Health Is the New Luxury

This time of year always feels like a swirl of everything all at once. Life gets especially full: the kids’ spring activities are in full swing, the weather is finally starting to bloom, and the reality that summer is right around the corner begins to settle in. Beach days, vacations, and this year, even a friend’s beach wedding.

It’s also another trip around the sun for me, another birthday, another year older, which inevitably brings up thoughts about aging and what it really means to take care of ourselves for the long haul. The older I get, the more I believe that health truly is wealth. If we don’t have our minds and bodies intact, what good is anything else?

I’ve gone through so many different phases with exercise over the years. I was never a team sports kid, but I fell in love with competitive swimming in high school, which is such an incredible way to stay strong and grounded. In my twenties, I had a regular gym routine and stayed pretty active until I eventually got bored of it.

Then in my thirties, I found myself searching for something that felt exciting enough to actually become a habit. I tried various core-strength classes whenever I had a friend motivating me to go. I got into mat Pilates for a while. But nothing ever fully stuck as my thing.

And then came kids. After becoming a mom, exercise started feeling much harder to prioritize. Sometimes I know I use exhaustion as an excuse, but honestly, a lot of the time I really am just tired. Motherhood carries so much mentally, emotionally, physically, and Mother’s Day always feels like a reminder of just how much mothers hold together behind the scenes.

But this year, something shifted for me. I had dinner recently with a friend who inspired me with her newfound love for circuit training, something she’s stayed consistent with and has seen major results from. Building muscle, feeling strong, burning fat, all while fueling herself with way more protein than either of us probably ate in our twenties. I had already planned to restart a swimming routine the next day, so before we left dinner, I asked her to text me in the morning to keep me accountable.

I was so proud of myself for actually getting into the pool and swimming for 30 minutes. It felt exhilarating, therapeutic, almost emotional. I left with this incredible surge of energy and clarity that stayed with me for the rest of the day. I had forgotten how much I missed that feeling, the high that comes from moving your body and feeling strong inside it.

Then yesterday, on my birthday, another friend invited me to join her workout, and it was exactly what I needed to keep the momentum going. It felt so good to be back in a gym, lifting weights, getting my heart rate up, reconnecting with a version of myself I haven’t felt in a while.

So this year, I’m really trying to put my health first. Not in a dramatic “new year, new me” kind of way, but in a sustainable, long-game kind of way. Taking care of myself consistently. Paying attention. Investing in feeling well.

And yes, that includes finally embracing vitamins and supplements, despite how much I hate taking them.

I’ve found a few things that actually work for me. These vitamin D drops, because anything in a dropper instead of a pill already feels like a win, and I’m currently testing out a one-and-done multivitamin that I genuinely love. I’m also very intrigued by a perimenopause support pack I came across recently. The only downside? It’s six capsules a day, which feels slightly aggressive for someone who avoids swallowing pills whenever possible. But if it delivers on what it promises, I may need to get over my aversion.

I also recently came back from a trip to Seoul, where nearly every question from my girlfriends centered around one thing: what beauty and skincare products was I buying, and what treatments was I getting done?

Truthfully, I didn’t think I’d have time for any treatments at all, but somehow I managed to squeeze in an appointment with a friend’s dermatologist the day before we left. She examined my skin and suggested BBL, and no, not that BBL, but a non-invasive skin rejuvenation treatment that uses pulses of light energy to target sun damage, redness, and fine lines. After the numbing cream was applied, the treatment felt like a breeze.

But the treatment she really recommended, and said is much harder to find in the U.S., was something called Re2O, an advanced Korean “generator” skin booster designed to regenerate the skin by injecting human-derived extracellular matrix components like collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid directly into the dermis.

Which is how I ended up leaving the office with roughly 150 tiny injections across my face. And that was not for the faint of heart. No pain, no gain…

When I arrived at dinner afterward with my husband and kids, my 7-year-old son looked at me and immediately burst into tears. Apparently, I looked genuinely terrifying. I had to promise him repeatedly that I would look “normal” again by the next morning. He didn’t look convinced.

Thankfully, my dermatologist sent me home with a pack of bio-cell masks that were amazing for post-treatment recovery. By the next day, the injection marks had mostly calmed down enough for me to wear light makeup and avoid traumatizing my children further.

Now that it’s been about a month since both treatments, I can honestly say I notice a difference. My skin feels brighter, smoother, firmer, just healthier overall.

That said, I’ve actually already been really happy with the skincare and beauty products I use regularly. And combined with how completely overwhelming Olive Young, basically the Sephora of Seoul, felt, I mostly let my 11-year-old daughter lead the shopping experience while she searched for the sparkliest eyeshadow palettes imaginable. She convinced me to “share” it with her, mainly so I could pay for half of it!

I did, however, pick up a few things for myself: these collagen eye masks (as well as these blemish care eye masks) and dark spot patches that I’ve been loving.

I’ve never really considered myself a makeup person. I tend to stay loyal to the products and brands I know work for me rather than constantly trying every new launch.

So with that, here are the beauty and wellness products currently living on heavy rotation in my bathroom lately.

1. This oil cleanser: it’s light, moisturizing, and the pump dispenses just the right amount. I love to start with this as my cleansing ritual, and then sometimes I add a double cleanse, and love this and this.

2. This resurfacing compound is like an 8-in-1 product. (it acts as a toner, vitamin C serum, and exfoliant), and the active ingredients include a stabilized Vitamin C and E for brightening, a gentle stable Retinol Ester for fine lines, and a blend of Multi-Hydroxy Acids (AHA) to refine pores and texture. When I first discovered this product two years ago, the sales associate demonstrated how smooth and tight it left my skin once it set. I have found that my dark spots and texture have significantly improved since using.

