I'm sure you've heard about "The Blue Zone Diet" recently, as this topic has been gaining a lot of attention since "Secrets Of The Blue Zones" documentary aired on Netflix. My husband and I embraced the Blue Zone diet more than a decade ago, well before it became trendy. It all began when my husband faced health issues and actively sought natural ways to improve his well-being, aiming to avoid the need for medications.
The Blue Zone Diet proved to be incredibly effective for him. His cholesterol levels dropped significantly by 100 points, and he shed over 30 pounds in just six months. What's truly remarkable is that he has successfully maintained this weight loss, and his cholesterol has never returned to its previous levels. He now feels better, healthier, and happier.
However, it's important to note that the Blue Zone regions encompass not only dietary choices but also other crucial elements, such as adopting a healthier lifestyle, cultivating a positive outlook on life, and creating a supportive environment. All of these factors play a significant role in your overall health and well-being. A strong sense of community, close-knit family bonds, and a purpose-driven life are all essential components of living a longer, happier, and healthier life.
The Blue Zone concept is so fascinating that it could easily fill the pages of a book. But for the sake of simplicity and focus in this blog post, I will specifically discuss the Blue Zone Longevity Diet. I'll explore its benefits for both longevity and skin health, and how incorporating its principles may contribute to a healthier and more youthful complexion.
The Blue Zone Longevity Diet is based on the eating patterns observed in Blue Zones, which include areas like Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; Icaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California, USA.
These regions have notably high numbers of centenarians and a lower incidence of chronic diseases compared to other parts of the world.
This diet can also have a positive impact on your skin health! The Blue Zone Diet incorporates the following skin-beneficial nutrients:
Thinking about all this information on the Blue Zone Diet ... we are reminded that finding an effective approach to skin health is important too. Your skin is a mirror reflection of what is happening inside your body and on the outside. If you are not eating well, your skin may look grayish and dry, or textured. Not sleeping, you'll have circles under your eyes. Too much sun, you will wrinkle and show hyper pigmentation. Listen to your skin like you would listen to what your body is telling you. A healthy skincare routine's job is to help you offset what is happening inside your body and nourish your skin's barrier. Starling's rule of thumb is to use products made with clean, simple and organic ingredients. We skip the chemicals and heavy surfactants like SLS. Our products are formulated for skin health and your overall health. Want to learn more? A link to our "never list" is available in link below.
I found such amazing recipes in “The Blue Zone Kitchen” cook book. One of my favorites is noted below. Easy to make and delicious!
One Pot Lasagna Soup Recipe:
Ingredients
The Blue Zone Longevity Diet presents a holistic approach to health, promoting longevity, heart health, weight management, and optimal skin wellness. By embracing a primarily plant-based diet, incorporating healthy fats, and practicing mindful eating, individuals can potentially achieve not only a longer, healthier life but also improved skin health and a more youthful complexion. Adhering to the principles of the Blue Zone Longevity Diet may serve as a stepping stone towards a lifestyle that nurtures both the body, mind, and the skin.
Another crucial point to consider is that in many of these Blue Zone regions, factors unrelated to diet, as mentioned earlier, play a vital role to overall longevity. These include a sense of belonging and a strong sense of community. Being around family and friends more frequently than just on special occasions, such as holidays, can lead to a healthier and happier life. This frequent connection can be daily, weekly, or monthly. Although increasing your interactions with friends and family may pose challenges due to scheduling conflicts or geographic distances, you can start small. Reach out more to your friends, use tools like FaceTime to stay in touch, or schedule more visits to see them in person. Create new friendships in your neighborhood or community, or get involved in local events. Make different choices with your free time, like organizing a monthly potluck with friends and family. These efforts can bring you closer to your loved ones, and it's certainly worth a try. You have nothing to lose and a much happier life to gain.
Starling Skincare's Mission and "Never" List:
https://buystarling.com/pages/our-mission
References:
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/28/magazine/the-island-where-people-forget-to-die.html
https://www.nylon.com/beauty/what-is-blue-zone-beauty
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Most skincare brands barely dip their toes in gluten free and synthetic fragrance free products. They might exclude gluten for instance (that’s kind of easy), but not other allergens like nuts, synthetic fragrance or soy (that’s much harder to accomplish). That’s really the norm out there right now – and a that’s a really low bar. It is clear: the allergen-free skincare choices out there are not enough for most allergy sufferers (food or environmental). No other brands really devote themselves to the work of skincare safety as it relates to allergies – even as incidence of food allergies and chemical allergies are on the rise, except our brand, Starling Skincare.
Here’s why I find this so troubling: In the US, it is documented that up to 8% of our children have an allergy to a food, or multiple foods. In the span between 1997-2011, the US saw a documented 50% increase in food allergies. One of the biggest changes for how kids became allergic in recent years – is the increase in kids having multiple allergy diagnosis. For instance if a child starts with only nut allergy today, they are more likely to suffer from an additional allergy in the future. That is a change in the trajectory of food allergies from even just 10 years ago.
It is notable that most young children will grow out of their allergies in time, but there is one allergen that only 20% of all kids will outgrow, and that is nuts.
We could hypothesize on how and why people develop allergies here ... but we will leave that to the medical experts, as there are many theories out there. The few theories that do rise to the top are weakened immunity, and inherited genetics.
Adult onset food allergies are also on the rise. A staggering 45.3% of all food allergy adults, are reported to develop another allergy after the age of 18. So if you have a food allergy as a child, you are likely to develop more allergies to food later in life.
Recently the NIH did complete a study spanning 5 countries around the world, including the USA, focusing on adults and their allergenic skin reactions. Some noteworthy information surfaced that shows this is a growing and very practical concern for adults:
* Food and Latex allergies account for approximately 35% of allergic reactions on the skin.
* Skin allergies were documented to have a measured impact on the allergy sufferer’s quality of life and skin comfort including: altered sleep, embarrassment, anxiety and fatigue.
* The ways that a skin allergy presents itself vary greatly, and can be mistaken for other problems not related to an allergy. For instance: acne, eczema, rosacea and the ubiquitous catch-all “dermatitis”.
One last point about this study: they did not measure known allergies to chemical compounds (such as preservatives, glycols, synthetic fragrance and dyes, to name a few). Only seasonal (pollen), atmospheric (i.e. mites) or food allergies. It is helpful this study took chemicals out and only took a deep hard look at the “other” allergens, to give this information.
We know (from our own experiences and learning about our customer's journeys), a skin allergy sufferer’s symptoms can often lead to the wrong diagnosis and create additional chances for reactions, skin barrier damage and even mental health issues.
For the skin allergy sufferer, the symptoms and conditions are very real and uncomfortable. Even worse, skin allergies are also often misunderstood by others. It is hard to be your own advocate when others are ill equipped to know what you are talking about and doctors are still not able to mine for the information you need.
As a chronic skin allergy sufferer myself, I spent years taking skin prick tests that tested for chemical compounds and came up short every single time (I was still deeply reactive to my skincare) – until I took a food allergy test. Many uncomfortable years later I finally tested positive for a nut allergy, and found out I was a celiac (also allergic to all wheat, rye, barley and oats). I was finally pin point what my gut problems were and how to fix them.
So here’s the really remarkable thing about my journey: I was in and out of dermatologist's offices for years before my diagnosis because my skin hurt and was MISERABLE, and NOT ONE DOCTOR ever thought I should get tested for allergies. They gave me hydrocortisone, sulfur and acne meds every time as the antidote to my skin eruptions. I thought my circumstances would improve, but they never did.
Ooh my skin was angry. Miserable with skin eruptions, an itchy scalp and generally feeling awful and anxious, I got to work and eventually I got smart. I pulled my own healthcare puzzle apart and put it back together. After much inspection of product labels, I realized that I was experiencing reactions when my skincare products included nut and gluten derivatives, and found the common threads. Eventually, I diagnosed myself for skin allergies, and then my doctors confirmed it. The biggest message here is: you must be your own health advocate and push for answers no matter what your concern.
My experience was such: Having skin allergies can be one of the most confusing and confounding experiences you will ever have. You will feel paranoid and worried about every food and skincare choice you make until you get the appropriate diagnosis.
So back to why I am writing today: doctors aren’t educating their clients on the pitfalls of contact allergens, and skincare companies are glossing over the seriousness of food allergies and how they relate to skincare. Skincare companies also gloss over the solution and provide the allergy sufferer with a false hope and a lot of frustration with disingenuous messaging. And, let’s face it: There is not enough data out there, and food allergy education is a pie in the sky concept in general. We are just lucky that ONLY NOW our kids with allergies get a choice now at school for lunches. But I digress.
There aren’t any FDA regulations that define what the words hypoallergenic or allergen-free mean, and we see companies really take liberties for what it means to them. As a consumer, you should be aware of this and realize there can be inconsistencies in what these terms mean to different brands.
I also want to emphasize why Starling is different from other companies out there claiming to be allergen-free or hypoallergenic.
Just the other day I was reading a blog from a very well-known and big clean skincare company. The blog was about their brand being hypoallergenic. I was very excited to see a brand speak of allergies so I dug in and read more. However, I was disappointed at the end of the read, because the only culprits they discussed was chemical compounds like fragrance, parabens and dyes. There was no mention of ANY food allergens like nuts, wheat or soy – three of the most prevalent food allergies. Yet, this brand made the claim they are hypoallergenic. Why is there such a missing link between food allergies and skin?
If you have allergies like me, when you read hypoallergenic, you think “ah, this will be safe for me”! Sadly, this is often not the case.
This brand has several shampoos, conditioners, lotions and lip care products that contain nut oils. They offer a kids line alongside the adult products. They are clean and that is awesome, but for an allergy sufferer, they are not safe. By using the word hypoallergenic (along with dermatologist tested) as one of their key brand attributes, they give the impression of being SAFE – but for food allergy sufferers they are not. They go as far to state “hypoallergenic and dermatologist” tested literally on every page of their site. This would be confusing and misleading for anyone searching for allergen-free products.
