de Mamiel Altitude Oil. It’s incredibly relaxing, and a little dab under each nostril keeps the germs at bay and the air fresh. I have a hard time sleeping on transatlantic or super long flights and this is my secret weapon.

Solar Recover Save Your Skin moisturizing spray. The travel size is the perfect way to keep skin hydrated without clogging pores, and is great for quick frizz management as well. This miracle spritz contains a host of efficacious essential oils, and a healthy dose of seaweed extract to keep skin hydrated and protected.

Buckwheat neck pillow and headphones.

Put my hair back, slather or buff on sunscreen (love Coola Sport 45 and Jane Iredale Powder Me Dry Sunscreen SPF 30 ), a little Vapour Multi-Use Aura in Courtesan on my cheeks, Aubrey Organics lip balm…. and done.

Mints, Tascha blotting papers, Vapour Organics Multi-Use Stain in either Enchant or Lure. These are fool proof and give skin that perfect lit-from-within glow. Also, Vapour Organics Lipstick in Torrid –  I apply this super deep berry and blend with a fingertip to create a more stained effect on the lip.

Summer! And everything that goes along with it… my paddleboard, sunsets, kayaking with my son on my lap, the beach, fresh vegetables, cookouts with friends. I love the fall too, but anything and everything summer is pure bliss!

Morning: whole avocado with a dash of sea salt and olive oil, or plain yogurt (full fat), olive oil, ground flax seeds and gluten-free granola. Both options are super high in omegas and antioxidants.

Afternoon/evening: kale salad. Raw kale is definitely a superfood, and I saw a change in how I felt and how my skin looked after I incorporated it into my diet several days per week. Quinoa and lentils, either plain or with some roasted veggies (cook your quinoa with vegetable stock to add flavor). The health benefits are amazing. Packed with protein and fiber, these items are a staple for me and my skin shows the benefits of a healthier diet for sure.

Water (room temp or slightly warm) with lemon or cucumber. This is tried and true for me. It may be little spa and old school (with roots in Ayurveda), but I love how it makes me feel, and the taste really gets me to drink more water, which I always need to do. The health benefits are pretty impressive as well. Fresh lemon is super refreshing and detoxifying. It also aids in digestion, promotes clear skin and is a good source of vitamin C. Cucumber is healing and anti-inflammatory which is great for skin.

I am definitely not glamorous, but if I’m trying, I would say heels – I rarely wear them, but I love to buy them. Also, Ilia Lipstick in Wildchild, Studio 78 foundation, lots of mascara and an amazing blow-out at the James Corbett Studio here in NYC.

A high impact stain. I usually just apply lipstick with intense pigment and feather it with fingertips – and I always start with a great lip conditioner.

Clarisonic. I really love it. It helps keep my skin clear and glowing.

Yogurt masks for the face and body. Full-fat yogurt with probiotics, mixed with whatever oils are needed. If I’m dry, I add some carrot seed oil and some borage; and if my skin is a bit congested or breaking out, I add lavender and geranium. I also like to add manuka honey to the mix, no matter how my skin is acting.

Mayonnaise as a hair mask. I have really dry hair and this mask, while it smells pretty terrible, works wonders!! Use 1/2 cup full-fat organic mayo, and mix with 2 egg yolks (super high in protein). Apply when the mixture is at room temperature and leave on for 15-20 mins. Rinse out with gentle sulfate-free shampoo and use the shampoo sparingly and only on the scalp/root area. Do this treatment only once per month as the protein content is high. The results are incredible.

Tela Organics Color Keeper shampoo and conditioner. Herbivore Botanicals White Clay soap, Dr. Bronner’s body wash in lavender, peppermint and almond.

Organic lavender oil, an ever-rotating stack of books (I love to read), Los Poblanos Lavender Salve (my hands are insanely dry which is odd because the rest of me is pretty oily/combination), and a concoction that I make for my lips, the skin around my eyes, etc. consisting of organic jojoba oil, borage oil, carrot seed oil and sea buckthorn oil. It’s super moisturizing, crazy high in omegas and antioxidants, it encourages collagen production and is great for skin that is starting to age.

Get acupuncture. I can’t begin to explain the benefits. Too many to count, and I feel it throughout all aspects of my body, my mind and my life!

I also take one Friday off each month to have a long weekend. I do one every other month with my son, so we can have more time together without school and work, and the next on a weekend when he is with his dad (I rotate every other month). This allows me to rest a bit, as being a single working mom is amazing, but can tire me out for sure.

I don’t drink, but I still like to stay out late sometimes, so when I get run-down after weekend fun, I pump myself up with a little bit of caffeine, some juice in the late morning and really just take it slow. An extra long bath at the end of the day helps a ton as well.

Capuccino, green juice and lots of good healthy food. And aromatherapy doesn’t hurt. Grapefruit oil perks me right up!!

So many things have impacted my skin and improved it, but I can honestly say that the one thing that has changed my skin is living better overall: great food, less coffee, exercise and a more balanced life (that means saying no to things, which is definitely hard for me).

It’s more of a life tip, and it took me a long time to really understand and implement it. My grandmother used to say, “if you’re happy, it radiates from within and that’s what beauty is.” For her, happiness was being in the moment, experiencing love, removing negative people from her life, being spontaneous and being honest. I strive to live this and it requires tough decisions and action sometimes, but it is so worth it.

Sleep, good food (lots of greens), exfoliation and masks (love Dr. Alkaitis), and time with loved ones.

Baths. I absolutely love to soak in the tub, even just for 20 minutes after I get my son to bed. For me, it’s the perfect end to the day and really sets the tone for restful sleep.