The Midst Mornings: Beauty & wellness expert Lauria shares her 5 a.m. routine
Wake-up time: 5 a.m.
City: Chicago
First thought: It’s a beautiful day to be alive! I LOVE mornings — the gorgeous freshness of each day, all the creative possibility, the simple moments of gratitude.
Before my boys (my teen son and partner) wake up, I care for my girls — Bella my Shih Tzu, Mittens my tabby, and Pączki my Pug — all rescues from PAWS Chicago. Then it’s me time: jazz on the record player, coffee brewing, and one of my current nonfiction selections in hand before I grab my laptop to write and edit for The Midst. And along the way, I tap into this ritual of products, which not only benefit me, but also make me happy.
But first, electrolytes
After eight hours in bed, I head straight to the kitchen to rehydrate — flushing toxins and kickstarting my mental and physical energy. I add Hi-Lyte Electrolyte Concentrate, a tasteless concentrate of clean sea minerals, into a large glass of filtered water and chug it while making what I really want — my coffee!
Doubling down on dark chocolate
I begin each and every day with a piece of dark chocolate with my coffee. It’s decadent, it’s delicious, and it’s actually quite healthy, packed with antioxidants, fiber, iron, and magnesium, and can even protect against heart disease. Just be sure to enjoy dark chocolate that’s at least 70% cacao (the “chocolate” bean that provides these health benefits), like Taza Chocolate Organic Amaze Bar 95% Stone Ground, which uses direct trade-certified cacao.
Sunscreen every. single. day.
By now, we all know that sunscreen is the number-one way to keep your skin health and youthful-looking. But did you know that you can also get harmful UVA through windows when you’re inside your home, car, or office? Even though I work from my apartment, I always make sure to apply sunscreen under my moisturizer du jour (currently Alloy M4 Face Cream), using a forumula with SPF 30 or more like my current fave, Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen – SPF 40, an invisible, weightless, scentless formula with a lovely, velvet finish.
No-makeup makeup, aka, concealer
Many women ask me what concealer I recommend for mature undereye skin that doesn’t crease or fade, and here you have it: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Concealer. So, even when working from home, after applying eye cream (a very important first step!) I use my fingers to dab it under my eyes and over my rosacea, then hit up any blemishes or surprises with a small concealer brush. The formula is water- and smudge-proof, and one tube seems to last forever.
No-PU dry shampoo
I’m VERY sensitive to particular, phony scents, so many dry shampoos give me more of a headache than head help. Still, I discovered COLAB Original Bergamot and Rose Scented Dry Shampoo, a cruelty-free and vegan-friendly dry shampoo that absorbs oil with no white residue — that smells simply pleasant. Since I wash my hair every few days, I make sure to comb my tresses and spray this puppy in it every morning to stay fresh.
But I’m naked without perfume
Working from home does not mean sacrificing fabulousness. Every day, no matter what I’m doing — or not doing, I spray myself with whichever fragrance from my collection speaks to me. Currently, with autumn rolling in, I prefer warmer, woody scents like classic Black Opium by Yves Saint Laurent with its notes of patchouli against fresh orange blossom and pear.
Peas over piggies for protein
Since I don’t eat meat, I’m always looking for more ways to add protein to my diet. I’m particularly fond of Garden of Life Raw Organic Fit Vegan Protein Powder, which offers 28g of pea protein, 4g of fiber, probiotics, and organic “superfoods” in a yummy formula. I blend the chocolate powder with almond milk, a banana, spinach, and berries for a delicious morning treat when the blender seems easier than cooking a hormone-healthy meal — and forever better than bacon.
