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?
Confession: I never understood the obsession with Princess Kate. So shoot me. I’ll leave it at that, but I have been reading about Princess Meghan. About what, you ask? Her beauty and wellness routine.
If her routine is good enough for a princess, it must be amazing, right? She has this glow and she just SPARKLES – very fitting for a princess! So I had to know what she’s doing and what she’s using on her skin and what her wellness routine is.
SO, here are specifics on what Meghan Markle’s uses and does to keep herself looking sparkly:
♡ INFRARED SAUNA: Meghan uses an infrared sauna once a week to sweat out toxins. The benefits include glowing skin, stress relief, and weight loss. I have personally been wanting to try one for the longest time – have you guys tried?
♡ LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE FACIALS. Meghan has attributes her sculpted cheekbones and jawline to the hands of London-based facialist, Nichola Joss, known for her transformative pressure-point lymphatic drainage facial massages. These treatments offer an instant de-puff from manually draining the lymphatic system and reducing excess fluids around the eyes. They also improve blood circulation, giving the skin an instant radiance.
Meghan says: “I do facial exercises from one of my favorite aestheticians who basically has you sculpt your face from the inside out. I swear it works, as silly as you may feel. On the days I do it, my cheekbones and jaw line are waaaay more sculpted. There’s a reason this kind of massage is in high demand around awards season when every actress wants to look A-plus.”
So much yes. If you haven’t tried facial massage yet, you must try it — it’s FREE if you do it yourself. LMK if you’d like a tutorial? It’s something I do every single morning.
♡ ACUPUNCTURE + CUPPING. Meghan is a long-time fan of the ancient Chinese practices of both acupuncture and cupping. These traditional holistic treatments are known for deep healing and stress reduction.
♡ DR. BRONNER’S BODY WASH IN LAVENDER. “I love the smell and it lasts for such a long time. ” And it’s true. I picked up this body wash after researching the best vegan and cruelty-free body washes and this was at the top of the list. It smells so good, and it’s affordable.
♡ ADD SHIMMER TO INNER CORNERS OF THE EYES: “I learned to add the smallest touch of shimmer to the inner corner of the eye after they’re lined. A touch of shimmer powder adds a brightness and sparkle. Even if I have no makeup on, I am likely to apply concealer and a bit of shimmer to the corners of my eye.” If you watched my video on how to make your eyes look bigger and whiter, you saw my absolute FAVORITE shimmer for this purpose: NYX Platinum.
Lastly, on her favorite “grooming look” on a man: “Oh I love a scruffy face. Gets me every time.”
Me too, Meghan, me too. LOVE a beard.
So many good beauty tips and tricks, right? Meghan is ON IT when it comes to beauty and wellness, and I’ll continue to follow along to see what she’s doing.
Every morning, I drink a smoothie. Plastic straws are a NO-GO due to environmental reasons, and paper straws become so soggy. I ordered metal straws a couple years ago thinking that they were the way to go. They’re reusable, which is what I was looking for.
But then my dentist found out that I was using metal straws every morning and told me to STOP. Why? Because metal can chip your teeth and can lead to metal toxicity.
And then I found glass straws (insert hallelujah music).
At first I was scared that glass straws would be too fragile, especially when it came to washing. But they are so sturdy. And digging deeper into how they serve as a vessel vs. stainless steel, I learned that the resistance of the glass to erosion from acidity from foods is so much higher than with metal straws…this is how stainless steel is prone to heavy metal problems.
The icing on the cake is that since glass straws are clear, you can be sure that they are clean.
