Natural Luxury Skincare line for Dry, Mature and Sensitive Skin: Ayr Skin Care

I am so excited to have discovered Ayr Skin Care, a new clean line for dry, mature and sensitive skin with proven results for deep hydration and wrinkle reduction. These effective products were specially formulated in Southern California by a mother-daughter team who use the highest quality products that are non-toxic, cruelty-free and sourced from small family and woman owned co-ops from around the world. All of the products are made in small batches and housed in beautiful eco-friendly packaging.

Use my special glow girl promotion code Glow20 for 20% off all purchases. Click here to buy now!

These products have been game-changing for me, especially the Pure Moisture Nourishing Face Cream in terms of achieving a flawless, youthful glow. I have super dry skin and after using this cream for the past month, my skin feels deeply hydrated and looks and feels its best! I’ve noticed a brighter, more luminous appearance in my complexion. Rich in allantoin, primrose extract, Vitamin C, phenylalanine, argan oil, and honeysuckle hydrosol, this day cream is luxury to the max. The ingredients contain powerful peptides that combat wrinkles and probiotics that feed the skin. You only need to use a small amount of product and the cream absorbs easily leaving skin with a gorgeous matte finish.

Special Glow Girl promotion Glow20 for 20% off all purchases. Click here to buy now!

Another favorite of mine from the line is the Calm Facial Bar. This unique and beautifully swirled facial bar clarifies and illuminates the skin. It also revitalizes the skins elasticity, increases circulation, and stimulates collagen production. Ingredients include organic avocado butter, castor oil and ginger grass—all incredibly soothing.

Special Glow Girl promotion code Glow20 for 20% off all purchases. Click here to buy now!

All of Ayr Skin Care’s creams are formulated with a patent pending plant-based silicone-free technology that I can stand behind! Their luxury skin care formulas are free of toxic ingredients, parabens, silicones, paraffin, gluten, soy, dairy, synthetic dyes and artificial perfumes. Taking care of your skin by using the safest and most effective products should be a priority, especially if you want to look and feel your best.

My goal is to always give you tips to look and feel 10 years younger and I highly recommend trying the Ayr Skin Care line! To order products, go to www.ayrskincare.com and use my special glow girl promotion code Glow20 for 20% off all purchases.

xxMelissa

*This blog post is sponsored by Ayr Skin Care but all opinions are my own.

8 Simple Ways to Boost Your Metabolism by Celeb Nutritionist Elissa Goodman

I was one of those girls who could always eat whatever I wanted, and my bodyweight basically stayed the same, give or take 5 lbs. But… I found that as I entered my 50s, my metabolism started to noticeably slow down. Even though I was regularly exercising and eating a healthy diet, a layer of “fluff” seemed to appear overnight. This change prompted me to take a closer look at and focus on my metabolism.

 In this article, guest contributor and celeb nutritionist Elissa Goodman shares her tips on how to re-boost your metabolism. Read on for some amazing tips and takeaways that have helped me and can help you achieve best results!

8 Simple Ways to Boost Your Metabolism

Elissa Goodman is a nutritionist whose mission is to educate and encourage healthy, mindful living while helping others embrace the concept that we are a product of what we eat and how we treat ourselves.

When you think of someone with a “fast metabolism,” you might immediately envision a naturally thin person. However, metabolism is actually the chemical process in which your body turns calories into energy, and everyone has the ability to implement practices that can shift your levels of metabolism. A strong metabolism has seemingly endless benefits. It is related to lower rates of disease, healthy sex drive, longevity, and more.

