VIDA STORIES

Nourish Your Skin, Inside & Out

Nourish Your Skin, Inside & Out

As the largest organ in the body, our skin requires its fair share of nourishment, an essential for skin health. Discover how our products uniquely feed your skin from the outside in, and two recipes that support skin from the inside out. 

For us, skin health is our North Star. And like any part of our body, proper nourishment is key. Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum deliver abundant phytonutrients, vitamins, fatty acids and minerals, sourced from whole botanicals chosen for their nutrient density. There is also no question that taking a holistic view of skin health—giving as much consideration to what you put into your body as what you put onto your skin—will only improve the health and vitality of your complexion. Learn why our products are the ultimate skin food, and discover two healthy skin recipes, courtesy of a private chef who specializes in the intersection between what we eat and our complexions.  

From the Outside, In...

COMPLETE SKIN NUTRITION, SOURCED WHOLE

Think of Active Treatment Essence and Active Botanical Serum as the skincare equivalent of choosing a beautifully prepared, healthful plate of food over a highly-processed, synthetic meal replacement bar. By beginning with whole plants—as opposed to the more commonly used, lab-synthesized versions of the real thing—our formulas support the skin in functioning at its absolute best. Our three-week Phyto Radiance Infusion process not only begins with the world's most nutrient-rich whole plants, the slow pace ensures the full spectrum of nutrition is extracted from these skin superfoods. The formula for Active Treatment Essence boasts 70+ renewing, water-soluble nutrients, while Active Botanical Serum delivers 60+ restorative, oil-soluble nutrients. What’s more, our Phyto Radiance Infusion actively protects nutrient synergies— essential vitamins and minerals working in tandem to ensure the skin is functioning at its optimum—for a next-level, healthful glow. 

From the Inside, Out...

BEAUTY INGREDIENTS, DELICIOUS RECIPES

“I am a believer in beauty from the inside out and the radiance of a positive mind,” says Faustine Hug, a Parisienne private chef and Condé Nast food columnist currently living in London. “Our skin, our digestion, and all our organs are a reflection of our diet and how we act in life.” The recipes she creates, full of what she lovingly calls “beauty ingredients” for her celebrity clients and social media followers, eschew calorie counting in favor of layers of taste and a focus on the nutrition each ingredient brings to the table. “Food has the power to nourish, fuel, comfort, connect and heal. My cuisine is created to bring joy and magic to our skin, our mind, our soul and to nourish our body to help us live our life at its best.” We are grateful to Faustine for sharing two nourishing, skin-beautifying recipes, along with a deeper dive into the multitude of skin benefits each ingredient offers.

Green Nourishing Salad

A delicious way to prepare those all-important greens. “They are the most nutrient-dense of all foods and full of alkaline minerals and fiber, regenerating and purifying your cells, and keeping your skin glowing,” says Faustine.

INGREDIENTS:
2 fennel bulbs, thinly sliced
½ cucumber, thinly sliced
6 celery stalks, thinly sliced
1 whole ripe avocado
½ lb. radishes, thinly sliced
1 handful of cilantro (optional)
2½ cups arugula 
2½ cups baby spinach
¼ oz rehydrated wakame, dried seaweed (optional)
2 ½ teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
2 tablespoons raw apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Himalayan salt, to taste

 

DIRECTIONS:
(Optimal) Soak the wakame in warm water for 15 minutes or until rehydrated. Drain and cut into 1 inch lengths. Clean all the vegetables in cold water. Thinly slice the radish, cucumber and celery and cut the avocado in thin wedges and add everything to a large mixing bowl. Remove the fennel fronds and core the fennel, then thinly slice and add to the bowl as well. Chop the cilantro, spinach and arugula and add to the bowl with the other vegetables. Drizzle the olive oil and apple cider vinegar over the vegetables and sprinkle over the sesame seeds and salt. Toss and when everything seems to be melted together, time to enjoy it!

Faustine’s Beauty Ingredients:

RADISH
“Easy, crunchy snacks before dinner, we love them also for their beauty benefits. Radishes are high in vitamin C and antioxidants that help restore radiance. Their anti-inflammatory properties help to calm the skin and restore balance.”

ARUGULA
“Like many green vegetables, arugula has powerful secrets in its fibers. Besides being high in vitamin K, which helps keep skin clear and calm, and vitamin C, which combats the impact of free radicals, arugula also helps detoxify the system.”

SPINACH
“Rich in iron, it supports the dynamism of the lymphatic system, and essential to avoid dull and tired skin. Spinach is also rich in antioxidants like vitamin A and C, which work to repair damage to skin cells, support collagen production and keep the complexion looking vibrant.” 

AVOCADO
“When it comes to skin health, avocado is an inner moisturizer. Containing monounsaturated fatty acids that work together to keep the skin supple and healthy, it is also a rich source of antioxidants and promotes skin elasticity.”

Wakame Miso & Vegetable Soup

This warming soup, full of umami, is made using Kombu Dashi, a vegetarian version of the traditional Japanese stock, made using dried kelp. “As the weather gets colder in the coming weeks, this could be a great staple to add to your weekly routine,” says Faustine.

INGREDIENTS:
¼ oz dried wakame
1 litre of Kombu Dashi stock (easy to make at home)
2 tablespoons raw miso paste
2 leeks, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon finely grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon Mirin (a Japanese rice wine)
3 ½ ounces shiitake mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
1 scallion, sliced diagonally
Juice of 1 lime
1 handful fresh cilantro leaves
1 (8 oz.) package of organic tempeh (optional)

 

DIRECTIONS:
Soak the wakame in warm water for 15 minutes, or until rehydrated. Drain and cut into 1 inch lengths. Pour the Dashi stock and 1 cup cold water into a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low. Add the leeks and mushrooms and cook over low heat for 5 minutes. Add the wakame and miso paste and stir until well combined. Stir in the ginger and Mirin and remove the pan from the heat. Add the cilantro, lime juice and desired amount of tempeh (optional). Vintner's Daughter's founder, April, likes to add roasted delicata or butternut squash as well. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the scallions before serving.

Faustine’s Beauty Ingredients:

KOMBU
A dried kelp, kombu contains high concentrations of calcium and dietary fiber—about six times the calcium levels found in milk and five times the dietary fibers found in soybeans.”

SHIITAKE
“Great skin and antioxidants go hand in hand. The antioxidant compounds in shiitakes fight against free radicals and oxidative stress in our body. Aside from their vitamins A and E, they contain selenium and zinc, both proven to reduce acne and boost skin healing.”

MISO
“Miso contains probiotics that help promote good bacteria and can improve gut health, which is very important as it is directly connected with our complexion.”

GINGER
“Simply put, ginger causes us to digest food more quickly whilst also protecting the gut against inflammation, which is essential as our gut is directly linked to our mood and our skin. This glowing skin hero helps us keep a clear mind and clear skin.”

To learn more about Faustine, and for more of her delicious recipes, visit her website or follow her on Instagram @faustinehug.

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