Somehow, someway...it's happened.
I’m glowing.
I’m not kidding. I’m freakin’ glowing. And people have noticed (which never happens to me). Compliments on my skin, hair, and overall ‘glow’ comments have left me awkwardly tongue tied. I'm even getting random attention for men... What is HAPPENING?!
Glow Up? ME? But why, you ask? And how?
I made some holistic-ish, gluten-free-friendly changes to my routine.
And, like...WHOA.
Tiny Changes In my routine
that led to a serious Glow Up
1. Swapping Matcha for Coffee
This is a big one. I’ve been on a pretty crazy coffee binge, lately.
And my body really hates it.
I am NOT a super-late-night person. I love my early mornings; it’s like having the world to myself while everyone else is sleeping. I feel very productively sneaky (or is it sneakily productive?), and I cherish the first few hours of my day. But, the last month of stress turned my early mornings into a coffee-fueled nightmare.
My stomach was in knots, my anxiety spiked (thanks, caffeine), and I couldn’t sleep. UGH.
So, I decided to give matcha a try. And now, thanks to THE INTERNET, I now have a new favorite breakfast beverage. My iced oat milk matcha makes me SO happy. It energizes without dehydrating me, my stomach is SO happy, and I’m sleeping through the nights like a freakin baby.
AND! Did you know matcha has
all of these amazing health benefits??
(Click HERE for the full healthline article)
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are said to slow the rate of cellular damage (this has been linked to certain types of cancer, eyesight, and don’t forget the skin
on your FACE!)
Boosts Brain Function
Matcha is said to improve attention, reaction time, and memory. So, not only does it keep your cells young...it keeps your brain sharp. YES PLEASE.
Increases Metabolism
My metabolism is doing ‘a-okay’, but if you struggle with weight loss OR a thyroid disease (ex: hypothyroidism), a little boost in your metabolic rate might sound pretty great. Green tea has been linked to both weight loss and an ability to maintain a healthy weight.
So, in conclusion...I love coffee, but I think I love matcha MORE.
2. Applying Caffeine Serum Daily
If you’re like me, you struggle with darkness and/or bags under your eyes. And after years of trying every cucumber treatment and spoon-in-the-freezer, I figured my eye bags were a lost cause.
But, I fell into a deep and passionate affair with The Ordinary Caffeine Solution.
Unlike most serums, it’s more of a ‘goo’ than a water-base, so it stays put. I noticed an immediate difference after ONE. NIGHT. I use it after my toner and before my moisturizer.
It’s a miracle worker and I can definitely see a difference and that’s that.
3. Clarifying My Hair Once A Week
Last month, I decided to take a deeper interest in my hair washing routine. By the grace and mystery of The Universe, my hair is finally going through a growth spurt, and I didn’t want to lose precious inches to avoidable damage. To maintain length retention (and keep my chronic psoriasis at bay), I’ve created the following Wash Day Routine:
My Perfect Wash Day Routine:
Gently detangle my hair BEFORE washing
This has made a huge difference in my hair loss, especially while shampooing!
Five minute scalp massage
I love it so much...duh!
Clarifying Mask
Mask: Bentonite Clay, Tea Tree Oil, Water, Apple Cider Vinegar. Apply generously to my hair and scalp. Leave in for at least one hour.
LUSH Avocado Co-Wash Bar
I use the ‘real deal’ shampoo maybe 2x monthly. Added chemicals and fragrances irritate my psoriasis, so I try to stick to semi-natural ingredients. LUSH has an amazing new haircare line for textured and natural hair and I can’t get enough of it. The avocado co-wash bar makes my hair SO soft. I love it to the moon.
Condition and Style!
Okay, this routine has changed the entire game. My scalp is happier, my hair is happier (and longer!), and I’m noticing a softer, shinier texture. YAY!
4. Styling My Hair With The Best DIY Flax Gel EVER
Thanks to THE INTERNET, I learned the best kept hair secret ever:
When you boil flax seeds, they magically turn into THE BEST HAIR GEL IN THE WORLD.
Stay tuned for my wash day routine video, where I’ll give you my slightly tweaked version. Don't rush me.
5. Finding A New nighttime Haircare Routine
Admittedly, I’m not the most steadfast in my night routine. I don’t always remember to moisturize, I don’t always have water next to my bed (even though I’m a VERY parched sort of person), but I’m working on making healthier choices! So, to limit hair breakage AND extend the longevity of my wash days, I decided to stick to a night routine and observe the results.
The Banding Method has changed my entire hair care game. I wake up and my hair is smooth, untangled, and ready to PARTY!
Banding keeps my hair from shrinking up at night, even when it’s humid and gross. It also keeps my very-ivy-like hair from twining around itself (and my scrunchie) while I sleep.
Guess what? My wash days now last 7-10 DAYS! I’ve never had such long stretches of healthy, happy hair.
So, I’m pretty freakin’ tickled.
6. Getting Back To An Active Routine
We’ve all been there: Stress, increased calendar snafus, not enough hours in the day, blah, blah, blah. Sometimes finding time to workout or be active isn’t the top priority.
With work piling up and my weekends dedicated to performances, I was feeling super drained and lethargic. On top of my lack of activity, I wasn’t sleeping (Re: Coffee) and I frequently ended up snacking until the wee hours of the morning. Once I made the shift back to an active routine, everything else worked itself out. I hated staying up late, eating and feeling restless. I hated sleeping in and missing my mornings. So, I shifted my priorities.
What do I love to do in the morning? Run. It clears my head, wakes me up, and gets me outside. So, I decided to make running a priority.
Waking up early for a run means going to bed early.
Going to bed early means slowing down on late-night snacks. And working out consistently makes me tired at night.
Voila! A full 360 degrees of change. I’m back on track and I’m feeling much more alert, awake, and active, which makes me happy. (Not to mention I love feeling strong and in control of my body!)
7. Taking A Break from Evening Wine
Okay, this break was not an official ‘hiatus’ from alcohol. And, full disclaimer: I do not struggle with substance abuse or alcohol addiction. But, I do have a series of autoimmune diseases, which are easily exacerbated by alcohol, stress, and sugar. The last few weeks have been stressful, and my natural pattern was to unwind with a glass of wine (or a cocktail) at the end of the day and binge watch The Bachelorette. Totally normal, right? Once in a while, sure. But every night? Not so great.
After a few nights of wine and cocktails, I start to not feel so good.
Alcohol makes me bloated and headachy, especially if what I’m drinking has a high sugar content. What’s the solution? Sub out a scrumptious mocktail for the real thing on most nights, and be very intentional with the alcohol-based drinks I consume. Instead of two glasses of wine (cue headache), I had a vodka seltzer. Less sugar, no headaches, no bloating. Perfection.
Plus, it turns out I like the HABIT behind drinking almost as much as the actual DRINK.
What am I, a behavioral therapist?
FINAL THOUGHTS
The last month has caused a serious ‘glow up’ in my self esteem. My skin feels glow-y, my hair is shiny, and I feel in control of my autoimmune diseases and their symptoms.
I didn’t set out to make behavioral changes, but somehow behavioral changes crept in and changed the game.
I LOVE my matcha mornings and my flax gel and my wash day routine! I love my morning run and pampering myself before bed. I feel better about myself, I feel better about my body, I feel...HAPPIER. How did this happen? The magic of trying new things that are (gasp) GOOD FOR ME, I suppose.
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