat Ashmore 36:43

say yeah, I mean, it worked for me quickly. It was like within the first five weeks, I would say Okay, everybody started commenting on it to me. Wow. My followers like I wasn't planning on even sharing it for three months. Yeah, people are like, what are you you know, asking all these questions and now

Amy Sherman 37:03

you do like the two teaspoons in the morning or two tables table. Every morning.

Kat Ashmore 37:07

My husband takes it now my mom takes a deep dive on me. It's been this it's Modere Okay, and if you see like my the before and afters my college and highlight it's like comical.

Amy Sherman 37:22

No, I watch I was like, before I bought it, I watched it. I'm like, this is incredible. I mean, it's what year the plane was like, I got the one that you recommended, like the plane one it kind of tastes like here. It's like a Yeah, like part. Oh, yes. It's not bad. But there's also flavored ones. Do they kind of work the same? Yes.

Kat Ashmore 37:41

So they're all the same amount of collagen? Yeah. But like it also has hyaluronic acid in it too. Right? So it's like you see a lot of these same ingredients. It's just like I mean, the college is expensive but you can you get what you pay for like I use less Botox now. And I don't use any like eyelash serum anymore.

Amy Sherman 38:03

Oh, really? So it's affecting like your hair grow?

Kat Ashmore 38:06

Yes.

Amy Sherman 38:07

Wow.

Katie Chandler 38:08

What a good for nails also right like the

Kat Ashmore 38:10

the strain our joints? If you I mean, I have been takes it because of his joints. Like he has no shoulder pain for the first time in like 15 years. Wow. It's great. Yeah, it's really good. I mean, I know I get offers. I get like brand deal offers from different supplement companies and stuff like that constantly. You know, I'm going to be very selective with who I work with. Because I don't want to be doing a million different things. Like I want to be doing stuff that works.

Amy Sherman 38:40

And we trust you. I also bought the walking desk, like not the walking desk, the treadmill from you. And it's so funny, because you just I had been researching for a while and then I like forgot about it. And then I saw yours. I'm like, I'm just getting on and she recommends because I know it's good. And that's been so nice. Just not be sitting all day and just like walking during the day. So that's great, because I've noticed, like, obviously, you have so much content around cooking, but now you have a lot of like great lifestyle content. Like I'm wondering, I'm like staring at your sweater slash sweatshirt. I'm like, is that an Amazon or is it here? You

Kat Ashmore 39:13

get it? Like I love it isn't deadly, Steven? Okay. Yeah, it's, you know, it's the kind of thing where I think very much like Martha in a way, like she started out in catering. You know, she became a firebrand. And I just, I've always operated in the sense where I am going to listen to what people want from me. And I'm not going to I'm not going to sit here and think I know what people should want to see from me. I'm going to talk about I mean, like, I am a like, I'm very passionate about the things that I believe in and like creating a life that I'm excited to wake up to every morning. So I talk about it all. I love it and

Katie Chandler 39:56

it's working for you obviously.

Kat Ashmore 39:58

There are so Many food creators and there's so many websites Food Network New York Times cookie, if you just want recipes, go there like, yeah, the only thing that's really different about what I do is that I'm doing it. So I my content is very personality forward like, people better than me, people are taking better photos than me people are putting together better outfits than me. But like, I'm the only unique thing about my brand.

Amy Sherman 40:28

That's right. That's right. And you know what, I always like to follow people like you that have a specialty, right? But then you start seeing their lifestyle, and you get to know them more personally, because that's when you like, can really connect and start trusting and like it just it makes just for better overall content and like, whatever. So we love it all. And you are going on a book tour. I'm read so let's hear about that. Like where where's it starting? Because I was just saying to Katie, I think you're like your first stop is near her. I was like, Katie, you gotta go. Yes.

Kat Ashmore 41:02

So the first event is going to be the 23rd in Madison at RJ Giulia And then third, okay. And then it rolls out where I'm going to be in Danbury of Barnes and Noble there, I'm going to be at the Del Mar in Greenwich for a really fun event. And the kitchen Atlas scowl is going to be making a few of my recipes for the appetizers from the book. So it's really fun. And then I'll be traveling a bit where I'll be in, you know, I'll be in Rhode Island at the William Sonoma in New York at Columbus Circle Boston, Dallas, Texas, I'm going to be hosting an event with my friend Alex from the Define dish. And we're going to be hosting an event together and then Houston and more stops may be added. But I have the full list on both my website and my Instagram. Okay, yeah, you need to come. I know, I'm actually surprised that we haven't prioritized DC yet. I mean, a lot of it is just based on analytics. Right. And we're on the ground. shoveler Yeah, most people are, but I know that I've got we've got a lot of people in DC for sure. Because if you can let me know, as well. Yeah, no, definitely.

Amy Sherman 42:21

I can interview live, we could do an ironic live q&a from the audience. You see what I'm saying? I got it. I got. Um, one other thing I wanted to mention, I know we talked about it last time, and you mentioned it reasonably somewhere. But and I again, always think of you about this, like, what can I add to my plate like that philosophy? So like, if I'm making a salad or I'm making like yogurt in the morning, I think to myself, like, what can I add? That's like healthy that's gonna see shaped me. Like, can I add that? Can I add whatever and like, that has stuck with me. I think it's such a good tip. Yeah, I'm

Kat Ashmore 42:51

so glad it's been huge. For me. It's really been huge for me, because I don't snack that often. Now, and I don't even realize that I don't really snack until people are like, knows that. Like, it's crazy to some people, but my meals are really satiating. So I just, I don't snack that much. And

Amy Sherman 43:12

I need to make I saw in the cookbook, and then I noticed it on your feed when I looked because I totally missed this one over the holidays. Like I love peppermint cookies or anything like peppermint around the holidays. And I saw those peppermint cookies. I was like, You know what I really need to make that they look

Kat Ashmore 43:26

No, they're so good. Yeah, my seven year old said that those are the best cookies he's had in his life so far. Like, well, I mean, that is the ultimate review. Yeah, absolutely. Like, you'll note that there's granulated sugar, and there's butter. Yeah, there. Yeah, I am not afraid of classic baking ingredients and not afraid of any ingredients. I want. A cookie tastes like a really good cookie. So

Amy Sherman 43:57

if you're gonna have it, you might as well. Yeah, we're just

Kat Ashmore 44:00

like, how much do we actually need? And by cutting back on this, what changes do I need to make so that we still get the texture we want? We still get the Browning we want. You know all of that. That's just that's my way. But

Katie Chandler 44:14

we're still letting a cookie be a cookie. Yeah,

Kat Ashmore 44:16

very much. And again, that way you aren't feeling like, Oh, I'm going to this place. Do I need to make like, healthy cookies that I'm going to want to eat? Or do I need to make like totally indulgent cookies that I can't eat but other people will enjoy? It's like, No, you can you can do both.

Amy Sherman 44:33

You can do both. Okay, like we could literally talk to you all day. We love you. We love like so fun. I just like and we need to meet in person. So Katie, and I need your book tours like this is

Kat Ashmore 44:45

great. We have to make that happen. Email me and we'll we'll chat about

Amy Sherman 44:49

that. Well, we'll figure out something. So let's get into our little rap session. I know we did this last time but I'm sure well, we basically like the first question what's your favorite wellness or beauty hack? I feel like we went through your whole routine. So we Love it. But just give us one thing like your favorite hack.

Kat Ashmore 45:02

Yeah, I'm okay. My favorite wellness hack, I will say because this is a mental wellness and we haven't talked about it but yeah complimenting a stranger a day. I do it every day. Oh, I love

Katie Chandler 45:13

that. I think I saw that on your content at some point. Did you talk about it at some point?

Kat Ashmore 45:17

Yeah, I have I've talked about until that's why I compliment one stranger a day. And I will also like, anytime I go to the grocery store, I get an extra bouquet of flowers, and then I will give it to someone in the parking lot. Sometimes they have to, like be a little bit creepy and like, follow people to their car. Because there aren't a lot of people here today. But I do it for myself. I love that when I'm having a bad day. It's this storyline of like, I'm not any good. I'm not enough. That's usually what is at the heart of it. So like, the best way for me to get back in touch with my goodness is by doing a good deed. And so instantly, I feel like I'm a good person. So it's not completely all altruistic. And

Amy Sherman 46:05

yeah, it makes you feel good. And it makes make someone's day.

Kat Ashmore 46:09

That's completely. Yeah, I swear by.

Katie Chandler 46:14

It shuts down those automatic negative thoughts that we all have. Right. It's like,

Kat Ashmore 46:19

quiet outside yourself. Yeah. That's great.

Katie Chandler 46:24

All right. So you gave us the play by play of the routine. What's the five minute flow? How you get out the door quickly? Uber's right around the corner.

Kat Ashmore 46:34

That was this morning for me literally before I had to jump on to something. So the one so I have I've been under painting, which I swear by doing, you know, the contour or bronzer and the blush, whatever underneath, whatever kind of foundation you're wearing. Or tinted sunscreen, but I have been using this slip tent by

Amy Sherman 46:59

Oh, I use that. So good. I'm obsessed with

Kat Ashmore 47:03

that. So I'm obsessed with it. I love the Ilia Skin Tint too, but like this is my newest obsession. And this concealer by Natasha de Nonna. Oh, I've heard of Yeah, I've heard of Taylor I've ever used really filler of every list. Yes. Yes. You can like bring it down. If you're not wearing anything else. You can bring it down a bit and just spot treat and treat that as like you're on vacation. Yeah, so that is like, huge. And then I will be like very much like a multiuse person where if I'm putting a little bit on my lip, I'll just like that, you know, dab it on making you and then Thrive mascara is my jam. I use that with a CoverGirl primer. Perfect. I don't know. Yeah. Just quick out the door. Yeah, but you know what it is? Don't Don't you feel like it's the high maintenance to be low maintenance thing, because I do so much with my skincare. I don't 100% do that much.

Amy Sherman 48:04

I don't need to do that. Yeah, I also find and Katie, and I've talked about this before, like the older you get, the less makeup, you need to if you're taking care of your skin like yeah, makeup doesn't look as good as like because your texture is different. So like, the less you can wear the better. But to your point, you got to do a lot of stuff to make it where your skin looks dead. So you don't really have to wear much, but just like a little thing here or there.

Katie Chandler 48:25

That's right. Yeah. Yeah, too much makeup. The older you get. I feel like is ages,

Amy Sherman 48:30

people who didn't do it totally does it totally. The

Katie Chandler 48:33

base has to be in shape. The skins got to be Yeah, on point. All right. So I know what your how you maintain your daily nirvana. Remember what you said last time? I'm curious what it is this time if it's same or not? How do you maintain that?

Kat Ashmore 48:48

Meditation is huge for me. That's like, oh, that's one of the big I mean, it's a non negotiable, it has totally changed my life where I'm just so much less reactive to external circumstances. It grounds me in something really solid. So that's huge. And also daily movement exercises. Like some kind of daily movement, whether it's, you know, walking, doing an incline walk in the morning, going to a, you know, a bar class, just like working my body out.

Amy Sherman 49:20

It just like something. You got it. Yeah.

Katie Chandler 49:23

You've been practicing Transcendental Meditation for years, right?

Kat Ashmore 49:26

I have. Yeah.

Amy Sherman 49:27

Anyway, you're doing that at some point. You inspired

Katie Chandler 49:30

me to find the Westport or the, you know, the Fairfield County representative here and I started working with her. Like a year ago, I hung up with her for a while I've fallen off I need to go to one of them. You know, like, refresher.

Kat Ashmore 49:45

Yeah. Just to get you back then. Yeah, yeah, of course. And, you know, meditation is one of those things where people always feel like I'm not good at it. And it's just like, nobody's good at it. Right? Right. was against everything in us as a human to like, it's hard, or water.

Amy Sherman 50:05

I appreciate it when I do it. I really don't do it a lot. But when I do it, I appreciate it so much. And I have to I feel like at least for me, because I'm not I don't do TM or anything like that I'll just do like a, Melissa would help like just someone guiding me and that helps. But I really need to force myself to do it more because you're right, like every time I do it, I feel so much more grounded. I just like don't worry, you know, put it in your calendar. If you do that's the way that I implement a new habit is I put it Yeah, calendar I put it in my phone. Repeat every day. Well, I have my I put this on our Instagram, but I have my like, my yearly mood board on my screensaver as my phone and it literally the best tip like we're kidding are building your year to doing this. It takes two seconds you like do it on your Well, this one, I think I made this one make a mood board. You basically you could do it a super easy way. Or you could make it more complicated. But the super easy way to do it is you take nine photos from your phone like you could just find inspo anywhere like, quote on Instagram, it's something from patients wherever you just take those last nine photos in your phone, you screenshot it and you put it as a screensaver. It's like the easiest thing. This I think I made in like Canva, which took me two seconds. But I just took a bunch of things. I literally downloaded it and now it's on my screen. And so it's like my reminders of are my things that I want to do that. I'm ready to go fast. Because I've been every year I always have these things. And it's like I write it down. And then I never look at it. And this was like, I started doing the nine photos. But then I was like We don't want to add more things. So then I of course like wanted to make a fun collage. But the easiest way is just like take a screenshot of this last name photos, or 12 manifest

Kat Ashmore 51:51

whatever it is. I just wrote it down. Yeah.

Amy Sherman 51:53

I love that. Yeah, we want to hear. So it's been it's fabulous. Yeah, I I love it. And I actually there's this quote on here that I had last year and I carried it over to the shirt. And my husband was like, will you sent me that quote, which was so cute. And the quote is, and it's by this person, Judy Haller, who's actually just like, she's like a keynote speaker. I've just been following her for years. And the quote is, assume the best will happen. Which I love. Because how many times are we always like, oh, like you always think negative. You're like, Oh, what if this happens? What if my husband's like, very skeptical about everything? So like, he saw that quote, and he was like, Oh, can I have that? And I was like, Yeah, I mean,

Kat Ashmore 52:34

that too.

Amy Sherman 52:36

I mean, yeah, that's so it's like, such a good thing to think about, because there's so many times right, where you're like, thinking through something, and then sometimes I'll just change my mindset will be like, but what if this happens instead? You know, even even with my kids like, a basketball game, well, what if I do that or whatever? But what if you don't? What if this happens, right? Like, right, he might spend

Kat Ashmore 52:58

time projecting the future you might as well do it positively.

Katie Chandler 53:01

Or just for what you want. Yeah, I

Kat Ashmore 53:05

love that. Yeah.

Amy Sherman 53:06

Anyway, well, like I said, we could talk all day, but this is nice. Thank you for your time was so good. Everybody, check out cash, Moore's book, big bites, and of course, she's on Instagram and Tiktok and all the things. We love it. We love you. Thank you so much for coming back. Congratulations on everything and we will chat soon. Can't wait. Thank

Kat Ashmore 53:27

you so much for having me.

Amy Sherman 53:30

Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters will continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to buy

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

Episode 140 - Refine Your Year: We Dive Into 10ish Wellness Trends In and Out for 2024. (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 140.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

Speaker A: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast, where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Speaker B: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

Speaker A: You welcome back to the show Nirvana Sisters fam. It's Amy and Katie. And we are back. I was thinking, Katie, this is the third year in a row that we are doing our 20, our wellness trends. So this year is 2024. But it's crazy that we're in our third year of doing this. And it's funny because I feel like a lot of the things that we talk about in these wellness episodes end up that we start seeing that through the year or we've already interviewed someone about it. And so every year when I'm researching this, it's so fun to me.

Speaker B: 100%. I totally agree. And beauty trends also, not just wellness fun, forecasting it and then seeing the buz on it and everything. So it's exciting. I love it.

Speaker A: Yeah. Okay, so I'll kick it to you. We're just going to bang through these really quickly and high level it for you all.

Speaker B: Yeah. I think a big trend that we are going to see, that we've started to see. And it's really, I feel like just scratching the tip of the iceberg. Is that a saying? Scratching the tip of the iceberg?

Speaker A: I know what you mean. Scratching the surface.

Speaker B: Surface is the more exposure and more open conversation to women's health. Circling menopause and perimenopause. There's a lot of celebrities that have started brands or products targeted towards menopause. There is more discussion about it. It's becoming less taboo, as we have discussed over the last couple of years, we've had many guests about, I think, you know, pop culturally, seeing a lot of celebs like Naomi Watts, she started her brand stripes. That's a women's products for dry skin and vaginal dryness and things like that. And then ever now, telehealth medicine for menopause is a company that is getting started by Drew Barrymore and going to be, it's supposed to be online menopause treatment and personalized care based on real science. That's what it says on their website. And it's telehealth that is going to be widely available. And then Judy Greer. Yeah, it's very cool. Judy Greer, she's the founder of wild supplements and those are menopause and perimenopause supplements. So I think it's just a matter of time before this thing that has always been kind of like hush hush. It's definitely getting more and more out there. I think it's going to be even more so. And we're going to see a lot of that in 2024, which is great.

Speaker A: That's a great, yeah.

Speaker B: Speaking of, I had, like, full blown perry yesterday, like vertigo, like you. And I was thinking I needed to text you, but I was having a migraine. I couldn't even look at my phone.

Speaker A: Oh, my God.

Speaker B: Thank God for all of this stuff.

Speaker A: I know. I'm really happy to see there's more visibility because I think, again, it used to be like a dirty word. Nobody wanted to talk about it. And you're seeing more and more people starting to talk about it to normalize it, because to your point, perimenopause can go on for ten years. People just don't like, they don't realize what it is. So I think the more education, more awareness, the better.

Speaker B: So what is your first trend? What's your buz. That you've been hearing?

Speaker A: So when I was doing some research, I saw something that caught my attention from forbes, and it was vagus nerve stimulation, which I know we've talked about many times, which is amazing, but to actually see it written in, like, a mainstream magazine, and basically there was a woman interviewed and she said, I'm seeing a huge increase in interest from the wellness community in the vagus nerve, and how simple stimulation of this cranial nerve can counteract the fight or flight response in our body. And we have a few episodes regarding the vagus nerve, but I think, again, that is like a term we probably didn't even think about, hear of a couple of years ago, a year ago, and now I think that's becoming more into the forefront. So whether that vagus nerve stimulation is through deep breathing, mindfulness, and then it was funny because I read that it also said, even humming or laughing has been shown to calm the body after the flight or flight response is triggered. And so I know when we spoke with Steph Magenta, and we recently did that replay, she was talking about humming. And I've noticed that I've been adding that in, like, when I'm feeling a little anxious, just doing a little hum, for some reason, that helps. So anyway, that whole idea of vagus nerve stimulation and different tools you can do, whether that's like, through an external tool or just using something in your body to calm yourself, is in the forefront. And I think it's really important. And a great tool for our listeners.

Speaker B: I saw that article, and that was on my list for today because I. It's really interesting. It's so becoming so prevalent that in that article, it said the vagus nerve stimulation has been viewed over 55 million times on TikTok. Oh, wow. So there is definitely something to be said for people are taking notice. And you have a friend that had a tool that was a Vegas nerve stimulator that we used, and it was so cool after we used it, we were really relaxed and mellow. Do you remember that?

Speaker A: Yes. It was like a tool that you put on your neck, and it makes your lip kind of move a little bit.

Speaker B: Yeah. And it stimulates your vagus nerve.

Speaker A: Yeah, I forgot what it's called. Like, true Vega or something like that.

Speaker B: Yeah. We need to find out and we'll put it in the show notes because it really is very cool. I want to get one and then just one other vague stimulator that is so easy to do is sighing. Did you know that?

Speaker A: No.

Speaker B: You think about it. You do it when you're stressed. People sigh when they're tired or stressed. If you're stressed, like, that's so true.

Speaker A: I feel like when I get in the car, I just do that. I'm so funny. You know another thing that Steph Magenta told us, which I do all the time now and again, I don't know if this is Vegas nerve or what it is, but a breathing technique is just, like, in for four and out for, like, I feel like I was always doing the breathing in, but the breathing out for four helps because then it's, like, balance instead of just breathing in and then just shortly breathing out. Just that long breath. Do that a couple of times is really helpful.

Speaker B: Yeah. All right, fake nerve.

Speaker A: What do you have next?

Speaker B: So my next one is a beauty trend that I think we're going to see a lot of hearing a lot about the 90s makeup coming back. So to be, like, a little bit more specific, I think we're going to see less of the laminated, thick eyebrows and more of the natural, maybe even too thin, which I don't love eyebrows coming in, and then less of the super dramatic mascaras and lashes. A little bit more natural there. But this was one that I'm really excited to try is lipsticks that have kind of, like, a brown undertone to them. Yeah. Elf has come out with a few. Nyx has come out. Merit dior, like, really beautiful brown, burgundy ish, pretty colors.

Speaker A: There was this one brown lipstick I wore in the course I can't remember the name of it. I'll have to think of it. But you know what I'm talking about. There was like two lipsticks that everyone wore. There was one kind of frosted pink one.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: Do you know what I'm talking about? Of course. I can't remember the name. It was like maybelline lean or something. And then there was a brown one like that, too. I have to research and try to figure out those.

Speaker B: You should try to find, you know.

Speaker A: What I'm talking about, though.

Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, colors in my head, I.

Speaker A: Remember that frosty pink and I remember that brown. It was like a late color. I can't remember, but I've got to look it up.

Speaker B: Latte brown. It's pretty.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: I remember there was ones that smelled like lattes and things like that. They're still like lip gloss like that. So the 90s makeup. Yeah, I've heard as well. Blue, which I'm not really into, like blue eyeshadows and things like that frosted look. So we'll see which way that goes.

Speaker A: Yes. Well, on the note of blue. Well, I'll tell you my next one, then I'll go back to blue because I had some other fun things about blue. But I have something very funny, which you probably read it, because I have a feeling we're looking at the same sources, but we're always talking about our favorite category of self care, which is bedrotting. I found a new name for it. Okay, you ready, everybody? It's called, and I will probably butcher this name, but Dolce Farniente, a wellness trend we're seeing and certainly encouraging in 2024, is what we Italians call Dolce Farniente, or the sweetness of doing nothing, said Andrea Quadro Carizo, co founder of QG Spa of Wonders, which offers twelve destination spas and seven wellness resorts around the world. As a society, we're overstressed, over scheduled and overtired, leaving little room for joy and wonder or open ended self care. But we've begun seeing the pendulum swing in the other direction. We now aspire to achieve work life balance that Italians are famous for and practicing doing nothing, clearing your brain and schedule, is the first step on the road to true wonder in relaxation. So, of course, this resonated with me immediately. And then I laughed because I was like, I can't wait to talk about this with Katie, because that one just sounds very much more, I don't know what I'm saying. Much more.

Speaker B: It's way more glamorous than glamour. That's rotting. Yeah.

Speaker A: Dolce farniente.

Speaker B: Dolce Farnie and day.

Speaker A: That's going to be doing all year long. It's literally when I go to my calendar on a Saturday and I have no plans. It's the best day ever for me. I could do nothing or I could do something. It's up to me.

Speaker B: Exactly.

Speaker A: Anyway, we'll see more of that this year, which I'm very happy to see.

Speaker B: Dolce Fernie and day. Did I say it right?

Speaker A: I think so. I don't know.

Speaker B: All right, perfect.

Speaker A: We need someone italian to tell us.

Speaker B: Yeah, we do. We need Italian. All right, my next one is called skin streaming. And I saw this, inStyle.com, it's their big forecast, 2024 trends skin streaming, which is essentially just streamlining one's skincare. People are going away from the ten step process with all of the different things and trying to streamline and get more of your actives and hydrators and everything into maybe three or four products instead of ten. And just to simplify so that they can have more dolce foundiente.

Speaker A: Nice. I like the tie back.

Speaker B: I am for sure in that camp because I have gotten down to, like, I think, two or three products, and I'm pretty pleased with it. Right now. There's only one product that I want to get into my skincare routine, and once I do, I'm going to be set.

Speaker A: So is that morning and night you only have a few products.

Speaker B: Morning I have two products. Night I have three products. And I would like to add in. I need an active. I need a vitamin C. So I'm going to throw a vitamin C into my morning and then I feel like I'm going to be solid. I'm good.

Speaker A: Well, it's funny that you say that. So I've noticed that, too, with products. And I think we talked with this at one point of just like brands now, instead of just like having a niacinamide and having all these separate ingredients, they're combining more. So to your point about vitamin C, you might want to try the one that I've reviewed before, the wise beauty. Vitamin C, because it has vitamin C, niacinamide and hyaluronic acid, I believe, and maybe some, and maybe some ceramides. I can't remember exactly what's in it, but it's a couple of things. So when you're using it, it's not like you have to use four different things. It's all together and it's really nice. So that might be a good one for you. To try and it's not irritating. You want a good vitamin.

Speaker B: Exactly. I need to try it because that's like the point, right? Get your actives and your peptides into one, right?

Speaker A: You don't need like ten different individual products? No, I like that idea a lot.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Okay, my next one still on the Forbes article. And it's funny because I've heard this term a few times lately, and I didn't know what it was literally until yesterday because I was listening to another podcast that was talking about this as part of a different subject, but rucking. R-U-T-K-I-N-G. Not to be confused with the other word, but that would be good too.

Speaker B: That's good too.

Speaker A: But rucking is literally walking with a weighted backpack. So I guess this was something that a lot of, like, I don't know if it was bodybuilders or weightlifters type.

Speaker B: People did, but military also.

Speaker A: Oh, is that what it is? That's probably what it's from. I think it's like a nod to back in the hunter gatherer days when people would carry their materials and food and using your body to carry weights, especially for women, as you grow older and your muscle gets weaker. This other podcast I was listening to was talking about how you should obviously be lifting weights, but rucking is a really good way to kind of do that when you're walking. So I have not tried this yet, but it says that it will be a top wellness trend in 2024 as people look to build endurance, improve heart health, burn calories, and strengthen bones. And it does say to. We're saying. While rucking has traditionally been seen as a high intensity and suitable only for the uber fit, new fitness brands will make wrecking more accessible and mainstream with weighted packs designed with different bodies in mind and a load starting at a lower, more accessible weight. So I'm hoping that some of these cute brands, like Bala or something, comes up with cute weighted backpacks. So it's just like ten pounds or five pounds instead of like these crazy ones. Anyway, I thought that was cool because you go on a walk anyway, you might as well throw something on your back and try it out.

Speaker B: Yeah, in the military, they call it your rucksack. Rucksack.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: I think it's literally like they're carrying their backpack with all of their things that are going to get them through whatever the job is for the day. So it's weighted. It's heavy, right? Yeah.

Speaker A: That's like what backpackers. I mean, when I was in college and I backpacked around Europe, like, you had your backpack on your back. I mean, that's how you're getting around. So it's a kind of, like, old school practice, but more visibility on it.

Speaker B: Yeah, I like that.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Nice. All right, well, my next one, and this is really my next few, are things that we saw a lot of in 2023 that I don't think are going anywhere that we're going to see a lot more of. And cold plunge, for sure. Cold plunge, sauna, red light, that category, that's a trifecta. The three of those people. I mean, of course, it's people that are a little bit more well to do. They're able to have these things in their home. It's not the most accessible thing, but there are a lot of people that are getting saunas and cold plunges and red light therapies, and then there's great places that you can go to, like restore hyper wellness and other med spas that are offering all of these things. And I think it's just going to be more and more popular. There's so much science behind how beneficial.

Speaker A: There's also accessible, like the higher dose blanket that I've been seeing that's much more accessible. There's red lights just that you could put on your desktop again, that are much more accessible. And then for cold plunge, I just. At the end of my shower, when I'm feeling brave, I don't know, maybe most of the week, I do like, or I try to do a minute of cold, it probably ends up being ten to 15 seconds, but it does help wake me up. I didn't do it today. I forgot. But, yeah, see, there you go.

Speaker B: You just broke it down. Totally accessible ways to do it.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Or jump in a lake.

Speaker A: Jump in a lake.

Speaker B: Exactly where it's cold.

Speaker A: Jump in the east river. I'm just kidding. So back to the blue. Aquamarine makeup is back and bolder than ever. 2024. Gen Z and millennials will find new ways to incorporate this 60s staple into their modern beauty routines. And I agree, like, the little much to do the whole eyeshadow thing. But Michaela, who's massive makeup artist on TikTok, she just came out. She had created a line with P. Louise that it's all, like, blue and beautiful. So she must have known that this blue eyeshadow is coming or just maybe predicted it. But I have a couple stats, which I thought were fun. So blue eyeshadow aesthetic was that. This is. According to Pinterest predicts, blue eyeshadow aesthetic was up 65% last year, fun blue nails were up 260%, light blue prom makeup up 70%.

Speaker B: Oh, my.

Speaker A: Aqua makeup look up 100%. And blue quince or blue quince makeup up 85%. I don't know what that is, but the only one that resonated with me was fun blue nails, because I do tend to get blue nails occasionally, and I have seen some really cute. Mine are, like, kind of greenish right now, but I have seen some really cute, bright, kind of, like, royal blues, which I would definitely try. That's fun cute.

Speaker B: What's quince? Kensey Quince.

Speaker A: I don't know why I wrote it. Kense. Q-U-I-N-C-E-I don't know what it means. I'll look it up while you're telling me your next trend.

Speaker B: Yeah, that's interesting. The blue prom. That's so funny.

Speaker A: I know. How funny is that?

Speaker B: I'm literally seeing pictures of my mom when she went to prom.

Speaker A: I know. I do love that 60s blue eye. Not for me, but I do love that look.

Speaker B: That would look. So the next trend that I am reading a lot about are bracket sports, and pickleball was all the rage in 2023. Right. I knew people that were all of a sudden playing pickleball like crazy, and I thought it was for, like, I don't know, 80 year olds.

Speaker A: I know.

Speaker B: It's a very fun sport. People are really getting into it, which I think is great. It's a less intense version of tennis or racquetball, and it's supposed to be a very social sport. Have you played pickleball?

Speaker A: I have played a few times, yeah. I've played with the boys.

Speaker B: It's fun.

Speaker A: Yeah. I don't know all the rules, but it's fun.

Speaker B: So pickleball was big in 2023. Badminton is on the rise for 2024. Dr. Daniel. Amen. I was listening to a podcast with him, and he is a leading neuroscientist. He was saying that people that do racket sports, they have, like, brain longevity. So badminton is a racket sport played using rackets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger items, the most common forms of the game are singles and doubles, and it's the one that has the white thing that looks.

Speaker A: It has, like, a ball on the end and then.

Speaker B: Yeah, exactly.

Speaker A: Waffley thing.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: There's also something called, I want to say not pickleball, but paddleball, and I don't know what that is either.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: But apparently that's a big thing, too.

Speaker B: That paddleball racquetball, tennis, badminton, even ping pong. Those are all considered racket sports that are really good for your brain health, apparently. So I don't know if that's why it's on the rise or it's just a new social activity, but.

Speaker A: New social activity, yeah. And it's maybe more. It's your point. Like, pickleball is a little bit easier than tennis because you're not, like, running across the big thing. But pickleball can be intense if you watch people play. And I also. Who was it? I feel like I saw or read or heard somewhere that there's been so many more cases of knee injuries in the last few years because of pickleball, because so many people play and will stop short and hurt their knee, which makes sense. I could see that. So just be careful. But I like that. And I think that is a good way to. I mean, think about ping pong, right? When you're playing, you're like, yeah, it's so fast. It's so fast. So I can see that that's a good brain exercise. Okay, next one I have is in the beauty realm. Sticking with that. By the way, I looked up kinsei makeup while you were talking, and I'm not sure, but I think it might have to do with, like, quinceignera.

Speaker B: Oh, okay.

Speaker A: Something like that.

Speaker B: That's what I very initially thought when you.

Speaker A: Okay, next one. Head to glow. So body care will have a major moment in 2024. Boomers and Gen Z will double down on luxury lotions and in home spa experiences. So a couple fun search deaths. So sunscreen was up 75% last year. Body lotion aesthetic was up 245%. Spa aesthetic, I guess, to design your home, was up 60%. Body skincare routine up 1025%. And body care was up 845%. So it's interesting, what we're seeing now is people, like, they've got their skincare routines down. They're, like, in a rhythm, but now they're like, wait, what about the rest of my body? What's a good routine for that? So I think that was a good one. We don't really talk about that too much.

Speaker B: No, it's true. And I was just teaching Madeline this, by the way. Sidebar. Maddie asked me to teach her how to shave her legs, my ten year old. So we did that with a real razor or electric. With a real razor.

Speaker A: Oh, wow.

Speaker B: Yeah. Went through the whole thing. But that reminds me, because I am trying to get her to understand that she should put lotion on her body every day. And I don't know what point in my life I started doing it, but I've been doing it for decades. And it's something that unless someone, I think, tells you to do it as you're growing up, it's not like first nature to just put lotion all over your body. Right.

Speaker A: When you have a baby, you're doing every night, you do your bath time routine and you put your lotion on and everything.

Speaker B: Exactly. So I like it. Body care, body lotion.

Speaker A: Good one. I'm still using my body oil that I've been using for a long time that I think I've talked about several times on the show. And now I just do it like, I keep it in my shower now. So I just tell off of my shower and do it there. And it's so good because it just stays on better. It keeps my skin moisturized.

Speaker B: I love it. Yeah, I need to get some of that. I want to try it. But it is true.

Speaker A: If you think about just really quickly, like how you're exfoliating your face, how often are we exfoliating our body? Right. And things like that.

Speaker B: Yeah, I just bought a great. When we were in Montreal. It's kind of like a mitt that is an exfoliant. It's really thin, but it's really, really nice. I got it from this beautiful store. I should reference it because her store was gorgeous, but I use that from time to time, and it's just my skin feels, like, so good afterwards.

Speaker A: Yeah, that's nice.

Speaker B: Nice. All right, well, my last one is a continuation of seeing adaptogens and nootropics. Mushrooms. I mean, when we had Julia Marar on the show a few years ago, talking about psilocybin and mushrooms, having psychedelic experience as therapy, I feel like that was so early in this revolution of what's happening with psilocybin and mushrooms. That's the one extreme. And then the adaptogens and the nootropics and things like that is the other. And you're just seeing it more and more like you're seeing lion's mane in gorilla and mushroom coffee and adaptogens everywhere. So I think it's great. More products are readily available with these things where I go to get my coffee in the morning before I hop on the train. They make the most amazing overnight oats. Dairy free overnight oats. And she makes her own granola that has lion's mane and reishi in it and a few other things. And it is so good. I love it. I'm obsessed that's good. Yeah.

Speaker A: I have a coffee that think it's. I think the brand's four sigmatic. We'll put the link up, and it also has mushrooms in it, in the beans, and it's supposed to help you focus more and yada, yada. So I love it. Okay, well, I have two more, and they're kind of related. They're still both in beauty. So the first one, which is not surprising, is just like hair longevity. So basically, talking about not only trying to, how a lot of people were losing hair during the pandemic, and it's become like a bigger challenge with women losing their hair. So there's that piece which we've talked about a lot, or it's becoming more visible, but there's also just, like, the skin, scalp health, and being proactive about your scalp. So the fun fact that I found was the skin on your scalp ages faster than the skin anywhere else on your body, and the effects are written all over your strands. So while multistep skincare routines prioritize longevity by smoothing, brightening, and tightening, such as, sorry, such a focus hasn't extended to the hair on our head. So in 2024, this was an article in well and good. It was saying, prepare to rethink your hair care routine with longevity in mind. And there's tons of new product launches that help with that. I see a lot now about, like, hair oiling and just different things for the scalp. And it's funny because we talked about this a few years ago with Eris, the founder of Scene and CEO or founder of the company. And she was really into the scalp health because she's a dermatologist. And so she obviously got this before it became a little bit more mainstream. But we're going to see a lot of products that helps to address that. I thought that was relevant because I started, I'm trying to be better with taking care of my hair, with doing some sort of weekly oil massage and deep mass conditioner on my ends or something like that. So when I do my big wash, I do that before. I've been trying to do that just to get my hair in a better place, because I just feel like it's been frizzy and not as healthy. So, yeah, more products coming out about hair longevity.

Speaker B: Love that. Yeah.

Speaker A: And then the last one that is sort of similar but not really, is skin barrier health, which I also saw popping on well and good, and basically, like, strength training, your skin, it says, will become the most single most important part of your beauty routine in 24 and it's basically saying that a strong skin barrier is crucial for overall skin health, protecting against external elements and retaining moisture. So everyday habits like improper use of actives can compromise the skin barrier, leading to dryness, irritation, acne. It's also talked about how niacinamide, which we've talked about a million times, has gained popularity for its gentle yet effective properties in brightening skin and addressing various concerns without irritation. And then traditional barrier building ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, fatty acids, often complemented by calming ingredients like, I've never heard of this, Cantella Asiatica and colodial oatmeal, which is funny because I just talked about that oatmeal serum. And then it also said that body care is following the trend with barrier friendly products from different brands that help with the barrier of your actual skin, not just your face. So it says there's drugstore luxury brands all introducing products for severe barrier concerns. I know when Natasha B. Was on our show, she recommended a couple face moisturizers that were good for barrier, but for skin barrier. But this was saying there's a few brands for body care called Marie Veronica Spyclart, which I haven't heard of, Ren and Pericone, MD, which have barrier friendly skin products. I thought that was interesting.

Speaker B: Yeah, I like that. And it's funny as we're going through, like, I'm noticing a trend within our trends, and I feel like this is something that we're seeing a lot of is longevity. Longevity in every category, instead of products and activities and things that are like, instant gratification. I do feel like there's a little bit more of a focus on what can I do now to just keep this going and improve and longevity, long lasting.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: I think it's great. Brain health, skin, hair.

Speaker A: Right. What can I do now? The proactive things, not trying to react to like, oh, I'm losing hair, but to prevent it from happening in the first place. Just like you eat clean because you want to have healthy gut and all of that. It's catching up to all of these things. To your point, the rucking that helps to build strong muscles so you don't.

Speaker B: Lose muscle mass. Exactly. Longevity. All right, 2024, here we come. Longevity.

Speaker A: And the year of Dolce Farniente.

Speaker B: Dolce Farniente.

Speaker A: I love it. Hope you all enjoyed this, and I'm sure we'll be talking about many of these trends in future episodes as well. And see you next week. Bye bye. Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. Also, find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters if you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 134 - Product Junkies December: Holiday Gift Guide (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 134.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

Speaker A: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast, where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Speaker B: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

Speaker C: Hello, Nirvana Sisters family. It's Amy and Katie. And we are here with a holiday gift guide from product junkies. And happy early holidays. Happy post Thanksgiving. We have some fun things to share with you today. And also, just a reminder that everything that we always mention is in our show notes and on our website, so feel free to check them out there. But I am really excited to get in all of these things because I am doing shopping and I don't know what to get, and I keep looking at gift guides and I'm very excited to hear what you have, Katie. So I'm going to start off with you and tell us what you got. What's your first holiday gift idea?

Speaker B: When I was thinking this through, I feel like it's always good to give people gift ideas, things that someone wouldn't necessarily want to buy for themselves. Right. Those are the best gifts sometimes. Or something that maybe one wouldn't necessarily try because it's maybe out of their comfort zone, like something like that. Those are great gifts. So my first one is under the beauty product category, and it is the luxury end of a product that one might not buy for themselves because it's kind of outrageously priced for what it is. But it's an amazing gift. And it is the Mason Pearson hairbrush. So Mason Pearson is an English brand and they make the most amazing hairbrushes. And I've bought one, I sprung for it actually, not a few years ago, many years ago when I was at a friend's wedding in London. And the mini brush that I keep in my handbag, it's small. It's called their pocket brush. This alone is $120.

Speaker C: What? I had no idea they were that expensive. That's crazy.

Speaker B: Crazy.

Speaker C: But I don't brush my hair, though. I just brush it with my hands because it's curly, so I don't really yeah, and I guess when I wear it straight, I do brush it, but yeah, I just use kind of like a comb. See, I've never been like a big brush girl. You're a big brush girl.

Speaker B: Oh, my gosh. I brush my hair. You always have your yeah, 100 times a day. Unless it's like up in a bun all day. But this brush, I'm pretty sure I bought this in, I want to say, like, 2018, and it's still in phenomenal shape and I use it a gazillion times a day. And the wonderful thing about the Mason Pearson hairbrushes and this type of brush is that it is really great for redistributing the oils in your hair, so it gives your hair a beautiful shine. I mean, it's a great brush. It does great things for your hair. This is the bristle and nylon hairbrush. It's the combination. And that's what I love so much, because I have thick hair, but they have different options. They have just the nylon. They have just the boar bristle. The combo I really like, though, they also have a child's bristle hairbrush, which is really kind of cool. So it's kind of like a bougie hairbrush, but I love that.

Speaker C: That is a great gift.

Speaker B: Yeah. I bought this for myself. I was on vacation. When you're on vacation, you might treat yourself with something. It was that kind of like, on a whim thing. So it's a good gift. I wouldn't do this if I was in my right mind at a store looking for a hairbrush. I wouldn't spend that kind of money on a hairbrush.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: What do you have?

Speaker C: Okay, so my next one is a comfort gift, and I feel like it's such a good gift to buy someone, because, again, you're probably not going to buy them for yourself. And it is ugg slippers. I know that's kind of, like, generic or chewy, as the young kids say. However.

Speaker B: Oh, my God.

Speaker C: Chewy.

Speaker B: Wait, hold on. Pause. What is chewgi?

Speaker C: You've never heard that word? Oh, it's kind of old now. I think it's passe. It means, like, basic not cool anymore. I don't know. I don't even know if people are even saying that anymore. But there's always a debate about Uggs, whether they're chewy or not. I've seen that online. However, I love them, and I just got these new ones. They're the tasman slipper, and they come in, like, all different colors, but they're great for men or women. I actually got a pair for Jewels for Hanukkah, because he wanted them, because he saw mine. And I don't know, I just feel like it's a good husband present. It's a good wife present. It's a good friend present. Mom, dad, it's, like, easy and cozy and comfy, and you might not buy yourself, like, a nice pair of Ugg slippers. So big fan of these. I've been literally wearing them every day since I got them, so that's my first gift recommendation.

Speaker B: Yeah, that's a good one. Maddie loves her Ugg slippers that she got for her gift.

Speaker C: Yeah, they're so cozy.

Speaker B: They're so cozy.

Speaker C: And if you work from home, just, like, wearing them around the house. So good. They do have, like, a bottom, so it's not like you're sliding, know?

Speaker B: Yep, totally. All right, so my next one is for the person that wants a Mason Pearson hairbrush but doesn't want to spend quite that much money. So I went to the salon this morning and got my hair did, and you couldn't tell because I have it thrown up in a bun, but I needed a haircut.

Speaker C: What'd you get done?

Speaker B: I just got a okay. And she when my hair was soaking wet and crazy knots, because they do such a good scalp massage and everything. She used this brush that was blowing my mind, and it was like the feeling of the Mason Pearson, which I never use on my hair when it's wet. First of all, because it's many, it's miniature, and I have too much hair for this wet head. But also because I don't know, I think that's probably the main reason I feel like it wouldn't get my tangles out. This hairbrush is similar in the feel and the design and the bristles to the Mason Pearson. It's called YS Park, and the miniature size of the Mason Pearson is $120. The regular size of the Mason Pearson is, like, $240. This YS Park is not super on the cheap, but $79 for the regular size. And it worked beautifully in my knotted, wet hair. I didn't feel any pulling anything. I'm ordering this for my girls.

Speaker C: What kind of bristles are they?

Speaker B: So boar bristles, like the Mason Pearson, I believe. Or maybe it's something similar to a boar bristle, but it has the exact same feel, and it has a nice wooden handle. It feels exactly like don't. There's no better way to say it. And then also, I think there's different heights on the bristles as well.

Speaker C: It's great.

Speaker B: I'm obsessed with that.

Speaker C: I'm getting one that actually just reminded me when my hair is wet and I do want to brush it out. It's like a comb brush. It's like a wet brush or wet dry brush or something. It's like a vented know, those kind of brushes. Like the back is open. That's actually what I use when I want to brush my hair. But it's very infrequently to brush my hair. But you just reminded me that I do have that. But that's good. So that's almost like, similar to the Mason Pearson, but just a little bit less expensive.

Speaker B: A little less expensive. You can get the regular size one for $79 versus the Mason Pearson regular size for, like, 252 40. Yeah.

Speaker C: Nice.

Speaker B: Okay, what's your next one?

Speaker C: So my next one relates to the segment we have called Five Minute Flow. And again, getting out of your comfort zone or getting something that someone may not buy for themselves is like, the Merit set. Oh, yeah, the Merit beauty set. So we've talked about Merit a bunch on our show, and we've reviewed I remember Katie, you're the one who introduced me to the brand, and we've reviewed the different products. But if you go on their website, they have a lot of different sets. I think the weekday set is the one that I think is the best one, because, again, it's like total five minute flow. It's literally like the bronzer, the blush, the highlighter concealer. It comes with a little brush and a mascara. It's like, all you need. And I've seen it online too. I don't see it on their website. But you can buy this. And it comes in like, this little cute bag.

Speaker B: Yeah, the bag is cute.

Speaker C: More giftsy. Anyway, I just thought that was, like, a good set for someone who wants to get ready quickly, easy, and all the products are fabulous, as we know, and all the colors are great and so easy and so minimal, and I just thought that'd be a fun gift for someone 100%.

Speaker B: I love that mirror beauty stuff is really good. It has so many great reviews, too. So, you know the chrome nail trend that you've gotten me into? See, look. Yeah.

Speaker C: Wearing my chrome now. Did you get some?

Speaker B: I got them. And they didn't have exactly, like, what yours was that I really liked, but I thought it was like a rose.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: So if you don't want to go and get a gel manicure also, not to mention it was an upcharge for this chrome dip. Was yours an upcharge?

Speaker C: No, mine isn't a dip. Mine's, like, they do it on top of the gel. It's just like a powder.

Speaker B: Powder. That's what I meant.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: She charged me, like, 15 extra dollars for it on top of what I know.

Speaker C: Correct. It's ridiculous.

Speaker B: So I found a great set of nail polish colors by OPI that I feel like are a really good knockoff. And you could get somebody this set. It's kind of a fun gift for the holidays.

Speaker C: That is fun.

Speaker B: They might want to wear it on Year's Eve or something. And it's great. Different colors. They have, like, a nice chromy silver, a nice gold, a nice champagne, a nice copper color. The ones that I really liked were the OPI Glow the extra mile. That one is, like, a nice light gold, and then the other one I mica be dreaming. And that one is more of a really strong, bright gold metallic composition is kind of like this coppery rose goldie pink color. And then take a night on bourbon, which is, like, the most no, take a right on bourbon. Such a random name is like a silver, which I have on my toes. So you could get somebody those, what, one, two, three?

Speaker C: Do they come in a set or those?

Speaker B: It doesn't come in a set, but you could just order the four colors and make a little gift set out of it. It's a really cute gift for a lady in your life.

Speaker C: I love that.

Speaker B: And, like, reasonably priced. It's not going to be outrageous. It's OPI nail polish. Yeah.

Speaker C: That's fun because I never buy nail polish for myself, but I'd be excited to get that as a gift.

Speaker B: Yeah, for sure.

Speaker C: Okay, so next I have another beauty gift, which is I think I've talked about this brand before on the show, but it's Skin and Senses body oil. I'm, like, obsessed with this body oil. It's all I use. I don't even use moisturizer anymore. I always use this body oil. This one's called The Skin and Senses Shine Revitalizing and Smoothing Body Oil. And the scent in this one is vanilla bean. Yuzo. And it smells so good. It's not a strong scent because I don't love a strong scent, but it's like a hints of vanilla. It's a clean brand, and I thought a gift set would be cute because they also have this body lotion called Love Yourself.

Speaker B: Oh, nice.

Speaker C: And so I feel like these two things are a cute gift to give someone, like a body oil and a body lotion. And this brand is a really nice brand. All the ingredients are clean. It also looks pretty on your countertop. And the oil is just a beautiful oil. And the lotion is really good too. I just got this recently and it's also really good. So cute little gift set.

Speaker B: Do you know the price point?

Speaker C: Yes. So the Shine body oil is $42 and the body lotion is $29. So depending on your budget, you could do both as a set or you could do one or the other. And another thing, I know I mentioned these are clean, but they're also nontoxic, which I guess would be considered clean, but that's how they specify it phthalate free, cruelty free, and vegan. So really nice.

Speaker B: Has that oil lasted you a long time?

Speaker C: Yeah, it lasts me a really long time. They were just having a Black Friday sale, so I got another one to keep in my shower because that's also an easier way sometimes when you're already in the shower, just to put it on when your skin is a little bit wet and then it just sinks in and it's also faster. You just kind of, like, throw it on in the shower. It spreads quickly and you're done.

Speaker B: Are those glass bottles?

Speaker C: They're glass.

Speaker B: Yeah. I mean, it's nice. It feels a little bit more luxury.

Speaker C: Yeah, and it smells so good, it's almost like I was saying this vanilla bean flavor, but it just gives you, like, a little nice scent.

Speaker B: Nice scent, yeah. Okay.

Speaker C: It also does come in unsensitive if you want unsensitive. I've had both, and they're both great.

Speaker B: All right, well, my next one would pair lovely, like, wonderfully if you put a little bit of that oil on your feet and then slipped these fabulous, cozy, earth, plush lounge socks on. I was gifted these a year ago, and I am obsessed. Anytime I'm at home, they're on my feet. I don't really wear them out. I wear the white ones out sometimes with sneakers if I have, like, leggings on, like the scrunch sock look. But they are so soft and so warm and so comfortable. And I was gifted them a year ago, and like I said, it was a set of three, which, by the way, jump on it because they are on sale right now from 55, marked down to $38.50 for the set? For the set of three. I don't know how long that's going to last, but that's great. Yeah. And they hold up like they launder beautifully. They've lasted.

Speaker C: Yeah, they're really good.

Speaker B: They're so good, they almost look like they're brand new.

Speaker C: I have them too. I got them as a gift. I actually wear them to sleep a lot.

Speaker B: I feel like we both got them as a gift from your mom, maybe. Did you?

Speaker C: I can't remember. Probably.

Speaker B: I love them. I'm obsessed.

Speaker C: That's a great gift.

Speaker B: Yeah, really good one. I mean, who wants to go spend money on luxury socks? Exactly. No, I barely spend money on socks that I'm running around in every single day. I'm, like, the last thing on my mind to spend my money on. I haven't bought them yet, but I felt them at the store I need to buy. Some are the ugg plush socks. They were. Oh, I didn't know they were so soft. Yeah. So I might have to buy those and test them out. I feel like they would be a really good gift too.

Speaker C: Oh, that is gift. That is a good gift. And I also love cozy earth pajamas, sheets, comforters. Like, all their stuff is so soft and so good.

Speaker B: Yep, all good gifts.

Speaker C: Next on my list in the clothing category is my new favorite brand, Perfect White Tea.

Speaker B: Oh, yeah.

Speaker C: So good. So one of the things I think would be a good gift, because, again, it's, like, not something you would probably buy for yourself. Although I did buy it for myself, but most people probably wouldn't. They have these bundles on their website. So you can buy, like, three T shirts or three tank tops or three vnecks. And I bought the T shirts. They're called the Harley T shirt. And it's just, like, a soft, thin, perfectly cropped, good tee, like, good fit, simple, good fit, great material. So they have a bundle pack of, like, white, gray, and, like, a black. It's like a charcoal, but it's like a vintage black.

Speaker B: Okay.

Speaker C: It's not like, super know. It's almost like yeah, like a charcoal vintage black. But anyway, I think that would be such a good gift to give, like, a good friend, like, nice T shirts. Or, like, the tank tops are also really cute. Same colors and then the V neck, depending on what they like. But I just thought that was, like, a good gift to have as a set. So I love this brand. I feel like I've been buying so much of their stuff lately because they have the best sweatpants, sweatshirts, T shirts, like, all kind of basics, but, like, really good quality. Made in California. Love it. Perfect white tea.

Speaker B: And the brand is perfect. White tea or perfect tea? Perfect white tea.

Speaker C: Perfect white tea.

Speaker B: Okay. Yeah, I have, I want to say, like, one or two of their shirts, and it is a good gift because it's not cheap. But if you want a good T shirt that's really soft and not thick and drapes nice and fits, really. It's it gets expensive, so it is good.

Speaker C: And they have really nice sweatsuit sets and good loungewear. I love it. Really good brand love.

Speaker B: All right, well, staying in the clothing category, sam or Sam NYC, they make coats, park goods. Best.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: I just bought adam bought me one of their coats when we were in Montreal. We saw it, and it wasn't on my radar, but it's this white, vegan leather, kind of like bomber style coat, almost. And we didn't buy it there because I didn't feel like I needed it. And then when we got home, I looked for it on the website and it was, like, half the price of what that boutique in Madre.

Speaker C: Oh, my gosh.

Speaker B: So we ordered it, and I cannot tell you, it is the warmest jacket. It's insane how warm this jacket is. I was not expecting it to be so warm. So I wear it into the city when it's freezing out and the rest of my body is ice cold. And anywhere the jacket is, is, like, perfect. It stays perfect temperature. And does it have a hood? It's super chic. Yeah, it has a hood. I'll have to take a picture and post it when this goes live because it is very chic looking. And it has, like, the built in gloves. Not with fingerless. Like the built in with the thumb out as well. Yeah, but I'm looking on their website right now, and they have so many cute, different styles. They have, like, sherpa and park.

