I'm Working to Make Clean Beauty Accessible to All—This Is My Morning Routine

What's the first thing you do when you get out of bed in the morning? A well-rounded morning routine sets the tone for the day and gets you prepped—both mentally and physically—before you dive into a packed schedule filled with emails, chores, happy hours, workouts, and more. Our series Morning Person profiles those who have mastered the art of the morning routine.

Tune in every week here and on our Instagram to learn exactly how the pros get it all done before the sun comes up, from their go-to breakfasts to their a.m. workouts.

We’re passionate about clean beauty here at THE/THIRTY, so it comes as no surprise that we’re always scouring for the best products, brands, and retailers to share with you. One of our current favorite places to shop for clean skin-, body-, and haircare products is Pretty Well Beauty, where the mission of its founder and chief curator, Jazmin Alvarez, is to make this space accessible and approachable to everyone. In addition to paying close attention to various price points and strict sustainability guidelines, Alvarez prioritizes highlighting beauty and wellness brands from BIPOC founders. 

Ahead, see how Alvarez starts a typical day in her life, including the go-to clean skincare products she uses on a daily basis.

7 A.M.

I now wake up naturally around 7 a.m., and the first thing I do is take four systemic enzymes from CytoPharma. They are a form of protein molecules that help the body transport vital nutrients, detoxify our cells, and boost the immune system. 

I suffer from uterine fibroids, and a naturopath put me on these, as they aid in shrinking them naturally by breaking down tumors (fibroids are just benign tumors), and eventually, your body can eliminate them. 

Unfortunately, most people do not get enough systemic enzymes from food because they get killed when you cook your food. They need to be in my body on an empty stomach two hours before I receive anything else into my system, and I usually take between eight and 10 total throughout the day because I have big fibroids I’m trying to get rid of. Then, I’ll gently wash my face and brush my teeth.

7:15 A.M.

Then, I take my dog on a 15-minute walk in our West Village neighborhood. Her name is Poppy Theodore Alvarez, and she’s a 6-year-old Morkie (Maltese/Yorkie mix). She’s ironically an Aquarius who hates water. She is often mistaken for a puppy, as she has so much energy and is really playful with everyone she meets.

The street is still really quiet this time of day, so it’s really relaxing. This walk is also a great time to get my circulation going after a full night of sleep.

7:30 A.M.

Back inside, I’ll prepare my hot lemon water to get rehydrated and prepare my body for digestion. I start my meditation while my lemon water cools down slightly. 

I always meditate for 15 minutes to the same healing guided mediation every morning by the Mindful Movement. I was really inspired to start this specific mediation after watching the Netflix documentary Heal. Our bodies have the remarkable and innate power to self-heal, and meditation is one of the modalities that has been proven to heal almost anything.

8 A.M.

Next, I will prepare my breakfast. I’m vegan, and I’m also really interested in Ayurvedic eating practices, so my first meal is always something soft and warm like oatmeal. I prepare it with my homemade cashew milk, some coconut milk, and warm spiced apples that I cook ahead of time. I’ll wait about 10 minutes after eating and then take my vitamins.

I take a whole arsenal of vitamins to support overall health and for my fibroids. They include zinc, vitamins C, D, B3, and B12, omega-3s, and biotin. I like to really take my time and care for myself properly in the morning because the rest of my day is spent working, and I often work well into the evenings. So mornings are pretty sacred for me, and I try not to rush.

9 A.M.

I leave to go work out. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the gym, so I take this as my warm-up time and allow my breakfast to digest. I love getting some natural vitamin D from the sun around this time of day.

Recently, a gym in Union Square has been offering free rooftop classes, so I’ve been taking the barre fusion classes there. It’s so nice to be up there moving my body and socializing with other people after so long (from a safe distance, of course). I was a super-active person before quarantine, so I’m happy that I’m getting back into a more regular routine.

10:15 A.M.

My shower and skincare routines are next. Although I do wash my face first thing when I wake up, I don't put anything on my skin until after my workout so I don't sweat any skincare off!

I cleanse my face with Dr. Alkaiatis's Organic Purifying Facial Cleanser and tone with the Honey Girl Organics Rose Toner. Then, I'll use Odièle Rose Sérum followed by the Nutrient Cream with SPF 30 by Josh Rosebrook. I'll finish with a quick swipe of the Luxury Lip Balm by Henné Organics.

11 A.M.

I get home and pour myself a large glass of warm water or an herbal tea I make using a bunch of dry organic herbs—sarsaparilla, burdock, wild yam, dandelion—and then a blend called Female Balance, which has red raspberry, Schisandra berry, blessed thistle, rosehip, peppermint, chaste berry tree, and ginseng suma.

And lastly, I begin to check emails and social media. I really try not to do any of this before I’ve completed my morning rituals, as I find it is what sets the tone for the rest of my day. Keeping my stress levels at bay is a major priority for me these days.

Up next, Lo Bosworth Has a Grounding Morning Routine—These Are Her Daily Rituals