It’s fall in Switzerland, and it’s actually my first fall since moving to Europe in January. The leaves here turn bright orange and yellow and the air is super crisp. It reminds me of New England fall, but just grander. One Sunday afternoon, I whipped up this simple, delicious and nutritious purred soup for Henry and I, and we have been making it ever since. Like literally once a week. I will make it over the weekend and it will last me throughout the whole week for lunch or easy dinners. I like this recipe because it uses ingredients that are seasonal. I bought everything from the bio stand a the farmers market, so I know that nothing has been effected with chemicals. Butternut squash is so awesome – its low in fat and is full of fiber. It also has lots of potassium and Vitamin B6 which is essential for the proper function of the nervous and immune systems.

Ingredients

4 tablespoons good olive oil
4 cups chopped yellow (or white) onions (3 large)
3 cloves garlic
5 pounds butternut squash (2 large)
1 1/2 pounds sweet apples (4 apples)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups water
2 Tbs vegetable bouillon
Hefty splash of white wine

Directions

Warm the olive oil and onions in a large stockpot uncovered over low heat for 10-15 minutes, until the onions are tender. Stir often, scraping the bottom of the pot. Peel the squash, cut in half, and remove the seeds. Cut the squash into chunks. Peel, quarter, and core the apples. Cut into chunks. Add the squash, apples, pepper, water, vegetable bouillon and the white wine to the pot. Bring to a boil, cover, and cook over low heat for 30 to 40 minutes, until the squash and apples are very soft. Remove from the heat and puree the soup (in intervals) using a heavy-duty blender or Vitamix. Pour the soup back into the pot. Check the salt and pepper and serve hot, or let it cook and store it in your fridge for the rest of the week. If the soup is too thick, add in water to change the consistency.

Here in Switzerland, bone broth isn’t a trend. It’s a tradition. We make it ourselves, literally from bone marrow that we buy from the butcher. Curious? Okay, don’t freak, but bone broth is made with animal bones that are simmered for hours and hours (overnight or all day) with only water and vegetables. I sometimes follow this easy recipe from the Clean Program when I make it at home. My secret is to freeze the broth in individual containers so that I can take from the freezer just one serving at a time.

Here’s why I am drinking it.

Bone broth is packed full of body rejuvenating nutrients, including a significant amount of collagen peptides. Collagen is found in grass-fed, pasture raised cows and when consumed can actually increase your own collagen. Collagen is actually the most abundant protein in the body, but often we are lacking this from our diet. Benefits to drinking bone broth include stronger hair, nails, cartilage, bones, joints and, my personal favorite, plumped up skin. Plus you are nourishing your body with super concentrated minerals. Bye bye signs of aging.

For those of you that have a bone aversion, don’t like to cook or simply don’t have the time, you could try taking a supplement like Vital Proteins. This is the best one and what all the beauty editors are talking about right now. I just started mixing the powder into my morning smoothie every day. I can feel my skin glowing already.

Image from Bon Appetite.  

Almond milk is maybe one of my favorite things. I drink it practically all day long — in my coffee, in my smoothies (this is one of my favorites) and sometimes even in my soups. Living in New York, I had the convenience of delicious store-bought almond milk at my fingertips. When I moved to Zurich, I realized I really took this for granted.

The almond milk here just isn’t the same, and although Zurich is definitely on the verge of a juice and smoothie explosion, I don’t foresee the almond milk changing very much. It seems much fattier that the American version and the taste is just not as good (maybe because it’s not as processed). I will say, though, that I’d take not-so-good almond milk to have access to all of the other amazing food here. The quality is incomparable. The eggs are bright yellow, the vegetables stay fresh for over a week and the farmer’s market becomes your new best friend. I am completely immersing myself in this seasonal lifestyle and loving it. It’s all about real foods and home cooking (because there is no delivery or take out really!).

