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The W.E.L.L. Team

#MyCleanBeautyShelf: Tara Foley, Founder of Follain, Shares Her Morning Routine

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If you’ve been around the green beauty world at all, you’ve likely heard of East-Coast-based Follain, one of the pioneers in the natural beauty retailer space. With multiple Boston-area locations, a seasonal pop-up in Nantucket and three just-announced store openings in Seattle, Bethesda and Dallas, Follain is taking the industry by storm, thanks to its Founder and CEO, Tara Foley. Though she’s now a clean beauty evangelist and educator, Tara founded Follain after her career in law and nonprofits didn’t feel like it was utilizing her best skills. Her research into the products she was using on her body daily revealed that not enough info was available to the average person about what ingredients were actually healthy. Two apprenticeships and an MBA later, this mom to 1.5 humans launched Follain, with the mission to create change in the beauty industry, and act as a platform for innovative makers in the beauty space to meet conscious consumers. She’s an expert in products, which is why we couldn’t wait to hear what she keep on her #MyCleanBeautyShelf.

My beauty philosophy is…

To feel as good as possible in my own skin, whatever that looks like today. As cliche as this might sound, we’ve been told for years and years that we all need to fit into the same “box” with how we look, and with what “beautiful” is. That couldn’t be further from the truth—we are all beautiful in our own way!

First thing in the morning, I…

Jump out of bed to retrieve my human alarm clock—my 18-month-old son, Henry. We’ll play, and he’ll get ready with me. His morning smiles and giggles give me a serious energy jolt to greet everything that my day might include. It’s usually a race to get out of the house after that—which is why most of my exercise, meditation, skincare and other rituals happen at night after he goes to bed.

My morning skincare routine

A super quick line-up, in all honesty. I’ll wash my face with water only, dry it, spritz on a toner (currently Hannes Dottir Mineral Mist), press in an oil serum (currently Vintner’s Daughter or Maya Chia), and sometimes end with sunscreen (Josh Rosebrook Nutrient Day Cream). The real magic and time is allocated to my nighttime skincare routine…

I invest in more time, steps and nutritious products at night, as your skin really benefits from these when it regenerates during sleep.

  1. La Bella Figura Cleansing Balm—gently and effectively cleanses skin without leaving a balmy residue (rinses clean), and delivers tons of nutrients to the skin. Wash with this, dry skin and then spritz on…

  2. Josh Rosebrook Hydrating Accelerator—a super hydrating fine mist to help actually repair dry skin and deliver nutrients. Smells amazing, like coconuts.

  3. Osea Sea Serum + True Botanicals Vitamin C Booster—activate this potent Vitamin C powder with Osea’s water-based hyaluronic serum for dramatic hydration and brightening benefits.

  4. Eye treatment—I am currently using the  Amala Rejuvenate Targeted Wrinkle Treatment—I love rolling it right on and how you can feel that it’s firming right away.

  5. May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon—press a small amount of this unicorn blue balm into the skin to help soften fine lines and even out skintone.

Every other night I’ll add either a mask or an exfoliator to this as well, to help detoxify or hydrate the skin so it is at its peak performance to absorb all the serums and other products!

My morning haircare routine

Unfortunately I still haven’t gotten the hang of styling my own hair! On a typical day at the office, my morning haircare routine is almost nonexistent—will throw it in a bun or wear it down with the help of some Rahua Dry Shampoo. On a day with any special videos, photos or meetings I’ll give myself a blowout or treat myself to one at Drybar. I’ll always bring my own products like Yarok Feed My Ends Leave In Conditioner, Intelligent Nutrients Straight Hair Serum, and even my own shampoo and conditioner to any blow out bar.

My morning makeup routine

The same products daily! I usually apply these on-the-go, in this order: 1) Jane Iredale Pure Brow Gel (in blonde even though I’m a brunette), 2) W3ll People Mascara in black (though I’ve been testing and loving the new ILIA Mascara), 3) Vapour Luminous Foundation Stick (#123) around my eyes, nose and spots, 4) RMS Buriti Bronzer, and 5) Kari Gran Peppermint Lip Whip, or ILA Tinted Lip Conditioner (in Crimson & Clover for a pop of color).

My favorite beauty tip

That skincare and makeup should provide a great experience and generally make you feel great. It shouldn’t hurt—and it shouldn’t feel like a chore. If it’s the right ritual and ingredients for you, it should be embraced!

Want more beauty tips? Follow all things beauty and get more tricks from our #MyCleanBeautyShelf.

PiperWai Natural Deo Launches in Urban Outfitters, Target and Macy’s

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PiperWai Natural Deodorant just keeps knocking it out of the park. Not only does the brand’s all-natural, vegan, cruelty free and gluten free deodorant consistently top lists of the best natural deodorants, it’s also expanding into new, mainstream retailers at a quick clip. The line just announced that it’s formed a partnership with Urban Outfitters and will be available in three NYC stores, and two California stores ASAP (it’s available online now).

“Our goal with launching in Urban Outfitters is to make PiperWai more accessible to our most loyal customers, and to raise awareness for new customers who want to make a seamless switch from their conventional deodorant to a nontoxic, healthier version of this daily staple,” said Sarah Ribner, PiperWai co-founder. “We’re also proud to partner with a company founded in our hometown, Philadelphia. My business partner and I grew up with Urban Outfitters in Philly, watching as they expanded this unique lifestyle concept store worldwide. It’s definitely full-circle to see our product on their shelves, spreading the message that PiperWai is a truly healthy deodorant that works entirely naturally.”

In addition to UO, PiperWai has picked up two other major retailers in 2018: Macy’s and Target. For now, you can only get it online and in select stores, but the brand hopes to grow its relationship with these retail partners.

PiperWai, which is the first of its kind to use activated charcoal to neutralize odor and absorb wetness, launched in 2014, but you may recognize it from the founders’ 2015 appearance on Shark Tank. Since then, the brand has seen massive growth and continues to branch out into retailers like GNC, Whole Foods and various mom-and-pop shops across the United States and Canada.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to hear people call PiperWai ‘life-changing’ on a daily basis,” said Jess Edelstein, PiperWai co-founder. “As much as our brand has grown in a short amount of time, we’ve only scratched the surface of brand awareness. Expanding our retail presence is a natural next step to reach more consumers who are ready to make the leap into trying a natural deodorant that they will be able to trust.”

Want more news about wellness trends? Stick close to our updates about the latest in WELL living.

#MyCleanBeautyShelf: Jess Edelstein, Co-Founder of Piperwai, Shares Her Morning Routine

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Jess Edelstein, co-founder of PiperWai Natural Deodorant, says people tend to think she and her business partner, Sarah Ribner, are really fancy and cool for starting our own company. In reality, she says, “I’m a hyper, green-haired nerd whose default operating system is questioning the status quo, so entrepreneurship was an inevitable career path for me.” Jess and Sarah were on Shark Tank in 2015 and made the 2018 Forbes Under 30 list, which makes them pretty cool to us. So we got Jess to share her un-fancy morning routine with us, including that she lives by the philosophy “everything is possible.” Here’s her #MyCleanBeautyShelf.

My beauty philosophy is…

I think “everything is possible” applies here too. Consumers tend to assume the products that are popular and easily accessible are the best options, even if those products aren’t what we necessarily want or need to feel our best. Once you realize that the majority of mainstream branding consists of the pretty packaging of often questionable ingredients and marketing of unrealistic claims, there’s a lot more you can do to tailor your beauty regimen to your own unique needs.

I started making my own deodorant because I was frustrated by all the existing deodorants on the market that either didn’t work well enough or irritated my sensitive skin, so I went rogue and made the deodorant I wished I could buy. Sarah and I launched PiperWai as educated consumers in our own target market, so we care about the same things our customers do and we strive to walk the walk of wellness and clean living as much as possible.

First thing in the morning, I…

Eat breakfast! Usually something involving eggs or an avocado. I recently discovered my body requires protein and fat in the morning, because if I eat sugar or simple carbs first I’ll be in a hangry cycle the rest of the day and have difficulty focusing. 

A couple months ago, I started meditating every day, which is a habit I used to think was impossible for me to get into. Meditation has honestly changed my life. Now, that the habit is formed, I can’t not do it! Like I said, everything is possible. 

I prefer waking up two hours before I need to be anywhere, which is a habit I developed in high school. Rushing or running late stresses me out, so as long as I give myself plenty of time to eat, get ready for the day, and meditate, I’ll get to enjoy a more productive day. 

My morning skincare routine

I have very sensitive skin. It doesn’t take a lot for my skin to get inflamed or break out in eczema, so it definitely took some of trial and error to find a skincare routine that works for me. I developed my own toner recipe about five years ago that I use every morning and night along with True Moringa plain moringa oil as moisturizer, which I sometimes swap for pure rose hip seed oil to moisturize and provide antioxidants. I can’t wash my face with harsh cleansers, but this routine actually keeps my skin remarkably clear from blemishes, as counterintuitive as that sounds.

