Stephanie Lauren Brown: Holistic Skin Therapist

As you know by now HOC is not shy when it comes to sharing the best of the best in vibrant health and that is why we took no shortcuts when we journeyed to visit Stephanie Lauren Brown in the city that never sleeps for tips on how to take care of our skin when we don’t get enough! Stephanie knows how to substantially improve skin with more than fourteen years of studies in conjunction with Ayurveda, and coupled with her magic touch. She can tell just from looking at you what lifestyle your body is living and give you suggestions that give results! 

Stephanie, if only all facials could be as sweet as yours. When we think of your approach to skin, the first word that comes to mind is effective. Experiencing your customized holistic facial in NYC further encouraged us to care for our skin from the inside out. 

1 . Your Ayurvedic approach is personalized and natural – how did you come to find that a holistic routine was a solution that works wonders for skin. Tell us about your philosophy.

I learned from my own experience with cystic acne. I began developing acne at the age of thirteen and suffered from a pretty severe case of it for about ten years. During that time, I tried just about everything that was suggested to me, from Accutane (which I took three times) to going vegan, to microdermabrasion, and nothing really made a significant difference. I had essentially given up on ever having skin that I could feel confident about without makeup. Around the same time, I began focusing seriously on my yoga practice and discovered Ayurveda. I was so intrigued and wanted to integrate it into the bodywork that I was already practicing professionally, so I got certified as an Ayurvedic Health Educator. The year and a half I spent in that program was transformational; it was as if I was finally putting a language to information that I had known all along. And slowly, by implementing the techniques and lifestyle suggestions it offered me, my skin completely cleared up, my chronic anxiety was alleviated, and I felt more aligned with my purpose than ever before. 

The holistic medical model of Ayurveda opened my eyes to not only the intricate connections of every system in the body, but to the connection we have as humans to the earth. Ayurveda is the original "farm to table" movement and proves that living in harmony with the environment around us is the truest and healthiest way to exist. We only have to shift our perspective to be able to see that our skin is just the outer reflection of our inner state of health, which includes the physical, mental, and spiritual components. You can't expect a single thing about your body to change if you don't consider all of the parts involved. I try to help my clients see themselves from a different perspective than they have before.

2. What is the first thing you notice about other people’s skin?

Because I use the skin as a diagnostics tool, I can tell a lot about the kind of lifestyle you live by just looking at your skin. Both Chinese medicine and Ayurveda have specific face-mapping techniques that I use to see where you may be experiencing an imbalance internally. By supporting your body via diet, sleep, and stress reduction, the skin will naturally improve. 

3. Many of us are often on the go or traveling and this deeply affects how our skin looks and feels. What is in your skin travel bag?

I try to keep it simple as I hate to lug around a huge bag so I typically have a hydrating toner and an oil with me at all times. On the plane, I will frequently mist my face and then massage in some oil to trap the water into the skin. And if it's a long flight, I'll layer on a nice thick layer of moisturizer on top to make sure I don't get too dry! I also keep a balm of some sort to use around the eyes, lips, and on my hands. 

4. What is your daily skin beauty regime?

This shifts depending on where I am. In the city (NYC), I always make sure to start the day with some water splashed on the face, followed by a toner, and then an oil mixed with an antioxidant serum of some sort. This helps to neutralize any free radical damage that occurs from living in a polluted city (yuck). At night, I double cleanse, using an oil first, then repeating my toning, oil, and serum application but instead using a heavier oil and a retinol serum. Then I layer on a balm. If I'm in the country (at our house in Northwestern Connecticut), then I'm much less diligent about everything! 

5. Is it more important to feed your skin from the inside or outside?

Ooooo- a tough question! But ultimately, no matter what you're using on the outside, topical products are almost useless unless you're making an effort to take care of yourself on the inside via diet, sleep, and stress reduction. Period. 

6. Do you have any tips for reducing redness?

If you're seeing redness in the skin, you've got inflammation, and it's definitely also happening somewhere internally, as well. Remove all inflammatory foods from your diet (dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar) and use some calming topicals to soothe the skin like pure aloe gel. 

7. Who is your (sk)inspiration?

I am inspired by so many women who are using modern chemistry mixed with herbal alchemy to craft elegant, superior products. Marie Veronique, Sara Crowe of Floracopiea, and Julie Elliot of In Fiore are just a few. 

8. What is the best thing for dry skin? Oily skin?

Dry skin needs hydration via water and something that can hold it in there like a hyalauronic acid serum followed by an oil and balm. Oily skin needs regular exfoliation and a lightweight oil like grape seed or jojoba to keep it balanced. 

