Meditation 101 with Suze Yalof Schwartz

As part of my guest blog series following the International Women’s Day post, I’m excited to add my friend Suze Yalof Schwartz, founder and CEO of the popular Los Angeles-based meditation studio and app Unplug Meditation.

I knew Suze from when we lived in NY and she was the Editor at Large for Glamour.com back in the day and hitting all the shows at New York fashion week. Suze worked in a high-pressured role as fashion editor, and “makeover guru” for Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire and Glamour Magazine with regular national television appearances on GMA, The Today Show, Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN and CBS Early Show as a style expert.

In November of 2012, the big idea came to Suze when she was taught a powerful three-minute breathing and guided visualization technique that transformed the stress she was under to calm. Blown away and wanting more, her teacher suggested meditation. Suze’s search for a place to easily learn meditation yielded disappointing results for a busy, working mother. The options were all time-consuming and expensive. Suze wondered, Where is the Drybar of meditation? Where you can walk in feeling icky and walk out feeling great? When Suze realized that meditation needed a makeover this was the beginning - Hello Unplug!

Unplug Meditation is the world's first drop-in, secular meditation studio with a wide variety of simple and eclectic classes led by the top experts and some of the best meditation teachers in the country. Clients range from ages 6 to 96, from CEOs of Fortune 500 companies to the everyday stressed-out. Unplug’s clean, modern design calms you the instant you walk through the door or follow on the app.

Like all of us, Suze is a busy person and she believes that meditation can be delivered without excess fluff or fuss and she's on a mission to inspire everyone to join her and unplug for just a few minutes a day. In this series I will share with you Suze’s Meditation tips and tricks on how we can do that.

To start here are 5 reasons why meditation makes you happier:

• Meditation shrinks the amygdala, the part of the brain that controls anxiety and fear. Less anxiety and fear translates to less stress. Less stress means more joy.

• Meditation can lower the amount of cortisol in the body, otherwise known as the stress hormone. Less cortisol, less stress, more capacity for joy.

• Meditation can provide a level of relief from symptoms of anxiety and depression similar to that of antidepressant drugs. Peace and happiness, no prescription needed!

• Experienced meditators are able to dial down their daydreaming. This matters because when our minds meander, they usually drift into worry or rumination, so less mind wandering is associated with more happiness. Being present, it turns out, is a ticket to being happy.

• Meditation increases the activity in the left prefrontal cortex - the happy, calm zone of the brain.

To see more on the science of why meditation can make you happier, read Suze’s post on MindBodyGreen

Click on images to shop essentials for relaxation and meditation!

Download the Unplug app with a free 7-day trial and start your mediation practice today…it can change your life!

xxMelissa

Clean Beauty Makeup: Top 10 Picks for a Gorgeous, Natural Look + IGTV Tutorial

Over the past year, I’ve been making an effort to find and test the best products in clean beauty including my every day makeup. With so many incredible brands popping up these days that are safe, non-toxic and effective, why use anything else on our skin? I never thought it would be so easy to switch out my favorite department store makeup but what motivated me the most was being able to find health-conscious, ethically packaged products without having to sacrifice quality. I’m also super excited to announce that I have dropped my very first IGTV how-to video on exactly how I create my everyday makeup look with these clean beauty products!

Below are my top 10 picks for a gorgeous natural makeup look.

Click on the direct links to shop the products!

1. Coola BB Cream - The farm to face tinted moisturizer is my everyday go-to product as it provides the perfect amount of light coverage and leaves my skin hydrated and glowing! It’s formulated with rose stem cells, which helps improve signs of aging and promote a youthful, dewy look to the skin. This triple-duty product also contains SPF 30 that protects the skin from the sun’s harmful rays throughout the day!

2. Ere Perez Under Eye Concealer - This particular natural under eye concealer offers incredible coverage for dark circles and is available in several blendable shades! It contains arnica, an anti-inflammatory herb that promotes healing for spots that may be darker or discolored. The texture is velvety and smooth due to the candelilla wax and cocoa butter base, two ingredients that are great for sensitive skin.

3. Lune+Aster Bronze & Blush Palette - This palette is the ideal two-in-one.  I use the bronzer all over my face for a natural, sun-kissed look and finish it off with the blush on the apples of my cheeks up to my cheekbone line.  The two together help me achieve the “just got back from vacation” glow!

4. Au Naturale Highlight Stick - This handcrafted highlighter is made with absolutely zero dyes or synthetics. I am obsessed with the Rose Gold shade and think it looks great on all skin tones. I usually apply it directly to my upper cheekbones after applying my blush for a gorgeous sheer shimmer effect.

5. Ere Perez Avocado Waterproof Mascara - This fantastic mascara is made with avocado and mamey oils which help to stimulate lash growth-yes please! The shape and size of this brush are perfect, making application super easy!  It’s all natural, waterproof, clump-free, completely unscented and perfect to use on the most sensitive eyes.

6. Ere Perez Jojoba Eye Pencil - This bronze liner is simply gorgeous and looks beautiful on all eye colors and skin tones. It’s made with a soothing formulation of oils, including jojoba, which encourages lash growth. The metallic shade goes on smooth and really makes your eyes pop in an elegant and understated way. I wear it from day to night!

