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Can You Really ‘Scoop Out’ Your Period?

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Social media has a way of turning medical misinformation into viral trends, and the latest example is making gynecologists everywhere cringe. Videos claiming that you can simply “scoop out” your period have racked up millions of views. Some posts even suggest that doctors can do this ahead of big events like weddings, vacations, or athletic competitions to avoid bleeding altogether.

It sounds almost too good to be true. And according to ob-gyns, it absolutely is.

The viral videos imply that menstrual blood—or even the uterine lining itself—can be removed in one quick step, preventing a period entirely. But that’s not how menstruation works.

“The duration of the menstrual cycle is determined by the shedding of the uterine lining, which passes through the cervix and the vagina prior to leaving the body,” Christie Cobb, MD, FACOG, tells SELF.

“Removing what is in the vagina with the fingers is essentially the same as inserting and immediately removing a tampon. It might flush what is present in the moment, but will not change the flow from the uterus.”

Not only is it not an effective strategy, it isn’t safe either.

“This is definitely not something to be attempted at home. First, there is the risk of injury from scrapes or cuts to the vaginal mucosa or cervix from finger nails,” Dr. Cobb says.

It can also increase the risk of infection by introducing bacteria or yeast, and it may throw off the vagina’s natural pH—especially if water or soap is involved, Dr. Cobb explains.

Your doctor won’t ‘scoop out’ your period

While doctors do perform a procedure called dilation and curettage (D&C), it is done for removing the remaining tissue after an abortion or miscarriage, or for collecting tissue samples to diagnose certain conditions that might cause abnormal bleeding. It isn’t used to shorten the duration of a patient’s period.

“In the classic D&C, you’re using a metal instrument to scrape the lining of the uterus,” Samantha Kaplan, MD, MPH, an ob-gyn at Boston Medical Center tells SELF.

“We also have suction triage. It can be manual or it can be electric, and these are procedures that might be done in someone who is postmenopausal or premenopausal…. Even the most effective treatments to remove uterine lining are extensive,” she says.

The surgical procedure is also used to stop severe, medically dangerous bleeding, Karen Tang, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and author of It’s Not Hysteriatells SELF.

Is Adapalene Gel Good for Acne Scars?

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Adapalene gel is a topical medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as retinoids. It is used to treat acne and works by preventing the formation of blackheads, whiteheads, and other acne lesions.

It also helps to normalize the shedding of dead skin cells, which can help reduce clogged pores and inflammation.

However, as a retinoid, adapalene can also help improve mild to moderate acne scars.

Therefore, in this article, we will discuss how adapalene gel works to help reduce acne scars and whether or not it is a good option for you.

NB: I can show you how to never have acne again. If you have acne and want it goneread this message.

What is Adapalene Gel?

Adapalene is a topical retinoid used to treat mild to moderate acne.

Available in over-the-counter gels in 0.1% concentration and prescription-strength gels in 0.3% concentration, this gel-based treatment is most effective when applied directly to the acne-prone areas on your face.

How Does Adapalene Work?

Adapalene is a type of retinoid or a vitamin A-derivative that works by binding to receptors in the skin and “teaching” the skin cells to behave in a “younger” way.

When the cells behave this way, they tend to regenerate and turnover faster than usual, improving the complexion by reducing the buildup of dead skin cells that typically clog pores and cause acne.

Adapalene also helps reduce inflammation and effectively treats open comedones, closed comedones, and inflamed pimples.

Is Adapalene Gel Good for Acne Scars?

Adapalene gel can help fade some types of acne scarring, including discoloration, such as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and post-inflammatory erythema, which are the red dots that remain on the skin after a pimple has healed.

Additionally, adapalene can help smooth out skin texture, which is why it can have some positive effect on textural scarring, such as atrophic scarring, which includes ice pick, rolling, and boxcar-type scarring, as well as hypertrophic scarring, such as keloids.

However, it is important to note that adapalene gel cannot erase or completely eliminate textural acne scarring, and professional treatments such as microneedling or lasers are often required to achieve the best results.