9. Do you prefer a shower or a bath?

Baths!  I dump everything in the bath, including crystals and flowers. Baths make me feel like a goddess.

10. We often hear how crucial the appropriate amount of sleep is. In your opinion, what role does sleep have on affecting the skin?

Sleep is absolutely essential to hormonal regulation which affects every function of the body. If you're not sleeping well, your immune system will be compromised and you're much more likely to get sick, not to mention experience dull skin. Make sleep a priority- it's essential to your health. 

11. If you could choose one makeup item to wear what would it be? Why? ( i.e. foundation, mascara, lip , eyebrow etc.)

It used to be foundation but now that my skin doesn't break out I don't usually wear makeup. A good mascara is hard to find but it's kind of my can't-live-without item.

12. T or F. It is better for your skin to wear no makeup at all.

 Absolutely. Wouldn't it be so great if we didn't feel pressured to wear makeup at all? Let your skin breathe and skip it. 

Article by: Karli Quinn

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Stephanie Lauren Brown is a passionate Holistic Skin Therapist whose work focuses on nurturing the skin from the inside out.

After personally battling cystic acne for ten years, Stephanie understands how frustrating and self-deprecating troubled skin can be. Years of internal antibiotic use combined with harsh, chemically-laden prescription creams and aggressive facial procedures made her wonder why no one or nothing had seemed to make a substantial improvement in her skin. It was then she decided to explore what might be causing this chronic condition, and began a deep, lifelong study of the body and its processes.

Over fifteen years of studies have refined Stephanie's abilities to assist clients who are suffering from troubled skin utilizing natural ingredients and practiced techniques. She has been a working Certified Massage Therapist since 2002, and is a Certified Ayurvedic Health Educator through the California College of Ayurveda and the Ayurvedic Institute since 2006. Stephanie is also an Aveda-trained holistic Aesthetician and has completed multiple advanced body and skin therapy trainings throughout her career in a variety of healing modalities including Marma point therapy, Pancha Karma and traditional Ayurvedic body therapies, Acupressure, Reflexology, manual lymph drainage, Myofascial release, and Reiki. She holds Aesthetic Licenses in both New York and California. Stephanie combines the most effective techniques in her treatments in addition to thoughtful lifestyle coaching to assist each client on their path to vibrant health.

The Perfect Workout for your Body Type (Dosha)

We all know exercise is good for our bodies, minds, and souls, but did you know the type of exercise that’s best for you actually depends on your mind-body type?

According to Ayurveda, the world’s oldest health system, there are three mind-body types: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. As an Ayurvedic Nutritionist and author of the upcoming book The Idiot’s Guide to Ayurveda, I focus on bringing this ancient healing system into our modern lives. While the Vedas didn’t write about whether CrossFit or Pure Barre is better for your physique, they had some pretty incredible insights into our physiology that we can truly benefit from today.

In this article, I’m going to give you pointers on the best type of exercise according to your unique mind-body type. If you don’t know your mind-body type, take my quiz  which will help you assess it.

Once you know, here are the best workouts for you:

Those with Vata bodies:

Vatas are energizer bunnies who love to move. They are most similar to the Ectomorph body type in Sports Nutrition. They love the feeling of a good cardio session. You can find them in Soul Cycle spinning up a storm, doing high kicks in kickboxing, shaking their booties in Zumba, or going HAM on the elliptical machine. They have a need for speed and love the types of workouts where you lose your breath, and yourself while doing them. They love the feeling of getting their heart rates up, which makes them feel free - something very important for Vatas.

However, all that movement is not recommended for Vatas. Ayurveda is all about seeking balance. Therefore you should counter-balance your natural energy with that which you lack. 

Because Vatas are drawn to quick, sweaty cardio sessions, it’s best to counter-balance that quickness with some slow, steady strength training. 

Vatas have a hard time gaining muscle mass and need to pay particular attention to building their bones and muscles to prevent bone-density issues in the future. I recommend scheduling two to three strength-training sessions in the week where you really isolate your individual muscles, without the cardio component of quickly trying to lift as fast as possible. Think slow, steady, and thorough. Proper form is more important than speed.

Balance is also very important to practice for Vatas, as they naturally can have a weak balance due to skeletal irregularities in their physiology. Try doing one-leg deadlifts, bicep curls on one leg, and walking lunging to improve your balance and agility.

