2 Months To a New Your: Q3 Full-Body Edition

July: Face It

Overall, a “natural” look is still the name of the game, confirms Anthony E. Brissett, MD, FACS, President of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). Treatments that activate the body’s natural repair mechanisms are leading the industry’s next chapter. 

“Biologic therapies such as biostimulators, exosomes, platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), growth factors, and stem-cell-derived products are transforming rejuvenation by improving tissue quality from within. [Sculptra, for example,] is increasingly paired with energy-based modalities like RF microneedling and ultrasound to stimulate collagen and elastin regeneration.” The goal: natural, lasting improvements in texture, tone, and firmness. (I’ve done Sculptra as well as pairing Morpheus8 with a CO2 Laser). 

Dr. Stephen Bracci, MD, founder at Verve Medical Cosmetics, says July is the perfect time to add a second round of biostimulatory filler. “A strong underlying structure is essential for achieving and maintaining healthy skin on the surface. Around month seven, I often add a very diluted Radiesse session to continue the collagen-stimulating activity happening across the deeper tissues in the entire face,” he says. 

Dr. Bracci also suggests PRF to stimulate your body’s own repair system. “PRF (platelet-rich fibrin) concentrates your own platelets and growth factors within your own natural fibrin matrix. When injected back into the face about twice a year, it enhances your body’s own immune-driven repair and regeneration.” Timing is flexible, he says, and this can be adjusted around other treatments.

But not everyone wants a needle stuck in their face, which leads me to facial sculpting, one of the more relaxing and effective non-invasive treatments I’ve had. Vaiva Mikalauskaite, aesthetic pharmacist and owner of Face for Soul, agrees.

“Facial sculpting and massage as a regular treatment supports the fascia, improves lymphatic flow, and keeps the facial layers moving in harmony. It helps soften tension patterns, prevent stagnation and maintain the results of treatments like toxin, microneedling and Morpheus8.” You can do this at home, too. Mikalauskaite says even two minutes a day of gentle sculpting movements can keep the face lifted, less puffy and more responsive to regenerative treatments.

Want something even lower maintenance? Marlee Bruno M.M.S. PA-C says, “Stick with treatments that don’t increase photosensitivity. Hydrating facials, lymphatic treatments, and light stimulation therapies are solid choices.”

Hydrafacials are a great choice for those who love a spa moment but have sensitive skin or aren’t ready for a more extensive treatment. At home, LED red light masks are a great option, as well as gentle, barrier-friendly skin care like LILFOX, a natural skin care line full of lush, hydrating essentials, and Isla Beauty, which makes potent products with a focus on skin health and hydration. 

August: Get Moving

“About 1 in 4 adults globally do not get enough physical activity,” says BODi Super Trainer Lacee Green, CTP. (I’m suddenly very aware of how long I’ve been sitting at my computer.) Thankfully, Green’s approach to fitness is all about ease and accessibility in our day-to-day routines. She breaks it down into three categories: “Cardio helps you live longer…strength helps you live stronger…[and] stretching and mobility are just as important as the workout.”

Cardio trains the heart, but Green says you don’t have to be breathless to see results. “Fast-paced walking, incline walking, pressing play on a cardio workout, or low-impact jumping jacks are great options. You are in a powerful zone when you feel like you are working but can still carry on a conversation.”

Strength training, she says, is non-negotiable––especially for women. “If you are not strength training after 30, you could be losing up to 3–8% of your muscle every decade,” she says. 

“Muscle supports your metabolism. The more muscle you have, the more energy your body burns at rest. That means your body continues working for you even after your workout is done.” Thankfully strength training does not require a gym: bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, and dumbbells at home can all improve your strength.

Lastly, stretch. “Your muscles, joints, and connective tissues all work together to create movement,” she says. “When you stretch one area, you reduce tension and allow the entire [kinetic] chain to move more freely. This can help reduce pain, prevent injury, and improve posture.”

And I know you already know, but it bears repeating: Movement is one of the best things we can do for our mental health. Green emphasizes, “Exercise is one of the most effective, evidence-based interventions for mental health, especially anxiety, which is the most common mental health disorder worldwide.” Regular physical activity helps regulate the nervous system, reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and improve mood through neurochemical changes. 

Green says there is no single best exercise for anxiety, but research shows that walking, strength training, cycling, yoga, and interval training can all help. She also says some of the most important things we can do for our bodies are simple bodyweight strength moves like squats, lunges, and push ups. “These can be done right from your living room, office, or outdoors. Bonus if you can use a set of light dumbbells,” she says.