How Long Does it Take for Adapalene to Remove Acne Scars?

How Long Does it Take for Adapalene to Remove Acne Scars

When it comes to fading discoloration and pigmented acne scarring, you should start seeing results after using adapalene for at least three months.

How quick or slow the healing process of acne scars is depends entirely on the scar itself, your skin’s ability to regenerate, and the severity of acne.

Additionally, your skincare routine will also play a huge part in your healing journey, so make sure to use nourishing products that will help improve the skin’s barrier rather than inflammatory ones that can make your skin worse and slow down healing by constantly triggering inflammation.

In some cases, it might take up to a year of consistent adapalene use to significantly improve your skin, but most people start to see results within the first three months of regular use.

Additionally, when it comes to textural acne scarring, adapalene is most effective when used along with professional treatments, such as microneedling or laser treatments, and can provide excellent results after a few months to a year, depending on the severity of the scars.

How Do You Know if Adapalene is Working?

When you start using adapalene, it will take about a week for its effects to become visible.

However, there are a few stages of adapalene treatment you will have to go through in the beginning before seeing skin improvement.

Here are a few signs that adapalene is working:

Purging – the initial stage of breaking out and purging the clogs that would’ve turned into pimples at different points in time which lasts between four and twelve weeks.

Mild peeling – this can happen after the very first time using adapalene, and it’s a sign that the treatment is starting to work by throwing your skin into the retinization phase, which can last a few weeks.

Reduced inflammation – once the initial purging and peeling slow down, you will start to notice reduced inflammation and less redness.

Smaller pimples – during this stage, you will also notice smaller pimples that heal quicker than usual and are a part of the final stage of purging.

Less frequent breakouts – once your skin has finished purging, it will start to balance out, and you will experience less frequent breakouts.

Faded hyperpigmentation – this is the stage when you start to see your skin tone evening out and pigmentation slowly fading away.

Refined skin texture – once the discoloration is fading, you will start to notice your skin texture looking smoother and softer.

Does Adapalene Have Side Effects?

Although adapalene is efficient in healing active acne, this ingredient has some potential side effects.

The most feared side effect of adapalene is purging, which is a stage of the skin’s healing process in which the active ingredient causes an increase in cellular turnover.

This can result in more breakouts that can be moderate to severe and can last anywhere between 4-12 weeks.

Other potential side effects of adapalene include:

  • Dryness.
  • Itching.
  • Redness.
  • Peeling.
  • Burning.

Experiencing these side effects isn’t uncommon; however, if the discomfort becomes unbearable, it’s important to take this as a sign and adjust your adapalene usage and skincare routine.

Switching to a gentle, non-irritating cleanser as well as adding a heavy-duty moisturizer and high SPF as part of your morning routine, can help combat some of the drying and irritating effects of using this ingredient.

The Best Adapalene Gels for Acne Scars

Here are the three best adapalene gels for acne and acne scars:

Differin 0.1% Adapalene Treatment Gel, $18

Differin 0.1% Adapalene Treatment Gel

The OG adapalene, this Differin 0.1% Adapalene Treatment Gel has been on the market for longest and is a very effective yet gentle treatment for acne and scars.

With a smooth gel-cream texture, this gel works well for both severe and occasional breakouts, as well as textural and discoloration scars.

Proactiv MD Adapalene Gel Acne Treatment, $36

Proactiv MD Adapalene Gel Acne Treatment

This Proactiv MD Adapalene Gel Acne Treatment is a less-known yet efficient gel treatment for acne and acne scars.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1%, $37

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1%

Finally, the newest addition of adapalene to the skincare market is the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Adapalene Gel 0.1%.

With a smoother consistency than Differin’s and Proactiv’s adapalene, La Roche-Posay’s treatment is considered gentler and more suitable for sensitive skin.

The Acne Solution: Your Ultimate Guide To Flawless Complexion

An extensive, no-nonsense course showing you how to never have acne againfrom a licensed Esthetician specializing in oily/acne-prone skin.