Those with autoimmune conditions typically suffer from a sluggish metabolism. It is almost as if their body’s energy-producing mitochondria and thyroid (AKA the “gas pedal gland”) have both gone on strike and, as a consequence, everything has slowed down. As a result of the change in metabolic function, someone with an autoimmune disease might feel tired and cold a lot. They could also have a hard time losing weight. A slow metabolism will decrease the robustness of the immune system, so it is essential to keep track of any big shifts in metabolic function. If you have been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease or just think that your metabolism needs a boost, I recommend trying some of these strategies:

Conscious Breathing

This is one of the most deceptively simple ways to raise your metabolism and relax your body and mind – at the same time. Studies have shown that practices, like yoga, that incorporate conscious breathing result in greater metabolic efficiency likely due to reduced sympathetic activity and/or stabilized nervous system function. If you are new to conscious breath work, do not be intimidated; anyone can do it! You can start by simply inhaling for eight seconds, holding your breath for eight seconds and then exhaling for eight seconds. Do three rounds of 10 breaths in the morning when you wake up and before going to sleep at night.

The Plant Based Ketogenic Diet

You have probably heard that the ketogenic diet has helped some people lose weight; but did you know that it has also been shown to improve overall metabolism in some cases? For those who are unfamiliar with keto, it is a style of eating that is high in fat, moderate in protein, and low in carbohydrates (roughly 70 percent fat, 25 percent protein and five percent carbs). The ketogenic diet can help to lower inflammation, reverse insulin resistance, improve brain function, increase energy levels, and even helps you detoxify from heavy metals. Keto doesn’t have to mean high animal protein and I wouldn’t recommend that version of it. There is a mostly plant-based keto program I would recommend. You can start by looking into Ketotarian by Dr. Will Cole.

Intermittent Fasting

Studies confirm that going without food for certain lengths of time has numerous health benefits like improving insulin sensitivity, increasing energy levels, and boosting metabolism. To ease into it, allow 15 hours between dinner and breakfast a few times per week. If you are more of a morning eater, try skipping dinner multiple times a week and only eat during the mornings and afternoons. Intermittent fasting is not intended to be calorie depriving. In fact, you should not be reducing your caloric intake at all when practicing this form of fasting. You are simply giving your body more time in between meals to reset because digestion is a lot of work on your system.

Stop Calorie Restriction

Give your body the calories it needs to function properly! If you are dieting too intensely, you can wind up entering “starvation mode.” This causes hormonal and cellular changes that drive up your hunger and thirst, while slowing down your fat-burning abilities and muscle growth. Your body slows down all of its essential processes as a means of conserving energy since it is not consuming enough fuel in the form of food.

Exercise

Various forms of exercise have been shown to have both short and long-term effects on metabolic function. I often tell my clients that mild intermittent fasting paired with moderate exercise can be a great combination for combatting poor metabolism. Moderate cardio in a fasted state first thing in the morning, for example, has been shown to offer superior metabolic effects than exercising after eating.

Cold Showers

You may be thinking that this one sounds like an old wives’ tale, but it actually works! Not only does cold water force your body to work harder to keep you warm, thereby burning more calories, it also activates healthy brown fat that helps to eliminate harmful adipose (white) fat. For optimal results, alternate 20 seconds of hot water and 20 seconds of cold water in the shower for a few minutes.

Get Plenty of Sleep

There is a proven link between a properly functioning metabolism and getting adequate sleep and rest. Therefore, a lack of sleep can literally mean a lack of weight loss. “Running on fumes” can seriously slow down your metabolism, so it is absolutely imperative for you to get around eight hours of sleep every night. Just because your brain may feel like it is able to function on limited sleep, that does not mean that your body is operating optimally on it.

Eat the Right Foods

There are various foods that can help to boost your metabolism in different ways. Some of them include healthy fats like avocados, nuts, seeds, and wild fatty fish. Foods rich in iron, zinc and selenium promote proper thyroid function, which helps to maintain a healthy metabolism. Spicy foods like chili and cayenne peppers contain a compound called capsaicin, which may help to slightly increase metabolism and fat oxidation. Similarly, garlic can have a thermogenic effect in the body, which enhances the metabolism. The caffeine found in coffee may also help to boost the number of calories and fat that your body burns. If you are not a coffee drinker, do not worry, you are still in luck. The combination of caffeine and catechins found in green tea may help your body burn slightly more calories and fat if consumed regularly.