Speaker C: I'm wondering if that's the so I went shopping a couple of weeks ago with my mom, and I saw a Sam jacket that was vegan leather, but it was like a cognac color, and I loved it.

Speaker B: I'm looking at it right now on their site.

Speaker C: I'm obsessed.

Speaker B: It's, like, so pretty.

Speaker C: Yes. It's so funny that, of course, we like the same thing. I wanted to get it. I didn't get it because they didn't have my size, and I was still thinking about it, but then randomly, I got a gift card for Aloe Yoga for my birthday. And Aloe Yoga has a similar jacket to that in the cognac color. And so I got it at Aloe.

Speaker B: Nice.

Speaker C: But it's similar. So I forget what the price of the Sam one is compared to the Aloe one, but I got the Aloe one on, like, a Black Friday sale again or something like that. And it's similar. So two versions, same thing.

Speaker B: Yeah. My jacket, I didn't see it in white, though. It's white and white.

Speaker C: I just saw it in the cognac or maybe black.

Speaker B: They don't have it. The website doesn't show it in white anymore either, and I think that's why wow. It's probably sold out, but I got it on sale. Like, I got it for half the price.

Speaker C: So it's do you have it behind you?

Speaker B: Yeah, it is. It's right behind me. I could put it on. Hold on. I'm not wearing the right sweater for it, but hold on.

Speaker C: Oh, I can already tell. It's so pretty.

Speaker B: See, it's, like, so warm and so cute.

Speaker C: That's adorable.

Speaker B: Loves. And then the hood is like I love that.

Speaker C: That's so pretty. Oh, I love it. Looks great. It's beautiful. I said I love it. It's great. It looks beautiful on you.

Speaker B: Thanks.

Speaker C: Really pretty jacket.

Speaker B: It's insane how warm it is.

Speaker C: I love the zipper that the hood goes into it. Yeah, that's a little bit different than the one I saw, because I don't think it had that zipper. I love that.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Sometimes that hood is, like, annoying.

Speaker B: Sometimes a hood is annoying. But look at how high this comes up when it's cold. This is, like, clutch right here.

Speaker C: Yeah. Oh, I love it.

Speaker B: Yeah. And I love that it's vegan leather, because it looks leathery. It looks very cool.

Speaker C: Yeah, but it's, like, soft. I side note to erase this, but I want to send you a picture of the one that I got from Aloe, because I want to see if you like it. Do you thought it looked too big, but I think that's, like, the style of it. I'm keeping it, but I just want to see what you think of it. That's a great gift. I love it. Okay, so I've reviewed this before, but I'm adding to it because I'm just, like, obsessed with all the balms and all the glosses. I just can't get enough of all these balms. So I think I've reviewed the lineage lip mask before, and then last product junkies, I reviewed the balm, but even this is, like, a cute set, because this is like a nighttime sleeping mask. Although I wear it sometimes in the morning, too, and then this is, like it all day. So, like, a cute little set like this. I actually am going away with my mom, and my mom starts spending her daughter this weekend. Stephanie and Christine. And I bought them all the bomb for a little fun gift. And then I recently also got these summer Friday balms, which I'm sure you've seen, but these are so good, too. The lip butter bombs. I have the which one is this? This is the pink one, which I can't remember the name of it. I think it's called, like, oh, pink sugar. And then I have the brown one, brown sugar. But again, cute set or individually just I can't get enough of lip things. I have a problem. All I do is buy lip balms. Lip glosses. I just love it because you just can put them in all different bags, and I don't know. Yeah, so anyway, that's just, like, a fun gift.

Speaker B: Do you keep a lip something, like, on your bedside table and in your robe pocket? And I have it in my car bedside table.

Speaker C: I should. I am always worried, though, the dogs are going to grab it the only reason I don't have it. But I should put in the drawer.

Speaker B: But yeah, I like to have them everywhere. Everywhere? Yeah. All right. My last one is a fun gift that I don't know. Give it to the girl that likes her beauty products or likes to get glamorous or give it to the girl that maybe she should step out of her comfort zone and try it and have some fun with it and wear it on, like, New Year's Eve or to a holiday party or something. So it's the Fenty diamond balm all over diamond veil.

Speaker C: Dying to try this.

Speaker B: It is so much like it's like glitter and sparkle and makes it look like it's wet, but it's like a little bit of everything. It's very kind of powerful. Like, you don't need a lot. And I don't know if you're going to be able to see it on here. I feel like you're not going to be able to see it's going to.

Speaker C: Be too hard picture. But I've seen that and it's so pretty.

Speaker B: Yeah, it really is beautiful. I should put it on. Part of the problem is that I have no light in my office. That's really the problem.

Speaker C: Hold it up to the camera again. I just want to take a picture.

Speaker B: I just want to see.

Speaker C: Okay. So pretty.

Speaker B: It's so pretty. It's $42 and you can do it on your lids. You can do it as, like, a little bit of a highlighter on your cheekbone. I mean, you can really play around with it. I see a girl, even on their website that looks like she has a little bit of it, like, on top of her lip gloss. It's really beautiful. I'm kind of obsessed with it, but for me, it's not an everyday wear.

Speaker C: Right. It's like if you're going out at night, going to a party yeah, exactly. Gives a little umph you can even.

Speaker B: Just like you don't have to put it over your whole lid. Like, it would be nice if you just finished right in the middle of your lid with it too.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: Just like a little pop.

Speaker C: So pretty.

Speaker B: It's a beautiful one. All right.

Speaker C: That is a really fun gift. Okay, so my last gift might be the best one of all. And you know what it is, Katie? It's nirvana, Merch.

Speaker B: Hey now.

Speaker C: Hey now.

Speaker B: It wasn't fun.

Speaker C: Just a little plug for our Nirvana Sisters shop. If you go on our website, Nirvana Sisters.com, and click on Shop, we have all our fun merch there. We haven't really talked about it that much. I don't know why. We launched it earlier this year and it's just there. But, like, great sweatshirts. We have the crop sweatshirts that say keep glowing or hustle on doses. We have the Nirvana Sisters tie dye, black heavier champion sweatshirt. We've got tumblers that say Nirvana in a bottle. All the fun things. I actually just posted a reel on our shop today. But one thing I wanted to mention is we are doing a 20% discount through the month of December. So if you do want to get a fun Nirvana gift for a friend or your mom or your sister or anyone else, it's 20% off. Just use the code Nirvana 2023 and it'll be 20% off for all of December. So thought that would be a fun one to add into the mix.

Speaker B: Katie, I love it. Yeah, they are great gifts. Cute little teas and everything. Lots of stuff about the teas. Nice. All right, happy holidays.

Speaker C: Happy holidays, everyone. That is our product junkies December and it's our holiday gift guide. Thanking you all, as always, for being Nirvana Sister fans and listening and following us and giving us feedback. And have a good holiday season. Bye bye.

Speaker A: Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. Also, find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us.

Speaker C: Tune in next week for a fresh.

Speaker A: New episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness, so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 132 - Product Junkies November Edition - When You Want The Nitty Gritty On The AIRSTRAIT Plus Other Fall Product Recos (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 132 .

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

[00:07] Amy Sherman: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

[00:18] Katie Chandler: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation. Welcome back to the show, Narvana Sisters family. It's Amy and Katie and we are coming at you with our November product junkies. But before we dive in, we have to say Happy birthday to Amy. Happy birthday to you.

[00:46] Amy Sherman: I'm like, oh yeah, that happened. But actually what I have to say to you is Happy Nirvana sister's anniversary.

[00:52] Katie Chandler: I know, I thought about that because.

[00:54] Amy Sherman: I thought about it and I forgot to even text you. But November 5, my birthday was also our birthday of Nirvana sisters. So it's been three years. We launched November 2020, which I literally can't believe. It's so crazy.

[01:07] Katie Chandler: It's insane.

[01:09] Amy Sherman: So much has happened in the last three years. So yeah, congrats.

[01:12] Katie Chandler: Me too. Congrats and Happy birthday. Before we get into it, I want to catch up. How was your birthday? What'd you do?

[01:18] Amy Sherman: My birthday? You know what this time of year I feel like is always so hectic. Well, I feel like the end of the year is always hectic, but right around end of October or October, November is crazy because it's like Stu's birthday is early October. Jules's birthday is October 20 eigth. Then it's Halloween, then it's my birthday. So it's like I feel like I'm doing all this stuff and then by the time it comes to my birthday, I don't really care. I mean, I care, but I'm like doing all this stuff for Jules and Stu and whatever. But my birthday was great. Actually, Stu was away for the weekend, which I already knew he was going to be away and I was happy for him. He went on a guy's golf trip, so super fun. And I was like, ooh, I'm going to have a self care weekend. So I did a lot of really fun stuff over the weekend. So like on Friday night I did a massage which I can't remember if I told you about. So I scheduled a 90 minutes massage and I'm so tight. Like my right side has been hurting me for some unknown reason. So I went into the massage place for 90 minutes and the woman touched my back, literally touched it, and the whole thing cracked. She's like, you need serious help. I'm like, yeah, I know. So she's like, let me do 2 hours. I'm like, okay. Never had a two hour before. It was amazing. I found this place that's like around the corner for me. Not expensive, like one of those kind of places. So I was like, okay, you have time to. 2 hours? She's like, yeah. I'm like, done. So that was great. And that was Friday night. And then I just came home, was so relaxed. And what did I do? Oh, I had a glass of wine. But then of course, because Stu was away, the smoke alarm was chirping.

[02:53] Katie Chandler: So annoying.

[02:55] Amy Sherman: And I don't know how to do it. It's like the one I'm like, I don't know how to do it. So I had my dad come over and help me and then we kind of fixed it. And then it still was going on all weekend. But then at the end of the weekend, I did figure out how to do it myself.

[03:06] Katie Chandler: Wait, which room was it in? Because that's.

[03:09] Amy Sherman: It was in the basement. So it wasn't like super loud, but like had to fix it. It was like driving me nuts. So anyway, I figured out how to do it by watching YouTube videos. I'm very proud of myself. And then Saturday I went shopping with my mom.

[03:21] Katie Chandler: Where'd you guys shop? Or what'd you shop for? Clothes and stuff. Fun stuff.

[03:25] Amy Sherman: Yeah, just like fun clothes. Like I needed boots. We never go shopping together. I don't even go shopping anymore. I was saying to my mom, I feel like everything I do is online. I never actually go to the stores, but it's so nice to go to the store sometimes and just feel everything and see everything. Just hard to shop online. So that was fun. We just might. Oh, and then Sunday, my friends Courtney and I went to get facial and then we did like a long girls lunch with some of my other friends. So we sat outside at this French restaurant and probably sat outside for at least 2 hours and had like a long lunch.

[04:03] Katie Chandler: That's so fun.

[04:04] Amy Sherman: That was super nice. And then the kids got me cards and Stu had left me cards before he left. And then he got home Sunday night and then we celebrated. Anyway, it was really nice and I liked that it was like a full weekend of self care and girly and fun stuff and just like, yeah, that's the best.

[04:18] Katie Chandler: It sounds amazing. I get the award for Worst Sister in law and partner in the world. Because I texted you on Saturday. I was like, or on Friday. Your birthday was on Sunday. It's on Sunday. I texted you on Saturday, what are you doing for your birthday? And then of course we were going to call with the kids the next day, and then we were at a friend's house all day and space. So sorry we missed. Yeah.

[04:43] Amy Sherman: It's so funny because every time my birthday comes, like, it's fun and whatever, but the older you get, you're kind of like, fine. Like, the big birthdays are fun, but after. And it's like, ever since Jules was born, he has taken over that priority. So it's just I wanted to make sure his birthday was good and, like, did he get his birthday?

[05:04] Katie Chandler: Yes. It came in, right? His birthday present from us came. Yes.

[05:08] Amy Sherman: Did he text you to say thank you, call you?

[05:11] Katie Chandler: He might have said he was going.

[05:12] Amy Sherman: To, but I don't know if he did. Thank you. He was very excited, so thank you. Very generous. And what have you been up to? We talked about your trip.

[05:20] Katie Chandler: Or did we talk about. I don't remember the trip.

[05:23] Amy Sherman: Right, because I taped. Yeah, I recorded with Taylor Rose while you were away on your much needed girls trip, which I mentioned. I don't think you told us about it.

[05:30] Katie Chandler: No, it was amazing. It was ten years in the making. It was with my girlfriends that I grew up with that we haven't traveled together since pre kids. And it was just great that we went to the Dominican. It was beautiful. The hotel was gorgeous. We did an all inclusive just to keep it safe and simple and easy. We were at the Sanctuary Pepcana, and it was beautiful. And the crowd was perfect. It was like a lot of girls groups. It's a very feminine, gorgeous hotel. So the vibe was more tailored, I think, to women. So there weren't like a bunch of. I dIdn't have to worry about bachelor parties or just like, annoying men throwing out, which was nice. And then there was a bunch of couples and it was like our age and up, so it was appropriate. We just had fun. We honestly didn't talk to a single other person in the hotel until our last day there, just because we were so wrapped up in each other. And then we made friends. Like, the last day we were there, which was fun, but how many people? Just. There was four of us. Four of us. It was so fun. Yeah, it was like the best all day in the sun and having a couple of drinks one day. We had a torrential downpour the entire day. But they had, you know what a palapa is like, the open air, but covered. It's like, covered with open air. So they had one out on the ocean and we were sitting out there.

[06:55] Amy Sherman: So you could just watch the weather, but, like, be outside.

[06:58] Katie Chandler: Yeah, we played cards. It was fun. It was so fun.

[07:01] Amy Sherman: I love that. That reminds me when I was in Miami with my girlfriends. This is like a million years ago. I remember we were at a restaurant that was like that at the hotel, and it was like that kind of roof. And it started raining, and it was like a downpour. But we were inside, and we just drank wine all day and literally sat in the same space for, like, 8 hours.

[07:20] Katie Chandler: You're, like, inside, outside. It feels like it would have been depressing if we sat in our room all day, but we sat out there all day. We were on the ocean. It was so cool. It was great. Yeah.

[07:29] Amy Sherman: So you must have felt rejuvenated when you got back.

[07:31] Katie Chandler: So much so. And then I had a crazy work week, and all of a sudden, the month caught up with me. And today's, like, the first day that I felt like myself in, like, a week. So I'm very grateful. I'm feeling good today. But the last week was brutal. I don't know. It's been a crazy month. It's been a crazy month for all of us.

[07:48] Amy Sherman: I feel the same way. I've been really out of it. Really. Like. I don't know. It was, like, fun moments, like my birthday and Jules's birthday. But in between, I feel like I've been a little bit, like, down because the daylight saving time is killing me.

[08:05] Katie Chandler: 100% same.

[08:06] Amy Sherman: It's, like, getting colder. I know in a few weeks, I'll feel fine, but I just feel like it's kind of like that weird time where it's getting cold and it's getting darker.

[08:17] Katie Chandler: For sure.

[08:18] Amy Sherman: Yeah. I've been trying to shake the mindset, but I haven't really been able for that exact reason.

[08:23] Katie Chandler: And I can't wait to review this on product junkies. Maybe, like, in a month or so. I ordered yesterday an sad lamp, which is. I think they call it sad because maybe it's prescribed for people with seasonal affective disorder. But it's like. It mimics. It doesn't have UV, but it mimics the sun.

[08:41] Amy Sherman: Yeah. It's like a lamp, right?

[08:43] Katie Chandler: It's a lamp. I ordered it yesterday. You're supposed to sit with it for, like, 30 minutes a day because. Same. This daylight savings is, like, knocking me out this week. I was on the train yesterday. I looked around, and everybody was asleep yesterday morning. Everybody. So it's the daylight savings. I don't even know why we do it. It's obnoxious.

[09:02] Amy Sherman: Well, that's interesting. All right, so let's get into product junkies.

[09:06] Katie Chandler: November.

[09:07] Amy Sherman: So last month we did snacks, which was fun. This month, back to regularly scheduled products, I would say. Yeah, right. I want to hear yours.

[09:21] Katie Chandler: Okay. All right, well, let's see. I'm going to start with. This was recommended to me by one of my girlfriends on our trip, who we actually all know, Dr. Erin Cooper, who's been on the show before.

[09:34] Amy Sherman: That's right.

[09:35] Katie Chandler: This was her find. It is Maybelline's cheek heat. And it's so good. It's basically like a creamy consistency for your, you know, it's kind of similar to maybe the consistency of the merit cheek kind of stick. But this is more in a balm tube, if you will. And it's really good color. The pigment is nice. It blends beautifully. Like, it blends really nicely.

[10:08] Amy Sherman: It looks like nice creamy. Exactly.

[10:11] Katie Chandler: It is. It's creamy. And it stays so nicely because I was admiring her cheek color, like, our whole trip, and then towards the end, I said, what is so pretty? So I bought it and I've been using iT, and it's good. They have 123456 different shades. I mean, it's Maybelline. It's, like $8. So it's a good one. Gel cream blush face makeup is what they're calling it.

[10:36] Amy Sherman: And that also looks like you could put on your lips.

[10:38] Katie Chandler: I have done that. Yeah, I did. It's a little drying on the lips, but it's kind of good in a pinch. I did do that the other day.

[10:46] Amy Sherman: I love that. And I haven't seen that. And that's a good one.

[10:48] Katie Chandler: Good find.

[10:49] Amy Sherman: Looks like it's a good one, too, to keep in your bag because it's tiny. It's got a cap, so it's, like, small. And it almost looks like a lip gloss.

[10:57] Katie Chandler: Exactly like a lip gloss too. Almost. Yeah. Okay, what do you have?

[11:01] Amy Sherman: I'm going to start out with a whammy.

[11:03] Katie Chandler: Oh, nice.

[11:03] Amy Sherman: That was so nerdy to say. I don't know why that word just came out of my mouth. Let's start off with a big one, because recently talked about it with Taylor Rose. Recently talked about it with Taylor Rose. You all know the trichologist that was just on. This is something I've been wanting to try for a very long time. I was waiting for the Sephora sale, and bam, here we go. The Dyson air string. Epic. So epic. So I bought it during the Sephora sale. So I did get 20% off, even though it is expensive. But it was like a birthday present to myself. There were, like, a few things that I wanted to buy. And this was one of them. Love it. Okay, first of all, these are my early impressions. I've used it once. I used it because I just got it. I used it a week ago. My hair. I haven't washed my hair in over a week, and it's still, like, looks like I got a blowout right?

[11:53] Katie Chandler: 100%.

[11:55] Amy Sherman: And this is, like, I haven't washed it. I'm sorry. I haven't even touched it today.

[12:01] Katie Chandler: Like, no touch up.

[12:02] Amy Sherman: I haven't done anything to straighten. This is, like, no touch up. Nothing. I haven't touched up with a straightener since I did it. So I did it, like, I don't know, a week or so ago, and it was, like, straight and nice and looked blown out. And then the next day, I took my air wrap, curled it a little bit. The next day, I didn't do anything. Whatever. It just gave me a good basE. But, like, today, I literally didn't do anything. And my hair is still good, so I love it. So far, I have been able to keep this for, like, a week. I mean, it's, like, getting a little bit whatever underneath. But what I'll do is, like, yesterday, I did a dry shampoo, quick dry shampoo, and then just put in something else, which I'll show you as part of my next review. And it's. It's. It's really. So. So Taylor was saying this on the show, which is exactly right. It's really good because it doesn't flatten your don't. I don't like pin straight hair. I just like a good base to work from where I could wear my hair straight, but it has some body. Or I could still do it curly with my air wrap or with the curling iron, but it gets out that initial kind of frizz and whatever. So that's why I like it, because it's straight. But it definitely saw some body. You know what I mean? It's not like a flat stuck to your head kind of look. So it's great. It's super easy to use.

[13:23] Katie Chandler: I would love it if you would show us.

[13:25] Amy Sherman: Well, I don't know if I could plug it. Maybe I can plug it in. I know this might be a little loud, but let's see what I can do. Hold on. So, basically, you just run it through your hair, kind of like a straightener. Okay. I'm sure there's a lot of different ways to use it. I just kind of did it on my own, but I'm sure there's, like. Because you know how with that. Oh, sorry, I'm not in the mic. You know how with a straightening iron, you can kind of use it as a curler to curl your hair? I bet you you could do that with this. I haven't gone that way, but let me just show it to you. Okay. I've plugged it in. It has a really nice hold, too. It's, like, sturdy. So when you turn it on, it says, like, dry. See how it says dry hair? I'm going to turn it off just so it's not loud. It gives you an option of whether your hair is dry or wet. So it's like a little bit of a different setting. So I did it last week. My hair was wet, and I just used that setting. But I'll use the dry setting and I'll show you. But just before I Turn it back on, there's like a blue, like a cold shot, and then there's red just for the heat. And then there's airflow, like low, high, whatever. And then this is the dry and wet. So it's, like, super user friendly. So I'm going to turn it on and I'll just show you really quickly how to use it. Just, like, cleans it when it first starts. So I'm just going to put it on the middle setting and then make sure it's on the dry. And then you just take it. I'll show you. Kind of like the straightening iron.

[14:59] Katie Chandler: Yeah, you use it exactly like a straightening iron. But you know how the air wrap sucks your hair in? Does it do anything like that?

[15:09] Amy Sherman: It's a different kind of technology. What it is, is, see how there's, like, vents here, so it's vented, and so the air kind of. It's hard to explain without playing with it, but the air comes out right here. So actually, what you can do is close it like this and blow dry your hair a little bit if it's wet, and then you can open it up and use the plate. It's not plates. So that's why it's supposed to be really healthy. Like, it doesn't damage your hair because it's not hot plates. So when you use a straightener, it's hot plates. And your hair is right on the hot plate. This is just warm in here, but it's not like a steel hot plate. It's just plastic, I guess. And then the air comes out of this. So it's like the air is just going kind of, like on your hair as you're doing it. So you just kind of go like this. And I mean, it took ten minutes to straighten my whole hair. I mean, it's unbelievable. So I love it. And it's like a really nice complement to the air wrap. And for me, having curly hair or wavy hair or frizzy hair, like all the things, it's so helpful just to get that base. And I can also dry it with the air wrap, but the air wrap doesn't. I don't know, I feel like you have to do more work because it has the brushes and the big, like the round brush and that works good, too. This is faster because it's just straightening. You know what I mean? It's just, you can pass it through. And what I was just showing it was just one pass or whatever, but you do like one or two passes and it's good for you. Since you have straight hair, you would dry your hair in like 2 seconds. But I don't even know if you would need something like this because, well, I guess if you wanted just more of a straight style.

[16:52] Katie Chandler: No, my hair has a natural wave to it, so I do like to straighten it, but it's never worked with a straightening iron because, I don't know, it takes too long. I feel like I can't get the full wave out. It fries it and then it's like super slick and flat and it's just not very flattering.

[17:05] Amy Sherman: Exactly. And what about the air wrap? Do you straighten your hair?

[17:08] Katie Chandler: I don't. I've never been good at using a round brush, like, the actual technique of it. And I think it's because I have a lot of hair. So I always use my barrels, which I love. I use it like almost every day.

[17:22] Amy Sherman: Yeah, air wrap is still, like my number one go to, but this is like, I'm going to play with it more and I'll report out more once I learn all the tricks of the trade. But just for like a quick straight blow dry, like, amazing. And the fact that it's lasted so long is insane.

[17:36] Katie Chandler: Yeah.

[17:37] Amy Sherman: And I haven't really touched it up at all other than using the air wrap to curl it and give it a little bit more body. But it's great. So highly recommend. Very excited about it.

[17:46] Katie Chandler: I'm going to try it next time.

[17:48] Amy Sherman: Yeah, definitely try it. And it's fabulous. Love it. Love the Dyson product.

[17:53] Katie Chandler: Which, by the way, how good was that tip from Taylor Rose, which, you guys, if you haven't listened to our episode yet, you should. The tip of not blow drying your hair until it's maybe like 80% dry.

[18:06] Amy Sherman: 80% dry.

[18:07] Katie Chandler: Smart.

[18:07] Amy Sherman: I know, because that was good.

[18:09] Katie Chandler: I try to do that in general, or I just air dry and then style the next day. But that's so good because it's going to keep your hair healthier longer. And the Dyson. The Dyson products tell you to do that when you're using their products? Yeah.

[18:22] Amy Sherman: And even with this one, the straightening one, it has the wet setting, but I closed it like I was showing you, like this. And I just use this as a hairdryer. So I rough dried my hair, basically, to, like, 70, 80%, and then I use the wet button on here just to do the rest. So I'm sure she probably does the same thing. That was my big review of.

[18:46] Katie Chandler: All right, well, my next review, I think we talked about this with Erica Taylor, because I'm pretty sure she's the reason why I bought it. And it's a face powder. It's the Kosis cloud setting powder I was using for years. I was using a Laura Mercier compact, like the kind of compact that you keep in your handbag just to do touchups and everything. And I don't know, for whatever reason, it wasn't working for me anymore. So I tried this, and the claim is that it reduces your pores and that it gives you that nice blurring effect. And it really does. And I'm kind of obsessed with it. So I've decided, listeners, I'm not going to use a filter when we record anymore. Unless it's a particularly rough day.

[19:36] Amy Sherman: You do not need to filter. The fact that you're not wearing a filter and you look like that, maybe.

[19:41] Katie Chandler: I think it's good stuff. I'm just having a good day. I got a lot of sleep last night, but I'm trying to get up close so you can see how much it blurs, because right here, I feel like is always, like a heavy pore area.

[19:55] Amy Sherman: Oh, is that one of the anitza brushes?

[19:58] Katie Chandler: Exactly. But it even blurred my laugh line just now.

[20:04] Amy Sherman: Yeah, that's really pretty. Is that a loose.

[20:10] Katie Chandler: Compact? I wish.

[20:12] Amy Sherman: That reminds me a little bit of the pink one that we also talked about with Erica the Westman.

[20:17] Katie Chandler: Exactly. That's kind of what I was looking for, was something with that similar effect. But it's really nice. If I could have any critique, I wish that it came with a little powder puff or something on the bottom. So if it's in my handbag, I don't have to have a brush with me. But it's a small size, so it's easy to keep. But it's really nice. Yeah, that's great.

[20:38] Amy Sherman: I love that.

[20:40] Katie Chandler: Yeah.

[20:40] Amy Sherman: I've been trying to use my pink powder more, too. I'm not good with the powders.

[20:43] Katie Chandler: The pink powder, I feel like is so easy to use because it just blurs and. Right. Yeah.

[20:49] Amy Sherman: My technique just isn't good with the powder.

[20:52] Katie Chandler: Remember what Erica always says?

[20:53] Amy Sherman: I like that one.

[20:54] Katie Chandler: Just the tip.

[20:55] Amy Sherman: Just the tip, yeah.

[20:57] Katie Chandler: So kosis cloud setting powder, they've got like, I don't know, ten shades or something here. It's good stuff. What's yours?

[21:06] Amy Sherman: And I'm sure that's cheaper than the Westman.

[21:08] Katie Chandler: For sure. I was going to buy the Westman one and it's a little pricey.

[21:13] Amy Sherman: Yeah. Okay. So my next one is something that I use in tandem with the airstripe. But I've had this now for a couple of months and I haven't reviewed it.

[21:23] Katie Chandler: Oh, I've heard about that.

[21:24] Amy Sherman: The verb ghost dry oil spray. I'm not sure if I have the oil, too. I don't know if I've reviewed that in the past. I don't think I have. But I feel like I've reviewed several oils, but this one is a dry oil spray. It says smooth and frizz, control and soften. This has become one of my holy grails because like I was saying, I wash my hair, like blow it out or do whatever once a week ish. Maybe sometimes I can even go longer. My hair is so dry, it doesn't matter. This is so good. You literally just spray it in there. And it's nice because you know how sometimes with an oil you have to put it in your hands, put your hair and then wash. This is almost like you just kind of use it as a hairspray, but it's an oil, so it doesn't have a hairspray feel. It literally has an oil feel, but it's just in a spray.

[22:15] Katie Chandler: Do you use it as like a finishing thing to sleek in and moisturize and keep fizz away?

[22:20] Amy Sherman: Yeah, it says to spray. I'm just saying if it. I actually don't. Yeah, because I know it says extends a blowout, which is how I've been using it. Refreshes a three day, sorry, I can't read it because of course, I have my glasses on. Refreshes a two to three day old style conditions ends and pairs perfectly with your favorite dry shampoo. So I don't use it as like an oil to put on before I blow dry. I feel like I use a heat protectant cream or oil for that. But this is more of a touch up. So I use it after I blow dry my hair. But I've mostly been using it just like exactly what the bottle says, which I didn't even read that before, which is really to just judge and freshen up your hair every day or every other day. I just throw this on and it just gives it a sheen and it kind of like makes it fall nicer. And then in conjunction with dry shampoo, it's really good, too. So I'm obsessed with it. It's so good. It's the verb goes dry.

[23:14] Katie Chandler: It's a big bottle, too. I feel like it's going to last you.

[23:16] Amy Sherman: It's a nice size bottle. Yeah. It'll last forever. It's 250 MLS. I can't remember how much this was, but you look it up.

[23:23] Katie Chandler: Yeah. What kind of price point is verb?

[23:25] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I think I might have bought it at Ulta or on Amazon. I don't remember. But it's $20.

[23:30] Katie Chandler: Yeah, that's price point.

[23:31] Amy Sherman: Very reasonable. And I think it'll last forever. And like I said, with the dry oil, it's good, too. So I highly recommend it's so good. Like, the application of it's good. And I've been using this now more than my regular oil and really good.

[23:42] Katie Chandler: Going into winter because I feel like everybody's hair gets so dry in the winter. Right, right.

[23:47] Amy Sherman: You can just keep putting this on and it feels so good. It just literally feels like an oil. It's amazing. I absolutely love it.

[23:53] Katie Chandler: I'm going to order that. I need it. My hair gets so dry in the winter. All right, well, this next one, it's funny, I bought this a while ago and I just wasn't using it. It wasn't the right shade on me at the time, but I guess I got a little bit of color while I was in the Dominican, so I started using it. It's the Charlote Tilbury collagen lip bath gloss in pillow top color.

[24:16] Amy Sherman: So pretty.

[24:17] Katie Chandler: It's a very pretty color. And it's a nice thin lip gloss consistency. But it's one of those plumpers. It's a plumper, so, like, it kind of tingles. It's like a little, feels like it's a little minty when you get it on, it's supposed to make your lips fuller. It says high shine sheer lip gloss in her iconic nude pink shade for fuller looking lips. I mean, everything Charlote Tilbury does is great, but yeah, it's they have like six different shades. It's a good one. It's not super tingly.

[24:51] Amy Sherman: It's a plumper. Yeah. I was going to say, does it hurt? Because I found with some of those. It hurts my lips. I don't know, it depends what's in it.

[24:58] Katie Chandler: I don't feel like it is. I've had some that are really strong.

[25:02] Amy Sherman: Yeah. That feels like spice or something burning.

[25:05] Katie Chandler: This one is a little bit like a little minty feeling like pepperminty feeling like a little tingly and cooling kind of. It's not that extreme, but yeah. I'm trying to see if I can figure out if I can find what is in it. It has lip peptides, lip pump effect is mustard sprout extract, marine collagen, vitamin A, coconut oil. Oh, peppermint oil. There you go. Oh, peppermint oil.

[25:35] Amy Sherman: I like that.

[25:37] Katie Chandler: It's nice.

[25:37] Amy Sherman: Really pretty. Looks good on you. Yeah.

[25:41] Katie Chandler: A lot of different shades. It's cute. It's good stuff.

[25:43] Amy Sherman: Yeah, it's funny. I got to find a good lip plumper. I tried the too faced one. I should give it to you because I literally used it one time and it hurt my lips. It might not hurt you. I don't know. I put it on and it's like one of those ones that gets really like your lips. They don't feel minty, but they feel like irritated. They almost change colors. They get really red. It's almost like you're burning your lips. I know you're not. And then I feel like my lips get dry and red and yeah, maybe they look a little bigger, but it's not comfortable. So I want to try to find one that's more moisturizing and that one looks like that. I actually ordered one online that I read about. So more to come on that I haven't gotten it yet, but I'm testing that one next. And it's supposed to not hurt your lips, but be plumping. So we'll see. But I'm going to try that one.

[26:29] Katie Chandler: Yeah, I mean, this is definitely like a little tingly, but it's very tolerable and it's moisturized.

[26:36] Amy Sherman: You're right. I think it depends on the ingredients that's in there. Like, the peppermint is good, but when it's like a chili, sometimes they have like a chili, then that's when it gets really uncomfortable. Okay, so on the subject of lip products, I have a lip product too that I was going to recommend, Which I've been using for months, which I love. So this is the lineage lip glowy balm. You've seen this? So I think I've reviewed this before on the show, but I have the Laneige pot, which is, like, the sleeping mask, which I use all the time. It's, like, a thicker. I put it on every night. It's, like, replaced my aquaphor. I put it on every night, every morning. It feels so good. But this one is, like, a little bit of a thinner consistency. And I just keep this one in my bag, and I have it in the first one I got. Yeah. Was Berry, and I loved it. And I'm like, oh, this is perfect because it's like sleep mask, but it's a better applicator because you can just bring it with you. It's easier to apply. So the berry was the first one I got, by the way, it's $18, and it lasts a really long time. So then I found another one, because when I was in Sephora last time, I saw this peppermint, and I love a peppermint balm. Like, speaking of peppermint, I love the way that that feels. It's, like, cooling, and it just feels, like, so good. So I love this peppermint one. I think they also have it in the sleeping mask, but I just have it in the balm. But these bombs come in a lot of different colors. Like I said, I have peppermint. I've had berry before, but the other flavors or colors, I guess, are gummy bear, which is, like, a purple one, grapefruit peach. So they're all, like, really good flavors and yummy. So I bring this up because we're heading into the holidays and all that, and this, I feel like, is such a good gift for girlfriends or just, like, to throw in as, like, I don't know, just a fun little gift, and it just feels so good. So I love it. Highly recommend.

[28:18] Katie Chandler: I need to get that lineagetime lip mask, because every night I use my aquaphor. Not the aquaphor that's in the tub. I use the actual aquaphor chapstick. But I feel like that night mask is probably really soothing.

[28:34] Amy Sherman: Nice consider done. There you go. There's your gift.

[28:39] Katie Chandler: All right. Well, speaking of more lips and lip plumping, I feel like, like, not even on purpose Bought the Charlotte Tilbury Dupe. It's the Milani. Keep it full, Max.

[28:56] Amy Sherman: That looks like the last one.

[28:58] Katie Chandler: Exactly. Yeah.

[29:00] Amy Sherman: Okay.

[29:01] Katie Chandler: It is a lip plumper. And it's funny because I kind of want to take this off. I haven't compared them back to back to see if one's spicier than the other. Yeah, but this one's not as sheer. Granted, they have, like, twelve or so colors, and I'm sure there's ones that are more sheer. This is definitely a little bit more.

[29:18] Amy Sherman: I like when it has mark.

[29:19] Katie Chandler: Yeah, it's very pigmented, this one, but.

[29:25] Amy Sherman: Very similar.

[29:26] Katie Chandler: Very similar.

[29:27] Amy Sherman: And the color looks very similar. How does it feel?

[29:31] Katie Chandler: This is very soft and smooth, whereas the other one's a little bit more shiny and tacky almost. And so far, I'm not feeling as much burn as I did with the Charlote Tilbury, but it's coming. It's interesting. It takes a second or two to start to feel it, to kick in. I think it's the same. It's like the same tolerance level. Yeah, it is.

[29:59] Amy Sherman: And that's Milani.

[30:00] Katie Chandler: Milani. The Charlote Tilbury is $35, and the Milani is 1099.

[30:09] Amy Sherman: There you go.

[30:10] Katie Chandler: High low. It is a good dupe. Yeah, I'm getting the same effect. So it's the same.

[30:15] Amy Sherman: That's funny. Yeah, that one looks a little bit more. You're right. It has a little bit more color. It's a little shinier. Like a little bit more. But it's very similar. I mean, if you want. That seems like the Milani one's the way.

[30:27] Katie Chandler: I know it's funny, I didn't even realize how similar they were. But like I said, this one's been sitting in my drawer for a while, and, yeah, they're good. So there you go. It says, America's number one lip plumper on their website. I don't know who's giving them that award.

[30:45] Amy Sherman: It doesn't say. Okay, my last one, moving off of lips, going to eyes, is called. Hold on. Literally can't see. Okay, this is from Sephora collection. Again, I bought it during the sale. It's a shadow and a liner, and it's called Rose Gold. And I saw it. There's this makeup artist that I follow on TikTok. Her name is Maj M-A-J. She's great, and she has a lot of really good recommendations. And she had found this from somebody else. I think it's not even $10. Maybe it's $8. And what I use for, I haven't used as an eyeshadow yet. I just got it and I just started using it. But you know how I love to do the corner of my eyes. This.

[31:31] Katie Chandler: Yeah, that's pretty.

[31:32] Amy Sherman: Throw that on. It's like a really pretty shade. And you just kind of, like, throw it on, like, under there. And then what I also do. I did this yesterday. I just put it on the top, too, like, a little bit in here. Oh, pretty. I did this yesterday. I had, like, a neutral eyeshadow on, and then it just kind of, like, brightens.

[31:53] Katie Chandler: Yeah, it's really pretty. It's a good tone.

[31:55] Amy Sherman: So good.

[31:55] Katie Chandler: Kind of, like, a little bit, like, more of a natural skin tone than, like, a white one would be that people put in the corner.

[32:04] Amy Sherman: Well, you can't really see.

[32:05] Katie Chandler: Yeah, you can kind of. It's pretty.

[32:06] Amy Sherman: Yeah, it's basically like a highlighter. It looks like I'm wearing highlighter, but I'm not. And I bet you you could do it right here, up on the top here, like this kind of deal. So I'm just playing around with it, but immediately I put it on yesterday. I'm like, immediately. Yes, it's so good. And probably has a lot of different uses, but, yeah, it's kind of like a highlighter. Just a easier to apply because you don't need to get a brush. You just throw it on, and it just kind of, like, pops the eyes out. Once you have. Of course, I'm wearing no makeup today, so I have no mascara, no eye makeup, anything, but it just gives that extra pop. Love it. It's so.

[32:42] Katie Chandler: I need to get one. You always do that, that inner corner kind of, like, highlighting, and it's really pretty.

[32:49] Amy Sherman: Yeah.

[32:50] Katie Chandler: Nice. Sephora. That's that one. I have to report now that we're about 30 seconds in on the Milani. It is definitely a little bit more tingly than the Charlote Tilbury.

[33:00] Amy Sherman: Okay.

[33:00] Katie Chandler: FYI. Starting to get a little strong, but it's all good.

[33:06] Amy Sherman: It looks good then.

[33:07] Katie Chandler: Thanks. And also, I want to tell everybody what I'm drinking because I think that this could be made at home, and it's really, really good. We have this place here called Granola Bar. I mean, I don't know. They're probably in the general area of the New York area, but it's their Turkish late. Make this at home, make yourself a late. Or go to Starbucks and get your latte and have them put a little bit of vanilla in it and cinnamon and cardamom. And it is so good. Yeah.

[33:32] Amy Sherman: So vanilla late with cinnamon.

[33:34] Katie Chandler: What's cardamom? Is a spice that I feel like, I want to say. Maybe you would have cardamom in, like, a chai tea. Like a similar.

[33:41] Amy Sherman: Okay.

[33:42] Katie Chandler: But, yeah, it's a spice. I think I actually have cardamom in my spice cabinet so you could make.

[33:47] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I was going to say you could probably just make it at home.

[33:49] Katie Chandler: Really yummy.

[33:50] Amy Sherman: Sounds yummy. It sounds like. Yeah, mixed with cinnamon.

[33:55] Katie Chandler: It's very warming.

[33:56] Amy Sherman: I don't know. Sweet warming. Yeah. Good for the season.

[34:00] Katie Chandler: Exactly.

[34:01] Amy Sherman: Okay, cool. Well, that is it for our November product junkies. I feel like there's so many more things to review so I'm excited for next month and hope everyone is doing well and see you next time. Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. Also find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 131 - Hair Health Secrets With Trichologist And TikTok Superstar, Taylor Rose (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 131.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

Speaker A: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast, where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Speaker B: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

Speaker A: Welcome back to Nirvana Sisters, Nirvana Sisters family. You have just Amy today. Katie is on a much needed girlfriend's vacation, so she is not joining us today. But we are here, or I am here with Taylor Rose, who know I'm going to go back in time. So Taylor was one of our first guests on the show. So I was looking back and you were on our show, July 2021. It was episode 19 for us. And now we're on like, I don't know, episode 131 35, something like that, which is crazy. You were living in Michigan. You weren't a certified trichologist. You had a big TikTok following, but certainly not as big as it is now. So we're so excited to just hear all the new things. But let me just give our audience who we have so many new people who don't know Taylor. Taylor Rose is a certified trichologist specializing in rebuilding her clients confidence through both preventative and restorative hair loss solutions. Taylor has been published in a variety of news outlets, the Today Show, NBC Select, New York Post, the US Sun, Women's World Shape, and more, and has gained exposure through her social media platforms where she provides holistic hair regrowth tips to an audience of over 1.5 million followers. So welcome back to the show, Taylor. We were just talking that the first time she was on, it was like probably her first podcast. We were early on, and so much has happened. So it's so good to see you, and it's amazing to see how your career has evolved so much since we first met. I think formerly you were the healthy hooga, now you're the healthy her, I think, and all the things. So give us a little update on your life.

Speaker B: Yeah, so very different from the last time we talked, obviously, even just my mood. I was so nervous. That was my first podcast ever. Now, I have been on many podcasts, and it's so awesome. It's such a full circle to be back on this podcast. Yeah. But since then, I've moved to California, so I think so much has happened since that one. I was in a house in Grand Rapids, and then I ended up moving to Kalamazoo and then moved all the way out to California. So very different vibes out here. But it's definitely, I feel like where I'm meant to be. You know what I mean?

Speaker A: Totally. And I also remember last time we spoke, you were like in the midst of switching jobs. Like you weren't even doing this full time. I feel like you were working at another company.

Speaker B: Yes, I was still in finance. I believe I was posting kind of my own hair regrowth tips, but I didn't necessarily have that knowledge that I do now. That's helping other people with different types of hair, different hair loss problems. Before, it was just my own experience, and it very much was like, if you have the exact type of hair loss I have, the exact type of hair I have, I can help you. Otherwise, I don't know. So it's very different content even now than I used to put out.

Speaker A: Oh, yeah, much different. Tell us. So you are now a certified trichologist. So for those who don't know what that means, can you tell us a little bit about what that means?

Speaker B: Yeah. So certified trichologists basically are scalp and hair experts. I specialize in both preventative and restorative hair loss. So I can help people who may have great hair or okay hair, keep it and just make it better, make it its best looking hair that you can have and prevent that hair loss. And then also restorative if you've lost hair. I can help you regrow your hair in most cases, yeah.

Speaker A: And you went to school over the last few years to become officially certified and now this is like all you're doing?

Speaker B: Yes, this is my full time gig now, and I'm loving it so much. Yeah.

Speaker A: I mean, for our audience, please make sure you check her out on social media. Taylor has amazing, amazing content and such good tips and we love it all. Well, firstly, let's take a step back because I forgot to do. Because I just jumped into it. I forgot to do our Nirvana of the week, which, if you remember this from last time, just like a quick tidbit, fun or interesting or something that brought a little smile to your face. This week I haven't even thought of mine at, because I feel like this week has been so busy and I'm like, wait, I need you to take a step back and think about what made me happy this week. So I'm going to throw it to you first. This is when I usually throw it to Katie, but she's not here, so I'm just going to throw it to.

Speaker B: You under the bus, I would say. So I just got back from vacation. I went out to Utah, which I do the same trip every year to Utah, because my best friends live out there. So that was such a healing, restorative break that I needed, because working for yourself, it's very hard to shut off. And that was, like, the first vacation I've taken with no laptop. I didn't bring anything. I was like, I am out of office for three full days. I got pet sitters. It was very needed. And this week, I would say I'm feeling more motivated and more creative than I have in a long time. So that's my Nirvana, is just having a really good week back. Yeah.

Speaker A: I love that it's so needed, and that's amazing. I love Utah. Okay. That reminded me. Yes. I just got back from a trip, too. I went with my older son to a really fun game, like a college game at a state with one of my best friends who went to that school. And so it was just super fun going to, like, a ra big college game, which I haven't done in so long, college football. And we did a little touring around because my son is 16 and starting to think about college and all that stuff. So it was nice to have one on one time with him and just kind of not be working and just be with him. So that was really fun. Okay, awesome. So let's get into it. I know this is, like, a very broad, generic question, but tell us the best or the easiest way to grow hair, because it does seem like this is such a hot topic and so many people are struggling. AnD I don't know if it's post COVID or what's going on, but give us your thoughts.

Speaker B: Yeah. So this is, like, the hardest question for me to answer because, number one, there's no easy way to regrow hair, right. In this day and age, people are losing hair. It's rarely from one reason. There's usually, like, a couple of different things coming at us. So that means there's going to be a couple of different treatments. And it also depends on why you're losing hair. Right. Like, what are these underlying causes that are causing you to lose hair? And treating that hair loss is fixing those underlying causes, usually. So it's not just like, yeah, rosemary oil, for example, is amazing, and it helps increase blood circulation, and it can help 99% of people's hair just look better. And it did, for me, fully regrow your bald spots. But that also comes with ten different other things that you have to be doing, too. So I would say figuring out your underlying causes is the best first step to regrowing hair, because those are what you need to focus on, not just your scalp and your hair.

Speaker A: Why do you think this is so prevalent? Do you think it's more prevalent now? Because I think a lot of people said they lost hair during COVID if they got COVID. Or do you think it's just, like, more mainstream? Because people, especially women, didn't really talk about that stuff as much as men did, because that's more popular for men, but now it's very prevalent, and I feel like there's a lot of conversations about it.

Speaker B: Yeah, I think it's a mix of the two. It is being talked about more, especially with TikTok. I think that was kind of like the floodgates opened. People were being very authentic and sharing their real stories on TikTok, and that kind of opened that door for a lot of people. But I also think I know that there's more hair loss than there has been ever in the history of ever right now.

Speaker A: Yeah, it's wild.

Speaker B: Yeah. And I think some of the big reasons for that is the food we eat, like, how processed everything is, how stressed we are. We're not getting sleep. We're in this high stress state all day with just the way things are today. And then COVID, of course, like, a huge thing that went get. You can lose hair just from getting sick, just from getting a cold. But COVID was a cold on steroids.

Speaker A: Absolutely. But I know on your social media, at least, you used to do this, and I think you still talk. You were just talking about rosemary. What are some of those methods? Because I've seen some of them and I've tried some of them, and I think if you're consistent, they work. So can you give us a little tutorial on that?

Speaker B: Yeah. So there's a couple of different ways you can use rosemary. You can make a rosemary water, which is something that it's probably the most cumbersome to make because you have to do the whole process of boiling it and distilling it, all that. But the pro of that is that you can spray it on your scalp twice a day, and you don't need to rinse it out because it is so lightweight, whereas rosemary oil, you need to wash it off after. So there's two ways you can use rosemary oil that I like to promote. One of them is you can take just five drops of your essential oil mixed with your palm full of shampoo. Shampoo your hair like normal, let it sit for three to five minutes, and then rinse it out. And that's a nice little boost for your hair. You can do this up to three times a week, I would say. And then the other way, which I think you can do these both together too. You can do all three of them together. But the way that I like the most is having a rosemary oil. Either there are some, like, Miele that are premixed, but if you don't have it premixed, if you just have, like, 100% pure rosemary oil, you need to do five drops of that mixed with a teaspoon of a carrier oil, which would be like, castor oil, argan oil, pumpkin seed oil. Mix that together in your hands and massage it into your scalp, and then you let it sit for 30 minutes minimum, 3 hours maximum, and then rinse off.

Speaker A: Are most people or most of the clients that you're working with, Are they doing more of these home methods, or are they doing that in combination with, like, a neutrophil or other supplements?

Speaker B: Yeah, I would say most people I work with are doing multiple different things just because they have multiple reasons for their hair loss, and they also want to kind of throw everything that they can at it to fix the problem as soon as possible.

Speaker A: Yeah. I know that you've been through a journey with your hair that we followed on social media. Will you tell everyone, kind of, like, where you started and where you are now in your own hair journey?

Speaker B: Yeah, definitely. So I started losing my hair in my temple region. I would say that started at the end of high school.

Speaker A: Okay.

Speaker B: And it started very slowly, so I didn't necessarily notice that I was like, oh, maybe it's like how I'm parting my hair every day, or maybe it's breakage from hot tools. And I think what it actually. Sure, it was a mix of things, but what it actually came down to was that was when I got on birth control. Big change in the body known to cause hair loss. So that is kind of what triggered it to start. And then all through college, I'm stressed, I'm not sleeping. I'm drinking a lot of alcohol. All these things that are horrible for the body was just making it worse and worse and worse. And by the time college was out, I was wearing hats almost every day, spending an hour every morning making sure this was swooped right over. And it was taking up so much of my life that I'm like, okay, it's time to do something to fix this. Then TikTok comes about, and this is kind of, like, in the heart of, okay, it's COVID, I'm at home. I'm not having to spend this hour every day doing my hair for work. So I'm like, okay, it's time to, like, everyone does throw everything I can at this and try to fix it so that when COVID's over, I can come back to work looking know, like, it never mean. Rosemary was huge for me. That was kind of the first thing that I really noticed hair regrowth. But there was also all these other things I was doing. I got off birth control. I was meditating every day. I was doing yoga. I was sleeping more because COVID. Yeah. Just all these other things. Yeah, that's kind of how I grew my page was sharing my hair regrowth journey on my TikTok. Yeah.

Speaker A: And your before and afters are amazing. I remember seeing them. I mean, it's really incredible. And it does seem like it's a mix of lifestyle and anything else that you're taking. What's your thoughts on? Well, two questions I want to ask you about supplements, and I want to ask you about. You were talking before about just like, protecting your hair from hot tools because we all like our hot tools. But do you have any recommendations on how to protect your hair better from that kind of stuff other than not doing it?

Speaker B: Yeah. Honestly, obviously the best thing you can do is not use it. Even if it's just like, I take a three month break from hot tools every summer. During the summer, my hair, I'm like, okay, it's going up or it's going to be wavy. It's going to be. Yeah, that's my three month break. And I notice this is when my hair grows a ton. Just having that three months, whether that's over winter or over summer, or if you can even just spread it out throughout the year, is really helpful. Aside from that, using a heat protectant every time that you're using hot tools on your hair, letting your hair air dry 80% of the way before blow drying it. Because if you're blow drying, soaking wet hair, that's like the most damage you can cause, right?

Speaker A: Oh, that's a good one. I didn't think of that.

Speaker B: Yeah. I'll do my makeup while my hair is drying. I'll feed the animals, do other things, and then I'll go in and just do that. Like finishing dry with the blow dryer.

Speaker A: Yeah. Do you have a good hair protectant that you recommend?

Speaker B: I really like the color fanatic by purology. Yeah, that one tried that. It's my go to. I love it.

Speaker A: Okay. Good to know. Okay. And then from a supplements and things like that standpoint, I just feel like there's so much on the market. I hear so much about neutrophil. I actually have taken it in the past and it has worked for me. I never actually had any hair thinning, shedding, nothing because my hair is so thick. And over the years, as I've gotten older, it started to kind of like where you were saying the temples areas looked thinner. And I was like, what is going on? This is like nothing that I would think would ever happen. And I started taking neutrophil and it did help, I stopped it, but I just went back on it again recently because I felt like I should have probably taken it for longer. But anyway, I felt like it has worked a little bit for me. I'm not fully there yet, but what have you seen from clients and yourself? I don't know if you've tried it or not, or other things like that.

Speaker B: Yeah, my two go to's are neutrophil and cerrovital. Or cerrovital.

Speaker A: Oh, I haven't heard of that one.

Speaker B: Yeah, it's awesome. That one's probably my favorite because it has all of the vitamins and minerals that neutrophil has. But it also has like a stress support blend, which I personally, that's a big reason for me, losing hair is stress related. So that one's kind of like my favorite, my number one. But neutrophil is great too. I would say it's pretty helpful for most people because it has all of those hair growth vitamins in it. The one thing I will say is it is expensive and you have to take it three to four times a day. So for some people, if your hair loss is related to just like a vitamin D deficiency or an iron deficiency, you can get away a lot cheaper just taking like an iron pill or a vitamin D pill. Right? Yeah. So again, finding out why you're losing hair is a really good first step. If you are deficient in multiple things or you just want to help your hair look its best. Fill out densify. Yes. An overall supplement like neutrophil or cerrovitil is amazing.

Speaker A: Is ceraveetol as expensive as neutrophil?

Speaker B: I don't remember. Off the top of my head, I want to say it's a little bit cheaper. Yeah, but like pretty comparable.