Anywayyyyy, back to my little issue with the almond milk. I decided to make it on my own, and this is how I did it. It’s absolutely delicious. And MUCH easier than you think.

The first time you make it, start out with 1/4 cup almonds and 2 cups water. Because it’s free of preservatives, it only lasts in the fridge for a few days (like up to five days), so you don’t want to make too much. You can also play around with the amount of water you use depending on how thick you would like it. Don’t get too caught up up with the measurements, add whatever you feel like, starting with small amounts, tasting and adding more when needed.

Ingredients

– 1/4 cup organic raw almonds, soaked overnight in cool water (or 1-2 hours in very hot water)
– 2-3 cups filtered water (use less to thicken, more to thin)
– pinch of pink Himalayan sea salt

If you like things a little sweet, add…

– 1 date, pitted and soaked for 2 hours (2-3 dates if you are like me and like things sweet)

If you like vanilla, add…

– 2-3 tsp vanilla extract

The summer leading up to the wedding was crazy. I was traveling a lot over June and July and was barely even at home in New York. The last 3 weeks in July I traveled to 4 separate counties, attended 3 different weddings and by the time I returned home at the end of the month, my head was spinning. I decided to go all in and order the 21-day clean program cleanse, which is my absolute favorite. I had been drinking like a fish so I was ready for a full detox.

Other than my cleanse, I wanted to give you all the beauty secrets that helped me get ready for the day when I needed to seriously glow and feel confident. Check out my 8-step plan below.

WELLNESS

The Clean Program. I love the Clean Program so much that I ended up doing it for six weeks leading up to the wedding. It was super intense, but worth it.

The cleanse goes something like this. You have a shake in the morning a clean, hearty, protein filled meal for lunch and another shake for dinner. You also take probiotics and supplements at every meal. For lunch I would have a big leafy green salad with scallions, avocado and cold water-packed tuna with balsamic and olive oil or a piece of salmon, grilled vegetables or sautéed spinach. I would try to mix it up but I am such a boring eater so I didn’t really mind eating the same thing every day.

If I had a dinner or something at night that I couldn’t drink my smoothie, I would plan for it and drink two smoothies during the day and have my clean meal at night.

When you are on the clean program, there is a whole list of foods you have to eliminate. For example, you can eat whole fish, organic chicken and turkey, but you can’t eat strawberries, gluten, dairy, eggs or proceeded sugar. You also can’t have coffee or alcohol.

But let me tell you, I’ve never felt better. Disclaimer: I did drink coffee, but drank it with unsweetened almond milk and stevia, which are both allowed.

Vitamins. I took biotin for my hair and nails everyday. There is nothing quite like this all-natural supplement.

Beauty Elixirs. I love Raw Complexions the Beauty Pack because it includes everything your body needs to glow from the inside out. I hate having to buy all those different additives. This is like an all-in-one. I also added Moon Juice Beauty Dust into my morning smoothies because why not.

Body Vibes. These super vibe stickers, whether they were the placebo effects or the real thing, got me though the emotional rollercoaster that was my wedding.

BODY

Gym. I took it light. I went to two classes of Barre3 a week. I didn’t want to bulk up. I just wanted to stay ballerina lean. I also elevated my legs at a 90 degree angle on a wall for 45 minutes at night, whenever I found the time.

Massage. I alternated between hard-core painful massage and lymphatic massage. A week before the big day, I got a few lymph massages on my body and on my face to reduce puffiness.

Products. I used Tata Harper’s Body Balm because it gets rid of stretch masks and cellulite and Arcona Body Lotion 10% because it’s packed with glycolic acid to improve tonal quality and elasticity in the skin. It made my skin super soft and imperfection-free.

HAIR

Color. I lighted my hair a little before the wedding with my go-to favorite colorist around, Mauricio Bermudez at Sweet Caroline. He is famous for his blond clients like Dree Hemingway.

Cut. Tiffani at Sweet Caroline, who also works right under the famous Guido, cut my hair. She has the best vibes and I also did all my wedding hair trials with her. There is no one better than Tiffani.

