fave products // sunday riley CEO vitamin c brightening serum & face oil

I’ve been a Sunday Riley fan for as long as I can remember. Their Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment and Luna Sleeping Night Oil are cult faves, and repeat buys for me, for good reason. Plus, I love that Sunday Riley is Houston-based! Yay for amazing products coming out of my hometown in Texas! Since vitamin C products are such a crucial step in any skincare routine (in my opinion), I was excited to try out their C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum and C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil.

If dullness or discoloration have been getting you down lately, the C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum is going to be your new BFF. This lightweight serum absorbs quickly into the skin, and works hard to combat visible signs of aging (think wrinkles, loss of firmness, dark spots, etc). It also helps with any redness and sensitivity, which I struggle with a lot this time of year. I’ve found it to be super supportive to my skin’s moisture barrier, leaving me with youthful, glowing skin! Plus, it’s important to note that this serum uses an extremely stable, oil soluble form of vitamin C, so you know you’re getting the best quality available.

After applying the Brightening Serum, I follow it up with C.E.O. Glow Vitamin C + Turmeric Face Oil. Like the serum, this is lightweight and absorbs instantly, which I love. Nothing worse than a face oil that just sits on top of the skin and leaves you feeling greasy! Of course, the same ultra-stable form of vitamin C (THD ascorbate) is at work here fighting fine lines and wrinkles, dullness, discoloration, redness, loss of firmness, and more. Plus, antioxidant-rich turmeric acts as an effective calming and soothing agent. Red raspberry and evening primrose oils join the party, giving your skin the ultimate luminous glow! Perhaps I need to try C.E.O. Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream next?! As always with Sunday Riley, these products are free of sulfates and parabens, and are cruelty-free as well! Such a win in my book- and your skin will thank you later :)

Disable your ad blocking software to view this content.

 * This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, it won’t cost you a penny more, but I’ll earn a small commission. This allows me to continue to generate content for you, and helps keep the site up and running. Thanks for your support! 

britt's picks // herbalist & acupuncturist

If you’re looking for an herbalist and/or acupunturist in NYC, I cannot recommend Paul Kempisty enough. I first started seeing Paul a few years ago, when I was struggling to regulate my menstrual and ovulation cycles in the hopes of one day becoming pregnant. He came highly recommended by multiple friends, and I’m so glad that I ended up going to see him at his practice in Soho. If you’re not familiar, acupuncture is the stimulation of sensitive and powerful acu-points around the body with filiform needles, and has been practiced for thousands of years. Modern science believes that the positive effects on health are achieved by stimulation of the nervous system which in turn regulates the immune system, hormone function, causes pain reduction and so much more.

I’ll admit that I was initially a bit wary of the entire process- I had never gotten acupuncture before, and didn’t know what to expect. But Paul is extremely passionate and knowledgable, and made me feel comfortable throughout the entire treatment process. I love that after meeting with a patient and determining their individual needs and goals, Paul works with you to construct a comprehensive treatment and education plan that works best for you. Not to mention his impressive resume- Before pursuing his formal acupuncture education, he studied aromatherapy and Reiki, eventually becoming a Reiki Master. Paul has a Master's Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine, studied advanced herbal medicine with a Daoist priest in New York City’s Chinatown, and even traveled to China to continue studying in the specialties of Oncology and Gynecology!

It’s Paul’s belief that what we put into our bodies makes a significant impact on our immediate and long term experience of life and health, and because of this, he has shared herbs, dietary advice and vitamin supplements with his patients from the very beginning of his career. I enjoyed getting to experience the effects of both acupuncture and herbs, and found them to work together in harmony for the body. It’s pretty remarkable how the right combinations can have such incredible results for so many different conditions.

Since herbs are clearly a passion of Paul’s, I’m happy to say that he recently launched his own line of herbal remedies, Peekay’s Herbs, which offer effective herbal formulations for the entire family. I’ve gotten the opportunity to try several of his custom blends, and from the Calm Down (provides stress, sleep & mood support) to the Eleven Mushrooms for Fun Guys & Gals (a great overall remedy for immune support, energy levels & mental serenity) to the Let’s Make a Baby (which provides fertility support for men & women) , there’s truly something for every ailment. Plus, he even makes gentle herbal remedies for kids, which came in handy when my son came down with a cold recently. The Kid’s Cold & Flu and Seasonal Support tinctures helped reduce his symptoms, and not to mention, he absolutely loved the flavor! Definitely check out Peekay’s if you’re looking to add some effective herbal remedies to your medicine cabinet!

paul kempisty, acupunturist & herbalist