The point here is that allergies can take on a life of their own, and there is not one roadmap for ingredient exclusions for the allergen community at large. Skin allergy consumers must be their own advocates and religiously read labels, and watch for symptoms. They must become experts on botanical names, and be aware of product names that are created within a derivative. This can be tricky, stressful and there can be a lot of room for error!
THIS, my friend, is why we built Starling Skincare.
Nathalie and I were frustrated with the skincare industry and their loose hypoallergenic messaging and blatant disregard of food allergies. We were tired of the POV on skin allergies being pushed that essential oils and chemicals are the only allergens that are troublesome to the general population. We were concerned that major skincare brands used ingredients like nuts for baby and kid’s products – when we know they are the most likely segment of the population to develop allergies. We were genuinely worried about giving our customers the safest and most effective choices, while understanding their sensitive skin’s nature. Lastly we knew exactly how exhausting all of this can be.
We were tired of the uncertainty in skin safety standards and the lack of allergen intelligence in the skincare industry, so Starling Skincare decided to make better rules when it comes to allergens and the skincare we create. One that would take the guesswork out of skincare for anyone who suffers from skin allergies.
Read our full founder’s story here.
Lisa Larson Murphy & Nathalie Yavonditte – Founders with Henri, Starling bestie
So, if you are wondering: Here are all of our ingredient and irritant exclusions that we follow for every product we make:
Starling Skincare Food Allergen Exclusions: Peanuts, All Tree Nuts, Shea Butter, Gluten, Wheat, Rye, Barley or By-Products, Oats, Soy, Dairy, Sesame, Avocado, Shellfish.
Starling Skincare Chemical Allergen & Potential Irritant Exclusions: Synthetic Fragrances, Retinyl Palmitate, Detergents, Dyes, Drying Alcohols, Toluene, Pore-Clogging Emollients, Mineral Oil, Ethanol, Glycols, Sulfates, Parabens, Harsh Exfoliants (AHA, BHA, Salicylic Acid), Phthalates, Silicones, BPAs, Formaldehyde, Carcinogens, Triclosan, Aluminum, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroquinone, Coal-Tar Derivatives, PEGS, PFAS, BHA, BHT, Petroleum, Parafin, Chemical Sunscreens, Colorants, Heavy Metals, Petroleum Derived Ingredients,Talc, Nickel, Latex
We are a small batch brand and we make all of our products in Connecticut. What that means to anyone who has a food allergy is we are extremely aware of cross-contaminants. We ensure every ingredient we use is tested for purity and free of cross-contamination. We also ensure in production that our ingredients do not come in contact with potential allergen contaminants, since we control our own facility 100%, and control what is on our lines at all times.
With Starling products, you will experience:
Sources:
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/likelihood-of-child-outgrowing-food-allergy-depends-of-type-severity-of-allergy/
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/foodallergies/index.htm
Shop Our Hemp Oil Products:
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I first found Maya Noren while I was scrolling through Facebook. A VERY happy customer of hers had posted about Maya's gluten-free baking skills. As someone with celiac disease, I was immediately interested in Maya and her company, butter + sugar, because she makes a gluten-free sourdough bread – something I was never able to find. I tried it. It was dense and delicious. I was officially hooked. Everything I have tried since (all gluten free) has been tasty, reminding me of many of my favorites that contained gluten. She also has a corn cookie (yes, you read that right) that is to die for!
There’s more to what Maya does, though. She has begun to create a hyper-local niche for moms who need more than what the average gluten-free grocery store offers to feed their family. As the mother of a celiac child, Maya is a tremendous resource of knowledge for local families dealing with allergen restrictions.
She is also kind and caring. Admirably, Maya has been working on a charitable basis to cook for local CT families and has donated all proceeds from her work to support World Central Kitchen (WCK). Specifically, she is supporting people affected by the war in Ukraine. (At Starling we are also supporting this charity with proceeds from every sale.)
For these reasons and because it's National Celiac Awareness Month, we wanted to feature Maya for this Conversations interview with Starling. I hope you enjoy learning about her incredible knowledge and journey. I have found so much of it helpful in my own daily celiac life.
–Lisa Larson Murphy
LLM: Hi Maya. Thanks so much for taking the time to meet with me. Can you tell the audience about your gluten-free journey?
MN: I am a self-taught gluten-free baker. I began trying to figure out GF baking after my son was diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2010. Cyrus is our first child and he had just turned 2 when he was diagnosed. His symptoms took awhile to ramp up, but by the time he was diagnosed, he had completely fallen off his growth chart, was taking extremely long naps, and could barely manage the 4 flights of stairs up to our walk-up. Looking back at pictures of him, it seems so obvious ... but at the time, our pediatrician could always provide other reasons for Cy's symptoms. The week he was diagnosed, I knew something wasn't right and took him in for a sick visit and asked them to test him for everything. The very last test to come back was for celiac and the poor kid was off-the-charts positive. After an endoscopy to confirm the blood test also came back positive, we began our GF journey and haven't looked back since.
LLM: What did the transformation look like when Cy began eating gluten-free?
MN: It was amazing to see Cy really eat – to actually enjoy eating – and to act like a normal, energetic 2-yr old. He gained 1 pound per week for the first four weeks of being GF! From there, it didn't take long for me to dive headfirst into the world of gf baking. After trying a few mixes and not really being satisfied with the flavor and texture, I began baking GF from scratch. I found a few GF bloggers I liked and went from there ... discovering that there is way more to GF baking than just subbing glutinous flours for gluten-free ones.
I've definitely had my share of flops in the kitchen, but what always keeps me going is wanting to be sure that my son (and now all the other GF folks I've met) never has to miss out on an opportunity or a kind of food. When he was younger, my focus was cupcakes and cake. I never wanted Cy to feel left out at a birthday party. Now, I focus on breads and am trying to figure out hot dog buns. I'm sure in a few years, I'll be focusing on the best GF dining halls at colleges across the country.
LLM: Do you have any tips for parents of GF kids to help make their children's school life a bit easier? Have you found a way to help your son feel just like the other kids on celebration days, field trips, etc.?
MN: I really do enjoy being able to help parents who are navigating it for the first time because I remember how overwhelming it can be.
Figuring it all out was a MUCH bigger deal for me when my son was younger couldn't advocate for himself. At this point, he's about to graduate 8th grade and he's much better at speaking up on his own. If your child is younger, my biggest advice is to get as involved with the school as possible. Make friends with your child's teacher. If you have time, volunteer to be a room parent. The more you know what's going on in the classroom, the easier it will be for you to stay on top of class celebrations, field trips, etc. If you're able, be the parent that brings in treats for a holiday that way you know the treat is safe for your child and that your child will have the experience of enjoying the same treats as the rest of the class.
I recommend a parent of a celiac child set up a 504 Plan for their kid. If your child attends a public school that receives support from the federal gov't for free or reduced meal plans, then you can file a 504 plan for your kid. A 504 plan is designed to help parents of students with physical or mental impairments in public schools, or publicly funded private schools, work with educators to design customized educational plans. These 504 plans legally ensure that students will be treated fairly at school; and celiac falls under the umbrella of conditions that must be recognized. There are loads of online resources to help you draft your plan, but the basic gist of it is that it puts the school on notice every year and with every teacher and every substitute that your child has celiac and can not eat or be exposed to gluten. In some school districts, the food service program will even provide GF meal options. Usually your gastroenterologist will help you draft your plan. (We've included a link here of a sample 504 plan that can help guide you from Celiac Disease Foundation, if you are doing it yourself.)
Make sure your child knows that he or she is not the only person with Celiac (or any dietary restriction) in the world. There are chapters of Raising Our Celiac Kids (ROCK) throughout the country and they can be a great resource as you search out other families with kids with Celiac. We also spent a lot of time letting our son know that although he can't eat gluten, he CAN eat dairy, he CAN eat eggs, he CAN eat nuts, etc. We took the time to point out to him that there are other kids who can't eat nuts, or can't eat eggs, etc. Everyone has something they can’t eat these days.
Oh, one more thing – you need to lose that feeling of being the annoying parent. Your kid deserves to enjoy him or herself as much as possible and experience as much as possible. Advocate, speak up, send emails, be annoying. It's the way to make things better for your kid and for kids that come through the school later. When we started at our local elementary, no one but the nurse seemed to know what celiac was. When we left, GF meal options were available in the lunchroom, teachers were reaching out to me with questions on how all students could be included in a celebration, and our 5th grade party had an entire section of GF food options available, and I didn’t even have to ask for them!
LLM: Do you have dinner-time tips for families who have both gluten-free and non-gluten free eaters ... to make life easier for the cook?
MN: I highly recommend making your kitchen 100% GF. Enjoy gluten food when dining out or with take-out, but do not cook two versions of meals. First of all, who has the time?! Second of all, there are just so many opportunities for mistakes – using the wrong cutting board, the wrong jar of mayo, the wrong toaster, etc. If you do choose to have a kitchen that contains both gluten and gluten-free foods, label everything very clearly and be sure that all guests who come into your kitchen know the rules about what pans/utensils/ etc are for what.
LLM: Any food-safety tips for someone who is new to gluten-free cooking?
MN: Gluten likes to cling to certain surfaces like non-stick pans, wooden cutting boards, and colanders. You are best off getting rid of those entirely when you switch to a GF kitchen and buying new ones. Also, pay attention to cross-contamination. If you have a jar of jam, scoop into it and spread it on gluten bread, then dip back in for another scoop... that entire jar of jam is no longer safe for someone with celiac.
Also, pay attention to cross-contamination in the manufacturing process and read your labels!
And finally, remember that lots of foods are naturally GF. Fresh fruits and vegetables, cheeses, etc.
LLM: One last question: What is your favorite gluten-free recipe? And why do you love it so much? Also, would you be willing to share it with us?