Products. I stopped using anything harsh that could cause breakage. I stuck to Christophe Robin because it’s gentle and free of gross chemicals. I absolutely love his products. They give your mane a thick, healthy finish. Christophe Robin Prickly Pear Regenerating Shampoo, Rose Water Conditioner and the Prickly Pear Regenerating Mask. For styling I opted for Shu Uemura Essence Absolue, the Wonder Worker and the Cotton Uzu Defining Cream.

FACE

Facials. I booked weekly appointments at Dangene. I wanted lots of LEDS, microdermabrasion, oxygen and light peels.

Dermaplane. A week before the wedding, I got dermaplane, which is where they shave all the micro hairs off your face. Makeup application has never felt so good.

Laser. I burned everything off and got lots of laser over the past year leading up to the wedding. I also did some really invasive laser and chemical peels that took weeks of downtime earlier in the year. I also did acid treatments on my hands, back, neck, chest, arms and face.

Face Masks. I did lots of at-home hydration and glowing masks. I stuck to these three all-stars: Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask, SK-II Facial Treatment Mask and May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon. The week before the wedding my sister, my parents (even my Dad) and I used the SK-II mask every night before bed.

LED Face Mask. Every three days I’d take 15 minutes at the end of the day to lie under my Korean light mask. I did as Gucci Westman recommended and used the SK-II facemask right beforehand to make the most of the treatment. Dermstore also sells some bada** light devices…that are actually on SALE this week!

Eyes. Even when I get a ton of sleep I still have a propensity for under-eye bags. Verso Eye Serum is the only thing that works to get rid of the bags. Period.

NAILS

Gels. Naomi Yasuda, who is the cutest person in the world, did my nails. They were long and rounded with a gradient white ombre and tiny gold sparkles in the middle of the nail. It was inspired by my wedding dress.

Mani/ Pedi. I go to Eve, which is right around the corner from my apartment. They give great mani-pedis and sometimes I even see SJP in there. It’s totally no frills, but I love it.

Nail Oil. I wanted really long nails on my wedding day, so I started using Uka Nail Oil every night. This kept my nails and cuticles from being so dry during the day and therefore less tempting to pick and less likely to break.

TEETH

My dentist recommended Crest Whitestrips Express which Henry and I used every day or every other day for three weeks prior to the wedding.

HAIR REMOVAL

I saw my girl Nicky Cayot and she did the works on me right before the wedding. She waxed my bikini and dyed my lashes. She also trimmed and shaped my brows. Another one of her clients is Gisele. Enough said.

LASHES AND BROWS

I stopped tweezing my brows a few months before the wedding and went crazy with Revitalash Eyelash Serum and Plump Brow Serum. I have never had my brows and lashes this full in my life.

I wake up tired as ba**s. I brush my teeth (duh) using one of those vibrating Oral B toothbrushes and my Marvis Ginger Mint Toothpaste that I share with my fiancé. It not only tastes good, but it looks pretty nice too.

Next, I head to my kitchen with my vitamins in tow. I take bunch but my three favorites are Biotin and the Clean Program probiotic, which I like because it’s vegan. I drink a ton of liquids first thing in the morning, which I hate, but I just make myself do it. First, I’ll pour in like 15 drops or so of ConcenTrace Trace Minerals into a glass and fill with water. This basically balances my pH. I drink that and then I pour a heavy splash of the Beauty Chef Collagen Inner Beauty Boost into the glass and fill with water. This stuff is my jam. Plump skin? Yes please. Lastly, and depending on how I feel and time, I’ll have another huge glass of water with an Emergen-C, or if I happen to have lemon juice on hard (I will only do this if I have time to squeeze the night before), I’ll have lemon water.

Then I grab 3 Stevias and walk directly downstairs to Stumptown where I pickup my large almond latte. If I am feeling like I need a break from sugar (most coffee places use sweetened almond milk because otherwise it doesn’t foam), Ill ask for a large black coffee and I’ll pour in my own at home. My new almond milk obsession is Califia. Theirs is really the best! Only 35 calories per cup. Wild. By the way, I don’t use Splenda or any of those other and really bad for you sweeteners. Alternatively, if I’m in the mood, I’ll make a matcha latte. I have been really into T2tea. Their new Choc Matcha is to die for and I have one of their matcha bowls and a bamboo whisk which makes the whole experience feel very professional!

Next up is my nutzo skincare routine, which goes a little something like this. I usually take a shower at the end of the day – I don’t really sweat while I sleep – so I move straight to my skin. I start by washing my face with One Love Organics Vitamin B Oil Cleanser. It smells like pineapple and it makes me really happy. Once a week, Ill exfoliate in the morning with Arcona’s Cranberry Gommage Exfoliant.

Next I pour a little bit of SK-II’s Facial Essence into the palm of my hand, and mix the liquid around with my entire palm then pat all over my face and neck. Next I’ll spray Tata Harper Floral Essence all over my face, neck and chest. I’m almost done with this, so I’ll start incorporating REN’s Flash Defense Anti-Pollution Mist into my routine soon.

Next in the lineup is serum. Right now I’m using La Prairie Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold. It’s like heaven, but boy is it expensive, so next I will be switching it up with Vintner’s Daughter Botanical Serum – which is a game-changer. It’s a sort of do-it-all serum that takes away all redness and irritation and just leaves you looking plumped. My skin is quite normal and even slightly dry so for a cream I use my current favorite SkinCeuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2. You can read all about it here, but I’m totally obsessed. I also switch it up with another favorite, Pai Echium & Macadamia Replenishing Cream. It’s completely natural and is packed with Hyaluronic acid so it leaves my skin smooth. If I am going to be in the sun that day, I skip the creams and use Image Prevention +SPF 50 Daily Moisturizer. It’s light and made from plant stem cells, which actually extend the life of your own cells! It also happens to smell incredible. On my eyes I use Arcona Eye Dew Plus, which has retinol and a nice opalescence finish. If you don’t like being overly glowy, try my other favorite: Verso Eye Serum. It’s also with retinol, but is much lighter and goes on clear.

For my lashes, I use Revitalash, because I am really trying to grow my lashes out at the moment. I’m not sure if I will get lash extensions before my wedding…my fiancé hates them.

Exhausted yet? So by this time I am starving so I typically make a smoothie with my good ole’ Vitamix. I make a smoothie every single day for breakfast and it usually involves the same formula. I’ll make it fancier if I have more time by adding different things like kale, dates or goji berries. I usually make two. One for me and another for my fiancé. He never drinks his, so I usually just have both.

My standard smoothie includes the following: 1 cup almond milk, a splash of carrot juice (good for the skin!), 1-2 cups frozen fruit (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, mangos, peaches), 1 scoop unsweetended almond butter, the Moon Juice Beauty Dust, The Beauty Chef Glow, Clean Program chocolate protein powder, and a tsp of maca, bee pollen and hemp seeds. This is like a dark purple colored smoothie. If I make a green smoothie, I’ll skip the chocolate protein powder and use bananas and strawberries (which yield less color), spinach and some matcha. For some morning inspo, checkout my Glow Green Mermaid Smoothie Bowl here.

There you have it. Only once this is done, I’m finally ready to take on my day!

For those of you who want the smoothie, but not the work – I have a magical solution for you: Daily Harvest.

Here’s how it works. They deliver frozen, ready-to-blend whole ingredient smoothies to your door. All you have to do is add a liquid base (like unsweetened almond or hemp milk) and blend. No guesswork, no prepping, no waste, no mess. There are only 40-150 calories per serving and they include all different types of superfoods from matcha to hemp. Everything is organic (thank you Lord) and unrefined and you get to choose how many smoothies you want and how frequently you want them. I am sure they are all good but my favorite flavors are Matcha Colada, Peaches for Me and Mornin’ MoJoe. I’ll even add in some Moon Juice Beauty or Brain Dust into my smoothies for that extra kick.

