“We know inflammation does bad things to our body. When our skin is in contact with substances that it does not want to be, its reaction is inflammation. And sometimes you can’t see it, it’s microscopic inflammation. But you can feel it: The skin is tight or we feel oily and have blemishes,” says Erin Yuet Tjam, Ph.D., known as The Beauty Obsessed Science and author of Skin Sobering: 99% of Products Are Harming Your Skin. “If we don’t stop that acute inflammation, the worst thing happens and...

“I take a holistic approach grounded in science. The skin is an exterior organ that is a communicator. It’s connected to billions of cells and nerves, and becomes an extension of our whole health,” says holistic esthetician Lesley Thornton, founder of KLUR. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mbg beauty director and host Alexandra Engler chats with Thornton about why we should look to our skin for ingredient inspiration, functional fragrance, and her sunscreen hot take. Plus, why a good...

Did you know that the FDA never had the authority for beauty product recalls? Or that beauty brands didn't have to disclose potential fragrance allergens on ingredient lists? Or that beauty companies didn't have to report adverse events to the FDA? All of that is about to change. In late December of last year, a bill passed in Congress implementing a massive and long-overdo update to the FDA’s regulatory oversight for the beauty industry: Thanks to the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulations...

“I'm all about low key maintenance, like how can I wake up, not do much, still look wonderful?” says esthetician, brow and lash specialist Jasmine Imani, founder of her eponymous salon Jasmine Imani Beauty. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, host and mindbodygreen beauty director Alexandra Engler chats with Imani about all things brow and lash care. Here, they get into how to regrow brows, how to get the most natural looking, full brow, and why lashes thin over time. Plus, her favorite...

“Instead of seeing beauty rituals as a treat or privilege, view it as taking care of yourself is your rite of passage of being in your human form,” says intuitive energy reader & stylist Susanna Merrick, founder of Aura Wear. “I had always associated beauty with self care, but it’s really self maintenance. This is just what I do to honor myself, because I am worth it. And I am worth it every day.” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director and host Alexandra...

“Laser hair removal is the most advanced it's ever been. We have new lasers that are faster, less painful, and work for more skin tones,” says laser hair removal specialists Christian Karavolas, VP of the Society of Clinical and Medical Hair Removal and founder of Romeo & Juliette. “Many types of people can benefit from laser hair removal: Someone who is prone to in-growns and scarring. Athletes—both male and female—who feel hair bothers them. People who have hormonal imbalances and want...

“You can always change your habits—you can always improve. You can stop smoking, eat more vegetables, sleep more, and stop tanning. But you still may have damage, and fixing it takes time. Quite frankly, nothing happens overnight,” says board-certified dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen’s beauty director Alexandra Engler chats with Downie about how to take care of your skin as you age—from product recs and sunscreen faves, to tips for...

“Aging of the skin is a symptom of what’s already happening on the inside,” says board-certified dermatologist Julie Russak, M.D. “You cannot have regenerative skin care without understanding what’s happening in the body.” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mbg beauty director and host Alexandra Engler is joined with Russak and board-certified holistic nutritionist Jennifer Hanway, the experts behind their new Anti-Aging Wellness Program. Here, we talk about the future of healthy aging,...

“Regarding the skin, all kinds of things we don't like from eczema, rosacea, breakouts, aging, to even pigmentation issues are caused by chronic inflammation,” says aesthetic physician Dr. Barbara Sturm, founder of her eponymous line. “So where does inflammation come from? It can come from our diet, external stresses like pollution and sun, stress, lack of sleep, and it can come from skin care products actually.” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mbg beauty director and host Alexandra...

“I feel like Traditional Chinese Medicine helps you access and recognize other dimensions of yourself, such as your spiritual self, emotional self, and physical self. It turns these on in a way where we are able to thrive—and feel like we’re supposed to feel as human beings,” says licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and TCM practitioner Sandra Chiu L.Ac., M.S.T.C.M., founder of Lanshin. “The world that we live in is quite stressful, and cuts us off from these other parts of us. It’s easy to...

“When it comes to scalp care—like skin care—it’s all about getting the body into homeostasis,” says hairstylist and trichologist Helen Reavey, founder of hair and scalp care brand Act+Acre. “It’s about less is more, laying solid foundations, and getting back to the roots—no pun intended.” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mbg beauty director and host Alexandra Engler chats with Reavey about identifying your scalp type, how to bring your scalp to balance, and hair growth tips. Plus, she...

“The pursuit of beauty is actually very, very functional,” says board-certified dermatologist Ellen Marmur, M.D., founder of Marmur Medical and MMSkincare. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director and host Alexandra Engler chats with Marmur all about LED therapy: “LED light is the missing link for skin care and wellness.” Here, we get into what all the different colors do, what the research says, and how to actually find a good device to use at-home. Plus, we talk...