Speaker A: Yeah, it's funny with neutrophil. You're right. I think they say to take four A day. I only actually take two because they're like big pills. And I'm not like, I hate taking pills, I'm like I'm just going to do this for a long time and take two because they do. I'm sure Cerebedal is the same where you have to take it over a long period of time. It's not like you can take it for a month or two. You really have to take it for an extended amount of time. Right, right.

Speaker B: Yep.

Speaker A: Okay. I'm switching gears to just general hair stuff because I saw, and this was a while ago, but I saw you went on a brand trip for Dyson and you tested the airstrike. And at the time, well, I still don't have it. I actually just ordered it because of the Sephora sale. But I wanted to get your thoughts on it because, you know, the Dyson, it's got an air wrap, which I love and obsessed with. But I'm curious to know what you thought of the air straight.

Speaker B: I love it. It is so helpful for me because it's like a mix of a straightener and a blow dryer, obviously, but it doesn't make your hair so flat like a flat iron would.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker B: And for me, like, having really fine, flat hair, I want these ends. I want this straight, but I don't want it to be pinned to my head, which happens when I straighten it. So the air straight is, like, a really nice volume straighten.

Speaker A: Yeah. I'm really excited to try it.

Speaker B: I've been wanting to make it.

Speaker A: Yeah. And to your point where you were saying, like, let your hair dry 80% of the way, and then using a tool like that feels like it would be a good one because it does at least style your hair so then you're not using another hair tool. It's like a two in one.

Speaker B: Exactly. And it's way less damaged than just like a flat iron would be.

Speaker A: Was it cool to go to the Dyson, like, HQ, wherever you are?

Speaker B: It blew my mind. I did not realize how. I mean, I knew it was high tech, but it was crazy.

Speaker A: Did they just reach out to you on TikTok or they.

Speaker B: I want to say they reached out to my management. So I actually, when I was out in California looking at apartments, I stopped by the Dyson store out in California and kind of made that connection, got my networking, and we just were so aligned because they're so into hair science and less damage. So it was just like a really aligned partnership for me. So we kind of just kept that connection. And when they released the airstrike, they were like, okay, this is perfect. Come learn about it. Learn the science. And of course, me being like a hair geek. I was like, oh, heck, yeah.

Speaker A: No, I saw that.

Speaker B: I was so excited for you.

Speaker A: I'm like, oh, my God, that's amazing.

Speaker B: Yeah. It was, like the most aligned thing ever for me.

Speaker A: Oh, my God. That's so cool. Yeah. I can't imagine what. I mean. It must be just. Yeah, because you're right. They're all about the science, and their.

Speaker B: Products are just so good.

Speaker A: Yeah, I'm excited to try it.

Speaker B: I'll keep you posted. I'm sure I'll love it.

Speaker A: I was, like, waiting. I was like, I'm going to do it on the Sephora sale. I'm going to take the plunge.

Speaker B: Yeah. That's like, all my friends were like, oh, it's so expensive. It's not worth it. And then they would all try mine, and the next day they're like, okay. So I ordered it.

Speaker A: I know, because with the. I don't know why I keep forgetting the name.

Speaker B: I'm like, air wrap.

Speaker A: Air wrap. I had bought it a really long time ago, before it became popular, and I was like, this is ridiculous, because it's so expensive. But it was, like, the best thing I had bought in years. Then I got rid of all my other tools, and I kept saying to Katie, like, you have to get. So, like, years later, she finally got it, and she's like, I mean, she's obsessed. She uses it every day, so I'm sure it'll be the same with airstream. So I'm excited to try it. Cool. So what are the most, just regarding hair, hair growth, what are the most common questions you're getting from your clients and people on social media? What are the main questions people are asking?

Speaker B: Kind of like, going back to what you asked, like, what's the quickest, easiest way to regrow hair? Which it's, like, impossible for me to answer that unless exactly who you are. And I've seen your scalp and I've seen your Hair and know your life. Also, a lot of questions on Rosemary. Just, I think there's a lot of misinformation out there. So people don't necessarily know the process. They don't know what to do. They're like, okay, I bought the rosemary. Now I have no idea how to use it. Right.

Speaker A: Tell me what to do. Break it down.

Speaker B: Yeah, exactly. And it's hard to remember. Okay. When I first started using this, I had no idea what to do. So it's like, oh, put it on your scalp. And they're like, okay, but how? With my fingers or with the dropper? How do I do it? So a lot of confusion there.

Speaker A: Yeah, that makes sense.

Speaker B: Yeah. Probably the biggest, too.

Speaker A: Do people ever ask about or do you talk to your clients about what foods are good for hair growth? I mean, is it like healthy fats and things like that?

Speaker B: Yeah, I do, because that's something I'm very passionate about, but I don't necessarily post about it as much because there's a lot of differing opinions out there. And, yeah, those posts usually get a lot of hate. Right. But I do personally talk to my clients about it. Yes.

Speaker A: Yeah. Give us one or two things that you think are good for hair growth. You won't get any hate because protein.

Speaker B: Being the best protein, make sure you're eating a really high protein diet because hair is made up of protein. So it's very important. Healthy fats, like you said, omega three s like fatty fish. And for women, iron is a big one, too.

Speaker A: Oh, yeah, that makes sense. I didn't think about that, but that's a good point.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: Okay, so before we go, I wanted to do our wrap session, which we did with you, obviously, two years ago. We're doing a redux of that. Okay. Is that how you say the word?

Speaker B: I'm like R-E-D-U-X-I don't know.

Speaker A: We're doing a rap session redo because I'm sure there are now more things that you are doing and we want to hear it. So you ready to go?

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: Let's do it. What's your favorite? Wellness or beauty hack?

Speaker B: Wellness or beauty Hack? Let me think for a minute. Okay, here's one. Okay. People like to wear rosemary oil on their scalp and go to bed because people don't have 3 hours to sit there and let it soak in and do its thing before they shampoo it out. But going to bed with rosemary oil on your scalp can clog your hair follicles overnight because it attracts dust. So a really good hack for that is either using like a Saran wrap or a shower cap to keep out the dust. And then you can sleep with your rosemary oil on.

Speaker A: And then in the morning, your hair must be like, I feel like so shiny and amazing.

Speaker B: Soaked it in. You've got your body heat going all night and then shampoo it out and it's good to go.

Speaker A: Oh, that's a good one. Okay, next question. Your five minute flow. And maybe it's different now that you're living in LA. So you just got out of the shower, you dried off. Uber's alerting you. They're five minutes away. What's your quick beauty routine? What do you put on your go tos to get dressed? Get out the door on time?

Speaker B: Love it. Okay, so right now I'm using Foley, a brand called merit, for my.

Speaker A: Oh, I love. Yeah.

Speaker B: Yeah. I just discovered them, honestly, like, less than a month ago.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: So good. Yeah, so it's like, I use their foundation, their bronzer, their blush, eyeshadow, and mascara, and I can do that all, like, my whole face. And it's, like, very clean girl aesthetic. I can do it in, like, four minutes with that brand.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: So that's what I've been doing. Honestly, that's all I do. And my hair, I'm on my no heat kick right now, so I just let it air dry.

Speaker A: Your hair looks amazing. It's so, like, long and beautiful.

Speaker B: Yeah, I dyed it blonde when I moved out here.

Speaker A: I was going to say it's lighter than I remember.

Speaker B: Yes. It's very light right now. And that damaged it so much. Like, I knew it was going to happen, but I was like, okay, I need to not do that again.

Speaker A: At least you're prepared. You probably've got all the things to keep it healthy with the blonde, but it looks beautiful. Yeah. So if you're running out the door with all the merit, and then. So what do you do with it? You just let it air dry or, like, throw it back?

Speaker B: Yeah, I brush it, pop in the leavein conditioNer, which I'm currently using a brand called Array. I think that's A-R-E-Y. Yeah. So they have, like, a leavein mist.

Speaker A: Nice.

Speaker B: And that's it. And then I'm out the door.

Speaker A: Out the door. I love Merritt. Katie and I did a product junkies episode a while ago, and we talked about Merrick. Katie actually introduced me to that brand because she was saying the same thing. She's like. It's literally, like a minute. I, like, swipe it on. It's like, you don't even need a brush. You can just do it with your fingers. It's so great.

Speaker B: And it literally blends so quick.

Speaker A: It's so good. And you know what I also do here's a little hack. You know the blush?

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: I also put that on my lips. Oh, yeah. It ties it all together.

Speaker B: Oh, my gosh, that's perfect.

Speaker A: And sometimes I do the Bronzer as eyeshadow, in a way.

Speaker B: Yeah, I bought the eyeshadow, and it's honestly very similar. I got, like, the same color as the bronzer, so I could have just got away with that.

Speaker A: Yeah. No, it's so good. Totally agree on that. Okay. And how do you maintain your daily Nirvana?

Speaker B: I do a lot of journaling, which, funny enough, I think that's what I said last time and I was just getting into my journaling game, but now that's like, it's my go to.

Speaker A: That's so good.

Speaker B: I'm somebody who. It's very hard for me to figure out how I'm feeling or thinking about things. It takes me a long time to process. So if I just start writing, put it on paper, it comes out so quick and I'm like, oh, okay. That's how I'm feeling about like, it's very easy for me to identify what's happening in my mind when I write it down.

Speaker A: That's awesome. And are you still meditating and all of those sorts of things?

Speaker B: Yep.

Speaker A: That's great. What are you seeing? The differences between where you are. You're in. Yeah. In Michigan before this and LA, it's like, I'm sure completely different, but like, what are you?

Speaker B: Yeah, I. So I'm an introvert at heart.

Speaker A: Me too.

Speaker B: Yeah. But in Michigan, I was very isolated and there's not a lot to do. So I very much got stuck in that introvert trap where I'm not leaving my house at all. I'm leaving once a week to grocery shop. And it's like, painful for me. And out here, there's just so much going on constantly. You literally can't stay home. You look out the window and there's like ten things going on. So it's definitely brought me out of my shell and helped with my confidence and my happiness overall. I've met like a ton of friends, so just happier out.

Speaker A: That's so amazing. I'm in LA a lot for work, so I'll have to come find you next time so we can do coffee and actually meet in person. So I know you have some hot news and we'd love to hear what's next for you.

Speaker B: Definitely. So two big things coming up.

Speaker A: I can't wait.

Speaker B: First of all, I'm going to be releasing a beginner's hair care guide. So it's like the full you're just starting out on your hair routine. What the heck do you do? You're losing hair. Your hair is thinning. You just want healthier hair. All the above. It encompasses everything.

Speaker A: Oh, that's great.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker A: Like a one step resource. How's it going to be distributed?

Speaker B: It's going to be an online guide, so it'll be easy, quick, it gets emailed to you the second you buy it and amazing. Go through it at your own pace.

Speaker A: That's so good. Okay. Amazing.

Speaker B: That's the first love that. Very excited about that. I've been literally grinding on it all day, every day.

Speaker A: I'm sure.

Speaker B: Yeah. Just making sure I cover all the bases. And then my bigger news that I'm very excited about is I will be opening an office in can. I got yes. Clients in person finally.

Speaker A: Oh, that is amazing. Congratulations.

Speaker B: Thank you so much.

Speaker A: Okay, so everybody that's listening, if you are in the California LA area, please go visit Taylor because it's going to be hard to get an appointment with you.

Speaker B: I feel like, yeah, it's going to be crazy. I get so many people asking me like, when are you going to see people? I will fly from wherever to see you and been waiting for the perfect office, the perfect opportunity. I finally found it.

Speaker A: Oh, good. Well, we are so happy for you. That's amazing news. And we'll link to everything. So people, if they want to come see you, travel to see you, if they're in California and they need a consultation, we will make sure to put all your info in the show notes and all that stuff. So congrats. That's amazing.

Speaker B: Thank you so much.

Speaker A: Yeah, so exciting. And with that, thank you for coming back and updating us on your life, telling us all the things we need to know about hair and sharing your exciting news. We're just so happy for you. It's great to see you've been growing in your career and of course all your content's amazing and we're just really happy for you. So thanks for coming back and sharing.

Speaker B: Thank you so much. And thank you for having me. I love, this is like the perfect full circle moment for me.

Speaker A: I know, I love it. Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. Also find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 129 - Aging Gracefully, Anti-Beauty Beauty, and The “Influencer” Paradox - A Candid Conversation With Beauty & Wellness Writer, Christine Morrison (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 129.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

Speaker A: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Speaker B: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

Speaker A: Welcome to Nirvana, sisters. Nirvana Sisters family. Hope everyone is doing well. We have a special guest today. We are talking to Christine Morrison. And let me tell you a little bit about Christine and I'll also tell you how we met. But Christine is a seasoned freelance writer whose work centers around her achievements and passions often is seen through the lens of aging, the business of fashion, beauty and a devotion to wellness and fitness. Her writing has appeared in print and online vehicles including the Boston Globe, the Washington Post and The Quality Edit, as well as advertising campaigns for fashion and beauty brands. She was recently featured in an anthology and is currently writing a fashion essay collection, reflecting on the meaning behinds and the humor in what she wore while forming her identity, navigating her way to true love and discovering her authentic self. That sounds so fun. I can't wait to hear about that. So welcome to the show, Christine. So, funny story. We had posted something about a new trend called bedrotting. And I wrote on the Instagram post, I feel seen because it's like literally what I do every weekend and I always felt guilty about it. And then it was named and I was like, this is amazing. I feel seen like bedrotting. It's like a thing now. And then Christine and I started talking about all things beauty and really anti beauty beauty. So welcome to the show, Christine. We're so excited to have you and just have like a deeper conversation about beauty and what it means today.

Speaker C: Thank you so much for having me. And yes, bedrotting. That was so funny. I had never heard the word before but I was so excited that that.

Speaker A: Was becoming A-I-I Katie and I talk all the time and to go, I'm going to be in my bed all morning bed rotting, so I'll talk to you later today.

Speaker C: I think my husband and little boys would be like, what's that? They would be freaked out by that word. But I feel like there is a time and a place for this. At this point, I looked it up because I wanted to know what the actual definition was because I'm not a TikTok person. But it said basically this is a new form of self care and it's spending all day or all weekend in bed and it said like doom scrolling. Now I can go without the doom scrolling but just the laying in bed, binging the show or reading a book. My whole thing would be reading a book. But after all the eras of the girl boss and the hustle culture and leaning in, I feel like aren't we kind of do a little bit of relaxation. I would say yes for sure right now.

Speaker B: I hate to break it to both of you, but I've been bedrotting for years. Me too.

Speaker A: Now it actually has a name.

Speaker C: But it is I had twins and I haven't been bedrotting candidly.

Speaker B: So yeah, for me bedrotting is a way of preventing my autoimmune from flaring up. So it's like prescription bedrotting which is.

Speaker C: I love that it's almost like gave you and then sad that you needed the word, but it gives you permission to take care of yourself and you don't need permission. I'm giving you permission today. I know exactly what you mean. We all live in we need it. Yeah. And that's why we've gotten too caught up in it. And I'm so glad more and more that whether you have to have a name for it or not, that wellness and taking care of yourself is not just a beauty ritual but a lifestyle and something you have to do for your well being.

Speaker A: Yeah, I totally agree. And I also think that the idea around bedrouting which we need to change the routing. I don't want to make it feel like we got to think of another one. Maybe it's rooting, I don't know. But I do feel, and I've always done this too and again, it's funny to have a term around it, but just like having that time to yourself, whether it's like an hour or two in bed. To your point. Binging shows doom scrolling or laying with your animals like I do and my pets and whatever. Just that time to yourself and having that regroup whenever you can have it is so crucial because then you just feel revitalized afterwards. You feel rested, you feel good.

Speaker C: 100%.

Speaker A: But I realized we forgot to do our weekly nirvana and we should take a step back and do that quickly because it's been a week. We're recording the week of all of the mideast crisis that's happening and we're not going to go deep into been I was thinking about this this morning been a really hard week for all of us and it's kind of hard to think about what a weekly nirvana could be or would be in this kind of dark time right now. But I can start. I actually had two this morning which I thought were really a nice end to my week. So someone in my other job texted me this morning and just said, hey, thinking of you, just wanted to share my support and love and it was like someone I didn't really know, someone that I work with but don't work with closely or know. And I just thought it was really sweet just that she reached out and said something was really touching because not that many people do that. So I thought that was really nice. And then the other nice thing that happened this morning was my older son is having a friend sleepover all weekend because his parents are away for the weekend and it's Homecoming weekend here, and it's all this stuff. And anyway, his friend's sleeping over, but the mom sent our family, like, this really beautiful bouquet of flowers and it was, like, such a good week to get it. First of all, it was so nice to do that and so unnecessary but it was just so sweet and nice. It was just nice to get some beautiful flowers into my home just because it's been such a kind of obviously depressing week. But what about you Katie?

Speaker B: Yeah, it has been an incredibly difficult week. I think last night on the train when I was coming back from the city where I think my headspace for where it's been this week, I found myself instead of just ripping by the train stations and not paying attention to my surroundings, I was watching people and their humanity and just seeing a father pick up a son and seeing a woman that looked like she had had a long day and heading home for the day and just kind of paying attention and thinking about we are all human. The world is going to be. I think I think that was mine. Instead of just like the usual just seeing people and not thinking anything.

Speaker A: When you see these rushing through.

Speaker C: Right.

Speaker B: What about you Christine?

Speaker C: Well, it's funny that you say that about people, the humanity of people just showing up and stepping up in ways that you can't believe. I don't know these two women but I saw that they were having this beauty sale in New York City and I'm obviously not there anymore but they're having it on Saturday to support the Israeli Red Cross and Israel Aid. And I reached out and I said do you need more products? Because I don't know what they need or whatever. And she's like sure. And I was like, I don't know what you need. And she said oh sure, anything. And I reached out to a handful of brands and a lot of these brands are startups so they have very little still and they are still fighting for funding and everything. 99% of them were like, oh I'll ship whatever you need. And they shipped product and donations. And it was like people just are showing up for one another. And that does give you faith in people and humanity that while our country is not experiencing what they are just to witness people that don't know each other, that are getting obviously nothing out of it, that have very little, but know that they have so much in comparison to what is happening across the world. I just thought that was an incredible yeah.

Speaker A: Yeah. That's really nice. Puts things into perspective. Let's talk about anti beauty, beauty and what that means and kind of get your thoughts about that. Christine.

Speaker C: So one of the things when we were talking about it over Instagram. I was trying to find a way to sort of define it. Like, how does someone define it? Okay, so anti beauty beauty the way that people define it. And so funny to me is when people go online and write about brands that don't work. And it's really led by what's her name? The housewife. Oh, my goodness.

Speaker B: Bethany.

Speaker A: Oh, Bethany.

Speaker C: Bethany Frankel. Right. She and then she's got all these other people on TikTok and people are up in arms. And so that's what they say as, like, that's anti beauty beauty. And I'm constantly like, no, I think of it as beauty that doesn't require so much money or so many steps and more about how it's impacted by our health and our wellness and how that affects our aesthetic. And that's how I think about it because there's so much that you can do that's not like a moisturizer whatever. And that does impact what you look like, how you feel about what you look like. And that's especially as you age because there's only so many things that you want to do or should be doing because it's pushing water uphill at some point because gravity is setting in. I'm sorry.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker C: But that's how I think of it. I don't think of it as negating what products define themselves as or anything like that. I just think it's like stepping away from the need to have an incessant 17 step program or constantly be getting and no judgment. I'm all about taking care of your skin and injectables are fine or whatever you want to do. But when it kind of takes over your world or is something that is like it's almost like what's your intention when you're doing it? Is it to fight gravity or fight what you look like rather than be like a contentment or feeling good in your skin? Things like that? I think it just depends on how you're approaching it, in my opinion.

Speaker B: I agree with that. Are we doing it so that we feel confident and happy in our skin and we can know ourselves or are we doing it because we've had something to prove or we're fighting? Yeah. And there's a lot of truth to what we put in our bodies. Can really do volumes to external and a lot of people don't, I think. I really do believe that a lot of people don't know that.

Speaker C: Yes. And I don't understand why there's been so much and I don't know. Is it because they haven't seen the proof or something or they're not willing to try it? I don't know.

Speaker B: Right. Yeah.

Speaker A: And just going back to Bethany quickly when she first came out in the game doing all of that stuff and a lot of people will call it like de influencing or whatever, but I actually appreciate it and still do appreciate her candor. And I think people trust her because she could buy anything she wants in the world, but she's practical. And so she's like, here are the expensive things that if you want to treat yourself great, here are the things that are crappy and here are the things in the drugstore that you can have and have a two step skincare routine and you're good to go. And I think people just really trust her because she is practical and she's trust. What's the word I'm looking for?

Speaker C: Well, she's really honest.

Speaker B: Yeah, she's giving it to you.

Speaker A: She's honest. She's relatable in the sense she's going to the TJ. Maxx and whatever and finding stuff, and she's doing the high end and she's doing the low end, and she mixes high and low, and she's just relatable in that way and very honest. And I think she's always been that way, which is why people trust her.

Speaker B: It kind of goes back to having nothing to prove. And I'm sure that there's a million people that would say, oh, Bethany Frankel always acts like she has something to prove because she speaks up on literally everything.

Speaker C: But I think that's a great point.

Speaker B: Yeah, but this specific piece, I think she doesn't have anything to prove in her beauty regimen. Like, she doesn't care about a 16 step process and if that makes her cool, et cetera. Right.

Speaker A: And it's funny because which we do at the end of every show is like our five minute flow, which is exactly that. It's like strip away everything. What are those core things that make you feel good? And we were talking about that before, around the intention behind it. And I think we always talk on the show about you're doing these things because they make you feel better, because they make you more confident. Yes, there are systemic reasons, but it's really like at the end of the day, so you feel good, whatever that.

Speaker C: May be, whatever it is.

Speaker A: You get a blowout, you get whatever. You have your bed rotting in the morning, and then you feel good the rest of the day and you feel confident, like you've had that time to yourself. So it's to your point, I totally agree. The intention behind it versus the opposite, where you see people and if you do want to do a 20 step skin care routine, great. But then you see the people doing that just to do it.

Speaker C: Because it's like up with people. Right.

Speaker A: Up with and that's what we don't love.

Speaker C: Exactly. I hate that. Exactly.

Speaker B: And also, it's not totally necessary. Let's call it what it is and.

Speaker C: In fact, achieve results. It's almost like setting you backward. I just did this incredible article on a brand that has proven this woman that's a former beauty writer and editor, her sister is the director of oh, gosh, I'm going to scare this up. It's like she's the director of the Human Microbiome Institute at Cedars Sinai, and together she was able to come up with a brand called Editrix, and I wrote this piece for the quality edit on it. And at the end of the day, all the things that we are doing is obviously damaging the microbiome. So their whole point is let your skin act the way it needs to act. And if you stop damaging it so much, it will actually repair itself. It will do things itself, it will act the way it's naturally supposed to act. The reason why you're having so much eczema sensitive skin issues along the way, aging so much faster, is because of all the retinols and everything that we're doing anyway, right. Less is always more.

Speaker B: And the inside out piece, what you're putting on is affecting you internally, which is then coming out externally, and it's kind of like this vicious cycle, right? So I'm going to put this topical on it, but it can ultimately, they're saying, hurt you internally, microbiome effects and everything. I would love to read that piece.

Speaker C: And I'll send it to you because you're right, because the microbiome is your skin health and there's a language between your gut health and your skin health, and it's through the microbiome language or something. Read the article. It was like taking science class. I met with her for hours and hours and hours.

Speaker A: Wow.

Speaker C: And I am not well versed in it at this very moment. It took a lot of me to do that because I really wanted to understand it. And I think, to your point, I don't think that people want to go that deep to find out when they find there's a quick fix if you use these five products, right?

Speaker A: Yeah, totally.

Speaker B: That's true.

Speaker A: Let's move to another topic, which is really around wellness and aging and normalizing it. And I think just the media and people on social media and podcasts are getting better at this. But I just can't stand when I listen to podcasts of people in our age bracket and they're like, oh, I can't talk about menopause, or oh, no, that's never going to happen to us. And I'm like, I find that so irritating and so unrelatable. I'm like, this is happening. Talk about it, right? Oprah did a really good job recently, or I think it was in the last year, she did some whole conference around menopause, and she got all these celebrities involved, and it brought a lot of awareness to it. But that drives me nuts when people just can't age gracefully and embrace their age versus trying to find that fountain of youth or, like, go backwards, seem.

Speaker B: Like they're shaming menopause, we can't talk, right? This is happening. It's inevitable without shame.

Speaker C: And the beauty is, you're right. So many people still think it's a little taboo. But thank God for Naomi Watts'company. The stripes. And sadly, another company just went, and my doctor's name is Dr. Taz. She just wrote a book and she did A-Q-A with Gwyneth Paltrow, who is obviously big about talking about taboo topics and getting the noise at a level where people are like, oh, wait, we should have pay attention to this. But you're absolutely right. We need to realize that it's going to happen. There's physical, mental, emotional, all of this health. We have to listen to what's happening because I'm 54 and I'm just at the tail end of menopause. And if I had had that Susan Dominus New York Times article that has, I swear, been spread to everybody I've ever met eight years ago, I think the headline was women have been Misled about Menopause. It's in the New York Times. If you haven't read it, please go and read it. It breaks down all of the things, all of the myths and misconceptions that have been going on all this time because of that one NIH study. All that women's health initiative. Yeah, exactly. And why women were scared to take hormones. And it's so wonderful and about what's now happening in the world of menopause and all the brands and all the people that are trying to get out there and try to talk about it. But we are just this is the tip of the iceberg, right?

Speaker B: For sure, we're scratching the surface.

Speaker C: Exactly.

Speaker A: Yeah. But it's good that it's starting the conversation. And I also find, too, women around our age just offline when you're talking to other moms or whomever, once you start talking about hormones and all these things, everyone bonds around it because everyone's going through the same thing. So now you're having deeper conversations about health and well being and how to take care of yourself and everyone's sharing things. And that's half the reason we have the show, right? To share and to talk about our experiences. And I just find it so nice when I meet people and we can just connect on something that we can all relate to and share those tips and tricks and learn from one another.

Speaker B: Interesting, this Women's Healthy Initiative affected generations of women that were not allowed to be given hormones and just went through the most brutal menopausal transition. I talked to my mom about it. Like, my mom is now, she's 70, and she's going to go talk to her doctor about starting hormones. There's nothing wrong with that. And so it is getting the conversation started, making it like saying menopause in a public restaurant out loud without being worrying that the table next to you is going to look at you like you're old crazy. And you're right. These celebrities have definitely helped bring up the noise level, which is fantastic. I mean, we've got to get all the stigma out.

Speaker C: All of it's got to unfortunately, one of the stigmas I just started to read about is in the workplace because there's a bit of an ageism issue. Anyway, you feel like you have to keep it hush hush, because then they're like, oh, she's so old, because it's still equated with being an old lady and hot flashes and all the things are like, oh, is she old and crazy? And in menopause it's like, oh my gosh, it's funny.

Speaker A: I just read something, it was like a little I think it was on I don't know if it was on LinkedIn or Instagram, but do you know Shelley Zallas?

Speaker C: No.

Speaker A: She's like she's the founder of something called let's see if I have this right, the Female Quotient. And it's all about yeah, yeah, I've met her before. She's incredible. And it's all about women's leadership and power in the workplace and speaking up and all of those things. And she had an antidote, I think it was, again on LinkedIn or something. And she was talking about how she was in a meeting years ago, like a big executive meeting and it was like her and actually a bunch of women around the table and in the middle of the meeting or whatever it was, she was going through a half less. So she fanned herself and then the other one were like, oh, thank God. And they all started fanning themselves. And it was such a moment of bonding, of like, oh my God, we don't have to be so corporate and buttoned up. We can all fan ourselves because we're going through the same thing. And she's like, it was such a funny experience just to be in sort of an uptight boardroom situation. But then all the women as soon as she did that were like, oh, that's really funny. So I just thought that was really funny.

Speaker C: The only other thing that does come out of both that article and everything that's been talked about is the medical community just doesn't have enough education in it. Like doctors, I guess it's something like something like 2 hours or something. In medical school you get trained on menopause versus fertility is obviously it's shocking, right?

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: The OBGYNs, like the traditional, they don't talk about it. They're like, oh yeah, your menopause take this, there's no that's it. Unless you go to someone who knows what they're doing and is really versed or is more the and we might.

Speaker B: Have talked about this before, but it's good for our listeners to know. If you go to the North American National Menopause Society, there is a list of obgens in your area that are certified in menopausal training. And they will give you hormones and they will treat you like this is all normal, which it is.

Speaker C: That is a fantastic resource. I'm so glad you mentioned it. And if I can mention, she just published her book. The book that she talked about with Gwyneth is Dr. Taz Bhatia wrote a book called The Hormonal Shift. And you can be in pre perimenopause, but it will start to give you the education of how do I know that I'm even starting this right? It'll step you step by step because there's so many. If you don't have women around you and you don't have a doctor that listens, it's hard to know what to even ask the doctor without what you don't know. Right.

Speaker B: And it's hard to know what's happening to you when it slowly starts.

Speaker C: When perimenopause symptoms scary.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: So I was just thinking just a funny story or not story, but just thought when we were talking before about wellness and aging and aging gracefully. I don't know if anybody's watching the Golden Bachelor. I've only seen one episode. It's really good. I have to catch up. Okay, but point being, all these women are like in their late 60s, early 70s.

Speaker C: Fantastic.

Speaker A: They all look amazing. And you can tell they've aged gracefully. Right? I mean, of course there's some women that are a little overboard with the face, but most of them are like just natural beauties. They're all like gorgeous women but they've taken care of themselves so well. You can tell some of them are in their 70s. I'm like I mean they look incredible.

Speaker C: Awesome.

Speaker A: But they have wrinkles and they have this and they have that, but they just look incredible. So like the days of people being in their seventy s and looking like the golden girl, old and gray, that's just not the world we live. Not it anymore. People are like it's kind of like in the Barbie movie when she looks over I posted this the other day. That's why in the top of my head where she looks over at the old woman in the bus stop and she's like, you're so beautiful.

Speaker C: It's so true. And I love it when it's just.

Speaker A: Nice to see that. Yeah, I know. It's great. Anyway, I just thought of that because it's just that the world now is very different when it comes to aging. But yes, the conversations need to keep happening and the embracing of it and stop trying to beat the clock. Just embrace it. Age gracefully and enhance what you have to make you feel better and be.

Speaker B: Proud and be proud of the age experience and the stripes that we wear from all of our life experience. Absolutely. Say your age with shout it.

Speaker C: Absolutely.

Speaker A: Let's talk about I know we want to kind of talk about the pitfalls of beauty currently and sort of this disingenuous information that's out there and spreading false info which is everywhere. It's really scary and it's very hard to know who to trust. Love to get your thoughts on that.

Speaker C: Well, that's really funny. So that's another reason I had contacted you is so I have a substac and the most recent one that I wrote was called Coming Clean about the beauty industry. And it was saying, I'm putting a stake in the ground. I'm not writing any more beauty editorial because while I do a lot of research and interview founders and do as much as I can to get truth out there, the pitches and the desperation of both some brands and just the noise of TikTok and everything. And influencers. To me, I'm probably going to get canned for this. But influencers are like a four letter word in my opinion. Because especially when it comes to skincare, there's so many myths and so much misinformation that are leading women down the wrong road. And Sunscreen is just one good example of that. They don't know what they're saying and they're telling them brands to use. And then I have this one derm that I used for an article and she's like, do you know? And I'm like, I know I didn't write it. I don't know. It's really hard to know because there's more influencers than ever. They make like 4 billion or more in sales. Right. There's celeb brands and they use white label products a lot of times. So they just put their labels on it and then they look amazing. And then people want to look like that. I feel like it goes back to doing wellness and health types of things and then knowing who to trust. Trust people who have been schooled in these things. Trust your dermatologist, trust your surgeon that gives you the injections that might say, you know what? You should use this brand and only use these products. Don't fall into the trap of all the links and the sales and trying something new every month and all of the time that there's something that's a trend is not good for you or your skin.

Speaker B: Right, yeah. It doesn't even give you time to make traction. If you're doing you're constantly changing it.

Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. And then you might think it doesn't work because then you have had a reaction to it. Well, that could have been two times ago product, right?

Speaker A: Could be from something. Exactly.

Speaker C: So I always say stay away from influencers and TikTok trends and all of with. And if you are going to read stories, make sure these people are talking to legitimate sources. Sometimes even great like L or whoever, they might just be saying, here are brands that we like. But make sure that they've talked, not just editors, but make sure those editors have talked to people and all of that. It's always about someone that's been schooled in this and has done their homework. That's all.

Speaker A: Yeah, I agree. And I think it's really difficult. I can imagine for the younger generation and sussing out what's real and what's not. Katie has two daughters. As they get older, you can just get sucked in without knowing. I think when you're older you sort of can look around and try to figure out if it's legitimate and make your own choices. But all these kids with the filters and the this, it's really, really scary. So that's why I appreciate people like Bethany, actually. People like Alex Earl.

Speaker C: Right.

Speaker A: She has bad skin and she shows it all the time and she talks about all. Her issues with her skin or this or that. And I think, yeah, look for those.

Speaker C: Exactly. There are people out there, they're few and far between, but those are the people to see what their journey is. Absolutely.

Speaker A: And I think that's why she's become so popular, because of that honesty. I also would say, when you were talking about the legitimate sources, I listen to the podcast a lot, breaking Beauty, you know that podcast? And they're two former beauty editors, so I trust everything that they say. Like, if I really want to learn about products, I'll listen to them because I know that they've interviewed the people. They're very reputable versus, like, somebody else is just recommending. I mean, Katie and I recommend products all the time, but it's just stuff we personally like. We're not saying that's very different. We're just saying this is fun. Check it out.

Speaker C: Because you used it and that's different. And you know what's fun about that is like, I've used it. You're not saying, here's a link. You have to try this to have a good life.

Speaker B: Right?

Speaker C: That's what some of these influence are like. I feel that they're like, you know what? Look at me. Look at my great life. I wear this. How you achieve this is how you achieve it. Exactly. It goes back to intention. To what is their intention? Their intentions to make money. Right. Their intentions not to help you. They're not friends with you.

Speaker A: It's so true. It's so true. That all being said, I mean, we go talk about this for still have fun. How do we still have fun with Beauty? Because we all love it.

Speaker C: I love that question. I love it. Yeah, we still want to have fun. Okay, well, there's so many fun things. So the first thing is, everybody knows and loves Jenna Lyons because she's on Real Housewives. But before she was on Real Housewives, and she was an icon, saya icon because of J. Crew. And she started love scene eyelashes. Have you guys tried these?

Speaker A: I have not.

Speaker C: Okay. Fake eyelashes are so fun, and Love Scene is super easy to put on. And if you just want to like it's kind of like the bedriding idea. If you want, on a random Wednesday to go have lunch with a friend and you put on these love seeing eyelashes. Now they have some that know real severe, and then they have some. And I did that like Kim Kardashian.

Speaker A: I know exactly what you're saying.

Speaker C: Or some that just look like you had on a good, healthy coat of mascara. But it's so fun that's something you can play with doesn't harm anybody. You might love it. It's just playful fun. It's just like, I love it and I do it.

Speaker A: I am so glad you said that. I need to try it. So we did a whole episode. We did an episode, what was it? A couple of months ago called? The eye edition because I used to have extensions for a while, and then I started trying all the ones that you could do yourself. And I've become a master at all these different ones and how to use them and whatever. Are those just for the day, or do they last?

Speaker C: I think you need to take them off. I've worn them overnight, but you need to take them off. But you can reuse them. Okay, great.

Speaker A: I need to try those. And that's one of those things that kind of tying back to what we were talking about earlier, because I was wearing them for a while. When I put those on, I feel like a million dollars. I don't have to wear makeup. It brightens your face. You feel like it's the best.

Speaker C: Right? You can go to carpool, and you win. Carpool. I don't know. There's, like, about the way you I totally agree. Also, I'm all about a good lip oil because my hair is too short now to fall into my face. So the really fun thing that I got recently was St. Jane is a good skincare brand. It's very florally, so I don't wear a lot of it on my face necessarily, but I do like the brand. But they did a partnership with Favorite Daughter, and I think those girls are hilarious. And they did a lip oil one's called Calm, one's called Chaos. I don't know which sister is Calm and which is Chaos because they're both kind of both, and there are two different colors, and it's just a fun I don't know. I just thought it was fun. That's awesome.

Speaker A: Oh, I love that. Play with to try that.

Speaker C: And also, I'm a big fan of I don't need pink or blue hair or anything like that, but I cut my hair all the time, and I play around with, like, going a little darker, going a little lighter with biolu. I don't know. Just playing around with hair, because hair.

Speaker B: Grows, hair grows, color changes. I have true clients. Recently, she has, like, grayish blonde hair, but then she changes her roots to a fun, funky, great different color every few like, every other month.

Speaker A: Who does this?

Speaker B: One of my clients. She's great.

Speaker A: Oh, my God.

Speaker B: He has one. Having fun with beauty.

Speaker C: And for women that want to go gray, go for it.

Speaker B: Go for it.

Speaker C: The grow out is hard. I know. But you know what? Do it. I had to break up with my colorist about seven years ago. I was super blonde, and he's like, what are you doing? And I go, I need to stop pretending I'm 40. And that's fine if you want to be super blunt. He's like, but you with high gray. I'm like, I don't have any gray. I want to be a brunette, like, the way God intended me to be. And it's been fun. And then I cut all my Sarah Jessica Parker curls up I have the shortest bob in the world, right? Like, you can play. And again, it's all for me. It has nothing to do with anybody.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: So stuff like that. Right?

Speaker A: That's so true. I actually just cut my hair shorter recently. Never. My hair was always long forever. And then over the last few years, I've grown it, cut it short, grown it, cut it short and played around with it. But I was just saying to Katie, when I got my hair highlighted a couple of weeks ago, I changed it to be more textured because I found that it was too blonde. And I was like I said to my colorist, who I love, I was like, I had, like, a whole briefing with her for a half an hour. I'm like, let me show you pictures. This is what I mean. I just don't want my highlights to make my hair all look blonde. I want, like, texture. I want it to be, like, dark in places. And she's like, yeah, same thing. But I hide your gray. I'm like, I don't have that much gray. And I don't care. I just don't want it to feel like not I don't know.

Speaker C: I just wanted to goes back to intent. I didn't want to act like I was trying to look younger. And I was like I just also.

Speaker A: Felt like it was like washing me.

Speaker C: Out because my skin and my eyebrows and everything. And I did MICROBLADE my eyebrows so that they would be nice old and thick because they were getting a little sparse. And I'm like, that is part of my face, and it's important. And then the last thing was glasses. I obviously have to wear readers now, and so you can play around with this is like a Tom Ford.

Speaker A: Yeah.

Speaker B: Those are so cool.

Speaker C: Reader. And these are lookup. Oh, I have.

Speaker B: Lookup.

Speaker A: Tea.

Speaker C: I love them. They're really light. I can wear them all day, and I don't feel like I have, like, an indentation on my face. But just being able to play around because it's inevitable people are going to get readers and just being able to play with glasses and stuff. I don't know.

Speaker B: Super fun tips of things that we can do that I believe are helping age gracefully and keeping it fun and light and yeah, I love it.

Speaker C: Totally.

Speaker B: All right, we need to dive.

Speaker A: We only have a few minutes.

Speaker B: Let's dive into our wrap session stat, because I'm really excited to hear Christine's answers to these questions. So, Christine, what is your favorite wellness or beauty hack?

Speaker C: Okay, this is going to be very hard to narrow this down. I will be honest. I have a lot. But one of my all time favorites is have you ever used the higher dose sauna blanket?

Speaker B: No.

Speaker C: Okay. I did write a piece about this, and so I'm going to send you links to some of these articles.

Speaker A: But please yeah, we'll post because I'm.

Speaker C: A big fan of listening to I mean, you have to have like, a notebook in 2 hours and a pen. Maybe you bedrot during it. I don't know. Huberman's lab podcast.

Speaker A: Oh, I love it.

Speaker C: Oh, my God. It's a college education, but he did some things. We have a sauna in our house, but because of menopause, I cannot sit in that thing. So I found the higher dose sauna blanket. And you get inside and you don't get all of the same benefits as you would sitting in a sauna because you don't get the same temperature. But hey, the menopause thing, I couldn't sit in a temperature like that. But in this sauna blanket, my head is out. You don't go as high in the temps, but you detoxify the body. You burn about 400 calories, which is like a light job. And it is the most relaxing thing. At the end of the day, you sleep like a baby. But I CrossFit, and so I ache a lot often, so I get out of it. I feel like my muscles are soothed. It is a great way to end my day. I only get to do it a couple of times a week.

Speaker A: How long do you do it for?

Speaker C: Well, it'll click off and I'm trying to find out. I don't know. I stay in it like 2030 minutes sometimes. It is just sounds so good in the winter, too, when you're like, cold.

Speaker B: Sounds really nice.

Speaker C: And I put it up to eight, which is like the highest as it goes. But that's one of my favorite favorite things. But I have to tell you one other the other one, I hate every single green juice. I have a low tolerance for ****, like, even quality good I cannot taste. But the sakara, I think it's called greens and protein and greens superpower.

Speaker A: I haven't tried that one.

Speaker C: It has a hint of vanilla that I swear takes away the disgusting flavor.

Speaker B: Yeah, it's good.

Speaker C: It's so good because now I'm able to use I just put it with malk, which is almonds and water and after CrossFit. And I'm like, oh, good. I want to get those nutrients, but I could never get them in it's. My two favorite things.

Speaker A: I love those. Those are great recommendations. I've seen the higher dose online, but I just have never tried it. And it looks like such a good detox. You must feel, like, so refreshed afterwards.

Speaker C: Yeah, you have to wear clothes inside because socks, pants. But I'm getting ready to buy the insert so that you can be, as my kids say, nay nay. Okay. Go inside without anything on, which is how you really want a sauna. Okay.

Speaker A: Five minute flow. You just got out of the shower. Dried off. Uber just alerted you. They're five minutes away. What's your quick beauty routine? What do you put on? What are your Holy Grails to get out the door and get in that car on time.

Speaker C: Okay. I've washed my face in the shower. Ideally, I did. About how to cleanse your face. Don't put your face right up in the shower because you've broken capillaries if you have that, like, pounding water on your face. I learned that Kylie Kavako rec from Knockout Beauty, but I put on usually like Vitner's daughter and a good lulu, which is lula, which is a moisturizer I love. Or the editrix. I'm trying that still. And then an SPF. And then I am very minimal. I love the merit makeup stuff. I mean, I don't know if you guys use the minimalist. Yeah. Love flush bomb. Love. Or this one, the Jones Road in the Miracle in this color.

Speaker A: Oh, I'm dying to try this.

Speaker C: I got it in the Jones road.

Speaker A: Send us some, please.

Speaker C: This is in the pink. This is sort of a pinkish color, but in the summer, I was using more of the bronzy, but I use on the cheeks.

Speaker A: Just like, rub it all over on.

Speaker C: The cheeks and on my lips. And then I'm doing my one last article for beauty I'm doing is for Vegan for Vegan Day. But I found this, and I keep this in my car, so if it's Uber, I wouldn't. But this is on the way to carpool. It's called axiology. It's a teeny little crayon. And I keep it in my pocket sometimes if I go to an event or whatever, and it's the same idea.

Speaker B: Oh, nice. Yeah.

Speaker C: Cheeks. And you could probably put it on.

Speaker B: Your eyelids eyelash, but yeah, I was.

Speaker C: Thinking that, and that is it.

Speaker A: I never heard of that brand.

Speaker C: And then there's a teen skincare brand called Ryle R-I-L-E that I did. I love these teen skincare brands that just came out because I have these boys that are 14. They needed their own skin products. They have a lip balm that they don't like because it's too spicy. I love it. It's a spice chai.

Speaker B: Oh, yum.

Speaker C: Put that on my lips because I don't wear a lot of lipstick, except for I've used that lip oil recently.

Speaker B: Nice. Asking me for skincare products. Madeline, my ten year old, she's all in.

Speaker C: Send you that article. There are several. And you know what they're doing? These brands are doing such a good job of trying to say it's simple so you'll do it. It's not filled with all the harsh chemicals, like clean and clear that we grew up with, and so it's not getting their skin already on that kick of over producing oil and everything. It's great.

Speaker B: That's great. All right, last one before we head out. How do you maintain your daily nirvana?

Speaker C: Oh, gosh, well, I get so much quality sleep. Number one thing. Yeah, I learned the hard way, I have to have good sleep. And I think the higher dose bag in a combination with some calm magnesium before I go to bed really makes for a good sleep. And then I CrossFit several days a week, and that really helps.

Speaker A: Amazing sleep.

Speaker C: And then just make me feel good. And then my family.

Speaker A: Yeah. Thank you so much for coming on the show.

Speaker C: Thank you so much to have you back.

Speaker A: I feel like there's so many more conversations we can have about this, but it's so nice to meet you. I'm so glad we got to connect. We'll continue to talk. We'll be DMing and talking on Instagram.

Speaker B: We'll be in touch.

Speaker A: Yeah. Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. Also, find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 126 - Laugh Lines and Lip Liner: Beauty Banter with TikTok Star and Makeup Artist, Erica Taylor - Part 1 (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 126.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

[00:07] Amy Sherman: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast, where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your Nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

[00:18] Katie Chandler: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

[00:28] Amy Sherman: Welcome back to the show nirvana Sisters Family. It's Amy and Katie, and we are so excited about today's episode. You will hear who we are talking with very shortly, but if you want a no BS makeup recommendations tricks the real deal for mature women or mature women, as our guest says, with a side of comedy, relief and entertainment, erica Taylor is your girl. We have mentioned you, Erica, so many times on our show, I can't even tell you. Like, you've been on our blog. We've talked about you. We've recommended a million things that you've recommended that we've tried. So let me give everybody a background on Erica before we do our chitchat. Erica Taylor has been in the cosmetic industry for over 25 years, working with top brands mac, Laura, Mercier Benefit Cosmetics, and Trish McEvoy. She is a professional makeup artist and a mom of three living in New York. Erica majored in art education in college, initially aspiring to be an art teacher, but instead decided to search for a career that would allow her to be more creative. She was always the unofficial makeup artist to her friends and family, and an interview at the Matte Counter at Macy's became the official start of her professional career in makeup. In 2021, she started sharing her makeup tick sorry, wrong word. She started sharing her makeup tips and techniques for any age on her social media and has quickly become a trusted expert to her more than 1.4 million engaged followers. If you don't follow her on TikTok, you need to be following her. She is the best. In 2023, she was named L'Oreal Paris League of Experts and continues to be a major authoritative figure in the beauty and Skincare me. Welcome to the show, Erica. We are so happy to have you been I've been stalking her. Just so everybody knows. I've like, DM'd her. I went on her TikTok live. I'm like, you got to come on the pod. You got to come on the pod. We want to talk to you and pick your brains. So welcome to the show, Erica. Thank you so much for joining us today.

[02:20] Erica Taylor: I'm so excited to be here and thank you so much for all the support.

[02:23] Amy Sherman: Yes, of course. So we always kick off the show, take a step back, and we do our Nirvana of the Week, which is just something that brought us joy, big or small, something that put a smile on our face and made us feel good. So I'm going to kick it off to you, Katie. What is your Nirvana this week?

[02:36] Katie Chandler: I think my Nirvana this week is being here. Amy and I are recording together live we are not on two separate screens. I'm not in Connecticut. We are together. So I'm home from Rosh Hashanah. And aside from right now, this moment getting in last night and know my in laws, my mother and father in law, my nephews Amy and her husband Stu, and all of us just sitting around the table having dinner, that was mine.

[03:01] Erica Taylor: What about you?

[03:03] Amy Sherman: So mine. I had a really cute moment with my older son. So I have two boys, Erica. One's an 11th grader in high school and I have another son who's in 8th grade. And my 11th grader has been really into cooking lately, which is unusual because he never really cooked before. But all of a sudden he has been seeing these recipes on TikTok and he wanted to make some. So we got all these ingredients and we cooked together twice last weekend. And one was like some buffalo chicken, blah blah blah recipe he wanted to make. Another one is the calzones. And we made like handmade dough and homemade dough and all of that, so it was so fun. So I was his sous chef and he was like the main chef, but it was so fun just bonding and collaborating and chatting and just having kind of tactile hands on activities. So it was a really fun bonding moment. I don't get a lot of time with him, so that was good. What about you, Erica?

[03:47] Erica Taylor: That's awesome. I had a nice moment this morning when we missed the bus with the kids and I had a neighbor's kid with me too, and took them for some fun breakfast. Got a lot of laughs on the way to sometimes, you know, just starting your day, like, just I was like, all right, I'm in my pajamas, like, I guess. Breakfast time. Let's go.

[04:06] Amy Sherman: I love it.

[04:07] Katie Chandler: That's great. You took a negative. Oh, ****, we missed the bus until let's go have some fun. I love that. That's a fun mom right there. I don't know a lot of moms that would do that. That's great.

[04:17] Amy Sherman: Yeah. Cool mom.

[04:17] Erica Taylor: I wasn't always like that. I used to be like a super psycho in the mornings and when I had to get to work and run meetings and I decided a couple of years ago that I wanted to make them laugh and go to school happy every morning. So I put everything aside and I said, nobody can reach out to me until my kids are on the bus.

[04:36] Amy Sherman: Smart.

[04:37] Katie Chandler: I love that. That's great.

[04:39] Amy Sherman: That's good. That was the opposite of me this morning, trying to get my kids to school. I was, like, telling Katie, I just woke up on the wrong side of bed this morning. And I was like, so mean this morning. And normally I'm, like, try to be positive in the morning, but I was.

[04:51] Erica Taylor: Just like, feel so bad.

[04:52] Katie Chandler: All know? Yes, I know it's true. Sending them off when you're so i.

[04:57] Amy Sherman: Like, hadn't had my coffee. I was a little cranky. But hopefully it happens. It happens.

[05:01] Erica Taylor: It happens to me, too.

[05:02] Amy Sherman: It happens. It happens. Okay, so, Erica, tell us about you. Give us your know, we just know you from watching all of your hilarious and educational videos on TikTok, but tell us how it all started. I mean, obviously you've been in the business a really long time, but give us your story for everyone who doesn't know you.

[05:20] Erica Taylor: Well, I was in school, like you said. You gave me a great, true story. I was in school to be an art teacher, and I was like, that 90s, kind of, like, really goth looking kid, so nobody would hire me. It's probably circa, like, 97, right? So I was looking for a job, and I couldn't find one. And someone said to me, you do such beautiful makeup. Why don't you just work in cosmetics? I said okay. I marched to Macy's. So actually, I did end up at Mac relatively quickly, but my first was prescriptive color matching.

[05:51] Katie Chandler: Okay.

[05:52] Erica Taylor: And then I spent a little time in Elizabeth Arden. I never want to smell Fifth Avenue or Red Door again. So relatively quickly, I got recruited to the Mac store in Roosevelt Field in Long Island, and that was, like, the place to be around 1920 years old. That this was super exciting. I wasn't as good as the rest of them, but I just worked really hard. I did every late shift, every schedule. They asked me to stay, and then they kept me on full time. And I, six months later, applied to be a senior trainer for Mac. I was not even close to ready. I tanked the interview. Embarrassing, crazy, making up the answers, all sorts of crazy. But then I learned what everything I did wrong. And a few months after that, I tried out for a low level trainer, like a store trainer. I got it, and I could have folded and been embarrassed. And I think what has always pushed me in this industry is I'm not afraid of embarrassing myself. I take it as a challenge. I don't just tuck my tail in and shut down. And that has been every other place I went to. I was once recruited to different companies. I met great people. I've worked with so many great people. I got to do, like, runway, fashion shows, all of this. This was not my passion. First of all, I'm five foot one. I was tired of seeing all these false emails. Why does it look like this on me? But I love training in store teams, building teams, and I'm very social, so I really liked I work harder for someone else than I do for myself, which is my biggest challenge now.

[07:41] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I get it.

[07:42] Erica Taylor: And so I was just to say, I'm institutionalized. So then what I did for a lot of companies is I would train the makeup artists and build their sales teams.

[07:51] Amy Sherman: Yeah. I mean, it makes sense that you're saying you like the training part because you wanted to be a teacher.

[07:55] Erica Taylor: Right?

[07:56] Amy Sherman: So it's like, the same, like, educating, which is what you're doing now on TikTok. So when did you you only started TikTok, what, a few years ago? Because I remember watching you when you were still working full time and doing TikTok, and I remember the transition. So tell us about that a little.

[08:10] Erica Taylor: I during the pandemic, I learned a little more on social media, and I was always one of the trend shows. You know, when you go like, a Nordstrom trend show and there's someone presenting and to be master classes, and that was me. So I'm very comfortable in front of a crowd.

[08:22] Amy Sherman: Yeah.

[08:22] Erica Taylor: And again, because I don't mind embarrassing myself, if I trip, if I say something wrong, I just laugh at myself. I'm like, you got to own it. Yeah. So I started just doing lives. I was furloughed. We were all furloughed. There was no work.

[08:37] Amy Sherman: Yeah, same.