MN: One of my favorite GF recipes is one I adapted from a gluten recipe... it's for a Dutch Baby. It's really just a fancy pancake, but a sweet treat on birthday mornings and so easy to make. I attached the recipe to this email and a few photos of it:
GLUTEN-FREE DUTCH BABY (serves 2-3)
* 3 eggs
* 3/4 cup gluten-free flour
* 3/4 cup milk
* 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
* 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
Place a 9" ovenproof saute pan in a cold oven. Preheat the oven (with the pan in it) to 450 degrees. While the oven & pan are heating, add the eggs, flour, milk & vanilla extract to a blender and blend on high for about 30 seconds. You want the mixture totally combined and even frothy, so scrape down the sides of the pitcher if you need to.
Once the oven has come to temperature, remove the HOT pan from the oven. VERY IMPORTANT: USE A HOT PAD!!! Place your butter in the pan and watch it melt away. I sometimes even stick the pan back in the oven for a quick second to get the butter to brown a bit.
While the butter is finishing melting, give your batter one more quick spin around the blender and then pour it all into the pan. Return the pan to the heated oven for 10 minutes. Give the pan a spin in the oven and bake for another 5-6 minutes more. It's really cool to see how the Dutch Baby puffs up as it bakes. You'll know it's done if it is nice and puffed up, is definitely browning on the edges, and is pulling away from the sides of your pan.
Remove the pan from the oven (with the hot pad!) and let cool just slightly before sliding the Dutch Baby out of the pan to your serving plate. If there is any pooled up butter left in the pan, drizzle it over your Dutch Baby and serve.
MN: The Dutch Baby will deflate which always makes me sad, but it tastes so good that I just drown my sadness in Dutch Baby goodness. It is best straight out of the oven with a little jam, powdered sugar, or syrup. And, if you're feeling fancy, throw a dollop of fresh whipped cream on top. Enjoy!
You can find Maya at butter + sugar: http://buttersugar.net/
Find her on FB: https://www.facebook.com/butterandsugarCT
Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butterandsugarforever/
]]>With this interview we are also marking our observance of National Stress Awareness Day (04/16/2022).
Our goal with this interview is to help educate — and also normalize — mental health issues.
– Lisa (LLM)
LLM: Hi Krista! Let’s dig right in. Tell our readers a bit about yourself.
K: I live in New York City and I've been here for 20 years. I'm from Minnesota, originally. My favorite hobby is taking care of my large collection of indoor plants. I love the outdoors. I am a vegetarian and eat as much vegan as I can. My favorite food is popcorn. My favorite color is brown, and I am a vintage sitcom lover (Golden Girls, anyone?). I prioritize self-care and spending time with my family and husband.
LLM: Popcorn. That's so funny ... your dentist must love you.
All right. So let’s talk mental health. You are a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and have your own practice. We'd love to hear about your chosen focuses within your practice and why you chose them?
K: My specialty when it comes to working with clients is working with people who are struggling with relationship issues. I work with a lot of men (not planned; just happened this way) in regards to issues that may come up for them. I work with the LGBTQ-plus population. I also work with a lot of people who are experiencing trauma, and people who have body issues.
LLM: I’ve noticed the knowledge of what social workers do is limited. Can you help explain?
K: Yes that is common, but I can shed some light. LCSWs offer much of the same support to a client as psychologists can. Social workers can choose to go into different areas of focus. They can work in law practices supporting lawyers with information; they can work in medicine; and they heavily work in social services. You can find social workers working at Google or other corporate settings, addressing conflict management, teamwork and interpersonal dynamics, or employee mental health. Social workers are are even employed by schools and can be helpful in addressing behavior issues for children and offering support. Their holistic knowledge is versatile and functional within our society’s framework, as well as in business.
LLM: If someone was interested in finding a licensed clinical social worker to help them work through some problems, are there places you would recommend they look?
K: If a person you know is looking for a social worker to help them, the first thing I would recommend is that they ask other people in their life for recommendations they may have. If they don’t know of any recommendations, then I would suggest they ask their doctors for recommendations. Or a really good website that people can use for references is Psychology Today. It has many mental health care provider profiles (including therapists, psychiatrists, and psychologists). You can review their areas of expertise, location and contact information all in this one spot. It's used throughout the country. So, no matter where you are, you can log into this resource. I also suggest that anyone looking for a therapist meet with a few different therapists before making a decision on whom to work with. A phone consultation and actually meeting with them is probably the best way to get a sense of whether or not it's going to be the best fit. I mean the most important thing is that you are able to find who you feel comfortable talking with and seeing you can trust them. Making sure you can open up to them and tell them about what is going on in your life.
LLM: Wondering if there was anything in particular that made you realize that this was going to be what you would do in life.
K: I just have always been interested in the way that people are. I also just really like helping people, too. I think mental health issues have always had a stigma attached to them, which I think is really unfortunate because if anybody really thinks about it, they've had a time in their life where they've struggled with anxiety or depression or some life stress that's really caused a lot of issues for them. I don't think our society normalizes mental health issues. I've seen so many people make progress and change their lives and feel so much better. It's always been my goal just to help people have better lives.
LLM: As I think about our society, I wish more people had this desire to help others. What a better world we would we be in right now. Speaking of right now, everything's really stressful for our country. For the entire world we’re on the tail end of the pandemic, and looking at another upsurge of COVID. And we've barely had a moment to breathe and now we're grappling with the reality of war, death, and destruction in Ukraine. Many of us are also worried about money, now that prices are higher. I know for me personally, and probably for everyone reading this today, it's really easy to feel helpless or burned out. What advice would you offer to help people manage their stress?
K: I think that it's very important right now to try to maintain as much structure as possible. When I say structure, I mean getting enough sleep, getting exercise, socializing, being with people who you're close with, and really eating well-balanced meals. That can go a long way to supporting mental health. I often hear so much about how people have a hard time putting away their cell phones. They're looking at the news all the time. I think really setting limits with that and giving yourself just a half hour or an hour a day to look at the news ... and then that's it. Just to get the information that you need. Then put it down for the rest of the day. I would also suggest putting your phone in a spot in your home where you can't even access it. The same goes with the news ... turn the news off, turn the TV off. Your focus should be to get self-care. It is the most important thing right now. Things have been so difficult.
LLM: So the question is, is there something you would recommend people do in order to decipher what their emotions are? That could be beneficial to coping on a daily basis. For example, sometimes personally, I wake up and I feel anxiety and I'm not sure why I feel anxiety ... and sometimes it's hard to work through that. Do you have tips on how to figure out what's causing this and finding what’s at the root of the anxiety? And also what you can do to take care of yourself?
K: If you have access to somebody to talk with, it can be so helpful. One of the biggest benefits of having a social worker is somebody who can ask you questions that you haven't thought about yourself. Someone who can be curious and help you reflect on your current situation. Help you focus on what some of the triggers are for that anxiety you're having. And from there they can help you figure out how you can make changes in your life on a day-to-day basis. Understanding what helps you feel less anxious ... perhaps making even a small life adjustment like going for a jog in the morning, or going on a walk, or being in nature. These different things that can be really grounding and helpful. Just helping you figure out anything that helps you create some relaxation, and finding moments for a small mental break.
LLM: Do you have tips for people dealing with family or friends who are depressed and what are the warning signs? And what's the difference with someone who's just down versus depressed?
K: Suicide rates amongst younger people have really increased since COVID began two years ago. Even before COVID, from 2007 to 2018, the national suicide rate among people 10 to 24 years old increased 57.4%. The more recent trend is also troubling, as reported by the Today Show.
If you are noticing that somebody Is not functioning how they used to function ... that is the time to take notice. For instance … if they're not being social … if they're isolating … or if they're by themselves a lot more. Another example is if you notice they're missing a lot of work or aren’t going to school. Or if you notice that they're crying a lot, or their conversations are very focused on negative things like oh, life sucks, or threatening self-harm. These are things to take notice of.
The bottom line is this: Don’t wait. Persuade anyone displaying these behaviors to get help immediately, especially if they threaten self-harm. There's a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline that anyone can call into for advice or help. Everyone on the hotline is professionally trained to support people in distress. The number is 800-273-8255, and the website is https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/. They even have a chat line, so speaking with them can be facilitated in any way that works for a person experiencing distress. It is a truly life-saving organization and they do amazing work.
LLM: We don’t talk enough about getting critical emotional help that much, and your National Suicide Prevention Lifeline information is invaluable. Thank you Krista. My Starling co-founder Nathalie and I have been talking about something else a lot lately and I hope you might be able to help shed some light for us and our readers.
We've never had more tools to help us find happiness, but yet so many people would classify themselves as unhappy. Why do you think this is? And how can people retool their thoughts and their definition of what being happy means to them?
K: When you think about the loss that people have experienced — ranging from losing someone to COVID, to losing things like relationships and face-to-face communication, to even having a job that might have changed because of limitations with the business — it’s easy to see how people have been more isolated and alone lately. Seeing so much sadness and displacement with the war in Ukraine is another big trigger for people today. Ultimately, our world has changed so much and we all need to kind of find our own acceptance in how things have changed. And really finding a way to be cognizant of how things may not ever be the way that they were. Our biggest recipe for success is finding new ways of living with change. I think the most important thing is to not keep on going back and reflecting on what it used to be.
LLM: What are your thoughts on social media and how it relates to our happiness?
K: Social media is very beneficial to us in some ways ... it encourages engagement with friends and family and can help people feel included in a social circle. It also gives people a real connection to current events. But in my opinion, that’s really where the positives stop. Many people start to feel like social media takes over everything ... it's all-consuming. A time to pull away is when a person can’t stop getting on social media, and they begin skipping human contact in favor of social media. Kids can especially fall prey to this. So a parent of a child, or the user of social media, needs to assess if they need to set boundaries with it. And for children in particular, creating other opportunities for mental stimulation is very important. There's so many other things that kids can be a part of. Sports, meeting up with a friend, or just being outside riding their bike, or taking a walk. There are so many ways that kids are more vulnerable when social media is their only portal to social engagement (bullying for instance). Parents need to weigh these issues when signing up to give their kids a phone. I would also say setting clear guidelines of phone usage (when, how often, and what it should be used for) so a kid understands these boundaries implicitly.
LLM: I wonder how you manage the job of helping others all day. It seems like it would be draining. Do you have a morning routine that helps you prep for your extra long days and keeps you mentally and physically healthy?
