Those of you who have been following me for a while know that I am a wellness and self-care advocate. Being an editor turned influencer, I’ve had the luxury of being able to road test hundreds of lifestyle products over the years. There’s just so much info and so many products out there to review and digest—I think most women these days may not have the time or budget to thoroughly vet them. It’s my job (and I love it) to weed through all this “stuff” and to recommend the top things, to my knowledge, that help me to look and feel my best. Everything is highly curated and I only recommend products and brands that I truly love. I am passionate about sharing these best-kept secrets to help you save time and lead a more enhanced life. I just turned 56 and feel better than I did when I was in my 30’s, so I know first hand that these lifestyle hacks work!
Read moreMy Favorite Supplements to Feel My Best
Maintaining a mind-body balance is super important to me, but being home the past few months has made me focus even more on my overall well-being. Times are stressful now—staying strong mentally and physically is becoming more critical than ever for all of us. I took advantage of this time to really fine-tune my supplement game, to figure out what was working for me long-term, and to evaluate my overall routine.
I recently shared my favorite go-to supplements in my latest beauty feature for Who What Wear. Scroll down to see the list of products and brands I love and use to help me stay youthful, healthy, and energetic; from what I like to add to my tea every morning, to what helps to keep my hot flashes and night sweats at bay!
** DISCLAIMER I am not a healthcare professional, and what I am recommending is what works for me. Before starting any new supplements or vitamins, please speak with your health professional to ensure you're taking the appropriate dosage and that the supplement is something you will benefit from taking.
Multi-Vitamin
This is a special multivitamin for women 50+ that I like to take to fill any gaps in my diet. It contains eight nutrients in their bioavailable forms that my body can use to help support the aging process, including Folate, Boron, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E, Magnesium, Omega 3 DHA, Vitamin K2, and Vitamin B12. I love the refreshing minty taste and smell too!
Bone Health
I am always wearing sunscreen and can’t count on getting all my vitamin D from the sun, so I supplement with a high dose of 5000IU daily. Not only is vitamin D great for bone, muscle, teeth, and immune health, but it has also been reported to reduce respiratory infections like pneumonia, the flu, and bronchitis.
Cellular Health
I started using NiaCel about 3 months ago and LOVE how I feel. I like to pack in a lot each day, and taking these particular supplements helps me maintain my health and wellness goals. Anything that supports brain, metabolic and normal liver function is a welcome addition.
I was told years ago by my Integrative Dr. to take this supplement daily to boost my immune system, and found it to be extremely effective. NAC is a potent antioxidant that supports comprehensive wellness, including lung, liver, kidney and immune function.
Antioxidants
I love this master antioxidant for its anti-aging properties and ability to reduce cell damage as we age. It also helps build protein in the body and is proven to lower cholesterol and increase immunity against certain illnesses, such as the flu and bronchitis.
NAC is known for its antioxidant activity and can actually increase glutathione to help with detoxifying the body. This important supplement also helps support overall wellness including optimal lung, liver, kidney, and immune function. It’s a must-take in my book!
Hormone Balance
Say goodbye to hot flashes and night sweats by taking this natural, hormone-free supplement made from the pollen of specific plants grown in Sweden. I am unable to take hormones and have found relief by taking two of these before bed as part of my night-time routine. I also like that they are small and easy to swallow!
This is a great, natural supplement that works very well for me and many other menopausal women for balancing hormones and mood swings— plus it also reduces hot flashes and night sweats. Other benefits include heart health, increased energy levels, and more! The full dose is to take four pills a day but I take two and that seems to do the trick.
This is another amazing supplement by Femmenessense that helps to support hormone balance and regulate cycles. It’s really helpful to ease bloating, mood swings, and hormonal acne.
Femmenessence MacaLife for Perimenopause
MacaLife helps to continue support and balance hormones, and has the highest success rate in published clinical trials of any perimenopausal herbal supplement in the world! It’s an amazing natural and herbal supplement that works for the majority of 8 of 10 women within the first three weeks, and also helps improve heart health!
Probiotic
Taking a probiotic every day to maintain gut health is great for ongoing immune support and a healthy microbiome. I love this plant-based, allergen-free, and organic probiotic for holistic support of my gut plus it also contains probiotics sourced from Jerusalem Artichoke! And, since they say the gut is actually a second brain, taking a daily probiotic is important to keep it running smoothly and restoring the natural balance of good bacteria in the intestines.
Protein Powder
This delicious chocolate-flavored protein powder is a fave of mine and I love to start my day every morning with it as an almond milk latte. The formula contains probiotics that also have prebiotics blended in, making it even more beneficial. It’s also packed with great nutrients, 17 grams of protein, and is also super low in calories and sugar.
Use code MELISSA for 20% off at check out!
Hair
Natural hair loss can occur with stress and aging, causing texture and thickness to definitely change. I have been taking these supplements since last fall and have noticed a huge difference in the look, volume, and feel of my hair—plus its been growing like a weed!
Use code MELISSA for 20% off at check out!