[08:38] Erica Taylor: So I started doing lives with the companies. And I'd rather say the freestanding, independent stores that still could function were doing curbside service. They were still selling, and we're having trouble keeping the doors open. So I'm not talking about, like, your Nordstrom's, your Bloomingdale's, these big doors. I'm talking about there's a great little store, beauty in Maine, in Massachusetts, and there's a great mirror mirror in Vermont. So I started doing lives with them for no other reason, just to help them keep their business going. Yeah, there was really nothing in it for me, but I loved doing it because it was social. So I was like everyone was like, you're really freaking funny. Like, you should be doing this more. So then I stopped for a while when I went back to work, and a friend of mine was having some success on TikTok, and I was like, I did a couple of videos, but they were just, like, super losers. She was like, what do you want to find? I said, I don't need to be major. I just want to find my tribe. Because she was like, I've never seen my age because I don't want to pinhole myself. And I was like, I want my girls. I want my over 40s crowd, my funny moms, drink some wine, have some laughs, put some makeup on. I want that tribe.

[10:00] Katie Chandler: Yeah, we found you.

[10:02] Erica Taylor: Yeah.

[10:02] Amy Sherman: Here we are. We're the exact same age. Erica yeah. And Katie's a little younger, but yeah, we always talk about that when you wake up and you're like, I drank too much of the wine last night, and I'm puffy. I was so and that's why we love you so much, and we know our audience will because you're so relatable, and it's not exactly like you're saying your age. You're saying you drink. It's like, this is how we all are.

[10:27] Erica Taylor: Like one of those pretend social media lives, right?

[10:29] Amy Sherman: Exactly.

[10:30] Erica Taylor: People are like, how do you organize your makeup? I'm like, It was a disaster. And I just think that so many people try to live up to these expectations of what they think this social media life is. And, like, I drink wine, I got to get my kids on the bus, I wake up banked up, but I still want to look good, too. Right?

[10:48] Amy Sherman: We have a good question for you later to figure out how you do that. And it's very similar with us in our show. We have this relatable point of view on well being. So it's like, we're mom, same as you. We try to break things down when we talk to different people because there's so many beauty wellness, makeup people out there that it just feels intimidating, and it feels like, well, I can't be like that, so I'm just not going to do anything. And it's like, no, here's some bite sized things you can do. Here's the concealer hack, the whatever. Well, that's an amazing story. And then what happened? You just kept making videos, and then it just built from there.

[11:26] Erica Taylor: My first viral, and I won't say names, but the company I worked for, it was kind of this underlying pressure of we have to do it our way, their way. But I don't live that way. And you can have me when I'm on the clock, but when I'm home, I'm home. I'm not fluffing my pillows. I'm not wearing beautiful white pajamas. I'm wearing a hoodie that I've worn for the last three nights. My hair looks nuts, and my bed is not made behind me. So I did this video. I just said, you know what effort. I don't ask for permission. I just beg for forgiveness.

[12:04] Amy Sherman: Right?

[12:04] Erica Taylor: So I just did an eyeliding video that I was, like, joking around, and I was like, Listen. I was like, Grab your eyeliner and a glass of wine and a great attitude. I was like, I'm just kidding. Forget about the great attitude. And I just taught some eyeliner. I go to sleep, and the next morning, it had, like, 500,000 views.

[12:22] Amy Sherman: Oh, my God.

[12:23] Erica Taylor: And my followers went from 3000 to 10,000 to 20,000. And I hate saying followers, to be honest, too. I think that's so creepy.

[12:32] Amy Sherman: Yeah.

[12:32] Erica Taylor: I always say, like, my community. Because you're not no, it's my follower. You could follow everyone, but I always say the people that want to learn, my community. And then I was like, People want to learn and they want to laugh, right?

[12:46] Katie Chandler: Yes.

[12:47] Erica Taylor: There was no one else doing it. And I was like, It doesn't have to be perfect. We're not winning a Cat Eye award. Try to look a little freaking normal, right?

[12:54] Amy Sherman: Try to be put together and feel like a human. Right?

[12:59] Erica Taylor: I think that's what people resonated with. Like, oh, I can do that. I can do yeah, yeah.

[13:04] Amy Sherman: And Erica has these great things where when you do like, half the face of something and half the face of the other, it's incredible.

[13:10] Katie Chandler: It's amazing.

[13:10] Amy Sherman: Like, just the little tweaks you can make that make such a huge difference. It's amazing.

[13:14] Katie Chandler: Yeah. You can really see it through TikTok, through the camera. The difference that you do from one side of the face to the other, it's amazing how well it shows. It's very cool. I mean, the tricks and the techniques, that's what we need to get into.

[13:28] Erica Taylor: Because yeah, well, if you think, sorry, I'm an interrupter.

[13:32] Amy Sherman: No, please, it's all good.

[13:34] Erica Taylor: Family interrupter. But I was in sales, so in sales, you have to train people. You have to make big impact quick. So I would learn the tips and tricks that made a major difference quickly, but were useful. And I would do it on a client and she'd be like, okay, give me that, give me this.

[13:57] Amy Sherman: Right?

[13:58] Erica Taylor: So that's the same thing. I think, on social media, you've got to show the impact quickly. I think I started a trend because everyone and their sisters, aunts, everyone is doing the same exact thing and I'm like, at least say, like, thank you, right?

[14:16] Katie Chandler: Give credit where credits do.

[14:18] Erica Taylor: I know, but you know what? It's hard. Don't get me wrong. Certain days I see people recreating my videos all over and I'm just like, but it's wasted energy, right?

[14:29] Amy Sherman: And they're not you, so it doesn't matter. And then how did you decide what was the tipping point on when you left your other job to do this full time?

[14:39] Erica Taylor: So I never thought this was even a career, right? When people used to say to me that they were bloggers, I was like, Get a job, right?

[14:47] Amy Sherman: You're like rolling your eyes like, okay.

[14:49] Erica Taylor: Or I used to have to do these influencer events where I would have to entertain the influencer. And I'm like, they don't even buy anything. Everybody comes in and drinks the booze, they bring their friends and family and they leave. I was like, I don't want to do it.

[14:59] Katie Chandler: Right?

[14:59] Erica Taylor: One I just kept growing my base and I could only show one brand. And in order I was getting all these brands reaching out to me and all these people saying, can you show something else? I can't afford that brand, or, I just want to see a clean beauty of this. A that. And there came a point where I could no longer juggle both. I either would stay as a regional manager for the rest of my life and retire there, still pacing hard floors of the malls and running chasing clients down like little **** of OG for Hug or I take a chance on myself.

[15:40] Katie Chandler: So I took a chance and it's paid off. 1.4 million. That's right. Is that what you said earlier?

[15:47] Amy Sherman: 1.4 million? But I mean, millions, I'm sure, and millions more videos. Because on TikTok, everyone. I mean, like, when I first saw you, it's not like I was following you at that point. I just saw your content. So, I mean, it's just such a great story. So thank you for sharing that piece of your story. Congratulations on all your success. So let's get into still very surreal.

[16:09] Erica Taylor: I'm sure it is mega impostor syndrome, because I've always been the makeup person at the event. I've never been the guest of the event.

[16:18] Amy Sherman: Right, and now I'm sure you're getting invited to all the things.

[16:21] Erica Taylor: Yes. And I still would rather hang out with people that work there. I'm still definitely institutionalized.

[16:27] Amy Sherman: Well, I remember you talking about you went to a rare beauty event or something, and it was all the young influencer people.

[16:35] Erica Taylor: I'm usually, like, at least 20 years older than the Red. We're not talking just, like, five to ten. It's like, I could be their mothers.

[16:43] Katie Chandler: I'm so curious what these events are. Like, what are these younger influencers doing at these events?

[16:51] Amy Sherman: Drinking the drinks.

[16:53] Erica Taylor: I mean, some that I met are lovely, and others are just walking around trying to be cooler than the next.

[16:58] Katie Chandler: Yeah, right.

[17:00] Erica Taylor: But it reminds me when I used to go to these cosmetics conferences and the trainer events for Mac and who was wearing what and walking around trying to be the coolest. So I don't sweat it because I get it. I probably was there 20 years ago too.

[17:14] Amy Sherman: Yeah, exactly.

[17:15] Erica Taylor: I do sometimes just walk around laughing, like, where am I?

[17:18] Amy Sherman: I know, I'm sure it's so surreal. Okay, so let's get into some of your favorites, because there's so many things and so many products you talk about, but for the basics.

[17:29] Katie Chandler: Right?

[17:31] Amy Sherman: Want to talk about some of your favorites? Okay, so let's go, as you would say, concealer.

[17:37] Erica Taylor: Okay, let's go. My number one is the Dior Backstage, hands down. But if you're into the clean beauty, the.

[17:46] Katie Chandler: I love the on. I do COSIS, because of you. Is the Dior Backstage as creamy and moisturizing as the kosis?

[17:56] Erica Taylor: It's not creamier.

[17:57] Katie Chandler: Okay.

[17:58] Erica Taylor: And I will say it has a better color range.

[18:02] Katie Chandler: Okay.

[18:03] Erica Taylor: But it doesn't have that skincare element.

[18:05] Amy Sherman: And COSIS has more the skincare element, more skincare.

[18:08] Erica Taylor: So that's why those are more my everyday. So going out, I have different I do something heavier, but, like, just for everyday life. Dior backstage coset.

[18:17] Katie Chandler: And to be clear, one of the biggest reasons why you like it, for mature skin, it does increase the creamy. It melts into your skin a little bit better. Right?

[18:28] Erica Taylor: Yeah. When I look for a concealer, I don't care what the hottest trend is, because that's irrelevant to me. And most of my clients or people that watch me don't care either. Right. So I feel on my hand textures. Okay, you go into a store and you put a concealer on your hand, and it gets dry on your hand. Forget it.

[18:46] Amy Sherman: Yeah.

[18:47] Erica Taylor: So they're creamy, they're hydrating, and they just have, like, a medium natural coverage. Not like a theatrical situation.

[18:55] Katie Chandler: Yeah, that's I think a thing is concealers that are too heavy sometimes. Like, for every day, they look worse. They look worse. Can get cakey.

[19:04] Erica Taylor: Yeah.

[19:04] Katie Chandler: All right.

[19:06] Erica Taylor: Not real life.

[19:07] Katie Chandler: It's not natural.

[19:09] Amy Sherman: Yeah. You did a video, and for our Nirvana Sisters family, check this out. It was so helpful the other day on concealer and how to actually apply it correctly so it doesn't crease regardless of what concealer you use. Where you put on. I think it was like the oil or something. I can't remember.

[19:25] Erica Taylor: I have to eye oil or an eyeball you have to do something hydrating. So there are concealers that will cleave less than others.

[19:33] Amy Sherman: Right.

[19:34] Erica Taylor: But if you're not prepped the right way, those are going to freeze, too.

[19:36] Amy Sherman: Exactly. So the eye oil is a freaking game changer for me. When I saw that video early on what's the brand?

[19:45] Erica Taylor: A little cora.

[19:47] Amy Sherman: Cora, right. I went out and got it probably before it got sold out, and I was like, this is the biggest, and I reviewed it. We do a show called Product Junkies. We review stuff. And that was one of the things I talked about and talked about you, because that is the biggest game changer to put on before mascara, but also later at night when you just want to fix your eyes up and they're dry. It's amazing.

[20:08] Katie Chandler: You mean before concealer? Putting it on before concealer?

[20:10] Amy Sherman: Yeah, or just like a reapplication. If you have, like, old concealer and you just kind of, like, throw that on and then throw more concealer on top, it's beautiful. It's a game changer. But anyway, yes, that's what you were talking about the other day, but so that was super helpful. The application, I take that with me.

[20:22] Erica Taylor: Everywhere because I look in the mirror somewhere and I'm like, oh, no, I take a little bit, I put it on, I'm like, boom.

[20:31] Katie Chandler: After you put it on, do you put more concealer on it, or you feel like it just kind of rehydrates the concealer that you already have on?

[20:37] Erica Taylor: It usually rehydrates what I have on.

[20:38] Katie Chandler: Okay.

[20:39] Erica Taylor: If you're like looking to reapply without taking your whole face off, you can use it that way as well. But usually what I do is I'll roll it on my hand so I don't disrupt the coverage, and then just pat over and it just releases the creases.

[20:52] Katie Chandler: Okay. Yeah, that's a great trick. That's a great one. All right, let's go.

[20:56] Amy Sherman: I have to ask Erica if she likes my favorite other. It's not even concealer. It's a color corrector. The Milani. Have you tried that?

[21:03] Erica Taylor: Yes. The mean for me, there's the peach and the rose.

[21:08] Amy Sherman: Yeah. So I use the peach every day. I'm like, that is almost I use that sometimes instead of concealer. I mean, it's like a color corrector. But it's kind of a skincare concealer, too.

[21:16] Erica Taylor: I think it's sheer and hydrating.

[21:17] Amy Sherman: Incredible.

[21:18] Erica Taylor: Agreed.

[21:19] Amy Sherman: Okay. I'm glad you like it, too. Okay.

[21:21] Katie Chandler: Mascara and a good drugstore find by.

[21:23] Amy Sherman: The good price point.

[21:26] Katie Chandler: Yeah.

[21:26] Amy Sherman: So cheap. Okay, mascara.

[21:28] Katie Chandler: What's your fave?

[21:29] Erica Taylor: The OG Telescopic.

[21:31] Amy Sherman: Okay.

[21:32] Katie Chandler: Telescope. Who's that by?

[21:34] Erica Taylor: L'Oreal.

[21:35] Amy Sherman: L'Oreal.

[21:36] Katie Chandler: Okay.

[21:36] Amy Sherman: This one, I think I have that another drugstore find. Oh, that's the one with the two sides, right?

[21:42] Erica Taylor: No, this is the original.

[21:43] Amy Sherman: The original.

[21:44] Erica Taylor: So you don't have to navigate which side you're using, because sometimes that's a lot, too.

[21:49] Katie Chandler: Yeah.

[21:50] Erica Taylor: So this one is tiny, so as we mature, our lashes get thinner. So you always think, bigger brush, bigger lash? No, because a bigger brush could not get to the root of the problem. So when you go under and wiggle at the base and lift, you're actually catching every little baby hair that a big brush can't.

[22:11] Amy Sherman: Right, that makes sense.

[22:13] Katie Chandler: And then wait, what color was that? That wasn't black mascara.

[22:16] Erica Taylor: Was that was that clear? It's almost like an off black.

[22:20] Katie Chandler: Okay. So is there any reason why you choose a specific color off black or no reason, right?

[22:27] Erica Taylor: No, just whichever one I find.

[22:28] Amy Sherman: Okay. All right. Yeah. I find that with mascara, I have to use two different ones because I have one like that. That's like a lengthening, which is great, but then I need volume. I like it more thick looking. And so I find that I have to use two. One for lengthening and one for fullness. That's just me, though, for the volume.

[22:47] Erica Taylor: Oh, yeah. No, I agree. I did that, too, when I want more. And then another one I really love is the Clinique a new one? Oh, I have very sensitive eyes, and I can't use a lot of mascaras. And I remember when I was younger, I wouldn't be like, my eyes are so sensitive. And I was always like, yes, sure. Okay, now that's me.

[23:09] Amy Sherman: So the clinique. Okay. What is it? Just clinique mascara.

[23:12] Erica Taylor: The new one. That's like this is a brown oh, yeah. By accident. But I dig it, and it just gives really nice volume and doesn't irritate my eyes. They also make an awesome tubing, one that I let my preteens wear because I know it won't run down their face when they're in school.

[23:31] Amy Sherman: What is the difference? I always hear tubing. I don't know the difference. Can you tell us what that means? Tubing.

[23:36] Erica Taylor: Absolutely. So I learned about the tubing mascara when I started working with Trish probably, I don't know, twelve, whatever, years ago. And Trish McEvoy was, like, the OG of the tubing mascara. It's a polymer that wraps the lash like a 360 tube. So instead of really sitting on it, it actually encapsulates the lash.

[23:58] Amy Sherman: Okay.

[23:59] Erica Taylor: Then you can build it up, but it doesn't run, it doesn't smudge. Even if you jump in cold water, it won't come off. But you remove it by holding it to warm water, and it washes off like little tubes. So it's like a waterproof, but better because it actually protects the lash.

[24:17] Amy Sherman: Oh, that's interesting. Does it have to do with the brush?

[24:21] Erica Taylor: Not so much the brush, but the polymer formula. It's a special polymer that wraps the lash.

[24:28] Amy Sherman: Okay. Because I always thought it was like the kind of brush, whether it's like kind of the brush you just showed us.

[24:35] Erica Taylor: Some of them have that, but it's not the brush, it's the formula.

[24:38] Katie Chandler: Will it say tubing mascara on it? I've never seen it. I've never heard of it. I don't know anything about it.

[24:43] Erica Taylor: And that's what it's been a big question that a lot of people don't even know about this. It's been around for years, but usually it will say tubing. But what you do is you just put in just look up tubing mascara, and a bunch will pop up.

[24:54] Amy Sherman: Yeah, you probably have some you don't even realize. I think I've had some and that have come off that way, that they just kind of come off whole. But yeah, I just never know. I always hear people say tubing and bristle, and I'm like, I don't know the difference. So, yeah, that's a good explanation.

[25:09] Erica Taylor: If you go to remove a tubing mascara with makeup remover, it'll get like, gummy.

[25:14] Amy Sherman: Okay. So you really just remove it with water. That'd be good for me because I hate removing mascara. So I did a whole episode on eyes and mascara and fake eyelashes because for a while I was wearing them because I can't stand taking off mascara and putting on mascara. So I had the extensions for a while, which I loved, and then I learned how to do them myself, and so whatever, but I've been taking a break for a while. But do you wear extensions at all, or do you just wear them when you go out and want to look.

[25:46] Erica Taylor: More when I go out, and that goes back to my eyes are so sensitive, right, that I don't even like the glues on my eyes.

[25:53] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I know.

[25:54] Erica Taylor: I've always really focused on the eyeliner rather than the mascara, so it's like.

[26:02] Katie Chandler: Yeah, your eyeliner, my eyes.

[26:04] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I know. I had been playing with that. And you're wearing eyeliner, aren't you? I always wear a little yeah, I just started doing that. But does it make your eyes look I feel like it makes my eyes look smaller, but maybe that's just me. Does it depend on the incorrectly?

[26:17] Erica Taylor: Absolutely.

[26:18] Amy Sherman: Oh, so I've been doing it. What's the trick for putting on eyeliner?

[26:22] Erica Taylor: So depends on the shape of the eye, and not everyone can cat. My eyes are still puffy from my mascara reaction, but if you see, I have kind of a flat surface, a little hooding here, so I kind of go through the hood, keeping it very fine on the actual lash and a little inner corner so you get elongate. If your liner is too thick across the whole way, it'll close your eye.

[26:46] Katie Chandler: Yeah.

[26:47] Erica Taylor: Or just doing outer corner, inner corner, mascara.

[26:51] Amy Sherman: And what about under the eye?

[26:54] Erica Taylor: I'm not really a big advocate, but it does work on some there's exceptions to every rule, but typically, when we start doing stuff under the eye, we start bringing attention under the eye.

[27:05] Katie Chandler: Right. Which is not where we want.

[27:07] Erica Taylor: No, we want I don't want attention on my waist.

[27:10] Katie Chandler: Yeah.

[27:10] Erica Taylor: Lift it up.

[27:11] Amy Sherman: Lift it up, baby.

[27:13] Katie Chandler: I used to use black eyeliner, and for whatever reason, I don't know, it just started to look too harsh on me. So I use, like, a darker brown eyeliner. And anytime I do under the eye, which I really never do, it just feels too heavy, like, too dramatic. Like I'm trying too hard.

[27:28] Amy Sherman: That's what I was meaning before. Where when I do it makes my eyes look small.

[27:31] Erica Taylor: When you do it under it especially, it will make the eyes look small.

[27:34] Amy Sherman: Yeah, that's what I found.

[27:35] Erica Taylor: Cages them in.

[27:36] Amy Sherman: Yeah, exactly. And then on the top yeah. If I do it right, it looks good, but I'm not always good at doing it.

[27:41] Katie Chandler: You should try brown.

[27:42] Amy Sherman: I'll try brown. Yeah, I do have a brown. I'll try that.

[27:44] Erica Taylor: They're more forgiving.

[27:45] Amy Sherman: Yeah. I feel like and then I've been seeing this because I feel like Michaela always says this on TikTok. What is this called? The tight line.

[27:54] Erica Taylor: Yeah.

[27:54] Amy Sherman: I've been playing around with that, which I like.

[27:57] Katie Chandler: When you're underneath your eyelash line on.

[27:59] Erica Taylor: The inside was the originator of that. Laura Mercier. I worked for Laura Mercier 20 years ago in Sachs, New York, and that's how I learned the tight line. So it was lining under for the invisible liner who's been around from actual makeup artists. It makes me laugh when people find these new makeup artists are finding all these new things.

[28:19] Katie Chandler: Right.

[28:20] Amy Sherman: You're like, that's been around for a million years. Right? I just learned about it. I was like, oh, let me try that tight lining. Okay. Lipstick.

[28:28] Erica Taylor: Favorite lipsticks? I would say probably the makeup by Mario. They're like lipstick meets balm meets gloss. I love these, but I am not lipstick loyal.

[28:40] Amy Sherman: Yeah.

[28:40] Katie Chandler: Okay.

[28:41] Erica Taylor: What about the color?

[28:42] Katie Chandler: What do you have on today? It's gorgeous. What's that?

[28:44] Erica Taylor: This is Huda longwear with so I take a beige, but what I do is I put a pinker gloss over it to give it life so I don't look abracadabra. And then I put the gloss a little on top so it catches the light.

[29:04] Amy Sherman: Yeah, it's beautiful.

[29:06] Erica Taylor: It's so nude that if it runs, nobody will see it.

[29:09] Amy Sherman: Right. So is that the huda one? Is that more of a I'm very progressive.

[29:13] Erica Taylor: Hold on. This is me. This is me.

[29:16] Amy Sherman: Every time I look at a product, I can't see anything.

[29:20] Erica Taylor: Wifey, huda.

[29:22] Katie Chandler: Wifey.

[29:22] Erica Taylor: Wifey longwear.

[29:24] Katie Chandler: Nice.

[29:24] Erica Taylor: And the lawless gloss. Okay. No, this color, whatever that is we'll find it.

[29:32] Amy Sherman: I like the Lawless concealer actually, too. That's a nice one.

[29:36] Erica Taylor: Speaking of Lawless, love that shade ballet because it has that perfect pink. Yeah, I like that, too.

[29:41] Amy Sherman: So is that huda beauty? Is that a gloss or just kind of like a more matted, long, wear matte lip. Okay. So it's kind of like the Kylie one. I just reviewed a Kylie Cosmetics nude that's matte. And then I'll put a gloss over it, and then it's kind of the same.

[29:55] Erica Taylor: Yeah, it looks, like, very dry. Unless you have, like, 19 year old lips or lip and or lips like.

[30:03] Amy Sherman: Katie, because she's got perfect lips.

[30:05] Erica Taylor: Yeah, some people have perfect lips, but typically it gets, like, frothy in the middle. Yeah, that happens to me.

[30:11] Amy Sherman: All that's not a good look.

[30:12] Katie Chandler: It is the worst thing. I'll come out from being with a client, and I look in the mirror, and I see this line on the inside. It's horrible.

[30:19] Amy Sherman: So you need to gloss up.

[30:21] Katie Chandler: It's so gross.

[30:22] Erica Taylor: Okay, looks like we got the rabies.

[30:26] Amy Sherman: Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. Also, find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 115 - Product Junkies: July - Hot Summer Edition (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 115.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

Amy 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Speaker 2 0:18

And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation

Amy 0:29

Welcome back to Nirvana sisters Nirvana sisters, fam. It's Amy and Katie and it is the summer and it is product junkies time and we're coming to you with the short, hot summer edition of Product junkies. We have some products that we're loving right now that we want to share with you and let's kick it off. Katie, what do you got for us in our Summer Edition? Oh,

Speaker 2 0:55

well, it is peak summer and I'm finally feeling it here on the northeast coast. It's like we actually are having 8090 degree days. I feel like we've been awaiting this with bated breath and getting to use our pool super psyched. So that's fun. And in the meantime, I have a couple products that are just going to help you keep looking fresh all summer long. My favorite one right now it's makeup and it is makeup by Mario it is there is a soft sculpt shaping stick Have you used it yet? Do you know this one.

Amy 1:30

I've seen it. I have tested it like at the store but I have actually never tried it. I'm obsessed

Speaker 2 1:35

with it. But I've been using it I bought it before we went to Mexico. So I've been using it for a few months now and it's really good is for contouring and it's really creamy EZ like blendable contour stick on one side and then on the other side is their blender brush, which I actually don't use. I don't love it. It's a little too dense. For me. It

Amy 2:00

looks dense.

Speaker 2 2:00

It's very dense. I like to use my Nisa contour brush.

Amy 2:07

Okay, let me see the other like it looks like it's big.

Speaker 2 2:11

So I've been using this for months and it it really last and this tone is light medium. And it's great because it has worked with my skin tone as I like was fairer in the spring and I'm tan because I'm in the sun where and it's still like holds up and it works. And it also so do

Amy 2:32

you can use it as a bronzer instead of a contour.

Speaker 2 2:35

I don't know that you would want to because it's a creamy texture and really melts into your skin. I guess you could but like, I use this to really contour and then I use my Laguna powder, bronzer.

Amy 2:48

The narcs Yeah.

Speaker 2 2:50

It just melts so beautifully into your skin and at last it will last all day long.

Amy 2:56

Yeah, Katie's just doing it with her fingers and it just just went in right?

Speaker 2 2:59

Yep, it'll last all day long. I have a little bit of it on my face right now and you can go heavier or lighter depending on you know, like, how snatched you want to look. So it's a good one there. Yeah, I love it. Best of beauty out of law 2022 as well just so you know. So highly recommend.

Amy 3:18

Yeah. Nice. What do you have? Okay. Okay, so speaking of the makeup I'll start then with a new product that I've been testing right here, which is the NARS afterglow liquid blush. This is orgasms so you know orgasm is like a classic NARS color looks good on everyone. They also have some other colors. I love this one. And so speaking of it like you could do your makeup by Mario contour and then you could just use this I love this I just took this on a trip with me it was like one of the only things I brought said no, yeah. And you literally can just throw it on. It's like a really pretty, it's such a good color. I mean it looks like orgasm, but like you can just throw it on and see how it just pumps

Speaker 2 3:59

and is it just really blinged out so it looks seems like

Amy 4:03

it's very blendable you can just throw it on your cheek you blend it with your finger it's like a one two second thing and I just it just melts in it's super easy and it's just really easy also to travel with and it gives you a nice color and nice yeah, that's pretty organism is so I've been liking this liquid. Yeah, I've been liking this liquid blush better than some of my sticks just because it's super light and really easy to work with and it's built a ball so highly recommend this is again after cola liquid blush in orgasm, and it's this is $32

Speaker 2 4:36

It's a great shave a little goes along, really and I didn't mention the cost makeup Norio is $30 which I think is a fantastic price for a contour store that's lasted me this long and still going nice so

Amy 4:49

really good summer one and I think this is like probably year round but like right now I'm just like yeah,

Speaker 2 4:53

that's the orgasm is such a great color. It really is flattering on so many skin tones. It's Beautiful. Yeah.

Amy 5:02

Yeah. And it's funny because I have another one that I may I can't remember if I talked about this on another product junkies but I have another nurse or orgasm. It's not a liquid blush like this with an applicator. It's like it's liquid, but you you pump it out, it's like a little bit of a different formulation. And that looks good too. But it's a little messy and it has a cap so it's like two pieces and it's kind of annoying and this is like a good replacement for that because it's just like a little bit of an easier applicator and easier to kind of work with and travel with

Speaker 2 5:38

All right, well my next one is we're switching to hair. I haven't invested too much time and energy in my hair probably ever in my life. I always just kind of like let it air dry and I would use my T three and then my amazing sister in law you and my in laws and my husband got me the Dyson air wrap for my birthday and obsessed use it all the time and I started to realize that the heat was damaging my hair and because I was like a newbie to products and products so often I didn't even think to get like the heat sprays or the blowout sprays or anything like that. I think you were the homie.

Amy 6:17

Oh yeah spray that is mandatory. So

Speaker 2 6:19

yes, though or eBay or EB my saying you're right, do you think or may think they're royal blow out heat styling spray has been a life saver for my hair like total game changer over the winter my hair was like getting strongly like kind of dry and everything. And this has helped a lot. Yeah, so I'm obsessed with it.

Amy 6:39

So you just spray that on after you shampoo and drag it

Speaker 2 6:43

on or when my hair is still damp right before I use either the Dyson or hairdryer, whatever. And it really does give you like beautiful smooth shiny hair and it keeps your hair healthy. I mean my hair is nothing today because I just let it air dry last night and I haven't done anything to it but when I do it, this is the way to go. Now on eBay, I think personally it's a little steep in price point. This one is their travel size that I get at CVS for $24 it has lasted me a long time but like the regular size is $69 so it just seems a little high I mean they have shampoos that are like $150 I'm sure they're amazing

Amy 7:27

yeah always expensive but the product and there's other heat sprays too that are probably like I feel like there's a few that are comparable that are probably less legendary for you to

Speaker 2 7:39

introduce us to one some time that's like a better price point because

Amy 7:43

yes, I have a few that I use and one off the top of my head which I may have reviewed and I can't remember it's all blending together is a

Unknown Speaker 7:52

wasn't the WoW brand.

Amy 7:54

Yes Well there's two brands the well brands which I did think I reviewed once in the show it was like that it's for heat but it's also like a Styling Spray which is great. And then there's another one

Unknown Speaker 8:06

Oh yes.

Amy 8:07

The Olaplex number eight oil that's also a good one I kind of interchange with those. Yeah, there's a bunch I feel like there's a lot of good ones but or basically can't go wrong. It's such a good brand like all of their products are good. I have a texturizing spray that I've had from them and it's like lasted me years and it's so good.

Speaker 2 8:23

It's funny that you mentioned this orb a texturizing spray because that is my next one actually. This is my like ultimate new favorite product. It's the orb a dry texturizing spray. I use it every single day. I use it a lot on my bangs you know like in the winter I did the curtain bang and it was a bit too much the person that cut it didn't really cut it right so I've been trying to kind of grow that out and and get it back to my normal hair. And this is very much helping me do that and just like having the manageable every day. And it's also really nice because it gives you like it can give you good volume. And you know,

Amy 8:59

I know I love it. It's so good. So it smells smells great. What

Speaker 2 9:03

I love it for as I put a little bit on my fingertips, and I can like bend and mold my bangs to go in the direction that I want them to go into and it was just like stealing that.

Amy 9:13

That's nice. Is that the travel? Yes, this

Speaker 2 9:16

is the travel size and it's $24 and I just I buy the travel size because that's what CBS has. I don't carry the full size or if they do it. I don't see it right the full size is $49 also elite Yeah, elite Beauty Awards. 2022. So it's it's a great product. I love Warby.

Amy 9:33

And by the way, just back to Dyson. I would love to know if anyone from our Nirvana sisters found family has tried the new Dyson flat iron technology. I forgot what the tool is called. Oh air air straight because I'm dying to try it. I've emailed Dyson PR so if you're listening please nice to try. But I'm obsessed and I want to see how that works. I did see it in Sephora and I was able to like play with it, but I didn't use it in my hair, but I'm really dying to see how that works because again, it's supposed to be a good way to straighten your hair without the damage. So it's like another genius Dyson investment, genius Dyson invention and assessment

Unknown Speaker 10:14

because they are not cheap.

Amy 10:16

And investment. Yes. So if somebody has tried it in in our audience, let us know I'm dying to know how it is. I haven't heard any like, I've seen some reviews but I want to hear more

I mentioned this on stories a couple of weeks ago, but I have been trying the wise beauty products and I really, really have been enjoying these two products

Unknown Speaker 10:42

specifically heard of this.

Amy 10:43

So wise. Okay, so wise beauty. For those who don't know, this is Molly Sims brand that she just launched a couple months ago, I listened to lipstick on the right, which is Molly's podcast, shout out to Molly. And she launched this brand a couple months ago, but she's been working on it for years actually, she said before she started even started her podcast. And the reason well, a couple things and I'll talk about it but there's a lot of research around these products and a lot of her own history has sort of been the story of the brand because she went through a time where she had really really bad skin and she's you know, tried everything done everything to try to fix her skin and yada yada there's a whole story behind it. So she really knows a lot about this, about the industry and how efficacious products are etc. So anyway, this launch one of the other reasons why I like this is all of our products are clinically tested, which is a much deeper testing than most products so when when anything's clinically tested, I think it's like you should double pay attention because that means it's a really good product because it's actually like gone through the studies and that's why it takes so long to come to market. So the two products that I've been trying but I'm probably going to try more because I've been really impressed so far. The first one is it's called it's cute your favorite acts exfoliating pads. And so these are daily exfoliating pads that are very, very gentle. So it's a leave on exfoliant and can block combines glycolic acid PHAs and eka Toyne I don't know what that's the right word to retexturize brighten and refresh for optimum skin renewal. You know I've just been exfoliating a couple of times a week at night with like a heavier exfoliator like this Sunday Riley one we always talk about and others but for the summer I kind of like wanted to switch it up and these are great because first of all, they're just like individual pads. So I'm opening the drawer right now. And they're just if you can see they're just individual pads. And so you can just take them out and the cute thing about them also which makes it nice and convenient is they have this little

Speaker 2 12:41

oh that's cool. See how it was on tip of your fingers a little pocket? Yeah, so

Amy 12:45

you can just like do it easily. But anyway it's a very light exfoliator and it makes my skin for really clean and soft because I was noticing lately like my skin has been feeling really texture free. And I've been wanting to exfoliate it more so these are nice because again they're super gentle you can use them every morning or at night whatever. And then like right after my skin is super soft and the products just feel like they sink in better. So I've been using this every morning and I love it. Really really good. Again really gentle great ingredients. And then the next one that I've been using and again loving is called Morning cocktail. It's their vitamin C serum. And this I really like because I always do vitamin C but the reason why I like this is because it not it It not only has vitamin C but it also has niacin, amide squalene and hyaluronic acid. So it combines everything so what I was doing before this is I was putting on high alert because my skin is so dry is putting on hyaluronic acid and I was putting on by vitamin C then sometimes I would put on nice nice cinnamon I'd put them all separately. This is all together. It's so good. It feels great on the skin, no smell, no nothing. It's just very soothing, brightens up your skin right away again it's like such a good product. So I've been really happy with these two so this has kind of been my morning go to so all I do is I do the exfoliator pads, the vitamin C morning cocktail Vitamin C Serum. And then I'll just do like you know like a moisturizer with SPF and that's it instead of like five different steps so it's really cut down my routine and it's really really really good products. So the vitamin C serum is for 30 MLS is $85 and the exfoliating Platt pads for 45 pads is 72 so it's not inexpensive but it's not so expensive. It's kind of in the middle. She tried to make them you know, at a good price range for people and it lasts pretty long. I mean I've been using it for probably the less I don't know maybe month and really really good so you can read more on their website about wise beauty and Molly's story but I've been really impressed so packaging is also needs beautiful packaging the packaging is beautiful. She did a really nice job with that packaging and I love the name and just the logo. It's just Yeah, it's beautiful. There's it also shows on their website all the before and afters and all the clinical trials and all that stuff, which is great and one To the other things is they just got a 2023 installed SPD buys for the exfoliating pads. So, I am in love with these. So

Speaker 2 15:09

I have to try. Um, yeah, I would love like a gentle exfoliant that I can use every day I think I need might need to switch to that.

Amy 15:16

Exactly. That's great. Well, I remember last summer I did a self tanner review and I still use that self tanner that was called like the beach tan, whatever. And I love that one. It's a moose. But I have found something that I'm starting to like better which is the Santro pay gradual tan classic, it says daily firming lotion, medium dark. This I just randomly found at Alta when I was looking for something else because I'm always looking for a good self tanner. And my problem is they all have a scent even if it's a light scent, I can't stand it. This one does not have that self tanner scent. The reason why I like this First of all, it's $29. So pretty good price point. And it's just an everyday kind of moisturizing lotion with the self tanner built in. So it's just like you know, a built up one. And I like this one just because it's a little bit easier to apply than like a moose where you have to do the mitten, everything that you don't need to do a mitt, you just do the lotion, wash your hands and you're done. So I just do like a little bit of this. Sometimes I mix it with my body oil. So just like easier to, to um spread. But it's a great one I've gotten like a really nice color. You can see just from using this on a daily basis, it doesn't it's not orange, it doesn't like streak. It's a really pretty color and super easy to use and no smell, which is most important. So anyway, st your pay gradual tan classic. And with that there's another one that's from Santra pay, which I've also been trying I haven't been using this one as much but I have used it a little bit. It's called the bronze and waterbus I have that and this one you have this one yeah and so I've been using this sometimes just on my arms at night I'll just kind of like spray it on and wipe it real quick just to like enhance a chance so I think this is good I have seen online and I'm haven't tried it yet, but I really want you have ever seen these people online using this like on a like a makeup sponge and using it as like a highlighter on their face. I really want to try it because then their face looks so tan and contoured like naturally. It's amazing, but I'm like scared to try it out. But that's next on my list to experiment with.

Unknown Speaker 17:09

That's fine, they said.

Amy 17:10

So those are my two

Speaker 2 17:11

EntroPay brand. self tanners have been around for a really really long time and they're really good and their price point has improved. I remember it's a funny story. But like when I first moved to New York City, I was like 19 And I walked into a super high end cosmetic store in SoHo and I walked in it was like I really want a self tanner and and I picked up the bottle and I was like this St. Tropez one looks really good. Should I try the sun? The guy is just like, laughed at me like he doesn't know what she's talking about. But it was a lot more expensive. Like so either that or it was just broken seemed more expensive. I don't know.

Amy 17:48

Well it's funny because the the firming lotion is a good price. It's $20 Yeah, I think the water spray is a little bit more expensive but I don't think you use it as much it's more to me it's like more of an enhancer but again, that one doesn't smell either. If you have it to you it's like good. So anyway, those are some of the fun summer products we're testing out right now and loving hope you enjoyed our quick summer session of product junkies and let us know if you have other things you want us to review and what you're loving right now. Thanks Nirvana sisters family and hope you're having a great summer. Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 100 - 100 Episodes! What We Have Learned + Exciting Announcements! (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 100.

[00:07] Amy: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast, where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are Sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

[00:18] Katie: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

[00:24] Amy: You um, hello and welcome back to the show Nirvana Sisters Family. This is a very, very special episode. We are celebrating 100 episodes today. I cannot believe it, Katie. I'm literally in disbelief. I know, but we're here.

[00:43] Katie: Congrats. Woohoo.

[00:46] Amy: Congrats to you too. I just cannot believe how far we've come. This was a nugget of an idea, what, two years ago? Two ish two and a half years ago, and we've done 100 episodes. So first and foremost, I just want to thank you for being my partner in crime, my sister in law, one of my best friends. I just think so much has changed over the last couple of years for us, and I think we've gotten so much closer because of this podcast, because we're connecting on things more often. We're talking all the time. We're business partners. We've become closer friends. It's just like the whole thing has been so amazing. It's just like thinking about it. We're always so rushed. We were just talking before we started this recording. We're so rushed, we don't really get a chance to reflect. So my first thank you is to you.

[01:36] Katie: That's really sweet. Yeah, I feel the same way. I'm in shock and disbelief that we're at 100 episodes, but at the same time, we've done everything souped to nuts for this thing. So it's also like kind of when you think about the weight of all the work that we've done, you can feel that as well. And it feels like a huge accomplishment. And I want to thank you too. I love you so much. And this was your idea. This is like your little you called me one day. I remember when you said this to me. I was sitting on the corner of my bathtub in my old house, looking out the window, thinking, she's insane. How are we going to do a podcast? Look, here we are. And it has it's been great. Here we are.

[02:16] Amy: Yeah, I know. It's just crazy how if you put your mind to something, you can have a nugget of an idea and you put your mind to something and do it and keep doing it and keep doing it over and over again, and it grows and more people know about it. And all of our listeners have been so incredible. So thank you to everyone listening. Thank you for all your support, all your comments, all your feedback. It's just been so encouraging to hear from you and to hear about what you want to hear about when you like something, when you don't like something. And so, yeah, we're just going to spend the next few minutes just kind of talking through the last 100 episodes and some of the highlights. And we also have some exciting announcements we're going to talk about at the end. So, yeah, just thank you to everyone who has supported and listened to us over the last few years. We're just so excited we've reached this really huge milestone and can't wait for more. So, Katie, what's your takeaway from these last 100 episodes, if you have one?

[03:11] Katie: Oh, my gosh. I mean, it's hard to just have one other than I've learned so much. And a massive thank you to all of our unbelievably talented and intelligent and powerful guests that we've had. We've spoken to some of the most amazing entrepreneurs, some of the most amazing doctors. I've learned so much. I think I could touch on a few of probably the most powerful ones that have resonated with me the most. The most recent one would be Dr. Angela Holiday Bell on sleep hygiene. She just like, tapping into she really helped me kind of understand what I need to be doing to kind of reel my sleep in. And that literally has kind of changed my life. The thing as simple as wearing blue lights when you watch TV before you go to bed helped me fall asleep faster and helping me understand why I need more time to wind down because I have a harder time producing melatonin, like does all of that. And then Jessica McGuire. Remember Jessica McGuire from the Vagus Nerve talking about the nervous system? The Vagus Nerve, I think that was the single most powerful episode out of all of our 100 episodes for me personally, the window of tolerance, understanding what it means to have a dysregulated nervous system, recognizing someone's dysregulated nervous system, and then learning how to co regulate. It's helped me. It's helped my husband, it's helped my kids. That episode was really profound for me. And, I mean, I could say that about so many of them. Natasha Brinkman. It's like a master class on skincare, right?

[04:58] Amy: Oh my God, that was amazing.

[05:00] Katie: Obsessed. What about you? What are some of yours?

[05:05] Amy: Honestly, I'm like sitting here scrolling through all of these 100 episodes, and I think for me, there were pieces of information that I've gotten from every single episode that I've applied to my life. I mean, to your point. Like The Vagus Nerve episode and breathing from Erica Brunozer and talking about parenting tips and how to talk to your kids, that one was really helpful for me. Also, shout out to Zoe Feldman. I was just looking. She was our first official guest on Nirvana Sisters in episode six. So we love Zoe, and so many of our kind of like, people that we knew, friends of friends of Friends kind of started out with us in the beginning and then we sort of grew from there. And I think I've just taken bits and pieces, like whether it be from Cat Can Cook and The Hungry Lady salad to, like you said, skincare with Natasha or hormone stuff with Michelle Aspinwall. Also, of course, one of my favorites was talking to Ellie Webb, which was definitely a dream come true for me, and talking to Brittany Driscoll and talking to some of these business leaders, just getting advice on entrepreneurial stuff and how to balance motherhood and working and all of these things. So I don't know, it's so hard to pick a favorite. I think for me, it's just taking bits and pieces of all of these things and using the ones that work for me. And I think from a listener standpoint, too, it seems like people listen to the episodes that they're interested in and then they take pieces from that. And it's like everyone that we have on is an expert in something, but it doesn't mean that what they're saying works for everyone. And so I think that using some of these bits and pieces across all the episodes helps you in whatever way you want. I also thought I'm just kind of scrolling through and looking like episode 50, the psychedelic therapy with Julia Mirror was just so fascinating. Like, it's so out of our ether and something we don't really talk about and think about, but just learning about that. And I also find now that I'm talking to people or a subject comes up and it's related to any one of our episodes, whether it was chiropractics or psychedelics or vagus nerve or chromal wellness, even, I find that I have this information somehow stuck in the back of my head and I just regurgitate it, not even realizing that I knew it. Yeah, because we're just picking up pieces of information as we go. It's just kind of like sinking in and then you do something differently and you're like, oh, yeah, I learned that in this Chroma episode. Or I learned this from Janelle Kim when we talked to her about traditional Chinese medicine. And I think we've made so many great connections with other women, which I really like, too. When we think about someone like Rachel Johnson, who we did the episode on, it was episode 63 when we talked about Green's Water Move Repeat and her whole company, AMI Health. It's just been great to meet these other women who were doing similar things to us, and we're all sort of this family and everyone supports each other, which I think is so nice about the podcasting world. There's so many podcasts, but in a good way, right? Like, everyone encourages each other and everybody wants to help, and it's just like one big podcast family, I feel like. And when we meet all these women that are in wellness or View Your Skincare, everyone's excited for everyone and everyone celebrates one another. And I really like that about this space.

[08:27] Katie: Yeah, it's incredibly supportive. I think you're exactly right. We've had a few amazing male guests also, that we've learned a lot from I think it's funny, when we first started, we didn't know if we were going to necessarily lean more female centric and it's just kind of been a natural gravitation. But it's all part of that support system and I'm really proud of it, actually. I think it's great. And it's also when you were talking about things that you learned and I was also just thinking about a way that this has kind of shaped me as a person. Doing this with you for the last two years is it's just made me more confident. When I meet new people, I almost find them. Like, I'm like and I'm not interviewing them, but I just have such an easier time meeting new people now because it's what we do. We talk to new people and we interview them pretty much weekly. And then a lot of these people are stuck in my head. They live rent free in my head with some of their amazing quotes like Andrea Marcellus, I just hear her say, like, your afternoon snack should be protein and a healthy fat. And then I hear Dr. Janelle Kim saying things like, stop being drunk on your own thoughts. Or Rachel, you just said Rachel and me greens, water, move, repeat. I can't tell you how many times these things just pop in my head. I'm like, oh yeah, that'll help my day get better. Just follow that. Follow that. So it's amazing. We're really fortunate and grateful to have come across the people that we have and had them on the show.

[09:56] Amy: Yeah, and I also it's funny because I feel like we've done episodes that we aired a long time ago and some of those topics are coming up now, like Fascia or Guaca and all of these things we sort of talked about a couple of years ago that are now coming into the world. And it's just I love learning about things that we see are sort of bubbling up and trending and then all of a sudden you hear them all the time as people's regular vernacular. So I think that's interesting. We also can't forget about our product junkie episodes because I think those have grown and we've gotten a lot of really positive feedback about those. And those are definitely one of my favorites because they're just us talking and chitchatting about what products we like, which we do all the time anyway, which was part of the reason we started this podcast. Like, let's just record our phone conversations and talk about, oh, I tried this, I tried this. So just like, doing all that has been super fun and tapped into the passion that we both had for products and just trying new things and talking about those new things. But I agree with you. When I meet with people, too, I definitely feel more confident and have kind of like, more ways to communicate because I don't think sometimes I'm the best communicator and I think this podcast has helped me to slow down, try and work on not saying as much. I also think it's helped with my public speaking. So from my corporate job, just being confident to go up in front of a room of people and talk, it's like one of those things that everyone's always nervous about no matter how many times you've done it. It's like a scary thing. But I think being able to talk every week on the mic and have it being recorded kind of gives you a lot of practice. So it helps just in general with communication and active listening.

[11:38] Katie: Yeah. Also I've had some just like fun favorite moments. Like nothing is funnier to me than when we're doing product junkies and I hold up a product and you're like, yes, I have that one too. I was going to review it this week. Or how fun is I know, we're like same brain. Exactly. And then seeing our guests in the wild. How wild was that, that you ran into Brittany Driscoll in La a little while ago and then seeing Meredith Quill running into her? Well, we didn't run into her, but going to her event in Westport and those little connections are really special. So yeah, it's all just been a lot of fun.

[12:18] Amy: Yeah, I love it. And it's actually really funny too, because then you start seeing people that we've interviewed connect. Who was it? I think Brittany Driscoll and Katie Whelan, who we just had on recently, talked about all the peptide stuff. They both live in Nashville and I saw that they were on some panel together.

[12:34] Katie: Oh, nice.

[12:34] Amy: And I was just like, oh my God, that's so weird that they happen to be on the same panel. We've had them both on the show, like they're in the same space, so it's just like all these crazy worlds colliding. But I think it's just this was definitely born out of a passion project. It still is. And I wanted to also talk a little bit about the blood, sweat and tears that this has been for us because again, we're busy and running and everyone says to me, and I'm sure they say to you too, like, how are you doing at all? And the answer is, I have no idea. But I think when you have a passion and you enjoy something, it doesn't matter and you just kind of figure out a way to do it. Nothing is perfect. Of course. It's like we always say, we could be doing more, we could be doing this, we could be doing that. But at the end of the day, we make **** happen. And I think it's really hard to do being like having another full time job, being a mom, doing this. We do this on the nights, we do this on the weekends, we do it when we can squeeze it in, but it's ours and we can kind of figure it out as we go. And I think for you, Katie, a lot has evolved in your world, too, from where you were to where you are now. So I kind of want to get your thoughts on how you're balancing it and how you're feeling because I think we don't spend enough time reflecting on that part.

[13:38] Katie: Yeah, no, I think that's really true. It's funny, I have been thinking recently about how happy I am with the balance in my life right now, because when we first started, I was a stay at home mom and I was wanting something more, so we did this. But then there was moments where it was so overwhelming because I hadn't worked in a decade. And then I have just gone back to my other job recently. And while there's a lot going on, I just feel like every box is being ticked right now. Like, I have my family time, I have my passion project, my passion job, which is this that's like, fun and so exciting. I have my work, which is also great, and I'm making my own money. So while the balance of it can be a struggle at times, it's very fulfilling and well rounded. And I've had moments where I thought, how are we going to keep doing this? But I think that happens when there's unnecessary pressure applied. And I think we've both been really smart about making sure we're just continuously enjoying it and not putting so much pressure on ourselves. And as long as we keep doing that, then we just keep plugging away and trucking away. And now we're doing everything that we do. It's like we could do it in our sleep.

[15:04] Amy: Exactly. I mean, looking back when we first started editing a podcast, we were like, wait, how do you do this? And how do you do this? And now we literally do everything, soup to nuts. And it's time consuming, but we know how to do it and we've become experts in it, which is so cool. I just love learning and to be able to learn a new craft and to be able to produce a podcast. And for people who don't do it, it's really hard to envision what goes into it. But there's probably like, I don't know, 250 steps from like A to Z right, to get it launched on a weekly basis. And it's a lot. And I think just being able to learn another skill set as you're moving along your life is so important. We're learning every week. Every time we talk to someone, we're learning new information. I think we're both learners and we love to learn, especially when it comes to something that we're personally passionate about. But just learning a new skill is so rewarding. I mean, just like, this is so technical and so different than what I do in my marketing role of big ideas and all this strategy work. And this is so technical editing and producing, but I really love it, like, getting into the nitty gritty. It's actually like I love producing the episodes and launching sometimes more than other things. I don't know why. And I know for you, Katie, you didn't know much about social media before, and you've learned how to use that tool really well. And I just think it's so cool.

[16:29] Katie: Yeah, I think so, too. I'm incredibly proud of us, and also we keep each other accountable and we keep each other in the game. And if there's a time where you're feeling stressed and crazy and you're not in it, then I try to reel you back in and vice versa. And there's also times where we're perfectly guilty of like, oh, I didn't get that done this week. But it's like we don't beat each other up either. It's like we get the critical stuff done and we keep moving forward. And as we've always said, progress over perfection. And I think that has gotten us very far.

[17:06] Amy: Yeah. And I think especially in the beginning, I think the first probably, I don't know, 2030 episodes were the most challenging because I think you and I struggled a lot and had open communication. Remember, we had some not blowouts, but we definitely had some tough conversations of like, well, who's doing this? And are we doing this every week? And DA DA DA. And, like, until we got our flow, it was like a little, like, tense, right? Like, there were definitely some tense times, looking back, but now I just feel like we're in the flow. And I think, too, I was going to go back to what I was saying about you going back to work. I've actually seen a huge difference because for you, I feel like you're more in a flow than you were before because I feel like it's because you're more structured, right. And, you know, you have to be certain places at certain times. Not that you didn't before, but it's just different. So you almost are more organized and more in the flow. Yeah, I see that. I don't know if you feel that.

[18:03] Katie: But I've definitely noticed that there has been a shift, for sure. And I think also just like, having something else, having my other job, it's released some of the pressure of this and allowed me to enjoy this for what it's always been. It's been our passion and it's fun, and we love doing it together. So I think that has a lot.

[18:27] Amy: To do with it. Yeah, I think you're right. You're totally right. I also think it's given us both more perspective. Like, now that you're back at work, you have a perspective of like, oh, now you sort of know. I know what you go through and you know what I go through when we have other responsibilities that are not just family. Right. And it's like, oh, my God, I have this deadline, or I'm working all day. I'm out and I'm like, okay, I'll do this or you'll do that. I think we bounce off each other really well. So anyway, I'm just trying to think about more fun stories. I think there's like so many random things that have happened throughout the last few years. I mean, I think, again, our guests have been amazing. I think people have been so generous with their time. People have given us so much time and so much of their expertise, and it's just been really gratifying. And again, just want to shout out to all the guests that have been on our show and even some guests more than once.

[19:22] Katie: Yeah, just how generous they have been with sharing their time with not their time, but sharing our podcast with their people and kind of just giving us more exposure and being excited about being on the podcast with us too. I mean, we've had some guests that have a million followers, we've had guests that have 500,000 followers and everything below and in between and above. So we've just been very fortunate. So thank you to all of our amazing guests. And we have amazing guests lined up and more to come, so it's all super exciting.