K: Yeah. The things that keep me balanced are simple and very focused on health and mental release. I take walks four days of the week in the morning by the river, which is very grounding to me. Connecting with nature has become somewhat of a trend in the past few years with isolating due to COVID. It is called Forest Bathing and anyone can benefit from it. It consists of immersing yourself in nature. That's it! A walk in the woods can be both sensory and physical: Hearing the birds sing, seeing all the plants and flowers, taking in the clean air and earthy smells. Immersing yourself in the entire experience and forgetting everything else can bring some big benefits. It helps me melt away any stress that I might be having. I find nature very grounding and energizing.
I also love aromatherapy and have a huge candle addiction! Carefully chosen scented candles (I buy essential oil scented candles only ... no synthetic fragrances, no toxins) can really help with anxiety. Everybody has their own scent that helps ground them. Mine is anything that smells like a forest (fir, cypress, woodsy scents). Finding your own smell is really important. Some ideas: Lavender can really be soothing and is helpful for sleep and is proven to help lower anxiety. I also love eucalyptus. I like buying a fresh bunch of eucalyptus and putting it in my bathroom. Once the steam begins to collect on it the smell just blooms in the room, and it is really mind clearing (and also great for breathing).
Oh, and my pets. I am a pet mom to two cats. They really make me feel so comforted and calm. I have such joy for my fur babies!
LLM: I love all of your answers here because I think they're all things that people can try, and they're super accessible for lifting mental health.
K: The other thing I would add here is I really allow myself to get lost in cooking. The act of food prep/cooking and then having just a nice meal really helps me wash away any sort of issues in life, right? It is mundane but it really helps to take part in some of these everyday activities and being mindful of the task at hand. It can alleviate your focus on stress and worries, if even for a few moments.
There are so many choices, and every company claims its products are the best: The most effective ... containing the most exotic ingredients ... best for "this type" of skin. I see this all the time. And as a skincare consumer, all the choices and all their claims left me feeling unsure about what would be the "most" and the "best" for me. The process left me with a big question: Should it really be that complex?
Many of the questions Starling receives are about our serums. What do they do and when should I use them? Is it OK to use an oil on your face? Won't that make me break out? That last question is understandable: We all grew up thinking oil on your skin = breakouts, redness, and greasiness. So today, let's discuss serums in general and Starling's Revive Anti-Aging Serum in particular. It's an oil serum, and yet it might well be your best option.
First, let's discuss the purpose of traditional face serums. Usually they are solution-focused, lightweight moisturizers intended to manage skin concerns such as wrinkles, lack of firmness, lack of brightness, and/or too much redness. A traditional serum will contain active ingredients (such as hyaluronic or glycolic acids) designed to help with product's efficacy. A traditional serum may contain a combination of water, chemical actives, plant-based extracts, oils, butters, emulsifiers, synthetic fragrance and/or essential oils, and preservatives.
An oil serum contains oils and extracts comprised of plant-based ingredients that can mimic the active ingredients of a traditional serum but often are more moisturizing and much gentler on the skin. They are highly moisturizing and contain lots of antioxidants, vitamins, and fatty acids. These ingredients can make oil serums a great solution for sensitive skin or troubled skin. Because they are all-natural, they are helpful for anyone with chemical sensitivities. Also, oil-based serums do not need a preservative. Therefore, they're also great for anyone who has allergies to preservatives.
If you don't have sensitive skin, a traditional serum can be an amazing choice ... particularly if you are looking for exfoliation or firming benefits. However, many people with sensitive skin may experience increased sensitivity with use or "overuse" of a traditional serum.
At Starling, we also believe excessive exfoliation and overuse of highly active serums can lead to another problem: Thinning of the skin's barrier. The skin's barrier is the most important factor in skin health. Continued overuse of any harsh product can eradicate the barrier and cause redness, pain, inflammation, breakouts and many more issues. Don't worry: Starling's Revive Anti-Aging Serum was designed with the skin barrier in mind.
What does Revive do? Who is it for?
We made Revive Anti-Aging Serum for sensitive and/or allergenic skin. It's texture is light and non-greasy. It really sinks right in. It moisturizes, repairs, and give your skin life. It's packed with plant-based nutrients, including antioxidants, fatty acids and vitamins. It protects against free radical damage, regenerates cells, and heals skin in need of repair.
Revive is safe for anyone allergic to essential oils. We have purposely left them out, so your skin will not be irritated.
As with all of our products, Revive Anti-Aging Serum is nut, soy and gluten free. Most oil serums on the market contain one or more of these allergens in their formula. We knew had to make this allergen-free product for our customers because it is so hard to find one anywhere else. It's a great choice for sensitive skin, and definitely a wonderful source of rejuvenating moisture for all skin types.
How do I use Revive:
It's easy: Warm just a few drops in your hands and then pat onto clean skin. A moisturizing heavy hitter, Revive can take the place of a regular moisturizer. Or you can use Revive to lock in the benefits of your daily moisturizer. Want to do that? Just pat a few drops of Revive on top of moisturized skin. If you follow this method, it's also good to focus on dry areas of skin and those that have fine lines you'd like to tackle. This will keep your skin hydrated by sealing in the moisture.
What are the key ingredients in Revive and what do they do?
Revive is comprised of clean botanical oils that moisturize beautifully, and they each have strategic purposes for skin repair:
Grape Seed is the hero ingredient of this anti-aging serum. High in fatty acids and antioxidants, grape seed oil tones, brightens, moisturizes and assists in healing sensitive skin. It is also easily absorbed, making our serum non-greasy.
Borage and Evening Primrose (EPO) are anti-inflammatory. EPO also helps calm hormonal skin.
Rosehip evens out skin tone and brightens.
Red Raspberry is a potent antioxidant and collagen booster.
Pomegranate is a gentle micro-exfoliator.
Pumpkin reduces free radicals and also helps balance your skin's oil production.
Hemp moderates your skin's oil production.
Hibiscus highly moisturizes and is also called "nature's botox" for its unique ability to give your skin a relaxed and firm appearance.
Calendula gently heals your skin. It is also an anti-bacterial agent, making it ideal for combating current and future breakouts.
Revive is a multi-use product. What else can it be used for?
You can use it as an under-eye serum. Very gently pat into area and massage in. It brightens and helps plump up fine lines.
Tame flyaway hairs – a drop or two will take care of your entire head. Your locks will be smooth and glisten.
Use as a super-repairing hand serum. Banishes wrinkles and redness quickly. Brightens!
Use as an oil cleanser to help remove makeup and dead skin cells. Take about 5 drops in hand and massage into face. Let sit for a few minutes and then remove using a steamy warm wash cloth, or facial brush. Follow with a foamy cleanser if needed to remove last traces of makeup.
Have a scab or scar? A dab of Revive will speed healing.
The thing we love most about the best-selling Revive most? It is seriously glow-inducing. It gives anyone who uses it happy and bright skin. It's a super healthy choice, and one bottle lasts a really long time.
You can buy it here:
]]>You can check your sun & moon too!
Aries Rising: 1st houseWith the Sun in your 1st house - the house of the Self - this is a transit for asserting yourself in bolder, more confident ways & stepping into your personal power, going for what you want & taking inspired action.
Taurus Rising: 12th houseWith the Sun in your 12th house - the house of spirituality & isolation - this is a more introspective time as you connect to your subconscious mind, your inner self, your shadow, a time of reflection & realignment.
Gemini Rising: 11th houseWith the Sun in your 11th house - the house of friends & the collective - this is a time to mingle, to connect with others in your community, to step up as a leader for humanity & the things that matter to you, inspiring others to do the same
Cancer Rising: 10th houseWith the Sun in your 10th house - the house of career & legacy - you're feeling powerful in your career, this might be a time where you get promoted or boldly take a leap of faith & leave your 9-5 for something WAY more exciting!
Leo Rising: 9th house:With the Sun in your 9th house - the house of travel & adventure - you're feeling the PULL to get on a plane and jet off somewhere new and foreign. This is a powerful time to take a course, hire a mentor, take up a new hobby & expand your horizons!
Virgo Rising: 8th houseWith the Sun in your 8th house - the house of intimacy & death/rebirth - this is a time of deep transformation, releasing the past, alchemizing old wounds. Aries gives you the strength to make it through this more difficult transit.
Libra Rising: 7th houseWith the Sun in your 7th house - the house of relationships (romantic & business) - the focus is on the relationships you have with others and boldly upleveling them by going after what you want, making it happen, or by ending those that just aren't working. Aries gives you the courage to do so.
Scorpio Rising: 6th houseWith the Sun in your 6th house - the house of daily routine & health - this transit is focused around cutting out the things that aren't healthy for you - physically, mentally, emotionally. The fiery energy of Aries gets you to spice up your daily routine & asks you to find an outlet for all that pent up energy.
Sagittarius Rising: 5th houseWith the Sun in your 5th house - the house of play, passion, dating, romance - this is a FUN time for you to say the least. Aries season is igniting your passion, desire, romance, play, and self expression! If you're single - this is THE transit to put yourself out there!
Capricorn Rising: 4th houseWith the Sun in your 4th house - the house of home, family & emotional security- this is a transit about boldly creating the family, home, nurturing, self-care practices that you've always wanted. This is a transit about doing that for yourself first!
Aquarius Rising: 3rd houseWith the Sun in your 3rd house - the house of ideas & communication - you're being invited to boldly express your creativity, your ideas, ask for what you want and need, and be unapologetic about sharing your Truth. This transit is about speaking up, boldly and confidently.
Pisces Rising: 2nd houseWith the Sun in your 2nd house - the house of self-worth & money - this transit invites you to stand firmly rooted in your power, your confidence, your worthiness. Financially, this transit ushers in money and abundance as well.
Happy Aries season! ]]>
A super easy spring skin renewal hack is to use your Revive Serum for an oil cleanse. You only need a few drops of this versatile face oil to properly cleanse your whole face and improve dull skin immediately. Upon completing an oil cleanse, your skin will feel softened, brighter and thoroughly cleansed.
Here's how:
• Take about 5 drops of Revive and warm onto hands.
