Tapping into your everyday mindfulness and wellness doesn’t mean you have to constantly be IN it. Sometimes you sleep in because you were up late working on a project, sometimes you skip a workout class because you were invited out to happy hour with your girlfriends and sometimes you eat all the food while traveling because you’re on your honeymoon and you wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re human and it’s beautiful. Meet Stephanie Park (@stephanie.h.park), wellness advocate and founder of high-performance wellness elixirs company Wylde One. Stephanie has been in the health and wellness community for a while now and has seen it shift and transform over the years. She believes perfection and balance doesn’t exist and in our journey toward a happier, healthier lifestyle we should focus on enhancing our human experiences whether it’s through the healing effects of plant medicine and adaptogens or simply being in love with your best friend. Her own wellness elixirs have been such a wonderful addition in my daily life. On my trip home from my honeymoon in Greece I used Yoga in a Cup and it completely saved me on a full day of travel. I’m so excited to share what Stephanie has to say about body confidence, balance, and rituals including her AMAZING beauty regimen. Take notes!
“So much of what I do is centered around my wellbeing, whether it’s my mental health, emotional health, physical health, or mindset. Because at the end of the day, when I feel amazing in my own skin, I’m a better partner, business owner, friend, and overall a happier person to be around.”
What was your "aha" moment that inspired you to commit to a healthier lifestyle?
I always felt uncomfortable with my body growing up. I was never the naturally thin kid, always a little pudgier than the other girls. I also had a lot of health problems growing up—I was constantly sick, getting bloody noses, and suffered from terrible allergies. I once got tested and had over 20 allergies! When I moved back to the U.S. from Korea in middle school, my mom signed me up for tennis lessons so I could get physically active, join a school team and make friends. That’s when I started exercising regularly. I’m talking Jane Fonda aerobic videotapes in the basement with a neighborhood friend. I noticed a tremendous shift in my energy levels, my body, my confidence, and my mood. My clothes fit better. I felt more confident and more in tune with my body and it improved a lot of my health problems and allergies. I would say that was the “aha” moment—when I fell in love with living a healthier lifestyle and started paying attention to how I was moving my body and what I was feeding my body.
However, it wasn’t a smooth and easy journey. I slowly developed an unhealthy obsession with food and exercise. I struggled with disordered eating, exercise addiction, and my body image for a very long time, starting from my teens into my mid-20s. It’s truly been a lifelong journey since then, but it’s what got me to expand my definition of “health” to not just physical appearance and fitness, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing. It’s also why I’m so passionate about helping people in their health journey and why I created a wellness brand that I hope empowers women to feel amazing in their own skin.
What does balance mean to you?
When it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, I don’t really like the word “balance”. I think it’s overrated, unattainable, and places an impossible standard and pressure on people. It’s as if you have to have a thriving career, be the perfect partner or parent, meditate and workout every day, cook every meal, have the perfect home, take amazing trips, etc. - all at the same time. I think that when you’re passionate about one area of your life, that means you may not have the bandwidth to do something else or you may need to reprioritize your schedule and activities. If you’re working late nights for your dream job or side hustle, it may mean you’re sacrificing time with friends or not able to cook every single meal. Or if you’re a new mother, it might mean you may have to cut back on work and workouts so you can heal, recover, and be present for your newborn child. And you shouldn’t have to feel guilty about it.
To me, more than seeking “balance”, it’s really important to ask yourself: What’s really important to me right now? What will bring me the most fulfillment and joy at this period of my life? What do I need right now physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally? Then prioritize your needs and find sustainable ways to make that work. I also think that your priorities are always changing and shifting throughout life and that we should appreciate and enjoy the process.
What does your current skincare routine look like?
I’ve experimented with a lot of different skincare products and k-beauty routines throughout my 20s and finally landed on my current routine. Even my fiancé uses all of my skincare products and his skin is glowing!
In the morning, I wash my face with Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser. I just love the smell and texture of it. Then I’ll gently dry my face with a towel, and spritz Caudalie Beauty Elixir all over my face, which instantly wakes me up. Then I’ll pat myself with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence—it’s definitely a splurge, but I upgraded to it ever since I turned 30 and I can’t go back. I moisturize with Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Deep Hydration Serum, which feels amazing on my skin. Then it’s time for SPF. I’m very obsessive about using SPF these days. I absolutely love Supergoop! and all their products. Lately, I’m obsessed with Supergoop! Mineral Matte Sunscreen with SPF 40, which has this amazing tint and doubles as a primer. It slides beautifully on my skin, evens out my skin tone and blemishes, and just puts this beautiful dewy glow on my face. On days I’m outside more, I’ll layer and reapply Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen every few hours, especially around my cheeks.
At night, I’m religious about taking off my makeup. I get my lashes done, so I use Neutrogena Oil-Free Makeup Remover with a q tip around my eyes. I soak a cotton pad with Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water Makeup Remover and gently wipe off my makeup. Then, I’ll jump into the shower and cleanse my face with Milky Jelly Cleanser. Sometimes when I’m breaking out from stress or lack of sleep, I’ll use the smallest amount of sodium sulfacetamide & sulfur wash. I got it prescribed to me by my dermatologist a few years ago when I randomly broke out from adult acne.