[20:00] Amy: Yeah, lots more to come. So with that being said, a couple really exciting announcements that Katie and I wanted to share with our amazing listeners. And thank you to our listeners for loving this as much as we do. We love doing it and we do it for you. We do it for us because we love it, but we do it for you more, so because we know you love it too. And you love to get in all the minutiae of the details of health, wellness, beauty like we do. So thank you again.

[20:28] Katie: Yeah, that's exactly what I was just thinking. We have always done this to share with you all because we want you to learn and have access and to have the ability to achieve anything and everything you want for your health and wellness journey. Whether that is just making sure you get in eight cups of water a day or the fact that you do Reiki healing and you work with crystals and you go and do face yoga. Whatever your journey may be, we are just really grateful that we can be a part of it and that we can help you along with it. So thank you.

[21:06] Amy: Yes, good point. And one last thank you before we get to our exciting announcements. Wanted to thank my husband Stu, who really is sort of been my partner in crime behind the scenes in this. He was the one who really gave me the motivation to do this because he knew that I'm an entrepreneur and at heart he knew I love all this stuff. And he's like, you got to do something with it because, yes, you have your other job, but you need to put all this effort into something else. Too, for you. And he kind of gave me a lot of motivation to really even start the idea. And he also came up with the word Nirvana because Katie and I had a list of 50 different titles, which are hilarious, which we should post about one day, but he actually came up with the word Nirvana and he really captured what we were trying to get at, like, what is your Nirvana? What's going to make you feel joyful? So shout out to Stew.

[22:04] Katie: Yeah, thank you still. And thank you to my husband, too. He's been incredibly supportive. Shout out to Adam.

[22:09] Amy: Yes, they've both been super supportive. Okay, a couple big updates.

[22:15] Katie: Big announcements.

[22:16] Amy: Big, I know. So, a few announcements as we close out this episode. So, I don't know if you all know, but we have a website, Nirvanasisters.com, which we've launched kind of in a soft way a couple of months ago. Don't know if any of you have seen it yet, but we've been linking out all of our show notes there and we wanted to just call it out because it's really exciting. We've been working on it behind the scenes for a long time and we're continuing to add to it. And so if you go onto the website now, you'll see every single podcast episode that we've had out, you'll see all the show notes, you'll see all the BIOS, you'll see all the product links. It's all there in the blog. And so we wanted to have a place where you all could go and reference just more content around all of our episodes. So that's really exciting. So we wanted to make sure you checked out Nirvanasisters.com when you get a chance. And Katie. What's next? What else do we have to announce?

[23:02] Katie: Also equally as exciting, the other thing you're going to find on our website is we now have Nirvana Sisters Merch yay. We have great swags, I mean, great sweatshirts and t shirts and tumblers and a hat that I'm obsessed with. Amy has a hat on.

[23:20] Amy: I'm showing everyone the hat. Kind of 1 second. I'm going to do this.

[23:25] Katie: Yeah, the hat's. Super cute.

[23:27] Amy: Everyone check out the hat.

[23:29] Katie: Love the hat. And then check out the sweatshirt and our new logo. My tea. Keep glowing. Nirvana Sisters. Tea. So there's a lot in there and we would love you to just go on there and get whatever you want. You can order it straight from the website. It's so fun. Come straight to your house. Yeah.

[23:47] Amy: That is going to be launching the day that this launches. So our shop will be launching Thursday, April 6, in conjunction with this episode. And like Katie said, there's sweatshirts, hats. We've got a coffee tumbler or coffee mug that says Daily Nirvana. We have a water bottle that says Nirvana in a bottle.

[24:07] Katie: We have a hoodie, a few great hoodies.

[24:11] Amy: Yeah, we've got a really awesome hoodie. We've got shirts that say a few different quotes like keep glowing and hustle and doses and different quotes from a lot of our episodes. And we're going to be continuing to add new products over the next few months. So tell us what you like and we'll keep working on it. We also have our new logo. We're really excited to share with you all, so please check out our website, check out our new store with all of our new merch support us. We are so excited. We've been working in the background on the design of all of our merch. It's really elevated and we're so excited for you all to check it out and let us know what you think. And we'll post some of these products on social throughout the week so you can get a little sneak peek of the shop.

[24:51] Katie: Yeah, exciting. All right. And then here's the last news, and it's very exciting. Amy, do you want to share?

[24:59] Amy: Sure. So we are now joined with Podcast Nation, which is a podcast network, and we are so excited to announce this news. So we're really excited to join the team at Podcast Nation. We started chatting with them a few months ago and they're an incredible group of women. There's about, I think, like 20 or 30 podcasts that are part of this network. And what that means for you is the show is growing, so we'll be connected to more people, more amazing podcasters, we'll have more access to guests. We'll probably be on some more podcasts, and we'll be on the Podcast Nation channel, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, et cetera. And that's going to be happening over the next couple of weeks. But as of today, we've joined their network and we are super excited to be joining the Podcast Nation family. So thank you to that team for welcoming us with open arms as we start this journey with them. So more to come there, but wanted to make sure we shared all of our exciting updates. And again, thank you all for the last 100 episodes. Looking forward to hundreds more with my partner in crime, Katie. Anything else, Katie, before we close out?

[26:10] Katie: No, other than thank you. Thank you, thank you. We are so grateful. We are filled with gratitude for our listeners and our supporters and our guests. And this 100th episode is my Nirvana of the Week, I think of the year. So I don't know about you.

[26:27] Amy: Yeah, agreed, agreed. Huge milestone, Nirvana of the Day in the week, along with our other launches. It's all good stuff and more to come. So. Thank you. Nirvana Sisters family.

[26:37] Katie: Bye.

[26:38] Amy: Have a good week. Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. Also, find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would, please share it and tag us, tune in next. Week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to bye.

[27:04] Katie: You know.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

Episode 95 - ProductJunkies - March Edition - Moisturized Lips, Glowing Skin, Hair On Point, We Got You.

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 95.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

[00:07] Amy Sherman: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast, where we take the intimidation out of wellbeing and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are Sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

[00:18] Katie Chandler: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

[00:28] Amy Sherman: Welcome back to the show nirvana Sisters Family. It's Amy and Katie, and it is March product junkie's time, and we are excited to share with you some of our new finds, our new favorites. I'm going to start with you, Katie. What do you got for us?

[00:41] Katie Chandler: All right, well, this is a new fave, for sure, and it is a very good drugstore find. It's a brand that we all know and have known forever. It's Covergirls clean, fresh, yummy gloss. That's actually the name of it. And it is fresh and yummy. I have it on now, and it's the kind of thing where it's so soft and nice that I just apply it all day long. And it actually lasts. It lasts a while when it comes off, if I'm eating, if I wipe it off, because it whatever, I put it back on as soon as I'm done because it feels great.

[01:19] Amy Sherman: And which color is that one's?

[01:20] Katie Chandler: Good. I have it on now, so it's actually pretty clear, but in the tube, it says coconuts about yo is the color. And there's hyaluronic acid in this, which, of course, is part of the reason why it feels so nice on. And it also has this really thick, soft adapter, which I really like, too.

[01:45] Amy Sherman: Okay, this is hilarious. And you saw that I smiled when you set that product? No, I was looking for it because I saw it. You probably saw the same place that I say I saw Bethany Frankel talking about it on TikTok, and I was like, oh, that looks nice, and she said, it felt really good on the lips. I was like, I need to get that. I looked for it in Target the other day, and it was completely sold out. There was, like, one left and it wasn't a good color, but that was the only one. Every single color was sold out.

[02:08] Katie Chandler: Yeah, my CVS a week ago, there was, like, three tubes left, the whole entire thing.

[02:15] Amy Sherman: And it's like how much is it? Like $10?

[02:16] Katie Chandler: Not even. I mean it's cover Girl. I feel like it is. Oh, maybe. Yeah, $10, which is a very good one.

[02:25] Amy Sherman: Does it smell good?

[02:26] Katie Chandler: It does. Smells like coconut. This one smells like coconut, which is really nice. The other flavors and scents are berry and pineapple, and they have a couple of colors. There's acai goji and black elderberry in it, in addition to the hyaluronic acid. So it is really nice on. I'm obsessed with it. I haven't bought a Covergo product in I don't even know how many years. It's been forever. This is like the brand that I bought when I was a teenager.

[02:51] Amy Sherman: Totally.

[02:51] Katie Chandler: So it's a good one.

[02:53] Amy Sherman: It's so funny because I've been looking for that. I haven't gone to CVS. Maybe CVS will have it, but I've been really wanting to try that because I'm really into tons of glosses lately. Okay, so that's really funny that you say that. We need to try the yummy gloss. So in the same vein, I got these glasses. These are the Nyx fat oil. What is this called? Sorry. Nyx fat oil. Lip Drip. And they're lip oils. Okay. So I saw Mikayla reviewing these on TikTok, and I got my hands on, like, four colors because I was at Target, and they happened to have it. They didn't have many left. So I just bought four colors because, again, they're inexpensive. I think they were, like, maybe $10 or less. And I got kind of like you can see kind of like this pink. I got, like, a golden brown hair.

[03:44] Katie Chandler: When I saw you last weekend.

[03:47] Amy Sherman: Probably. Yeah, I was testing it. All the colors are actually beautiful on. I'll try one on just so you can see it. I'll try on this. This one's called I'll tell you the colors I have. This one's called Follow Back. It's kind of like a bronzy brown. This one's called Mist Call. It's kind of like a pinky Neutral. This one's like a darker brown, and it's called Scrolling. And then this one's more of a red, and this one's called Newsfeed. Fun Names. But anyway, I'll try one on. They feel so good. I've been wearing them all week. I love them so much. I want to get more colors because it's literally the only thing I want to wear. Which is your favorite one?

[04:29] Katie Chandler: Look at the it's pretty.

[04:31] Amy Sherman: It's like, really like a thick applicator. Look at this. I don't know.

[04:36] Katie Chandler: You can see. You just did the full on, like, influencer. Like, this is what it looks like. Thing.

[04:43] Amy Sherman: So obnoxious how pretty it is when I tell you it feels so good on my lips. It's so nourishing and moisturizing and doesn't have that glossy feel because it's an oil. So it just sinks in. I am telling you, it feels so good, and the colors are beautiful, so I love it, love it, love it. I'm going to be wearing this for the next little while, and I'm just going to keep getting new colors because I have a feeling it's like all the colors look good, and they have.

[05:11] Katie Chandler: A wide range of colors.

[05:15] Amy Sherman: I want to say there's, like, maybe eight colors or so. And a lot of people online were saying that it's a dupe for the Dior lip oil, which I've never tried, but I'm in love. So, anyway, nyx Fat oil lip drip. Great product. Target CVS CVS wherever you can find Next.

[05:33] Katie Chandler: I'm going to pick some up next time I'm at CVS. All right, well, here's my next one. And if you have been on the beauty side of social media, you have certainly heard about this lately. It is Paula's choice. BHA. Liquid exfoliant. So we were talking about this at some point, and I can't remember if it was on the air or not, but I switched.

[05:59] Amy Sherman: I think we were talking about yeah, we were talking about this because we were talking about skin cycling, but I don't know if we were talking about this.

[06:07] Katie Chandler: I had been using Sunday Riley's lactic acid as my exfoliant, and I was using it incorrectly. Remember I told you that?

[06:14] Amy Sherman: And I've been using that lately.

[06:15] Katie Chandler: And do you like it?

[06:18] Amy Sherman: I do, but I'm using it only, like, once a week, so not every day. Like, you were crushed.

[06:25] Katie Chandler: My skin was, like, begging Ford's life. But meanwhile, I also have a lot of acne, and this is supposed to be really good for it because it is the BHA, which has, like, the sicilic acid that is the key ingredient for the acne.

[06:41] Amy Sherman: Pro salac.

[06:42] Katie Chandler: Thank you. Salicylic acid. It says it's for all skin types, which is so interesting. And listener, we have a future episode coming up where we really dive into this stuff with an amazing guest that helps us understand that. But for it to say it's for all skin types is wildly inaccurate. Maybe you can use it, but some people would really react to this, myself included. I can only use it once a week. I tried last week to use it twice with a couple of days in between, and I was, like, dry and flaky and actually even more acne because it helps the skin cell turnover. It makes everything kind of come to the surface. Right. It says it unclogs and shrinks enlarged pores, which yes, check. It does do that smooths and evens out skin tone. I agree with that. Lightweight liquid absorbs quickly. It is, but it's intense. If you have acne, though, try it. And then also when you have, like, a pimple that maybe pops up, you could also do what I do, where I just put it on that little spot that day, and it helps. It does help that pimple sooner. Yeah, I like it.

[07:55] Amy Sherman: Do you put that on at night and you just put it all over your face with, like, a cotton ball?

[07:59] Katie Chandler: Yes, I do it one night a week. Cotton ball. And then I follow up with the rest of my regimen and definitely, like, a really good face cream because it can be very drying, but I think it's working for my skin. I like it.

[08:14] Amy Sherman: Does your skin look, like, really kind of glowy the next day?

[08:18] Katie Chandler: Actually, it does. I've noticed that the day after. It's very kind of it's fresh skin almost, it seems like. And then that's when I do my retinol that next day.

[08:31] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I have that in a trial size, and I think I've only used it once. I haven't given it a proper chance, but I bought it, too, because a lot of people have said it's really good. And I also am currently testing the Sunday Riley, which I like so far. But again, I'm only using it like, once or twice a week in the skin cycle routine. And I like it so far, but I can definitely, when I put it on, feel that. It's kind of stingy a little bit.

[08:53] Katie Chandler: Yeah, this stings, too.

[08:56] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I kind of like that feeling.

[08:58] Katie Chandler: I know it's doing its job, I feel like right.

[08:59] Amy Sherman: I know you're like, okay, something's working. Okay, well, speaking of dry skin, here is another so into the trial sizes moisturizer that I tried, which I talked about recently in the show that Katie just mentioned. It's called the skin fix barrier. Plus triple lipid peptide cream. It's this blue tub, and I think the big actually, this is the trial size, and I've been using it for, like, two or three weeks, which is crazy because it really comes with a lot I don't know how many ounces this is. It's 1.5 ML. So it's a really nice trial size. But anyway, I've been trying this over the last couple of weeks. I really like it. It's so good for the winter. It's very nourishing, it just feels really good on the skin, really soothing. And I've been using this every night, and I really, really like it. My skin wakes up like moisturize. It really has been helping. So anyway, I would probably just use this in the winter. I don't know if I'd use it in the summer. We'll have to see. But it's not heavy. It's kind of medium. It's not super heavy, but it's not super light. It's like, leaning more towards heavy, but not heavy heavy, where it feels thick and greasy. Too thick? Yeah, it feels really nice. It spreads nicely. It's just a really, really good texture, like smooth. You know what I'm saying? So I'm definitely going to buy the big one once this is done. So highly recommended.

[10:20] Katie Chandler: And it's filled with peptides, which we learned recently are phenomenal for the skin.

[10:27] Amy Sherman: Exactly. It says Rich Lipid replenishment. I can't read this. Rich lipid. Rich lipid replenishment. And I think this is like, one of those that helps with your skin barrier. So while you're using all of these acids on your face, this is a really good one to use. It nice and moisture skin barrier in.

[10:51] Katie Chandler: The winter especially, too. Like, all of our skin barriers are compromised. All right, well, moving from skin to hair, I have a nice little hair product. You are the person that introduced me to this brand. It's the wow brand, and I think it's out of the UK, actually, but you can get it anywhere here. This is the wow. Extra Large Bombshell. Volumizer. This gives fantastic volume. Like epic volume without a volume.

[11:24] Amy Sherman: Is it like a texture spray?

[11:26] Katie Chandler: No, it's like a moose. You put it in your hair when your hair is damp like a moose. Anywhere that you want volume. Well, before I cut my banks, I would do it in the front, but it delivers for sure. And your hair doesn't get too heavy afterwards. I really do like it. It's a great product. The only thing that I don't like about it is that on day three, my hair is getting a little bit oilier faster when I use it because, you know, I care that I only wash it seemed for you we only wash our hair, like, once or twice a week. The volume will last for a few days, which is impressive, but I don't know, I kind of have to wash my hair sooner, which I don't love that piece to it, but I recommend it if you're looking for, like, really bouncy, luminous, gorgeous, slowly hair. It'll work.

[12:20] Amy Sherman: And do you put it in? Sorry, miss? We said you put in when it's wet or dryer.

[12:23] Katie Chandler: You put it in when your hair is damp? Yes. Okay. And it doesn't dry your hair out. The claim to fame with it is it's first of a kind, non drying, volumizing technology. No alcohol or salt, instantly thickens and lasts for days. So that's great that it doesn't dry your hair out, but it's kind of doing the opposite effect for me, where after a couple of days, it's like, almost making it a little too oily. But if you're one of those people that washes their hair, like, every other day, it wouldn't really matter.

[12:55] Amy Sherman: Right. Or if you use it, like, the day or two before you're going to wash it anyway, then it doesn't matter as much.

[13:00] Katie Chandler: Well, no, because you can't put it in dry hair. You don't want to put it in dry hair.

[13:04] Amy Sherman: I see you do it after you wash it. Good. I'll have to try that next time I'm with you. Yeah, my hair is wet. I just did my wash of the week. Okay. So I don't have a hair product. I have the next two products I have are Face products. So the first one I have is my new favorite. I was going to talk about this last month, but I didn't get to it. And it's the rare beauty bronzer stick. This one is. What color is this? It's called Happy Soul. So L, and it's so good. It's just like a bronzer stick. You literally just, like, go like this takes 2 seconds, and it just could, like, mix it in with your hand. It's such a pretty color. Very natural. It feels like nothing on the skin, and it just gives you a little color.

[13:50] Katie Chandler: It's beautiful.

[13:51] Amy Sherman: So easy. What color is that? I feel like it lasts forever. I've had this for it's called Happy Soul. There's a few of them. They didn't have many of them. I just happened to find it at Sephora maybe like, a month or so ago. And they didn't have that many colors left. And I saw this one and I was thinking maybe it was too dark, but it's actually perfect. I love it. And this is so good for travel too, because this is all you need, just like a bronzer stick like this. I don't know if you could use it for contour. Maybe you could, but I think it's too warm for contour. But you could just bring this and like a blush and you're fine. I mean, it's great. You could put it on your forehead, whatever, but it's such a good product. It's really creamy and nice and it just sinks in the skin in 1 second. It's just so easy to use. I love it. So it's the rare fruity bronze. Rare beauty bronzer. I can't talk today. Rare beauty bronzer stick in Happy Soul. And there's a bunch of different colors, but I love it. It's a great, great product. Super easy to use.

[14:48] Katie Chandler: I need to try it perfect for.

[14:50] Amy Sherman: The five minute flow.

[14:51] Katie Chandler: Totally. I need to try some rare beauty products. I don't think I have any, and I know that they have it.

[14:58] Amy Sherman: They're great.

[14:59] Katie Chandler: Nice.

[15:00] Amy Sherman: I love it.

[15:00] Katie Chandler: All right, so my next one is a supplement for your health that I didn't love. And I'm going to give you what you should do instead. All right, so all of us that are dealing with inflammation, especially people with joint problems, autoimmune disease, if you're older and have arthritis, whatever it may be, you should be taking Turmeric. Any doctor and any functional medicine doctor is going to tell you this. Turmeric, it has curcumin in it and it's just excellent for inflammation. So I tried a new product from nature's nutrition. That's the brand, and it was their Turmeric and ginger with Bioprine. Bioprine, by the way, is black pepper. And your turmeric product has to have bioprene in it for it to be effective. Otherwise it doesn't do what it's supposed to do. So make sure you're always looking for turmeric with bioprene or black pepper in it. But this one with ginger, it has really good reviews on Amazon, but it really bothered my stomach. It was really like the ginger was so strong on my stomach and it was bloating me and it was causing me to have all kinds of cramping and everything. So I was kind of disappointed in it because I think aside from that, it was doing its job. But if you have a sensitive tummy, it's a little tough. So instead I went back to the one that I'd always use that I think maybe at the time just wasn't available. And this is a good one. I've been using it for years. It's by Bioshwart, so you can get it on Amazon. And it is the premium ultra pure Turmeric per Cumin. With bioprene, it's the same thing. It just doesn't have ginger and it works very well. So that's it.

[16:43] Amy Sherman: Okay, that's good to know. I have turmeric like supplement. I never take it. I think I took it. I used it for a little while, and then I stopped. But it's a good reminder. Don't they also have Turmeric where you could drink it?

[16:57] Katie Chandler: Turmeric teas, like big cartes, like Turmeric and ginger tea? Yeah. Which I love. I love Turmeric and ginger tea. I think it's just probably the high dose that was a little Tummy that's in a pill. Yeah, exactly.

[17:14] Amy Sherman: Yeah.

[17:15] Katie Chandler: Okay. Yeah, it's a great supplement, so I highly recommend it. If you have, like, achiness or any inflammation, definitely try it and try try the bioshorts brand. So what do you have next name?

[17:26] Amy Sherman: Okay, so my last product is the same brand as the bronzer stick. It's rare beauty, and this is a good one two punch. It's the enlightened highlighter. It's so pretty. It's gorgeous. So I have a lot of highlighters. I'm obsessed with highlighters, but this one is so pretty. It's actually like a powder highlighter, but it's so glowy. And look at that.

[17:51] Katie Chandler: Yeah, that's beautiful. It's very, like, pearly iridescent.

[17:55] Amy Sherman: Yeah. So I just put it on the high points on my face. I sometimes put it in my eyes, put it in the corner. It's really, really pretty. I love it. And it's a lot in here, so it's going to take a while to get through. So this is my new highlighter that I've been using all the time. So it's like I'll use the bronzer stick. I'll use this highlighter. I'll use some, like, cream blush done.

[18:15] Katie Chandler: Five minutes super fast. And I like that. It's a powder. I've been using the stick, the creamy.

[18:22] Amy Sherman: Like a liquid highlighter.

[18:23] Katie Chandler: I either have a creamy stick highlighter or I use a liquid highlighter. And it never blends right. For me, I need to go with the powder, I think, so I need to try that one.

[18:32] Amy Sherman: Yeah.

[18:32] Katie Chandler: You were the first person that ever, like, I ever found out about highlighter from you. You're the very first person I ever saw wear highlighter.

[18:40] Amy Sherman: Really?

[18:41] Katie Chandler: What's that pretty sparklingess on your cheekbones? Yeah, I love it.

[18:45] Amy Sherman: It's so pretty. I have so many of them, I feel like, and I'm always trying new ones. And you're right. I have powder ones, I have liquid. I go back and forth because I also have the rare beauty liquid highlighter that I used to use all the time, and I still use that sometimes. But this one is the best so far because I feel like it's like the prettiest, like, most shiny. Not shiny, but, like, pearly one.

[19:07] Katie Chandler: It's really pretty. Do they have different shades and tones? Because they do. I always wonder with highlighter, how do you choose what color is right for you? We need to ask a makeup artist that question because you and I have very different skin, right. So I don't know if that one would work on me.

[19:27] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I don't know. This one's kind of like I don't even know it's almost like a goldish pinkish color, but it's fair, right? There's a couple of other colors, but I think, again, this is like the only one they have. So I was like, I'll just try this one. But yeah, it's a good question. The first one I ever tried, I think, was Fenty Beauty Highlighter, and it was almost like a yellowish goldish one. That's probably the one you're talking about because I remember a makeup artist that's a four and put it on me and I was like, what is this? It's so pretty. And that one could almost be like a highlighter or even an eyeshadow, and I still have that and use that. But yeah, it's interesting. There's a lot of ranges. I don't know what the rule is, but I love it.

[20:04] Katie Chandler: I know I have some that are pearly white like that, and then I have some that are more golden and I just never know which way to go. So you know what, folks? We're going to have a makeup artist on. We're going to talk about it.

[20:16] Amy Sherman: Exactly. It also probably depends on the time of year because if your face is tanner, you would use a different one versus the winter. But anyway, I love it. So I think that's all we have for this month. That is it. Quick episode, some quick products we're loving. Hope you can go to your local Target CVS, get some of these fun products, the rare beauty products I got at Sephora, I think the skin fix I got at Sephora. And let us know what else you want us to review next month. Bye bye.

[20:47] Amy Sherman: Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes.

[20:52] Amy Sherman: Please subscribe and leave us a review.

[20:54] Amy Sherman: Also, find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know some wood that would, please share it and tag us.

[21:01] Amy Sherman: Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters.

[21:04] Amy Sherman: We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 90 - Product Junkies January Edition - What We’re Loving (And Not) Right Now (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 90.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

Amy: 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Unknown: 0:18

And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation

Amy: 0:28

Welcome back to the show Nirvana sisters family. It's January product junkies time and Katie and I are back to give you our things that we are loving right now and maybe not loving so. So we're gonna get right into it. Katie, what do you got for me?

Unknown: 0:43

All right, I'm gonna kick it off with something that it's possible. We you have reviewed this before? Because I know we've talked about it. But I want to talk about my experience with it. I over the holidays, I ordered the new face Mini. And oh, because you have it, don't you? Do you have the regular one?

Amy: 1:01

Yeah, we haven't reviewed it. We actually talked about it with Shelly Marshall and like member she showed us how to use it and did that tutorial, but I haven't been using mine lately. So yeah, like,

Unknown: 1:10

I'm obsessed. I use it every single day. And I have without a doubt 100% seen results in one week, one week, like I just it just I ordered it like, over the holidays. And it took a while to come in because they were out of stock. I have absolutely seen results. And I will show before and afters on our social to prove it.

Amy: 1:28

Okay, so you that's the that's the new face Mini.

Unknown: 1:32

It's the new face Mini, which I don't understand why you need anything more than this, this little thing, I have the big one. It's so good. It does exactly what it's supposed to it's. So for those of you that don't know, it's a micro current electrical current that sends gentle waves through the skin down to the facial muscles and it mimics and gently re energizes the body's own natural current helping to like tone and lift and contour. And then it also helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles. My thing is, I feel like I always as I've gotten older, I'm starting to see like the sagging and the drooping especially around my eyes or like down in like the jowl area which is super common that happens. And this is lifting me for sure. But I think consistency is an absolute must. I was talking to someone

Amy: 2:18

that's yeah, that's the whole thing. That's what Shelly said, because when I've used it, I've seen results, but you have to use it and be consistent every day. And that's where I fell flat and right to get back into it. It's not so let me ask you a question. Yeah. Because here's what I found with a new face which again, it does work if you consistently use it. The thing that I didn't like is I didn't like putting on like the gel on my skin and then using it and I remember asking Shelley Marshal when she was on the show what else you could use and I can't remember what she said. But she said you do have to use something that kind of like sparks the electric electro currents or whatever else that doesn't work like you can't just use the serum. So what are you using? Are you using the thing that came with it?

Unknown: 2:56

I'm using the new face gel that came with it that has hyaluronic acid in it and I actually my skin has been so painfully dry lately that that was like refreshing for me it felt great and even some days I would like leave it on and not wash my face right away. But I'm kind of annoyed because the gel that came with the product is almost gone. So it's lasted me barely like you know a week probably I might get some use out of it in the next couple of days. But I think I want to say I feel like Shelley told us that you could use petroleum jelly just something like that. And if you don't use it you feel the current and it hurts like if there's an area and you didn't have to use something Yeah, you have

Amy: 3:36

Yeah, so that was my downside and like the consistency of that so it like didn't make it feel like a good experience. But yeah, I guess there are other things to try. So you tell me the process and how long it takes you.

Unknown: 3:49

It takes and also I think speaking of other things I've also heard of people using like hyaluronic acid serums to use it like good thick ones. Okay, by it you turn it on and it you just like slowly dragon in the same place on your face. You repeat that three times and after a couple of seconds it goes beep beep beep and then that means that's when you start over. And you just you do it all throughout your face and it's five minutes it won't let you go longer than five minutes because I don't think it's safe and you're not supposed to even do it more than once a day for that reason. So what areas do

Amy: 4:22

you do it on?

Unknown: 4:22

I do it on my jawline right beneath my jawline, I do it on my cheekbones and up on each side. I do it around my eyes, my crow's feet up and the whole thing is that you always have to work up and then I do it like up on my eyebrow and lift up that way this area through here is where I have noticed the biggest difference Yeah, it

Amy: 4:44

does. look nice. Yeah. Do you do your neck too or no?

Unknown: 4:47

I do like right here like right under like where you would have like a double chin situation and look it is tightening my it is tightening those muscles because I was starting to get like a like a drop down. loss

Amy: 5:02

Oops. Okay, I love that I'm gonna I'm going to start using mine again. I've been lazy and you use it in the morning or at night.

Unknown: 5:07

Whenever Whenever I have time to do it, just squeeze it on.

Amy: 5:10

Okay. Okay, I'm going to use it again. Good reminder of some new face and we'll have to watch to find those videos with Shelley because I feel like she did some demos. I can't remember but we'll look for it. Yeah, for sure. All right, what do you Okay, so I'll start with the face product. So I've been following this new person on Tiktok and Instagram Erica, I can't remember her last name but we'll put it in the show notes and we're going to try to get her on the show. She's amazing. And she does great. Like makeup tutorials and hacks for women over 40 And she just is hilarious and just a great follow but anyway, she recommends it I'll actually a few of my recommendations are from her this month but she recommended which I've heard of before I just never tried it to say slip 10 Oh nice. has SPF 35 And it's just like a tinted moisturizer but I really liked this one because it's very thin. And it just is like a really nice glow but not too glowy where it feels like shiny. So I've been putting this on every day and just as like I mean I guess you could probably just use it as a moisturizer. I haven't done that yet because my skin so dry I'll put on my moisturizer and then put this over it almost like a makeup but it's not even thick so it's almost just like can I just smooths out all the redness and smooths out your face that looks I'll I'll do a video or something for social today show the before and after. But it's such a nice difference from like just putting it on and it just refreshes your skin and just makes it look really awake and nice and glowy and smooth and glassy. So I love it. So it's my new thing. The texture is really nice the color. The color that I bought was three which is like a light color and it's tinted but it doesn't come off on anything. You know how sometimes a tinted moisturizer when you're not wearing makeup you throw on a tinted moisturizer and it can like get on something if you have like like other colored clothing on this doesn't do any of that it's almost just like a moisturizer that sinks into your skin. So I'm also going to try it without moisturizer just to skip that step and see how it goes but I really have been loving loving loving this lately. I've been wearing it every day.

Unknown: 7:07

Do you feel like it like just gives you a little bit of a darker shade? Like I'm getting so pale? I'm getting like the winter

Amy: 7:13

Yeah, no, I mean, I guess you could get a darker shade but it really just like here I'll put on a little bit so you can see I don't know if you'll be able to see through the lens. I don't know my light on but

Unknown: 7:21

it's a nice nice kinda.

Amy: 7:23

It's dewy, it feels really good on the skin and adjust. It just smooths you out. I can't explain it just kind of evens your skin because I've been having like some redness and like uneven looking skin and it just smooths it out very light. Very easy. And you could just put this on and go nice. It's like a good five minute flow.

Unknown: 7:44

Yeah, yeah, I like that one I need I'm looking for a nice tinted moisturizer. Awesome. Great should have asked me

Amy: 7:51

out really great. And it has SPF so that's why you probably don't even need regular moisturizer because my moisturizer has an SPF so that's why I use that. But if your skin's not that dry, you could probably just use this and not even you know put on your serums and then put on this I'll try that too and see how it goes but it's a great I'm loving it.

Unknown: 8:09

Sweet. All right, well that is a great segue into my next product because speaking of like red and uneven I was getting a lot of that especially because my skin was so dry and I was trying to figure out, you know, going on to Tik Tok listening to some of these influencers and by the way I only when it comes to skin products, the only people that I listened to are the ones that are either esthetician or dermatologist like I don't listen to some 30 year old that likes a product and tells right gotten by it. So I was trying to figure out what what is it that I need that's going to smooth me out and I learned that it is niacin amide is good for like clearing up redness and unevenness. So I went to the good old drugstore and Sarah vai This is a new Holy Grail. There's so many products now that have the niacin amide and the hyaluronic acid and you can spend 5080 $150 on a product with those two ingredients. Or you can get this survey which I want to say I spent like maybe I remember like $25 Not even yeah like and it's doing the job it's clearing of the redness really quickly within days I would get a lot of I had like a lot of uneven patchy redness around my nose and my like upper lip area I get that and it started to it's already starting to clear it up so I want to say I've bought this in the beginning of the week. So it's a real it's a survey Hyaluronic I'm sorry Sarah Bay hydrating hyaluronic acid serum with three essential ceramides hyaluronic acid and vitamin B five.

Amy: 9:44

Nice Yeah, so you just put that on as a serum like is that the first thing you put on or you put on your vitamin C and then that something like that

Unknown: 9:50

I haven't been using vitamin C because I was reacting too much to it. So I this is the second product I use a poor refining serum and then I use this and then I use my moisturizer

Amy: 10:00

But and what's the feel of that? Is it tacky? Or is it like smooth?

Unknown: 10:03

Oh, it's a nice smooth. It's like in between a serum and a moisturizer. It's a little thicker than a serum not super heavy as a moisturizer. It's very nice and it in your skin just soaks it right up. And it doesn't it leaves no residue it ends up kind of like almost mattifying and sinks on beautifully.

Amy: 10:24

Next product is the two faced fluff and hauled laminating brow wax.

Unknown: 10:31

Oh, I just heard about Yes, yeah, it says it do the job.

Amy: 10:35

It is so good. I'm going to try to do it again. I don't have my light. So it might be hard to say. really gets your eyebrows like I'm not sure yeah. Oh, yeah,

Unknown: 10:45

I see. Yeah. And does it stick? Oh, that really is doing the job

Amy: 10:49

if you want that laminated look, literally. I mean, you don't have to use it for that. But

Unknown: 10:54

does it stay?

Amy: 10:56

Yeah. Because I used to just use a clear gel. And now I'm using this and my eye brows. Like I did this yesterday. It was and I was in the office and literally it stayed like this all day.

Unknown: 11:06

Up. You just look like you like you just lifted like your whole

Amy: 11:10

now. Yeah, it's insane. Wow. So I'm obsessed again. It's the toothpaste fluff and hold laminating brow wax. And so I've been using this everyday and so instead of a clear, you know, mascara or whatever, it's God, this is so much better. Again, I think Erica or girl might have told us about this and it is so good. It stays all day. It doesn't like stick in there and get hard, you know, when you go to wash it off later. It's just like, super easy. Yeah, so I use it and sometimes I fluffed them up and they sort of have that laminated look or sometimes I'll just kind of like you know, comin back down but it's a really really great nice product.

Unknown: 11:47

Nice. Okay, two faced good old two faced all right, brilliant. All right, well this next one has been a total game changer for me and I think you're gonna want to get it too. I have never had long eyelashes and my eyelashes always are like dry and break off so they're thin also, and it drives me insane and I have to like put pounds of mascara on to get nice lashes. So I tried the score Oh lash eyelash volumizing growth serum. And it is working for sure.

Amy: 12:21

What's the brand score? Oh

Unknown: 12:23

lash, s t o r o l a s h it's definitely legit like I don't have that much mascara on and it's they don't look like massively long but you've got to understand before when I have no mascara on and don't look like I have lashes and I also have a missing eyelash few eyelashes and an area where I had a chickenpox as a kid and they've never grown there and I think they're starting to grow there. So it's it's very good it works

Amy: 12:52

and do you put that on at night just on the top of the lash line?

Unknown: 12:56

No put it on at night at the top of the lash line and it's really important to do it at night at bedtime. I've done it a little bit earlier in the evening and then like my eyes started to get irritated so it's right super low

Amy: 13:08

when your eyes are closed it like goes into yeah yeah it's funny that you say that because I just started use a grande lash I don't have a review for it yet because I haven't been using it long enough because same thing like I feel like my lashes I mean I've been wearing for the last six months eyelash extensions which have been like a game changer I just because my eyelashes are so light that I have to wear mascara every day and frankly I just got so sick of taking off mascara every day and like it just bothers my eyes so much she's like a makeup remover and like rub my eyes every night take it out so when I got the eyelash extensions it's so great not having to wear mascara and like barely having to wear makeup makes such a difference on my face but anyway it the maintenance of it is painful and I can't I'm like taking a break for right now so I was like I when I got them off I'm like oh my god I have no lashes this looks crazy. I look like yeah, that's a little washed out. So I started using the Grande last to try to grow them a little bit longer. I mean they're never going to be dark so I still will always need mascara but at least maybe they can get a little bit more volumous so I bought the sample of like the Grande lash lash and then the Grande lash brow like they come together at Sephora just to try them out. So I'm still using Um So more to come on that but that's uh that's good to know that that one works because if this doesn't work maybe I'll try that

Unknown: 14:21

yeah, I'm sorry did you get that definitely a fan of it. I ordered it online I one of my friends is has also been doing eyelash extensions for so long that she says that she has like literally no eyelashes left. So that's the thing. I mean, I understand the convenience of it when they're on there and it's great but like you said the maintenance and then potentially ruining your lashes is a tough deal.

Amy: 14:44

Yeah, and I think with these serums and stuff the other thing I heard they're great but again, it's consistency like yes, like I started of course I start doing grinding left earlier so we can the last few days of course I forgot before I went to bed, but it's like if you keep doing it your eyelashes will grow. It's just when you up, they won't that's really good to know of that brand. And I'm also in the process of reviewing a few DIY eyelash extensions. So I'll be back in a later episode with that, which is really fun. Okay, great. Okay, so my next product is on the same realm of the eyebrows. And again, two faced for the win. This is called the to face brow wig. And it's a natural brush on hair, fluffy brow gel again, similar to the waxy fluff and hold but this one is different because it has a color. So I guess you could probably I've been using both I've been using the fluff and hold and then I throw in this brow wig because it has a color. So the color that I got the colors natural blonde, and again, since I have such light hair, and this just kind of like fills in the gaps a little bit. So again, like you will probably just do this use this without the wax but I use it on top and it just fills them in a little bit. But to me, I know we've had a couple of pencils that we've reviewed on the show, but to me this is easier. And it just fills in kind of like where my eyebrows are a little sparse. And

Unknown: 16:09

that just a combination of that with a lamp is actually really good. What you just Yeah, so

Amy: 16:13

I've been using these two together and it's been great. It's made such a big difference. So highly recommend two faced brow wagon. There's tons of different colors based on your eyebrow color. So nice big fan base. Alright really that with the say you're good to go? You're sad.

Unknown: 16:28

Okay. All right, fantastic. So this is going to be a holy grail for any of my girls that deal with acne. And it's so wild because I've had the dry skin but also acne and my skin is really dry but I've been having breakouts and I think it's because I was like I was using a product daily that I should not have been that I think was just really breaking down my skin and clogging my pores with like dry skin and everything. So it's hard to find a product that is going to be good for acne when you have dry skin because it'll dry you out really quickly right usually comes along with like oily skin. So this one so the Roche Posay EFA klare it has Adaline gel in it which is at a higher percentage is prescription only so it's very very effective. It's a once daily topical retinoid dermatologist developed and tested product and I use it I started skin cycling we talked about that in our trends episode and I think we're gonna have somebody come on maybe dermatologist to talk us through that more this year, but I started skin cycling so I'm doing my retinal treatments with us twice a week

Amy: 17:37

so that's that that's substance like a retinol treatment. You mean I use it

Unknown: 17:41

in addition to my Sunday Riley Vita retina so I use both on on my retina Oh no. Yeah, it's working. It's 100% working like I had really really bad breakout on both sides of my temples and there are gearing up after using it for about maybe two

Amy: 18:00

okay. Okay, so on your retinol night you're using your Sunday Riley retinol as well as that and then a moisturizer on top

Unknown: 18:08

and then a moisturizer on top. Yeah, I do. So for the skin cycling the first night I do an exfoliant which is like a lactic acid VHA or an AJ or like folic acid. And then the next day I do my retinas moisturize and then the next day I rest and I just do one more stressor and my niacin amide serums and then you do it all over again.

Amy: 18:32

Yeah, so I've been trying that I've tried in the past but I haven't been of course consistent but yeah, I always for the I have dry skin too. So every time I use a retinol same it gets like so dry and then I noticed that like if I put on makeup or like anything with like a brush it gets like dry up here on my forehead so that way, so I did buy a new retina which maybe I'll review next time if I like it that I'm testing so that's good to know about that one too. I'm gonna try that L'Auberge La Roche Posay I feel like there's a lot of really nice products

Unknown: 19:01

they do and what I really love about it is I don't have to go all the way to Sephora to get it I haven't had CVS carries their whole right they sell it at CVS. I know nice. It's a really solid price point for the quality of the product as well. Yeah, what do you have next?

Amy: 19:15

Okay, so once you have your sace Lipton on and your eyebrows done your finishing product is I found a perfume which I am as you know very sensitive to smells and I love perfume but I haven't worn perfume literally for like five years because the scent I get a headache and I don't feel good and I can never find like the right one. That doesn't give me a headache or like whatever. Yeah, but I did find one that I liked. That doesn't bother me and I'm so excited. I got the little trial size at Sephora. It's called Gucci flora. It has pear blossom accord white gardenia, nature print and grandiflorum Jasmine combination,

Unknown: 19:56

Jasmine. I love that smell. Yeah, like normally

Amy: 19:59

I actually They don't like I usually like more of like the pair type sense. But I think the reason why I like this is because it has the Jasmine. But then it also has the pair. So it's sort of like, has this really nice balance. So I've been loving it. And I love the rollerball because it's just like, throw it on. And yeah, and it's not too strong. I mean, I think a lot of people I was reading reviews online, were saying that it doesn't stay on all day, it kind of fades, but I don't care. I don't need it to stay on all day. I feel like once it's on it kind of like is there in the background, and that's fine. But I'm loving it. And so I've been able to wear perfume again. So I'm really excited about it. And they have two versions, they have this pink one. And then they have another one called Gucci Flora gorgeous Jasmine and it's in a really pretty aqua blue bottle. And that one has different ingredients, Mandarin essence, Jasmine and Magnolia. I didn't really like that one as much. But this one, they describe it on the website as delicious, gorgeous and joyful. So anyway, I'm really loving this and I'm so excited. I found a perfume that I can actually wear and enjoy.

Unknown: 20:57

And I love the Sephora with their sample size bottles, I think is genius.

Amy: 21:01

Oh my now it's and they last so long. Besides it's it. Yeah, it's

Unknown: 21:04

like a it's it's grown in

Amy: 21:07

your bag. You can throw it for travel. Like I don't need like the big thing because, uh, you never use the whole thing.

Unknown: 21:12

Yeah, I have. I have large bottles of perfume in my bathroom, like six of them that have been there for years.

Amy: 21:20

Yeah. You don't wanna throw them away, but they get nasty.

Unknown: 21:23

Yeah. All right, so my last review, I do have one after this. That's that that's something I'm not so pleased with. But this is my last one. And this is a holy grail. Game Changer. It is called Hi smile. It is a color correcting serum for your teeth. And

Amy: 21:45

never heard of a color correcting serum for

Unknown: 21:47

me either. It's so the tube is purple. And the toothpaste itself is actually purple. And it seriously well it's toothpaste toothpaste. Oh, but it doesn't take place of toothpaste, you still use regular toothpaste and then you do this afterwards. And I have like I have a lot of bonding work and I have bonding work that I did like 10 years ago and I bonding with it I did three years ago and then I have teeth that don't have it. So it's very my smile has always been very like uneven because it's hard to match the bonding to old bonding. So like the yellowing and everything was driving me absolutely insane. And this has has really corrected a lot of it. It has really started to like balance out the weight of my teeth and my smile and everything and I have before and after pictures too that I can that I can share. So

Amy: 22:32

you brush your teeth and then you put that on. Yep. And how do you apply it

Unknown: 22:37

just with a toothbrush? You just literally like brush your teeth with it.

Amy: 22:40

Oh cool. Did you do it morning and night

Unknown: 22:42

I do it. Yeah, I do it morning at night. I mean, I'll do it as many times if I want if I'm going out and I want my smile to be extra bright I do it you know, it's like you can do it as often as you want. And they have a lot of products so they also the package that I bought also came with this pen that you put on and it's a red gel and the red only is red. It goes on clear and it shows up red where you have staining and you need extra attention and then you use this other toothpaste to clear it so like I got a package with a with multiple items that I'm using.

Amy: 23:17

But where did you find did you buy it online?

Unknown: 23:19

I bought it online. Yeah, of course what's in it it was social media buy you're so influenced. I know Tiktok made me do it. So funny do so I don't know exactly what the active ingredient is says V 34 is best used as a post whitening treatment however it can be used on its own daily or before an event to eliminate unwanted yellow undertones on your teeth. And it has phenomenal reviews across the board. Like that's why I bought it. It just seemed a little too good to be true but it is it is really good. I was going to buy that the snow the snow whitening thing, but it's pretty pricey. So I want to just start with this first. I mean this was a really good price I think like right now you can get it for $23 so great. Yeah, try that. It's legitimate. It really does work fine. Yeah, it's a great find. Alright, so do you have any more?

Amy: 24:08

Yeah, so my last one is is not a beauty product but it is a comfy cozy product and I'm wearing it Oh nice. It's this sweatshirt which I don't know if I showed you when I bought it. Amazon of course influenced by Tiktok it's a dupe for like the Lululemon like scuba hood or something I don't know. But this is the women's hooded pullover sweatshirt have super cropped hoodie. Fleece lines colors up up. Literally they have 10 billion colors. The one I'm wearing right now is light gray. It's $42 super cheap. I got a size medium just so it's like a little bit bigger. But it's great because it's a crop so it doesn't feel like so shitty when you're wearing it. It looks like nice with like jeans or whatever. And they have a million colors. They have like pretty greens. They have hot pink, they have purples, whites, lots, lots of nice colors. I just got the gray but I'm gonna get another one. I love the front pocket. And it's just like a nice A little bit more of an elevated sweatshirt and I love it and it's $42 from Amazon, so I'm wearing it today so I figured I'd share the love. Yeah, great.

Unknown: 25:08

No, I love it. Like super close, right? Like a Lululemon pretty collar. Yeah, a Lululemon sweatshirts probably like, what? One 151 80 Something like that. Like it's a good Yeah. And it has a HUD so like, it's good. It's got

Amy: 25:22

a hood, but it's not like a sloppy hood. It's like nice, cozy, and it looks good.

Unknown: 25:26

Nice. I need to get it. All right. I love that. Well, you know, we'd like to talk about things that we love and we like, but occasionally we need to mention the things that we try that we don't like. And yeah, fortunately, this was a very cheap buy, but I haven't tried to find a makeup setting spray. My journey has only just begun I thought I would start low before going into the high try some of these drugstore brands. So I went and bought the Mulani make it last original natural finish setting spray. And it's uh, won't, won't won't. I don't like it says 16 hour where it's supposed to prime correct set. It's supposed to keep your makeup from like going into your creases and everything. When I spray it on, it makes me overly dewy. So then I have to put a lot of powder on top or wet it's super wet. Makes me overly do I have to put a lot of powder on top and then I kind of feel like a little oily and greasy. And then it doesn't I mean it does keep my makeup on. But I still get like creases from from my makeup and everything. So I don't know I just don't love it. I don't love the way it makes my skin feel. So at first it makes my skin feel oily and greasy. And then as the day progresses I start to feel to dried out. So I just don't think it's it's yeah, you know.

Amy: 26:42

So that's it. That's surprising and I'm glad to hear because I feel like I've heard about that one. Well that is it for January product junkies. Hope you enjoyed all of our recommendations this month and let us know if you have other things you want us to review and have a good

Unknown: 26:58

week. Bye bye.

Amy: 27:02

Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters will continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 89 - Peptide Therapy and Hormone Optimization with Katy Whalen, Co-Founder + CEO of Joi Women’s Wellness, What are Peptides? (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 89

[00:07] Amy Sherman: Welcome to Nirvana Sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of wellbeing and beauty to help you achieve your highest state, your nirvana. We are Sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

[00:18] Katie Chandler: And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

[00:28] Amy Sherman: Welcome back to the show Nirvana Sisters family. We are so excited to meet Katie Whalen who's the co founder and CEO of Joy Women's Wellness which is an innovative peptide and hormone balancing therapy brand. I'm so excited because I just hear so much about peptides and aminos and omegas and there's all these buzzwords going around and we really want to get deep into what this is and how people can benefit from it. Your skin is glowing. So I'm already knowing that this is going to be a helpful therapy for our listeners. But I'm just going to give a little bit about Katie before we get into all of this. Katie started Joy because she knew she wasn't alone. She had a long journey through infertility miscarriages IVF. And finally giving birth to her little boy left her feeling fatigued, hormonal overweight and struggling with brain fog. I think we can all relate to this. She searched for a holistic solution that would help her feel like me again. And that's when she learned about hormone optimization and peptide. Therapies, the only problem is they were so hard to come by. So after both her and her husband began to experience amazing results with both peptide and hormones, he knew she had to share them with women everywhere. So Joy is a place where women can find answers, manage their health, holistically and truly start to feel like themselves again. Looking better too is just an added bonus because you know what? We all deserve to fear our best from the inside out. So welcome to the show, Katie. We're so excited to have you here. Thank you for spending your time with us today.

[01:58] Katy Whalen: Thank you ladies. I'm super excited too.

[02:01] Amy Sherman: Yeah. So let's get into it. Well, actually, before we get into it sorry, I'm just rushing right in because I'm so excited to hear about this. Let's take a step back and talk about our weekly Nirvana now. We are taping this right before the new year so I'm going to kick off with well, actually I'll move it to Katie or Kay. We're going to call her on this episode, Katie Chandler. Katie to talk about her Nirvana of the week.

[02:24] Katie Chandler: Yeah. Thanks, Amy. Well, Katie, we are so excited. I actually was with some friends last night and they know a little bit about this. So I was salivating being able to talk to you and then come back and say, well, I know a little bit about it too, so we're very excited to get into it. But my Nirvana this week I think was work. I've mentioned I've gone back to work, I'm a fit model and I was a little nervous about how that was going to pan out. Being a seasoned model these days, I didn't know if the work was going to roll in, but I have been manifesting work and abundance and it is happening. I worked. I had a full day job all day on Wednesday that just popped up and more work is popping up and go see and all kinds of stuff. So it's just exciting because it's going in the direction that I hoped but wasn't sure if it would. But if I look tired today, that's because I am exhausted at this whole going back to work, being a mommy, being a podcaster juggling situation. Not exactly like hitting it out of the park in all arenas, but it's okay. So that was minor. Van. What about you, Ave?

[03:36] Amy Sherman: That's awesome. Katie, I'm so proud of you. I know we've been chatting on text and it's just like it's so nice to see you kind of back in the game. And Katie, you had taken a break for how long, ten years? Yeah. So I was saying it just must be nice to have something for yourself where you're not having to attend to little people all the time. So I've had a lot of nirvana lately. We recently got back from an amazing international trip to Israel for my son's bar Mitzvah, so we'll talk about that another time. But I would say this week I had a nirvana at work, too. I had this big deadline looming over me and I finally completed that deadline this week. And so it just was such a relief to get this big project off of my brain. So I just feel relieved. And that was just like a nice moment to be like, okay, now I can do these couple more things and then kind of enjoy the holiday for the next two weeks. What about you, Katie?

[04:30] Katy Whalen: You know what? Mine nirvana is actually going to be this afternoon. I had emailed you guys a little while back and asked to move the podcast recording up because my daughter is turning five this month and with a new business and with two little kids, I constantly feel like I'm struggling to have quality time with my kids. So a couple of months back, her grandma Gigi sent her this American Girl doll catalog and she's been dreaming of this doll ever since. So I'm surprising her today. This afternoon took some time off work and we're going to go to the big store, get her a doll, and we're going to do the whole party with cupcakes and tears.

[05:12] Katie Chandler: Oh, that's so fun.

[05:14] Katy Whalen: It's fun. And I obviously feel like the whole week I'm excited. I'm like, I'm 43 and I'm like super excited to go.

[05:21] Amy Sherman: That does sound fun.

[05:22] Katie Chandler: That's great. I have a five year old and we did that with my older daughter when she turned six. That exact experience at the cafe and the whole thing with the doll and they have the little seat for the doll. It's the cutest thing and she's going to have the time of her life and so are you.

[05:36] Katy Whalen: It's really sweet.

[05:37] Amy Sherman: That is so cute. I haven't gotten to experience that because I have two boys, but I'm going to vicariously live through both of you and I need to see pictures because that sounds so fun and right up my alley. Okay, amazing. So let's get into your company Joy, and kind of I have so many questions about peptides. I don't even know what they are really other than I know they're really I hear they're amazing for you, but if you can kind of break it down for us, give us a 101 on what peptide therapy is, what peptides are, and about your amazing company.

[06:08] Katy Whalen: Yeah, so peptides, I didn't know what they were a little over a year ago either, but I used them to help me kind of like after I was done having kids to really help me propel my health and feel better. So now I'm obsessed. But what they technically are short chains of amino acids and they direct ourselves to perform specific functions. So I think of them as like a key to open a door. And of course as we age our levels decline. So peptide therapy is just adding back in some of those keys to open more doors. So you can help maybe with symptoms you have or even if you have no symptoms, there's lots of just benefits and overall vitality you can get from it.