Make sure you take your rest days. Vatas are naturally on the thin side and have a hard time preserving body fat so you want to make sure you don’t overdo it and give your muscles a chance to rest between sweat sessions.

Those with Pitta bodies:

Pittas are natural athletes. They are most similar to the Mesomorph body type in Sports Nutrition. They have a strong stamina and love to work their muscles to the max. They are drawn to boot camps, boxing, CrossFit, and anything else that pushes their body's limits. They put muscle on easily and love the results they get. Needless to say, they love to feel the burn.

However, all that intense exercise is not really the best thing for these already fiery Pittas. They must counter-balance their naturally competitive energy with some non-competitive, relaxing workouts. Don’t kill me, I know you want your boot camp in, but I swear that grounding down will really help.

Pilates is a great exercise for Pittas because it works their muscles, but at the same time is therapeutic and relaxing. I also recommend yin yoga, which is the practice of holding one stretch for two to three minutes without moving. If you do boot camps, be sure to meditate and ground down afterward so you don’t stay in that fight-or-flight mode for the rest of the day.

It’s super important for Pittas to avoid getting overheated. Pittas are hot by nature, so a humid room can really throw them off balance. Avoid working out in hot weather, such as in the middle of the day or outside in the summer. Steer clear of heated yoga practices, which will throw your Pitta energy way out of wack. Instead, focus on cooling down. 

Swimming is an excellent practice for Pittas because it allows you to move, strengthen and stretch your body while cooling down. Hit up your friend that has a pool to do some laps or take a run on the beach.

It’s also crucial for you to take your rest days. Pittas like to be on the go and often forget to schedule downtime in their busy agendas. Remember, your muscles cannot develop if you are always working them. Try to take two off-days during the week to just stretch your body out. Foam rolling is a really great way to knead out deep knots, which Pittas often have. And practice Abhyanga, self-massage with cooling coconut oil. I explain all about how to practice Abhyanga on my site.

Those with Kapha bodies:

Kaphas are naturally slow and steady and may actually hate to workout. Getting up to go to the gym may feel like physical torture for them. Does this sound like you?

Kaphas are most similar to the Endomorph body type in Sports Nutrition. They are more sedentary by nature and have a tough time getting into an exercise routine. However, once they start getting their sweat sessions in, they actually begin to love it because it stimulates their minds and bodies, counter-balancing their heavy energy. Kaphas actually have the highest endurance of all the Doshas and can tolerate the longest duration of exercise, so don’t be afraid to work it.

Kaphas medicine is sweat. In Ayurveda, sweat is fat's antidote. Therefore, by sweating every day you are inhibiting your body's fat storage. Kaphas naturally store fat more easily than the other Doshas, so sweat is really medicine for them. I always like to tell myself in a tough workout, “Sweat is fat crying.” You can try that little mantra for motivation the next time you find yourself on a treadmill.

Kaphas should avoid excess strength-training if they are trying to lose weight because it will actually make them heavier. Kaphas may be drawn to slow, steady weight-lifting and shy away from cardio but it’s really the opposite they need.

Kaphas should do HIIT (high-intensity interval training) classes where they are doing things like jump squats, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, and burpees throughout the class, with quick weight lifting in between. This is really going to speed up your metabolism and help trigger your body’s fat-burning potential. If your heart-rate isn’t increased you won’t be burning enough calories to target your fat cells. Check out your local gym for classes. Tabata, Plyometrics, Spinning, and Ropes & Rower classes are all great options and gyms often have their own variations of classes. If that sounds too intimidating for you start off with a type of cardio class you enjoy like Zumba or a barre class.

Even if you don’t have a gym membership there are so many workouts you can do at home. Try going for a run, jump roping or practicing lunges, squats, push-ups, and planks at home. That’s really all you need to get your body going. Don’t underestimate the power of walking. Walking 20 minutes a day can make significant differences in your weight over time. Do something that you enjoy and don’t be afraid of a challenge.

Exercise is one of the most medicinal things we can do. Physical stimulation creates mental stimulation. A stagnant body is a stagnant mind. By opening the channels of our bodies we open the channels of our minds. If people exercised more often most diseases and depression would cease to exist.

Which type of exercise is your favorite? What’s your Dosha? Let me know in the comments! And if you don’t know your mind-body type, take my quiz on my website eatfeelfresh.com.

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Sahara Rose is an Ayurvedic Practitioner, Sports Nutritionist and Holistic Health Coach, as well as upcoming author of The Idiot’s Guide to Ayurveda. She is passionate about bridging Eastern and Western health philosophies and leads a 12 Week Program on incorporating both into our everyday, busy lives. Learn more about Ayurvedic wisdom on her website eatfeelfresh.com and follow her on Instagram @EatFeelFresh.

