Daily Fitness: The ‘V’ Life

This article was first published in the February 21, 2018 issue of The Independent Newspaper

 

Are you living “The V Life?” By V, I mean Veridatta—an honest skincare line created by East Hampton native, Rebecca Underdown. Upon meeting Underdown over the holidays, I immediately noticed her complexion. Aside from being a bicoastal resident, between here and California, she attributed the glowing skin to her own products.

How did you come up with a skincare line?

The development of the formulas started nine years ago while I was in acupuncture school in San Diego. I was getting wrinkles and acne at the same time. I felt the organic products weren’t working and the chemical-based skincare lines were giving my skin a grey hue. So, I decided to make my own organic night cream that would reduce the signs of aging and not cause a breakout.

I shared it with my family and then, my friends. It didn’t take long before they all started asking for a day cream and then a cleanser, and then a sunscreen. Each product would take about a year to formulate and test. In this time, I had opened my acupuncture practice in Encinitas focusing on facial rejuvenation. I was also the acupuncturist for the executives at SPY Optic, which allowed me the perfect focus group to record the results of the skincare products.

When I started to see people’s faces change within three days of the using the system, my desire to share the products turned into a passion, and that passion grew into obsession. It only continues to grow, because in all honesty, it’s fun.

Your most popular products right now?

Living Enzyme Scrub is our best seller, because men are drawn to it, so our customer base nearly doubles. The scrub is gentle enough for it to be used every single day, making it the most effective way to improve the skin’s clarity and glow. The second best seller is the Raw Coconut Day Repair, which is an anti-aging moisturizer (meaning it regenerates healthy cells) and does not cause break-outs.

Why does your product work on all skin types?

Because all skin needs the same thing: a clear passageway for dead cells and toxins to move out. All skin conditions are caused by one thing: stagnation. A wrinkle, a pimple, a sunspot, and blotchy skin are due to congestion of dead cells or the byproducts of cells, which limit the movement of energy or blood. Sometimes I see people with a grey skin tone due to years of chemical skincare products, and the buildup of dead cells and chemicals.

What’s your go-to workout to feel good?

I practice Kundalini yoga and ballet. Kundalini yoga is the quickest way for me to see my own blocks and release them. I used to work out pretty hard, but I didn’t have a meditation practice. So, I would often be eating in a thoughtless way. So, the effort of working out was negated by overeating or poor choices. I don’t believe there should ever be a routine that does not intend to connect the mind to the body.

Where did the motto “You are enough” come from?

It is from my own life experience. We are always going to want more, because it is the natural state of the universe. The conundrum in always wanting more is the feeling of not being enough in the present moment. I believe the most important practice one should have each day is to find the feeling of contentment inside. When one feels love and appreciation for themselves, the trajectory of their day is one on course with success and brilliance.

Veridatta reminds people to feel enough, or even better, beautiful and powerful during their morning and evening ritual of using the products.

What does “The V Life” mean to you?

We tag #theVLife on Instagram when there is a visual representation of someone that is owning their beauty. There is a huge difference between looking beautiful and feeling beautiful, and you can see it on camera. When we do a photoshoot, I always prep myself and the models to embody the feeling of “enough.” When someone is feeling this and we catch it on camera, I post it. I want people to see what it looks like.

The best advice you’ve ever received?

From my sister, upon starting high school at age 13. She told me, “Stay true to yourself.” It is a mantra, and in the most challenging times of pressure of other people’s expectations or my own negative thinking, I come back to it.

What made you take on a healthier lifestyle?

I think by most people’s standards I have always lived a kind of healthy lifestyle. I began yoga in eighth grade, was an Eastern Religion major at Boston University, began teaching yoga in NYC after graduation, and then I began Chinese Medicine School in San Diego shortly thereafter. The four-and-a-half years at this school is what built my understanding of the body’s chemistry. Living a “healthy lifestyle” seems like a bore to me. I like energy. I do the things and eat the things that give me more and more energy.

What is Sweat + Glow?

Sweat + Glow is Veridatta’s signature class that is traveling to cities to spread happiness. Happiness is the feeling of being enough, of being powerful, of being beautiful, of being clear, of being conscious, of being oneself. We incorporate yoga or dance with a meditation at the end, and we offer all of our participants sample products and V Tonics [fresh organic juices developed to tone or nourish the skin].

Why is sweating important to Veridatta?  

Chemical skincare products which are basically 95% of the marketplace sit on top of the skin and create a barrier stopping the skin from its natural detoxication process. For optimum health, the skin needs to be able to breathe. Sweat + Glow is an awareness movement connecting the dots for people about sweating, skin, and glowing. I want people to know that with a couple of daily practices they can have beautiful glowing skin. It is chemistry and it feels good!

What’s coming up for Spring?