[06:53] Katie Chandler: And amino acids, those are the building blocks to protein and to muscle building, correct? Is that right? Yeah.

[07:01] Katy Whalen: And so when we say short chains, it's literally from like two to 50 chains of these bonded together and a protein is over 100 chains of the amino acids. And that's about the extent of my science knowledge. Yeah, that's exactly right.

[07:21] Amy Sherman: And so are there all different kinds of peptides and do you use different ones for different treatments?

[07:32] Katy Whalen: Yeah, exactly, there's a lot of peptides and I think more peptides will be discovered in the future. I mean we have right now naturally occurring in your body like something like 7000 peptides. So we have probably peptides that we offer right now, I would say a dozen peptides for different things. And there's a peptide for gut health and inflammation. There's a peptide, a couple of peptides for weight loss that are super popular right now. One of my favorites is a growth hormone releasing peptide which tells your body to release more of its own growth hormone. We have peptides for skin health, hair health, basically you name it. I say there's a peptide for that.

[08:19] Katie Chandler: Amazing. So how did Joy tell us how you got started with Joy and what exactly Joy is doing for your clients?

[08:29] Katy Whalen: Yeah, I mean it was all based off my own health experience. I got married when I was 35 and right away, started focusing on a family and before that I was being single in my thirty s. I had time and resources and just took such good care of myself. Looked great, felt great. It was just a great time in my life. When I got married at 35, started on the you know, family train right away. Had a ton of you know, difficulty with my ability journey and really became this like warrior determined to make it through and have my family. I had four miscarriages and IVF and all the things that so many women do but when I finally had my babies I woke up at 41 and going holy moly. At the last six years of my life I haven't really taken care of myself. I was just focused on all the things and now I have two little ones and I'm overweight. I have brain fog, I have who am I and is this the new me or can I get back to some of those self care routines so I can feel good myself and have the energy to take care of these demanding little beings. So I started, the first thing I started actually was getting on testosterone because my phone was super low and I started to see some great change, more motivation at the gym. I started to be able to notice I was getting stronger. It helped me lose some of that fat and gain some muscle which was pretty exciting. And then I learned of peptides and started testing some of those out, did the weight loss peptide which I was amazed to get to my, I had a goal in mind and I was like I'm going to try to get there but in my mind I was like it might not be possible. Got there, actually went past it and I was just like this is insane and other women need to know about.

[10:26] Amy Sherman: Past, I need that ASAP. Okay.

[10:31] Katie Chandler: I have to say did you say you were 43? Is that how old you are? I was floored. Because you look like you are in your early 30s. Without a shadow of a doubt. Right Amy?

[10:43] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I was very shocked too.

[10:47] Katie Chandler: Those are the peptides then. Hard at work.

[10:50] Amy Sherman: Let me ask you a question just backing up to like when you were saying you were taking testosterone, who did you go to and why did they prescribe that? Like was it a regular doctor, a functional doctor? Just because I feel like and Katie and I talk about this all the time. There's this whole world of this more holistic well being that's super popular but there's not a lot of resources and there's functional doctors, there's regular doctors. Sometimes the regular doctors don't really believe in it. Like how did you establish your first step and then from there?

[11:19] Katy Whalen: Yeah, I mean you're so right and it's frustrating that some of these things are so hard to come by and unfortunately so many doctors aren't trained in this, and it's not their thing. And we even have patients that will come to us and be like, well, is my doctor confused or blah, blah, blah. So it is tricky. So for me, there's a little bit more of a backstory because my husband actually went through his own issues first with his hormones. While we were struggling with our fertility, we had a lot of stress and his testosterone tanked, and it was so bad. He had no libido and we didn't know what it was. And I thought, oh, it's me. I'm gaining weight. You're not attracted to me. We found out through his own health journey that it was his four months, so he started getting the help first. So I saw him, his struggles and his change, and then he actually started the men's side of our company first before Joy. That's called blokes. And I was able to then get treatment from the men's side of our company. That's when I was like, we need this for women. I was not planning on starting this. I was totally happy being in the newborn stages and not thinking about what my career would look like. And then I just 40% of our traffic on the men's side was actually women, so we were like, It needs to happen. But so that's how I was able to actually do it. Pretty quickly, my husband went through a couple of years of getting told that he was fine when he wasn't.

[12:56] Amy Sherman: And what doctor did he go to that determined it was his hormones? Because that's also, like, for men, probably even harder to find a doctor that would say that or identify that.

[13:09] Katy Whalen: Yeah, because they work in these ranges, these lab ranges that are the average person that goes in there with something wrong took a test, and that's where you are. And he was on the very low end of the average range of sick people, and it was fine. So it's really what we try to do is say, you know, how you can feel, how you're supposed to feel, and you really need to take control of your own journey, not get discouraged by a doctor that isn't trained in something that it is what it is. You have to take control of that.

[13:45] Katie Chandler: Men, I feel like, women, we've been told over hormonal health. Hormonal health, it's going to be a thing when you get older, it's going to be an issue. And I don't think men have as much of an awareness that they can experience it as well. And it's like they don't know that it's possible that that can happen to them sometimes. I think so. A lot of times, maybe they just go and deal with it and just think, I'm getting older just like so many women do, and that there's nothing that can be done about it. So I think it's amazing that you have this company for men as well.

[14:24] Katy Whalen: I think it's important for women to know that was my experience. My husband was like with no libido, he didn't really care because it wasn't an issue for him. It was me that was like, this is not working. So I think it's important for couples to both feel their best together and both kind of be on the same page with that because I know sex and marriage is a big issue. One of the top reasons people fight. Right?

[14:51] Katie Chandler: Right. Yeah. So true. Interesting. Okay so the peptide therapy, let's do a little bit of a deep dive because who would be a good candidate? I mean are you seeing women in their 30s that are needing peptide therapy as well or is it mostly just.

[15:10] Katy Whalen: As older age groups? I think anyone really interested in their health journey, their own health is a candidate. And certainly I wouldn't say a healthy 18 year old looking at peptides because it is something that levels decline with age. But I do think 30s mid thirty s and up is somewhere where people will really start to see some benefits. But it really depends. I think BPC 157 is like the Swiss army knife of peptides. It has a lot of uses and it's really great for people with autoimmune, people with chronic inflammation, gut health issues. It could be injected into the site if you are healing from some kind of a surgery, wound healing. So there's certain peptides that even younger people could benefit from.

[16:05] Katie Chandler: That one. Kind of like the society knife. Does that also address some of the other issues? Like is it kind of a broader spectrum where it'll hit the hormonal imbalances and do some good for your skin and hair and nails as well or does it get very specific when you start to target those things?

[16:27] Katy Whalen: I think it gets specific but I do think BPC is a great general one because it targets general healing, gut healing and inflammation. So obviously we know everything starts and ends in the gut. So I always thought I had good gut health and I wasn't really one I was interested in. But then just recently I started taking it because I realized that even if you're doing all the right things, all the toxins in the environment and just our basic lifestyle can really affect your gut. So I actually even though I feel like I have a decent gut health, I just started taking it because I feel like in your 40s things get a little wacky and beneficial for just inflammation.

[17:10] Katie Chandler: Sure.

[17:11] Amy Sherman: So I have a question, stupid question probably but how is the peptide ingested? Is it a shot? How does it work?

[17:20] Katy Whalen: Not stupid at all. So there's lots of options. There are definitely peptides that are injected and we use sub queue only. So it's super small needle, super easy to do and then there's peptides. So BPC comes in both actually an injection or a capsule, so you could do either. And there's different methods that probably we would recommend for different things. So if it's just general gut health, I would say take the capsule because it's absorbed better that way. But if it's actually like a wound or a soft tissue injury, then I would inject it. We have nasal sprays as well. There's one for mental clarity. That's a nasal spray. There's a skin cream that's just like a regular skin cream that goes on your skin at night. So there's lots of different ways applications for them.

[18:10] Katie Chandler: Interesting. And tell us about your team. You have a very impressive team of people at Joy. Are these the people that you go to that tell your client, this is the exact one that you're going to benefit from and you should be taking it this way? How does that work when someone wants to start with Joy?

[18:30] Katy Whalen: Yeah, one of our co founders, Dr. JC. Fulkers, he's kind of the petty guru, and he comes from a more functional medicine background and can tell you all the sciency things. So he's kind of the head of our peptide program. And then we have providers that you'll talk to during your Zoom call that a lot of them are on all these peptides and know them too. And then we have some medical advisors as well on our team. Dr. Melissa Loewski has been treating women and men. And then I'm super excited because I've been fan Darling over Dr. Amy Hillen for a while, and she actually just decided to join us as a medical advisor.

[19:16] Amy Sherman: Oh, amazing. Yeah.

[19:18] Katy Whalen: So excited about that one. We do have some great people on our team.

[19:23] Amy Sherman: I know you said you're based in Nashville. Is it a physical location or is it virtual? How does it work?

[19:29] Katy Whalen: Well, virtual right now, I think we've talked about in the future having some stores and some pop ups, which would be super fun. But right now we have our hands full. So, yeah, we're virtual. We do everything, all our visits via Zoom. And yeah, we're licensed in all 50 states, so it makes it easy.

[19:47] Amy Sherman: That's amazing. Okay, so our listeners can actually get a consultation with a doctor you just mentioned and then if they wanted to continue is it prescription or does it work?

[19:58] Katy Whalen: Prescription based?

[19:59] Amy Sherman: All prescription.

[20:00] Katy Whalen: It's a health history. Everyone has to fill out just to cover all the bases and then figure out what's going on with your goals, what's your symptoms, and then your therapy shipped right to your door.

[20:12] Katie Chandler: And what is insurance? Does insurance come into play? No coverage. Is it out of pocket?

[20:18] Katy Whalen: It is, yeah. Unfortunately, healthcare does not want to pay for. Right.

[20:28] Katie Chandler: What's the price point?

[20:29] Amy Sherman: I'm curious.

[20:31] Katy Whalen: It varies depending on which peptide. I would say average. So I have a face cream, and then I also do the growth hormone releasing have, and I think those are right around 200 each for a month supply and then our weight loss peptide is probably our most expensive and that is, you know, depending on dosage, could be 250 or 300 a month.

[21:00] Katie Chandler: Okay, got it.

[21:01] Amy Sherman: And then how long? And I'm sure it's very individual, but how long if someone was interested in doing peptide therapy, how long do you do it? Do you do it? Is it like you always do it or you do it until you feel better and then you do something else?

[21:14] Katy Whalen: Yeah, not up to you. You certainly don't have to be on it forever. It's something that you can just try see what's working for you. We actually recommend that you should cycle off every once in a while. Like I'll do mine for six months and then I'll take a month off and that kind of just helps you reset, also helps you figure out what's really working for you and kind of see the benefits that you're getting. But yeah, you can always try something else or just get off if it's something that you're not feeling is helpful.

[21:48] Katie Chandler: Tell us a little bit about NAD therapy because I have seen this at my wellness center where I get IB therapy infusions. Are you combining is NAD peptide or is it something different?

[22:05] Katy Whalen: It's not a peptide but it's technically a coenzyme.

[22:09] Katie Chandler: Okay.

[22:10] Katy Whalen: But we offer it and we think it's pretty cool.

[22:14] Katie Chandler: It's powerful. Right? And doing it in conjunction with the peptides probably does a lot for people.

[22:20] Katy Whalen: Yeah, it's certainly one you can try on its own too. So NAD is in every cell of our body and we need it to live and of course levels decline. But what it really mainly does is it helps with metabolism, it helps convert your food to energy and then it also protects our DNA integrity. So think of antiaging or think of disease prevention. So you can do it in an IV clinic? Through an IV. We send ours out as injections and it's kind of cool. It's one that you feel right away, you'll feel like a flush feeling and I like to kind of sit down and breathe and kind of relax and meditate for about 1015 minutes and I feel that freshness and you just have a little boost of energy.

[23:06] Katie Chandler: Nice.

[23:07] Amy Sherman: Yeah. I've heard a bunch of different podcasts and read a little bit about NAD and is that a more it seems to me from what I've heard and this could be completely wrong, but that it's like a more intensive treatment. Like, you only do it for, like, a short period of time, or no.

[23:23] Katy Whalen: I think when you're doing it with an IV, it's pretty intense. I think you have and I haven't done it that way, but I think you have to sit there and have you done it that way?

[23:32] Katie Chandler: Maybe I haven't, but it is very intense and you have to be monitored by a nurse when you do the IV. Way, and it takes a long time.

[23:42] Katy Whalen: It takes all day.

[23:44] Amy Sherman: I feel like that's what I've heard.

[23:46] Katy Whalen: That it can be uncomfortable. I think it's something that they really give you a lot of at that sitting. So what we do is we recommend weekly injections so you could do it at your home and it's just kind of 15 minutes of a flush feeling. So it's certainly a lot easier that way.

[24:05] Katie Chandler: More tolerable yeah, that makes sense. That makes sense. So you're also doing HRT or hormone replacement therapy, or is the peptide considered HRT? I was looking at your content. Is that what it is?

[24:26] Katy Whalen: They're two separate things.

[24:27] Katie Chandler: Okay.

[24:28] Katy Whalen: Yeah, we do HRT. We believe in a hormones as being like, such a foundation. I mean, each hormone has its own benefit and function and they all need to be in the right levels. I always think of hormones as story of goldilocks. You don't want too little or too much of anything. You want it to be just right for your levels, which is a little bit different for everybody. But if one level gets thrown off, then you can really a lot of things off in your body. And I think for women especially, there's such a gap in you're done having your babies and you're in your forty s and who's caring for you now and what's like I just think I'm excited because I think there is a movement to change that and a lot of companies that are offering support. So I'm excited for that. But I think a lot more is needed.

[25:22] Katie Chandler: It's so true. Our health care system just kind of looks at post baby years, like, periodopausal. Menopausal, women is just like, all right, well, you're all on your own, go figure it out.

[25:32] Amy Sherman: Oh, you're getting older, that's what happens. You're not supposed to feel great, right?

[25:38] Katie Chandler: Of course we love our OB gens and they serve a massively great purpose, but once we get to this spot, they're like, say in our go find.

[25:49] Amy Sherman: Somebody, come in once a year for your Papsmear. There's no continuity.

[25:57] Katie Chandler: Do you do lab work and testing as well for your patients? You send them off, they get their labs done, and then your team looks at the results, et cetera?

[26:07] Katy Whalen: Yeah, prescribing labs. And certainly if you're thinking of a hormone, you definitely need to do some labs. And then we continue to monitor people on treatment with labs. So we have a partnership with a few different people. LabCorp is one of them, so it's easy if you have a LabCorp menu. We also partnered recently with Get Labs and they come send a mobile phonomist to your house. So that's pretty cool. For people that are in urban areas, that's a really great option for convenience. And then we also partnered with a company called Tesla, which is like a device that sits on your shoulder and can test your hormones as well. Something that you do at home and then send back.

[26:47] Amy Sherman: That's interesting.

[26:50] Katie Chandler: Yeah, that's cool. Nice.

[26:52] Amy Sherman: I have a question about the hormones too. Do you see a lot of women taking hormone replacement and peptides at the same time? Or is it two kind of separate strategies?

[27:07] Katy Whalen: I mean, I do that, I believe in that for sure. If something is off with your hormones, then you should absolutely do that. And then peptides to me is just like icing on the cake. I think it really is woman dependent. I think there's still a lot of people that aren't educated on hormones, hormone therapy, or maybe dangerous, or think it's not natural to help your hormones. So I think that there's just different people who are looking for different things or have different comfort levels.

[27:39] Katie Chandler: Okay, I have a question that you may or may not know the answer to. We can edit it out easily, but have you heard of HMVs? Is that a peptide? Do you know? I've just recently started reading about HMB.

[27:52] Katy Whalen: HMV, I haven't, but I will definitely look that up.

[27:55] Katie Chandler: HMB as in boy. And it has something to do with leucine, which I think is an amino acid, and it helps with just muscle growth. And even if you're not training, it can help maintain muscle and prevent muscle waste as you're getting older. And then if you are working out and training, it helps build the muscle faster. Which, as you were saying earlier, part of the problem with aging that is a massive culprit is the fact that we lose muscle mass over time. And that is so important in maintaining all of your overall health, metabolism, hormonal, health, everything. So I've just recently been looking into that.

[28:40] Katy Whalen: Yeah, I'll ask JC about that. Personally, I haven't heard of it, but for sure I'm interested in all the things muscle related because that's certainly part of the key for vitality, sort of.

[28:52] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I was just listening yesterday to something about aminos, which again, I don't know the difference between aminos and peptides. I guess it's all related, but there was, like, some sort of amino someone was talking about who was getting older and saying that by taking this, it helped them. They said, like which is so true when you're working out a lot and you feel really toned, and then you take a break for like, a week, the older you get, all of a sudden you feel like, wait, I looked good a week ago, and then what happened to my muscles? Where to go, where'd it go? So by taking aminos, I guess, or peptides can help you sort of maintain that muscle mass a little bit better than was it, what, creatine?

[29:34] Katy Whalen: Maybe? I think that's an amino acid.

[29:37] Amy Sherman: I don't know, I can't remember. I have to look. It was a podcast I was listening to and it was a company that did more like amino kind of supplements, I'm not really sure, but basically. The same idea as Katie was saying, it helps to keep that muscle mass or your muscle more together than like totally.

[29:55] Katy Whalen: Yes.

[29:57] Katie Chandler: Funny sidebar. Total sidebar. But something interesting that I just learned about muscle growth and building muscle and exercising, there's like a mind muscle connection. And when you're training muscles because I'm trying to train my glutes, apparently my tush is a little on the flatter side. If your brain isn't attached to the muscle that you're exercising, it doesn't fire as much and you can be totally wasting your time. So I just learned recently that there's, like, with the bands for your legs exercises before you start to train and lift weights, that you do, like, two minutes of exercises with bands contracting that muscle and really focusing on the fact that you're contracting that muscle to help then activate the muscle so that all the work you're putting into it is actually efficient. And it can be a total waste of time if you don't have the mind muscle connection. Isn't that just the most bizarre thing you've ever heard? It seems like pseudoscience and absurd, but.

[31:02] Katy Whalen: It'S a fact that makes total sense to me, actually. I bar method or bar class. I feel like it wasn't until I have also felt like my butt has never been very muscley, a little bit flat. And I feel like I recently started I'll do some bar classes and it's really a mental thing. I'll have to think about contrasting that and I think it's exactly right. I feel like, okay, now I know how to use that muscle.

[31:33] Katie Chandler: So you get the results.

[31:35] Amy Sherman: Yeah, it's so true. I do a lot of Melissa with health, and in her workouts, she always says, like, if you're doing an arm thing, I was doing it yesterday, and she's like, be intentional. She like, think about what you're exercising right now. When you think about it, it sort of like fires it up because you're right, if you're not thinking about it or really intentionally targeting that muscle, it's just like you're doing the whole thing, but you don't get in that little area, which is so similar yes. To the Pilates and bar classes. And you're like, oh, that's the muscle. That's the little thing I never knew I had. So yeah, it's really interesting.

[32:09] Katy Whalen: Totally. Yeah, that makes sense.

[32:12] Katie Chandler: All right, well, before we get into our rep session, I would love for you to just let us know where our listeners can find you because I know they're going to be super interested in working with Joy and yourself.

[32:23] Katy Whalen: Yeah, you know what? We hang out on IG a lot, so would love to for you to follow us there. It's Joy women's Wellness. And Joy is spelled. Joi and then online, if you want.

[32:35] Katie Chandler: To consult, we are Choosejoy Co. Nice. Yes.

[32:40] Amy Sherman: And then if someone wants to consult, they just sign up and it's a zoom. Like the initial meetings. A zoom.

[32:45] Katy Whalen: Yes. Consults are just 25 and then just sign up online and then we'll have a patient coordinator call you to set that up and set up your labs if a lab is needed.

[32:54] Katie Chandler: That's great.

[32:55] Katy Whalen: What did you say?

[32:56] Amy Sherman: You mean I said I will be doing that. Okay. So I feel like there's so many more things to go through with peptides. So we may need a part two at some point because I feel like Katie and I are just starting to learn about this area and I feel like it's this emerging I don't know what's the word?

[33:13] Katie Chandler: I want to get like cutting edge.

[33:14] Amy Sherman: Yeah, you hear about here and there, but I feel like it's going to be mainstream really soon. So thank you for all of this information. So get into our rough session. Quick answers, ready? What is your favorite wellness or beauty hack? Peptides.

[33:33] Katy Whalen: I call it my whole body antiaging. I do a growth hormone releasing peptide. I just sit on my tongue every morning. It dissolves and then I have a ghkcu face cream that I use on my skin.

[33:47] Katie Chandler: Nice. This growth hormone that you use, is that HCG?

[33:58] Katy Whalen: H is growth hormone, but we're not actually putting growth hormone. It's actually growth hormone releasing peptide. So it's a peptide that tells your body to release more of its own growth hormone.

[34:11] Katie Chandler: Okay. I'm very interested in that one sidebar. All right. This next one we call it our five minute flow. You just got out of the shower and dried off and Uber is pinged you. They're five minutes away. What are you going to do? Your Holy Grail to get it together and getting that Uber on time.

[34:27] Katy Whalen: I'm a little bit hippy. I'm fine going makeup free sometimes, but I absolutely need my moisturizer when I get out of the shower. I'm addicted to that. So I have like a dry oil, a little recipe that I use. Quickly throw that on all over. And then I also need a hat. I'm a hat girl. I love my Chemo Savvy sets and hats. And I feel like you can get away with a lot more makeup free days and bad hair days if you.

[34:55] Katie Chandler: Can throw on a hat and you're in the right town for that hat, I tell you. We love a good hat in Nashville.

[35:04] Amy Sherman: Okay. And how do you maintain your daily nirvana?

[35:09] Katy Whalen: I'm always trying to work on that and it's a balance of getting in enough self care and spending quality time with my family.

[35:19] Katie Chandler: Yeah, amen to that. Right?

[35:22] Katy Whalen: Good answer.

[35:23] Amy Sherman: And you'll be spending quality time with your daughter today in America.

[35:27] Katie Chandler: That's going to be so fun.

[35:29] Amy Sherman: Yeah.

[35:30] Katie Chandler: Well, Katie, thank you so much for being here. This is a very exciting conversation and we can't wait to learn more about it. And we have to have you back on for part two. So thanks for being here with us. And Amy, you're going to close us out with a mantra and I think it's a mantra from Joy.

[35:44] Amy Sherman: Yeah, I found two quotes on Joy's Instagram that I love, so I'm going to say them both. So the first one is really funny. FYI menopause is not the end. That's what we should be telling our doctors. That's one. And then the other one I liked was just it's a quote that you have on the little billboard. There's a peptide for that, which I think is so cute, like a good saying. Because next time I'm feeling a certain way, I'm just katie and I are going to be like, there's a peptide for that.

[36:13] Katy Whalen: Peptide for that.

[36:14] Katie Chandler: We might need to call up Katie wayland.

[36:16] Katy Whalen: Exactly.

[36:18] Amy Sherman: Thank you so much for being on the show and enjoy your day with your daughter and we'd love to have you back anytime. Thanks again.

[36:25] Katy Whalen: Thank you so much.

[36:26] Amy Sherman: Thanks for listening to Nirvana Sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. Also find us on Instagram at Nirvana Sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know some one that would we've sherrod and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana Sisters. We'll continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye..

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here.

Episode 88 - Our Top Wellness + Beauty Trends To Buzz About In 2023 (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 88

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

Amy: 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Katie Chandler: 0:18

And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation.

Amy: 0:27

Have you new here, it has been a couple of weeks since Katie and I have been on the mic together. And we're so excited to start the year together and with you all, and we're going to talk today mostly about things that are trending in 2023 in the beauty, wellness, self care space that we're seeing that are happening that are new and exciting, and also a little bit of ketchup because Katie, it's just been a while I haven't seen you while we did go to Israel together, which we haven't even talked about. So let's tell our listeners about that.

Katie Chandler: 0:59

Happy New Year, because we really haven't seen or talked to each other in weeks. I feel like since before you went to Mexico.

Amy: 1:06

Yeah, it's I know, I miss Hill.

Katie Chandler: 1:10

Israel was amazing. We were there. As listeners know, for me, son, Jules is Bar Mitzvah and it was just such an epic trip. And when people asked me about an AMI that like, where did you go, and I say we saw the whole country. Basically, that's what it felt like we did so much. And Amy did the most phenomenal job planning it we were in type Varius, which is in the north and on the Sea of Galilee, and then we went to Jerusalem, and that's where the bar mitzvah was and and it's just such a beautiful old city there. It's gorgeous. We saw the Dead Sea. We went to Tel Aviv it was just one epic thing after the other like, what was your favorite part of it? Excluding jewels Bar Mitzvah moment, because obviously, that's what it was all about.

Amy: 1:55

I know I was thinking about this the other day, because I feel like there were favorite parts of each area we went to I mean, obviously, the bar mitzvah was my favorite part. But outside of that, I think it was just there. Well, I loved Masada, because it was just so beautiful. But I honestly it was just so fun to be together. 14 of us is like one family all together, traveling together. I mean, it was definitely a lot and could be, you know, crazy and hectic. But it was just so fun. Especially all the kids being together and seeing them together. So happy. And so join us and it was just so great to spend time with everybody because like when do you ever get, you know, 10 days of spending time with your parents, your grandparents, your children, your you know, niece and nephew, your sister in law brother in law. I mean, that was probably the best part for me from a family perspective. And yeah, I did love Masada and I loved just Tel Aviv is such a cool city. Yeah. What about you?

Katie Chandler: 2:48

I mean, various similar things. Masada was my favorite moment aside from Joseph's Bar Mitzvah, there was something about that that was just so peaceful and just felt incredibly unique and one of a kind and the surroundings where you are just it's like nothing I've ever seen before. And yeah, and the exact fact that there's so much history in the ruins and everything. And then I agree, like,

Amy: 3:12

I also like those grotto was really beautiful in

Katie Chandler: 3:14

Yeah. It's hard. It's surely Schroer. Lanco hunka hunka I have no idea.

Amy: 3:21

Railroad neagra. But I don't remember where that was in the

Katie Chandler: 3:25

north. It's on the Mediterranean. It was stunning. And yeah, the family being together seeing the kids they were so happy. I was relieved because I was concerned taking you know, recent Maddie abroad for the first time at young ages, how they would do and they did like such a great job.

Amy: 3:41

They were rock stars. I couldn't believe they were hanging in like they did not have any meltdowns. Yeah. So I think it's

Katie Chandler: 3:46

because they were with their cousins and having like the best time you know what I mean? If it was just like me and Adam, they would get bored with us and want to bail. But all of it. The whole thing was epic. So yeah, that was great.

Amy: 3:59

Yeah, exactly. Well, onto 23, and all the fun stuff for this year. So Katie and I have just been researching some trends that we wanted to share with you all that we think are things that are going to be focus areas in this space this year. And you know, some of these, at least in my research are things we've already covered, which is cool. Some of these are things we probably want to cover. So without further ado, Katie, you want to get you want to talk about the first trend that yeah,

Katie Chandler: 4:26

we're probably going to have some that are the same. But I'm gonna I'm gonna start with skin cycling. Have you heard of skin cycling? Yeah. Yeah, it's like I think it's definitely it's not anything new. But it's for sure, trending and becoming more like the rage and people are also taking it very seriously. I know someone that has an Excel spreadsheet for her skin cycling program. So oh my god, it's hard. But basically skin cycling is when you exfoliate one night you do your retinal program that night. Next night, and then you have a rest night. And then which is you don't put any retinoids or anything is the rest night like as many days as you feel like your skin needs, it's it's just like unique and you have for me I don't do well with retinoids every day. So I was doing my retinoids only once a week, but I wasn't really seeing results. So I'm going to start to do this and probably take like two to two rest days. I would think maybe, and give this a try.

Amy: 5:25

Yeah, I am. We posted. We posted a tic tac video last year about skin cycling. I can't remember the doctor will put it in the show notes. That's the one who invented like the name skin cycling, but she is the best one to follow because she talks about this protocol. And it's worked really well for people. I tried it last year, but I wasn't like I wasn't disciplined and I need to be more disciplined. But yeah, I heard it's really I haven't been using retinol for a while. So I need to get back into it and do that. Because I did hear I mean, you see.

Katie Chandler: 5:54

Yeah. And I want to have you try to try now. And that's the one that I want to try.

Amy: 5:58

Yes, I've tried Trent Nolan. I've been I probably have been using it on and off for the last year or so I used a company called cure ology, C U R, o l o g y. And you can because it's prescription so you can just order it online. And I use them for a while I still have a lot of bottles and I have to get back to using that because that I think was pretty good. And it's a little bit stronger than just retinol. But it also had some other ingredients. So it wasn't really that harsh. So yeah, that's a good reminder to start doing the skin cycling with the Trenton Nolan or retinol and see how it goes. I also like haven't been doing a lot of stuff on my face because I was telling. I was telling you Katie I got like this, this rash. just side note, this is so random. But when we're in Israel, some of the days I had like a cold I had a sore throat. I checked medication, you know, whatever Advil and stuff and it was fine. But then a couple of weeks later, which I didn't even realize was linked to it. I got this like it's called gut tait psoriasis, which I didn't know what it was. But it's not. It's not psoriasis, that like comes back like the autoimmune it's just specifically related to a virus that is in your throat like a strep or some sort of viral infection in your throat. The the dermatologist told me that every time he's seen got to eats rice, it's it's linked to some sort of strep throat infection. So I've never seen anything like it. I had these, I still have them, they're still healing. And you can see these red dots. But I had like, these red, almost like tear shaped drops, arms, legs, chest, stomach, couple of my face, everywhere. And so it wasn't really uncomfortable is a little itchy, but not bad. But it was just like crazy looking. And I was like I thought it was just going to go and go away. I just thought it was like, I don't know, dry skin from the winter. I had no idea that it was related to that. And I was so glad I went to the dermatologist because he was like, no, it's actually probably, I mean, related to what you had a month ago or whatever it was. So he actually put me on amoxicillin for 10 days and like a prescribes like cream, which I've been putting on. So I'm still finishing out the amoxicillin and agreement is helping but it's still not gone. So hopefully it will go in the next that's crazy. But anyway, yeah, I wrote that. So once that's all done with I'm gonna start my skins.

Katie Chandler: 8:09

Again. Nice. Okay. All right. What's your day?

Amy: 8:13

Yeah, my next trend that I read about or and know about is scalp and crown care. So this has been, you know, all over over the last year. But one of the things that I read from Pinterest predicts they said that Gen X and boomers will prioritize scarification which is a focus on the scalp and crown of your hair. Which I've seen a lot of stuff around this and I know last year we interviewed or was it gosh, I think it was like 2001 I looked back it was episode 21. We interviewed Dr. Reese Rubin, who was the founder of seen scalp care. So we are ahead of the crowd I still use I still use it to it's incredible and yeah, she obviously saw this was emerging and now it's like such a big priority for people because again, according to printers predicts things like scalp massage techniques, clean scalp, scalp treatment for dry scalp, natural hair mask for growth, clean scalp build have been up in search volume over the last, you know, year or so. So that will be a big focus for people and also kind of related to this is reducing that stigma of hair loss because again, there's been a lot of conversation around hair loss, hair shedding. One study showed that 22% of people hospitalized from COVID experienced hair loss, while many less severe cases also reported increased shedding. So like that's been a big topic. So I think again, there'll be this focus on really taking care of your scalp and products that are going to be there already invented but even more products coming out to address hair loss and thinning hair and all that kind of stuff. So

Katie Chandler: 9:55

that also just happens to women naturally like especially after a pregnant Disease and then as we get older with hormones shifting and everything as well, hair loss is a major factor. So that's Yeah, that's very interesting. Yeah,

Amy: 10:07

I've seen a lot of TiC TOCs recently of people showing their scalp routine where they like oil their hair, and they massage it and they do like a, like an exfoliator on their scalp once a week. And that's like a whole routine. So I don't do that. It sounds

Katie Chandler: 10:21

like you'd be relaxing also.

Amy: 10:23

I know exactly.

Katie Chandler: 10:24

My next one is the little nail trend that I'm seeing a lot of I'm seeing it all over tick tock and I'm starting to see it around town. Glazed nails, I'm sure you've seen it. Have you seen the glazed now? A little bit like a like a doughnut? And look, it's big on like, I think I want to say Haley Bieber probably started the trend, but now I'm really seeing it, you know, like locally, so I feel like when it's off of the celebrity, that's when you know that the trend is starting to spread around.

Amy: 10:55

And is it like the nude nail or it can be any color, but it's just has like

Katie Chandler: 11:00

a glazed look. But I'm seeing a lot of like, white or silver or gold with the glazed look. It's pretty. I don't know how to ask for it. I don't know where

Amy: 11:12

I now I was just gonna say what do you ask for? Because I actually need to get a manicure. I'm like, well, maybe I should try that out. I don't really know

Katie Chandler: 11:17

her, I guess Yeah, she'll send a picture. And I'm pretty sure it's called the glazed donut now, so we'll we'll confirm that. We'll put it in our show notes so that you know where to go. How to ask for it at your nail salon.

Amy: 11:28

That's fun. Yeah, I was reading something about not specifically that but just nails in general and trends of people having shorter nails.

Katie Chandler: 11:37

I saw that on the shorter nail, which thank God because I can't grow my nails to save my life. I know they break soon as they say like the centimeter on them. Right? What do you have next?

Amy: 11:47

Okay, so what I have next is something I read in well, and good, which is mobility workouts are going mainstream. Meaning searches for mobility exercises, mobility training, increased 50% on YouTube and Google in the past year. And I guess there was this video, which I missed. But again, we'll post it in the show notes of this doctor who shared a video of three simple moves that you can do before bed, and it got like 10 million views and went viral. And it's really just kind of like they're saying it's part of your well rounded fitness routine. So like strength training, cardio and flexibility. And then this mobility piece. So like, it's actually defined as a joint ability to move actively through a range of motion. Mobility has long been part of modalities like yoga and pilates. So it's kind of like if you think of the mobility involved in like, cat cow or thread the needle on yoga, things like that just becoming more to the forefront because I think people you know, we're sitting a lot, and they want these exercises to really get that flexibility and mobility back. Sorry. That's that's Vinnie

Katie Chandler: 12:52

is I wonder also, if that's similar to like, fashion movement, like what Lauren? Lauren Roxboro does. And I've also seen Shelly Marshall do it where yeah, like, you're literally just kind of swaying around almost like you're dancing as well. And like moving your hips around, like in rotation and everything. That's right, and I started doing that and you can really feel it kind of loosen up your body, and it feels good. I mean, and also you you end up moving your bodies, your body in ways that maybe you don't with exercise. I think that's like the cat cow is not something you would never really do in exercise aside from when you're doing Cat Cat. Right. So

Amy: 13:32

and when you do it, it feels so good. But yeah, you're right. Lauren has tons of videos on her feed about mobility exercises. So yeah, good call. What do you

Katie Chandler: 13:41

have the next one is an I would be shocked if this is not on your list is peptides, the use of peptides.

Amy: 13:51

It's not on my list because I feel like well, Nirvana Sisters, we do have an episode coming out. I think it's going to be the week after this airs on peptides. And I cannot wait for you to hear that. But I feel like we talked about it. Did we talk about it last time? Or do we not I know it's coming I

Katie Chandler: 14:07

haven't talked about it. And for those of you that don't know. Alright, so there's a lot of science behind it. And it's very hard for me to articulate it. So it's a great thing that we've got this new episode coming out but it's it's different forms of amino acids and all of these natural occurring peptides that are in your body that doctors can now give to someone to help with things like inflammation and weight loss and muscle recovery and immunity and so on. And the episode we have coming up to discuss it is super interesting. And then I also did a consult with with joy wellness, who is who we are going to be airing our episode with soon. And I think you did AMI as well and we need to bring the doctor on to talk about the science behind it because it's very, very interesting. So I Think we're gonna have probably two episodes about peptides. But if you have been following the Kardashians, which it feels like, literally, unless you're under a rock and a cave, in the middle of, I don't know, Syria, you can't not follow the Kardashians. And they part of what they're doing is to, you know, like Kim Kardashian, like she's lost a lot of weight recently. And I kind of think she's going a little overboard.

Amy: 15:28

Was that how she Yeah, I

Katie Chandler: 15:29

kind of think she's going overboard, don't you like she's getting a little too thin. But it's like celebrity thing. And so of course, as I said earlier, when the celebs start doing it, people start wondering what the heck is going on. And it becomes a trend. And the cool thing, though, is that there are more of these wellness, functional medicine doctors that are making this readily available. It's not cheap, it is expensive, but it's accessible. And I think we're probably going to start to see a lot more of it.

Amy: 15:58

Yeah, there's a lot, a lot of virtual companies doing it. And I think, yeah, to your point, I mean, hopefully, insurance will start covering some of these things, too, because they really do help with a lot of things. We Yes, like Katie said, we'll have this episode coming up. But we'll also have our own journeys on peptides, because I'm going to start doing something soon. And we'll talk about it on the show this year. So excited about that. Okay, my next one, which we've talked about a little bit on the show, but not too much is hot and cold therapy. So I'm reading and hearing and seeing that hot and cold therapy is about to be accessible to the masses. So like, there's a lot that goes into hot and cold therapy, and I don't pretend to obviously be an expert in the philosophy of it. But it really does help with reducing stress, it like speeds up your metabolism. And so actually, it's funny because I had been reading a lot about hot and cold therapy. And I've been at the end of my shower. I don't know for the last couple months, doing like a cold shot like a freezing cold water, which is brutal, but like I've been trying to beat my record, which I really can't get past 30 seconds. And you're supposed to do it probably for like a minute or two. But it does increase my energy for the day. Like I feel like a burst when I get out of the shower. So that's just like one small way to do it. That's free. But there's so many different things, you know, there's ice rollers, there's, you know, these infrared spas, but then there's companies I forget the company name that a higher dose, like they have those infrared blankets that you can get much more affordable than obviously getting a big infrared sauna for your house. But there's just a lot more devices that are coming out that helped that help with you know, eliminating toxins and reducing inflammation and boosting your immunity and all of those sorts of things. So it's, it's, um, you know, practice to utilize as part of your routine and was funny, I was reading an article, I think it was in mind body green, and someone had mentioned, the editor favorite, which was the solo wave one, which is funny because Laura and Roxburgh. Roxburgh talked about it when she was on our show the solar wave, and I ended up buying it, they actually had this deal on the holidays, it was like buy one, get one. So I bought one for me, and I bought one for my husband to use. So I haven't used it too much. But it's that red light therapy, one that you put on your face, so it like kind of gets warm and you put it over your face. So I haven't used it enough to have an opinion on it. So maybe it'll be in a future product junkies. But anyway, I just thought it was funny that that that came up because we just talked about it with Lauren shoes. It's like part of her five minute flow, she does that one too. So more to come on a hot and cold therapy and how you can implement also,

Katie Chandler: 18:35

cryo therapy is which you know, places like restore hyper wellness offer cryo, right, and they're a really simple and affordable way to do it. It's probably a one time investment as people are doing punch baths in their backyard. And like, you know, you fill up a big it's, it's an outdoor bath, it's probably copper or something. Yeah, he literally fill it with ice water and people go outside and just plunge and come out. So it's I couldn't ever do that in a million years. But I know a little bit of the science behind dynamics and why it lowers your stress levels is because when you're actually in the moment of the cold therapy, it piques your stress response. And so what ends up happening is you build a tolerance to stress. So in just essentially levels up your body's ability, your physiological response to handle stress period, like any kind of stress, which is the really amazing thing about it. So that's that That much I know about the cold therapy, it's great for inflammation in many things.

Amy: 19:38

Yeah. And according I know, I had listened to a whole episode and again, we'll put it in the show notes with neuroscientist Andrew Huberman. And he talks it's like I think he does two episodes on hot and cold exposure. I listened to it a while ago and he suggests doing deliberate cold exposure for at least 11 minutes per hour total. Each session should be between one and five minutes in length. So yeah, good luck. But that's like his recommendation. And he also said, What did he say here that I wrote? He said, Yes, he said, you can achieve the benefits of cold exposure and the water should by doing that, and the water should be uncomfortably cold yet safe. So, and he's got a whole philosophy on the hot stuff too. Like he his morning routine. It was like, you know, he does the cold plunge and then he does the infrared sauna. Like he goes back and forth a

Katie Chandler: 20:26

couple times. Yeah. It's interesting that at a spa once before it was, yeah, me too. I

Amy: 20:31

did it over vacation this winter. They had like a hydrotherapy like session, and I did it. And it was incredible. All right.

Katie Chandler: 20:37

All right. My next one is from Forbes magazine. And this is part of their to the 2023 Wellness trends. And that we've heard this from a few people now, micro workouts, which is great, because like, I always do a micro workout. It's like 1520 minute hit here or there, whether it's low impact, whether it is high impact, just trying to squeeze in throughout your day, what you can to get your movement in, and maybe that's 15 minutes in the morning, and then 10 minutes in the afternoon, or maybe all you're doing that day is 20 minutes. But to quote Adrian Richardson, he's the Senior Content Strategist for Fitbit, Google says these short takes on fitness add up to big results, and are a delightful and fun way to get moving. And I mean, if you think about it, it's just so much easier to make happen with our busy schedules and our busy lives. So also, we were talking about that, again, with Lauren Roxboro. About the you just kind of like fit in what you can throughout your day. And next thing you know, you've done like a 40 minute workout if you add it all up together. So I love the idea of micro workouts. It's it's I think the days of like, feeling like you've to go in and crush it in the gym for an hour or two hours, just you know, walk out of there. Like you can't know, you know, legs shaking and can't walk. But those days are gone. At least for me. They are so

Amy: 21:57

Yeah, exactly. No, I read a lot about that too. And I think we've talked about Melissa health a lot on the show. But that's like a great way to do these micro movements. Because you'll have like a five minute arm workout. And so if you're at your desk, and you do some stretches and do that for five minutes here, and then you meet going to walk later. And then yeah, it all adds up. And I think that's a great way to get all your movement in. I love that I read about that, too. Okay, my next trend, which I had heard recently, on a podcast, and I've also read a bit about it, but workouts that align with your menstrual cycle, which is really funny because I feel like probably you and I do this intuitively. But it's really like this. There's been an increase in all of these like period tracking apps. And basically it's, you know, doing the type of exercise that your body needs during whatever, whatever what is it called the luteal cycle that you're in for your, for your menstruation. So sometimes that could be cardio, sometimes that could be a walk. Yeah. And I had I had read that like working out the same way every day isn't exactly conducive to someone's menstrual cycle. So again, it's just like, recognizing that you're always fluctuating and then adapting your body to what your body needs at that at that point. So as an example, I had read about someone who had said she was doing high intensity workouts the first week after her period, and then she's winding down and doing something else the following week. So just an interesting trend that I keep hearing about. And, and another trend, I'll say that's part of working out and sort of part of these Well, I wouldn't say it's a micro workout, but it's kind of in the same vein that I'll mention because we posted about it last year was the incline incline walking challenge, which is the 313 for 30. So it's you're on a treadmill, you're going three miles per hour, you're doing it for 30 minutes at 12. Sorry, did I say 313 30 or 313 12. But essentially, it's this idea where I mean I've been doing it so you're on a 12 incline so it feels like you're doing a hike and you're doing it at you know three and you're doing it for 30 minutes. So when I saw that on tick tock and posted on Instagram last year, I started doing it and so now I've incorporated it, I tried to do it once a week, it's really hard, but it feels really good. And I also like it because it's like set it forget it you just put the put the tripping on 12 And you just walk in like I'll watch the Kardashians or just like do or listen to a podcast while I'm doing it at least I don't have to think and I just kind of like do it and it's a really good way to get sweaty but like also feel really good but you're not running where you kind of get so winded it's a really good way to get a bit more of a high intensity workout. So I just thought that was cool that I saw that incline walking challenge listed as one of the I

Katie Chandler: 24:37

think I have been seeing a lot about this exercise cycling as well. And it's you're right like it's kind of just if you're intuitive with your exercise I feel like that's what as women what we're doing when our bodies can't you know sometimes I'm like really revved up and I need an intense workout and sometimes I it's I'm dragging to do something so I just do like a nice slow yoga Though and it's it has a lot to do with hormones so to sync it up is really smart and also when you're overdoing it in the gym like you're messing with your cortisol and everything. So that has a lot to do with like, like you said, the micro workouts and just kind of taking it down a notch and not killing ourselves in the gym anymore ticket results. We don't have to, you can get results.

Amy: 25:19

I know I want you to try the 12 drive the 330 12 and I want to see what I need to try out though. I really like it. The first five minutes for me are always the hardest. I'm like dying and then after that, it's it gets easier. But yeah, I want to know what you think about that. And you tune around a sister's family. Let us know if we want to if you try that. Yeah,

Katie Chandler: 25:36

agreed. Or yes is my next one. I think we're gonna start to see a lot behind sleep hygiene. And when I say sleep hygiene, like oh, yeah, people are definitely paying more attention to their sleep to how they fall asleep, how they stay asleep. There's a according to Forbes, there is a big trend called Sleep sinking. And that's when you adjust your sleep cycle to the rhythms of nature, like the sun and the moon and tuning it into your circadian rhythm. And you know, we saw that you were one of the first people I know with the what is called hatch the sunrise timer. And that's when you it's a it's an alarm clock that literally like lights up like the sunrises for when you set it so you slowly wake up. Have you been using that? Do you use it all the time? Oh, is it every day? Yeah. And the other you know, mouth taping people. So this is like a whole thing, right?

Amy: 26:33

I've heard Lauren Bostick on the skinny confidential, she always talks about this because she now tapes while she's meditating. But so you literally just put this tape on your mouth and intentionally breathe through your nose, which is probably really hard to do. I feel like it'd be like,

Katie Chandler: 26:46

I know, I haven't read it. It's also for your teeth as well. It's good for your teeth, like mouth breathing, it breaks down the degradation of your teeth. Yeah, which is interesting that so, you know, tape up the old mouth. And then the other one is I feel like people are becoming more aware of sleep apnea. And this is not just for necessarily like older people, very overweight people, there's obstructive airway sleep apnea, which I found out I have, but the reason why I think this is going to be more of a trend to just pay attention to it within the sleep hygiene is because now you can do at home sleep apnea test. Now they have small little like, portable, easy sleep apnea devices, all of these things, right. So my father's had sleep apnea for a long time. He is like he looks like an elephant with this giant thing sticking. It's a mask that he would put on at night that's connected to this whole concoction. It's horrible, uncomfortable, miserable. But if you have really bad sleep apnea, you have to use it because otherwise, you're it's bad for your heart. It's cardiovascular wise, Sleep Apnea is like one of the worst things for your heart. So now that they've made advances, I think it's just going to tie into the sleep hygiene, focus and people really paying attention more and putting an importance on what we can do to sleep better. Sleep is everything.

Amy: 28:09

Yeah, I always hear about sleep apnea, but I don't really know what it is like other than like snoring. But do

Katie Chandler: 28:15

you stop. So I tell you exactly what it is you stop breathing because your airway is obstructed. And when you stop breathing part, why is it obstructed but people that are instructors are like little overweight, because the weight like literally can push into it. So I found out that I have a very small airway. So my I use those Invisalign mouth guards. And they were how it changed. My bite ended up actually making my airway smaller. So that's why it's become a bigger thing for that. Yeah. So when you stopped breathing at night, a it may or may not wake you up, but what it always does is it raises your cortisol because you're obviously not breathing. You cannot breathe for seconds at a time. And that over time, these are constant like shots of raising your cortisol affecting you physiologically starts to affect your heart. And for some people, they they stopped breathing like 200 times a night. It's insanity. Yeah. Oh

Amy: 29:15

my god,

Katie Chandler: 29:16

I did my test. I don't know maybe in the spring and I think it was like, like, at times that I stopped breathing or something. And you just ignore it. Yeah. So you end up never being rested and you don't really know why because you don't always totally wake up. So it's kind of wild. I mean, there's it's definitely a good thing for people to be aware of and that there is something you can do about it.

Amy: 29:37

Yeah, I read a lot about sleep to being a very hot topic, sleep hygiene, sleep, wellness, all that stuff. And I think too, there's a lot of now devices to track your sleep like there's one. What's that? Where that trend is really also or? Right So yeah, that's that's, that's a big one and I think we'll continue over the next few arrows as people are really paying attention to that, Deb and I, okay, so the last one I have, I just thought was kind of funny and I can very much relate to it. And Katie, you probably can do as reading and pure, round article about some trends. And one of the things they said it was coined by this workout place, I guess, in New York called the NES, but they call it the AARP special. So it's, it refers to people of all ages, eating dinner earlier at times previously only preferred by preferred by older people. So I was laughing when I read this, but like they were saying that this person was saying that we're already seeing a shift to earlier dinner reservations across the hospitality industry and the additional information people can get from wearables, people are more informed of the effects that late dinner has on their sleep readiness and recovery. So they said expect to be seeing a lot of wellness gurus eating early with plenty of time to digest and set themselves up for a successful sleep routine. So I can totally relate to this. I love to eat dinner. Yeah. So I just thought that was so funny. And the tagline I

Katie Chandler: 31:06

could literally eat dinner at five o'clock every night. And we did a couples dinner a few weeks back with a friend of mine. She's fairly new friend. And it was with the kids. And I said what time let's do an early dinner because we have the kids. I'm thinking she's gonna come back with Okay, how's 534 30 I was like, You were Beth, we are now.

Amy: 31:26

You're like, you're my girl.

Katie Chandler: 31:28

We literally went to dinner. 430 It was fantastic.

Amy: 31:31

Yeah, that's amazing. Well, they say that you're not supposed to eat. I think it's like two or three hours before bed. I was also listening to something the other day where they were saying, You should stop eating when the sun goes down. So I do I mean, it's just it's obvious when you stop eating, and then you go to bed and your stomach isn't full. Like you feel so much better in the morning. Like how many times have you been to like a late dinner where you're eating this heavy meal and then you can't sleep? It's horrible. Yeah, loving.

Katie Chandler: 31:55

My last one is definitely in line with this month because it is dry January, but I think we are going to start to see a big trend of sober curious, and more and more products for those that are super curious, but what it feels like we're having a mocktail, or even there's now products that have like nootropics and adaptogens and Botanics in them that are supposed to kind of give you a relaxing feeling or even sometimes lift you up. It's a big trend with again, these celebrities making these brands you have Katy Perry has destroy Luna de la sobs has photos a lake lively has Betty buzz and Bella Hadid has Kenny forks, which I have tried. And I like can you Forex, Adam loves it. It's a little pricey. It's $57 for a pack of 12. Yeah, that's kind of absurd. But I think the point is, is that we're just gonna see it more readily available. And a lot of people are just kind of like, not so interested in drinking as much alcohol, which I think is great. I, you know, it's like Gone are the days of I think the social society, the pressure of always feeling like you need to have when you're out at a party or something. So I think it's a good thing. It's definitely a wellness trend. All right, well, this is a good, awesome little 2023 forecast. And I would say that we will definitely be featuring a lot of what we just talked about in our upcoming episodes this year. So we'll get more into the nitty gritty of all of it.

Amy: 33:26

And if you all have seen trends, let us know, DMS, tell us what you've seen. And we'd love to look out for all these trends and keep you guys updated. So yeah, hope you enjoyed this show. Lots of new fun stuff coming up in 23. We are excited to start the new year with you all. So I have one little exercise that I did not exercise but thing that I did. We posted it on Instagram the other day, and I thought it was super interesting. So I don't know about you all but planning for the new year and goals and vision boards. I used to, you know, have a journal where I'd write things down. And I haven't done that for like a year or so because I just find it like mentally draining sometimes. And I know like people do these vision boards and it looks like so elaborate and fun. But I put this on the other day because I saw this tictac are saying this and I actually thought it was really genius. It was like, Okay, here's like a quick way to put together a vision board just like go on your phone, find 12 images that you like put them all kind of like on your phone together and then take a screenshot of it and put it on your homescreen on yourself. It's

Katie Chandler: 34:32

a good idea.

Amy: 34:32

So that's what I did. I don't know Katie if you can see this Yes, because you're constantly referencing it. So let me get my notifications off my screen to show you my screen. So I tried it well you'll see my notifications but see how I have like a vision board.

Katie Chandler: 34:47

So you screenshotted different things and then you put them all together. Yeah,

Amy: 34:51

well I Yeah. So I basically like if you if you kind of like favorite photos and then like duplicate them or just copy them and put them All in like an album, basically, if you want, there's a couple of different ways to do it. Will reshare the will reshare, the the Tiktok that I'm talking about. But yeah, and you literally just put it on your home screen, because I used to have a different, you know, more kind of serene home screen. So when I first put this on, I was like, I don't know if I want this on my home screen, because I feel like it's annoying. And it's giving me to dues, but then I changed my mindset around it. And I'm like, No, actually, it's a really good reminder of the things I want to focus on this year, whether it'd be like movement, or you know, any beauty things or, you know, focus I have like a little thing about protein, because I wanna focus on eating more protein, stuff like that. So it's actually like a really good reminder. And you pick up your phone a million times a day, I just thought it was such a good idea. Instead of doing you know, journaling it this was just kind of like a super quick way to do it. It took me like two seconds, and I just found some photos that I liked on my phone. This person said she just wanted to like her Instagram and looked at things that she liked or that she saved. And like just save them down and put it on her phone. And I just kind of went through my phone and my Instagram and see kind of the things that I had looked out over the last year and did it so anyway, I chose I love that. Not a trend but a 2023 exercise for everyone. Yeah, I

Katie Chandler: 36:12

have to say I was I've been working on a mood board and it's taking me forever because I'm not buying a lot of magazines and the clippings and the whole thing like I don't you know not a movie but a vision board. So yeah, that's great, and I'm going to do it. Alright, well I love it. Thanks for listening Nirvana sisters family and we are excited for this year ahead with you so happy happy new year.

