I started following Brittany on Instagram a long time ago and was instantly drawn to her because she offers such tangible tricks and tips to live your best life – something I stand for and you know that if you’ve been following along here. Brittany is Nutritionist, biohacker, and podcaster. She helps her clients optimize their hormones, gut, and skin.
So I was very excited that she agreed to come on the All Gussied Up podcast to discuss it all from skin to the benefits of sunning to cold baths for your face and body.
In the episode, you’ll learn how she got into nutrition and biohacking, what the top biohacks are for optimal health, and she recommends a sunscreen that is a new favorite of mine.
With that, I invite you to listen to our conversation HERE.
Wow wow wow…LIGHT is such a huge topic…especially for me recently. It all started when I listened to Matt Blackburn’s podcast episode about the changes he would make if he had cancer (edit to read: HOW TO NOT GET CANCER) <– but we know of the censorship that goes on. Zipping my lips on that now.
Anyway, in Matt’s podcast episode he spent quite awhile discussing light and how it affects our cells, our eyesight, and our circadian rhythm. Much of the information I had no idea about, such as how bad most LED lights are for humans (and animals, too), and how red light can benefit everyone. I will be writing a whole blog post on light another time, but today we are focusing in on red light.
So let’s break it down and get into specifics.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is also known as RLT, photobiomodulation (PBM), low level light therapy (LLLT), biostimulation, and photonic stimulation or light box therapy.
Red light therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to accomplish various outcomes.
Studies have shown that different wavelengths affect the body in different ways, and the most effective wavelengths of red light seem to be between 650-850 nm.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
These specific wavelengths of red light create a biochemical affect in our cells that serves to increase mitochondrial function. This improves ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production in the body.
Why should that matter?
ATP is the source of energy for every cell in the body. Without it, we don’t function at all. Without enough of it, we don’t function well.
When your red light(s’s wavelengths range is between 650-850, the light penetrates about 8-10 millimeters into the skin which can positively affect all skin layers, blood vessels, lymphs, and hair follicles. {via}
The History of red light therapy
Red light therapy is not new, but it wasn’t really talked about in the US for a long time. In 1903, a Nobel Prize of Medicine was given to a scientist by the name of Niels Finsen for the use of light therapy; once known as photo therapy. Research progressed and by the 1960s photo therapy – was being used primarily in Eastern Europe for treatment of chronic pain, arthritis and associated conditions, joint rehabilitation, and soft-tissue injury along with other medical ailments. During this same time this therapy was being used in a small sector of the United States by equestrian practices for animals with joint and soft tissue injury. When I was researching the history of red light therapy, I saw that there are many studies done in Russian that have not been translated to English and aren’t really shared in the US.
The benefits of red light therapy
These are all evidence-based benefits:
♡ Beneficial for skin to reduce eczema, rosacea, and acne
♡ Stimulates slow healing wounds.
♡ Helps fade scars and stretch marks.
♡ Can prevent recurring cold sores, or herpes simplex.
♡ Red light activates the lymphatic system for potentially improved detoxification.
♡ It helps to repair sun damage.
♡ Helps with sleep.
Personally I have noticed that I am getting WAY better sleep and I feel more energized in the morning using red light bulbs. The only lights in our bedroom are red, so if the lights are on, they are red and we only use them at night and just allow the natural sunlight to provide light during the day.
I also feel so much more relaxed at night. Red light is so much less jarring than bright lights and I really noticed the contrast when I went in to another room after being in red light flooded bedroom. It was a JOLT, let me tell you. Since then, we have replaced all light bulbs to either red or yellow. More on that when I share more about light in general.
Where to get red lights
Red light therapy usually refers to using a panel of red light, although you can purchase red light bulbs that will provide many of the same benefits as using a panel.
There are many options for an at home red light therapy device (panel) but after doing quite a bit of research, GembaRed is superior.
If you’re looking to purchase red light bulbs, avoid LED lights and go for A19 bulbs. Unfortunately home improvement stores such as Home Depot and Lowes don’t always carry this kind of light bulb but you can find them on lightbulbs.com which is where I purchase all of our bulbs. Here are the ones that we use in the bedroom. No dirty electricity/EMFs from these lights.
Have you used red light therapy? What are your thoughts?
Exhausted and defeated are two (dramatic) words that could be used to describe how I felt about natural and non-toxic deodorants AKA those without aluminum and harmful chemicals. I had tried 20+ different deodorants that sold me on the promise to keep my pits B.O.-free BUT that was absolutely NOT the case. At least none that were actually non-toxic (I had tried some that had clever marketing to green wash their product).
So I gave up on using an all natural deodorant and stuck to a men’s deodorant UNTIL…
I read this article on Into The Gloss about using an acid toner as deodorant. WHAT THE WHAT?! I had never heard of this and started to dig a little more. What I found is that there are some deodorants very new to the market that are marketed as “acid deodorant”.
This was literally the best news I’d read that week, and I learned that they’re highly effective because acid kills bacteria which causes odor in the first place. As this study found, “by changing the pH of the [underarm], the bacteria are unable to act.”
So the grand reveal of the acid deodorant I’ve been using for the last 2 weeks with ZERO B.O. is…
NECESSAIRE LE DÉODORANT IN EUCALYPTUS ($20)
Necessaire is one of my most favorite brands. I love all of the products I’ve used of theirs and their packaging is just a cherry on top. It’s so Instagram-worthy and CHIC. When I saw that they came out with an acid deodorant, it was the only one I wanted to try out and I don’t plan on trying others. It smells so good. Not overpowering, just light and fresh. This deodorant contains mandelic and lactic acids and I haven’t noticed much more sweating than usual and I still smell fresh at the end of the day.