I have a lot of freckles from not protecting my skin enough when I was younger, so I always apply a light sunscreen in the morning now—Andalou Naturals makes one I really like. I also moisturize my body regularly with natural butters and oils (I love The Daily Stone by Kate McLeod at night and the Zesty Morning Organic Body Butter from Organic Bath Co. during the day! <3 )

My morning haircare routine

I’m a night showerer, but since I have a lot of very fine, frizzy hair and limited patience to blow dry it before bed, I tend to wake up with a frizzy mess on my head that I usually flat iron a bit and tie up in a pony tail or bun.

I’m currently washing my hair with Nature Queen Herbal Shampoo and Conditioner. I don’t love the strong patchouli smell, but it performs so much better at taming my frizz without weighing it down than any other clean hair products I’ve tried (including an unsuccessful stint trying no-poo). My hair has green highlights right now (with Arctic Fox hair color, a really vibrant, cruelty-free brand) so I use Overtone deep conditioner in Extreme Teal once a week between touch ups.

My morning makeup routine

As you can probably tell by now, I’m not a polished or especially image-conscious person. I’m always impressed by the ladies who look flawlessly put together and rock bold lipstick and eyeliner without getting it all over the place, but it’s a skill that’s never been priority for me to develop. I only started wearing makeup regularly within the last couple years. I actually like my face without any (shocker…), but it definitely looks nicer (and less tired) enhanced with something, especially as I approach my 30s. That said, I don’t have the patience to spend more than five minutes in the morning applying makeup so my routine is minimal. Most of my makeup is from 100% Pure and Tarte. Tarte Shape Tape concealer is the only concealer that can handle my dark circles (totally genetic, no amount of sleep or water will reduce them, but this concealer will!) and I really like the palates from 100% Pure. I also use the eyeshadow primer from Erin’s Faces and it’s awesome.

My favorite beauty tip

I think it’s important to keep in mind that when you feel good, you look good, so the best kind of #selfcare doesn’t come in a bottle—it’s being true to yourself and your individual needs and desires. The trick is trying your best not to let FOMO or other people’s opinions sway your intuition and steal your confidence.

Want more beauty tips? Follow all things beauty and get more tricks from our #MyCleanBeautyShelf.

The Science of Meditation: Why and How it Works to Treat Anxiety and Stress

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Guest writer Asha Ramakrishna is the creator of The Priestess Code. Asha simplifies the path for women to own their own power, claim their birthright of success and create happiness. Her work unlocks the inner potential for smart, successful women to achieve and be more in business and life. With a background in molecular biology and business development, she brings solid real-world skills combined with highly tuned intuitive gifts. If you want to learn more from her, join us at the WELL Summit Boston in April or explore her Soul Care Sisterhood. Until then, read her expertise on why meditation can be backed up by science.

Meditation is not for hippies anymore. Twenty years ago, when I started meditating, people would dismiss what I was doing, suggesting that my silent time was pointless. But I felt differently. I felt calmer. I felt that I had a way to process my angst and that I had a positive space to dream and intend what I wanted to experience in life.

Today, science agrees with those of us who invest in meditation. Research is showing how anxiety and depression are reduced, trauma is counteracted and nervous systems are regulated, and evidence shows that brain function is increased by having a mindfulness practice. Most of us probably agree that we should have a meditation practice, but let’s look at a few specific ways it can help our bodies and our minds—according to science.

Reduce Stress, Promote Healthy Organs and Feel Good

“You can’t see or touch stress, but you can feel its effects on your mind and body,” says Dr. Anne Fabiny, former Editor in Chief of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. “In the short term, stress quickens your heart rate and breathing and increases your blood pressure. When you’re constantly under stress, your adrenal glands overproduce the hormone cortisol. Overexposure to this hormone can affect the function of your brain, immune system and other organs. Chronic stress can contribute to headaches, anxiety, depression, heart disease and even premature death.”

Dr. Fabiny points to a research review published in JAMA Internal Medicine in January 2014, which found meditation to be helpful for relieving anxiety, pain and depression. For depression, meditation was about as effective as an antidepressant.

Meditation also is believed to regulate the sympathetic nervous system, which increases heart rate, breathing and blood pressure during times of stress. The nervous system is also connected to each major organ, so decreasing stress signals also ensures optimal function of organs.

