I see beauty as an inner glow where your Qi can shine through.
I try to think beauty is having a clear sense of self and feeling good in our skin.
I honestly believe that once we accept ourselves and have some clarity of what we want, that shows through in our eyes and skin.
Every morning I cleanse with Jordan Samuel Skin’s The Matinee Cream Cleanser and follow with a spray of Tower 28 SOS spray – I have eczema and the SOS spray helps keep it calm. I then pat a few big drops of Amorepacific Vintage Single Extract Essence onto my face. I use my Medicube Age R-booster H tool and put two pumps of Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum on to it. I use level one and spread the serum onto my face using the tool. I use a few sprays of Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator to keep my face moist. This lasts for five minutes. I then follow with Augustinus Bader Soothing Cream. I finish by putting on some Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturising Sunscreen.
My night-time routine consists of double cleansing with Jordan Samuel Skincare The After Show Cleanser for Sensitive Skin followed by his The Matinee Cream Cleanser. Sometimes I use DeMamiel’s Restorative Cleansing Balm as my oil cleanse. I then follow with Amorepacific Single Vintage Extract Essence, a pump or two of Lil Fox Flower Goo and then a nice dollop of Lil Fox Succulent Pudding. I go sit down and look out my window while I put a small amount of In Fiore Fleur Vibrante Serum Cerate all over my face. I either do a quick lymphatic massage using Cecily Braden The Lymphatic Brush or I use her CJB Pro Nephrite tool to give myself a quick gun sha massage on my face. I follow this with a 15-minute massage using my Lyma Laser.
In the mornings I often use either a sheet mask from OMAD or a cream mask using Mahalo Petal Mask. I try to mask 4 mornings a week.
I noticed my skin lost some tone during menopause. I have found that since using the Lyma Laser, my skin is healthier and firmer. I also find it is more resilient. I find with age, you need more discipline to keep your skin healthy. I experimented this summer by making a commitment to a nightly massage followed by the Lyma Laser and now it has turned into a nightly ritual.
I suffer from eczema and I use Gladskin Eczema Cream or Dermatology M Huang Lian Shui to control the breakouts. I also use Aveeno Eczema Therapy Cream or U Beauty The Super Hydrator. I was surprisingly impressed with the hydrating power of the latter.
£150
‘This essence has a potent fermented scent that smells so magical. The essence is full of plant stem cells and fermented actives. It feel amazing on the skin and you can feel the difference it makes when it penetrates into your pores. It is active without being aggressive.’
‘This cream looks like baby poo and it smells very earthy. But, once it is on the face, you can’t believe how good your skin feels. It is toted as a super calm emulsion and I think it lives up to that description. My skin has zero reaction to it and it is full of adaptogens, fermented oats and minerals and full of peptides and herbs.’
‘This oil cleanser has a great gel like texture that turns into an oil on your skin. It is odourless and washes off easily with a washcloth. I have never had a reaction to this oil cleanser and it is easy to travel with it. I feel it really takes all the grime off from the day. Also, it has an amazing price point and Jordan is one of the nicest humans I have ever met.’
‘In winter I need a heavier cream that won’t irritate my skin. This one fits the bill. It is nourishing without feeling oily and heavy. You still feel protected from the elements, but it doesn’t clog your pores. I also love the fact that it is odourless which makes it easier for my eczema to handle. The texture is quite thick which I like for a cold weather cream.’
‘This serum is an amazing exfoliator. The texture is so gentle, it is like a light cream. There isn’t the rough burn that you can get from other acid toners. I use this at night and in the morning my skin is so fresh without any irritation or redness.’
I have a very low maintenance routine. I wash with Korre Greek Olive Shine Shampoo and then I put in K18 as a leave in mask. I don’t color my hair and I barely blow dry it.
I don’t wear makeup. But when I have to, I use Westman Atelier’s products.
I am a trained pilates instructor, so I have all the machines in my apartment.
I try to workout several times a week. I take a Garuda Pilates class once a week at Studio M in Paris. I also used to be a competitive rock climber, but now I try to climb just once a week. As a family, we spend a month in Greece climbing in the summer.
The supplements I take daily are as follows: Altrient Liposomal Vitamin C, matcha, Agent Nateur Holi-Mane, Yin Power by Sun Potion, Activist Manuka Immune Elixir, and Laboratoires COPMED Curcucetine. In the winter I add drops of Thorne Vit D.
I am really trying to get to bed earlier now. I tell people to go to bed earlier, yet I fail to do it myself. My goal is to get to bed by 11:30.
Once a week I try to get a treatment of sort.
This can be a massage, a chiropractic treatment, lymphatic drainage or just getting my nails done. I work on so many people every week that on my day off, I really try to incorporate some serious self-care. I have also started taking ‘inspiration’ trips once a year. Last year I went to South Korea to just explore and to give myself permission to have fun.
I am very sensitive to scents so I am quite picky. I burn Frankincense resin in my studio all day. I would say that is my favorite scent.
LED or the LYMA laser are great non-invasive tools to help the health of your skin. I have used the LED in the past for injuries and for my face. I definitely saw and felt a difference in the tissue. The LYMA laser has been a wonderful surprise. I have seen a positive change in the texture of my skin and also its ability to resist irritation. You have to use it every day for the first three months though.
Also, cutting out alcohol and drinking more water is essential for better skin and overall health.
A small bottle of Gladskin Eczema Cream, Vapour Beauty Lip Treatment ( sadly they are no longer in business), and eye drops.
New York: Treatment by Lanshin
Paris: Jessica Blean for Rolfing & Monsieur Anthony for hair
London: Minna Lee facialist & Katja Kokko acupuncturist/facialist
‘This watery essence doesn’t seem to do anything at first, and then after a few days of using it, you realise how hydrated your skin feels. I love the texture and the subtle scent.’