Wellness With Nyakio Grieco: On Listening to Your Body, Finding Joy & Redefining Healthy
Nyakio Grieco is the founder and CEO of Thirteen Lune, the inclusive beauty destination redefining how consumers discover innovative brands and founders. A longtime beauty entrepreneur and industry leader, Nyakio has built her career around creating greater representation, opportunity, and visibility within beauty.
Through Thirteen Lune, she brings together thoughtfully curated products, compelling founder stories, and a community rooted in discovery, connection, and the belief that beauty should reflect everyone.
At 53, Nyakio’s approach to wellness feels equally intentional. After navigating thyroid issues in her late 30s, she began paying closer attention to what her body was asking for and redefining what being healthy actually meant to her. Today, her rituals span supplements, strength training, lymphatic massage, acupuncture, meditation, movement, and perhaps most importantly, making space for gratitude and joy.
For our latest Wellness With, we spoke with Nyakio about listening to your body, how wellness changes as we age, the rituals that keep her grounded as a founder, and why creating a routine that works for you matters more than following someone else’s formula.
Q: What does wellness look like for you in this season of life?
A: Ever since I had thyroid issues in my late 30s, I had to get serious about listening to my body. I felt out of alignment. I'm now 53 and feel like I'm back in my skin after taking the right supplements, getting regular lymphatic massages and acupuncture, and being more mindful about wellness overall.
But wellness isn't just physical. It's also mental. I try to wake up grateful for this life I'm living, grateful for my health and the health of my loved ones. These days, I can honestly say I sit in a place of joy, and I don't take that for granted.
Q: You’ve built such an influential career across beauty, entrepreneurship, and creating a more inclusive industry. How has your definition of “healthy” evolved throughout that journey?
A: Health really is wealth. Twenty years ago, healthy meant focusing on eating small portions and doing cardio nonstop. Today, I think healthy is being mindful of what you put in your body and understanding that something as simple as a daily walk or Pilates can be just as valuable as an intense workout.
As I've gotten older, strength training has also become incredibly important to me, especially for women over 40 who want to retain muscle mass.
Q: As the founder and CEO of Thirteen Lune, what are the small daily rituals that help you stay grounded and energized?
A: Meditation is a big one that keeps me grounded and focused. I also make time for long walks to clear my head. I start each day with intention and believe in the power of positive thinking.
I make it a point to laugh every day. Even on the stressful days, and there are a lot during a raise, there's always something that will make you laugh if you let it.
Beyond that, I lean on my family and kids, my girlfriends, and my team. Staying connected to people who ground me is as much a part of my wellness practice as anything I do on my own.
Q: Beauty has always been such a meaningful part of your story. How does your beauty routine connect to your overall sense of wellness and self-care?
A: Beauty has always been a self-care ritual. It's a moment of pause built into the day where you nourish your skin.
Q: Which Juna product is your favorite right now, and how do you like to incorporate it into your routine?
A: I use the Chlorophyll Drops in my water bottle. It really does taste like spa water and helps my gut. Win-win!
Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to create a more intentional wellness routine but doesn’t know where to start?
A: Start with one product and build your routine. One routine isn't going to be a fit for everyone. Pay attention to what your body is telling you, whether it's a particular skin or body concern you want to target, and see what works for you.
Wellness isn't a formula you copy from someone else. Start small, start authentically, and let it grow naturally.