Says Burke Lennihan, a registered nurse who teaches meditation at the Harvard University Center for Wellness, “True, it will help you lower your blood pressure, but so much more: it can help your creativity, your intuition and your connection with your inner self.” 

Reduce Inflammation and Stimulate Helpful Genes

According to the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, relaxation can upregulate (increase a cellular response to a molecular stimulus) helpful genes and down regulate (make less responsive) genes responsible for inflammation. Although there is more research to conduct, it has been shown that meditation can reduce inflammation, therefore affecting chronic illnesses (asthma, diabetes, IBS, auto-immune conditions and more).

The takeaway? The more you meditate, the more inflammation is reduced, and potentially the more optimal cell and organ environments are in your body.

Faster and More Resilient

Sara Lazar, leader of a study linking meditation to changes in the brain and a psychologist at Harvard Medical School, says, “Our data suggest that meditation practices can promote cortical plasticity in adults in areas important for cognitive and emotional processing and wellbeing.”

The changes in gray matter observed in mindful meditators correspond to emotional and behavioral improvements, including decreased anxiety, decreased risk of depression relapse, decreased insomnia and increased compassion. Trauma patients also observe improvement after eight weeks of meditation practices.

What does this mean for us? These studies suggest that people who meditate can overcome negativity, and be more resilient and faster in pivoting to solutions to problems encountered in life.  

This applies to the workplace too. In 2015, The Harvard Business Review published an article discussing a study of healthcare company Aetna employees who participated in a corporate mindfulness program. They enjoyed a 28 percent reduction in stress, 20 percent better sleep and 19 percent less pain, as well as an increase in worker productivity worth an estimated $3,000 per employee per year.

How to Apply It to Daily Life

Research has shown that 15 to 20 minutes of meditation daily can give you all the feel-good benefits. But don’t panic—you don’t have to start there! You can take your time to build up to it and find methods that work with where you are. Just as you would train for a marathon, you also need to train to sit for 20 minutes. I started with five minutes, graduated to 15, and now depending on my day, my practice ranges from five minutes to an hour. But what’s most important is that we try. Taking the time for ourselves has benefits far beyond a placebo effect—science says!

Want more mindfulness? See how you can practice it without meditation, and get tips on bringing yourself into sacred balance.

6 Tips for Finding a Job in the Wellness Industry

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Becky Shade is the founder of Wellness at Work, a newly launched health and wellness job site. After developing chronic joint inflammation and other health issues, Becky decided to leave her full-time job in the restaurant industry to enter the wellness world. Frustrated by her own job search which returned irrelevant results, she decided to launch her own job board featuring openings across a spectrum of wellness categories. Her greatest joy is connecting job seekers to careers that align with their passions and make them come alive, so she’s sharing her six tips to finding the job you really want.

Raise your hand if you’re ready to find work that you love in 2018! According to Business Insider, the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work during their lifetime. If you believe, like I do, that you deserve to spend those hours pursuing something you’re passionate about, it’s time to take action. To give you a leg up in the search process, we’re offering tips for securing a job within the wellness world. (Hint, hint: When you put in the work up front, the whole process will roll along smoothly!)

1. Immerse yourself

The best way to start your job search within the wellness world is to get out there and make personal connections. Research wellness conferences, classes and events in your area and make a point to attend those that interest you most. Events like the W.E.L.L. Summit and The GOOD Fest will allow you to connect face to face with like-minded people. When you take the time to make genuine connections, you’ll become a part of the health-conscious community and build your network. According to this article on Linked In, as many as 85 percent of jobs are filled from networking in some form, so get out there!

2. Find the right fit

Do you love a high energy environment or something more peaceful? Spend time identifying what’s most important to you about everyday work life. Zero in on the details that will make you the happiest—some might thrive in a fast-paced start-up environment and others might prefer a tenured company that has a well-established culture. To get a sense of what a company is like, check company review sites like Glassdoor to see what employees are saying, or even scope the employer’s Instagram page.

3. Enlist an editor

In preparing to apply, it pays to work with an editor. No matter whether you’re applying to be a barre instructor or a brand marketer, in most cases you’ll be submitting a written resume and a cover letter. Working with a professional editor or career services counselor who can polish your application will increase your chance of making a stellar impression from the very first email.

4. Get social

Want to give prospective employers a more dynamic snapshot of who you are? Be sure to include your social media handles in your application. You can stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression by sharing your Instagram, Facebook and Twitter pages. Ideally your social feeds will deliver a clearer picture of your interests, passions and niche skills. Be assured that even if you don’t include your handles on your application, potential employers are most likely scanning social sites to glean more information about you. Be proactive and start building a personal brand that employers will be attracted to.