Boots CEO Ornella Barra steps down after nearly a decade at the helm

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THE WHAT? Boots Chief Executive Officer Ornella Barra is stepping down from her role after leading the British health and beauty retailer for almost ten years.

THE DETAILS Barra will transition to Chair of the Board, replacing Stefano Pessina, and will take oversight of the company’s ESG agenda. Pessina, a major shareholder, will remain on the board following the separation of Boots from Walgreens Boots Alliance, which was acquired by Sycamore Partners in a US$10 billion deal last year.

Since the transaction, Boots has been operating as a private, UK-headquartered business. The Boots Group now encompasses pharmacy-led health and beauty operations globally, as well as a pharmaceutical wholesale business in Germany. Anthony Hemmerdinger, currently Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the UK, Ireland and Opticians, will assume expanded responsibilities, including oversight of No7 Beauty and group-level functions.

THE WHY? The leadership change marks a new chapter for Boots as it continues to operate independently following its separation from Walgreens Boots Alliance. Barra’s move to chair signals continuity in governance and ESG priorities, while the expanded remit for Hemmerdinger reflects a focus on streamlining leadership across health and beauty operations.

Source: Bloomberg

Seven Smart Uses for Bar Soap

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Confession: I look forward to getting dirty just to get clean again since I started using high‑quality, handcrafted bar soaps. They’ve transformed showering from something mundane to something sublime. There’s nothing like lifting a big Osmia bar off its soap-saver throne, lathering it between your hands, and watching the dirt slide away. Plus, the lingering scent of lavender, vetiver, or lemongrass turns your bathroom into a mini-spa.

But beyond cleansing, soap has many unexpected uses. Here are some of my favorite smart soap hacks:

1) Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Dermatologists recommend washing your makeup brushes once a week to avoid build-up and breakouts. Don’t think they’re dirty? Check out Refinery29’s results after sending their editors’ makeup brushes to a lab. Ready to wash your makeup brushes now???

To clean your brushes, wet a brush with lukewarm water, grab a bar of our Oh So Soap or Oh So Detox Soapand gently rub the brush over the bar until it’s nice and soapy. Then, wash the bristles against the palm of your hand, and rinse completely. Continue this process until the water runs completely clear. Shake the brush to remove excess water, and place on a clean washcloth to dry overnight. Repeat weekly.

2) Use Soap To Freshen Your Drawers

Keep your socks and undies smelling sweet with the help of our natural bar soap. Place a bar in your closet, your sock drawer, or your underwear drawer and get a refreshing whiff of essential oils every time you enter your closet or open a drawer. We recommend our Citrus Pearl, Lavender Pineand Vetiver Grey for their long-lasting, beautiful scents.

3) Use Bar Soap As A Shampoo Bar

Get your locks sudsy with a bar of soap. Use the bar directly on your wet hair to create a creamy lather, then rinse completely. We absolutely love our Naked Body Soap for a shampoo bar. Follow with your favorite conditioner!

Caucasian person lathering up brown hair with soapy hands

4) Use Bar Soap As Shaving Cream

Who needs shaving cream (and yet another bulky, probably non-recyclable container) to get a close shave? We know old habits die hard, but this is a no-brainer.

Try lathering your legs with our Oh So Body Soap and shave away—the low lather and extra olive oil give it a lovely slip under your razor. For super silky legs, scrub with our Himalayan Body Buff firstrinse clean, shave with one of our soaps, and finish up with your favorite Osmia body mousse.

5) Use Bar Soap To Wash Your Underwear

I recently had to employ this trick when I picked up Influenza A while traveling, and had to spend an extra five days locked in a hotel room with way too few pairs of underwear. I had a bar of our gentle Oh So Body Soap with me, and it did the trick perfectly. As for your fancy undies, no need for expensive lingerie washes—a quick wash with a natural bar soap works like a charm. 5) Use Soap To Wash Your Underwear

6) Use Bar Soap For Restless Leg Syndrome???

The jury (at least the scientific one) is still out on this one, but there’s anecdotal evidence to suggest that some people with Restless Leg Syndrome experience some relief from symptoms when they sleep with a bar of soap under the bottom sheet. Sound bananas? Check out these search results! It’s not the New England Journal, but some people are true believers!

7) Use Bar Soap To Unstick A Zipper

Jacket season is right around the corner, and there’s nothing more annoying than being stuck in your coat, thanks to a stubborn zipper. Grab a dry bar of any Osmia soap, rub it on the jammed zipper teeth, continue to work the zipper gently, and take a whiff of freedom when your zipper is back on track.

With love and smart soap tricks,


The information contained in this post is for educational interest only. This information is not intended to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any physical or mental illness, disease, or skin conditions.

This Vitamin Could Play a Major Role in How Well You Poop

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When you’re struggling yet again to poop, you might wonder if there’s a better way to stay regular. While you’ve probably heard of doing things like upping your fiber intake and drinking more water, new research suggests a slightly different approach—and it involves a vitamin.

A new study published in the journal Gut found a link between vitamin B1 and good gut motility, aka the movement of food through your GI tract. The findings suggest that making sure you’re on top of your B1 intake in the future could lower the odds you’ll be backed up going forward.

Before you toss vitamin B1 supplements in your cart, there are a few things to keep in mind. Here’s what gastroenterologists want you to know.

It took two analyses to find the link between B1 and pooping.

For the study, researchers analyzed genetic and questionnaire data from nearly 269,000 people to try to find genes linked to gut motility. The researchers found that the participants had a daily stool frequency (i.e. how many times they pooped a day) that ranged from 0.98 to 1.42 bowel movements.

When they crunched the data, the researchers were able to locate three genetic variants that influence gut motility: rs12407945 in European participants, and rs2581260 and rs12022782 in the multi-ancestry analysis. But they also found that two of the variants influence the activation of B1 and its transport around the body.

In a follow-up analysis of nearly 98,500 people who participated in the UK Biobank, the research team found a strong link between how much vitamin B1 people took in and how often they pooped, suggesting that vitamin B1 helped people go No.2.

The researchers wrote in the conclusion that this is a “previously unrecognized role for vitamin B1.”

There are a few theories on why B1 helps you poop.

Technically, the study just found a link between vitamin B1, aka thiamine, and pooping frequency—it didn’t explore the exact reason behind this. “We still do not know the exact mechanisms,” Mauro D’Amato, PhD, study co-author and professor of Medical Genetics at LUM University, tells SELF. But doctors say there may be something to this.

“Vitamin B1 may improve intestinal motility by supporting the production of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that stimulates contractions in the gastrointestinal system,” Marie Borum, MD, MPH, director of the Division of Gastroenterology at GW Medical Faculty Associates, tells SELF.

LVMH weathers 2025 downturn, recovery begins to take hold

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The world’s leading luxury group, LVMH, saw net profit slide 13 percent in 2025 to 10.9 billion euros (USD 13.1 billion) as an exceptional tax on large French companies weighed on its bottom line. According to LVMH, the exceptional tax resulted in a four-percentage-point increase in the group’s effective tax rate.

But sales at the company, best known for Louis Vuitton handbags, Dior fashion and cosmetic products, Guerlain fragrances, Moët & Chandon champagne and Tiffany jewelry, also dropped by five percent to 80.8 billion euros as tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty hit consumer sentiment.

Across the 2025 financial year, wine and spirits division took the hardest hit with a nine percent drop in sales amid adverse exchange-rate effects, customs duties, and constrained pricing power.

However the top fashion and leather goods division, which accounts for nearly half of overall sales, also saw an eight percent drop in sales.

Perfumes and cosmetics held up betterposting a 3% decline in sales but an 8% increase in operating profit.

In the selective distribution segment, business remained stable, with the operating margin increasing by two points to 9.7%. LVMH highlighted the strong sales momentum and performance of Sephora. The Group also continues to reorganize DFS, following the recent sale of its Chinese operations.

