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By Amy Zhang July 17, 2017 in Wellness 7 Comments

How to Get Rid of a Puffy Face

Helloooo Monday! The weekend is over and it’s the start of a new week. If you’re anything like me, the morning after a sushi or ramen dinner, too many carbs, alcohol, or not enough sleep, you wake up looking…puffy. This is especially the case after an indulgent day or weekend. My face is notorious for retaining water and it doesn’t take much for it to swell up, especially in the morning. My eyes, around my nose, even my lips get extremely inflamed. It’s pretty embarrassing, to be honest. All too often, I’m thinking about how to get rid of a puffy face on a Monday.

Since the whole puffy face look isn’t my thing – and I’m not sure it’s anyone’s – I’ve tried a million different things to solve the problem. Some work better than others, but in general, these are the best tips to de-puff my skin. A few of these exercises can be done daily, or they can be perfect for the puffy face mornings once the damage is done.

Here’s how to get rid of a puffy face (for real)

Hydrate like cray. Hydration seems to be the answer for most skin issues, and a puffy face is no different. A puffy face is a sign of inflammation and fluid retention, aka you’re not detoxing properly or keeping things moving. If I know I’m going to be drinking or eating a dinner full of sodium or carbs, I’m diligent about drinking water that day – a ton of it. This will help your skin overall and will flush out the sodium.

Use a jade roller.

A jade roller is one of the best tools when it comes to depuffing skin, specifically faces. Jade rolling comes from 7th century Chinese culture. Today, spas everywhere use the technique. Jade rolling helps cells turnover, so it’s smart to jade roll daily, but it can be used in a pinch if you’re puffy, too. Simply apply lotion – or oil, whatever – then roll. Here’s an easy tutorial on the exact technique.

Ice, ice, baby.

Kate Moss would famously dunk her head in an ice-filled sink before photo shoots, and the girl was on to something. Just like you’d use ice on a swollen injury, you can use it on your face to help with swelling. If you’re not into sinks full of ice, an ice roller is ahhhmazing. I leave it over my eyes for about 20 seconds each, then roll towards two areas specifically helpful for lymphatic drainage: your ears and collar bone.

Rely on a mask.

If it’s just your eyes that are puffy, or at least the worst, throw on some chilled eye masks. I actually keep these guys in my fridge. Putting them on feels stellar and the coldness helps wake that sensitive skin up. If you’re not a morning person these are GREAT for waking up.

Massage.

Another ritual borrowed from Asian cultures, you can give yourself a detoxifying face massage to promote drainage. Here’s how!

Stay away from certain foods. Pretty obvious, but if you know you have a big event or want to look your best, limit certain things the days leading up. Sodium, excess carbs, and booze tend to puff us up, so focus on water-dense foods like cucumbers, and other lean proteins. Again, water is your BFF!

Fix allergies. Believe it or not, allergies play a huge roll in puffy faces – or can. In the springtime, take an OTC allergy pill if all else fails. I like to use essential oils to purify the allergens in my home as a more natural solution. An air purifier machine helps too!

PLEASE let me know your tips for getting rid of a puffy face! I’m dying to hear.

Want more anti – inflammatory beauty tips? Check out this at home spa day & these clean beauty products.

xx, Amy

By Amy Zhang June 22, 2017 in Wellness 6 Comments

All the Details on CHLOROPHYLL and Why You Need it in Your Life

All the Details on CHLOROPHYLL and Why You Need To Add it To Your Water | by The Luxi Look

I’ll admit, I’m always the first to try new health and wellness trends. My latest favorite health trend by far is chlorophyll water. If you remember from biology, chlorophyll is the green pigment in plants that helps them transfer light into energy. Chlorophyll is loaded with vitamins A, C, E, and K. You can find it in green, leafy vegetables, in a capsule, or in a liquid form. You may not even realize it, but you’ve been eating chlorophyll your whole life! Right now the internet is going crazy over chlorophyll water and all of the health benefits that comes with taking chlorophyll in liquid form. I’ve been loving adding chlorophyll to my daily routine – there are SO many benefits of drinking chlorophyll and it’s such an easy addition, there’s really no reason not to try it out.

The exact health benefits of consuming Chlorophyll still aren’t known. However, I notice a positive difference after drinking chlorophyll water on the reg over the past month. Wondering if there are any health benefits of chlorophyll? Read on.

Why You Should Try Adding Chlorophyll to Your Diet

+ Chlorophyll is believed to help fight cancer, detoxify the body, and aid with digestion and weight loss. These antioxidant and anticancer properties suggest that chlorophyll is a superfood you should add to your water.

