my MORNING ROUTINE
Larissa Thomson
Founder of ONDA Beauty
What do you do first upon waking?
Larissa: I lie in bed for about 20 minutes and try to meditate briefly to calm my brain and prepare myself for the day ahead. I cuddle with our pup Lucky who sleeps with us, then I drink a giant glass of water, and I beg my husband for a cup of coffee, haha! But actually, I'm trying to switch over to Matcha as I've found I feel a lot better drinking that than coffee - more energized, less jittery. I stretch if I have time and start my day. Oh! My husband and I try to play the NYT game Connections every morning so we don't go straight into work mode but get our brains activated.
What is your own morning skincare routine?
Larissa: I always start by washing my face with a gentle cleanser. My favorite at the moment is the Biography Full Circle Nourishing Cleanser. It just makes my skin feel clean and soft without feeling stripped. I usually follow with a serum that has Growth Factors and Exosomes. I like to use Angela Caglia's Cell Forté Serum or Epi.Logic's Master Plan. Both help with boosting collagen and cell turnover, and also aid in hydration, tone and texture, regeneration, and elasticity. At 57, I need all of it! In the winter, I mix it up depending on the weather. I'll either use a face oil, moisturizer, or a balm. Because I'm always testing products, I'm often trying new things, but I'm also often loving a lot of things! At the moment, my face oil is Vintner's Daughter Botanical Serum, my moisturizer is Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream, and my balm is Monastery's Attar. Sometimes I combine them. I'm a stickler about caring for my skin, and I try not to rush it as I also really enjoy the routine. It's sensorial for me as well.
What do you eat and drink in the morning?
Larissa: Oh boy. Ok, well…I always start with a giant glass of water with two heaping scoops of collagen. It's so important to make water, NOT coffee, the first thing you put into your system to flush it out. I know everyone says lemon water, but actually, the lemon can eat away at the enamel on your teeth, which was happening to me, so water and Vital Proteins Collagen is what I do, and I love it. Then I move on to coffee, but like I said, I'm trying to transition to Matcha. I mix it with almond milk or coconut milk and add some maple syrup for sweet (I try not to do sugar), cinnamon, vanilla, and ground cloves. So good!!! And here it is... I don't eat in the morning, never have my whole life - I'm just not hungry at all in the mornings. Sometimes mid to late morning, I'll have a banana or other fruit, maybe avocado toast if I'm not feeling well. That's it!
Do you have a morning exercise routine/if so what is it?
Larissa: I used to be religious about exercising but, to be honest, since I bought my business back, I've fallen off the fitness wagon. Terrible, I know. I try to do a mix of Orange Theory, PVolve, and Yoga when I can, but it's not often enough. With my schedule (or if it’s cold!), I've made a promise to myself: just move!! That looks different every day. Sometimes I wake up and do 25 squats, 25 jacks, 25 crunches, and 25 lunges. Other days I'll do 15 minutes of yoga next to my bed, or I keep weights in my bathroom now so I can just do a set of arms before the shower. I try to walk a lot during the day, weather permitting. But my new motto is to do whatever I can, whenever I can, for however long I have. JUST MOVE! That's kind of working until I get back into a steady routine of the classes I like to do. Hopefully.
What are your key skin tips and tricks for travelling?
Larissa: One word: Hydration!! I always travel with a balm, especially for in-flight. It does double duty - hydrates but also, as an occlusive, traps moisture. I love the Bonjout Le Balm; it's small and compact and can be your serum and moisturizer in one. It packs a big punch! I like to keep my routine simple when I travel, so this one works well. I always travel with The Skinsheet Cleansing Coins - they're small compostable cotton coins that provide a sustainable way to cleanse your skin and remove makeup. Just add water and they expand into a soft cloth. Lastly, I never go anywhere without the Dr. Alkaitis Organic Soothing Gel. It's just a great multipurpose product that handles many situations: hydrating, toning, soothes skin irritation, breakouts, bug bites, sunburn, and does a lot more. One and done.
What are your 3 hero products?
Larissa: It’s very hard to choose as I curate the selection of brands and products we stock and really love them all for different reasons. However, we do have some new-ish items in currently that I’m excited about.
The Deep Red LED Mask from Monastery is something that I’ve been using religiously since I got one myself. I take 15 minutes to lie down with it on and stop doing all things which is hard for me to do. I’ve noticed a positive change in my skin with regular use! And it forces me to relax.
We recently started stocking May Linstrom again which EVERYONE is excited about. I find each person has a favorite May product but mine has always been The Honey Mud! It’s got a beautiful rich texture and scent; I love using it as a cleanser or a leave-on treatment. It removes any debris from the day revealing smoother brighter skin. It tastes pretty good too, haha!
Regenerative 10B-EXO EGF Ampoules are fantastic! These are a game changer even for sensitive skin. Using high-performance ingredients and in concentrated doses, this skin regenerative system helps boost hydration and brightness and reduce aging concerns, and has barrier-repairing benefits. Perfect this time of year when we are in a transitional state. Your skin will thank you!
What’s your favorite treatment – both at home or at ONDA – before a big event or night out?
Larissa: We recently started stocking Monastery's new Deep Red LED Mask. I use it almost every night at home. I love it! I do 10-20 minutes, and it gives me time to meditate or just relax while the deep red light therapy is working to regenerate my cells, reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, and help with signs of aging. At ONDA, we just brought in an incredible new treatment we're all excited about called PRX. It's a non-invasive, topical collagen bio stimulator for skin rejuvenation that revitalizes, firms, and smooths skin without downtime or photosensitivity. It can be used to address concerns like wrinkles, scars, hyperpigmentation, sagging, uneven skin tone, and the appearance of pores. It's done in a series of four treatments, each a week apart. I'm currently on my second treatment. It's really results-driven and quite amazing!!
What is on the horizon for ONDA Beauty?
Larissa: Many people are requesting more locations in other cities and states but I’m not sure if that’s something we’re going to do. We are looking into partnering with hotels to create mini ONDA spas where you can experience our treatments and also choose from a selection of our curated clean-beauty brands. Recreating the ONDA experience people love in a hotel environment is intriguing to me.
I’m also considering doing a proprietary product but it will not be skincare. At this point, I think the market is over-saturated with skincare brands and products. No one is looking for or needs another face oil. I do think there’s some space to create interesting and needed body care products. We will see… stay tuned!
Besides skincare products and treatments, what else are the best things we can do for our skin and body?
Larissa: There's so much one can do, but that can also make you anxious if you feel like you're failing. That's a terrible feeling to have. I always tell people to just do what they can do, one thing at a time. It's not a race; anything in the right direction is great! I'd say number one is to reduce stress where possible, breathe, get enough sleep, drink enough water, and try to eat as well as you can. If you need to make changes, they don't all have to come at once, so do your best. Try different things! I try to eat well and mostly do, but let's be real... sometimes I need a container of ice cream, and that's ok! Exercise and movement. Any kind of supplements if needed, but I would advise seeing a functional medicine doctor and have them tell you what your body needs—don't try to guess! Find quiet time and stillness every day, but really, most of all, I think find your tribe, hold them close, and experience as much love, connection, laughter, and pure joy as possible. That will get anyone glowing!
Where is your favourite place in the world to wake up?
Larissa: Hard to say in the world, but I do have two favorite places I tend to go to a lot, and recently while visiting one of them, I realized how happy I am when I wake up there: the Yucatan area of Mexico, and Shelter Island, NY. Two very different places with one thing in common: waking up to sunshine, the sound of waves, birds, and a salt-air breeze is my favorite way to wake up with a smile on my face.
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