While many Americans (and people around the globe) are at home, quarantining or self-isolating, Coronavirus news has us anxious and sad.  No matter where we may live in this ever- shrinking world, almost everyone seems to be affected by coronavirus. We wanted to share our go-to’s to uplift your spirits and bring happiness and laughter into your days by sharing all of our resources, inspiration and guidance that is getting us through these days.

Vitamins 

Sites

Recipes 

At Home Workouts: 

Mediation/Spirituality/Education:

At-Home Beauty Care: 

Moms: 

Four nature enthusiasts, Travel + Leisure has put together a wonderful list of these five gorgeous virtual explorations.

Everyday happiness boost:

  • Call a friend-there is nothing like the actual sound of a human voice left the spirits
  • Check in on everyone-young and old
  • Text/email someone a picture that your kid drew or of a happy memory of you together
  • Invest in a ‘happy mood light‘- Bright sunlight is proven to elevate mood

Help out:

Have supplies to donate? Submit your information to volunteer on the ground, donate supplies, or help facilitate distribution to hospitals in your area – Masks For Docs 

If you were looking for an effective and innovative body treatment ten years ago, you probably would have ended your search disappointed, frustrated, or both. Back then, you would have been lucky to find a spa that offered anything more than a standard massage or perhaps a simple body scrub. Fast forward to today, and the body treatment options seem endless. Whereas dermatologists, estheticians, and med spas used to offer facial treatments, and facial treatments only, they’re now offering a vast array of full-body treatments aimed at lifting, sculpting, smoothing, and rejuvenating everything from the neck, down.

To what do we owe this new wave of body treatments? The answer, in our opinion, is two-fold. The first is technology. With the advancement of technology, we’ve seen innovative treatments become less expensive and more accessible to a wider variety of people. The second answer is an increase in the societal awareness of skincare and wellness. People are broadening their idea of what encompasses skincare and wellness, and what those words mean in the first place.

Let’s look at it from a factual standpoint. Each full-grown human being is covered with approximately 22 square feet of skin (we know what you’re thinking, this is an interesting, albeit slightly disconcerting, fact). Despite the vast majority of our skin being located on our bodies, it’s likely that most of us spend most of our time, money, and effort, caring for the small percentage of our skin that lives on our face. That’s inherently problematic, seeing as the skin on our body is just as susceptible to natural aging, UV damage, environmental aggressors, and more.

Along with proper body care and age-prevention techniques (such as consistent sunscreen use, a healthy diet and exercise ), the right body treatments can help reduce, or at the very least stave off, damage and signs of aging. What’s more is that certain body treatments even go beyond the skin to care for our muscles, lymphatic and vascular systems, and more. You just have to know which body treatment does what. That’s where we come in. Keep scrolling to learn about a few of our favorite body treatments—including what they are, what they do, and why you might want to try them.

Lymphatic Massage

Lymphatic massage is (you guessed it) a massage technique that encourages our lymphatic system to remove waste and toxins from our bodies. Because lymph, which is the liquid that’s transported around our lymphatic system, contains white blood cells, stimulating its flow throughout the body might even boost the immune system.

As for the massage itself, it’s not harsh or painful like other massage techniques, but it’s also not necessarily relaxing, either (after all, the goal isn’t relaxation; it’s lymphatic drainage). A certified lymphatic massage expert will use gentle, consistent pressure in specific locations of the body to guide fluid where it needs to go. Proponents of lymphatic massage say that it can do everything from speeding up muscle recovery to boosting energy and diminishing bloat. Others claim it even goes as far as to be an effective tool in relieving pain from conditions like arthritis and migraines.

Infrared Saunas and Sweat Beds

If you’ve ever entered into a traditional sauna, you know the air is thick with heat. In an infrared sauna, that’s not the case. When you first walk in, you’ll barely be able to feel any difference aside from a slight warmth. The longer you stay in, the hotter it gets, until eventually, your face is red and you’re sweating bullets.

The magic (or science, really) of an infrared sauna is in the infrared lamps, which heat you, not the air around you. It raises your core body temperature to aid in detoxification and weight loss. Other benefits include decreased stress and better sleep.

A wide variety of infrared options exist—everything from infrared rooms to pods, capsules, and infrared beds—, though they all share the same purpose. Our favorite way to reap the benefits of infrared technology is by going to ShapeHouse, which is an “urban sweat lodge,” where you lay down on an infrared bed for 45 minutes at a time while catching up on your favorite TV show or listening to your favorite music.

LED Light Therapy

You may have used LED light on your face in order to prevent acne or diminish fine lines and wrinkles, but did you know you can use it on your body, too? Many estheticians and med spas are investing in full-body LED light beds to treat their clients’ full-body concerns.

How does it work? Different colors of LED light have different wavelengths, which penetrate the skin and cause specific cellular reactions. Red LED light, for instance, stimulates the production of collagen and elastin, which leads to an improvement in the look wrinkles and sagging skin. As most of us are probably aware, wrinkles and sagging skin aren’t just regulated to the face, which is why full-body treatment LED treatments could significantly improve the appearance of skin over time.