Amy: 36:34

Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters will continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 84 - Breaking Down The Brow With Celebrity EyeBrow Artist Daria Kruchinina

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 84:

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

Amy: 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman. And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation Welcome back to the show Nirvana sisters family. It's Amy and Katie and we are here today with the eyebrow guru expert. Darya cucina, none I probably said her last name wrong, but it's all good. She's telling me that I said, well, so okay, I'm feeling good. We're so excited to talk to you today, Daria, because we haven't talked about this topic on the show. And eyebrows is such a thing that we don't really know too much about. So we're excited to learn from you. For our listeners, Daria is an award winning makeup a natural brow artist. She began her career in Russia, where she worked with top models and prestige, fashion and beauty brands. Seeking international experience. Daria took her talents to New York in 2017, and quickly made her mark as a freelancer collaborating with beauty icons like Natalia vindman Jacoba, which I can't even say you have editorial work appearing in numerous publications worldwide, including Vogue, UK, Vogue, China, Vogue, Russia, and many, many more. And I know that you work with many, many stylists, many celebrities, etc, etc. So we are super excited to have your expertise in the show to tell us about all things. Eyebrows. Welcome to the show, Daria.

Unknown: 1:47

Thank you ladies appreciate having me here on your podcast. I'm really, really excited to share all my experience and knowledge with you today.

Katie: 1:57

We're excited to hear it. So before we get into all of our millions of questions, we just want to take a step back and do our nirvana of the week was just really just something that gave us joy this week, made us take a pause, put a little smile on our face, and I will take it to Katy to let us know what hers was this. Thanks. I was just thinking about that. And I think it was over the just the past weekend like The Last Sunday we took the kids to the pumpkin patch. And you know, we're on the east coast and in New England, and Westport is like it's like you're in a Lifetime movie. Like it's such quintessential fall it you know, it's my favorite season after being here for a year. It's really beautiful, the foliage and everything. And then the pumpkin patches. It was just beautiful. So just see the kids running around and picking out their pumpkins and having apple cider donuts and there was a little petting like farm situation. And while it was very cute and festive and for the season, it was just Yeah, it was yummy. What about you, Amy?

Amy: 2:56

That's such a good one. I haven't done that in a long time. I love those pumpkin patches, though. It's so like, yeah. So I would say we hits a really nice milestone here at Nirvana sisters we have published well now it's probably over 7677, maybe even 80 episodes by the time this airs. So Katie and I are running so quickly building this podcast in business. And it was just nice to kind of get a notification of like you hit a milestone you've posted 75 podcasts. It was just cool. We've been working really hard over the last two years and our two year anniversary is almost coming up. So that was a little something that brought me joy this week. What about you, Daria,

Unknown: 3:37

I really enjoy hearing what you ladies did. It's amazing. makes me so happy. So my highlight of the past week was meeting with my friends who I didn't see for seven years. Oh my gosh. They live in London. I right now based in New York. And they had a flight here. So we spent amazing three or four nights out just exploring the city and I took days off. So yeah,

Katie Chandler: 4:03

yeah, that's great. fills your soul and love it. Alright, well, let's kick it off. First of all, let's start at the basics. Tell us about what you do and your specialty of natural eyebrows.

Daria: 4:19

So honestly, when I say when I try to explain to my new clients or to people who are not in the beauty field, even for those who honestly in the beauty field, what I specifically do

Unknown: 4:33

it takes me like a couple minutes to get through it because I work on the natural eyebrows, which means that I provide shape tint walks lamination and sometimes threading. But the thing that makes me very different from any other eyebrow specialist is the technique that I use for shaping which is which I call signature. I brush shape. It is made with a tweezers. So I basically tweeze eyebrows but not just around how we usually do it. But I open the eyebrow and look through the hair and remove the hair that we don't need that this hair usually either too old, too thick or trimmed before. So instead of just plucking around the eyebrows and creating the typical thing like the shape, I go in the eyebrow and create feathered natural looking eyebrows.

Katie Chandler: 5:33

Oh yeah, that's interesting, because I have been really curious about how this new eyebrow trend of like the longer fuller more grown out. And I've tried to do that but it's so uneven and kind of wack and I assume I probably need you to get in there and take out the ones that don't make sense in order for that to happen. Right?

Unknown: 5:57

Yes, I would say there are so many different techniques come into the market. And sometimes it makes sense. Sometimes it completely does not make any sense like we have this trans like bleaching eyebrows every year right so mad gala or I don't know the autumn trends, we keep seeing different things happening. But I believe to have a good shape to have a really clean eyebrows and I talking about clean not on your skin but in your eyebrows. This is what makes any face brighter. You have lifted kind of eyes, open eyes brightened look and you just look fresh. This is how this is how I'm trying to explain these things to my man clients straight guys clients constantly are afraid that it will look too feminine or too manicured. So it takes it takes long time. It takes long explanations showing like examples, but it's definitely worth it. Nice.

Amy: 7:03

Okay, so how does one at home get natural looking brows or how do they sort of maintain maybe in between brow visits, but I know like Katie was saying there's been like this emphasis on this natural brow and how do you what do you recommend for people at home like looking to keep their eyebrows in check

Unknown: 7:27

for my clients in between appointments I recommend to moisturize eyebrows. So basically there are a couple things that you can use couple of treatments and ointments that you can apply and it will provide the moisturize for your eyebrows because we apply a lot of masks and conditioner to our hair right but my eyebrows and eyelashes, that's true. So I would say just keep it moisture noirish do not trim I'm very very against of trimming eyebrows. And I don't know just normal maintenance, I would say monthly or like for some people once in two months appointments are enough, but nothing difficult. If my clients prefer to have some eyebrows routine, like makeup routine, I would say I would provide the specific list and I usually send the eyebrows guide to all my clients or people who are interested and I'm very happy to share with you like people who listen to the podcast for free the guide How to maintain what to use and it's all divided into shapes, colors and like you know options, pencils, gels, clear gels,

Katie Chandler: 8:42

a lot of options.

Unknown: 8:45

So I'm I'm really happy to share

Katie Chandler: 8:47

nice I love that.

Amy: 8:48

And then how did you were mentioning some of the things to do to keep your eyebrows moisturize and condition what what type of products would you recommend for that?

Unknown: 9:01

I recommend to use natural product it is called tuya This is the brand is step three after elimination but what exactly this product does is that it has a little bit of oils and it is wheat oil. It has argan oil but it is not heavy. So the problem with moisturizing eyebrows and a lot of people get misunderstanding that you cannot apply 100% oil like castor oil or flaxseed oil or peach oil on your eyebrows because it's simply not going into the hair. It's not going to the cortex it's not it's not doing anything it just sitting on the top like you know

Amy: 9:48

so castor oil does not make your paragraphs I've been using no one.

Unknown: 9:56

And what is really important about all More than 100% oils, it could have the consequences as allergies. So for example, this is what I, this is what I was through when I just started to grow my eyebrows back because I started my career with horrible experience myself. And this is how I became eyebrows artists, I was like, let's let's do it myself, no one can do that I will do it. And it was a big misunderstanding in the beautiful that if you apply castor oil or our argan oil or flaxseed oil, your eyebrows will grow or eyelashes? No, it will not. And second, when you apply those oils for your lashes, and you go to slip, it's naturally because we have the gravitation, right, it's still works. It's got it can go to your eyes, or very close to Derma. And could clog your pores on the on the line where the lashes grow and could cause allergies in the future. So my recommendation for someone who would like to grow eyebrows or eyelashes is to moisturize to use serums during the morning or the daytime instead of the nighttime. And do not use 100% oils. Just use professional things. Like

Amy: 11:21

the product that you were just talking about is something that could help with hair growth.

Unknown: 11:25

It I wouldn't be honest, it's not providing the hair growth. I didn't care for the hair that you already have. Got it any serum any, any product that promises you, I don't know 200% Extreme lashes. Yes, it will help for the amount of time you use in this product. As soon as you're going to stop, your hair will be normal. What is not great about this option of choosing serums that trying to help you to grow things, like grow your hair is that we have a specific amount of follicles in our eyebrows and eyelashes during the life. And if you try to speed up this process, there is the chance that by the age of 70 or 80, you will have less eyelashes or eyebrows naturally because you already overstimulated your growth.

Katie Chandler: 12:20

Oh, that's interesting.

Amy: 12:24

So then what do you do if you want to grow your eyebrows? And you don't want to use one of those serums Do you just keep them conditioned and

Unknown: 12:31

you keep your eyebrows and eyelashes condition and you do massage? So when I when I'm talking about massage, you know this single single brushes from Sephora or like single mascara wands. Yeah, so you just brush it up. Really like you need to feel it on your skin and then just like, like, push get

Amy: 12:50

in there. Yeah, yeah.

Unknown: 12:51

So you brush it up, you brush it in a diagonal way and you brush it down, like two minutes each eyebrow and just massage in a circular way. Because this is what we do with the hair. we brush our hair, we go to treatments, we do all this stuff. And we need to remember about our eyelashes and eyebrows. It

Katie Chandler: 13:12

seems like it would feel good to or to do that. Right?

Unknown: 13:15

Because it's the stimulation for you. Like literally you stimulate. Yeah, nature.

Amy: 13:21

Right. So that helps to stimulate the follicles which will then grow. Okay, good

Katie Chandler: 13:25

to know, I want to know how someone figures out the perfect shape eyebrow for their face. I've seen formulas before and I'm curious what yours is?

Amy: 13:35

The formula? Yeah. Is that correct? No. Okay. All right, let's hear it. Katie's doing Katie's doing the point up from the nose and then the angle like what you always see. Yeah.

Katie Chandler: 13:49

Take a pencil. Right?

Unknown: 13:52

I haven't. Yeah. So the typical formula that we can find somewhere on I don't know social media platforms all over the internet. And I believe those pictures honestly, they've been there forever, like from five to 1000 Yes, maximum. So it's like this one, you put it to your nose, you do the arch and you do the end of your eyebrow. The problem with this method is first that you cannot measure it correctly. Because if you a little bit tilted here, right, it could be here my orange could be on this point. But if I move it could be here also. So how could you know and it depends where you look. If you look straight, you will have one point a point. I mean the arch and when you slightly move your eyes and you need to measure it somehow you need to put the mark like it could be not even over the time we have this interest in fashion and styles. So sometimes it's a little bit wider. It's it could be a little bit more straight, a little bit more arch. So honestly So, what I say to my clients is that we need to see what the person has. If you have amazing straight eyebrows, what's the point trying to get extreme there is no point because there will be not enough hair on the top of the eyebrow and we would remove too much in the bottom of the eyebrow. So instead of trying to be like you know, this trendy eyebrows shapes for 2020 20 We're just trying to maintain what we have naturally and make it look as good

Katie Chandler: 15:33

as possible. I like that I have always kind of liked the straighter eyebrow on myself and then I also thought there's all these trends right that you were just saying that what's this trend were like now they're like going up and everybody thinks it makes you look really lifted. What is that called? There's a name for it.

Unknown: 15:50

I honestly, it's been forever, like okay, not forever. For the last three years we have this trend when people started to work tapes to make up also, I see this everywhere. Like people were tapes and stuff like you see my normal eyebrows and then they put the tape and it's gone like this right? Where's the eyebrow is going a little bit up so you have the more straight eyebrow less arch. But at the same time, it looks a little bit odd

Katie Chandler: 16:23

you know whose eyebrows now jelly and naturally it's like the Kendall Kendall Jenner I think her she has like very so that's what I saw on social media and the other one that I that I really do love that I think is very chic and looks great on everyone is like it just kind of like grown out and just like super, to your point super, super natural, but like thicker and fuller and longer. So brow is what it's called. So brow.

Unknown: 16:46

No, no, no, I didn't think this is the same. So I would say the the first one that you mentioned, like grown out supernatural one. It is referred to models environment. So every time I do talk, top models, eyebrows, I never remove too much hair underneath. I'm never creating the like, no, the full shape will live in some options for the makeup artist who is going to work on set. But so brow look is actually elimination.

Katie Chandler: 17:21

Okay?

Unknown: 17:23

So people who I believe don't want to do elimination, they create, they can create the same effect with a soul bro. And so bro originally was the name of the brand, but not but now it's like, you know, any brand could say so bro. Okay. And

Amy: 17:40

yeah, I don't even know what lamination is. I've heard of what it is.

Unknown: 17:45

So let me nation is the camera. This is the conversation I had with my morning client. She scheduled everything like everything, all the possible options, and she's my first time client. And I'm usually very straightforward with first time clients. I'm like, Hey, what is the goal? How do you want your eyebrows to look like? What is? How do you want to maintain? Do you want to take any? Any possible like new things? Do you want to add something to your beauty routine? She was like, no, no, no, no, no, I want like easy maintenance. And I want elimination. But elimination is not is maintenance because elimination is a chemical process, two step process for your eyebrows. With the first step we apply the chemical that helps basically to ruin the hair structure. Because in that case, we can move it we can make it flexible. And if someone has eyebrows that going down or too much sideways, we can straight it up, but not 90 degrees, like this way maybe like 65 degrees, right 45 Even. So we're the first step we just ruin the hairs structure. Unfortunately it is what it is. It's not a spa procedure. It's not wrist restoration or something. And with the second step, we apply the ointment that helps to keep the structure of the hair back and to provide the normal hair pH balance. And with a third step, which is the same two year or ointment. It's like the oily the oily third step ointment that helps to give it moisture because lamination dries the hair. So in New York specifically, I'm not sure about other states, but in New York specifically in the area where I work. I see a lot of ladies coming to me with burnt eyebrows. And when I see burned, it's literally Ginger, Ginger red color because the hair is burned from the inside. And in couple of months it's starting to fall off why this happens again, because lamination is not a spa procedure, it's not. Treatment elimination is a chemical chemical procedure. So I believe elimination should be done with a professional who understands the timing, the specifics of your scheme, the specifics of your eyebrows, and the look that you want to keep and maintain. Because it requires extra moisture for your eyebrows, it requires the client to purchase this ointment, and actually to apply it every like once in a three four days. And coming back to the soul bro. So the soap brow they help this is like the actual soap, you brush, you go through your eyebrows backwards first like this way, and then you brush it normally like in the in the direction of your hair growth. It helps to create delamination look for a day, it definitely needs to be washed. In the end of the day, people cannot sleep with this because the soap is drying your hair structure. So the hair is getting a little bit more fragile, dry. And I would say people should use if they want this lamination look but don't want to use the chemical they can use so brow for maybe like twice a week, but not often.

Amy: 21:28

And it is the elimination help like does it.

Unknown: 21:31

But elimination helps to create thickness illusion, or to redirect the hair. So for example, for my clients who have really odd hair growth, for example, from this side, sometimes hair grow in this way, we can use lamination but only like 40 degrees or 50 degrees. Because if you will swap the hair 180 or even 90 degrees, it's going to just fall off. Because the air cannot do it redirected this much. There is a certain proportion that we can use and can apply.

Katie Chandler: 22:06

So that's more distinct and get the eyebrows to go the way that you want them to go. It's not so much like a look of fashion style a trend like the soap brow is correct me if I'm wrong as the soap or other trend where it just looks kind of like oily and in place and long. And like sticking up words and everything. Yeah, I really liked that look. I've been trying to figure out how to.

Unknown: 22:32

So brow helps to achieve this over laminated. And when I say over laminated because good lamination should not should not look super slick, it means that the hair was burned, and it's eventually going to fall in couple months. So yeah, so brow can help to create lamination look without like with minimum damage. Okay, with minimum that so

Amy: 22:57

you mentioned something earlier about cutting brows. So you're saying that's not a good thing to do. So my eyebrows are curly, like I feel like they grow and they get curly and I haven't cut them in a really long time. But I used to go to people that would like thread or wax or whatever. And then they'd like cut up here just so they were like tight. Why is not bad.

Unknown: 23:20

I mean, it's a very serious condition. So this is why most of my clients keep they just traveling from I have clients coming from Florida from LA, like at least once in three months. So this is the circle that you in the circle called trim, and trim. Why? So your eyebrows are getting curly, right? It bothers you it's getting long, you cannot style it, you go to the place, and they brush it up entering. And in three, four weeks you like oh my god, it's again curly, right? Yeah, I didn't know what to do with this. So this is the circle how to break the circle. Why first? I will explain why your eyebrows are getting curling? Probably naturally. You have a little bit wavy hair. Yeah. But what's going on with eyebrows that are trimmed? We have the hair that okay, it's I know it will sound very basic basic information, but we all know this. So this is the skin layer, right? We have the hair growing from the skin. The follicle is based in the skin. So it's growing long. You don't like it, you trim it. So the hair keep growing from from the skin right from the follicle. But the tip is already flat. It's not pointed, it's flat. And the hair is getting sicker because it cannot naturally fall off. Because the hair that we lose in it's fallen off because of the weight or because The damage so the hair is getting thicker and thicker, and because of that it's starting to grow. So instead of trimming again, I would recommend to do good shape. That means slowly removing trimmed hair. And I may be trimmed twice in my life for someone because it was, you know, just one specific hair or like the hair that I cannot remove because it's creating the base and the structure of the eyebrow. And it should be trimmed in the diagonal way not to not flat. Yeah, like, if someone is brushing and doing this shouldn't be trimmed like this. It should be trimmed with a specific scissors like

Amy: 25:45

this. Yeah. Bunny. My eyebrows, like, over the pandemic, I just like didn't get them done. And I actually think by accident, they got better because they got longer. Because they haven't done anything with them. And they're almost like, I mean, I still need to get them shaped but I don't really feel the need to cut them anymore because they're just like kinda there but I think I accidentally did a good thing by not cutting them.

Unknown: 26:11

I mean, that's great. And honestly, most of the people in our industry in eyebrows industry all over the world, they still trim eyebrows because it's very easy fix

Amy: 26:23

right brush,

Unknown: 26:24

all like from from the beginning to the end, you just brush and you trim. That's easy for the professional, but I prefer a different approach because I believe that we're here to create long term beauty not just easy fix for all of us. And I know that it takes about a year to regrow all the trimmed hair in your eyebrows. regrow I mean still have an appointment once in a month and a half or like a month. Because you need to remove this hair you need an the new hair thing good thing not trimmed. So it takes kinda a year to regrow trimmed eyebrows but it's definitely worth it.

Katie Chandler: 27:12

What do you think about all of the different I mean I know you prefer to pluck but threading I've never had threading done have you had threading Jenny me? I don't really

Amy: 27:21

Yeah, that's usually what I do. Is it

Katie Chandler: 27:23

is it better than waxing if you know if somebody like can't tolerate the plucking what would you suggest

Unknown: 27:32

sometimes I do spreading for my clients but only for people who have allergies for walks and this is obvious if my client has the allergy for natural or artificial walks we definitely try to clean the baby fours at least here on the top of the eyebrows by spreading but the thing with the threading is I do not like to create the shape with a thread like the you know traditional way how in India they do or in the south of Russia for example, we have a huge community that are very into threading they all have this thinner eyebrow look which was was in a trance long time ago but not anymore. And with a specific and with this specific signature eyebrow shape that I do, it's not enough used I still need to go through the eyebrow and block some hair that we don't need. And some of my clients are really like crying, the cursing but in the end they all very happy and I'm like okay okay just do whatever you want you want to cry I want to talk all this bad things okay, that's fine. In the end of the appointment everyone is happy

Amy: 28:50

and I'm sure so you do only plucking you don't do waxing or you do you do wax?

Unknown: 28:55

I do I do like sometimes when I see that we need to remove that pause or it would just look much cleaner. But if my client has some condition like if the skin is irritated or too dry, or I don't know it's changing of the season and I see it's not going to be good. We skipping waxing. Yeah.

Amy: 29:19

And is I don't know if this was like an old like Wyldstyle but isn't plucking supposed to be the best isn't waxing like can't think if this is probably just like hearsay and not true but can't wax and give you like more wrinkles than plucking. I feel like I heard that back in the day. Did you ever hear that one? And I've always plucked like I've never I mean I've waxed once in a while but I usually pluck or do threading or something.

Unknown: 29:41

I honestly think it depends what kind of wax is used and applied and how it is removed because that's the thing with the thread and actually what I do not like about threading and the hard works that removed with this, you know the paper stripes?

Amy: 29:58

Yeah, yeah,

Unknown: 29:59

I did not Like when they need to hold it and to stretch the skin, right? Yeah. So this is the thing was threading if you would calculate, like, if you would start threading at 14, and you thread till 60. Right? How many times you stretch your eyes and when you do blowing it up? Yeah, you need to stick like good point.

Katie Chandler: 30:22

What do you think about tenting? Eyebrow tinting? I've done it once.

Unknown: 30:27

I mean, if it's, if it is a correct tint color, that's good. If the tint could report both horrible anime

Katie Chandler: 30:37

I, that's when I first had it done. I was like, Whoa, and it was way too much. But now when I look back at pictures on it, I actually thought it looked nice because I've blonde eyebrows and it felt filled them out. This whole conversation is reminding me of something I did as a child to my eyebrows. And I have to tell you guys, I was reading like a Cosmo or glamour and there was just talking all about plucking. And I was maybe eight or nine. And I was too afraid to pluck so I shaped them. And then I accidentally like they just because I like accidentally went too far. And so like I shaved one and so then I had to shave the other one.

Amy: 31:14

Oh my God, that's awful. We need to see a picture of that I

Katie Chandler: 31:17

actually have a school it was right around school photo time. So actually, but I was with my family and I had cousins in town. And I was just waiting for like somebody to call it out. I didn't want to tell my mom. And one of my cousins said, Oh my God, what happened to your eyebrows? And then I was

Amy: 31:35

oh my god, I never knew that story. That's so funny. So how long did they take to guard ever? And

Katie Chandler: 31:39

I still feel like yeah, I feel like my eyebrows are so so thin. And it's probably because I shaved them.

Unknown: 31:47

It happened to me too. I was like 14 or 15. And I remember my mom coming back from work and I plucked and somehow I had only this area and nothing after the art now. Oh my god. I looked like this, you know, like, like a crazy person. Daria, it was it will never grow back. What did you do? And I started to cry. I burst into tears. So it took me like, half a year to grow back.

Amy: 32:17

Oh my god. So speaking of dying eyebrows in the same realm, what what do you think of eyelash extensions?

Unknown: 32:25

Oh, honestly, I don't have anything against eyelash extensions, because in most cases, right now it's done in the right way. It looks natural, at least like the lash artists that I'm following. It looks natural and good. The only problem I think in the industry right now is lash elimination, and lash burm, which I see as a big problem. I mean, again, I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. And I have no idea. I have no idea who is doing that. But we have couples specialists around who who applied too much. And for too long, the lamination process. So what's happening, I see clients who step into my office, and they come for example for eyebrows appointment. But I could see that the elimination didn't go well for eyelashes, because they see the scary to do

Amy: 33:23

on your eyeliner. So close to your eye. It's scary,

Unknown: 33:27

I would say in the way that it is super close to your eyes, you need to understand how to maintain this thing because there is a special silicone pad that they apply. And then they brush up with the like glue and the first step ointment, your lashes up to hold it to like ruin first, the texture of your eyelashes and then to fix it back. So what's happening what I see and this is really, really a big problem in the industry right now. People who provide the service cannot apply the silicone pad actually close to the growth of your lash line. So it creates this L shape in the end of the procedure. And what client would have is the difficulty to apply mascara and this L shape thing. It will create the option or the potential potential option to break your lashes because it's getting very fragile in this degree. Because our hair normally doesn't grow like this. We have natural curl, but when it's buckling this and basically broken it could just fell off.

Katie Chandler: 34:49

Yeah, yeah. Very well. I am going to come and see you and get my eyebrows done really soon. So I need

Amy: 34:57

and can you put it on camera Katie? Watch because When I come to New York, I'm gonna go to you too. I used to have this great person in New York a bazillion years ago and I just haven't found anyone good since so we'll be visiting. Yes. Welcome

Unknown: 35:08

ladies.

Amy: 35:10

You're in New York City. You're Are you in the city or in Williamsburg?

Unknown: 35:15

I'm in Williamsburg. But it is one stop from the city.

Amy: 35:18

Yeah, no, I used to live there. That's great. And I know you also know like all the makeup and beauty trends for the fall. So give us a little give us a little insight into what you're seeing. That's like the new or the, you know, some fun makeup things that you're seeing.

Unknown: 35:35

Um, honestly, I am this type of person who believes that everything is already created. So we have kind of the same tiles over the years. And as always, during the autumn season. It is reds, red, it could be red lipstick, a little bit more red. I would say burgundy color for your check. Cheeks. Blush maybe. And my thing my favorite thing is to apply the same blush for your lips for the blush area and a little bit on your eyelids. It looks really fresh and it looks you know like normal. It's not off. Another big trend in the industry right now for the makeup is liners. But colorful liners. So it is not boring. Okay, not boring, but it's not just classy black. But dark brown. Again, burgundy Gray, and maybe some I don't know reds.

Amy: 36:39

Do you mean liner or your eye?

Unknown: 36:41

Yeah, why not? My I just colorful liners. And no makeup makeup is always every year in high demand. So yeah, it's pretty good options. We have

Amy: 36:55

this I like the idea of doing a fun liner because it's true. Like I feel like I always put on black but like to have like a burgundy or something would be fun.

Unknown: 37:02

Try dark dark brown or brown. That's

Katie Chandler: 37:06

what I stopped using black so long ago because for whatever reason it always I always felt like it looked too harsh. And then so I switched really dark brown and it just kind of blends better. But yeah, soften the no Minca Yeah, yes,

Amy: 37:21

that's like my goal. Always the no makeup makeup.

Katie Chandler: 37:26

Daria, thank you so much for being with us. This was so fun. So tell our listeners where they can find you. Do you have what's your you know, your Instagram handle? We'll have it all in our show notes as well.

Unknown: 37:38

Thank you so much. I really appreciate you being here and talking and have this amazing conversation. I'm happy to share my experience. So I I'm always on Instagram or like email, but I have the office in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. So people can stop by the office to make an appointment.

Amy: 38:01

And is your Instagram at Daria Creech. I'm not even gonna

Unknown: 38:05

doubt this is Christina dot prod. Kru c h i n i n a that prom.

Amy: 38:12

Okay, we'll put it in our show notes too. And you have a website as well which will lead people to Okay, so let's do a quick wrap session. Okay, you ready? What is your favorite wellness or beauty hack?

Unknown: 38:24

Sleep well eat well be yourself. This is my wellness hack. Yeah, I love those. Good one.

Katie Chandler: 38:31

The next next one we caught our five minute flow you just got out of the shower and Uber is paying do they're fine five minutes away What are you going to do to get into that Uber on time.

Unknown: 38:43

So I honestly I hope that by that time you have the moisturizer on so it's kind of like prepped, you know, if not just have moisturizer in your arms and apply it to the to the lines so like fine lines, massage lines, you just applying it in the way you lift in your face. The same with a quick BB cream or my favorite is Chanel foundation. It's super thin, really nice. And I would say a little bit of blush, as I said on the cheekbones on the lips a little bit on the eyelid. Same with my favorite product. This is Charlotte Tilbury filter. It's kind of highlighter, but it looks supernatural. I don't know I would I think you can squeeze in mascara application and cool week Bro. Bro gel application. Yeah, that will be the thing. Nice.

Amy: 39:42

And how do you maintain your daily nirvana?

Unknown: 39:45

I started to meditate. Two months ago I started meditation. And I feel it really helps. You know? It really helps. Yeah.

Amy: 39:55

Do you listen to guided meditation or do you do your own meditation

Unknown: 40:00

I do the breath work in the morning. Yeah, I go to a local yoga studio. So that helps me to be in the moment and to be in the local community at the same time. Yeah, well,

Katie Chandler: 40:13

thank you so much for being here. This this is such a fun conversation. And now I'm going to be obsessing over my eyebrows until I see which I'm going to be in the city next Friday. So

Amy: 40:21

oh my God, I need to like do a brush up I need to need to judge

Katie Chandler: 40:28

Alright, so before we let you go, we'll wrap with a little mantra. This is just kind of a cute month since we've been talking all things beautiful. Letting go is hard, but being free is beautiful. So kind of inverted that says eyebrows. Yeah. Maybe we should do that when I literally in my brain inverted a couple words, so it made more sense.

Amy: 40:52

What do you mean?

Katie Chandler: 40:53

Did I just I said it's Friday.

Amy: 41:00

It's Friday. Okay. The quote is, it's Friday and thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters will continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 83: Product Junkies December - Holiday Edition - Things We Are Loving Right Now (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 83.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

Unknown: 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman. And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation back to the show Nirvana sisters family, it's December and you know what that means holiday time. And we are back with a product junkies episode for December. We're going to talk through some of our favorite latest products that we're trying and loving. These could be gifts, they could be gifts for yourself, they could maybe help with holiday travel. So with that being said, we will jump right into product junkies December. I'm going to start with you, Katie, what do you have on her? Right? Well, let's see. I'm going to start with things that you're going to need for your next holiday party. Oh, you're gonna go out you're gonna want to do your makeup a little bit, right? Like the fun of these holiday parties is kind of getting dressed and you know, going the extra mile and having like a fun fabulous night out. So for that I have a really excellent lipstick like very glamorous, neutral but sexy lips situation whooping and it is the beloved Charlotte Tilbury it's her lip Lester and pillow talk. And it's just like a very sexy neutral that has just enough pink just enough of a pop. And it's a really nice texture as well. It comes in like a lip gloss tube. It's not super shiny. So I kind of like when there's a little bit of a matte to it. Like it's not Yeah, super super glossy. Yeah, so it's they they're marketing it as a dreamy nude pink lip gloss for a luminous luscious Pillow Talk pout and it's $22 and it lasts it stays on which which I really liked. So this is just a really great like go to color for a night out. Yeah, you know, I didn't know that Charlotte had that in a gloss form or whatever they're calling it. I just knew that pillowtop lipstick and and like liner but I didn't realize they had Oh, that's so pretty. Yeah, that's a good news. Like I could put it on heavier and it would be a little stronger. Right Are you lying on top of something. Okay, and what's the product and the Charlotte Tilbury lip is that a gloss it's the lip Lester lip luster. Okay, love. Okay, so I have this new thing I did a little research at Sephora the other day because I've been looking for a bronzer that is a liquid because I feel like I have a lot of blushes that are liquid or cream but it's hard to find a bronzer because usually it's like more of a contour stick but the contour stick color isn't like exactly your bronzer. So I found this iconic London shear bronze formula and I know how to describe it and it's in this little tube like this. And it's a really pretty bronze and it's an it's somewhat shear very natural. But you literally just take a tiny tiny amount I mean this bottle is going to last forever. Take a tiny amount and just kind of put it here and it's just like a nice little bronzy glow. Tonight if you don't want to do a lot of bronze because I feel like on an everyday basis you know me I'm always looking for like every day. This is really good. So if you just throw this on and maybe throw on a liquid blush, it just it's nice. I've just been liking these liquid and cream blushes and bronze is more so than the powders because I just feel like they look nicer on the skin. They're not so dry. You could you could do a little right up here on your forehead to Yeah, just a little touch and it'll make your whole face look like he had been on the side yeah so and this is very buildable so you could just put on a little bit for just like that little funky skull but you could put on more just to like you know make it heavier or mix it with another with another bronzer. So this is again it's iconic London and it's $27 and this will probably last me like forever so really good purchase. I hadn't heard of it before I just found it as I was doing a major search around Sephora for liquid or cream. Bronzer. So good one good one for the holidays. Good one for holiday parties to to match with the pillowtop nude. What's next on your list ad All right, well, this goes straight into the same situation for your holiday party. I have a really great glamorous smoky eye that I found at the drugstore. It is Maybelline Color Tattoo 24 hour long wear cream eyeshadow say then it's only $7.99 I love and they have have some great colors. This one is high roller Oh print and I wear this when we were in Israel. It's very much like like when we went out to dinner it's a really nice creamy Chateau which I love because they're just so easy to put on. You can literally put them on with your with your finger. And it just has a nice like sexy smoking is so good and I love this hydrating. I feel like when it's a cream, it's more hydrating. It doesn't get Creasy Yeah, no, I totally agree. I mean, wow, that like what a big difference. It makes your eyes. Yeah, I like barely even putting any on. But I used it during the day as like an eyeliner with a really thin brush and then I put it on at night like a shadow and it's just a night it's a very nice creamy consistency. It's, it's I would compare it to like, NARS is Fimi eyeshadow really? doesn't last long. How's the stain? Yeah, no, it totally holds up. I mean, look like this half of my face is ready for a party and obviously looks so good. I love that. That's a good one. We love a good start fine. And it's one of alors best of beauty for 2020 You know, couple years ago, but still, it's holding up. Yeah, I love that. Now I have to even out my eyes. So I'm gonna do my other side. While you talk, what do you we can show our listeners what you're doing. Okay, so I have like, it's the same category. So I'm gonna do two reviews and one and one of them we've kind of talked about a long time ago, but I ran out of eye cream. So I was looking for a new one always looking to test new ones. And I remember that when we had a loan on the show, he talked about the inky list caffeine eye cream. So I bought this and it says it's best for tired eyes. And the inky list is so great because I think the ingredients are really good and it's also very affordable. So this is keyless caffeine eye cream, it's $10 really good ingredients. And I just started using it the other day. So this one says it's best for tire dyes that helps to reduce the appearance of tire dyes essentially so it has a really really nice feel to it. I also have decided that I can't stand when eye creams are in a pot and so many of them are in pots. So I always tend to default to the ones that are in tubes. I just think it's so much easier to apply so much easier to travel with. It doesn't get like in your nails. But anyway, this texture is really nice, really hydrating and I have noticed it does make my eyes look less tired. So depending on the day, I will use this or I will use this other incredulous product which I just got, which is the brighten eye cream. And this one says it's best for dull under eyes and it helps to brighten instantly over time. And this one I'll use like if I just feel more dull. So it just depends on the day. Because lately in the winter, I'm just feeling some days I'm tired. Some days my face just looks air. So this one again is in a tube. This one is $11.49. What I really liked about this is the applicator. See how there's like this? Oh yeah. So when you put it on, it's like even without the cream, it just feels good because it's cold because it's metal. So it's this metal applicator tap, you put a little bit in like literally just a tiny little drop. And then you'd like spread it around here. Hold on, I'll show you. There we go. Do you keep it in your in your little fridge in your bathroom, I don't I actually haven't used that for a little while I have to get a new one it kind of broke. See how you just kind of like put it on. And first of all, it just feels good. It's kind of like a nice little self care moment. And secondly, it really does help to brighten so I've just been using both interchangeably to see what I like better, but I have decided that I don't think that there's one eye cream for every day. I think it just depends on your vibe. So that's why I bought Chu and I liked doing it with brands like the inky list because they're cheap. The ingredients are good, good, good packaging like easy to transport. So I've been testing these to brighten eye cream and caffeine eye cream and I'm a fan. So that's what I've got an ice cream. It's a really good price point for an eye cream that exactly does what it does. If you want to try a few and you want to like have a little bit of a variety. Yeah, for sure. I'm gonna get that one it looks I have like sinus pressure today. So I feel like that would feel so good right now under my nails really good. Nice. Okay, yeah. All right, well, my next one, my next one would be a good gift for your sister, your best friend your mom. It would be a great item to purchase if you're going on a long trip for the holidays and you need to wear something comfy on the plane. And Amy, you saw me in this recently. I wore it coming home from Israel. And this is it's like it's such a good steal. It's a great find. I got it off of Amazon. It's called pretty garden women's 2020 To fall fashion outfits that the brand is pretty good. We will post the link to peace sweat suit. They have like a bunch of different colors, but it's really really cozy like medium weight fabric, not your traditional like sweat suit fabric that you think it is just very soft and kind of like silky. And the fit is really good. You know when you're good and the whole outfit looks so chic like it was cute pensive it doesn't look like an Amazon purchase. Totally. It was 38 Oh my god, half of them insane pants on top. And, like of course it's a Dolman sleeve which is like the big kind of like bat wings situation and then the sweats have nice little pocket and they're jogger with like the cup on the bottom. And they come in a million colors. I mean, like really cute stuff. And I went with black just because I feel like it's classic and no one could tell that I weren't on the plane there and on the plane. But yeah, yeah, I think I'm gonna get it for my mom for Christmas. I think she'll really Yeah, I was just but yeah, that's such a great gift for girlfriends or moms 100% Yeah, highly recommend. I love that. I'm gonna have to check that out how many colors like a million maybe you'll get one as a girl. Oh my getting a little prelude to the gifting. They have I'll tell you how many they have like a beige they have multiple green shades. They have multiple Gray's multiple blues they have pink they have like lavender, they have maroon I mean there's a whole array of really cute they have white which would be you know great for the summer. So yeah, okay, it was so good. I had a good head like a comfortable sports bra on under it and I felt like I was in my pajamas the whole time which was you know, yeah, so long for such a good fight. Yeah, well speaking of gifts, still in the eye subject there's one thing that I did want to mention as a holy grail for 2022 I've decided I did review this in a product junkies episode maybe in the beginning I can't remember but it's the Milani supercharged brightening under eye 10 This is Oh yeah. The best concealer I will say that I've used this year. So it's almost like a color correcting tint. But for anyone with dull dark circles under their eyes. I've just been using this like Katie as an example. I just use this in Israel every day when we were on our trip. I never put on concealer. I just use this real Yeah, your skin looks Yeah, so this is I just find that when it's more of a color corrector it takes that darkness out and it brightens your eyes so I found that I really don't need anything other than this. And the formula is so much it's almost like it's very hydrating so it's not you know some concealers are so dry. This is very very hydrating. So it's almost like a serum you're putting on it's almost like skincare in a way and it really covers up those dark circles and then you know if you're going out at night maybe put on a little bit more concealer but you might not even need it like some days like you know depending on the night before. I can just wear this would be fine. I would say 90% of the time I can wear this and be fine but I just had to mention it again because it's such a good good product. It's the Milani supercharged brightening under it when it's 1099 you get to Ulta they have a few different colors but it's again more of like a tint less of a concealer but I use it as a concealer and it's such a good every day and so like this is like such a fun gift for girlfriends because it works for everyone. And it's just a fun little gift to give away to give to friends family whatever. So anyway, just wanted to highlight this is like a 22 favorite. Yeah, I have that also and I have used it a lot and actually I forgot about it. It's in my drawer somewhere I need to get it back out now. It's like I forget about it too. And then I started using recently and it's it's so good for travel too. Nice. All right, well back onto the travel deal. This was another one of my hacks on our long flight so if you're going somewhere for the holidays, you're gonna want to order this stat oh it is the T RTL travel pillow. Of course it was like Instagram. You know marketing. I was like they're listening. They know that I was about getting this. Yeah, every five seconds and so I ordered it but it's like it's the coolest neck pillow because you wrap it around your head like a scarf. I'm gonna do it wrong because I'm on camera of course. It's like a scarf that you wrap around it has velcro on on each end. And on one end of the scarf inside is this shaped thing that cradles your neck and your like the sight of your way in your in your cheek and then you snap it on. Like a scarf that is so in your head. It's like looks like a half neck brace. That's exactly what is that's Yeah, it's like a half neck brace. That's probably where they got the brilliant idea. And your head just completely like stays in place the whole time when you're sitting on a plane. Oh my god, you know, you have to sit up, right? It's like because of this side is wrapped in like a scarf. Your head doesn't wobble. That way. We don't get those pains in your neck. Yeah, and you don't get woken up because you're going like this every five seconds. Right? You know what I mean? Just keep it like. Yeah, the ones that go around your neck, they're just like squishy. I just don't think they're that great. So and also what else? The other thing that was really cool. Like when I turned to lay on my side, it kind of conformed to the seat. So it was really, it was really comfortable. Yeah. And then you got some old time picking like me. I searched like a solid seven hours. Unreal. Like, how much does that cost? 4249. Okay, not bad. Right gift? Yeah, it's a really, it's a it's an essential like, anytime I'm on a flight that's longer than like, I don't know, four hours from now on. I'm taking cozy like it looks like it's warm around your neck. It is. It's the fabric is fleece. Ah, nice. So it is super cozy. Yeah, that is needed. That is such a good invention. I love that. You know, it's genius. Best Travel Pillow ever. That's a great gift. Okay, so I am completely switching topics. I'm gonna give you two things again, because they kind of go together. And it's very random. But it's a good find. So I think I told you about this. And I'm actually eating this right now. So I found Okay, so I love bagels. And I don't eat them that much, obviously, because they're so bad for you. But once in a while, you know, you get that good craving for a bagel. And sometimes they do just have that bagel. But if you want to bagel more often, I found this product at Whole Foods called the better bagel. I think it's new. I hadn't seen it before. I mean, here's what it looks like. I'm showing you my sandwich here because they made a little sandwich with eggs on top. But I've never had a bagel that tastes good. That's like, you know, low carb. So the idea is they call it this is what they say transforming the most carb heavy foods into the least meat the better bagel and so essentially, it has five grams net carbs, one gram sugar that you know high in protein. It's 40 carbs, but it's 35 grams of fiber. So really, it's five net carbs. And it's 26 grams of protein. So it's great. I know. So I've been obsessed with these. They have all different flavors like the one that I'm having now is an everything bagel. They have plain I think they have cinnamon raisin and chocolate. So she could find totally, I mean, it's not exactly like a real bagel, but it's the closest I've found and it's yummy. And so I've read a lot of what's in it. Okay, so the ingredient list I didn't think was very bad. So I'm going to read the classic. It does have wheat, okay. But here here's the ingredient list water, wheat protein isolate. Modified wheat starch, modified food starch, agave fiber, extra virgin olive oil, yeast, sea salt and enzymes. That's not bad. At least it's like stuff we can pronounce. Yeah, you know, it's not too many ingredients. It's not a list of 50 things. It was at Whole Foods. So I figure I can't be awful. So again, not eating these every day. But when I want to bagel this is what I'm eating now. So I'm obsessed. And by the way 35 grams of fiber is like nearly your daily nutrition need for fiber which so that's great. Yeah, I know. I guess the fibers coming from the the agave fiber which I've never actually heard of, but I know sounds clean. I don't know. And then yeah, they have classic which is plain everything cinnamon vegan chocolate chip. So I showed them so like a good fun product especially as we're like getting into winter and holidays and you want more of that cozy food a little heavier food. I thought that was good. And then with that, and we may have talked about this on the show before I can't remember but I've been topping it with the Kite Hill chive cream cheese. Yeah, favorite. So good. We've talked about this brand before we love all their products. The chive cream cheese is really yummy. So I'm currently having the better bagel with the Kite Hill chive cream cheese and a little egg on top. So kind of loving this situation so and does the bagel doesn't like because that's a lot of fiber for one meal. It doesn't bother your stomach or make you feel like crazy full or anything afterwards like probably no more than no I don't feel crazy full. I feel full. Like I feel like it's good because sometimes you just crave a car. It definitely feels like you're eating a good car, but it's you know, five net carbs instead of 40 like a normal bagel would be. Yeah, that's me. Yeah. So I am obsessed. It's my new favorite product at Whole Foods. Yeah, yeah. All right. Well, my last one. Interesting, because it's not our traditional recommendation. It's not really a product. But it is self care tool. And it is like totally in line with wanting to like, feel good and look good, especially like maybe at the end of the holiday season when you've done your party circuit. And maybe you ate all the holiday cookies and drank all the holiday drinks and everything. This is a good way to maybe just slowly get back into your routine and to feel really good. And to get your face snatched after shoving all of the junk food in your mouth for the month while you've been partying. And it's an app. This is my new favorite app. Oh, it's called. Hold on a second. Wait to go. Alright, one second. I had it here. And I accidentally extended it. Actually, I'm just gonna do it from my phone because I haven't on my phone. So it's the lovely app, l UVLY. And what it is, is it's a face yoga, and face massage. Oh my gosh, and genius. I'm obsessed. It's so genius. I started doing face yoga. Like last week when you know, we got back in town last week. And you and I were both just like, totally wiped out just like crazy. I couldn't do anything I couldn't work out. But I just sat there. I was like, I gotta do something i. So I thought, Oh, let me do some face yoga, because I'm about to turn 41. And I just, you know, let's like see if I can do something with these wrinkles. So I found this app 10 minutes a day of a different face yoga routine every single day. And then it also comes with a 10 minute lifting face massage, which is the same one all the time. But it feels amazing. And I use Shelly Marshalls fabulous face oil. And I follow and it's great because the app is it's a picture of it's a video of a woman sitting down and she's showing you everything to do while there's a voiceover telling you everything to do so it's very easy to follow. That's good. It's great. And they also have like one minute breathwork skincare insights like all of these great little tips for your skin. It's free. How to relax your face. I think I paid like, I want to say it was like I think 299 for the month or something. Okay, so I think it's totally reasonable. Yeah. And and it's worth it. I have legitimately noticed the differences. Well, yeah, I mean, I know we talked about this in our episode with Shelly Marshall. I don't know if it was last year or the beginning of this year. And it was all about face yoga. And she was saying like, what a big difference it makes. And I don't even think she was doing Botox and stuff anymore, because she's been doing face yoga so much and I follow her stuff on Instagram, but sometimes it's like, yes, that consolidated an app. So it's hard to find and know exactly what to do. Right. I because I think she has a web I think I think she has some exercises on her website too. But I love that idea of having an app that you can just show them and it's a day and actually but to plug Shelley because she I went she was the first resource that I went to because you know we love her and her website she does have a new subscription model where you can get all of her videos teaching you how to do everything and just because I've have my phone around me more often I just like an app was a little bit more streamlined. But like all day long we highly recommend beauty shaman Shelly Marshall, but yeah, so she I mean she she has kind of the reason why I wanted to give it a try and I noticed a difference in my fine lines around my eyes pretty instantly and my neck and feel like I have like this double chin several times and I've well no but it's like the it's this muscle I was doing all this research on it. This muscle right here the older we get it like loosen right and so it just doesn't look as defined. So I've been doing that and yeah and I'm obsessed so now it's like in the morning when I'm having my coffee when the house is quiet I might do my little 10 minute face you're like the lymphatic drainage in your face. Exactly. That's my age such like I am on the lymph train like I feel so strongly in it being very powerful especially for my autoimmune because your immunity lives in your lymphatic system and I have I just feel so much better after I do like my dry brushing and my shower and all of that so it would only make sense that it would help with the face and you know I get my face gets really puffy and everything is probably from lymph. So I'm inflammation. Highly recommend. Yeah. I was it's funny, I was watching, I'll try to post it if I can find it when we aired this episode, I was watching this tic tac the other day of this girl who's had been doing face yoga for the last year. And she showed her face a year ago now and it was looked so much different, like her face a year ago was like puffy or just looked a little bit more inflamed. Like she was holding fluid in it. And now it's a lot more to find. And so it was like a really good before and after, to really show that if you stick with it, it does work. Yeah, I think I think consistency is definitely key. Like, I don't think you can do it one day a week and expect to get results. I think consistency is like in every day. It's like folding it into your practice of whatever else you're doing. Just add it on to the list of all the other things we women have to do I know right. But then we've got to do it a couple of days a week, at least it's like, yeah, I mean, thank you. But I would say I would imagine that like the least like three days a week would give you results. Yeah. Yeah. That's a good one. And that's a really good takeaway for the holidays too. Because you're right, it's it's the season and all of a sudden, like the next few weeks are going to be drinking and eating and all the things which is so fun, but it will be good to come back and have tools to access like face yoga and like our from a reset that we love and all of those things to come back in the new year and start fresh. So good one. Absolutely. Well, Nirvana's sisters family hopefully this was helpful to get some gifts and some fun little things for your friends and family and hope you have a great holiday season. Thank you for everything over the last year. We have more episodes coming in December. But if we don't get a chance to say happy holidays, and thank you for all of your support and feedback. We love it. And we will talk to you soon. Oh, I'm gonna say this. Oh, we promised that we would give a little recap on our trip or Israel trip. So I think expect to catch up episode from us in January and we'll chat about the holidays and our trip and everything good and sure it's good wine with you because it was yes, epic. It was epic dress. We're still recouping but it was epic. Yeah. All right. Happy holidays. Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes. Please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you've just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters will continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 77 - Product Junkies October Edition - What We’re Into (And Not) Right Now (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 77.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

Amy: 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts I'm Amy Sherman and I'm

Katie: 0:19

Katie Chandler so let's get into some real conversation

Amy: 0:27

go back to Nirvana sisters Nirvana sisters family it's Amy and Katie and it is October and we are here with our October product junkies episode we're excited to jump right in. We are reviewing our latest things that we're loving right now and I'm gonna kick it to Katie to start us out.

Katie: 0:45

Start us off I'm trying to think if I which way I want to I want to go I'm gonna go with my three and one and you'll see why I say three and one as we go along. New makeup brand that I'm obsessed with maybe you're seeing it on social media because they're definitely they like their marketing and social media is on point that's what reeled me in and when I say it's a three in one I will slowly over time. introduce to you this like three product stage three product step process for your cheeks, okay for like, contouring the whole thing. Oh, so Marin, have you heard of merit? M er T M E R it?

Amy: 1:29

Yeah. Did I just Oh no. Yeah, I love merit. They have beautiful packaging. And I've been wanting to try it. I have been doing Westman atelier. Yeah, which I am not reviewing, but I will review but it has like a similar look and feel. So

Katie: 1:41

the whole thing with merit is that it's that like, no makeup makeup look that's really easy to throw on and just like blend in and boom, you're ready to go like talk about a five minute flow. This is like a two minute flow. Yeah, so this first product is their bronze bomb. It's a shear bronzer, and it goes on. It's kind of like an a lipstick tube almost. And it's really like shear and blendable. It has like a lightweight satiny finish and you contour your face with it, you know, like this line, the line on your forehead, etc. And then use a good blending brush and it just melts into your skin, it melts so easily and seamlessly. And it looks very, very natural. And it does a very good job of contouring. This one. I think that branded as it happens to be healing vegan and cruelty free. And the bronze bomb shear bronzer is $30. It comes in like I want to say six colors maybe. And the other really great thing about merit, their color matching, like tool guide on their website is very, it's very well done. It's very, very clever. They give you a lot of images to help you understand what color you should get, which I really liked that.

Amy: 2:58

So I have a question because I because I have the Westman Atelier a bronzer stick, which is very similar, which I love. And my question is, do you just use it for contour? Or do you use it as a bronzer too? Because I get confused. Can you use the contour for I use it

Katie: 3:13

for both? What do you do and I have seen these girls like on social media show you the way to do like the differences. And if you want to use it yet, we're just contouring, then you just kind of do like thinner lines like I would do here. Right like that. And then along your jawline, and then kind of just like a little bit up here. And if you want to do thicker and you want like the bronzy I just got off the beach look, you just do you just apply more like it's a really it's literally that simple. Like you just kind of make your your your lines thicker and fuller, and blend in a little bit more.

Amy: 3:53

But that's not bronze or though because you put bronzer in a different location on your face.

Katie: 3:57

Oh, well, I guess you know, it's super versatile because I think because it is so sheer that you could put it on any location and play with it, which is really nice. I mean, I always tend to look better with a little bit of a bronzed glow. So I use it kind of more for that. But I am using it in contouring. Yes as well. That's because it melts into the sky now.

Amy: 4:19

I've been trying to use as a contour to Yeah, and it looks supernatural. I love it. Okay, that's great. I've been wanting to try that. So yeah. All right. What do you have? Since that's the first step second seconds. Wow. Wait,

Katie: 4:31

oh, are you doing I'll do I'll do I'll reveal as we go along.

Amy: 4:35

Got it. Okay, so I will do if we're talking about skin I'm going to talk about a product that I recently got which I'm really enjoying which is the OSA Hyaluronic C serum. It's a serum it's by OSA Malibu which we've talked about on the show great brands clean and this is the hyaluronic C serum. It's $88 But a little goes a long way. It's really fast absorbing and it's a really, really nice Hydrating Serum because I have a lot of serums but I don't think I had one that was hyaluronic acid. And this one is just it feels just when you put it on your skin, it just feels very very moisturizing in the fall like I'm starting to get a lot drier. So I've been putting this on Morning night I went to get a facial and they had this there and I asked her I was like, What's the best like Hyaluronic to put on morning and night and she recommended this and I've been using it for a few weeks. And I actually really, really enjoy it. Yeah,

Katie: 5:35

nice. I recommend love a good hyaluronic acid. All right, my next one is part of my three and one. So Plaxton is merit. And it is their flesh balm cheek color. So this is the reason why I say it's a three and one because this is just another step to like getting that nice like contoured bronze blush like highlighted situation. That's a Bing Bang Boom deal. It's super fast. So it's so cute because they come in these. I don't know, it almost looks like a lip balm. Oh, it looks like yeah, maybe when you just kind of like put it I put it higher up on my cheeks above where I've got the bronzer situation going and blended in. And it's the exact same consistency as the bronzer. This is $20. And you know, it's like, you swipe one, you swipe this one, you blend, boom. It's very, very just easy and streamlined. And actually, they are this product is an Ulta Beauty 2022 award winner. So it's a good one. And they have five shades to choose from. And again, vegan, clean, cruelty free. This has vitamin E in it. So remember, we've heard about this unification of these products like putting these great things for your skin inside of the makeup products, which is really exciting. So I love that one.

