Peter Nguyen is the founder of Recherche Beauté & co-founder of Indigo Lab.
He shares with us his daily flow and reflections during this time of personal space in quarantine that we all are experiencing together.
Self-Care Flow
Some self-care rituals I have immersed myself in during these times are preparing and cooking nourishing and nutritious foods and dishes to feed my body, soul and build my strength and immunity. I am of Vietnamese descent, so I have been experimenting with a lot of my mother’s traditional Vietnamese recipes, by getting creative and putting my own vegan and California farm-to-table twist for each recipe, such as my own interpretation of the pho broth, made with nutrient-dense vegetables purchased from local farmer’s markets and Erewhon. I make a large batch of which I can freeze, store and prepare so that I can sip on throughout the day to keep immunity strong and healthy, especially during these times.
I have a background in beauty, so beauty self-care rituals are a must always. I have my own skin care line of which I use religiously, but with the amount of time I am spending at home these days, I have been experimenting and formulating a lot of my own concoctions. I made my own rose water to ingest and use as a skin toner with fresh organic garden rose petals and Mountain Valley Spring Water. I have also made some beautiful body oil infusions with golden jojoba oil and rose hip seed oil, infusing them in glass mason jars with dried calendula, rose petals, lavender, chamomile and yarrow. I have also been taking a lot of baths, of which I will infuse my baths with oat flour, goat milk, baking soda, dried rose petals, honey and a few drops of sandalwood essential oil. My skin feels so soft after and I literally will just float right into a peaceful night’s sleep after.
And lastly, the most important act of self-care I have been immersed in is really taking this time to connect with my loved ones, whether it be via FaceTime, Zoom classes or phone calls, connecting with loved ones has been very nurturing and nourishing to my heart and soul. It is such a beautiful gift to be able to really take time to talk, connect and share stories and experiences with people you love and inspire you.
Movement
I normally live a very active life, so movement is very important to me. Prior to all of this, I held the record for taking the most classes at Barry’s Bootcamp since the new year started, so to be self-quarantined has been very challenging for me. But fortunately, Barry’s Bootcamp has been offering IG Live at-home workout classes I have recently delved into and I love it, as it feels great to move and contract all of the muscles throughout my body and feeling the circulation that makes me feel alive within my body.
Walking my French Bulldog, Luna outside in our neighborhood, beautiful local parks and along the beach has not only been a necessity for her, but a beautiful gift for myself to be able to breath fresh air (the pollution levels in LA have dissipated immensely due to no one being outside and driving), get my dose of vitamin D from the sun, and additional movement in through walking and running with my dog.
Favorite Products
My favorite products I cannot live without right now are my Livon Liposomal Vitamin C packets, Quicksilver Scientific Liposomal Glutathione to strengthen my immunity. And I have been proactively trying to ween myself off of coffee and caffeine in the mornings, so I started using Sunpotion’s Bacopa Transcendent Elixir, and one dropper underneath my tongue gives me that boost of mental clarity and energy without the caffeine. I am obsessed! Another product I can’t live without right now, especially with the state that our world is currently in, in order calm my mind from the barrage of news and developments, I use Bach Original Flower Remedies White Chestnut Extract to calm my mind. Another product I cannot live without and literally living in are my custom made RG Kimono kimono robes made of luxurious fabrics such as sustainable cashmere, silks and bamboo rayon. It is as if I have wrapped myself in a cocoon made of pure love and intention woven into every stitch by my beloved friend and designer, Rita Ghanime. They are not only comfortable, but also stylish. Who says you can’t feel stylish during quarantine?! And last but not least, I swear by my Recherche Beauté Rose Sauvage Gentle Resurfacing Treatment, a daily treatment that’s smells as though I am waking through a rose garden to start my day. I apply first thing in the morning to tone, gently exfoliate, combat puffiness and brighten my skin before I jump in the shower to rinse it off.
Mental and Spiritual Practice
A devoted and routine mental and spiritual practice is the absolute most important gift we can give ourselves especially during these times. This year has not disappointed in terms of providing us with shocking news and developments. And whether we are aware of it or not, it is absolutely shocking to our nervous systems. My daily practice of Kundalini yoga and meditation with my partner and teacher Kjord Davis has been my saving grace. Known as the yoga of awareness, it not only strengthens our sensitivity to what is unfolding before us, it also strengthens our nervous systems to be able to handle the incessant “shock and awes” we are confronted with. It connects us to our higher consciousness to be able to deeply understand and comprehend what is happening around us, and also grounds us into our bodies through connecting to our breath and feeling the electricity of our bodies.
I have also been delving more deeply into astrology with Kjord as well. His guidance, knowledge and connection to the cosmos has been such an incredible tool for me, like a personal road map for me on how to navigate these times based upon my own connection to the universe.
I have also been doing remote spiritual healing sessions with my friend Jessica Renee of Live Fully. She is based in Hawaii, and brings the serene and calming energy of Hawaii into our sessions with deeply profound sensitivity and connection to higher realms of consciousness. I emerge feeling calmer, more connected and with crystal-clear vision based upon her guidance.
Peter Nguyen is the co-founder of Indigo Lab and founder of Recherche Beauté.
Connect with Peter: @indigolabyogi | @indigoyogalab | @recherche_beaute