For those who are working on that perfect Instagram shot, or simply want to impress their friends, Daily Harvest ensures that what you are making tastes amazing, and also this way you can put more effort into the design on top, aka the best part.

PS – I’ve got good news. Use my special code BLENDEASY for 25% #boom between now and June 6th.

In honor of the fast-approaching big event, I wanted to share with you my favorite New York City and Brooklyn-based sweet shops that have caught my eye. These are truly the cutest shops you need to know about for your next event – many of whom even ship to other places around the US.

Soji’s Honey Bakeshop (See images below and above/ Instagram: @sogishoneybakeshop)– Brooklyn based bakeshop that specializes in hand-painted cookies and illustration. They can illustrate practically anything you want. My friend Madeleine even got her wedding crest hand painted one one of Sogi’s cookies.

Sweet Saba (See images below/ Instagram: @sweetsabacandy) – Maayan, (previously the founder of whimsical lingerie line The Lake & Stars) started this specialty line of candy meant for adults. Some of my favorites are her lipsticks and of course, the crystals.

Flourshop (See image below/ Instagram: @flourshop)– My friend Amirah Kassem started her BEYOND delicious cake shop 5 years ago, but the buzz is still going strong. I have never tasted a better cake in my life. We have ordered her red sparkly “lip” cake that’s filled with rainbow layer inside, her scull cake for a Day of the Dead themed party, a steak cake complete with chocolate carrots, glittery lips for my She’s in the Glow launch event and my fiancé even proposed to me with her giant diamond cakes.  Let’s just say, we are obsessed.

Erin McKenna’s Bakery formerly Babycakes (See image below/ Instagram: @erinmckennasbakery) – They are known for their dairy-free, egg-free, vegan, kosher, refined sugar-free, wheat-free, soy-free and gluten-free baked goods, but I love their coconut mounds best. The taste, consistency and even color are so cute and delish and you can request fun shapes like”hearts,” “cats” and “lips.” Even those who despise anything vegan will appreciate their amazing taste.

Cake Hero (See images below/ Instagram: @cakeheronyc) – Art-like quality cakes and all things sweet using organic, locally sourced and fair trade ingredients.

I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Paltrow at the New York press preview of her skincare line Goop by Juice Beauty. She arrived wearing white bell-bottom jeans, super high peep toe heels and a white sheer blouse (was it Chloe?). On top, she was wearing a G. apron, a gift that that all of us editors were told to wear as well. The event was all about inner beauty, so GP decided to give us a cooking class. She showed us how to make her favorite morning smoothie (recipe below) and gave us a taste of why she believes that radiance begins on the inside.

Here’s what the glowing goddess had to say about wellness, her new line and the importance of staying aware of what we put in our bodies:

“[Goop by Juice Beauty] is the result of a lot of very hard work. The reason I wanted to create these products is for the vain part of me. I wanted skincare products that were really effective and would help with hydration and glow and fine lines and wrinkles. And even for someone who is so engaged in the health and wellness community, I could not find products that were organic that were offering me the same results and that really luxurious touch and feel. So, we created this line. More that 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bodies, and our beauty and personal care industry, as you know, is completely unregulated… These are the products that we use all day and reapply all day, wash with, moisturize with, and I think that we deserve a lot better, especially as a mother of a girl who is obsessed with makeup and body mist and God knows what. I hope that eventually our government better protects us from what is in the products. But until then, you can use these and know that you are safe and hopefully really pleased with the results.