• Massage on face (it is OK to use this oil on the eye area).
• Let sit for a few minutes to soak in all the organic botanical ingredients. They will soften dry dead skin cells and make them easier to remove.
• Wet a washcloth in warm water – not too hot. Wring out excess water.
• Place cloth on face and let sit for a minute. (You could also do this in a steamy shower to help facilitate more pore cleansing and exfoliation.)
• Gently wipe off oil and excess dead skin.
• Follow with your fave Starling cleanser for a very thorough clean.
]]>
Would you share a few personal things about yourself?
Though I raised my son in Bedford, NY I currently live in Stamford, Connecticut and have a second home in San Juan, Puerto Rico from where I often work remotely. I am a sucker for the sun and the sand. I just breathe differently when I am warm and near water.
Tell us about your role at Breast Cancer Alliance (BCA), and how you got there.
For the past 11 years I have been Executive Director of Breast Cancer Alliance. I had been looking for a career change, and one that would bring my closer to home than midtown NYC while I was raising my son. As the granddaughter of a male breast cancer survivor, I was immediately interested in this role when it was introduced to me. BCA was an inspiring and beloved local charity when I arrived and I am so proud of how far we’ve come, now one of the most prominent breast cancer charities in the nation. We support innovative research, future breast surgeons, provide essential education and resources and help underserved patients access critical breast health care. We have a very small staff so volunteers are always welcome.
We are thrilled for the opportunity to be a partner to BCA at Starling. It is a cause we truly believe in. Beginning this month we are donating a portion of our Pink Rose Deodorants profits to BCA. How do our customers help women with breast cancer when they purchase Starling Pink Rose Deodorants?
COVID had a negative impact on so many things, in so many ways, and fundraising across organizations was one area that was hit. Proceeds from Starling sales will go towards future grants, affording BCA to further advance the field and improve outcomes for patients.
Now, let’s focus on Yon Appetit. What is your mission?
I am a certified integrative nutritional health coach. I created Yon Appetit as a health and wellness platform, complete with original recipes and healthy living tips, that also offers personalized nutritional and health guidance.
I understand this was a personal endeavor for you and is a passion of yours. When did you first understand the effective healing properties of whole foods and how they could help you?
In 2008, after years of struggle with gastrointestinal issues that were primarily undiagnosed, a team of specialists deduced that a vegan diet was the only one my body could metabolize. After two weeks of that protocol (to which I was very resistant), all of the symptoms I had been struggling with disappeared. Over the years, by adhering to a plant-based diet, studying and experimenting, I saw the value and positive impact of functional medicine on my overall health. That inspired me to create Yon Appetit and formalize my education at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. I love helping people find success in their journeys too.
Coaching someone for the first time would be a daunting task, there’s so much to understand behind the surface to get the coaching right. How do you begin?
When I start working with clients, it is most important for me to not just look at diet, but to look at lifestyle. What does their day look like? Are they satisfied in their relationships? Career? Where does snacking come in? Is exercise in the mix? What are their likes and dislikes? What are their goals? The answers to all of those questions, plus personal and family medical history help to guide the path we take from there. I have worked with children and adults, breast cancer survivors and those in recovery from eating disorders but those questions are where the journey between me and the client begins.
If there’s just ONE food to to add to your arsenal for optimal health, which food would you recommend and why?
I don’t believe there is just one that works for everyone. For example, nuts are a terrific source of protein and vitamins but not if you’re allergic!
Vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains are important, as is keeping sugary, fried or processed foods and alcohol to a minimum. I don’t, however, believe you need to eliminate anything forever. French fries are my kryptonite … my overarching philosophy is it’s all about moderation.
Do you have a favorite meal?
My favorite meal is a hard question to answer. I grew up on Long Island so I do love a great toasted bagel, but my favorite dishes are beautiful and flavorful – ones that inspire me to be more thoughtful and experiment in my own kitchen. Mediterranean dishes are surely at the top of the list.
Since you practice eliminations in the food you eat (Yonni mostly adheres to a vegan diet), is there a supplementation routine you follow to help ensure you are getting the right essential vitamins and nutrients?
I take a B12 supplement regularly because it’s the only way for vegans to get this essential vitamin. I also take fiber pills, vitamins K, D and C and some vegan collagen supplements which help with elasticity, skin and bone as you age.
Running two such separate businesses seems no small task. What motivates you to do it all?
I am SO type A! I just really want to be the best version of me – but I am for sure my harshest critic. It sounds strange but it is really motivating.
Every time I see you at events, you look absolutely effortless and low stress, even though your work is super demanding. What wellness measures beyond food do you take regularly (ie exercise, meditation, yoga, walks outdoors, etc) to help manage your heavy workload and commitments, and stay so calm?
You are seriously too kind ~ thank you! I refuel in different ways: spending time with people I love, feeling the sun on my skin, watching something that activates my creativity or allows me to escape for an hour or two. I love the high I get after a workout (even if I am sometimes struggling to find the time,) am an avid reader, an amateur artist and I love to cook. It’s a great creative outlet when I don’t have time for other things because I always need to eat!
Do you have a morning routine that helps prep you for your extra long days and keeps you healthy?
My morning starts by doing The NY Times puzzles before I even get out of bed. I brush my teeth, take a hot shower and then enjoy an equally hot cup of coffee and sometimes a splash of apple cider vinegar in cold water as well with my vitamins. I also apply Starling Super Boost Hyaluronic Serum and then a moisturizer to my face before adding any sunscreen or the little bit of makeup I wear, which is really just eyeliner and a little lip gloss most days.
What do you like to do on a Sunday when you’re not working?
My phone is never off, so “not working” is often really just working less. I like to stay in bed late, with my hot coffee, reading or watching tv. If I’m somewhere warm, I need to be outside. Beach, park, walking around the city ~ it doesn’t matter if I can feel the sun. Sometimes I draw or cook, and I love museums and theater.
Of course, we have to ask … what is your favorite Starling Skincare Product?
I use quite a few, but my favorite is Super Boost Hyaluronic Serum. Unless I’m traveling and forgot to pack some, I use it every single day!
Learn more about Breast Cancer Alliance on their website.
Go to Yonni's Yon Appetit website here and find recipes and tips. Check out Yon Appetit's instagram feed too!
]]>In today's overly connected 24/7 society, it can be difficult to find quality time with your spouse, kids and friends — let alone yourself. But carving out some quiet “me” time should be on everyone’s priority list, and even a few minutes flying solo can deliver big benefits.
“Solitude is an intentional period of time set aside to reconnect with yourself,” says Rachel Astarte, psychotherapist, certified life coach and author of Celebrating Solitude: How to Discover and Honor Your Highest Self (Green Oracle Press, 2012). “Ideally, it is designed to recharge your batteries so that you can give back to the world.”
For some people, however, solitude is uncomfortable. Maybe you have FOMO (fear of missing out) or feel guilty prioritizing yourself over others or equate being alone to being punished — e.g., being sent to your room as a kid. Regardless, Astarte recommends giving it a go. Here’s why.
You'll gain clarity. Solitude allows you to clear your mind of mental chatter and get to the root of a problem or issue without distractions from the outside world, according to Astarte.
You'll boost creativity. “In true creative mode, the only voice we need to hear is our own,” Astarte says. “It is this clarity of mind that allows us to open ourselves to the vastness of possibility.”
You'll reduce stress. “Stress causes our bodies to enter into the protective fight, flight or freeze mode, which is regulated by cortisol,” Astarte explains. Intentional solitude, wherein you practice what gives you joy, keeps you in a safe state of calm so your stress hormones are not triggered.
You'll connect with your spirituality. “Solitude allows us to rediscover the most elevated, most spiritually evolved self we can be,” Astarte says. “It gives us time to re-familiarize ourselves with the innate spark carried within us.”
You'll renew your energy. Giving to others all the time — while rewarding — also can be draining. “It’s like having a party and filling everyone’s glass with an empty pitcher — there is simply not enough to give,” Astarte says. Giving to yourself can help replenish your energy stores so you can return to life with a full tank.
Solitude might not come naturally to you, but you can improve with practice. Start with five minutes a day and gradually work your way up to 30 minutes of uninterrupted time. Here are some tips from Astarte for additional guidance.
Written by Jill Schildhouse for Oxygen Magazine and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.
]]>Happy Aquarius Season!
On January 19th, 2022 the Sun moved into the futuristic galaxies of Aquarius, the Air sign ruled by Uranus. Uranus is the planet of rebellion, genius, innovation, the instinct to express truth. Aquarius carries these traits as well.
Coming off the heels of Capricorn season, the energy has been serious, heavy, and restrictive. Saturn rules Capricorn and is the planet of maturity, responsibility, and limitation. Aquarius is an Air sign and brings with it a breath of fresh air & lightness.
This transit allows us to tap in more easily to our inner genius. The sun is shining on the Aquarian aspects of ourselves - the things that make us unique, our authenticity, our gifts - marching to the beat of our own drum.
Aquarius is the 11th sign and rules the 11th house areas of life - friends, community, technology, innovation, hopes & dreams. Aquarius is a natural rebel, seeking freedom from the conventions and rules of society. We all have Aquarius somewhere in our natal chart.
During this transit, keep a journal of all the ideas that you have as this is a time of heightened creativity and innovation. Let your imagination wander, no idea is too out there with Aquarius season.
With Mercury currently retrograde in Aquarius, this message of uniqueness and individuality is emphasized. Asking ourselves where we've conformed and repressed our voice and unique ideas out of fear being seen as different or failing...
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, and mental-health issues at an all-time high in our culture, we thought this was the right time to talk about embracing yourself and all your flaws, and loving yourself – as you are.
We’ve talked on our site a lot about the current trends in skincare, including the less than forgiving concept of anti-aging, particularly when it involves botox and younger women. We think these ideals are tough to live with and keep up with, but it’s understandable why people get caught up in chasing unattainable standards whether in beauty or in life goals.
