Morning, Skin-Fueling Routine

Supplements and habits to improve your skin from the inside out.

Good morning! This post ventures past what I put on my skin, and focuses on what fuels my glow from the inside out. Your skin is your largest organ, which means what you put in your body, ultimately reflects back on it. It’s allllll connected my friends. Personally, there is no better proof of this than a day full of beer and a 2am pizza run, and waking up to a completely different face.

Among other benefits, I have found that having a morning routine sets me up mentally for success that day. Once I have done all these steps, I feel like I have done a mental check, check, check off my to-do list.

Step 1

Water, Apple Cider Vinegar + Lemon

Glass of water + two cap fulls of ACV + dash of pure lemon juice

I start everyday the exact same, ACV and Lemon in room temperature water. Apple Cider Vinegar has an absurd amount of benefits, google it and you’ll be overwhelmed. To name a few, it helps with bloating and digestion, boosts your immune system, helps cleanse your liver, kills harmful bacteria, anti-inflammatory, and many sources says it helps with clear skin. A true gold mine. Make sure to get ACV that is "with the mother", that's where the majority of the benefits come from.

Pro tip: I sometimes use a (Paper!!! Love you, turtles) straw to scarf it down quick.

I use a Soma water filter that I leave out on the counter, it saves fridge space, leaves your water at room temp which is better for your bod, and the clean design is aesthetic AF. Besides being pretty and easy to use, Soma's filtration technology is made of 65% renewable, plant-based materials.

Step 2

Supplements

There are mixed reviews on what supplements actually do for you, and how much they significantly impact your health. The most important way to get the vitamins and nutrients you need is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, but I like to add a few supplements every morning to help maximize health benefits.

Ritual Vitamins

Before I found Ritual, I had a cabinet full of vitamins that I wouldn’t take consistently. Once I was introduced to the brand, I’ve loved how streamlined and easy taking vitamins are, and have been taking them for over two years. A 30 day supply gets delivered once a month (plus easy pause options), the pills are easy to take, and have a nice mint aftertaste. Why is this different than a normal multi-vitamin? The transparency, thoughtfulness and sourcing. The website is educational on each ingredient, why it’s important and where it’s from. All ingredients are responsibly sourced, vegan, and best in class. If you want to learn more, check out their website, it’s awesome. They have vitamins for those under 50, 50+, and prenatal vitamins.

I’m waiting for my promo code to come in, but if you want to try these and get $15 off your first order - DM me!

Probiotics

Probitoics are not only important for the gut (your second brain, as they say) but directly impact the health of your skin. As written in this Forbes article, “They [probiotics] reinforce your skin's natural barrier against bad bacteria, balance your skin's pH levels and may even protect against skin cancer.”. Not only do I see the direct effects of probiotics on my skin, but they really help balance my digestive system overall, a very nice 2-for-1! If this is interesting to you, I highly recommend this article on Goop that talks about the relationship of your gut to skin health.

I personally don’t have a brand favorite, and since they can get expensive, I usually try and find one on sale at Whole Foods. The two things you need to look for is that they are refrigerated and the higher count CFU, the better. Refrigeration is key since probiotics are technically *live bacteria*, unless they specifically say they’ve been freeze dried and are OK to keep at room temp. The higher the count, usually the more expensive and more effective the probiotic will be.

Tumeric

Tumeric is another one of those magic ingredients that helps heal an abundance of issues. Tumeric helps with pain, arthritis, skin issues and inflammation. I take Tumeric for the inflammation and skin side of things. Especially noticeable when hungover, Tumeric pills work the help calm down the skin. I take one of these every morning and think it helps long term to heal your body and skin, it’s also antibacterial which may help with some skin issues.

I used to put some Tumeric powder in my tea, but the stuff stains. I switched to supplements and it’s so much easier. No brand loyalty here, but always look for the strongest blend of Tumeric with black pepper. Black pepper enhances Tumeric’s star ingredient of curcumin absorption in the body by up to 2,000%, so yeah, need it.

Step 3

Collagen

Last step! I am a big believer in preventative skin care. SPF, clean skincare, nutrition, and lastly, collagen is my combination to *hopefully* aging gracefully. I mix a tablespoon of collagen in water and take my vitamins with that mixture, but it would work great if you do a morning smoothie too. Collagen will not have the same impact as a new mask or serum that you immediately say, “wow, fire!”. But instead, is a long term approach to supporting your skin as you age. In our late 20s and beyond, our natural collagen production starts to slow, so by taking collagen supplements, you can help support the function of your skin, as well as bone and joint health.

So, what exactly is collagen? Collagen is a naturally occurring protein in your body, that supports skin, muscle, and bones, among other things. How does collagen directly impact skin health? According to this article on Healthline, “Collagen plays a role in strengthening skin, plus may benefit elasticity and hydration. As you age, your body produces less collagen, leading to dry skin and the formation of wrinkles. However, several studies have shown that collagen peptides or supplements containing collagen may help slow the aging of your skin by reducing wrinkles and dryness”. The other plus to collagen is it is a huge source of healthy protein, so by drinking it every morning it will help curb hunger and get your body off to a good start.

My other morning rituals

(when I have the time)

Vibrating Jade Roller: Before I apply makeup, I try and jade roll quickly to let my morning products sink in and get a facial massage in. This is especially needed if I ate salty food the day before, or had a few glasses of wine the night before (these usually accompany each other).

Dry brushing: Do this before the shower, and it'll be just as invigorating as espresso, IMO. Start at your toes, brush yourself with long, sweeping, upward motions. When you get to your arms, brush towards your heart. If you ever get confused, the direction from anywhere should always be towards the heart.

5 Minute Journal: I did this for a while last year, and just started again in January. Especially during rough times, or days when you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, this will ground you and put you in a better mood.

Have any questions or morning rituals you swear by that help your skin? Comment below!