Sleep
These delicious blackberry- mint gummies taste like candy and are a great way to boost your body’s natural sleep hormone to help mellow your mind to relax. Created with a blend of Melatonin, L-Theanine and botanicals, I have found them to be extremely effective!
Want CBD to lure you off to dreamland? This sleepy-time option works wonders for me (especially these days)! Not only are these gummies helping me to get my beauty rest and wake up refreshed, but they taste great too. I am a huge fan of this brand for all things CBD and their products are formulated for women by women!
CBD
LiefRoyal CBD Oil Tincture 1250mg
This is a new brand that I have been enjoying lately to help keep me calm during this challenging time. It also helps keep internal inflammation at bay so it’s great for feeling relaxed and keeping any aches and pains in check.
Skin
We start losing collagen in our 20’s which is essential for firm, hydrated skin. I like to drink mine and this delicious collagen sparkling tea is super refreshing and great for skin, hair, and nails. It’s packed with 3000mg of collagen peptides and you can drink it alone or use it as a mixer. Each can has 20 calories, 3 grams of protein, and zero added sugars.
Use code GLOWGIRL30 for 30% off 12-pack purchases.
Tinctures and Superfoods
PURE Inventions Antioxidant Green Tea Extract
I wish I could say I like the taste of water—but I need a flavor boost, so these infusion drops make drinking my required daily amount a lot more fun. They help me to stay hydrated and I get the antioxidant benefits from the green tea with no sugar or calories! Raspberry and peach are my favorite flavors.
Joya Bliss Cacao Elixir Blend Herbal Supplement
I’m always game for anything chocolatey and delish so was thrilled to recently discover the joy of Joya! This cacao elixir blend is a great stress-supporting supplement in a powder form, and contains the adaptogenic Reishi mushroom. Mix with water or any type of milk-plus can be added to coffee, yogurt, oatmeal and baked goods!
Kroma makes some of the best caffeine-free superfood powders! I love their lattes as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up. My fave flavor is the turmeric golden latte, known for boosting immunity and reducing inflammation. It can be mixed with water or your favorite milk.
Four Sigmatic Reishi and Other Adaptogenic Mushrooms
Since I’m not a big caffeine drinker, I get my focus and energy from other sources. Four Sigmatic makes the best mushroom blends that aid in wellness, immunity, and focus. It’s easy to make a yummy latte by just adding boiling water and steamed milk of choice.
It takes time to experiment with different supplements to see what is the best fit for your current needs, but I hope you can use this list as a starting point. Be patient with yourself as you cultivate and develop a supplement routine that works for you!
Please feel free to comment below, share your favorite supplements or dm me with any questions.
In good health,
xxMelissa
Click the images in the carousel to shop my supplement picks!
10 Tips for Self Improvement
Happy February Glow Girls! It's been one month since we made our New Years Resolutions but did we stick to them? No worries if you didn’t--you can start by implementing some of my favorite lifestyle hacks now. Read on for my top 10 tips to become a happier, healthier version of yourself.
1. DIET DAYS: Try a new eating plan to help lose a few extra pounds. Eating clean will make you feel better and get stronger! Whole 30 and the Akasha Center Food Cleanse are two of the safest and most effective diet plans.
2. FIND YOUR STUDIO: Purchase a Class Pass to try different exercise programs to find the ones that fit your lifestyle. You can go to multiple studios for great prices and at the same time try different types of exercise classes.
3. LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD: Motivate yourself to work out by sporting some new fashionable activewear. This helps me get in the right mindset to exercise and I also feel good wearing them straight to lunch. For the trendiest, most unique styles shop at Carbon38, Bandier and Sweat NSK. Get 15% off with discount code glow15 for all purchases from Sweat NSK.
4. TRACK IT: Invest in a fitness tracking bracelet like Fitbit or Apple Watch. You can track your steps, miles, and even how much and what kind of sleep you are getting.
5. CLEANER BEAUTY: Use organic and clean beauty products that are safe and effective. Some favorites include my new Olie X Melissa Meyers RoseGlow drops, and the make-up and skin care lines by Beautycounter and SAPPHO.
6. GOOD ENERGY: Keep your home healthy, fragrant and toxic-free. I use my Essential Oil Diffuser every day in my home office and love the lavender scent. Also try using this saging kit to clear out the negative energy from your space.
7. LISTEN: Tune in to audio books and self-help podcasts. My favorite audio books include The 5 Second Rule, Spark Joy and Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. For podcasts, I recommend Happier with Gretchen Rubin and The Marie Forleo Podcast.
8. MEDITATE: Download a meditation app to guide you through short, daily sessions of zen. Some favorites include Headspace, Calm and Unplug Meditation.
9. SUPPLEMENTS: Start incorporating dietary supplements to boost your overall health. OLLY makes delish gummies that include Endless Energy, Flawless Complexion, Restful Sleep and Goodbye Stress.
10. SOAK IT UP: Treat yourself to a weekly bath ritual that includes lighting beautifully scented organic candles by Sanari. Try adding lavender bath salts by Suzi's Lavender and soothing bath oil by ESPA, two of my bath time favorites.
Keep glowing and enjoy reaching your happier, healthier self!
xxMelissa