As children, we’re brought up to want to be perfect in everything we do. You’re winning when you get perfect A’s, win that game, have all the friends. Praise as a child becomes addictive because you are constantly rewarded when you achieve. Being told you need to do better or scolded when you are less than perfect hurts every kid hard. It’s no wonder as adults, we constantly chase the high standards –and then talk ourselves into believing we’re the only ones who can’t measure up to them.
As adults, social media and constant media loops that show you just how great others have it share the blame. You’re supposed to be self-assured and confident as an adult, right? It’s hard to feel even adequate when you see bright flashy white teeth, perfect skin, designer clothes, and beyond stunning homes with perfect interiors everywhere you look. Influencers and actors are paid to look this way, live this way and torture you with their perfection. Please don’t fall for it and fall into feeling inadequate.
The damage we do to ourselves when constantly assuming others are reaching perfection when we are not – is detrimental to our mental health. Self-doubt and self-judgement have long-term negative effects including – low self-esteem and depression.
Completely normal, well-functioning adults struggle and make mistakes or fail because that is NORMAL. What is real is a messy kitchen, kids tugging on you in every direction, wrinkles, cellulite, being late for your appointment and stacks of laundry in every room. What is real is loving that scar on your cheek or your uneven skin tone. What is real is being able to laugh at your mistakes and learn from them.
Choose to not compare yourself to the social media gurus or your neighbors or someone on TV. Accept yourself for who you are and everything you are. Realize you are much better than you think – more deserving of your approval.
Imperfections are the real thing that give definition and dimension to you. Accepting these imperfections, and realizing you don’t have to constantly measure up can be liberating. You can finally allow yourself to be human.
The third Monday of January is known as Blue Monday. Yes, we even have a specific day noted for sadness.
The timing makes sense. In most of the U.S., January its the coldest month. Sunlight is limited and we spend more time indoors. Add Covid and a few years of social distancing and it’s easy to understand why depression is more prevalent these days.
Although there may be a specific day recognized for sadness, feeling down for an extended period could be the sign of a more serious illness. If your depression lasts for more than a few weeks, it's a good idea to seek help.
If your blues are tied to the months of January, February and March, you may have a case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is more common during the winter months when we don’t see as much sun. Sunlight exposure stimulates the hypothalamus, a part of the brain that helps control your circadian rhythm, the body's internal 24-hour sleep/wake clock. A lack of light throws off your circadian rhythm and can cause your brain to produce too much melatonin (a sleep hormone) and release less serotonin (a feel-good brain chemical). Light also helps to regulate your sleep patterns and overall well-being.
So what to do when feeling blue? Here are some recommendations:
Get exercise: Seriously – only 20 minutes of exercise three-to-five times a week has been shown to improve mental health by reducing anxiety and depression while improving self esteem and cognitive function. And you don’t need laborious exercise routines, either. Take your dog for a jog or go on a brisk walk. Buy a stationary bike. Exercise along with videos on YouTube.
To get the maximal amount of mood-boosting serotonin, your exercise time should include at least 10 minutes of consistent cardio to ensure that you elevate your heart rate. That's when your body benefits the most from working out – by getting more oxygen and blood to your brain and muscles.
Engage in light therapy: It works wonders. A light therapy box mimics outdoor light. Researchers believe this type of light causes a chemical change in the brain that lifts moods and eases other symptoms of SAD. It's best to use the light box in first hour after waking up in the morning. Keep your eyes open but don’t look directly into the light.
Light therapy boxes are available on Amazon, and they don’t cost a lot. Use it for 20-30 minutes a day, placing it about 24 inches away from your face. Most people respond well within three-to-five days. Of course if it's sunny out and not freezing, you can take a nice walk or just sit and absorb about 20 minutes of sunlight.
Utilize aromatherapy: Research has shown that it’s possible to sniff your way to happiness. The human nose is packed with millions of receptors that send information to the parts of the brain that process emotion and learning. It's why smell can often be more evocative of a memory than any of our other senses.
One of the most invigorating scents comes from citrus fruit. Citrus smells have a number of other benefits, including boosting your mood, sharpening your focus, and lowering anxiety. Another aromatherapy heavy-hitter, Lavender, is regularly recommended for providing feelings of well-being. Studies have found that lavender can reduce anxiety and depression and leave you feeling more relaxed.
Learn something new: Whether it's reading a book, undertaking a new hobby, learning a new language, or learning how to play an instrument, doing something different is a great way to boost self-esteem and improve brain function. Winter can be the perfect time to try something new … and learning a new skill enhances motivation.
Connect with people: Set up a Friday night Zoom happy hour with friends. Reach out to anyone you have not spoken to for a while and tell them how much they mean to you. Express gratitude and loving thoughts. You’ll improve your mood (and likely theirs) with this small feel-good gesture.
Give Back: You don’t have to be a millionaire for your contributions to matter. Whenever there is an opportunity to give back, do it. Donate food to the local food bank or pet shelter. Donate clothing or things your don't need around the house. Volunteer to read a book to a child or a senior. Helping others is a natural mood lifter.
References:
CR, Faulkner G, PMC US Library of Medicine
Mayo Clinic
WebMD
]]>On Tuesday December 21st, the Sun moved into the earth sign, Capricorn where it will remain until January 19th, 2022. Capricorn is a highly motivated and hard working sign, often referred to as the CEO of the Zodiac. This is the perfect sign to kick off the new year with, as we will feel more ambitious and driven to set goals for ourselves and achieve them!
Capricorn is one of the most driven signs in the entire Zodiac. But what makes Capricorn so ambitious? As it's the 10th sign, it rules over the areas of life associated with the 10th house - the house of career, social status, ambition, leadership, authority, wealth, reputation, success. Ruled by Saturn, Capricorn is disciplined, responsible, and committed.
Capricorn is one of the 3 earth signs - the other 2 being Taurus & Virgo. Earth signs are all about experiencing life through the 5 senses. It truly is a soul desire for Earth signs to experience life in a sensual & tangible way. Enjoying material success and luxury are some ways in which Earth signs receive pleasure as they want to enjoy life on the earthly plane as much as possible.
Adding to this earth sign desire to achieve material success and accomplishments, Capricorn is also a cardinal sign. Cardinal signs (Cap, Cancer, Aries, Libra) are the initiators, the leaders, the self-starters of the Zodiac. Hence, Capricorn is a natural leader & entrepreneur who desires to build something from the ground up and have it succeed.After the last few weeks of Sagittarius season, where our dreams were expansive and inspiring, Capricorn is ready for us to get to work, grounding those dreams into reality and taking the practical and necessary action to bring it into our 3D world. Capricorn has us getting to work!
This year, our cup overfloweth with Capricorn energy as we have the Sun joining Pluto (transformation), Mercury (communication) and Venus (love & money) in Capricorn. Mars, our planet of action, also joins the Cap party later in January. This is referred to as a Stellium when 3 or more planets are in the same sign.
With all this Capricorn energy, we're being reminded by the cosmos that we're the main character of our story. That nobody is coming to save us but ourselves. That we're not only responsible for, but also worthy of, creating a life that we love, not just one that we daydream about. Make 2022 your year. Decide, commit, take inspired action. We're worthy simply because we exist!
Reach out for a personalized Astrology reading with Brigitte. You can contact her on her Instagram to book a session @brigittesucur 🤍
Children develop an understanding of the world through the senses. The changing seasons provide a great opportunity to engage them through the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and feels of fall and winter, as we decorate our homes to reflect the seasons. This year, don't resign your little ones to school crafts and jack-o'-lanterns—get them involved in decorating your home. Whether it's baking cookies, hunting for leaves or planting evergreen branches, there are plenty of opportunities for the entire family to get involved in your home's holiday decor. Here are some inspiring decoration ideas that are kid-friendly and family-approved.
Go on an outdoor trek with your children and collect bunches of colorful leaves around your yard, street or even at the park. Press them under a book overnight, then glue them to cut squares of textured paper. The result will be stunning enough to stay up year-round.
While you're out collecting leaves, grab a few extra to adorn your mantel. Twigs and leaves add a natural, whimsical element to existing fall decor and give your children a fun way to put their stamp on your home.
Let your kids have fun and pick out their favorite pumpkins.
Photo: Julie Ranee Photography, original photo on Houzz
These lumpy, bumpy gourds add festive fall color, and the unique textures make them fun and interesting for little kids to check out. Decorations that engage the senses are always a plus.
The designs are endless with this versatile tape.
Photo: Pullga, original photo on Houzz
Washi tape—decorative Japanese tape made of paper—is a great tool for kid-friendly decor. I love how this homeowner made a simple vignette with a washi tape tree on the wall. It is easy to use, is incredibly affordable, makes a big statement and comes down without a fuss. There's no need to stop at a tree with this stuff—encourage your kids to create snowflake, star and present shapes out of washi tape, too.
Encourage your children to go beyond traditional holiday colors. Give them free rein and see what creative color schemes they can create with a little low-VOC paint, some supervision and a few tree branches or blank ornaments. Who knows? They could come up with the star of your home's holiday decor.
Make sure to save one for a treat after you're done.
Photo: Michelle Edwards, original photo on Houzz
Some of the best holiday decor is the simplest. Give your children some candy canes (maybe one or two extra for snacking) and craft glue to turn something as simple as a white candle into a colorful holiday accent. This easy DIY project satisfies both the taste and smell sensory categories—once you light the candle, it'll give off a slight peppermint scent.
Perfect for your favorite ornaments.
Photo: Planet Fur, original photo on Houzz
This decorative branch makes me think of adventure! Just imagine the fun you could have while hunting for the perfect collection of twigs or branches with your children. Add simple store-bought or homemade ornaments, or let your children paint it with kid-friendly paint.
No watering needed!
Photo: Julie Ranee Photography, original photo on Houzz
Spur children's creativity by encouraging them to use everyday items in unexpected ways. This holiday tree made of straw hats is a great example. I love how this clever display can be dressed down (as with the straw hats in this photo) or dressed up (by using top hats, bowlers or other fancy hats).
Written by Summer Baltzer for Houzz for Working Mother and Starling Skincare. Legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network.
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https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/26/business/old-spice-secret-deodorant-recall-benzene/index.html
Scary stuff.