After showering, I’ll do the same steps as my morning routine except for no sunscreen. Then I’ll do a layer of Mizon All in One Snail Repair Cream on my face and finally put Shiseido Intensive Eye Contour Cream under my eyes. When I have a pimple, I’ll dab some Tretinoin Cream on it. It’s drying so you need to use it in very small amounts, but it works. In the winters, I’ll add a layer of night cream on top, although I’m still searching for the perfect night cream.
I love treating myself with facemasks 1-2 times a week. I’ll light a candle, get cozy with a calming drink, and catch up on my favorite shows. It feels so luxurious. I’m always experimenting with a lot of masks–the latest I tried was the Superfood Skin Reset Antioxidant Mask from Youth to the People and Wander Beauty Baggage Claim Gold Eye Masks. My go-to, most trusted favorites I swear by are SK-II Facial Treatment Masks and Shiseido Retinol Express Smoothing Eye Masks.
The older I get, I also find that managing my stress levels, eating the right diet for my gut, getting regular exercise, and trying to get 7-8 hours of sleep regularly has a huge impact on my skin. So when I break out or my skin looks dull, it’s often a sign that I need to adjust one of those things in my life.
What daily routines or rituals do you follow for your own wellbeing?
Omg, so many! So much of what I do is centered around my wellbeing, whether it’s my mental health, emotional health, physical health, or mindset. Because at the end of the day, when I feel amazing in my own skin, I’m a better partner, business owner, friend, and overall a happier person to be around.
Working out is a huge part of my wellness routine. I feel my best physically, emotionally, and mentally when I exercise 4-5 times a week. Even if I miss 2-3 days, I immediately notice a dip in my mood, focus, and energy levels, and I start feeling more anxious. I usually go to CKO kickboxing 3-4 times a week with my fiancé, which is an insanely good workout for the mind and body, and I love that it’s something we do together. I also started doing more Kayla Itsines’ workouts at home with weights. I love that just 30 minutes of exercise can dramatically change my outlook and help me feel stronger and sharper.
I’m also a big believer in developing, protecting, and strengthening your mindset for your wellbeing and happiness. I’m always working on developing a growth mindset and actively working on eliminating negative self-talk and limiting beliefs. Whenever I start feeling overwhelmed or anxious, I regularly journal in my yellow notes or on loose paper. It’s very freeform–but I’ll start by writing down what I’m grateful for, which gets me in a state of gratitude. Then I’ll start writing down my worries, negative self-talk, and limiting beliefs. It really helps to write it down and acknowledge these beliefs and emotions, as uncomfortable as they may be. Then I’ll reframe each problem and rewrite the story that I’m telling myself. Once I’m in an open and empowered mindset, I’ll start writing down small actionable steps I can take to overcome any problems or anxieties. This has been a game-changing ritual for my mental and emotional wellbeing.
I tend to have the most anxiety when I first wake up, so it’s super important that I start my day with the right rituals. I always make my bed, and immediately start playing an inspiring podcast as I get ready and make my breakfast and morning concoctions. I’ve lately been obsessed with Ed Mylett’s podcasts—he has this incredible energy and so many amazing tactical steps and strategies on changing your mindset and reaching your full potential. It instantly gets me in the right positive mindset. What also helps me is not scrolling through social media first thing in the morning and setting boundaries on how often I use it. I found that the constant mindless scrolling was making me more anxious and distracting me from my own goals and happiness, so I try to use it mindfully and check-in only a few times later in the day during breaks.
I also swear by using plant-based ingredients and natural supplements to boost my daily energy levels, stamina, focus, and overall wellbeing. I always start the morning with a morning concoction spiked with superfoods and adaptogens. During the week I’ll typically do a latte or matcha with Wylde One Brain Buzz or Supertonic Energy, collagen, and MCT oil to help boost my focus and productivity. During the weekends, I’ll do a latte with Wylde One Immune Shrooms to help nourish my adrenals. Before my high-intensity workouts, I also drink a plant-based pre-workout energizer, which helps me push harder and maximize my workouts. At night, I tend to have a hard time shutting off my brain, so I take Magnesium Calm 30 minutes to an hour before I’m heading to sleep. I found that it really helps turn off my brain, relax my muscles after my workouts, and get deeper, more restful sleep.
Another big thing for me is constantly prioritizing and saying no to things I don’t have the bandwidth for. As women, we have a tendency to want to do everything and please everyone, so we overload our plate and have a hard time saying no, even when our gut and calendar says no. But that only leads to burnout, exhaustion, and resentment. I’m always re-evaluating my goals and priorities, so I can spend my time creating what I love and doing things that bring me the most joy and fulfillment.
What do you love most about yourself?
I love the passion, curiosity, and drive I have for life. I get very obsessive about things I’m interested in, to the point where people around me think I’m a little nuts and don’t understand me–but I think it’s one of my biggest superpowers. I love that I’m always challenging myself and growing as a person.
Looking for more interviews with our favorite ladies in wellness? Check out our chats with:
Copina Connect: Angie of Healthful Radiance
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