Alexandra Engler

Just A Long List Of Sun Care Tips From Skin Care Experts Now that we’re on the cusp of warmer days ahead, the anticipation of days spent outside— lingering in the sun and warm air—is almost unbearable. I don’t know about you, but for me it’s been a long winter. I’m in desperate need of some brightness. It’s important to get outside: Take ample time to enjoy nature, the fresh spring weather, and precious sunshine! Being outdoors brings with it a host of benefits that range from improved mood, low…

A Longevity MD Says Glutathione Is The Key To Younger-Looking Skin — Here’s Why Antioxidants are really fabulous little things, aren’t they? Antioxidants help fight free radicals, manage oxidative stress, and deal with inflammation. (That’s kind of their whole shtick). This is helpful because free radicals wreak havoc on the body. Here’s a simple summary as to why: Free radicals have an uneven number of electrons, which poses a problem because electrons “like” to be in pairs. On a hunt for an el…

This Iconic Blush Just Got A Formula Upgrade & Our Beauty Director’s Impressed I remember the first time I saw NARS’s Powder Blush in Orgasm, a cult-favorite product that’s purchased once every single minute. At the time, there wasn’t a Sephora in my hometown, but my mom and I would take periodic shopping trips to a city an hour away. That city had one, and we’d always stop by so she could pick up her favorite makeup and skin care products. While she shopped, I would wander around among the gli…

I Have Old-Looking Hands & This Is The Only Hand Cream That Helps (Reviewers Agree!) I have old-looking hands. The palms are hyper-wrinkly (whatever amount of wrinkles you’re imagining, triple it). The backs are both veiny and bony, and the skin is a bit sallow. This is something I’m not afraid to admit and gleefully show off to friends with a laugh: “Have I shown you my old hands?” I giggle when someone asks me to be the hand model for a photo, post, or some such. At first, folks try to be gent…

Tune In: A Longevity Physician On How To Optimize Your Health Span & Skin Span “There is low-level chronic inflammation that happens as a result of the aging process. And for some people that can smolder a little bit more and begin to affect people,” says internal medicine physician and longevity specialist Anant Vinjamoori, M.D. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, I chat with Vinjamoori about the ways that low-level inflammation starts to show up in the body, including on the skin. Vinjamoo…

These Are The 2 Collagen-Boosting Treatments That Actually Are Worth The Money The beauty world can be oh-so-expensive, no? Every time I walk the beauty aisles of a department store, I’m simply shocked at how much an eye cream costs these days! Now, I’d like to take a moment to clarify that I’m a big proponent of caring for your skin—I’m not someone who thinks it’s all superfluous and overpriced. Some things are expensive and—and here’s the most important part—worth it. So I guess my stance on t…

The Next Big Wave Of Actives Support Mitochondrial Health There are a few beauty buzzwords every skin care enthusiast instantly knows: collagen, elastin, ceramides, retinol, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and so on. If you take it one step further, the true science nerds will understand the relevance of a few other terms: things like fibroblasts, messenger peptides, or stratum corneum. But only the folks who are really interested in skin care at the cellular level will appreciate the importance o…

Fragrance Can Help Us Remember The Past — But Can It Inspire A Better Future, Too? I can’t wear perfumes with heavy notes of lilac. It reminds me too much of home during the spring and summer months, when the lilac bushes in our backyard would reach several feet tall and the air would fill with the aroma of the soft, airy floral. Anytime I smell it, I’m instantly homesick—aching for a time when my biggest concern was catching more fireflies than my brother. Longing for moments you know you can’t…

The Best Posture & Movement Tips For Folks Who Sit All Day — From Folks Who Used To Sit All Day Like many folks with an office job that involves most of my day in front of a screen, I sit a lot. I know I’m not the only one, as surveys indicate that Americans sit for upwards of 9.5 hours a day—an absolutely startling number of hours that I find myself unfortunately relating to. Recently occupational therapist and health writer Lis Bahr, OTD, MS wrote a story for us about how sitting impacts back…

Wellness Travel In Santa Fe: Spas, Hikes & Ranches Travel can restore your well-being. We’re here to help you on that journey with Well-Traveled, a go-to destination for travel recommendations and tips. Sante Fe is one of my favorite cities of all time. As someone who has an affinity for the American Southwest landscape, a love of art, an adventurous streak, and a deep appreciation for spiritual practices of all kinds, Santa Fe feels like home to me. I’ve been there several times—starting when…