Our plea to all of you: Be conscious of what is in your personal-care products. Your health is what matters to you, your family, and your friends. That’s why Starling deodorants (and all of our products) are toxin-free — our goal from the start has been to create effective products that are safe to use.
Here are the ingredients you will never find in Starling products: Synthetic fragrances, retinyl palmitate, detergents, dyes, drying alcohols, toluene, pore-clogging emollients, mineral oil, ethanol, propylene glycol, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicones or BPAs, formaldehyde, carcinogens, triclosan, aluminum, phenoxyethanol, hydroquinone, coal-tar derivatives, PEGS, PFAS, BHA, BHT, animal byproducts. No benzene, either.
We also eliminate all potential irritants from our formulations, making our products some of the safest, most nourishing skincare you will ever use.
If you ever need a comprehensive refresher on what to avoid in your personal-care products, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a great resource. https://www.ewg.org/
P.S. On this Giving Tuesday, we’re raising awareness for a great cause and facilitating donations to The Breast Cancer Alliance.
One of the things I most truly enjoy in life is cooking. But that passion is often put on the back burner during the week because I am busy with Starling. Sundays, however, are my one day to indulge myself. That’s why I love having time to make a recipe like the one below, which satisfies my urge to create but doesn’t take too much time away from family or other things.
This soup is hydrating, super nutritious (high in vitamins, antioxidants, iron, and fiber) and tasty. It’s also a very flexible recipe, so you can easily substitute for any ingredients you may not have on hand. It’s an incredibly satisfying lunch or dinner, while still being a light meal that's easy to digest.
The best news? It takes only 30 minutes from start to finish!
P.S. Don’t skip adding the parmesan rind. It elevates flavors and is an easy way to create depth with a fast-cook recipe.
Except, maybe, those extra pounds. I eat a lot more during the holidays, and it's not necessarily more of the healthy stuff either. More desserts, more carbs, more calories. Not only do I eat more, I’m also too busy to get much exercise. We’re always over-scheduled, and I worry all the time about making sure everyone has an amazing time. The end result? My self-care slips away. The combination of poor eating, little exercise and added stress takes a toll on my well being … and my skin suffers, too.
So what are some of the things I do to avoid (or minimize) these unpleasant results? Here are some strategies that have helped:
1. Incorporate more fresh vegetables into every meal. Always roast or steam your veggies. They maintain their nutritional value that way, and they taste delicious. Asparagus, zucchini, Brussels sprouts, carrots, and sweet potatoes all have major nutritional value. Adding more veggies adds extra fiber to your diet and helps you feel fuller, longer. Veggies are high in vitamins and minerals and abundant in antioxidants that help stave off free radicals and aging. That's great for skin health!
2. Try your best to practice portion control and moderation during the holidays. If you know you are going to eat a big dinner, then eat a light salad for lunch. When it's time for the big meal, don't pile on the food. If you eat slower it helps you feel fuller.
3. Take a walk. It’s a good way to hear your own thoughts and get some alone time.
4. Exercise. Exercising helps release stress, making it especially worthwhile during the holidays. It keeps you more energetic, too. Sweating regularly also helps purge toxins and cleanse your pores, so it’s great for your skin health.
5. Get sleep. Lack of sleep takes a toll on your health and your skin. Try to get at least seven hours each night.
6. Drink at least 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of water a day. Drinking enough water helps maintain the balance of body fluids, which are important for digestion, absorption, circulation, nutrient transportation, body temperature maintenance and more. Drinking enough water also helps your skin look good.
7. Take time for yourself. Whether that's 10 minutes to meditate or take a relaxing shower or bath. Anything that you find enjoyable and relaxing.
There's a lot going on right now. Are you feeling run down lately? Yeah, us too.
As women we often take care of others first – but self-care is important, too. Quality sleep is one of the keys to staying healthy. Not getting enough sustained, quality sleep? You can boost your mood and immune system with these easy and sleep-inducing steps:
Scorpio is the 8th sign in the Zodiac and is therefore the natural ruler of the 8th house: the house of death + rebirth, intimacy, shamanism, soul-merging, finances/inheritance, karma, debt, transformation, mystery, alchemy, the occult, psychic knowing, and intuition. Co-ruled by Mars (the planet of action + aggression) and Pluto (the planet of power + transformation), Scorpio is a fixed water sign infamously represented by the Scorpion.
The archetypes associated with Scorpio are that of the shaman, the witch, the alchemist, the psychic, the investigator, the medium, the sleuth, the phoenix rising from the ashes. As a water sign, Scorpio is deeply in tune with the energetics of its surrounding environment, acutely aware of unseen subtleties and energies, picking up on the smallest and most obscure of clues and details of a person or a situation. Scorpio doesn't miss anything and is often spot on with its observations.
Scorpio, with its uncanny ability to see right through any facade or superficiality, is a natural detective and lie-detector. While this probing energy can intimidate and unnerve, the gold of Scorpio is that it invites us to get real with what's going on, with the truth, to go deep and be vulnerable, reaching new levels of intimacy with ourselves and others. Scorpio goes to the source, to the root, asking us to face what we've been running away from so that we can alchemize it, integrate it and live our lives from a place of unconditional love, acceptance, and wholeness.
Halloween is fun. Adults love the opportunity to be silly and have some childish fun. Kids love dressing up, being with friends, and getting ALL that candy — the chance to gorge themselves on sweets without having their parents stop them is the ultimate fun fest.
As fun as Halloween is, it can also be a scary time for parents who have children with food allergies. Policing the candy their kids collect for allergens and potential cross-contamination can be a stressful, time-consuming task. The most common food allergies (called the top 8 allergens) include peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, dairy, and soy. These ingredients are commonly used to make candies and pose a real threat to kids with allergies.
It’s also a tough time for kids with allergies — as are most events that center around food. They are constantly reminded what they can’t have. It can be isolating for them, and make something as simple as eating candy a real worry-inducing event.
Understanding the risks associated with the most common food allergies is important for anyone participating in Halloween activities. Food allergies are more common than you might think: Nearly 32 million people in the United States report having them. That's almost 10% of the population with allergies to milk, soy, wheat, and peanuts.
To make Halloween safer for both your own kids and those that come to your home for candy, here are some tips:
- Make small safe "goody bags" that include allergen-free candy (Skittles, Starbursts, Dots, Enjoy Life Chocolates, Mike & Ikes, Dum Dum Suckers, Life Saver Gummies are just a few examples). You can have these goody bags available for children that come trick or treating, and you can also give them to your neighbors to hand out to your child when he or she stops at their home.
- Consider skipping trick or treating and have a Halloween party instead, offering safe and delicious treats. You can also offer fun Halloween toys and games or party favors. This is most likely the best choice for kids with severe allergic reactions.
- If your kids go trick or treating without you, enforce a strict no-eating candy while trick-or-treating rule. Once the kids are home you can inspect the candy and read the ingredient labels before your children dig in.
- Look for homes with teal pumpkins outside. Created by Food Allergy Research & Education in 2014, the Teal Pumpkin Project is a campaign to raise awareness of food allergies and provide safe options for food-allergic trick or treaters. People who participate pledge to put a teal pumpkin outside their homes, letting trick or treaters know that they have safe non-food treats available.
- Donate. Give the candy your kids can’t eat to a local food pantry or charitable organization.
- Discuss. Talk with your child about the allergens that may be hidden in specific foods, including Halloween candy.
- Always have an EpiPen with you. Especially if your child is prone to anaphylactic episodes after being exposed to an allergen.
I love waking up late … well later than on most days. After taking care of the pets, I like to sip my cup of coffee and think about what I want to do. One of my favorite things to do on Sunday is research plant-based desserts. My husband has a sweet tooth, and he only eats plant-based food, so it makes me happy to find recipes that he can enjoy.
Below is one recipe that I just tried and it turned out delicious. It's a plant-based pumpkin pie made with coconut sugar, which is low on the GI (Glycemic Index) scale and doesn’t spike blood sugar. (Plant-based diets are high in fiber and use less refined sugars). Here is the recipe. Enjoy!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Crust: (mix together by hand and apply in a greased, oven-safe pie dish)
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (any flour that works for you)
1 teaspoon of coconut sugar
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 cup of cold vegan butter (Earth Balance is my favorite but it can be any brand of vegan butter)
1/4 cup of vegetable shortening
3/4 cup of ice water
Filling: (Mix together in a bowl … then pour in pie dish)
1 (15 ounce) can of pumpkin puree
1 cup coconut cream
1 cup coconut sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons arrowroot
Bake for one hour at 350 degrees and check to make sure crust does not burn. Some ovens are stronger than others.
What did you do on this Sunday Fun Day? Share with us via email at starlingskin@gmail.com … we would love to share it on social, and possibly feature you on our next Sunday Funday email!
There are innumerable ways to do a reset at the onset of every season, and each seasonal reset is important. That said, I think Fall is a particularly important time to take stock of priorities and focuses.
Why? Well for starters fall is the time everyone goes back to their busy lives and schedules. Vacations are over, schools are open, and time management slips away. You can feel the change inside your body, where mounting stress moves in to replace vanishing calm. But Fall can be the perfect time to reassess and reset. Here are five ideas that might help:
It’s one of the questions I’ve been asked repeatedly by parents during my 10 years as a tutor (grades K-12) in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
There are lots of tips and strategies I recommend, many based on individual needs/goals and specific grade levels. But in terms of general advice, here are five that parents and students should consider:
1. Find a dedicated study space that isn’t the student’s bedroom
A few weeks into my first year of college, I went to an on-campus meeting designed to help freshman acclimate. Several senior resident advisors spoke, and among the tips was this one: Don’t study in your dorm room.
I don’t recall any of the other advice given that day, but that tip resonated. I had spent the first few weeks studying in my dorm room, where the lure of listening to music, calling my girlfriend, or taking a nap was more enticing than macro economics, Newton’s laws of motions, and John Milton’s prose. Not much studying was taking place there, so after hearing the resident advisor’s tip I decided to go the library for a few hours each after dinner. Free of distraction and reclining comfort, my focus improved and the adjustment to the sizable work load went smoother.