Rich Roll - Plant Based Iconoclast

Rich Roll is someone that we're proud to call our friend.  He's a man that has reinvented himself several times over the course of his life - he will be the last person to declare himself "done".  Like all of us, he's a work in progress.  But Rich, he pushes himself far beyond his comfort zone just to see where he may go.  It's a process, and he does it every day.  He's not a man of routine, but when he is, you can find him putting his talents and artistry to work as a premiere health advocate in public speaking, writing, and his very successful podcast, the Rich Roll Podcast.  Rich has an outlook on life that's relatable and meaningful.  We listen closely to every word, where we quickly find laughter and honest self-deprecating passion for his truly authentic self. We caught up with Rich for a few moments to get to know him just a little bit better.

1.  You travel so often; during travel time, what are some of the foods or beverages you find for snacks or a quick meal when on the go?

It’s getting easier. Airports are improving all the time. The American Airlines terminal has a Real Food Daily so if I fly out of that terminal I don’t have to plan ahead for a long flight. Otherwise, I pack food for the plane. Typical snacks include a veggie burrito, bananas, almonds, and plenty of water. I keep it pretty simple. I also spend a little time plotting where the vegan-friendly restaurants are in new cities. The Happy Cow mobile app is handy for this. In addition, I always know where the healthy food markets are where I travel. Often I will go right to the market from the airport before even checking into my hotel to make sure I have healthy options always on hand. Hotels with kitchenettes are always preferred. That said, I don’t overthink things or get stressed out. I have traveled all over the world and, invariably, I can find something that works no matter where I am. Every place has nuts, grains, seeds, and fruit.

2.  What is an ideal day for you?

A restful night of sleep followed by some tea and 20 minutes of meditation. After that I will do some journaling and then head out for a trail run, swim, or long bike ride. Ideally, it’s warm and sunny out! A green smoothie and healthy meal will follow (preferably prepared by Julie, who is an insane cook). The afternoon might include doing a podcast, working on a video, and spending time with my kids. A family tea ceremony and meeting in the evening where we congregate to share our dreams and challenges would preface a dinner prepared and enjoyed by our whole clan of 10 (we call it the “Jai Tribe”) will follow. Bed by 10!

3.  What’s something you do that helps you and your wife Julie stay so connected?

Making our relationship a priority. We both have a lot going on, and with four kids, two dogs, plus our nephew and oldest son Tyler’s girlfriend living with us (plus our artist friend Andrew and his young daughter who live on our property in an airstream), things are hectic and it’s easy to allow our relationship to slide. We have been together almost 18 years, and one thing I have learned is that nothing is static — especially my marriage. It requires a great deal of focus, attention, and work. We always carve out at least one date night per week and monthly overnight mini-vacations together. In fact, we just returned from a brief stay up in Santa Barbara for this very purpose. We poke fun at our differences, trying to celebrate them. And it’s important to never let resentments simmer. Fighting is a healthy part of being in an honest relationship, but we try to make our fights awesome. And if we are in conflict, we don’t walk away until it is resolved. Never go to bed angry.

4.  What’s your first thought when you wake up in the morning?

My head spins a million miles an hour with all the things I have to get done the moment I gain consciousness. That’s why meditation is so crucial to my routine — otherwise, I am reactive all day. Setting myself up to go on offense rather than play defense is important.

5.  What’s your favorite music album of all time?

REM changed my life. Murmur is a perfect album. Jeff Buckley’s Grace is a close second.

6.  Who is an influencer that you admire and why?

I take different forms of inspiration from many different people for different reasons and areas of my life. I can’t say any one person checks every box for me, perhaps because I do many things — I am a writer and an athlete and a podcaster, a family man, a filmmaker, a public speaker and an advocate. I approach everything I do from a creative perspective. So in this sense, at the great risk of sounding ridiculously pretentious, I consider myself to be an artist. And to create well, it’s important to not be overly influenced by any one person other than yourself and your inner voice.

7.  What’s your guilty pleasure?

Potato chips. There - I said it.

8.  Finding Ultra was a success.  The Plantpower Way was a success - is another book planned?

Yes. I am in the early stages of putting together my next book. I don’t want to say much beyond that it will be a primer on life transformation and living your authentic life.

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Learn more about Rich Roll at richroll.com, purchase his book The Plantpower Way, and download the Rich Roll Podcast.  You can also connect with him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.