January 29, 2021

Two serums I'm obsessed with, the Nue Co. supplement that tames my tummy and non-toxic nail polish removers that get the job done.

Two new supercharged serums to try right now

I’ve had the pleasure of counting board-certified dermatologist Dr. Naana Boakye of Englewood Cliffs, NJ among my clients for over five years now, and it’s been so fun watching (and helping) her practice evolve throughout this time. So when she told me she was launching two clean serums that she formulated herself I couldn’t wait to dive in, and we spent the next few months working on the packaging, marketing materials, online copy, and all that fun stuff. The finished Bergen Dermatology products finally arrived a few weeks ago, and I’ve been using them every day since. (I was so excited to show them to my husband and son, and the latter said, “What’s a serum?” upon presenting it to him—I must start teaching him the finer points of skincare STAT.)

In the morning I use the Radiance Drops Skin Nutrition Serum because it’s bursting with resveratrol and other antioxidants, plus non-toxic skin-brighteners like kojic acid, azelaic acid and bearberry extract along with niacinamide, bakuchiol and other good-for-your-skin ingredients. The texture is substantial, but it magically absorbs in a flash—and I’ve never, ever experienced pilling when applying other products or makeup afterwards.

At night I use the Pro-Aging Drops Skin Wellness Serum, and this one product has my entire wish list of ingredients covered. Featuring a potent blend of retinol, bakuchiol, niacinamide, green tea polyphenols, plant-derived salicylic, glycolic and lactic acids (and more!), Dr. Boakye also designed it to curb the free radicals that cause the oil oxidation that can contribute to breakouts, which is a win-win in my acne-prone skin’s book.

Beyond being ecstatic about Dr. Boakye’s second foray into the skincare (her first was the incredibly hydrating Karité Shea Butter line she created with her sisters), I was on a Zoom this morning and actually noticed how glowy, plump and healthy my skin looked. Even more, my skin feels amazing and is in the best shape it’s been in months. Now that’s definitely something to smile about…

This digestive supplement has been a game-changer

I feel 10 pounds lighter today, but I can’t attribute all of it to the beginning of a new presidential administration. Between intermittent fasting and a whole new supplement routine, I’m feeling really good on so many levels, including increased energy, better digestion, and I’ve even lost five pounds.

I started taking The Nue Co.’s Metabolism supplement about two months ago, and I recently added their Debloat+ to my daily pill-popping. Formulated with a blend of 17 digestive enzymes along with turmeric and licorice root extract, I have totally noticed a major difference in the state of my stomach, both internally and externally. Formulated specifically for IBS (that’s me!), frequent heartburn and chronic bloating (which frankly is the WORST), clinical studies have shown this supplement reduces symptoms by 51% in 30 days—and I can attest that it does.

Although this supplement’s effects have definitely been profound, I’ve yet to achieve the confidence to work out or hang out in a sports bra or crop top (working on it), but it’s given me much-needed relief from my chronic gastrointestinal issues. (And my friends who tried the Metabolism supplement on my recommendation are totally loving it, too.)

So after a changing of the guard both politically and dietarily, my long-overdue renewed optimism now includes how I feel inside and out, as well as the world we’re all living in.

I tried non-toxic nail polish remover, and here's what happened...

If you asked any of my close friends the most likely place you’d find me one year ago, they would have either said Pilates or a supermarket. Yes, I took an in-person class every single day, and usually chased my workout with a pitstop at Publix, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or Costco. Although I have made three trips to Trader Joe’s in the past 10 months (only on weekdays right when they open at 8 a.m.), I have not step foot in any of these other establishments since March of last year. But yesterday—after 311 days!—I HAD to go to Publix for ground turkey since I only got one pound in my Whole Foods curbside pick-up and I needed two for dinner. I wouldn’t say it was traumatic (although it was pretty close), so I’m fairly certain I’ll be sticking with Shipt or Instacart for the long-term, but I digress…

Since I do 99% of my shopping online these days, Thrive Market has become a go-to for all of my natural and organic pantry staples—as well as totally random, crazy snacks that fit my dietary restrictions du jour. I recently discovered Thrive’s selection of clean beauty products, and when I came across the adorable Piggy Paint Nail Polish Remover I decided to try a non-toxic option to see what’s up.

Crazy-cute packaging aside, I was a bit reluctant, but I’m happy to report that this stuff works. The upsides: It doesn’t singe the hair in my nostrils and the oil-based formula is super-hydrating for my nails and cuticles (as opposed to stripping them dry). The downsides: It takes a bit more time to remove polish than acetone-based removers, since the directions say to soak nails for 30 seconds with a solution-saturated cotton ball. I also found it’s not the best for cleaning up stray polish with a brush if I go “outside the lines” when painting my fingers or toes. (So I will always have a small bottle of conventional polish on hand.)

So now that I actually have faith in non-toxic nail polish remover, I’m eyeing Static Nails’ Remover, which appears to simplify the process with a dropper-based delivery. You can apply it directly to your nails, let it sit for a spell and follow-up with a saturated cotton pad if necessary. Consider this tip from Static Nails founder Alexis Irene: "A little bit of this remover goes a long way. Since I love to multitask I personally like to apply a small drop of the remover to each nail before adding some to a cotton pad. This saves me time by starting the removal process for all nails upfront.”

And with that, I have another effective “clean” swap that helps eliminate unnecessary chemicals from my life. And the fact that my nails are healthier and stronger than ever doesn’t hurt. Case in point: Today’s DIY manicure.