LVMH said it “showed good resilience and maintained its innovative momentum despite a disrupted geopolitical and economic environment” last year.

“The group’s results are solid,” said Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnaultdespite “a turbulent year both economically and geopolitically,” when presenting the results.

“Despite a geopolitical and macroeconomic environment that remains uncertain, the Group remains confident” for 2026, it added in its earnings statement.

In particular, LVMH said sales in the United States grew in the second half of 2025 thanks to solid demand.

Beyond the Gates Season 2: New Crossovers and Major Cast Chaos

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Beyond the Gates Season 2 kicked off this January with an emotional punch that has left fans reeling. The premiere shifted the tone of the show immediately as the Dupree family faced their biggest challenge yet: matriarch Anita Dupree’s battle with Triple-Negative breast cancer. This storyline is at the heart of the current season, bringing a raw, vulnerable layer to the high-society drama we’ve grown to love. It is even forcing the “toxic” but charismatic Bill Hamilton back into the family fold, creating a tension-filled environment for everyone involved.

Photo Credit: Amazon Prime

The chaos isn’t just internal, though. CBS recently dropped a bombshell by announcing a massive crossover event between Beyond the Gates Season 2 and The Young and the Restless. This June, Fairmont Crest will play host to Genoa City royalty, including the legendary Victor Newman. Apparently, Victor and Vernon Dupree are old political allies, and their reunion at a high-profile fundraiser is set to be derailed by a “shocking event.” With characters like Jack Abbott and Devon Hamilton also on the guest list, the collision of these two soap worlds is guaranteed to be explosive.

64e5b 17695449521233jpg
Photo Credit: SoapCentral

Back on the home front, the relationship drama is as messy as ever. We are seeing a complicated love triangle for Nicole, who is torn between the “safe” Carlton and the “exciting” newcomer Kial Rollins. Meanwhile, Naomi is grappling with her own health secrets, keeping her BRCA gene test results hidden from her husband, Jacob. The show is also introducing new faces, like Dr. Lia Whitmore, the Chief of Staff at Garland Memorial, who will likely be central to Anita’s treatment arc.

BTG Sharon Anita Chemopng
Photo Credit: Soaps.com

Between the emotional weight of Anita’s journey and the glitzy high-stakes drama of the upcoming crossover, Beyond the Gates Season 2 is solidifying its place as a daytime powerhouse. With its first-ever Writers Guild Award nomination already under its belt, the show is proving that it has both the heart and the heat to keep us coming back for more. Whether you are rooting for the Duprees or just here for the scandals, one thing is certain: life beyond the gates is never quiet.

Can You Combine Niacinamide and Vitamin C? – Juice Beauty

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Two skincare ingredients that have been making waves in recent years are niacinamide and vitamin C. Both of these amazing ingredients offer a multitude of benefits for your skin, but can they be used together? At Juice Beauty, we believe that what goes on your skin is just as important as what goes into your body.

That’s why we’re here to break down the science behind these ingredients and show you how to incorporate them into your clean, organic skincare routine.

What Are Some of the Skin Benefits of Niacinamide?

Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a water-soluble vitamin that has become increasingly popular in skincare products. This versatile ingredient offers a wide range of benefits for all skin types.

Here are a few of the many benefits of this nutrient:

Supports Balanced Oil Production

Niacinamide may help support balanced sebum production, making it ideal for those with oily or acne-prone skin. This ingredient can also be helpful for minimizing the appearance of enlarged pores.

Supports Skin Barrier Function

Niacinamide can help support the skin’s protective barrier, reducing moisture loss and helping your skin retain hydration — which, in turn, contributes to a plumper, more youthful appearance.

Reduces Irritation

Niacinamide can help ease irritated skin and calm redness, making it beneficial for those with sensitive skin.

Evens Skin Tone

This ingredient can also help fade the look of dark spots and pigmentation issues, and can improve overall skin clarity and brightness.

Anti-Aging Properties

Niacinamide supports collagen production, meaning it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

For those looking to add niacinamide to their routine, our Stem Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum is the perfect choice. In a 4-week clinical study, 95% of participants reported younger and smoother-looking skin and improved tone and texture.