“Our bodies and skin are what carries our spirit through this world, so they are to be loved, appreciated, and cared for,” says brand founder and skin care expert Vicky Tsai. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director and host Alexandra Engler chats with Tsai about why skin care stresses some folks out, how to reduce inflammation in the skin, and the mind-skin connection. Plus, we get into the inherent connection between spirituality and skin care.  Show...

Here’s our special New Year’s episode with guest co-host and mindbodygreen beauty editor Jamie Schneider! In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen’s beauty director & host Alexandra Engler chats with Schneider about their 2023 beauty trend predictions, what habits they’re honing, and their hot takes! Plus, what products they're obsessed with as of late.  -Follow Jamie Schneider & read her work -Try mindbodygreen’s dry body oil & read about the product here -Read our...

“Menstrual cycles are a vital sign of our overall health. This is something that western medicine, biomedicine, Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine can all agree on: Periods are a monthly report card about what’s going on in our bodies,” says menstrual wellness expert, psychologist, and herbalist Lulu Ge, founder of the menstrual and hormone care brand Elix .“Rather than viewing them as a burden, if we get curious about them, we can unlock so much more potential and information about how to...

”The only way to truly achieve wellness is to approach health holistically,“ says board-certified internal medicine doctor Zion Ko Lamm, M.D. On this episode of Clean Beauty School, mbg beauty director and host Alexandra Engler chats with Lamm about her unique approach to skin care. Given her background as an internal medicine physician, she approaches skin health from a holistic and preventative lens—and she looks to address things such as diet, sleep hygiene, stress, and more when she gives...

“Health is wealth. Without your health, you can’t do anything. And it's a job to stay healthy. That’s why you need a team and partnerships to help you,” says board-certified dermatologist Naana Boakye, M.D. Boakye considers herself a lifestyle derm, which means she focuses on nutrition, mental health, and day-to-day choices—not just topicals or prescriptions. “Radiant skin is a lifestyle.” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director & host Alexandra Engler chats...

“Skin care isn’t an exact science. We can get into the nitty gritty details of ingredients all we want, but that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t know how to use it in your own routine. That’s why I think it’s so important to learn how to implement, improve and troubleshoot your own skin care routine for your skin type,” says cosmetic chemist Victoria Fu, who co-founded Chemist Confessions alongside Gloria Lu. And Lu agrees: “It’s empowering for someone to be comfortable enough with their...

“Feeling better about our bodies does not come from changing our bodies, it comes from changing our mindset,” says body positivity activist and influencer Alex Light, author of You Are Not A Before Picture. “I would love for women—because women predominantly bear the burden of beauty standards—to be able to live their lives free of concern about how they look. We have been taught that if we’re not thin or pretty then we’re not worthy.” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mbg beauty...

“I became an esthetician because I fell in love with taking care of people. I love the idea that someone would come to me one-on-one, tell me all their issues or insecurities, and I would help them overcome that. We would become a team, working together to get the skin the healthiest it could be for you,” says celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas, founder of her eponymous spa and skin care line. “It’s about how you treat yourself: What products you use, how much you sleep, if you’re eating...

“There's polarity in the beauty industry, but nothing's black and white. I can almost always see the other person's side of the story," says beauty journalist and co-host of Fat Mascara Jennifer G. Sullivan. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director and host Alexandra Engler chats with Sullivan about the many gray areas of the modern beauty industry. Plus, why the pillars of her beauty routine are good health, exercise, and injectables.  Show notes: -Follow...

“Your hair is your most important accessory: You wear it everyday. Think about your favorite piece of clothing—if you wear it daily, wash it, don’t care for it, it’s going to break down,” says celebrity colorist Justin Anderson, co-founder of hair and color care brand dpHUE. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mbg beauty director and host Alexandra Engler chats with Anderson about hair color trends, how to identify your most natural color, finding a colorist you trust, and at-home color...

“It’s positioned as empowering for the consumer to ‘do their research’ on ingredient lists, but I actually think it ends up being disempowering. You need an advanced degree in chemistry to keep up with the ingredients, formulas, and latest research. How can we expect the average consumer to do that?” says Jaleh Bisharat, founder of beauty e-retailer NakedPoppy. “And unfortunately there’s just not as much independent research as we need. There’s a lot of data holes.” In this episode of Clean...

“Beauty doesn’t need to be as overwhelming as we are conditioned to think it should be,” says makeup artist Jenny Patinkin, who literally wrote the book getting that no-fuss, yet polished makeup look. And one of the main takeaways she tries to share with her clients? Don’t get too caught up in arbitrary, overly-strict rules: “Beauty is about moderation. I’ve never subscribed to the ‘you shoulds’ & ‘you musts.’” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mbg beauty director and host Alexandra...