September was a good month of yummy new recipes (and old favorites), savory fall flavors, spicy scented candles, and of course another great roundup of guests and topics on The Blonde Files Podcast. This month was full of lessons on wellness, beauty and mindfulness. Like holistic skincare and acne solutions, how to deal with and manage anxiety, how to eat for your goals without going crazy, the effects and benefits of TM and so much more. If you haven’t already, definitely go back and check out each episode – and last month’s roundup of lessons. Thanks for tuning in every week!
-Serums go BEFORE moisturizer! If you’re using multiple serums, make sure you’re using the most active serum first. This way, it’ll better absorb into the skin and really work its magic before you apply other serums.
-The reasons for enlarged pores can come down to genetics, dehydrated skin and clogged pores. When pores are clogged, they appear to be larger and darker. Using chemical exfoliants will help slowly over time rid your pores of debris. (Celeste recommends the Naturopathica Sweet Cherry Brightening Enzyme Peel!) You can also think of your skin as a sponge. When a sponge is dry, the holes appear to be larger. So when your skin is dehydrated, your pores can appear to be larger, especially on the top of your nose, your cheeks and your chin. Adding a hyaluronic acid serum to your skincare routine will keep your skin hydrated!
-Setting boundaries with people is the best thing we can do to lower anxiety when it comes to people and situations we can’t avoid. We can’t control others but we can tell them what our boundaries are.
-When we find ourselves in a state of ambiguous anxiety – meaning you’re feeling anxious but don’t know why – that’s a warning call that we’re not giving ourselves enough time with our thoughts and feelings. Take the time to process with meditation or other mindfulness practices.
-If you have one unhealthy meal, that doesn’t mean you blew it. Think of the next meal as a new chance.
-There’s a big narrative surrounding what we should and shouldn’t eat (dairy, gluten, etc.) – and that’s where disordered eating can come from. To see if you really have a food allergy or sensitivity, go back to the basics by eating good quality, unprocessed foods and see how your body reacts.
-Take control of your own career! Don’t be dependent on someone telling you “yes” or “no” when it comes to building and pursuing a career.
-When it comes to dealing with criticism, set boundaries with yourself and others and focus on the 100 positive comments versus the 1 negative comment.
-The mind is like an ocean; very active and busy at the surface but very quiet and calm down in the depths. Our mind has all these layers but we experience most of life up on the surface (making lists, plans and decisions, communicating, always going, etc.). By practicing TM, our minds can go beyond this busy level and our thoughts will naturally start to quiet and settle.
-Research has proven that practicing TM long-term can show a reverse in biological age like vision, reflexes, cardiovascular health and blood pressure, for example. By giving our bodies fundamental rest, it gets this reset, which we start to see with the physical benefits.