+ Chlorophyll is also shown to improve energy for an all natural boost! Remember the yerba mate vs. coffee debate? Chlorophyll might be an addition or substitute to your morning routs well.

+ Adding liquid chlorophyll is also a great way to fend off cravings and keep you full. Although many of us may know the trick of distinguishing between thirst and hunger (many times when we reach for that afternoon snack, we’re just thirsty!), adding chlorophyll to your water is a great reminder to drink more water. I definitely noticed a difference in my hunger levels and felt less of a need to grab junk food in the afternoon.

+ Drinking chlorophyll has many beauty and skin benefits! If nothing else, adding the green stuff to your water might encourage you to drink more water, which helps with skin. After drinking the green water for a month, my skin is – dare I say it – glowing?

+ You can also see the cleansing benefits. To be clear, I don’t do cleanses. I don’t believe in “cleansing” the body. However, you will definitely, um, notice a difference in what comes out of your body when you drink liquid chlorophyll.

It may take some time to get used to the taste. Start slowly by adding just a couple drops to your glass of water before adding more. I also like to add a couple drops in a smoothie. Personally, I like the very green taste, but it may be harder to swallow for others. If you absolutely hate the liquid stuff, try it in a capsule form. There are tons of benefits of drinking chlorophyll in water. Try it out for yourself, and let me know how you like it!

By Amy Zhang February 26, 2017 in Lifestyle, Recipes, Wellness 21 Comments

My Go-To Vegan Post Workout Smoothie

Blueberry Almond Butter Vegan Post Workout Smoothie by The Luxi Look

Lately, I’ve gotten into the habit of grabbing a vegan post workout smoothie after a good workout session. Once I realized how easy they are to make at home, I started whipping up different variations in my kitchen that I can’t wait to share with you guys! There really are so many benefits to eating within an hour of working out and making sure to consume a good balance of protein and carbs.

Why it’s important to eat after a workout

+ Your body needs to replenish the glycogen, electrolytes, and fluids that were depleted in your body after a tough workout.

+ Consuming protein within an hour of working out helps repair and build muscle. (See those guys drinking protein shakes at the gym?)

Why I love drinking vegan post workout smoothie:

+ I like to use vegan protein powder because I’m a little lactose intolerant. And whey protein powder, which is derived from milk, can be hard for my stomach to digest. I’m not vegan, but if you are, know that this variation is safe for you to consume and filled with protein!

+ I love smoothies because they’re so fast to whip up and easy, not to mention if you’re really pressed for time you can make smoothie packs ahead of time by zip locking all of the ingredients for one smoothie into a bag in advance.

+ Smoothies are failproof to make. You can use as much or as little of whatever ingredient you have on hand and chances are it’ll taste good. I also prefer smoothies to juices because you keep the fiber from the pulp of whatever fruits and vegetables you blend. : )

So here’s my current favorite variation. I’ll add or subtract ingredients depending on my mood and what I have in the kitchen.

Blueberry Almond Butter Vegan Protein Smoothie Recipe (inspired by Earth Bar)

1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup almond milk
2 tablespoons raw almond butter
1 scoop vegan vanilla protein powder (I really like Vega)

Blend together, adding more milk or ice until you’ve achieved your desired consistency. For instance, I like mine to be a little thicker. Which is why I like using frozen fruit and adding more ice cubes.

** Extra add-ins if you’re feeling crazy – chia seeds, kale, spinach, greens powder, any superfood powder.

xx, Amy

By Amy Zhang February 23, 2017 in Lifestyle, Wellness 32 Comments

Long Weekend Detox: What to Drink and The Ingredients You Should Look For

Weekend Detox - Wellness Drinks by The Luxi Look | Kombucha, Kreation Juices, Infused Water

Almost the weekend!! I’ll be taking this one easy… brunch, maybe a visit to a Korean Spa (dying for a body scrub!!), lots of reading, a weekend detox… what can I say, I’m a grandma : ). If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that I spent last weekend in Mexico City, consuming my fair share of really, really delicious food and too much mezcal to count. It was definitely “letting loose” relative to my typical day to day lifestyle, and while it was totally worth it, I always feel a little sluggish after an indulgent weekend. After a long weekend, I try to be a little more conscious of what I’m putting into my body and focus on eating whole, clean foods and drinking a ton of liquids. I don’t do juice cleanses or extreme detoxes, but I do try to pick out certain ingredients that have detoxifying benefits and help get your body back to normal. Here’s what goes into my mini weekend detox and how it helps you get out of your weekend slump.