Amy: 7:04

That's great. And I love having these little as we call it our five minute flow products because for example, if you're going on a trip, you could just bring like that, that and one thing. Good. Okay, so I'll stick with the skin theme. And the next thing I have is called the Obagi physicals events 50 mineral sunscreen. It's like a tinted. Yeah, sorry, mineral sunscreen, lotion, SPF 50. So it's lightly tinted, lightweight and share. So again, this was from like another treatment or facial or something I had a while back a while back, but I don't think I reviewed it. And it's a really nice tinted moisturizer. It's very, very light, and very like kind of creamy, but it like thin and creamy. So it doesn't because I was looking for a new sunscreen because I love as you know the unseen sunscreen from Supergoop. But I was just kind of getting sick of it. I don't know it just like sometimes I would find at the end of the day it would like kind of I don't know, I just wanted to try something new. Yeah. which never happened to me before. I don't know why. And I love also, the other favorite one I have from Supergoop, which I've talked about a million times is the low screen which is also a tinted sunscreen moisturizer. So I use that a lot. But sometimes it's a little too glowy in a way, this one's kind of like glowy, but not too much. So I've just been putting it on sometimes in the morning, or if I'm going out to dinner at night, I just want something to smooth out my skin. And it's really great. And it has an SPF 50 Because I was getting sick of like putting on makeup and then putting on my sunscreen. So this is a really really good one. And it's a really great brand Obagi I feel like I see it in a lot of the kind of like places where you get facials and stuff like that. And it is $59 And again, SPF 50. And it's also mineral based, which is great, and I've been really happy with it. So adding that to my list.

Katie: 9:05

Alright, so this is the last of the three and one the last of the merit that I'm going to review today, but there might be some more coming at you in next episodes. This is again a part of the like cheek situation and it is the dayglo highlighting balm and they only have three shades but I mean it's for highlighter it's not doesn't really have to have like a lot of pigment into it. But so this then goes like on the highest point of the cheekbone. And you know, the light catches it really nicely. And this one Yeah, that's a really pretty color. I don't know it's like kind of like champagne color. It's 30.

Amy: 9:44

So you just put those three on and now Yeah,

Katie: 9:47

I did buy their blending brush. It's a really good one. And it's just like it blends and melts into your skin so easily and so quickly. And it looks just really Natural I've like, you know, I've been doing the whole selfie thing and all different lighting to, to test it because I feel like that's the only way you really know. So yeah, yeah, I love it. I'm in. I'm in on merit.

Amy: 10:11

And how much does that swan

Katie: 10:13

is 30. So they're all about the same price point.

Amy: 10:17

They're all very reasonably and Dr. sighs

Unknown: 10:18

Yeah,

Amy: 10:19

yeah. Because I've been testing out the Westman until a which I love and Lauren Miller recommended the highlighter and one of our product junkies episode months ago, but I just tried, I've been trying the console, and the blusher on the end, like another product I can't remember. And it's beautiful. And I love it. But it is expensive. And Merritt seems like very similar at a much better price point. So I'm really, you know,

Katie: 10:41

the other good thing that I was concerned about when I first got it, because it is so blendable and kind of melts into your skin, I thought, This isn't going to hold up, like by the end of the day, it's going to be off, you know, like it's going to literally melt off of me. But it does it legitimately stay these days holds up for the whole day. I mean, I might reapply here and there for a little bit of I'm gonna just like go out to dinner or something. I need to be done a little bit more. But it's good. It's good quality.

Amy: 11:09

Okay, what do you have? Okay, so I'm getting into the hair category. Now a couple of new hair products. I've tried that I want to talk about the first one, I have a sample of it, and I'm going to get the bigger one. It's the way Oh,

Katie: 11:22

you say I've always wondered how you say that one. Yeah,

Amy: 11:25

and it's, they're leaving conditioner. And I bought this for a trip because I A wanted to try the B I liked how it was small and I like the bottle. But this has been great. First of all, it smells really good. Second of all, it's I'd like for someone who doesn't wash their hair every day. I'm sure you don't either, because you have thick hair and it doesn't really get greasy. This is a great way to just judge up the hair. So I'll just put on a couple of sprays in the morning. And it just kind of like puts the moisture back in my hair. And I love that it's a spray instead of a leaving conditioner that you have to like rubbing your hands on whatever speaking of getting ready quickly, you just literally spray this on and it's good to go. So I love this. And I'll do another one because it's in the category of hair. So that I love the other thing when you are washing your hair and you're doing a blowout I've been dying to try this on again, I'm really into like the little sample bottles. This is the WoW Dreamcoat. super natural spray. I don't know if you've seen this. It's, it's like always gets these high reviews. I've heard a lot of people talking about it. And essentially, it's like a spray that you put on after the shower when your hair is wet before you blow dry your hair. And it only works if you're blow drying your hair like the guy activates it, but it makes your hair really shiny bouncy gives it a lot of volume. I've only tried it like once or twice and so far, so good. But I really really really like it has like my hair looked so good after I did it. And I didn't really spend a lot of time drying it, I just use my Dyson and just kind of went through it quickly. But it definitely gave it like an extra shine and an extra volume. So I'm really liking this right now. And then the last one I have speaking of like leaving conditioner and then something just squaring your hair, when you're going to dry it. This is a everyday hydrating hair balm by igk. And it's vegan and cruelty free. And it's essentially has it's it's leaving conditioner similar to the one by the way, it's a little bit thicker, but it really doesn't weigh down your hair. So for me with like dry, coarse, frizzy hair, this is like a little bit of a heavier kind of feel. And so it just kind of depends on how my hair is feeling and say for every day that leaving conditioner use but this I'll use when my hair is feeling a little drier, I'll put it on the ends. So I'm really liking this too. And the price is for all of these which I forgot to mention. So for the igk it's called mistress hydrating leaving conditioner, hair balm $29. The Wow, the color well dream coat, super natural spray $44. And the way leaving conditioner is $28. But my advice would be to get all the samples because at Sephora, they have so many samples now all the stuff that I've just buying so many samples now because they actually last a pretty decent amount of time I actually had a hair oil from the way that I bought from Ulta months ago. And I think I just finished it and it was this big, which is like what one and a half ounces.

Katie: 14:22

So you're talking about Yeah, in the checkout line at Sephora, where they have all of Nike checkout

Amy: 14:27

line. They have all the samples, they have all the really good brands and the brands you hear about. Also at Ulta they have it because I got a little sampler of the hair oil. So that's my latest thing. I've just been trying these little samplers and then I'll travel with them. I'll use them and if I liked them then I'll buy the big one. Unless I know I really want it but so that's been like a good hack, if you will all these samplers I just love that all these brands are now doing these sample sites. I love

Katie: 14:52

so smart. You brought that up because you know we were recently talking about that we don't wear perfume anymore. Like it's Tuesday. On Campus headaches etc I've been smelling this the scent on women like passing the pie around town and I was I just like fell in love with it I was obsessed with it but I didn't want to buy a big bottle because I was afraid that I won't be able to tolerate it like what we were talking about. Sephora now has sample sizes like not the little teeny tiny sample size that you're thinking of. It's like it's like this big so it's maybe six inches long and it's just a tube that's maybe as thick as this is of perfumes of all of these different super high end expensive perfumes so I found the scent I was just went through and smelled them all found the one that that I've been smelling on people and I bought it and I love it and I can tolerate it like can't tolerate it every day. What is it what's the sad I call it is and I've never heard of this brand until actually someone gifted me a candle it's the Mason Louis Murray brand which I'm assuming it sounds very French This is the number four it's it's in French so I'm probably gonna butcher it was de Balan court is the scent means

Amy: 16:13

whatever it's not small Ira

Katie: 16:14

it says the highlights are. It's a earthy and it's an earthy and woody family. Fragrance family and as like warm Woods scent type. Sandalwood vetiver whatever that is Amberwood I don't know it's just a berry. It's just kind of like, mysterious and sexy. And I like how it smells. And it's not super

Amy: 16:41

it's I love it. And I love that you can wear it and you know it doesn't bother

Katie: 16:44

me and I got it in this perfect little sampler size.

Amy: 16:48

That's so cute. I love that. And that's so good for travel too. Is it like a rollerball, right? Yeah, so spray Oh, yeah, better. So you can just like walk through it. And it's just very, it's funny. I even said it's also Yeah, yeah, I can't wait. I can't wait to smell it next time I see you. I actually have a I have a perfume that I'm actually testing out now which I'll update everybody on if I like it to see if I can tolerate it. So far. I'm tolerating it, but I'll stay for

Katie: 17:15

another time. All right. One, it's really silly. But I'm obsessed with these things. I have bought three of them and I just have to share it with my Nirvana sisters family. For 480 and 85. on Amazon, you can get the coziest slippers that I do. Obsessed with these. Here we go. I love them. They're there. Okay, so they're by par lovable. They're the women's cross band slippers soft, plush, very cozy open toe shoe and faux rabbit fur. And I have bought two gray pairs. Like wore them kind of you know that I can still wear them but they're not as fluffy and soft. They lasted a long time now. And now I've got a nice beige. Yeah, I'm wearing two beiges and grays this year, which is very new for me. So this is a beige pair but at this price, you could buy all 12 colors and just rotate them. Yeah, I'm

Amy: 18:16

that that's

Katie: 18:18

the thing that I like them is that you slide your foot into them like a flip flop and they stay on your foot like a flip flop whereas like I've always had a hard time with slippers. I don't know like the round toe ones off and then the ones I have to actually put on and they're not that comfortable. These are great. Yeah.

Amy: 18:35

That's really funny. I have those I don't know if it's the same brand but I got them at some point. And I have a camo color and that just reminds me I'm like maybe I should get another pair and like keep them in in the yard of the house. So I don't have to always look for my slippers because I feel like I'm always losing them or the dogs have them so I love that and those are so cozy. Okay, the last thing is something that I was testing that I do not like so I wanted to share it with our interesting family. So this is a brand I'm sure you've seen it on Instagram. Be tayo I

Unknown: 19:10

haven't

Amy: 19:11

it's this brand Malema. You haven't seen this. And a Ely s and they have I really wanted to like it. They have all of these different products for like lifting and firming and this one specifically is called be tight lift and firm booty mask and it's supposedly supposed to give you a firmer looking booty. It's a best seller. It's clinically proven to reduce the appearance of cellulite and help visibly from the look of skin around the booty in the thighs. Now I don't know if it works or not and I'll tell you why I stopped using it. So first of all, I've seen it all over the place and like of course got influenced to buy it and then I had a friend who I spoke to who also has that she has a for her stomach. There's like a stomach one. And she said it had tightened her stomach and she can tell when she's not using it that It makes the difference and I'm like, awesome. So I tried it obviously for like the cellulite on my thighs. And it's essentially kind of like a mask. It's like a thick cream and you just put a lot on and rub it in and all of that. The thing with it is it burns, which I don't like. And it's supposed to be I mean, let me see if I can just pull up the ingredients really quickly. Okay, so in the ingredient list, it says it's free of parabens, SLS, phthalates. It has pink. I can't say this pink pepper slim, which helps smooth the look of fatty skin. It has hyaluronic acid, which we just talked about. It has Guarana seed extract, which wakes up tired skin. Those are like the main ingredients. And then if you click there's like a bunch of other ingredients. So when I was first reading this, I was like, Oh, it seems like it has a nice ingredients like whatever. But it does have this sensation on the skin and they tell you that that it has like a warming sensation. But I just think it's weird, did it so like did

Katie: 21:08

my comrades burned uncomfortably or just kind of like a tingle?

Amy: 21:13

Yeah. No, it burned uncomfortably for me. So I don't know. It could just be my skin is sensitive to it. But then I asked my friend, and she had used it on her stomach. And she said, yeah, it does burn a little bit. You just like power through and you get used to it. I'm like, okay, so I used it a couple more times. And I was just like, I don't know, I had it on. And then like, my legs were kind of like burning, and I was like, Okay, well, it's working. So that's good. And then I put on jeans. And I'm like this is kind of uncomfortable. I'm like, I don't want to do this. So I still have it. Maybe I'll try it again. But I'm kind of just not into it because it burns and it just feels it almost feels like an I know it's not this. But it feels a bit of a chemical burn when you put on something like that happened to me once I put on like Ben gay and I went in the shower, I didn't realize you're not supposed to get it wet and like burned. Like it had that feeling of burning. That's what this felt like to me. So I'm like, How can this be good for you? Just a little bit.

Katie: 22:04

It's interesting, but also like the timing in once you did it like you did it before you were gonna have to put jeans on and go somewhere. Maybe if you did it at night when you could like how long do you have to have it on?

Amy: 22:16

It's just it's almost like you use it as your moisture. So you don't take it off. Yet. You just use it. Why wouldn't you? So it's not like you put it on and take it off. Right? So I and I have done it with like Just Sweats before because same exact thing. And it burns for like, it's not like five minutes. It's like half an hour or so. And then it goes away, then it goes away. So maybe it gets better over time. I have to like research more and anyone in the audience if you've tried it, please DM us and let us know. I'm just curious, I'd love to survey because, you know, for a lot of people it's gotten really good results. But so you feel now the reviews are really good

Katie: 22:53

even get the chance to see if it's effective.

Amy: 22:56

I didn't really give it the full chance. I only I've only used it maybe five times because I was just like this is so uncomfortable. Like I don't want to deal but maybe for other people would be different. But anyway, so that was my non recommendation of a product. Don't fall for it. It burns and if you don't want to sit around feeling a body part burn, then I wouldn't probably recommend that.

Katie: 23:16

I like this don't that we're going to that you just added I think that I might be able to bring one with me next time too.

Amy: 23:24

Yeah, because I think in the past it's like well, we'll we just don't talk about the things that we don't like but I think it's good to throw in here are there things that we like strongly do not agree hands, right. So anyway,

Katie: 23:36

all right. We will leave our listener Yeah, that was a good fun October junkies episode and we will be back in November with the next one. Hope everybody has a good Halloween.

Amy: 23:49

Hi. Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters will continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 69 - Product Junkies September, Back To School Edition - Things We Are Loving Now And Putting In Our Cart (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 69 - Product Junkies September, Back To School Edition - Things We Are Loving Now And Putting In Our Cart.

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

Amy: 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman.

Katie: 0:18

And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation

Amy: 0:29

Hello, September. Welcome back to Nirvana sisters podcast. It's Amy and Katie. And we've missed you all. We've been doing a best of series in August, which has been so successful. We've gotten so many downloads on all of our favorite episodes. So thanks, everyone, for continuing to listen and support us. We are here to talk about product junkies for September. And the theme is really back to school and in my opinion, streamlining at least the products that I have to review with you today, Katie, so

Katie: 1:00

it's funny that you say because of streamlining that's genius for like back to school and fallen everything I mind was leaning a little bit more towards, I don't know, just doing the little things for the kids to help. kind of nudge them along and get them into their groove. It's like not really streamlining so I've got some beauty. I've got some some like self care, so it's a little mix up. But my first one this morning Reese woke up and she came to me in the very first thing she said to me is Mommy, my lips are chapped. Which is crazy, because she's only been in school for two days, but she doesn't have any ever chapstick or anything with her and so I'm gonna get her. My new I'm obsessed with this product. I'm gonna get her and Maddie. This. It's the elf right or die lip gloss. Have you tried it? Oh, no, it's, it's really, really. I'm obsessed with locks. It's a lip balm. It's called Lip Balm. Actually, I'm wearing it now. Lip Balm. Okay, it has really nicely. Yeah, it has a glossy, glassy finish, but it's not tacky, like lip glosses. So it's just kind of like a nice consistency. It's very smooth. They have a bunch of different colors. This is the clear one, and has like a little mint to it. Oh, and I love it. This is a really, really good product. It's only $6 I got it at CVS. It's It's solid. It's really good.

Amy: 2:19

They have the best Yeah, the best product. So I have a question Does that like, Can you taste it at all? Like, you know, sometimes with a bomb you it kind of like gets in your mouth and you can taste it?

Katie: 2:28

Not really, I don't taste it that much it and I think it has a bit to do with the consistency of it. It's just a really good, thin consistency. That's not tacky. So

Amy: 2:38

good. Yeah, that's a good one. That's probably a good one to to like keeping your car because I feel like I'm always looking for chapstick or something in my car. I don't know. You're sitting there and you're like my lips are dry and then you don't have anything. Okay, that's a great one. I love that. Yeah.

Katie: 2:53

I'm obsessed with it. It's really good. What do you have for us him?

Amy: 2:56

Okay, so I'm starting out with a gift that Katie gave me. Thank you very much. So sweet just sent me a surprise gift one day this summer. And I wanted to share with everyone what a good gift this was. So there's a brand called Urban stems that sends out really beautiful flowers, really modern flowers, really chic flowers, and they have all these different fun ways you can do it. So Katie had sent me dry flowers. And the specific ones that she sent me are called the Kayden. And they're so pretty, because they're kind of like white with pops of hot pink. And she knows I love my hot pink. So it was just so beautiful. And I put it in my office right away with a really pretty vase. And then the coolest part is you can do an add on and so they have a collab with glow recipes. So she also sent me this Glow Recipe, watermelon glow pink juice moisturizer. And I think I had reviewed their other products and one of our product junkies like the nice and my serum, which I love. And this sort of has the same consistency but it's more of a moist, it feels so good on the skin. And so it was such a good combo and such a nice treat to get it I was so surprised and it was so sweet. And if you have a gift to give a teacher or a friend or something like that I would highly recommend this specific setup from urban stems or the site in general. The Kaden right now is on dollars plus the Glow Recipe ad is like 20 bucks, but they have so many good combinations. So urban stands highly recommend great for gifts.

Katie: 4:29

Yeah, and you turned me on to urban stems. We've sent urban stems to some of our listeners and our I mean some of our guests rather right. Yeah, we love urban setting, right? Yeah. All right, and it's so many yet sticking in the theme of beauty. This doesn't entirely have too much to do with our like back to school theme but it's such a good one. You know, how Bethenny Frankel on tick tock does all of this comparisons of like the high end low end product, I'm obsessed so she got me into it that I might have I've always used Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, which we all know is like a holy grail. Right? It's great. I think Lauren we've been using it for years. So I picked up the elf hydrating camo concealer and the satin finish the other day the same time I got this lip gloss. It's almost identical.

Amy: 5:20

Yeah, it's very hydrating. Like was it easy to match your shade?

Katie: 5:24

It was they do they have, they don't have, you know, a million colors, but they do have a decent selection. And it's very hydrating. And the nice thing about it is that like very little bit goes a very long way. You don't need a whole lot like for under my eye. I do one, maybe two dabs and I get full coverage. So it's it's a really good product. And this was you know, also I mean, alphas like such a great price point. Yeah, this was and it's thin, because it's really hydrating. And it doesn't get in your creases and it holds up. Yeah, it like lasts throughout the day, and I paid $7 for it. So I mean, that's it, you know, it's so bad. I'm always gonna get my Nars concealer because it's just like, I can't live without it. But this is a good substitute, you know? So yeah, that's good one.

Amy: 6:14

Yeah, it's funny you say that because my Nars I have but it's old. So like, I need to replace it. And I was in the store the other day because I had wanted to try the closest concealer I tried it I didn't like it even though a lot of people love it. And I exchange it because I love that brands but then when I came home for some reason it was like the wrong color. So now I gotta exchange that. I've been trying tons of concealers we could almost do like a whole show on concealer. I feel like we are both obsessed. Yeah, well speaking of Bethany Frankel. Brechtian I found on her channel as well and I ran out to buy it or I went online to buy it, it was sold out, and then it finally gotten stuck. Its solvency Oh glassy. So the brand is called Express. It's a highlighting blush, the texture reacts with the pH of your skin. So it makes it provides a dewy blushing tint, and color, but it varies depending on your skin tone and your pH. So it also contains a dose of caffeine which gives that extra boost in hydration for your skin. So I'm going to show you, I'm going to show you it and I have been using this since I got it is so cool. Again, you don't need a lot. You just need a little bit, but I'm going to show you. We're just gonna put a dab here and adapt here and see how it goes on clear. Yeah. Can you see how it's turning into like a rosy?

Katie: 7:37

Yeah, I've seen this on Instagram. So it really does do what it says it's gonna do.

Amy: 7:42

It's amazing. And it's like really hydrating, and it feels good. So you could literally speaking of streamlining just leave the house wearing this. So I can see that nice. See that glow. And it's clear. It's like, Look at this. Like, wow, oh, I don't know how it works. And what's interesting is I know that it works because some days the color is different. So it's different for everyone. So I think it just depends how your skin feels that day or something. Like sometimes it's even more of a 10 sometimes it's less of a 10 It's very interesting, but I love it because every time you put it on it looks good because you're not trying to like match your blush. So anyway, highly recommend

Katie: 8:20

it. It's amazing. It looks just like the sun stock.

Amy: 8:24

Yeah, it's I'm telling you, it is the best like Bethany's video of it is hilarious. She, you know, she's so dramatic. She was like, saw it. Flash like, yeah, it's great. So it's $26 I got it directly on their website, great product. Okay, what do we do next?

Katie: 8:40

So I have one that you know, this is kind of for the kiddos and I use it myself and it's to help them get back into the you know, the back to school routine of going to bed earlier. The sun is still up, you know, it's not these, like long, I can stay up as late as I want summer hours anymore. So we're trying to get them to wind down and get into the bedtime nighttime routine. So every night I'm spraying this on their pillow. It's called calm sleep mist. And it's the same brand that makes the magnesium supplements. Oh yeah. Called a magnesium alga.

Amy: 9:12

Yeah.

Katie: 9:14

It smells it's it's an elixir of lavender chamomile, Clary Sage and frankincense. And it's a very, like it's a very dreamy, relaxing scent. I've been using it nice for your girls. Yeah, that thing.

Amy: 9:29

Do they like it?

Katie: 9:31

They love it. Yeah, they love it. And it's $20 I got it again at CVS. Can you tell that I'm obsessed with our CVs? We were really good. CVS. CVS,

Amy: 9:40

CVS CVS beauty is like killing it. They're the best

Katie: 9:43

solid. Yeah, it's good. So but yeah, I love it. It's very like relaxing scent. And

Amy: 9:49

by them and by boys. I wonder if they'll even notice, but I can try to get their routine of them not staying up so late. So speaking of nighttime, my next product is the care estas ate our magic night serum. I don't know if you've seen this first of all, How gorgeous is that glass just makes me happy. It's just so pretty. What it is, it's like the serum that you put on your hair. At night it smells really good. First of all, it's almost like a it's a it's not really a mask because it's not heavy but it's a serum and it's a hydrating treatment. So essentially you just put it on at night like all over your hair, I really focus on the ends because that's the driest for me. And my hair I've been using it I haven't been using it as consistently as I'd like to but I have been using it in the days that I use that I do wake up with softer, kind of more silky hair so I think if you do it every night your hair will really start to improve so I just started trying this but I really really like it so far and it smells really good too. It really did long time you only need like a little pump and especially if you're just kind of doing it on your hands it's great so I John and I go to bed sell fairly good. Yeah and Karis das a lot.

Katie: 10:58

There Karis. Das is steep price wise, but they deliver. I really feel like that brand that are solid. Yeah. What do you wake up with less tangles in your hair? Because you know, Maddie has the care like you do doesn't help with that.

Amy: 11:12

It probably does. I mean, I don't wake up with tangled hair. Because I've always slept with my hair like this on the pillow up. Sleep with my hair down on my face. So for I don't know, it's just more company. So my hair is kind of, I never get tangled. But yeah, I would imagine it doing wonderful.

Katie: 11:28

You just gave me some insight into how you sleep. And now I'm really interested to sleep flat on your back the whole night with your hair up over the pillow.

Amy: 11:37

No, around constantly. But even if I'm on the side, I automatically kind of move my hair like it. I started my back and it's sorry. If I start on my back and my hair is up like that. And they move to the side. It just kind of moves. Yeah, yeah, I don't know. And then at night, I just done that. It's just comfortable because I don't like anything on my face.

Katie: 11:58

Yeah, I know my hair has like literally wrapped around my neck before.

Amy: 12:02

Yeah, like drives me nuts.

Katie: 12:04

Okay. All right, I have another one here. And this one I have just recently this is kind of for like health and everything. I've just recently started to try to get the girls into it. I put it in their smoothies. It's something that we've you know, people have been using and hearing about for a very long time. It's collagen peptides. But what is special about this brand for me, it's the brand is called Suzu I think that's how you say it. There's no added anything in this collagen. This is just straight bovine collagen, which means it comes from a cow. So there's no like sweeteners, there's no flavorings, there's no artificial anything. And when I've tried that before, you can usually like It tastes bad. This just has no taste, it completely dissolves into my coffee and dissolves into the smoothies. So I'm starting to get the kids into it because it's really good for your gut. And as we know, your gut affects your brain and all of that and it's good for your hair and your nails and your skin and the whole thing like it's, there's like there's really no reason not to use it. So this is a good one. It's $30 I got this on Amazon.

Amy: 13:13

It's between like collagen and collagen protein or is that the same thing?

Katie: 13:17

It's the same thing. Some of the collagen protein powders might have added protein like like a whey protein or an aqueous college

Amy: 13:25

or that have protein in it.

Katie: 13:27

So this yes, this does have 10 grams of protein. So it shows the percentage of all the amino acids and it looks like there's a little bit of everything in there. So this might be a complete protein and it's for bone health, joint mobility, skin and cell health essential amino acid source there you go hair and nail strength and healthy gut support. Okay, so

Amy: 13:44

I have two things that I'm going to review together because they can go together when you're thinking about your morning routine. So as I was mentioning earlier on the episode all about streamline so that door to you know, I'm going back to the office now a few days a week so it's like you know, get ready get the kids out the door do a streamline routine. So this is something I haven't reviewed it necessarily on product junkies but I probably post about it a million times which is the necessar which is a natural deodorant and I have found it very hard to find a good natural deodorant I don't know about you, but I've been using necessar for the last few years and I there the reason why I'm reviewing it this time is because this is a new way that they formulated it which is so much better. The first one was like a thicker bottle and like white so when you put it on it wasn't like cakey and get in your clothes but it wasn't didn't like slide on nicely and it worked but I didn't like love the texture. This texture is it just a deodorant gel, and it just slides on so easily. It's cooling and it really in my opinion for all the natural God instead of this is the best one I've tried and it's necessary and the free you can get an answer but this one is eucalyptus, which I like because it's an but it's not. And yeah, it's great on to get it on sofa or website, I think it's first. So yeah, really good product. I've been very happy with the reformulation and the way they've done it and I highly recommend the job if you're into natural deodorant. And then the next thing I'll recommend, which is my last thing is actually very funny because it's something my husband bought that I have now started using. So you know, I love a body oil to put on your body after the shower. And I still love the OSA and I have one other one by skin and senses and those are my two like go to his however, he bought this one. It's this brand Jr Watkins. And this one I love because number one, it's a body oil mist. So if you're talking about doing things quickly, like the other ones are pumps, which is fine, but the mist obviously is quicker. So you just missed it on, takes two seconds, rub it in for one second. And you're done. This one is coconut honey. Smells so good. It's free from silicones and mineral oil. It's 98% natural says, and it's great. So he was using it and I started using it. And now I've like taken over and started using this bottle, so I'm gonna have to buy more, but it's 899 on Amazon. So highly recommend great product like get out of the shower, just spray it on smells good. Rub it in one second and you're done. So love it. That would be my last reco streamlining your routine.

Katie: 16:27

Well, my last one is definitely going to school motivated. It's, it's a company that I love. And it's I bought the girls backpacks from them. And they also have like regular handbags and travel things and everything the brand is called state, they use recycled products. 45% of their backpacks are made from recyclable goods, which is incredible to me like the inside of the lining, it says like this was once a water bottle, which is just really cool. And the other great thing is that a pretty large portion of the proceeds goes to charities that they're involved with. They're involved in Seeds of Peace time's up Bottomless Closet, they provide backpacks for children that that can't, you know, get backpacks themselves, so on and so on. So I just really love they're also like super durable, great quality, they hold up mountains from last year, it's still in really great shape. We do a new backpack just because it got nasty a camp. It's held up but it kind of stinks from the wet towels and everything. So we go you know when again this year and you know, they're the price points a little steep. It's $95. But it's it's a it's a really good bag. It's really cute. And again, I love that piece of it goes to charity. But having said that, I just want to say this is something that I saw a friend of mine posted I thought it was really smart. You know, just because you get the new backpack doesn't mean like the old pack backpack doesn't carry all the same amount of dreams and hopes and everything so kids can show up to school in new backpacks, old ones new shoes, old shoes, it's all great stuff. They all carry hopes and dreams and ambitions. So yes,

Amy: 18:05

and you know what you can you can use I have like old backpacks from the kids that we'll use for like sports or you know other things. So it's not like they're not being used. I love that. Yeah, and I feel like I've seen that brand online and they really cute designs, right?

Katie: 18:19

Yes, yeah, I'm obsessed with the kids of backpacks. I can I'll share pictures on social when we move

Amy: 18:25

okay, so that was our that was our back to school slash streamline September product junkies episode. I'm so excited to try all the products you recommended Katie and yeah, hopefully this was helpful for you all. Let us know what else you want us to review. We're continuing to look out for for all these fun new products that we're loving lately and see you next time. Thanks, everyone. Bye. Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters will continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.

Episode 57 - Product Junkies June Edition With Celebrity Makeup Artist, Lauren Miller (Full Transcript)

This is a full transcript of the Nirvana Sisters podcast Episode 57 - Product Junkies June Edition With Celebrity Makeup Artist, Lauren Miller

Editor’s Note: Please know that this podcast transcript is automatically generated and may contain minor errors such as typos and word switches. For more information, be sure to listen to the podcast here or view our podcast episode guide.

Amy: 0:06

Welcome to Nirvana sisters podcast where we take the intimidation out of well being and beauty to help you achieve your highest state your nirvana. We are sisters in law and your hosts. I'm Amy Sherman. And I'm Katie Chandler. So let's get into some real conversation Welcome back to the show Nirvana sisters family. It's Amy and I'm so excited for today's June product junkies episode. We have special guests celebrity makeup artists, Lauren Miller. And for those that don't know her, she did episode 14 with us called inner confidence and outward glow. So definitely check that out when you get a chance. But she is back to give us all of her product records for the summer. Super excited to hear what you have. Lauren, welcome back to the show.

Lauren: 0:52

Thank you, Amy. I'm so happy to be here. As everyone has noticed, the weather is kind of changing. And I feel like it's time to reevaluate, you know, my kit and my makeup and my my client's makeup. So I just obviously always have I have new pics and fun products but I definitely was like focused on skin this time around. I mean, I really feel like lightening up the makeup. You know, just allowing the skin to breathe when it's warm out and humid is the way to go.

Amy: 1:25

So give us your first record Lauren.

Lauren: 1:28

Okay, so my first recommendation is this is what it looks like. It's called hydropeptide solar defense tinted sunscreen. I love the texture of this. It's a it's a completely physical hair job to hold it up. It's a completely physical sunscreen, so there's no chemicals in it. But I absolutely love it. It color adjusts. So it's a neutral like white. It's you know, it comes on the skin, I'll show you it's on the skin. It's like a I have for those who aren't watching, just are listening. It's like a white. It's a white satin screen. But as you blend it into the skin and as it warms up it kind of salt. It adjusts to the color of your skin and it's so interesting. What I love about it is not just that it gives a great glow. But you know, if you look at the ingredients, I mean there's just there's us ie green tea, aloe, hyaluronic acid, so if we're in the sun, it's just a really soothing, and like nourishing sunscreen. It smells amazing. And it just gives it just gives the prettiest glow. I love it but it doesn't feel oily.

Amy: 2:40

So is it really is it a sunscreen? Or is it a moisturizer? Like was it a moisturizer with SPF or justice? Nice

Lauren: 2:47

riser.

Amy: 2:48

Okay, that's what I did a new one.

Lauren: 2:50

Yeah, it's great. I like I like the fact that this you know, can go on every skin tone. And I also like that you can reapply and it doesn't feel heavy and it hasn't broken me out. So that's a huge, that's a huge thing. So I love this, this is my first pick the brand and this I should tell you this came from a facialist a local facialist but I believe it's hydropeptide.com

Amy: 3:16

you can get it there. Okay, so you can buy it online. Awesome. And how much is that?

Lauren: 3:21

I believe it's like 49 Okay,

Amy: 3:24

great. And let me ask you a question just about how you apply that do you just put on all your skincare first and then apply that last and then put your makeup on from there?

Lauren: 3:34

So it depends on what you're doing. If it's an active day, you can do a serum and then just use this as your as your moisturizer a lot of people are going to find they streamline their makeup routine come summer so this would be a perfect it really does it gives a lot of hydration so sometimes I just put a serum on and then I this is like my moisturizer slash primer. I can add makeup on top if I want. You don't you don't have

Amy: 3:57

to. Okay, that's good to know because it Yes, I feel like I've been experimenting lately with like different serums instead of moisturizer in the summer because it's getting warmer. Okay. So as we're talking about the sun, I found a really good I'm always on the hunt for good self tanner. Because I am like the palest person ever. So I randomly found the self tanner. It's called be tan like be dot tan. And there's all these different versions like depending on how dark you want to be, but this one's called which I think is hilarious. pasty to Tasty. Okay. And it says it's juiced up with niacin amide and peptides. So, and this one is like two out of five on the dark scale. It says mega hydrating tanning treatment for more strides smoother skin and darker tan results. So I think I found it on Amazon just like randomly searching. It's really good I normally don't like it's a moose formula. So when you spray it you know you spray it on the tin glove and put it on. It's a moose formula super easy to put on takes like two seconds and it doesn't dry out my skin it's not streaky. It's really good color. I'm wearing it out and if you can see it my arms but it's yeah your

Lauren: 5:10

color your color. I was gonna say you look you have a good glow.

Amy: 5:14

Yeah, and it's an it's from this. It's so easy. I haven't streaked. It doesn't smell because I'm super sensitive to smell, it doesn't smell and it hasn't transferred to any clothes and it dries super quickly. So it's kind of like an amazing product. And it's also vegan and cruelty free. So they have all different ones like I saw online, they have one called Dark AF. So all the names are just super funny. And I love a brand with a good personality. So anyway, this one btn PC to tasty. I found it on Amazon at $17. I'm already like going through this bottle so quickly. But it's a really good one to order whenever I haven't used it on my face because I don't know I'm a little bit weird about that. But I have been using it on my arms and legs and you really have to apply like once or twice a week depending on how tan you want to be. But it's it's great. I really love it.

Lauren: 6:00

I will give you a tip on face. self tanner for the face. As long as you I would skip any kind of vitamin C or any serum any any treatment. You if you want to apply self tanner to the face. You You can either mix it with your regular moisturizer, or just apply a really good coat like exfoliate your skin. Apply a really good coat of moisturizer and then put your tanning product on.

Amy: 6:23

So you would just use like a mousse like this, but just put a little bit on over and

Lauren: 6:28

like if you didn't want to have to buy another product then you could do Yeah, they're my personal favorite for face self tanning is little drops. You can drop it in. Yeah, I have that. Those are great.

Amy: 6:39

What brand do you have?

Lauren: 6:42

Hmm, that's a good question. I have to look in my medicine. Yeah,

Amy: 6:45

I have. There's two that I've tried. There's one called isle of paradise, which I've been using for years that are dropped that I like and then there's another one called I think it's tan locks. They're both really good. Like that's what I Yeah, yeah, it's really good. So I it's funny because I use that a lot during the winter because it's more of like that buildable situation which is good for your face. So it's not so drastic. So I like kind of use that in the winter for my arms and legs and whatever and just like gradually get a tan but this one's like as soon as you put it on your tan, which is good for the summer. Okay, what's next Lauren, what else you got for us?

Lauren: 7:22

Okay, so my next product is such a good multi use product. I I discovered this actually like a month ago. It's called it's by Westman, ads Lea, and Gucci Westman. If anyone you know, has heard of her. She's a famous makeup artist. She's I've actually never met her. But I absolutely have been following her for years and love her technique. And this is a I'll tell you the official name of it. It is called lit up highlight stick. Hmm. And it has a cute little magnetic top it is the most beautiful highlighter. It has a really Dewey quality to it. So I I mean, let's face it, we're all getting a little bit older and a dry you know, I used to use a powder highlighter that was like my go to same particularly, particularly in the summer, when either you're going to be in the heat or you're going to want to touch up a creamy product is always so easy and I think preferable to use. So this is the most gorgeous if you can apply to the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the cupid's bow on the chin, but it's just it's really sheer, it doesn't have a ton of glimmer to it. It's just enough so it's like that golden sunkissed look, and I absolutely love the texture. So it's a stick man.

Amy: 8:51

It's like a cream,

Lauren: 8:52

it's a stick. Okay,

Amy: 8:54

and when you let me ask you a question, how do you apply that because I have a few highlighters that are sticks, but I probably do it wrong and I find them like tacky because I put them right to my face. So how what's like the best way to apply it?

Lauren: 9:06

Yes. Okay, so you certainly you could apply it to the face but it will give you that very thick feeling what I like to do is I just sweep the stick across like my three fingers or two fingers and then I just kind of tap it into the skin and just keep moving my my fingers around and just keep tapping and sort of melting it into the skin. When you apply product and you take it out of its it stick it helps to break it down and break down some of the oils and get get it a little bit more shear. So I always like to take and that goes for concealers as well. Stick concealers I sometimes cry I see if I'm doing a makeup lesson I see someone say this is how I do my concealer and they take it and it's like right under there. Yeah, yeah. While that can certainly give you a very good color pay off, you need to be really hydrated and really blend it out. So in terms of highlighters, yeah, it's best to use it apply with the fingertips, you can kind of move it around and just remember creamy products are forgiving you know you can blend them into the skin a little bit they're a little bit more forgiving in terms of texture but if you go straight to the face you're gonna get a lot of pay off too much I

Amy: 10:22

want to try that it looks so pretty what and where can you get it? Is it

Lauren: 10:26

this where do they sell this? You can order Well, I got I picked this up when I was in New York, but you can certainly I believe you can get it at Sephora, or multiple. Oh, this color is actually called nectar. There's a few connectors when it's factor. Yeah. I should find out.

Amy: 10:49

Yeah, no worries. I just didn't know if it was like if they sold it at Sephora or if it's just direct through the website.

Lauren: 10:56

I believe you can do direct or I think Bergdorf Goodman like any of the department stores. This is definitely a splurge product but I think it's really worth it and these sticks last a really long

Amy: 11:08

I was just gonna say that looks like it's a good amount like that could last like years. It looks like it's really sick.

Lauren: 11:14

Her products are clean. They don't have a ton of they have don't have parabens, they are cruelty free. It's important that it be clean. I know it's something that I I never thought about before but I started

Amy: 11:27

started. Yeah, that's great. So speaking of highlighter, my next reco is this Fenty beauty highlighter. This is a powder highlighter, it's called the kilowatt freestyle highlighter. I don't know if you know this one, Lauren, this particular color is lightning dust and fire crystal. It's like a combo here. Let me just show you I'm sure you've seen it, but so pretty. So I just started using this and I agree I kind of like a cream highlighter, but I always to the point I was just making like I don't always apply it right. And so I've tried liquid too. And I like that I have all different kinds of highlighter depends on like the mood and the vibe. But this one, I probably use to your point like more at night, not necessarily during the day with the powder. But this one I actually use more for my eyes. So I'll do it like at the top of my eyes, like right underneath my eyebrows and I'll do it in the inner corners. And I find that it just brightens the eye a little bit so I don't I sometimes use it as a traditional highlighter but not as much because I feel like it's not that maybe it's like a little bit noticeable, but I think it's really noticeable when you do it around your eyes. So it's just such a pretty highlighter neutral colors. And again, Fenty beauty, Sephora, and this one is $38 It's such a good one and lasts a really long time.

Lauren: 12:42

Yeah, that's a great product.

Amy: 12:44

What's next?

Lauren: 12:45

Okay, so we'll go on this is something that I have been struggling with. And I don't know if you get dry eyes or you know, have a problem with like makeup residue, I discovered and I know we've spoken about Kodaly as a really great skincare line. I found their toner, their new rose water toner, it's actually safe for face and eyes. And so once I do, I actually double cleanse and then I use that toner, and particularly in the summer because I actually use an SPF eye cream. And I use a lot of SPF just everywhere and I feel like nothing ever fully comes off. And so I use that toner I have been a huge fan of that toner because I can put it on my eyes and lips as well. And do

Amy: 13:31

you put it on like after you clean your face at night or use in the morning to

Lauren: 13:36

know at night. I like it at night I use it with a cotton. It I just it really cleans the skin and pulls off every trace of makeup. So that's something I've been super excited about using because and also I've noticed that like because of allergies, my eyes have been really dry and it's really soothing. And it's hard to get that area right around the eye that's dry it's hard to like moisturize it but that's something that it just gives like a little bit of moisture but but it's safe around the eye area. So that's a really good product.

Amy: 14:08

And do you see you double cleanse and then you just spray that all over and like you can keep your eyes open and

Lauren: 14:13

well it's actually it's like a regular toner liquid so you would put it on a cotton and just close your eyes and use it everywhere.

Amy: 14:20

Oh, okay, I'm thinking it's one of those sprays.

Lauren: 14:23

Yeah, yeah, it's okay but it's it's very rare to find something that's safe for the eye area.

Amy: 14:29

Yeah.

Lauren: 14:30

Okay, that's it that's that's a great one.

Amy: 14:33

And say the name again it's called a rose toner.

Lauren: 14:37

It is a the moisturizing toner. Moisturizing water.

Amy: 14:41

Okay, love that good to know. Yes. My I've been noticing that too that my eyes and like the inner corners of my eyes like everything's so dry from this weather. I mean, I have drives too. But yeah, this time of year. I feel like I'm so dry. Okay, so if we're still talking about eyes, then I will talk about I guess I'll kind of do a two and I'll do I'll do a three in one because they all kind of go together. So I've been for those that follow us on Instagram like testing out many concealers because I'm always on the hunt Lauren knows for like a good concealer. So I've tried a bazillion and then I'm realizing that now because I watched so much of like beauty talk and all this stuff that like a lot of people do different concealers depending on where they're going or what they're doing or like whatever So anyway, this is one that I posted recently about which was like blowing up I think it was on Tik Tok the Milani super supercharged brightening under eye tint and this one's in peach. And it's $10 I think you can get it at Ulta or wherever. And honestly this is great. It's almost like it's a concealer but talking about moisturizing the eyes it's very very moisturizing so it's almost like skincare, that's a concealer but what it does since it's peach, it kind of takes out like the darkness and any red or dark you have under your eyes. So like I used it today. I mean it just sort of like evens everything out and then like if I was going out maybe I'd put like a brighter concealer with it. But it's just a really nice under I 10 I mean it's $10 and like the bottle is nice and big and it lasts a long time. But it just feels really good. So it's almost this like, I feel like I mean they call it an under eye tint they don't really call it a concealer because I feel like it's like a skin slash concealer situation. So I love it. So I've been using this a lot like on an everyday it's kind of like a good everyday throw on concealer. And what I'll say and Lauren knows I love this brand. We've talked about it a lot. I use the ENISA it's just the ENISA concealer brush which is going into my holy grail territory because this is literally the best brush for concealer i finds I mean I use like a beauty blender to do my face and stuff and sometimes they use it under my eyes but I find that this is so much better. It like doesn't stray you just like it gets right into that corner and all the way around and it's just like so soft. It feels so good and it never gives you those like bumps or creases it just like really smooths out your eyes. So this is like literally my favorite concealer brush and

Lauren: 17:20

it's three of these are my kit. I do yeah,

Amy: 17:24

they're so right. It's like the perfect size. It just hits the right area. Yeah that's so funny you have that go ahead that

Lauren: 17:32

nice that makes such a it's such a well made brush it's it's really dense and it doesn't it doesn't fall apart.

Amy: 17:40

It doesn't it's such good qualities such a good such a good products and then rounding out my eye series. I have this which I think I got this in like for free when I ordered something with Sephora like a long time ago. It's the Sephora color colorful crayon contour. It's just like a it's like a waterproof eyeliner. I guess that you put it's just it's white or white ish. I guess I don't know what color this is actually it just says contour eyepencil 12 hour aware. I think this color is I'm just looking to see oh it's called Blonde Ambition. And I just put it in the water lines that was called was yeah, I just put it right there. And it really brightens my eye. So between doing the concealer, this and a little highlighter my whole eyes brightened because I find that like if I do a liner under my eye or like eyeshadow on on my eye can like make your eye look smaller but this just kind of like gives a pop and I love it and I remember Lauren we were talking about this once and you said that you also have like a nude eyeliner like this that works nicely. So I don't know that's a little trick I've been using lately which I just feel like makes my eyes look alive. And that's I don't know how much it is but I got it I literally feel like for free at Sephora but I'm sure they they have them and sell them and they're not expensive.

Lauren: 19:05

I loved I always loved the freebies. There. I know they tend to I oftentimes that's how I discover new products because you know, they definitely give them out like strategically because they are they handpick those products that they give out the white eyeliner to extend the whites of the eyes or a good nude. Usually like on a darker skin tone. I say do like a peach or a nude pencil or just if you want a more subtle look but I love that trick. That's such a great trick. I want to talk about contouring and bronzing for the summer. Yes, as much as I love and I know I've mentioned in the past some great powder bronzers moving to again like a cream form. And I feel like even people who have oily skin can benefit from using a creamy bronzer. I believe this product is oil free but it's the Soft sculpting stick from Mario makeup by Mario. And he has several shades. If, if anybody knows Mario, he is like a long time. He's he's been in the makeup world for a long time with Kim Kardashian and various other celebs. But he has a flawless technique. And he finally came out with these, this makeup brand. And I just love the soft sculpting stick. It's like it's almost like this, it's actually in my kit upstairs. I should, I should bring it down. But it is that he has the most beautiful colors and you can again do soft contouring more you can go in and blend it on if you go onto the high points of the face to give a little bit of color like a bronzer. So it's just an easy you know, I like to use it on the perimeter of the face you can do under the nose, or on the bridge of the nose on the sides to narrow it's just it's it's Think about it like your contour but it just has the most beautiful texture. It's so blendable and again, if you are running out the door or if you're just want a really natural look for summer and for hotter, you know, warmer weather. It's a great product. I love it.

Amy: 21:14

And what do you apply it with? Do you play it with your hands or what kind of brush

Lauren: 21:18

fingertips or, or you can use any kind of synthetic brush I actually have to check because I have the blush sticks from him as well. And those have an abrasion on the end. It's like one end is product and one. But you know, I didn't even open it up to see it may have a brush.

Amy: 21:37

Yeah, because sometimes I find when I'm using those kinds of products, obviously I'm not a makeup artist and I don't really know how to do it well but it's like the brush is so important. Like is it like do you use like a tighter I don't know what it's called

Lauren: 21:51

like a tighter you wanting or like you want it tightly packed tight. Now you right either angled or flat, tightly packed flat brush that you can go in and you can draw, you know, draw your contour, you want to feel your cheekbone go right underneath. You can go on the jaw line, a little bit on the tip of the nose. And essentially, wherever you would want to contour your face, you know the perimeter of the face. Yeah, anywhere where you want to warm up warm up the color.

Amy: 22:25

But I n would you also use that. Sorry, would you also use that as just like, a bronzer to like you just wanted to put it on your cheeks.

Lauren: 22:33

That's what I love about it. It's really the colors are so beautiful that you could kind of skip a bronzer and just use that just use a little more generously.

Amy: 22:41

Okay, and does that come in different? shades? Yes,

Lauren: 22:45

it comes in all different shades. I love that it's for every skin tone. And he has nailed the colors because a lot of these broads or sticks are very orange. The have a little bit more of a bricky like just they're muted, so they don't read orange like they don't they're just beautiful tones. So check those out. You can get those at Sephora.

Amy: 23:07

Yes, I love makeup by Mara a few of his products and they're just gorgeous. I mean the the quality is really, really great. I've been actually testing out speaking of bronzer as the say, I think it's a beauty bronzer. I forgot exactly what it's called, but I ordered the wrong shade. And so it's too like dark. So I need to go in and exchange it for a lighter shade. But yeah, I'm always experimenting. So that's good. I'm going to try that one for sure. So speaking of browsers, and lightning and making the face look dewy and lovely. My last product recommendation is the drunk elephant. It's called de bronzey anti pollution sunshine drops. And if you know of these comes in this little never use

Lauren: 23:56

them but I've heard of them and they look really interesting.

Amy: 24:00

So I had seen this online and I'd been wanting to try it and it's great. So I just put like a little bit I guess you could do it without moisturizer for I just mix it in with my moisturizer and like just a little dot and it just gives the face like a really nice glow Abrons like if you don't want to do self tanner on your face that day or whatever it's just like an instant. Pick me up bronze I love it make sure your face look really healthy and glowy and again just for like the summer running out through our moisturizer on with this and an SPF and like little concealer you're good to go. So this is a great product. It's drunk elephants. Sunshine drops $36 Sephora, and I actually just saw recently that they came out with another version of this and it's like, more like blush color like a like a rose color. So it's almost like a pinkish so maybe it's more of like a blush situation. So I want to try that too. Anyway, really good product and I don't have a lot of drunk elephant products but this one is great and it goes a long way. It's a small bottle but you just need a little a little bit

Lauren: 24:59

more Yeah, they have beautiful products. I feel like we're out of clean beauty kick today.

Amy: 25:05

i We are well there's so many good ones now.

Lauren: 25:08

So I know we haven't talked about lips my absolute favorite I just tried and I love I've now purchased all of them for my kit is Ilia beauty philia balmy gloss tinted lip boil. Oh, it is so beautiful. They're I think they're like six colors. I love the I'll tell you because I wrote down the neutral nude, and Linga which is like a berry mob. They are. And they have a little bit of lip plumping in them. But they're all I love that girl. And I you know, especially I don't know, I just love I love lip oils. I'm like really into lip oils. They are the one

Amy: 25:50

who initially told us about lip oils because I never heard of it until your honor episode and then ever since I've had I've gotten like, I think the Mac one or the Nars one that you suggested and now there's another one to try. Love it.

Lauren: 26:05

Yeah, so I'm glad that yeah, I forgot I mentioned that last time. But this one is Yeah, Ilya Yeah, I mean, I think you can find it at any Yeah, maybe

Amy: 26:15

four Yeah. And they come You said there's six different colors and you have them all.

Lauren: 26:21

Yeah, I have all of them there they have like a coral a pink a bright pink. I mean they're all different colors. I just love the there's just enough color but there are so nourishing and I love the plumping factor and personally with lip products now I'm getting really excited about using natural products because that's something obviously that's right by our mouth like we yeah you know we had sweet we like our lips we have we have it you know it gets inside our bodies so I really love to go clean with blood products so that's a that's a and

Amy: 26:54

is it just like a shear or is the color like

Lauren: 26:58

it's very sheer pigment but there are there are a couple of bright colors I mean there's you'll definitely see color on the lips especially with the bright pink are the coral but I just love it gives a really pretty hydrated and like glossy look without being sticky or yeah it's just super natural it's It goes well with any of these products that like give you that really soft kind of effortless look.

Amy: 27:20

Yeah, for so good summer. So good. And can you feel any of the plumping in hell sometimes with this plumping lip lip glosses, you can feel it like I mean, I liked the feeling but you know that feeling where it's like Monday or whatever

Lauren: 27:34

it does have I think it does have a little bit of like minty this but it's not a burning or singing.

Amy: 27:39

Yes. Okay. I love that. Well, we have done a full face and I feel like these are such good products when we've done biotics we talked about self tanner too but like these are really good products going into the summer. So hopefully this was helpful for everyone in our June product junkies what we're loving what we're loving lately episode. Thank you so much, Lauren, for sharing all of your recommendations. You always have the best ones every time. Every time I talk to you I'm like okay, I need to go get this I need to go get this but you always kind of master that like no makeup makeup like neutral, beautiful glowy look so thank you so much for being on the show and giving us some good summer recommendations to try.

Lauren: 28:19

Thank you so much for having me and I feel like I need to go out to the store. I like your recommendations too.

Amy: 28:24

Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for listening to Nirvana sisters. For more information on this episode, check out the show notes please subscribe and leave us a review. also find us on Instagram at Nirvana sisters. If you loved what you just listened to or know someone that would please share it and tag us. Tune in next week for a fresh new episode of Nirvana sisters will continue to watch out for all things wellness so you don't have to. Bye.