In addition to niacinamide, this product also contains our unique Fruit Stem Cells Blend, Champagne Grape Seed Oil, and Jojoba Oil to keep skin soft and supple.

What Does Vitamin C Do for Your Skin?

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that has a well-earned reputation for its ability to improve skin tone, help fade dark spots, and target fine lines and wrinkles.

Here are some of vitamin C’s key benefits:

Powerful Antioxidant Protection

Vitamin C can help support your skin cell health during exposure to free radicals, and it works to support your skin against environmental stressors like pollution and UV radiation.

Brightens and Evens Skin Tone

By interacting with melanin-producing cells, vitamin C may help fade the appearance of dark spots and pigmentation concerns for a more radiant, even, bright complexion.

Supports Collagen Production

Vitamin C may help support your body’s natural collagen synthesis, helping to support overall skin fitness and elasticity. This ingredient may also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as a result.

Our Green Apple Age Defy Serum is an excellent source of vitamin C. This organic formula harnesses the power of vitamin C from apple and grape juices to brighten, firm, and protect the skin.

In an independent third-party study, this incredible anti-aging serum performed on average 2.7 times better at providing antioxidant protection than both a leading conventional serum and a top natural serum.

Plus, 59% of participants noted a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles after only four weeks. Visibly brighten skin with this fantastic formula of real juices, antioxidants, and natural oils.

Can You Safely Combine Niacinamide and Vitamin C?

The short answer is yes! Despite some outdated concerns about combining these ingredients, current research shows that niacinamide and vitamin C can be safely and effectively used together. In fact, they can complement each other quite well, offering a synergistic effect that enhances their individual benefits.

Old, misleading studies suggested that combining these ingredients could lead to the formation of niacin, which can cause flushing. This reaction, however, only occurs under extreme heat and pressure, and not in typical skincare formulations or applications. Under normal conditions, niacinamide and vitamin C actually work quite well as a team.

Both ingredients are antioxidants, working together to protect your skin from environmental damage. They can both help improve skin tone and texture, enhancing each other’s brightening effects.

What Are Some Benefits of Combining Niacinamide and Vitamin C?

When used together, niacinamide and vitamin C can offer myriad benefits for your skin:

  1. Enhanced Antioxidant Protection: Both ingredients work to support your cells against free radicals, providing superior defense against environmental stressors.

  2. Improved Skin Brightening: The combination can lead to more effective fading of dark spots and overall skin brightening.

  3. Support for Collagen Production: While vitamin C directly supports collagen production, niacinamide further supports this process, leading to firmer, more youthful-looking skin.

  4. Better Hydration: Niacinamide helps maintain your skin’s barrier function, allowing for better retention of the hydration provided by your moisturizer.

  5. Reduced Redness: The soothing properties of both ingredients can help soothe irritated skin and reduce redness.

How To Effectively Layer Niacinamide and Vitamin C

To get the most out of niacinamide and vitamin C, it’s important to apply them correctly. Here’s a suggestion for how you can incorporate these into your daily skincare routine.

Cleanse

Start with a gentle, pH-balanced cleanser like our Stem Cellular Cleansing Oil. If you have oily skin, you may want to double cleanse, using a cleansing oil first, and following up with a gentle foaming cleanser.

Tone

If you use a toner (we highly recommend), apply it with a cotton round after cleansing your skin. You’ll pick up any little impurities your cleanser may have missed.

Add Serum or Other Treatment

After cleansing and toning, you will want to go in with the serum of your choice. If you’re already using other products that contain vitamin C and niacinamide, we suggest our Signal Peptides Firming Serum.

Luxuriously lightweight, this micro-serum is formulated with firming rice peptides, wild burberry seed oil, shea butter, and sunflower lipids for firmer, tighter, smoother skin. 97% of study participants reported smoother skin, while 91% reported firmer skin.

