get fit with britt // inner & outer thighs

Welcome back to Get Fit with Britt! I'm going to be posting some demos of my fave exercises taught at Pure Barre Williamsburg, with the help of their awesome instructors. Pure Barre is a fast, effective, and most importantly, safe way to change your body, and follows a technique that's high-intensity, but low impact to protect your joints! Thanks to Pure Barre, I have been able to build long, lean (not bulky!) muscles while tapering everything in & lifting it up! For this series, we will pick a particular move, explain the focus area and correct form, then demonstrate it so you can practice at home! That way, if/when you come to the studio yourself, you'll be rocking the moves & way ahead of the game ;) These exercises are also a great way to get fit on-the-go! I find myself regularly using Pure Barre exercises during my hotel room workouts. Additionally, you can get all the outfits I'm wearing at the Pure Barre Williamsburg studio, so definitely go by if you're looking for some fun, new workout gear! Come & join me, get that healthy & strong body you've always wanted- come Get Fit with Britt!

Today's workout focuses on thighs, specifically your inner & outer thighs. Stay up high on your tip toes, with your heels together & toes apart, maintain a relaxed grip on the bar, and as always, keep your hips tucked under. As you move your legs in & out, make sure to control the movement in both directions (by contracting those leg muscles!), so that you can effectively work both the inner and outer thighs at the same time. Sink your seat down low to maximize the burn! Do three sets of 10 reps of each movement for a workout that's sure to get your legs nice and toned!

*I am not a trainer or health professional, so please consult one if you feel you're doing something wrong or could potentially injure yourself.

beauty minute

I recently got interviewed about my beauty routine for a feature on Garance Doré. You can read my Beauty Minute on their site, or continue reading to check out my daily beauty regimen and go-to products. By no means do I use all of these products every day, but the ones listed below are some of my favorites that make me look and feel my best! 

Morning Routine:

I have sensitive skin, so I prefer to use brands that use clean, simple, and high-quality ingredients. I usually just rinse my face with water in the morning instead of using a cleanser. Then I use Osmia Organics Active Gel Toner. I add True Botanicals Vitamin C Booster to my True Botanicals Cellular Renewal Serum (which activates it), and apply that mixture next. Then I finish with either Osmia Organics Purely Simple Face Cream or Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil, depending if I want something lighter or more rich (and don't forget your neck!). My lips always get a thick coat of Aquaphor in the morning. I take a probiotic every day, and like to have hot lemon water if I can as well. I’ve also been loving Sun Potion supplements in my morning coffee or smoothie! For fragrance, my go-tos are by Tom Ford- I love Violet Blonde or Oud Wood, depending on my mood!

Makeup Routine:

I rarely wear makeup when I'm not working- it feels nice to give my skin a break! If I'm wearing makeup, it's usually just the basics. I like a lot of Glossier products- they make great no-frills essentials. I use a tinted moisturizer (with SPF!) by Laura Mercier or True Botanicals, and concealer if need-be by Glossier (Stretch Concealer) or RMS Beauty (Un Cover-Up) on the face. Curled lashes, with or without mascara, but I like Charlotte Tilbury Full Fat Lashes. Groomed brows are a plus, and Glossier Boy Brow has a nice waxy texture. Glossier Haloscope and RMS Beauty Living Luminizer for highlights on the cheekbones and brow bones help give you that dewy glow. I rarely wear lipstick, but a red lip is fun every once in a while, and YSL Rouge Pur Couture has lots of great shades.

Daytime Touch-Ups:

I always have a good lip balm with me. Glossier Balm Dotcom and Lano Lips 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm are go-tos, and I also just brought several tubes of Lucas' Pawpaw Ointment back from Australia. I also like to have a facial mist of some sort for whenever I feel like my skin needs a pick-me-up. Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist and Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence are both great. I drink tons of water throughout the day as well. 

Nightly Routine:

My nightly regimen starts with removing any makeup (if I'm wearing any) with Bioderma Crealine (aka Sensibio). Then I wash my face with Osmia Organics Black Clay Facial Soap or Sunday Riley Blue Moon Cleansing Balm (this one also makes a great mask). I tone with Biologique Recherche P50 (without phenol), then apply Mario Badescu Buffering or Drying Lotions to any blemishes if needed. I love a hydrating & calming oil at nighttime (something thicker than moisturizer) and Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil or UFO are amazing. Eye cream is also important to start sooner rather than later- I've been loving Tata Harper Restorative Eye Creme.

Hair, Body, Masks:

I love R+Co shampoo & conditioner- both the Sunset Blvd. Blonde & the Dallas Thickening versions are go-tos. If my hair needs a refresher, I’ll use a bit of R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo or Ouai Wave Spray. Korean exfoliating mitts also work wonders for fresh, baby-soft skin. Post-shower, I’ll use either R+Co Tinsel Smoothing Oil or Ouai Hair Oil on the ends of my hair, then coconut oil all over my body. Every once in a while I'll apply a face mask (like Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask or Glossier Moisturizing Moon Mask) or a sheet mask (Tatcha Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask or Hada Labo Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial Mask) to treat my skin to a little at-home facial. Now just to be clear, I don't use all these products every day. Beauty sleep, a healthy diet, and lots of water are all great ways to create that glow from the inside, out as well :)

 
 

fave products // sunday riley juno hydroactive cellular face oil

 
 

Remember when oil was considered the bad guy, and everyone thought putting oil on your face was an almost certain cause for a break out? Everywhere you looked, skincare products were boasting oil-free this, and oil-free that. I'm so glad that myth has been debunked, because to be honest, high quality oils offer some serious benefits for your skin: preventing dryness, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, and promoting skin's firmness and elasticity to name a few! 