CoolSculpting

Coolsculpting is a non-invasive fat-reduction technique that utilizes cold temperatures to freeze, and thereby kill and break down, stubborn fat cells that are difficult to remove otherwise through diet and exercise. Each treatment takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what area you’re targeting (on that note, depending on the person and the area being treated, multiple treatments may be necessary). An applicator will be set against the skin, which will then bring the temperature of the fat cells down. After the temperature has been brought down, and for a long enough period of time, the technician will remove the applicator and massage the area. The results aren’t immediate, but they are noticeable. You can expect an average of 20%-25% of the fat to leave the body over the course of a few months, with initial results becoming apparent after a few weeks.

This treatment is FDA-approved for almost any “problem area” you can think of, including the lower stomach, thighs, and upper arms. Some people even treat their jawline.

These are just a popular few of the many body treatments on the market, but no matter what treatment you’re interested in, make sure you’re consulting a reputable expert before committing, and never ever underestimate the power of a healthy lifestyle and an effective skincare regimen. Because, while these treatments have real benefits, skincare and health & wellness are long-term objectives.

Written by, Kaitlyn McLintock

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Kaitlyn McLintock is a beauty and wellness writer based in Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in such publications as Popsugar, Byrdie, Hello Giggles, Who What Wear, and more. When she’s not writing, researching, and editing, or testing out the latest skincare and makeup products, she’s drinking coffee and spritzing Goldfaden’s Mist RX all over her skin.

 

Beauty, as they say, is only skin deep. With that said, it’s wise to work from the inside out not only to achieve radiant skin, but also to ensure you ​feel​ as good as you look. Here’s some key intel on building a digestible skincare routine to simultaneously reach your beauty and wellness goals.

Fast Facts on Ingestibles

Ingestible skincare products come in a myriad of forms. They include the likes of pills, capsules, tablets, liquids, powders, and gummies. In whichever form you choose, it helps to know if the beauty supplement is water- or fat-soluble. Your body will naturally excrete any unnecessary excesses of water-soluble forms, and fat-soluble forms absorb more readily when taken with food to which it can bind.

How to Start an Ingestible Skincare Routine

Similar to topical treatments, it’s important to do your homework before shopping for ingestible beauty products. Investigate important details—such as quality, potency, and clinical studies—to back up your selects and ensure their efficacy. Once you’re armed with proper research, it’s time to get to building an ingestible skincare routine. Begin by outlining your biggest beauty goals and wellness concerns.

If you suffer from breakouts, understand what kind they are and from where they stem. Does your stomach feel out of whack? Then your breakouts could be symptomatic of a compromised gut microbiome. A probiotic supplement that packs strains proven to optimize skin health, such as ​Skin Heroes by HUM Nutrition​, can simultaneously balance your gut and complexion. Otherwise, if your breakouts often cluster around your mouth and chin, the culprit could be hormonal. A ​2007 study​ shows that women who drank spearmint tea twice daily over five days experienced lowered androgen (male hormone) levels, which in turn can reduce excess sebum production resulting in hormonal breakouts. While further research is needed for a *clear* link to its positive effects for skin, I’ve noticed a world of improvement since I’ve started taking spearmint capsules by Swanson​.

If anti-aging is your top beauty goal, you can’t go wrong with ingesting more vitamin C and collagen. Supercharging collagen production can be as simple as ​eating more orange produce or sipping on bone broth, such as the ​powdered varieties by LonoLife​. This collagen-rich form of protein offers benefits not only your skin, hair, and nails, but also supports joint health.

Otherwise, is your primary concern is perpetually finding your best light? Then go for the glow with glutathione, such as ​Lypo-Spheric liquid sachets by Liv-On Labs​. This potent antioxidant dually combats hyperpigmentation and promotes overall brightness, all the while staving off oxidative stress and liver dysfunction.

A comprehensive list of beauty concerns is only outnumbered by the ingestible solutions on the market to address them. The more that people are privy to what they put ​inside​ their bodies matters as much as—if not more than—what they apply ​onto​ their skin, the greater the impact combining the two approaches will have. And of course, ​the cleaner they both are, the better!

Considerations and Concerns

Most beauty supplements—especially those from transparent, reputable companies—don’t pose major risks or adverse effects. But of course, you never want to compromise your health. As always, it’s advised to consult your physician when introducing new vitamins and supplements into your diet, especially if you take prescription medicine. Even further, such specialists can recommend specific blood tests to discover any deficiencies and/or excesses to tailor a unique regimen to optimize your overall well-being.

The Last Word

To truly maximize the benefits of your ingestible beauty routine, the greatest tip to remember is that consistency is key. Since your skin cells turnover about once a month, it’ll take that amount of time at the very least to notice positive results with daily use. However, to truly see if there’s real impact, try to stick with your chosen ingestibles for three to six months.

Being consistent isn’t always easy, so select your ingestible form of choice wisely. From there, make it a natural component of your daily routine. Whether you keep your skin probiotics next to your alarm clock, enhance your water during your mid-afternoon break, or get your collagen fix at each home-cooked dinner, let your ingestibles become part and parcel of the everyday.

Author Bio:
Michele Ross is a beauty and lifestyle writer based in Los Angeles. She’s passionate about clean skincare and hiking in the California sunshine (with adequate SPF, of course).