7. Saint Naturally Nude Eye Palette - This natural eyeshadow palette enhances the eyes with the perfect amount of pigment that blend effortlessly to build depth, contour, shading or highlighting while defining any eye shape. There are six well-chosen colors in the compact that range from total matte to high-shimmer so it’s perfect to wear every day from lunch to cocktails.

8. Ere Perez Almond Brow Pencil - This “one-size-fits-all” brow pencil works for all brow colors and allows for easy shaping of any brow silhouette. There’s a little brush at the opposite end of the pencil which can be used to help distribute the color evenly and tame brow hairs.

9. Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner - This award-winning lip conditioner is packed with natural ingredients including cocoa butter, olive oil, sesame oil, and vitamin E. The smooth texture feels super hydrating on the lips and can be layered with gloss or simply worn alone. I like the pink-neutral shade “O Baby” that nourishes and builds on each swipe. Perfect for girls on-the-go!

10. Lune+Aster Vitamin C+E Lipgloss - To finish off my natural makeup look, I use this natural gloss either by itself or on top of any neutral lipstick as it is the perfect shade of sheer, milky pink. I am very picky about the texture, smell and taste of my lipgloss and this one is perfect! It’s also fragrance-free and contains Vitamin E that is super hydrating.

Vegan makeup brushes by Jenny Patinkin, $150 for the set.

Click here to see my IGTV makeup tutorial for a clean beauty everyday look.

Click on images to shop my clean beauty picks!

Full disclosure… I am not using 100% clean beauty and skincare products yet, but just know that I am looking for safe and efficacious ones that can replace my cult beauty faves and will share them with you during my clean beauty journey. If you have any clean products you are loving these days, please share in the comments below!

xxMelissa

Taller Slimmer Younger Transformation Challenge with Lauren Roxburgh

I want to always look and feel 10 years younger! How about you? One of the ways that may help you get there is by taking the necessary steps towards transforming your mind, body and ultimately your life! Keeping this goal in mind, I’m so excited to share with you that Glow Girl guest contributor Lauren Roxburgh is announcing her Taller, Slimmer, Younger Transformation & Challenge which opens for enrollment September 2nd for one week only!

This comprehensive online 10-week program includes foam roller workouts, meal plan and recipe guides, detox flush protocol and more. Lauren was coined by goop The Body Whisperer and is a renowned wellness educator and fascia expert. Her easy to follow program will give you the tools you need for a body positive change.

Participation in this unique program is done as part of a community, helping and inspiring each other to get the best results! As you will see from my previous posts and event I hosted for Lauren in June, I’m a huge fan! Lauren’s effective body foam rolling techniques have made her a leader in the latest trends in health and fitness so sign up now! Enrollment is only 4 times a year for just one week.

Read on for more details!

The TSY Transformation Program includes a new progressive foam roller workout each week for 10 weeks. The videos will take you step-by-step, move by move through each exercise. You can stream these on your computer, tablet or phone making it easily accessible from anywhere, at home, in the office or while traveling.

With the program you get a 21-day meal plan and recipes that feature foods that help heal, restore and revitalize your body. Lauren calls these Fascia Foods as they help to repair the connective tissue in your body. The TSY Program also teaches you all about nourishing your body and finding a balance that is sustainable and right for you.

Another key pillar of the Program is your holistic detox flush protocol that helps the body mobilize toxins and eliminate them in a safe, natural and effective way.

There will also be a private Facebook community where Lauren and the participants keep in touch, inspire each other, hold each other accountable and cheer each other on. Lauren is active inside the group and will answer any questions you may have throughout this transformative time.

As well as the 10 week challenge, on Lauren’s site you will see other workouts and sequences inside the Aligned Life Studio including the 7 Day Body Reset Guide. These workouts will help you focus on your alignment, fascia, and intrinsic muscles – with incredibly impressive results!

With hours of workouts and healing sequences arranged by type (Sweat, Calm or Heal), tool (roller, rebounder, mat or other signature products) and time (from under 10 minutes to over an hour) you’ll always find something that will fit into your schedule and suit your needs. New videos are available every month and members also get access to the Aligned Tribe community - a private Facebook community where Lauren shares exclusive content, live streams and interacts with members. The Studio is available on a monthly or annual subscription which can be cancelled at any time.

See Lauren’s signature Aligned Healing Tools for purchase in the carousel below.

Click directly on each product to shop!

I am so excited to share all of these incredible wellness programs from Lauren and hope that you will sign up for the TSY Transformation program today! Lauren truly is an expert in her field so if you want access to the tools to start looking and feeling your best, this is the kick start you may need for Fall!

xxMelissa

More about Lauren:

Lauren discovered her path when her mother was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer when she was sixteen. Witnessing her mother battle cancer inspired her to choose a career in wellness. She was on a mission to find ways to prevent disease before it manifests in the body. After many years as a student and practitioner, she now teaches her Aligned Life holistic formula all over the world.

Lauren “Lo” Roxburgh has been listed as one of the 8 Tech Pioneers to watch by Entrepreneur magazine, and one of the 16 Women in Wellness to Watch in 2019 by Chalkboard Magazine. Her books include Taller, Slimmer, Younger and her latest, The Power Source.