Moisturize

Once you’ve allowed your serum to absorb for a few minutes, follow up with your favorite moisturizer. If you want to pack a one-two punch with both vitamin C and niacinamide in one product, try our Prebiotix C-Boost72 Hydrating Whipped Cream 20% Vitamin C Niacinamide Glow Complex.

In a 4-week clinical study, 93% of users reported a visible improvement in skin dryness and dry patches, while 86% noticed a visibly brighter complexion.

Apply Sunscreen

No skincare routine is complete without sunscreen. Protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays is non-negotiable, so make this a part of your beauty routine, even on cloudy days.

If you’re a makeup wearer, reach for our Stem Cellular CC Cream with zinc and SPF 30. If not, check out our SPF 30 Matte Oil-Free Moisturizer that gets rid of extra shine while protecting your skin.

What Other Ingredients Do I Need in My Skincare?

While niacinamide and vitamin C are excellent additions to any skincare routine, a well-rounded routine should include other key ingredients.

Here are a few that we love:

  • Hyaluronic Acid: Hydrates and plumps the skin and helps with fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Peptides: Support collagen production, skin firmness, and elasticity.
  • Antioxidants: Protect against environmental damage. Many of our products are packed full of antioxidants from fruit stem cells and juices.
  • Retinol: Promotes cell turnover and helps reduce visible signs of aging.

The Bottom Line

Incorporating niacinamide and vitamin C into your skincare routine can lead to brighter, healthier, and more youthful-looking skin. These powerhouse ingredients work well together, offering complementary benefits that can address a wider range of skin concerns.

At Juice Beauty, we are committed to providing clean, organic skincare solutions that harness the power of nature with sustainable practices. Make good choices for your skin, and for the planet.

Remember, everyone’s skin is unique, so it’s always a good idea to introduce new ingredients gradually and be patient and consistent in your routines. You can achieve the glowing, healthy complexion you’ve always wanted with the power of vitamin C and niacinamide.

Sources:

How Much Do We Really Know About Our Favorite Cosmeceutical Ingredients? | Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology

A Comprehensive Review and Recent Advances of Vitamin C: Overview, Functions, Sources, Applications, Market Survey and Processes | ScienceDirect

Niacinamide: A Multi-functional Cosmeceutical Ingredient | Practical Dermatology

Vitamin C and Skin Health | Linus Pauling Institute

Topical Vitamin C and the Skin: Mechanisms of Action and Clinical Applications | Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology

What Women Are Really Eating at $1,200 a Night Wellness Retreats

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“There’s a common misconception that wellness food has to be boring or flavorless, but that’s really not the case anymore,” says Taylor-Jayne Shearman, executive chef at Joali Being, an ultra-luxe wellness retreat in the Maldives where villas start at $2,200 per night (and cost an additional $1,265 or more for a five-day well-being program). “Retreats are becoming more creative with wellness food nowadays. It is, in fact, entirely possible to take quality produce, and turn it into something nourishing, fulfilling, and, yes, tasty.”

So what will those increasingly creative wellness meals actually look like should you attend a luxe retreat in 2026? Chances are, they will skew local—a food ethos retreat nutritionists and chefs are embracing more and more with each passing year. And for good reason: A growing body of research suggests that eating locally may help you avoid diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and more. After all, you’re not only giving your body key nutrients, you’re also sidestepping ingredients that could be harmful in high quantities, like high fructose corn syrup and refined sugar.

At Mii amo, for example—a celeb-favorite wellness retreat in the surreal Sedona desert that starts at $4,600 for a three-night “Journey” program and is beloved by Gwyneth Paltrow and Hailey Bieber—the restaurant sources its produce from its own chef’s garden, plus nearby farms, ranches, and orchards. And the same is true at Euphoria Retreat, a high-end wellness hotel tucked into the Peloponnese mountain range in Greece. “Our philosophy here is that local food is the healthiest of all,” says Androniki (Niki) Jarjalou, the lead nutritionist at Euphoria. “We know that many people come to Greece for the food. And so, rather than serving an international menu, we offer a mostly Greek menu.”