Long Weekend Detox: What to Drink and The Ingredients You Should Look For

What I’m sipping on:

+ Kombucha – satisfies my craving for something fizzy, not to mention is so beneficial to your health. Kombucha helps with digestion, boosts your immunity, and is claimed to aid with energy and weight loss.

+ Fresh juices – even though the juicing craze has died down a bit, fresh juices are still a great way to drink more liquid and get more fruits and vegetables easily. Making your own fresh is the best, but it can be time consuming and messy – when I’m on the go, I love Kreation, Beverly Hills Juice, and Juice Served Here in LA.

+ Water – duh! If you’re struggling to get enough water, you absolutely need a water infuser in your life! This one has totally changed my life – it makes water taste SO much better. My favorite combination is cucumber, lemon, and mint, but you can use a variety of fresh fruits and herbs to flavor your water. Water is essential for a weekend detox.

Detoxifying ingredients to look for:

+ Tumeric – anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, which boosts your immunity. If you haven’t tried a turmeric latte yet, you need to do so!

+ Activated charcoal – flushes toxins out of your system. I love charcoal lemonade, but if you can’t find it nearby you can also take activated charcoal pills. Just be sure to drink lots of water with it!

+ Ginger – also an immune system booster and helps with inflammation and may even help prevent cancer.

+ Lemon – warm water with lemon in the morning has been shown to improve digestion and detoxify the body. None of that master cleanse BS.

+ Cucumber – another hydrating superfood that is full of vitamins and antioxidants. Yum!

+ Apple Cider Vinegar – adding a little bit of ACV in your beverage may help with weight loss and digestion.

Happy detox-ing!

xx, Amy

By Amy Zhang February 14, 2017 in Style, Wellness 40 Comments

A Little Love Letter on Loving Yourself

Happy Valentine’s Day!! I’ll admit it – I’m a total sucker for love. But rather than focus on the kind of love we give to others, I wanted to focus on the kind of love we give ourselves today. In other words, loving yourself. Regardless of your relationship status at the moment or thoughts on Valentine’s Day as a holiday, I think it’s a great reminder to take a minute and give yourself some major love. Take a minute today and write a little letter as a reminder that you should always be loving yourself first. After all – there’s no relationship in the world that is more important than the one you have with yourself.

We talk all the time about empowerment. How important it is to empower and support those around us. But what about empowering ourselves? We put the needs and wants of others constantly before ourselves. It’s time to love ourselves. Put yourself first. Be the selfish (the good kind!).

A Little Love Letter on Loving Yourself

I just finished I AM THAT GIRL by Alexis Jones (HIGHLY recommend!!) and I absolutely LOVED her message on self love and putting yourself first. Alexis says:

“Learning to listen to yourself and knowing what you need and when you need it is step one to becoming the good kind of selfish. Asking for it is the next step… when you put your needs last, you’re like a plant without water that’s worried about providing enough shade for others. But if that plant doesn’t have water to grow, it will shrivel up and die, providing no shade or comfort for others anyway.”

Whoa. That is so spot on. Think about it this way:

How often do you commit to something because you want to be a “yes woman,” only to realize later on you over-committed yourself or didn’t want to do that thing to begin with. You know that friend that always flakes? Or the times you’ve flaked on your plans because you realize at the last minute you totally overwhelmed your schedule with too many plans and commitments? If we learn to be honest with ourselves and set realistic expectations for what we can do and how much energy we can exert, we’ll be better people for it. She goes on to say:

“Remember your time is precious, as are you, so start acting like it. Your time is important, your energy is finite, and your attention is precious, so value who and where you spend it accordingly. You are the only one who can set those kinds of expectations and teach people how to treat you. Be selfish, and I promise everyone will benefit.”

Start by taking some me time. A little bit every day. You deserve it.

Call me a romantic, an optimist, or delusional, but I think love should be celebrated every day. Especially love for ourselves.

Take a moment for yourself today and say thank you to yourself. The practice of self-love doesn’t always feel natural, but over time it will feel good. At the end of the day, the way you treat yourself sets the standard for how you treat others.

Whatever your plans are today, make it a good one – and be sure to spoil yourself rotten, even if it’s just with a little self-love, gratitude, and me time!

xx, Amy

dress: vici | hat: lack of color (similar) | belt: b-low the belt

shoes: isabel marant | bag: gucci