I do really believe that beauty comes from within, mostly how you feel about yourself and how you express your love of yourself, but also in the form of nutrition and how you take care of yourself from the inside. This is all beautiful magic powder from a company called Moon Juice. There is a woman in LA, named Amanda Bacon and she is like this gorgeous white witch who creates all these amazing, powerful potions and I got really into her stuff. I have it every morning. This is kind of like a very basic base for a smoothie. You can put anything in it, and this is all organic…”

Want to know about Moon Juice? Read my interview with the amazing founder here!

This is GP’s Recipe:

2 cups fruit of choice (bananas, strawberries, mangos, blueberries, blackberries or peaches to name a few…)

1 cup almond milk

1 tablespoon almond butter

1 teaspoon coconut oil

2 tablespoons vanilla mushroom protein powder

1 teaspoon maca

1 teaspoon ashwagandha

1 teaspoon ho shou wu

1 teaspoon cordyceps

1 teaspoon moon dust of choice:

Action Dust to soothe overworked muscles, Beauty Dust for a glowy complexion and healthy hair, Brain Dust to combat mental fogginess, Goodnight Dust when sleep has been evasive, Sex Dust, for, you know, and Spirit Dust to get that extrasensory perception going.

pinch Himalayan sea salt

pinch vanilla powder (optional)

Goop is now for sale at Shen Beauty! Who is excited?!

Today, Charlotte lives in New York City with her husband Dave who helped her launch her perfectly curated online site. She doesn’t know what city to consider “home”, but she will always have a soft spot for LA, Seoul and NYC. On one cold but sunny day, I had the pleasure of meeting Charlotte at her shared office space, the trendy WeWork, to discuss what is up with her near perfect porcelain skin, that hair cut that I am just dying to copy, her life, her taste and, of course, her beauty faves. This is what went down.

Tell me about your gorgeous site. How did you and your hubby get started? What makes your K-Beauty site different?

Soko Glam is our baby! We started the site together back in 2012 because we wanted to be the bridge to Korea’s incredible beauty trends and products. We have a huge amount of respect for Korea and the culture, so spreading the awareness of Korean beauty has been rewarding. In just 3 years, we’ve already seen K-beauty make a huge impact in the global beauty industry and we’re excited to be a part of it.

Soko Glam is a one-of-a-kind K-beauty site because of the community we have cultivated through stories shared on our blog, The Klog. We also have hundreds of product reviews, which is really important for people who are just getting into K-beauty and don’t know where to start. Also, I’ve curated many products are from mainstream Korean brands, such as Skinfood, Neogen, Son & Park, and Missha. These are brands you can actually see and buy in popular shopping districts in Seoul such as Myeongdong.

Tell me about your book. How long did it take to write? Eva Chen gave you a little nudge?

The Little Book of Skin Care happened so fast, it still seems like a dream! About a year ago, I was approached by a literary agent after she read some of my Korean beauty articles on Refinery29 and Into the Gloss. I was in the middle of esthetician school and running Soko Glam so I was very daunted by the task of writing a full book. I reached out to several mentors because I was so conflicted. Eva Chen was one of them. She told me it was a great idea and encouraged me to go for it! I’m so glad I did. The process was actually enjoyable and seeing the finished product in bookstores is so surreal. I’m glad I did it because I got to work with talented women, such as Kate Williams and Gemma Correll. I consider myself very fortunate to have had this opportunity and I’m thankful for all the positive feedback from everyone from the US to countries like Russia, Germany and China!

Switching gears a little bit… I’d love to hear about your lifestyle. What is a typical breakfast, lunch and dinner like for you?

I usually don’t eat breakfast, which I know is terrible for your body and brain. The day goes by so fast, it’s already time for lunch before I have a chance to realize I’m hungry!

For lunch or dinner we try to eat whatever is easiest and/or fastest. That means we usually Seamless, make a sandwich or we go out to pick up a few things at a nearby bodega. We love cooking but we usually don’t have the luxury of time. I’m sorry I don’t have a more glamorous response but that’s the reality of being an entrepreneur – for us at least.

What’s your skincare regime like for morning and night? 