Hudson Valley duck breast with pickled beets, rice cracker, red wine jus, and cauliflower purée.

Mii Amo

Five Timeless Life Lessons From My Mom (That Still Make Me Smile)

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Judy.

She’s been dead for 18 years, and, like most women who have lost their moms, I still think of her every day, many times a day, especially as I watch my own girls grow. For a long time, I was just too sad to write about her in a public way. I felt I could never do her justice with mere words, and was just so raw about the loss that I didn’t want to talk about her.

I still carry the sadness of her absence with me at all times, but I have woven in some of the frayed ends of that sadness, so that most of it feels beautiful in me now. When I do cry about her, the tears are different. Early on, they burned hot and stung my eyes, and left me angry and exhausted. Now, the tears, which still come, just feel like “overflow,” as if the bottomless well of love that she carried in her was transferred to me, and just gets jostled from time to time, spilling a bit out of my eye holes.

Okay. Don’t worry. I am not going to stay all deep and philosophical and touchy-feely. Here is the reason for this post: I wanted to write down a few tips I thought she would give me, give us all, if she were still here to do so. Little things that stand out in my memory as being quintessentially her, or things people noticed when they met her. In no particular order, here they are.

1) Start and End Your Day with a Warm Washcloth

Use a warm washcloth when you wash your face. She did this every morning and night. She would hold the warm cloth over her face and keep it there for a few breaths. I have been doing it lately, and it is incredibly calming. Not steaming hot, just nice and warm. It’s also an excellent method of increasing skin circulation before cleansing. But I think my mom did it because it just felt so dang good.

2) Always Be Slightly Overdressed

Overdress. Her version of “jeans” was a pair of linen/silk/cotton blend trousers. And the poor woman was cursed with a daughter who wore real denim jeans 343 days a year for about 30 years (I’m down to about 300 days a year now), and a son who did the sniff test to see if his clothes were clean enough to wear (and still does). Karmic payback is always at work, as evidenced by the fact that my children dressed like they were blindfolded and drunk for many years. But here’s the point. She always looked put together. Like she was presenting herself, gift that she was, to anyone she met. And people noticed. Even now, every time I wear something of hers—a shirt, earrings, a handbag—someone compliments it. Every, single time. And I smile and nod, acknowledging that she was right.

3) Say “Nice to See You” Instead of “Nice to Meet You”

When you meet someone, if there is ANY chance you have met that person before, and perhaps even if you think there’s no chance, say “it’s nice to see you,” rather than “it’s nice to meet you.” It’s such a simple trick, and could prevent that thorny moment when someone cocks his head at you and says “Uh, yeah, we met when we all went skinny-dipping after Pam’s wedding…”

4) Pamper Quietly, But Regularly

You can be discrete about it, but find time to pamper yourself. My mother was a partner in a DC law firm with a busy practice and a hugely successful career. But, when her secretary said she was “in an appointment,” I knew what that meant: she was with a masseuse, or her esthetician, or having a manicure, or a getting a haircut. You get the idea. No matter how busy her life got, she took time for herself. She used high quality skin care products, and bought well made clothing. She never apologized for it. And neither should you. You don’t NEED these things, and they can’t buy you happiness. But taking a few moments to nurture yourself will make you happier, which makes it infinitely easier to nurture others in return.

5) Laugh at Yourself (Loudly and Often)

LAUGH—especially at yourself. My husband was a junior lawyer under my mom for eight years. They were working together, presenting to clients in a large conference room. She ran the meeting in her competent, professional, uniquely graceful way, and left the clients impressed; they were in good hands. She concluded the meeting, got up from the table, and promptly strode into a closet, which she thought was the door to exit the conference room. He remembers her bursting out laughing, instantly dousing any sense of awkwardness, inviting everyone in the room to laugh at her, with her. This is a trait she passed to me, and one for which I am endlessly grateful. Taking yourself, and LIFE, too seriously is a heavy burden to carry. So put it down. Lighten up. And laugh.


Hope you get to put one of these little tips to use soon.

On behalf of my mom, Judy,