Although students in grades K-12 might not have a library to go to each night, they should do their homework someplace else other than their bedroom. Bedrooms are physically and psychologically linked to relaxation, video games and sleep, so it’s no surprise that homework doesn’t stand a chance.
2. Take five-minute breaks after every 30 minutes of studying
Long, uninterrupted study sessions are usually less productive than shorter ones that are more focused. A five-minute break following every 30 minutes of studying gives the brain a chance to absorb material and cool down before restarting.
3. Toughest assignment first
It’s tempting to put off studying for a test or writing an essay until other more straightforward homework is finished. It’s also a really bad idea. A much better strategy is to begin with the toughest or most important assignment first, when your brain is fresh. After that, you can tackle something easier and then do your second hardest assignment before finishing with another less demanding task.
4. Keep up with reading. Talk about it, too
One common theme that I see among students (especially boys) is that few of them enjoy reading. And many don’t just dislike reading, they loathe it. This is a big-time problem — almost every class (not just English) in every grade requires reading, and there is even more reading in college and grad school.
Students who hate reading put if off, procrastinating until they need a marathon session to read the entire book the day before a test or essay. Some reading-averse students never read any books; they head online to check out Spark Notes or another site that summarizes the text, provides character analysis, and discusses major themes. But teachers and professors are also aware of what’s online and can adjust their essay prompts and test questions accordingly.
One thing students must do is keep up with their daily reading assignments — no matter how unappealing that sounds. For many students, the best time to do that reading is in the morning before school or sometime during the day in a free period. The worst time is right before bed, when words on a page act faster than melatonin.
One thing parents can do is ask their children to talk about what they have read each day — not in a confrontational manner but in a conversational tone. Talking about what you have read is a great way to remember what you have read.
5. Extra-help can help … as long as it’s the right fit
An increase in homework and intense competition for college acceptances have led many parents to seek additional help for their children. Tutoring can make a difference, but only if you find the right tutor.
In addition to advanced understanding of subject material, the right tutor must be someone whom your child feels comfortable around. Much like the motivation a beloved and exceptional coach can instill in his or her players, the best tutors are able to inspire confidence and drive in their students. For example, tutors who translate classroom learning into real-world examples stand a better chance of making the material stick with their students.
Ask for references from other parents and check with them to find out how much their child improved and how much he or she enjoyed working with the tutor. That part is just as important.
–Written by Tim Murphy, a real life tutor, and veteran journalist.
]]>The archetypes associated with Libra are that of the diplomat, the lawyer, the judge, the advocate, the lover. Libra is a naturally gifted mediator, negotiator, and debater.
On September 22nd, the sun joins the planets Mercury (the planet of communication) and Mars (the planet of action) in the sign of Libra, where it will remain until October 22nd. Libra season begins on the same day as the Fall Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere, ushering in Autumn and a noticeable shift in energy.
During Libra season, we will experience Mercury Retrograde from September 27-October 18, marking the 6th planet to be in retrograde at this time. The other planets currently in retrograde are Jupiter (growth), Saturn (responsibility), Pluto (transformation), Neptune (spirituality), Uranus (rebellion).
The invitation that Libra season brings, especially with Mercury in retrograde, is to strike a balance between our external commitments and taking care of ourselves. Burnout is very real and knowing when to say no to something and prioritizing your health + wellbeing is a Libra season lesson. There is a desire to say yes now to everything and everyone, to go out and be with friends, but also spending time alone for inner reflection and peace will maintain balance and harmony. It's also a great time to consider finding balance in your every day routines – including skincare. With the weather changing, your skin deserves some extra consideration for the upcoming colder months.
Venus ruled Libra is naturally inclined towards a desire for aesthetic, beauty, the arts, romance, and love.
Collectively, there will be a feeling in the air of wanting to be swept off our feet - to feel desired, loved and adored. As the weather gets cooler, in classic Libra style, we want to cozy up and cuddle with a special someone in a luxurious blanket and a nice glass of wine in a candle-lit room by a fireplace. It is all about aesthetic and the finer things with this Venusian air sign. Libra season asks us to enjoy life, slow down, take care of ourselves and prioritize our peace. Then from this whole place, we will find what we're looking for.
You can find more astrological forecasts and life guiding information from Brigitte on instagram @Brigittesucur
]]>From August 22nd to September 21st, the sun will be in the mutable earth sign Virgo. The archetypes related to Virgo are that of the healer, the martyr, the perfectionist, the analyst, the herbalist, the doula. Virgo, the Virgin (not in the typical sense of the word), is obsessed with the essence of perfectionism and wholeness. Virgo knows there's gold underneath, devotedly searching to uncover that pure essence within itself and helping others discover theirs.
As Virgo rules the 6th house in Astrology, the energetics of the season are imbued with the themes of this house. The 6th house rules health, wellness. diet, daily routine, service, jobs, habits and schedules. Virgo season illuminates these energies for the collective, inviting us to take responsibility for our daily choices and habits, as the secret of our success is found in our daily routines. Virgo asks us to level up, to step into the version of our best selves. Virgo energy probes us to search for a deeper meaning to our life and to discover our purpose.
After the intensity of Leo season, Virgo season asks us to get down to business to implement the grandiose visions birthed in Leo season. Virgo has us pull out the spreadsheets and edit, using facts and figures, analysis and practicality. Virgo wants us to live our best life and with steady effort, discipline, efficiency and devotion, helps us get there.
Virgo season is a great time to get curious about the ingredients in the products you or your family are using, editing out any products that don’t feel in alignment with your health and wellness goals. Clean beauty is quintessential Virgo as the sign is about health, wellness and purification. It’s no surprise that Nathalie, the co-founder of Starling, is a Virgo Rising and has a stellium in Virgo – which means 3 or more planets in that sign! There is a lifelong emphasis for her on clean eating, clean beauty and clean living.
See below for how Virgo season will affect each sign. Check Rising first, then Sun and Moon:
VIRGO RISING/SUN: 1ST HOUSE
Edit what's no longer serving your highest expression, clean out your closet, prioritize your health, detox the negativity from your life, get real with yourself, take a good long look in the mirror - who is looking back? declutter and recalibrate where need be. It's okay to start over, don't be so hard on yourself. You are worthy no matter what.
LIBRA RISING/SUN: 12th HOUSE
Implement a spiritual practice into your daily routine. Integrating meditation, breathwork, yoga, etc into your day to day will reap incredible benefits for you. Spending some time alone will help to clear out the noise. Go inwards and identify what it is you want to manifest into your life. Connect with your spirit guides and angels, the veil is thinner for you now and you can connect more easily
SCORPIO RISING/SUN: 11th HOUSE
Expand your online presence, join a virtual community, take an online class, get involved in activism and connect to your sense of purpose. A good time to take some stock of who and what you allow into your life. What is the content you are consuming that is having a negative impact on you? Detoxing from friends and situations that are not heathly for you
Sagittarius RISING/SUN: 10th HOUSE
Look at your career and ask yourself if it's serving your highest good or draining you and contributing to feelings of stress, anxiety, and unfulfillment. Are you staying in a job just because its the "safe" and practical thing to do? Are you living your purpose?
CAPRICORN RISING/SUN: 9th HOUSE
Learn something new! Investigating what beliefs you’re holding onto that are close minded, rigid, and judgmental? Open your mind, read something different, take up a new podcast, take a trip somewhere or learn about a new country, religion, topic. Opening up your mind to other view points and possibilities will expand your life and the people you meet.
AQUARIUS RISING/SUN: 8th HOUSE
Letting yourself take more risks, going deep with another person, facing the issue of death as a reality of life, less worrying about your health or about what could go wrong. Allowing your intimate relationships to deepen and sharing your vulnerability with another person. You don't have to do it alone. Other people can't read your mind and nobody is perfect. Are you holding yourself back from meeting someone new because of your rigid standards?
PISCES RISING/SUN: 7th HOUSE
Set boundaries where you need them. Taking responsibility for your own happiness, recognizing where co-dependency might be playing a role in your relationships. Where do you give your power away? Where do you release accountability and blame others? Removing toxic people and relationships from your life. Looking at your own patterns of relating and getting honest about where you engage in toxicity
ARIES RISING/SUN: 6th HOUSE
Health and wellness are a priority, be careful not to over-do it though. There could be a tendency to overly criticize yourself as it relates to your fitness routine, weight, appearance. Health and wellness is important but so is self-acceptance and compassion. A good time to edit out anything in your daily routine that is draining you. Get organized with your schedule and implement a sustainable routine that uplifts your day and that your future self can thank you for..
TAURUS RISING/SUN: 5th HOUSE
Playfulness and having fun takes on a more grounded and simple energy. There is a desire to heal with another but also to discern and guard your heart, opening it to those who deserve it. Spend time in nature, have a picnic outside, lay in a hammock with a good book
GEMINI RISING/SUN: 4th HOUSE
Organizing your home, de-cluttering your closet, donating clothes and cleaning out your space is very therapeutic now. Release the old, stagnant energy. A clean and organized home will create harmony and balance for you. Family matters can take center stage now. Where do you need to set boundaries? Are there family dynamics that are toxic? What are some of the beliefs you've held onto about yourself that come from your family conditioning? Don't be held captive by the projections of other people.
CANCER RISING/SUN: 3RD
Learning about anything and everything, you're a sponge for new information! There is a quick wittedness to your mental energy now, a desire to take in as much as possible. The urge to communicate is strong - writing, journaling, sharing your thoughts and opinions can be cathartic. Don't forget though that you have time to learn, make sure to ground yourself and don't over think things to exhaustion.
LEO RISING/SUN: 2ND HOUSE:
An excellent time to get spending or finances in order. Increased focus on of money, work, and self-worth. Now is a good time to analyze where you might be filling voids with buying things. Self-love and self-worth take top priority. You are worthy simply because you exist.
–Thoughtfully With Love, Brigitte
**For more astrology content and to book a reading with Brigitte, you can find her on Instagram: @astrologyapplied_