My skin care routine changes daily because I’m testing so many products. But here are some of my current favorites that I tend to gravitate towards when I’m not testing.

You’ll see that I have been gravitating towards multi-tasking products. For example, my toning pads gently exfoliate and tone at the same time. The Son & Park beauty water removes makeup, tones and exfoliates, so if I’m pressed for time I’ll use Son & Park as my sole cleansing step. More of my favorites are:

Banila Co Clean it Zero Oil Cleanser

Neogen Foam Cleanser

Re:p Toning Pads (tones and exfoliates!)

Missha FTE

Klairs Vitamin C Serum (for pigmentation)

Re:p All night moisture & relief mask

When I have time, I’ll sheet mask! And, of course, if I go outside I use sunscreen!

If you could only use one Korean beauty product (or category), what would it be and why?

Cleansers are something you use every morning and night (hopefully!). They’re essential to your skin’s health. Cleansing properly can prevent breakouts, reduce blackheads and size of your pores and even help with anti-aging. People may think that because the cleanser is on your skin for at most a few minutes, it might not be that important – but I’ve heard so many people who have followed the double cleanse routine and seen incredible results.

What are your k-beauty predictions for 2016?

I predict the use of more “real” ingredients in all products. I’m already seeing wash-off masks infused with real herbs (for an extra exfoliating effect), floating rose petals in cleansing waters (for an extra antioxidant effect, straight from the source), and sheet masks where you can see the real ingredients (yes, real calendula petals and herbs) infused into the hydrogel for extra skin-loving effects. I hope it doesn’t go too far, though, because I’ll draw the line if I see real snail shells in my jar of snail cream!

You have totally turned me onto cushion compacts. Talk to me about your favorites.

I love cushion compacts because they are just so incredibly easy to use and they give you this perfect, airbrushed, dewy look without looking cakey. There isn’t a girl in Korea that doesn’t own one, and it’s actually amazing how fast this innovation is coming to brands stateside, I’m seeing them being replicated at Lancome, Sephora, etc. I am really into the Missha Magic Cushion right now. It’s very similar to the IOPE cushion (the original cushion compact).

Imagine you’re planning a Sunday night pamper party. What are your favorite ways to give your hair, skin and nails a little extra love?

Definitely sheet masks!

My favorite is the Manefit Bling Bling Hydro Gel Mask. If I want to get fancy, I go for the Banila Co Lace Hydrogel Masks.

I’m getting married in September and I want to get my skin in tip-top shape. What is your best beauty tip for the bride-to-be?

It’s all about being consistent with your skincare routine. You need to use a product for at least 4 weeks to see results, so you can’t be lazy! To get that luminous glow, I really recommend adding a brightening essence to your routine. I’ve been obsessed with the Neogen Essence & Tox Tightening set, because it’s an exfoliator and essence in one. Exfoliating is so key to better product absorption and buffing the dullness out of your skin!

Also, try not to stress out too much when planning fo royur big day! Stress causes cortisol/testosterone levels to rise, which causes hormonal breakouts!

Where do you get your hair cut?

Franck Provost and Hair Kuwayama (406 E. 13^th Street)

Favorite non-Korean beauty item that you swear by?

Essie nail polish! I love all their shades and cheeky names.

3 essential items in your…

Fridge/pantry: Shin Ramen, jalapeños and Tapatio. What can I say, I like my food spicy.

Handbag: Sunglasses, tissues and my laptop, which means I’m usually with a backpack and not a handbag.

Travel bag: Hand sanitizing wipes for icky planes, Korean currency and sheet masks!

Your favorite…

Restaurant/café: Her Name is Han is this cozy, authentic Korean restaurant on 31^st and Madison. The décor, presentation and comfort food makes me feel like I am in Seoul.

Inspirational quote: I was at an entrepreneur conference and someone said, “Being an entrepreneur is like jumping off a cliff and building a plane on the way down.” Not sure who said it but it really resonated with me.