Locally to the Hamptons, the explosion of Vital Sun SPF in all of our retailers and the opening of The Squeezery, where The V Tonics are made and sold.  Vital Sun is our tinted zinc oxide SPF that works as a daily moisturizer, a concealer, and a sunscreen.

Follow Veridatta on Instagram or online .

Follow my Instagram & Facebook to see my upcoming, personal review after using the Living Enzyme Scrub, Skin Tight Toner and Raw Coconut Day Repair.

Daily Fitness: Talking Rodan + Fields

This article first appeared in the January 24, 2018 issue of The Independent Newspaper

The beauty of skincare is that it affects us all. You’ve likely seen advertisements across social media, or heard word-of-mouth, about a friend of a friend selling a popular skincare line, Rodan + Fields. But what’s it really about? After receiving samples to give it a try, I caught up with New York native consultant, Gaby Astrauskas-Rosenzweig.

 

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Gaby with the Redefine Products from R+F

How does R+F differ from other skincare lines?

Being a consultant with Rodan + Fields I am able to give my customers one on one attention, long after any purchase that a department store would not usually provide. That is one of the biggest reasons why we differ from other top competitors. On my website you can find a solution tool by answering a few questions about your skin concerns and there will be an instant suggestion on what would be the best regimen for you. Also R+F is the #1 Premium Skincare Brand in North America, co-founded by Stamford trained and practicing dermatologists, Dr. Katie Rodan & Dr. Kathy Fields who also successfully co-founded ProActiv Solution.

Who can use it and what skin types should be careful? Are there known allergic reactions?

R+F has four different regimens for all different skin types:

• Redefine Regimen targets fine lines, wrinkles and firmness.

• Reverse Regimen targets age spots, sun damage and dullness.

• Soothe Regimen targets sensitive skin like redness and calming dry skin.

• Unblemish Regimen targets acne and works to combat the entire acne cycle.

Aside from these multi-med therapy regimens we also have some other products that work with most skin types if not all.

What’s the latest product launch?

Some of our most recent product launches are:

• Active Hydration Serum, which is an oil-free super serum that boosts your skins hydration by 200 percent in just one use.

• Active Hydration Bright Eye Complex, visibly improves the appearance of dark circles and puffiness.

• Intensive Renewing Serum, which delivers Retinal-MD technology that is 20 times the strength of Retinol to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and loss of firmness.

• Amp MD Micro-Exfoliating Roller works in combination with our Intensive Renewing Serum to accelerate and amplify your skin-firming results.

• LashBoost, our nightly conditioning serum improves the appearance of lash volume and lash length fro lashes that are 100 percent real and 100 percent yours!

What’s the typical time it takes for users to see results?

Rodan + Fields is formulated to be a multi-med therapy when used together. If you follow the directions and use as followed, typically results can be noticed as early as four weeks but I would allow at least eight weeks and if you’re not satisfied within 60 days you can send the bottle back (even if it’s empty) for a money back guarantee.

What made you become a consultant?

Having a second stream of income — or some can call it a “Plan B” — always intrigued me but I never knew where or how to start! While attending a friend’s business launch with Rodan + Fields almost four years ago, I actually was in need of skincare products for my upcoming wedding. Trying the products first-hand and receiving unsolicited compliments on my skin, I quickly decided to jump in feet first! I was not a skincare expert or sales person but I believed in the products, received results and wanted to share my story to make a difference in others.

It can be very scary starting something new especially when your plate is already so full but working my virtual business in pockets of my time made this new venture that much easier. This turnkey business was something that changed my life especially now that I am a Mom.

Tell me about YOU.

As a New Yorker, I find myself always on the go! After graduating Hofstra University, I moved cross-country to Los Angeles to pursue my career in television, more specifically, reality television. Working in television having long 12-plus hour days, this business makes it was hard to really know how to slow down but I always knew I wanted something of my own.

While working on a set in Los Angeles, I met my husband Joe, a Long Island native. Right before our wedding, I came across Rodan + Fields through one of my best friends who was just launching her own business. This obviously intrigued me and I was looking to try some new skincare products to prep my skin for my wedding! I was not a skincare junkie; actually I did very little for my skin until this moment.

Now almost four years later after taking a chance on myself, I’ve been able to work my business while being a full-time mom and still freelance producing part-time. My plan B ended up being my plan A when I was laid-off from my dream TV job during my maternity leave. I would say on average I work 15 hours a week in pockets of my time. But the best part is we are bi-coastal, I can work from anywhere and anytime.

 

Feel free to message or befriend her on Facebook; Gaby Astrauskas- Rosenzweig or follow her on Instagram @Gabija526. www.gma.myrandf.com.

Intrigued to learn about the results? I’ll be testing the “Give it a Glow” kit from the Redefine Anti-Aging Regiment and the Active Hydration Serum, perfectly suited for the winter months.

Follow me on Instagram & Facebook @NikkiOnTheDaily to see my review.