Take Sunday Riley Juno Hydroactive Cellular Face Oil, for example. This essential oil is an antioxidant and superfood powerhouse that gives you that beautifully, radiant glow your skin craves. It works to protect and enhance the skin with a botanically active blend of cold-pressed superfood seed oils, including blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry, and broccoli seed oils. I've found it to be super hydrating and nourishing thanks to the antioxidants (which fight those free-radicals!) and omegas (3, 6, & 9!), but at the same time it feels light and soothing on my skin. Combined with Vitamin A & C, which help fight signs of aging by increasing collagen production and brightening the skin, and essential amino acids, your complexion will likely be more luminous than ever before.

Other than its awesome hydration and protection power, I really love that Juno is formulated without parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. I personally try not to use any products with these ingredients, as they can be highly irritating to my sensitive skin. At this point it's safe to say that Juno has (deservedly!) earned a prime spot in my skincare routine and medicine cabinet!

fave products // true botanicals polishing grains

 
 

By now we've all heard about the importance of exfoliation. Exfoliating your skin helps to remove dead skin cells, exposing the soft, smooth, and polished layer underneath. It also helps prep your skin for any other products you'll be applying, like a moisturizer or serum. Exfoliating is one of the best ways to achieve that natural glow all over your body (not just the face!), and these Polishing Grains from True Botanicals make it super easy. Add a few shakes to your usual cleanser of choice, and voilà- you have an instant secret weapon exfoliator! Made from oat flour, adzuki bean powder and rice powder, this super-fine mix of grains work as natural exfoliants that won't irritate the skin. Kaolin clay is a soothing mineral that helps remove impurities and regulate oil production, while rosehip seed powder enriches the skin with retinol and essential fatty acids! Talk about an exfoliator that does it all! Added bonus that these polishing grains are environmentally-friendly, made without plastic microbeads, as well as travel-friendly! Renewed and radiant skin is just a shake of grains away.

get fit with britt // deep abs

Welcome back to Get Fit with Britt! I'm going to be posting some demos of my fave exercises taught at Pure Barre Williamsburg, with the help of their awesome instructors. Pure Barre is a fast, effective, and most importantly, safe way to change your body, and follows a technique that's high-intensity, but low impact to protect your joints! Thanks to Pure Barre, I have been able to build long, lean (not bulky!) muscles while tapering everything in & lifting it up! For this series, we will pick a particular move, explain the focus area and correct form, then demonstrate it so you can practice at home! That way, if/when you come to the studio yourself, you'll be rocking the moves & way ahead of the game ;) These exercises are also a great way to get fit on-the-go! I find myself regularly using Pure Barre exercises during my hotel room workouts. Additionally, you can get all the outfits I'm wearing at the Pure Barre Williamsburg studio, so definitely go by if you're looking for some fun, new workout gear! Come & join me, get that healthy & strong body you've always wanted- come Get Fit with Britt!

Today's exercise focuses on abs, specifically that deep, under layer of abs that can be tricky to reach. Slide your mat about a quarter of the way up the wall, and lean up against it, forming a C curve with your spine. In this slouched position, you are really able to isolate your deepest of abs, effectively toning them just as you do the top layer. Be sure to keep your abs pulled in (navel to spine!) and hips tucked under. Try to keep tension in the tube by pressing out with your hand, and add an exhale along with each bend-stretch of your leg. This personally helps me keep focused and allows me to really target my deep core! Length is more important than height in this position, so it's more beneficial to keep your leg straight but lower, as opposed to bent and higher! Repeat this cycle three times with each leg. 

*I am not a trainer or health professional, so please consult one if you feel you're doing something wrong or could potentially injure yourself.

fave products // collagen

 
VP collagen.jpg
 

By now I'm sure you've heard of collagen and its anti-aging properties, but do you know what it actually is and how it can help you? Let me give you a  little collagen 101 (with the help of The Coveteur). Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It's found in your bones, muscles, skin, and tendons, providing structure and strength to the body. In your skin's connective tissue, collagen aids in providing a firm and supple layer, as well as renewing skin cells. Skin elasticity relies on collagen, and it's what gives your skin a firm, youthful appearance. As we get older, our collagen production decreases, which can create deeper creases, enlarged pores, and less elasticity of the skin. To combat this, topical supplements containing peptides, vitamin C and retinol can work to boost that productivity.

You may also choose to ingest collagen orally, and by doing so can help build connective tissue in your hair, skin and nails, as well as regulate your body's metabolism. Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides are a great bioavailable type of collagen- the molecules are small enough so that they're able to get quickly absorbed and used by our bodies, which is key. This supplement dissolves quickly and easily in water, and has absolutely zero taste. I mix a serving into my coffee for an added health and protein boost. Other than improving hair, skin, and nail health by increasing skin's elasticity and reversing the signs of aging, collagen is a huge proponent of joint and bone health. It's essential for mobility and can help with the regeneration and healing of tendons, bones, and joints. It also helps reduce achiness and pain in the joints! Furthermore, collagen can aid in digestion by providing reparative and soothing properties that help you digest food and improve the absorption of nutrients. Talk about a bang for your buck! Since starting to incorporate collagen into my diet, I've noticed healthier skin, stronger nails, and quicker recovery of sore muscles and achy joints after workouts! I highly recommend adding collagen to your daily routine.