Wellness with Joy Brown Kirst, Founder of @modernageskin
Q: What's your favorite Juna product and how do you incorporate it into your everyday routine?
A: My favorite Juna product has been the Juna Nightcap Sleep Gummies. It’s no secret that perimenopausal and menopausal women have difficulty sleeping. I take one of these before going to bed and it really helps me get a deep, restful sleep all night. I used to wake up a lot, but these do the trick!
Q: Any health concerns that you are currently trying to support?
A: My sleep has gotten much better, but I do have a gluten intolerance that causes me discomfort occasionally, if I’m not careful.
Q: A morning (or nightly) ritual you swear by?
A: I always wash my face in the evening before doing my skincare routine. I like to double cleanse, so that I get all of the dirt and oil that can build up over the day, as well as clear away all of the makeup from my face. Depending on the time of the year (i.e.: the weather), I will use more products that moisturize more heavily and seal in that moisture when it’s dry outside. I like a lightweight toner with lipids in it for a first layer of moisture. In the summer, I will then just put The Innovator on, followed by sunscreen - my favorite is the Saint Jane Luxury Sun Ritual.
At night, after cleansing, I use our new product, The Catalyst (launching October 18th!) - a serum with a buffered acid complex, as well as ceramides and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid - to help gently exfoliate and deeply moisturize, before finishing up with The Innovator. I wake up to glowing, plump, smooth skin.
Q: What helps keep you grounded?
A: My family. Anyone with teenagers can relate to the fact that they will keep you grounded in reality! I also really like to play tennis, which helps me balance out my energy and keeps me from sitting in front of my computer all day…working!
Q: Favorite way to connect to nature?
A: I love hiking. We live about an hour away from some beautiful hikes in the Hudson Valley. Our family has gone - including the dogs - many times to take in the beauty of the landscape and get some fresh air!
Q: Current Favorite Book/Podcast/Playlist?
A: I love the Smartless Podcast! It’s so funny and smart - so great to listen on the train or in the car.
For inspiration, I really like listening to Allison Jacobson’s Midlife Mavericks podcast. Allison is such a pro, and couples that with some very cool women telling us all about an amazing pivot they made in midlife. It will definitely get you excited about considering taking the leap and trying that new business/hobby/etc you might have been thinking about.
I’ve not read it yet, but Dr. Mary Claire Haver does not disappoint when educating about menopause, so I plan on reading The New Menopause that she released earlier this year. She has such a no-nonsense way of explaining what’s going on for women in perimenopause and menopause, as well as explaining how the healthcare system has failed us and what we can do to advocate for ourselves, that you’ll feel very empowered when you finish reading anything she writes or watching anything she films.