And if you’re one of those people who’s always upping the ante on everything you do (looking at you, Aries), I’ve enjoyed strength training and walking in a weighted vest. While it’s certainly not necessary, I like the subtle addition of microloading and the experts I spoke with agree.

“Wearing weight is a proven method to increase strength and performance,” says OMORPHO CEO Stefan Olander––and the fitness experts I spoke with agree. There are lots of options, but I like that the OMORPHO weighted vests, tanks, and leggings are meant to offer incremental resistance across key muscle groups without stressing the joints.

“[They] help build muscle, improve cardiovascular endurance and increase caloric output without requiring more time,” he says. “It improves efficiency without changing your natural biomechanics. It’s about working smarter and letting the body do what it’s designed to do.”

Still not convinced? Green says to start with 10 minutes a day. “Most of us know we need to exercise, but what we see…on social media can sometimes make fitness feel less accessible, confusing, and overwhelming,” she says. 

“The great news is to remember that everything counts. Start to think of exercise as a privilege, not a punishment. Put on your favorite dance song and move for the entire duration. Go for a walk during your lunch break. Press play on a 10 minute workout. Fitness is not about a strict routine you dread. It is about movement you enjoy and a routine you can stick with.”

September: Get to the Root

“One of the most important shifts happening in hair care right now is recognizing that scalp health and skin care are closely connected,” says Aga Tompkins, Director of Salon Service & Education at Tricoci Salon, Board Certified Trichologist, and Global Tour Celebrity Hairstylist/MUA.

“Healthy hair starts at the follicle, so maintaining a balanced scalp environment is essential,” she says. First she recommends investing in a targeted scalp treatment and a high-quality heat protectant. “Ingredients like peptides, botanical extracts, and gentle exfoliants can help reinforce the scalp barrier and encourage stronger growth cycles.” She recommends Nutrire’s T.2 Night Serum, which uses ingredients like lactic acid for gentle exfoliation along with sunflower seed oil and jojoba to help hydrate and support the scalp overnight. I personally love their shampoos and conditioners.

As for tools, she says a well-engineered hair dryer can absolutely make a difference. “Higher-quality dryers distribute heat more evenly, reduce drying time, and minimize damage, which helps preserve the integrity of the hair fiber.” 

Your shower head may also need an upgrade. Tompkins explains that minerals like calcium and magnesium can accumulate on the hair and scalp, leading to dullness, dryness, and product buildup. “While a filtered showerhead isn’t a cure-all, it can reduce mineral exposure and help hair and scalp maintain better balance,” she says.

She mentions that light therapy for the scalp, like caps from Qure or iRestore, is one of the more promising at-home technologies when used consistently and correctly––that low-level light therapy can help stimulate cellular activity and circulation in the follicle, which may support the growth phase. “That said, these devices work best as supportive tools rather than standalone solutions. The scalp environment still needs to be healthy, meaning hydrated, calm, and free of buildup, for follicles to function optimally.”

What to avoid? Tompkins advises against overusing heat tools, wearing tight hairstyles that create tension, brushing aggressively when hair is wet, and using the wrong shampoo for their scalp type. She also recommends being mindful of nutrition, hydration, and stress, all of which influence the hair growth cycle. 

Here are a few things I do to try and maintain a healthy ecosystem that supports hair health:

• Add grass-fed collagen to my coffee (my two favorites are Live Conscious Beyond Collagen and Mendora Skin Repair)
• Drink lots of water with electrolytes (I like Biotics Research Electrolyte Forte)
• Eat whole foods while minimizing gluten and sugar as much as possible, especially Monday–Friday
• Move my body daily and practice box breathing to minimize stress
• Use scalp-friendly shampoos and conditioners like those from Nutrire and Oligo Professionals
• Blow dry with T3 Aire IQ, a smart dryer that prioritizes hair health
  

“The scalp is living skin with its own microbiome and barrier function,” says Tompkins. “When that environment is balanced, hydrated, calm, and free of congestion, hair is much more likely to grow stronger, shinier, and more resilient over time.”‍

Start Here

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to beauty and wellness. What works for you is going to be different than what works for others, but you’ll never go wrong with daily movement and addressing issues from the inside out. Dr. Bracci reminds us, “True support of terrific skin is good fitness, healthy eating with mainly plants, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco.” In our next and final installment, we’ll round out treatments with an end-of-year plan, take a closer look at supplements and nutrition, and recap some of the most effective at-home products and treatments. See you in October!