Nail art salon:

M&M Studio (New York, 3 E 33^rd Street) – Very talented nail artists from Japan. Their English is limited but all I do is show her a photo and she can replicate anything!

Unistella Nail Salon (Korea) – Check out her Instagram!

I’ve had lots of practice constructing my own smoothie bowls, but my creations pale in comparison to those made by my Finnish friend Anni (aka @anniskk). Anni is a Helsinki based food stylist, recipe maker and part owner of a Sakara Life-type monthly food delivery service called Date and Kale (how cute is that name?). Just checkout her Instagram and you will see why I’m raving about her talent. Her bowls are always perfect: colorful, containing a distinct pattern, cheerful and elaborate. I had to know how she makes these magical works of art.

I spoke with Anni last time she was in New York at one of my favorite locals places Chalait, and got some serious answers.

Can you share a recipe for one of your smoothie bowls? 

I’d love to. My favorite at the moment is this plant protein packed mermaid smoothie bowl…

for the base:

1  large banana (leave a couple of slices for toppings)

1 ½ dl unflavored plant yogurt (soy, oat or your other favorite)

1 kiwi fruit, cut into chunks and frozen

1 ½ dl edamame beans, frozen

1 tsp spirulina powder

optional extras: fresh ginger and/or lemon

Blend it all up, pour into a bowl and play with the toppings!

Toppings:

Homemade muesli, banana, goji berries (I like black currants, sea buckthorn berries and raspberries at the moment), edible flowers, chia seeds, hemp hearts, coconut, bee pollen or whatever favorite sprinkles you have on hand!

What ingredients do you use for the base?

I always use one ripe banana and plant yogurt for the base (I prefer blending with plant yogurt than plant milk for a creamier texture). On top of that, I opt for something frozen. This can be berries, fruit or even edamame beans. Sometimes I also add fresh greens, beetroot or other veggies. Lastly, I add a teaspoon or two of some “booster.” Normally this would be a green powder or algae. Wheatgrass and spirulina are my favorites. For acai bowls, I use freeze dried acai powder.

What are some of the more “funky” ingredients you like to have on hand?

Edible flowers (for a daily luxury), all kinds of different toppings or sprinkles: cacao nibs, coconut, bee pollen, hemp hearts, chia seeds and flax seeds are my favorites.

Can you share some of your tips for styling the bowl?

Think of yourself as an artist and the smoothie is your canvas. Then just get creative. Think if you want to make a symmetrical pattern, circles, lines or something else. Use whatever funny toppings you can find from your kitchen (in this case, less is definitely not more). Don’t worry if it doesn’t turn out perfect for the first time or similar to someone else’s bowl! It’s your unique piece of art– that’s what you should be happy about.

How do you come up with your cute patterns?

Hmm this is a tricky question that I get asked quite often and I’m afraid I don’t have a real answer. I feel like the inspiration comes from so many different things. It can be just colors or patterns I see while walking in the city, scrolling through websites, art work, prints in clothing, cartoons and so on. I don’t really “plan” the patterns when I make them for the first time – normally I just start doing and if the result is something that I really like, it normally becomes my standard smoothie bowl pattern for a while until I come up with a new favorite one!

How do you make the perfect lines with the hemp seeds, flax seeds, etc.? 

Oh I guess I just have a steady hand, hahah! I’m using just a normal teaspoon, no more magic or secret tricks for that, sorry!

What kind of bowl and spoon do you use? Does this matter?

It does matter, definitely. I like using simple white, round bowls from the Finnish brand Iittala. My smoothie bowls are so colourful that a white background makes them stand out best. I’ve been collecting all kinds of spoons from around the world while traveling for some years now. I love having  unique spoons next to my bowls, as they remind me of past adventures. 

What kind of lighting and camera do you use to photograph your bowl when it’s finished?

I only shoot food in natural light, using my small Olympus Pen (with in-built wifi). This way I get the photos from the camera to my phone in minutes.