Integrating Health, Wellness, & Beauty with Celebrity Makeup Artist Lisa Aharon

Vancouver-born and New York-based, Lisa Aharon is not only a celebrity makeup artist but doubles as a health coach. When she's not creating stunning looks for celebrities, top publications, and brands alike, Lisa spends her time guiding others to live balanced and healthy lifestyles. A true believer that beauty starts from within, Lisa took the time to tell us all about the ways she practices wellness, stays in shape, and takes care of her body, while sharing with us some of her favorite products she uses in that process. Read on for more, as told by Lisa herself!

Being a professional makeup artist means I’m constantly tackling new skin issues with my
clients, even though my end goal always remains the same: flawless skin. We all have our bad days, rough weeks, and even years of skin nightmares. But since I’ve started taking a more holistic approach to my career by studying nutrition and wellness, I’m looking at skin in a new way.

Skin is a reflection of your health. When a blemish appears, it may be a sign of imbalance — whether it’s related to poor nutrition, hormones, genetics, or environmental factors. Skin is the body’s largest organ, and it communicates with the internal organs ultimately dictating what shows up, or doesn’t, on our faces. Unfortunately, there’s no “one size fits all” for health since everyone’s needs and issues are certainly different (just like your skincare and makeup!).

Above all else, healthy eating habits are crucial to glowing skin — our unique genetic makeup
dictates that you’ll need to discover what that means for you. Experiment with what gives you the most energy, clear skin, a clear mind, good sleep, bright eyes, less bloating, etc. Food
can have this power! If you’re unsure, it’s an option to seek out a naturopathic doctor. You can also do a simple elimination cleanse on your own. I’ve done both over the years and have successfully managed my health issues. My personal favorite cleanse is The Wild Rose Herbal D-Tox from Garden of Life. I’ve also been a patient of Frank Lipman, who is a leader in
functional medicine. I studied him while taking my program at the Institution of Integrative
Nutrition. Follow him and sign up for his newsletter — it’s really informative!

Taking vitamins and supplements to fill the gaps in your diet is a simple start. Most can benefit from taking a daily probiotic for gut health, fish oil to combat inflammation by boosting your omega-3s, and D3 and vitamin C for immune support and skin.

For mood support and hormone balance, there are an array of adaptogens that I love to mix into my tea, coffee, or smoothie daily. It can be quite overwhelming to have a counter full of
powders, pills, and tinctures, all with different times and rules for consumption. It’s important to group them in a way that benefits you most, mostly to ensure that you take them! Otherwise, you’ll end up with a pile of expensive, pretty jars on a shelf.

Stress can lead to disorderly or poor eating habits, breakouts, and all sorts of health issues.
Manage your stress with regular meditation, exercise, or breath work. Even 20 minutes of
movement per day can boost your endorphin levels and help to relieve stress. For the days
that I can’t get outside for a run or walk, I’ve invested in the Peloton app, light weights, yoga
blocks, and resistance bands. I find incorporating props into my workouts really makes the time fly and leaves me with no excuses!

Nourish your soul by practicing self-care. Whether it’s getting a massage, facial, reflexology,
pedicure, or dry brushing prior to hopping in the shower, do something for yourself. My splurge is a Triple Crown Facial followed by an LED light bed session at Joanna Vargas. In the age of COVID, if touch makes you feel uncomfortable, spoil yourself with at-home spa tools, face rollers, and body rollers. Self-care can mean cooking, getting creative, reading, or the aforementioned exercise, but ultimately creating your personal sanctuary is imperative. I consistently have candles burning, essential oil diffusers bubbling, and palo santo smoking around the apartment. It can be incredibly grounding.

You can shop more of Lisa's favorite products at her shop below: