Required reading for you (and your skin)

I don’t have all that much time to read for pleasure these days, and I’m still trying to finish the JFK, Jr. biography that I started months ago. (Although the rise of George is very interesting, I’m really tempted to just skip to the part about his marriage to Carolyn Bessette.) Yet when I receive a just-released book from a celebrity aesthetician, I make the time…

I dove into Glow from Within by Joanna Vargas as soon as it arrived—which fortunately was a Sunday so I had a window of opportunity. Peppered with celebrity anecdotes, this comprehensive yet engaging and easy-to-read tome covers all the skin basics, and I found it was wonderful way to get back to basics at a time when I’m writing a ton of stories and have so much information swirling around in my head. I especially appreciated the many references to scientific studies, because there’s so much misinformation and hype out there (which we all know).

In a nutshell, Vargas believes the secret to great skin is a combination of skincare, nutrition and lifestyle—and not necessarily aggressive professional treatments. To that end, she outlines a basic five-step daily routine that anyone can follow (plus add-ons that you’re probably already using or doing). From creating the ideal skincare regimen for your skin type, explaining ingredients and professional treatments, and emphasizing the importance of diet and lifestyle habits, you get it all in a beautifully designed book—I just love the silver and millennial-pink cover and ombré pages!

Vargas devotes a lot of ink to nutrition, including “Glow Foods” like greens, heathy fats, and herbs and spices, as well as “Moderation Foods” (dairy, grains and caffeine) and “Foods That Dim Your Glow” (i.e., alcohol and sugar). Then, the Self-Care section outlines the effects that exercise, stress, sleep and attitude can have on the state of your skin—and calls out the bad habits that are sure to sabotage your efforts. From there, you’ll learn everything you ever wanted to know about various professional treatments like lasers, microcurrent, microneedling and more. Finally, Vargas shares targeted tips for specific skin concerns such as acne, dark circles, dullness, sensitive skin and all the other major biggies—as well as specific plans of attack when you have six months, one month, one week or one hour to get your skin in shape.

But perhaps my favorite section is the recipes—and I was shocked that I already have all of the ingredients required for most of them. From juice blends to DIY masks for virtually any skin issue that may arise (as if I don’t already spend enough time in the kitchen).

All and all, this is one of the best beauty books I’ve read in a while, and I’ll definitely use it as a reference when I write—and you should use it as a reference for getting your best skin yet!