3. I like to follow with the moisturizer as it delivers peptides, antioxidants, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and hyaluronic acids, and has a medium consistency. I consider it highly moisturizing while still feeling light, and absorbs quickly into my skin. I don’t like heavy moisturizers that feel oily and I also dislike a moisturizer that feels good at first but isn’t actually effective (too light)!

4. This eye serum was gifted to me, and I was so excited to see that it is also a rollerball tool. It is designed to lift, firm and tighten under-eye and upper lid, help with puffiness, fine lines, dark circles, wrinkles and texture, and I have been loving it as both part of my morning and evening skin-care routine.

5. I love all things ILIA. And this sunscreen serum is the newest in my morning ritual. After moisturizing, I add a layer of this into my skin and it feels so natural, and instead of feeling like a sunscreen, it truly feels like a moisturizing skincare component. It absorbs without a trace and leaves my skin ready for my makeup.

6. Speaking of makeup, this is the first step I don’t go without. Even if I go makeup free, I try to put a few drops of this on, use a brush to blend it in, and off I go. My skin is instantly blurred, but it still looks like skin. I don’t love the way it smells, but it’s a small trade-off for how effective and brilliant it is!

For my makeup, I tend to like things that feel natural and more skin-care-like. Not highly pigmented. Easy to use (I’m not a professional) and simple to blend in with my fingers.

7. I love this blush and bronzer from Counter Beauty. They both are very easy to apply, no experience needed. The texture is smooth, moisturizing and forgiving. And the shapes of the compacts are satisfying to hold.

8. This liquid eyeliner has been one of my tried-and-true favorites for many years. It’s got a perfect easy-to-apply tip, and always comes out evenly, and jet black. When I want something with a softer line, I love this.

9. I don’t feel like I can leave the house without a touch of this eyebrow gel. I used to use this forever, but since trying this one from Merit, I have come to prefer it.

10. I apply a bit of this as a finishing sheer bronze shimmer, and get compliments on my makeup everytime I use it.

11. This scalp brush has become my new staple. I brush my scalp every morning and every evening. It’s my meditation ritual because it releases tension while feeling relaxing and like self-care. (use JOYCELEE15)

12. I love to use a little contour and this palette is so amazing as it comes with multiple shades, in case you want to step-up your techniques. I still tend to use the lightest one and darker contour the most, but it blends in super easily, and the brush is such a great and easy tool to add to your kit.

13. The case: I love keeping my makeup organized and in it’s place and it even has spots to hold brushes so they can stay nice and clean.

My evening routine can vary depending on how tired I am. But I always try to remove my makeup and then switch out my serums and moisturizers depending on what I’m feeling like.

13. I love this botanical cleansing water from Doré. I soak a cotton pad and remove all my makeup so my skin feels nice and clean again.

14. Then I love this human stem cell serum, it’s lightweight and just feels like a refreshing serum when I’m getting ready for bed. It supports visible renewal and I swear, my skin feels rejuvenated and lifted since I started using it last year.

15. This active botanical serum face oil is perfect for my skin when I need a boost of moisture. It’s nourishing, and always feels like my skin-tone is more even when I use it. I wake up the next morning and my skin feels seriously hydrated.

Now for hair. As I’ve aged, I feel like I am paying more attention to taking care of my scalp, and need the right ingredients in my haircare to keep my hair texture optimized. Both of my favorite shampoos have actually been discovered from hotel stays.

16. First Hand at the Ace Hotel — first of all, I love the bottles. I enjoy the design, and I also love the botanical natural fragrance. The pump is perfect, and the shampoo is gentle and infused with botanicals that smell incredible. My hair and scalp always feel hydrated and healthy.

17. Takamichi Hair at Nine Orchard Hotel — I treated myself to a staycation here and was so excited to test out the products in the bathroom. I fell in love with the formulation and the calming fragrance of the products, and ended up purchasing full-size bottles for home.

18. I swear by this dry-shampoo. I never “got” the concept of dry-shampoo until I started using this stuff. It comes with a convenient fluffy little brush to apply to your roots when you’re in between washes. It absorbs quickly, even into my black hair, and my hair texture is restored!

19. This scalp treatment has become a weekly ritual, on evenings when I know I’ll shampoo the next day. I drop it onto my scalp, use my fingers or this scalp massager to get it in.

20. I have sworn by this hair cream for over a decade, and often pray that they never change the formula. It’s lightweight, and great for my air dried hair. It gives it some moisture, tames the frizz, and adds just the right amount of texture. And it smells incredible.

21. This shampoo has been my once-a-week detox cleanse. My hair always feels “reset” when I give it wash with it.

22. And I love to give my hair an added dose of repair therapy with this treatment mask. I use it like a regular conditioner once a week, and my hair truly feels stronger and healthier.

Ok that’s it from me. I am about to get dinner with the family for what my kids are calling the “sandwich” day, between my birthday and Mother’s Day. As soon as I get home, I will be swiping off the makeup from the day, nourishing my skin with a mask, and hopping into bed… Happy Mother’s Day to those who celebrate.

x

P.S. The one thing for my mind that I love are these gummies. I call them my substitute for two glasses of wine, without the hangover.

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As we inch closer to the ground-shipping cut-off dates, I can’t help but think about the stretch of days ahead when we finally slow down—stepping away from work, school, and the daily grind to slip into our coziest cashmere, play games with the people we love, and indulge in those little luxuries that turn simple moments into core memories.