3 Collagen-Boosting Treatments That Really Work From Top Regenerative Aesthetic MDs In the pursuit of stronger, smoother, firmer, and more lifted skin, skin care experts zero in on collagen and elastin production. For good reason: Collagen and elastin are your skin’s structural proteins that make up the dermal layer and are responsible for how the skin looks and feels. In youth, the body is able to replenish collagen and elastin levels very efficiently—so the skin always has a steady, plump supp…

Tune In: A Holistic Esthetician’s Best Tips For Stronger Skin The theme of today’s Clean Beauty School episode is summed up quite succinctly by my guest, esthetician Athena Hewett, when she said this: “Love what you came into this world with, don’t try to change it, and just embrace it—that’s when your skin will really glow,” says the founder of the cult-favorite brand Monastery and San Francisco–based spa of the same name.As she explains throughout the episode, the skin is a resilient, smart, d…

Tune In: The Skin Care Advice A Holistic Plastic Surgeon Gives His A-List Clients On today’s episode of Clean Beauty School, I’m talking to aesthetics pioneer and board-certified plastic surgeon Julius Few, M.D. He’s been at the forefront of many innovations, from researching non-surgical interventions such as lasers and various injectables to practicing holistic plastic surgery. “As a plastic surgeon, it would be very easy for me to say, ’Oh you have a wrinkle, so let me do something about that…

How To Firm Your Skin While Working Out According To Research & Medical Professionals For years there was a persistent, and rather annoying, myth that claimed exercise aged the face. Certainly, there are workout habits that may contribute to premature aging of the skin. The most notable is not wearing SPF and other forms of sun protection when running, hiking, or during other outdoor workouts. And some experts note that over-exercising can exacerbate gravitational wrinkles or contribute to a gau…

The Best (& Easiest) Way To Smooth Fine Lines & Crepey Hands I’m in my 30s and have smooth, firm, and healthy-looking skin. This isn’t so much of a brag as it is an acknowledgment that I have access to the best skin care, treatments, and professionals that the world has to offer. It’s my job to care for my skin so I can report back to you what works, what doesn’t, and ultimately, what’s worth your time and money. However, there is one area that I have always struggled with: the skin on my hands.…

The 8 Best Natural & Nontoxic Teeth-Whitening Products Even if you’re diligent with preventive oral care, teeth yellowing and stains can happen. Per holistic dentist Mark Burhenne, DDS, intrinsic yellowing happens with age and extrinsic yellowing happens with consumption of certain foods (e.g. coffee, tea, wine, or blueberries) that stain the enamel.But all hope is not lost! Research shows the best non-toxic teeth whitening products are a more natural and safer alternative to chemical-based oral…

A Holistic Nutritionist Who Specializes In Skin Health Prioritizes Protein & Variety If you have questions about the intersection of nutrition and skin health, there is one person to ask: Jennifer Hanway, board-certified holistic nutritionist. Hanway specializes in how diet plays a role in our skin’s appearance, especially as we age. She works closely with top dermatologists and skin health experts to help optimize patients’ diets so they’re getting the most important nutrients for their skin h…

A Matte Lipstick That’s Hydrating, Vibrant & Thoroughly Modern — Beauty Editor Tested & Approved Just as the high-shine gloss infatuation has reached fever pitch, famed makeup artist Gucci Westman did something delightfully unexpected: She launched a collection of matte lipsticks. Today, her namesake brand, Westman Atelier, launches Lip Suede Matte, a line of 10 creamy, hydrating, and deeply pigmented matte lipsticks. Westman Atelier Westman Atelier Westman Atelier Lip Suede Matte I tested Le R…

Wellness Travel In New York (Because, Yes, It’s Possible): Hotels, Spas & Restaurants Travel can restore your well-being. We’re here to help you on that journey with Well-Traveled, a go-to destination for travel recommendations and tips. New Yorkers aren’t known for doing things halfway: We work hard, play hard, and recover hard. This uniquely intense approach to wellness is seen in its activities and offerings. Whether you’re looking for a world-class wellness center that offers the latest te…

A Nighttime Skin Care Routine That Supports Skin Longevity, According To Latest Research As the beauty industry moves toward the teachings of longevity, the future of skin care will be all about optimizing your skin span through the science of longevity. In this new era of beauty—one grounded in longevity research and fueled by the hope of longer, happier lives—we’ll see beauty routines that harness the body’s inner regenerative systems at the cellular level. We’ll also see the beauty industry f…