Off to do my pilates workout tonight – no stink included.
Rosacea is a real bitch to deal with. Let me tell ya, because I have dealt with it since the age of 10. Riiiight as I began to go through puberty, I was also slapped in the face with rosacea – literally.
So since I am an expert on the topic, I have some tips for you to help you deal with rosacea.
First things first, what is it? Rosacea is a common chronic skin condition characterized by flushing and skin redness on the face. Key symptoms are facial redness with swollen red bumps and small visible blood vessels.
Fun shit, right?
There is no magic potion to treat rosacea, HOWEVER, it can be managed with diet and the right products.
SO TA-DA, my top 3 tips to deal with rosacea:
♡ Remove or reduce inflammatory foods. When I did this for other reasons (overall health), my rosacea immediately got better. I used to have textured skin where I have rosacea – which is on my cheeks – but that went way down after I cut out gluten, processed dairy, vegetable oils, and processed foods. Of course I still cheat and eat processed foods sometimes, but cleaning up my diet has resulted in big improvements for my skin. Not only for my rosacea but also for my keratosis pilaris.
I feel like in the health community, the gut and diet is not addressed first, and it really should be. You know that term ‘you are what you eat’…? It’s so true and I have experienced the positive affects of eating well to help this issue.
I could write a whole post on cutting out processed foods, but here are some important tidbits that have helped me over the last several years:
Dairy: this food group is known to be inflammatory and I cut it out completely 5 years ago for 3 reasons: ethically I didn’t feel good about it (that has since changed), physically I felt sick eating dairy, and then the inflammation piece. Since then, I have learned that raw milk and cheese is the clean and obviously not processed. There is a gross-out factor for me, but if you love milk and cheese, look into raw.
Cut out packaged foods with more than one ingredient.
Eggs: totally a staple in our house. Most of the nutrition is in the yolks, so don’t leave those out. Try to avoid the carton white eggs.
Stick to unprocessed meats: we literally JUST cut out bacon. I know, SAD FUCKING DAY. I don’t restrict when I eat out, but at home, I make breakfast sausage using spices and ground turkey instead.
Fish: Most fish is considered clean, just be careful of the mercury content found in most fish today. Make sure that you are buying sustainably. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium web site for up to date info on what fish is safe to purchase in any given season.
♡ Clean your water. Yep, your water. After reading Hidden Epidemic and doing further research on disparaging minerals found in our water such as fluoride, I purchased this water filter for drinking water and this shower filter. The combination has seriously helped to improve my rosacea but also my overall skin health (and internal health), because we should not be ingesting and absorbing the shitty chemicals found in basic drinking water and bathing water. I will write a full blog post on this topic soon!
♡ Vitamin E oil and cream. Omigod this is this a skin saver. I just started using Vitamin E oil and cream after learning more about the amazing benefits of Vtiamin E. It is anti-inflammatory when ingested and it provides insane benefits for the skin when applied topically. It tones down redness and strengthens skin barrier functions. It’s also SUPER moisturizing, so I only use a liberal amount of pure Vitamin E at night. During the day, I do use a tiny amount as it protects the skin from the sun.
If you’re struggling with rosacea, try these tips. You will not be disappointed. I make it a point to share things that actually work here, and not things that are 85869603020 million dollars.
It’s tanning SZN! But you know we don’t like tanning beds. And that’s where a good fake tan comes in. Personally I like to have a glow year-round, but it’s something I do even more during the summer months.
There are a few tricks that you must know before getting that good faux glow though. Because we’ve all seen some bad fake tans, right? Like Oompa Loompa orange skin, extra dark palms, patchy-ness + more.
Let me say that I have experienced ALL of the above. And that is why I’m writing here today about the tips and tricks to practice to get your best, even, natural AND non-toxic glow.
Let’s get right into it:
PREP
At least 8 hours before you use a tanning lotion or mousse, shave everything you need to shave. This is to avoid having your hair follicles show up darker than the rest of your skin when you apply the self-tanner. They need time to close back up after you’ve cut the hair down.
After shaving, exfoliate your entire body with a dry brush or with a shower scrub. I LOVE this one from Nécessaire.
Do not apply fragrance, deodorant, or lotion (yet) to your body.
Quick break from the steps to talk about the tanning mousse that I recently started using and absolutely LOVE. Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tinted Tan Mousse. I’ve been going through the process of replacing toxic beauty products with non-toxic alternatives which I recently did with my tanning products – not naming names here but when I typed in the self-tanner that I was using before into Think Dirty (you need this app if you want to make sure your bath, body, and cosmetic products are clean) – it came up as VERY DIRTY as in TOXIC. Think Dirty offers up a list of clean alternatives and that is how I found Vita Liberata. This mousse is streak free, lasts for 2 weeks on me, and it does not smell.
So, once you’re ready to start the tanning process:
Stand on a towel to protect your floor and the bottom of your feet
Take off all jewelry
Apply a barrier cream (lotion) on areas where your skin is thicker, like your knees, ankles, elbows, etc.
Start at the tops of your feet and work your way up your body using a tanning glove. I love this one and I wash it often.
When tanning your hands, form a bear/claw-scare pose with your hands to apply the self tanner so that it doesn’t miss your knuckles. I’ve walked around with tan hands with white knuckles before and it ain’t cute.
If you’ve heard about washing your hands right after your tanning sesh, don’t do it. You’ll end up with white hands and a tan body. LOL. Wait at least an hour if you can.
POST
If you start getting too tan, just shower. That will stop the tan from developing any further.
I try not to shave afterwards for as long as possible. No exfoliation either. Not even a loofah! You want that tan to last.
That’s it! Let me know if a video on this process might be helpful?