5. Practice makes perfect

Brush up on your interview skills beforehand so that you’re prepared for phone or in-person interviews to come. Practice first with a friend or family member, and then take it to the next level by interviewing with someone you don’t know. Using online services like InterviewBuddy that allow you to video interview will push you out of your comfort zone and feel like the real thing. When it’s time for the employer interview, you’ll be fully confident.

6. Envision success

As Jen Sincero, author of You Are a Badass, says, “the Universe responds to details.” Take the time to write out all of the elements of your ideal career and workday, and get super specific. Mentally picture yourself receiving the offer, working at your dream job and the paycheck that you’ll receive. Believe with every particle of your being that it WILL happen and you’ll be using the law of attraction to bring opportunities your way.

By taking the time to identify your strengths and desires, practicing and mentally preparing, and thinking positively, you’ll be in great shape to find a job that lights you up. Best of luck in your search!

Need more working tips? Check out why your working style matters and our 5 ways to effectively work from home. 

#MyCleanBeautyShelf: Brooke McGrath of Follain Shares Her Morning Routine

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Brooke McGrath is (and always has been) a self-declared “total product junkie who has developed a keen interest in the ingredients we’re using on our skin every day.” Beyond her love for beauty, she’s a retention marketer and brand strategist for Boston-based clean beauty shop Follain, the oldest of three sisters, an avid traveler and a lover of a good practical joke. She opened up her (serious) beauty cabinet and shared her morning routine for the latest in our #MyCleanBeautyShelf series.

My beauty philosophy is…

I think beauty comes naturally when you practice self-care—everyone looks better when they feel better! I believe in the power of a good laugh over a mask and a glass of wine, and have tremendous appreciation for finding the right eyelash curler and mascara combo. Everyone’s different—finding what makes you feel like your best self is crucial.

First thing in the morning, I…

First thing I do is put on my Spotify (seriously—every day). I love showering with music on. Lately I’ve been blasting some old-school Lady Gaga and Adele (sorry, neighbors). Also, if you haven’t heard of her, check out Maggie Rogers. Her song “Alaska” is a really good shower / morning song. Next up is brushing my teeth—I love Estrella’s Activated Charcoal Toothpaste. I then brush my hair and hop in the shower.

My morning skincare routine

I wash almost daily with Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. I love the scent, and it’s gentle enough for me to use as a daily cleanser and exfoliant. I then spritz my favorite toner of all time, Josh Rosebrook’s Hydrating Accelerator, all over my face and neck. Next up is Kahina’s Argan Oil, which I roll on with a jade roller. After that, I use OSEA’s Blemish Balm all over my face, and then press Tammy Fender’s Quintessential Serum in where my skin is drier Last and absolutely not least, I dab Osmia’s Spot Treatment anywhere I have a blemish—works wonders and smells amazing.

My morning haircare routine

Unfortunately, I have been blessed with thin hair that has zero tolerance for anything less than daily washing. So I wash everyday with Rahua’s Classic Shampoo, and then use their Classic Conditioner on my ends. I briefly towel dry, and then use a pea-sized amount of Hairstory’s Dressed Up to protect my hair for the next and final step: blow dry. I don’t do anything fancy—just a flat brush to keep my hair tame and looking a little more put-together.

My morning makeup routine

I start with a swipe of the Jane Iredale Lash Primer, and then put on the W3LL PEOPLE Bio Correct Multi-Action Concealer while it dries. The best part is that you need the TINIEST amount of this: 1/2 a pea size tackles under eyes and blemishes. I then swipe on Jane Iredale’s Mascara, pat on Kjaer Weis’ Cream Blush in Blossoming, and a touch of rms beauty’s Magic Luminizer. Lately my go-to lip is Kari Gran’s Lip Whip in Tinted Peppermint—smells and feels amazing!

My favorite beauty tip

If you’ve recently become a jade roller covert like me, try warming up the larger end under hot water. It feels incredible, but also helps the serum or oil you’re using penetrate deeper. In the mornings or before a night out, run the smaller end under cold water or pop in the fridge and roll under eyes to help de-puff!

The other thing I must note is that Skincando’s Combat-Ready Balm has been a life-saver this winter. I carry it around all day with me and apply it to my hands, face and lips. It’s my favorite multitasker!

Want more beauty tips? Follow all things beauty and get more tricks from our #MyCleanBeautyShelf.