Ginger has also been found to increase calorie burning processes. Cacao may have certain metabolism-boosting properties as well, especially for those consuming high-calorie, high-fat diets. Almonds have numerous benefits and among them is metabolism improvement and weight loss. Coconut Oil and MCT Oil have shown similar promise for their metabolism-enhancing properties. I often recommend that my clients add a spoonful of MCT oil to their morning coffee or smoothie to kickstart their metabolism for the day ahead. Finally, experts agree that eating a variety of colorful, antioxidant-rich plant foods is essential for mitochondrial health. It is important to stay away from high-glycemic and high-carb foods like sugar and white flour because they can put a lot of stress on your mitochondria, inhibiting your metabolic function.

If you are experiencing an extreme and uncharacteristic shift in metabolic rate, I recommend consulting a doctor before testing any of these strategies.

Shop some metabolism-boosting essentials by clicking links in the carousel.

I hope you found this article helpful and let me know what works to help you boost your metabolism in the comments below!
xxMelissa

The New Fashion Collaboration You Need to Know About: Franne Golde x The Grateful Gardenia

Glow Girl news flash! Two of the most talented people I know just launched a fashion collaboration and created a new affordable line for all of us to shop, Franne Golde x The Grateful Gardenia. This design collaboration features some amazing styles with must-have wardrobe pieces that are super versatile and stylish (thank you Janet Gunn)! In celebration of this collaboration, I am offering a 15% discount off your Franne Golde order when using the promo code FALLGLOW15 at checkout (deal expires 10/11 at midnight)!

“Good girlfriends share good things!” I first heard this tag line from fashion designer Franne Golde!  I’ve known Franne for about five years now through my dear friend and blogging partner Janet Gunn of the lifestyle blog, The Grateful Gardenia. I was introduced to her line, and her amazing basics, including her famed “magic pants,” quickly became staples in my closet. When I first caught word that Franne Golde was partnering with Janet, I immediately knew this was going to be a winner! 

Below, I share some of my favorite picks from the new collection including this gorgeous pink faux fur stole where a portion of the proceeds is donated to a few breast cancer foundations. There is also a beautiful boho-chic piece named after me... read on to check out the new Melissa Wrap! As we transition seasons, I’m shedding my summer style for these fresh, fall favorites.

Make sure to use the promotion code FALLGLOW15 at check out for %15 off of your Franne Golde order now!

How fabulous is this pink stole? In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness this month, a portion of the proceeds from this faux fur Clara stole will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation.

SHOP HERE

Here I’m wearing the Melissa Wrap! :)

I love the effortlessness of this rustic-chic wrap for fall. It elevates any outfit seamlessly! Throw it over your favorite basics, like a white tee and denim!

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I’m just obsessed with these statement belts with “keep it fun” messaging!

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I live in long cardigans and dusters during the fall— they are the perfect layering piece! Here I’m wearing the Arm & Butt Cover Duster and Janet is wearing one in leopard!

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This silk scarf with Gucci-inspired flower and hummingbird detail is a favorite of mine from the new collection! I love wearing silk scarves around my neck or to use as a hair or handbag accessory!

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No denying that I love a cozy wrap, especially as we enter the colder months! This Jetsetter Wrap is another great addition to your fall refresh—it’s especially comfortable for long-distance traveling! Did I mention it’s also reversible?

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With Janet Gunn and Clara Lee

I’ve been a fan and supporter of Franne Golde over the years and love her mission to create flattering styles that women feel good in - whatever their shape! I hope you love the pieces from the Franne Golde x Grateful Gardenia collection as much as I do, and enjoy some new stylish finds! #goodgirlfriendssharegoodthings

xxMelissa

Photo credit: Stefanie Marie