Erno Laszlo Blogs

We sat down with our Packaging Sourcing & Development Coordinator Hillary Tumbali; she is passionate about Sustainability and creating a better planet. Hillary speaks about her tips to leading a more sustainable lifestyle and the steps Erno Laszlo is taking to continue our sustainability mission. Tell Us More About Your Role as the Package Sourcing Development Coordinator?  I’ve been working as the Package Sourcing and Development coordinator for Erno Laszlo for about 10 months (prior to this, I was the Operations Intern). I still work under Operations and work closely with our Creative team and New Product Development team to launch new products. My job is focused on developing and sourcing our packaging, from the jars to the boxes they come in.  How has Your Role Involved in the Process Of Transitioning Our Products to Become Clean & Sustainable?    The other part of my role, in which I work with our COO and rest of the EL team, is coordinating our sustainability initiatives. I track sustainability trends by looking at new product launches, packaging innovations, and new business strategies, not only in the beauty realm but also from other categories like food & beverage and household products, all under the CPG umbrella. In addition to tracking trends, I support in executing and transitioning our products into more sustainable packaging. This packaging transition is in tandem with our clean formula transition as we saw it would be more operationally efficient to improve our formulas and packaging simultaneously.   What Have you Learned During the Sustainability Process?  Unfortunately, there isn’t a silver bullet that will undo climate change and its lasting effects. It’s imperative that companies be more transparent about where they are in this journey.   I think the biggest lesson learned during this whole process is that sustainability is truly a journey.   Companies must examine and evaluate their current strategies: if there are any operational inefficiencies or risks that taking on a sustainability strategy can improve or mitigate. As more knowledge and innovations that improve our environmental impact, companies must keep an eye out and adjust accordingly.   On the other hand, consumers must adapt to the shift in appearance or learn new processes. Since consumers’ wants drive what companies produce, we have to shift our expectations, specifically what we expect luxury beauty should look like. Within the beauty industry, including Erno Laszlo, an effective formula is the key driver. It is what we truly invest in as a science-led brand so there may be trade-offs with our packaging as we move into more sustainable solutions.  Why is it Important for Brands to Become Sustainable in the Beauty Industry?   The beauty industry is a large contributor to GHG emissions and land and water pollution. All these issues stem from the considerable amount of plastic produced annually. Particularly in the beauty industry, we create a lot of waste, specifically in the form of plastic. According to Euromonitor International, about 7.9 billion units in 2018 were produced for beauty and personal care.   If we do not act fast, we may not have the resources to create our products or the customer base. To maintain the world we live in and slow down the climate destabilization as much as possible, brands must include sustainability into their ethos and claim responsibility. This sentiment must trickle down from the higher ranks, your C-suite, into the rest of the company. In our case, EL’s executive team and our CEO specifically have called for the change and continuously are supporting the initiative. We are doing our best to not greenwash and be as transparent as possible.  We are proud to join the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s call for the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging, together with +150 leading businesses and organizations. We need a circular economy for packaging, in which it never becomes waste or pollution. Packaging that cannot be eliminated or reused must be kept in circulation - in the economy, out of the environment. For this to happen, we need dedicated, ongoing and sufficient funding for collection, sorting and recycling. EPR is the only proven and likely way to achieve this, and prevent tens of millions of tons of packaging from ending up in the environment every year. We are ready to step up and be part of the solution. Read the full statement: plastics.emf.org/EP  Tell Us About Our Partnership with Ellen MacArthur Foundation. What is the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment? The Ellen MacArthur Foundation aims to accelerate the transition to the circular economy. The circular economy offers a positive way forward by redefining growth to focus on society-wide benefits. Such an economy is built on three principles: design out waste and pollution, keep products and materials in use, and regenerate natural systems. This system will replace the current ‘take-make-waste’ extractive industrial model, which is inherently wasteful and relies on the consumption of finite resources. In 2018, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with the UN Environment launched the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, which targets to address plastic waste and pollution at its source. Signatories must commit to a set of ambitious targets by 2025 that aim to eliminate unnecessary plastic items, create plastic that can be safely reused, recycled, or composted, and circulate all materials to keep in the economy and out of the environment. In December 2019, we became a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, based on guidance from Better Future Factory, a sustainability design agency. Together, we established key milestones and tasks to help Erno Laszlo become compliant by 2025. Our Global Commitment that has been updated as of July 2021 can be found here. If you would like to know more about the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and the New Plastics Economy initiative, please click on the links below: ellenmacarthurfoundation.org newplasticseconomy.org @circulareconomy How is Erno Laszlo Changing Their Products to be Sustainable?   After walking through the results of a plastics scan, which BFF conducted, we noticed some of our products contain unrecyclable plastic and contained excessive plastic weight. From there, we moved forward with a simplistic approach: concentrating on the removal of unnecessary packaging, light-weighting the remaining packaging, and looking for alternative packages in more likely to be recycled plastics. Some highlights listed below: (More information listed in our Global Commitment).  Firstly, we removed our famous but infamous soap dishes that were made of ABS, an unrecyclable plastic. Our soap bars are now wrapped in parchment and Post-Consumer Waste FSC carton.   The second initiative for us to remove single-use packets for sampling. Sample sachets currently do make up a large portion of the beauty industry’s waste. (Unfortunately, we still do have sachets in our line, housing our pink powder in VTM/ HTSVT and our Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask. More information in next question.)   As for the rest of our plastic packaging, we wanted to ensure that we were using plastics that had an accessible and established recycling stream. We opted to only use packaging with PET, PP. and PE. We defined these as our “good plastics” and other plastic resins as “sin plastics”. Therefore, consumers can comfortably throw their packages into their recycling bin, knowing that it will end up at their local MRF.  Along with our plastics, we looked at our secondary packaging: we right-sized cartons instead of leaving it enlarged, removed leaflets, and moved into Post-Consumer Waste FSC paperboard.   What are Some Other Sustainable Initiatives that are in the Works?   One challenge we saw with an item were the pink powder sachets and Multi-Task Eye Serum Masks, which I mentioned above. However, we are working with Better Future Factory to find the best alternative material that is recyclable to replace the multi-layered foil sachets. Specific challenges come with finding the optimal material that has a sufficient moisture and oxygen barrier to protect the product.   Another challenge came with finding an all-plastic pump because there were no pumps commercialized that fit our bill. The metal springs in most pumps make it not recyclable. So unfortunately, our cleansing oil pumps need to be screwed off from their bottle and thrown into the trash or reused!  Hopefully, in the near future, we will soon have an all-plastic pump as we have found some options that need to be tested with our cleansers. However, we do have new serum products coming out that will include a pump with a rubber valve rather than a metal spring and made of one material, so it will be an easy toss in the recycling bin for all consumers.  In addition to those challenges, we are looking into continuously improve the sustainability of our packaging like including post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR plastic) along with designing and sourcing refillable packages to reduce our production of virgin plastic.  Most importantly, to attain circularity and account for the materials we produce, we are starting a take-back program in September, which is super exciting! (Def look out for that!) Erno Laszlo customers are going to be able to return empty products to us in the coming months. With all the packages returned, they will be sorted, shredded, and melted down to create new plastic pellets for us to reuse in packaging or upcycle. What are the Top 3 Facts you Learned?   A sad number fact: in the US, about 14% of plastic is recycled. The rest goes to the landfill :( If we are going at the same rate, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. So, it’s imperative that we as an industry and consumers change our strategies and habits. (Source: Containers and Packaging: Product-Specific Data | Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling | US EPA)  Wish-cycling is throwing things into your recycling bin without knowing for certain that it is recyclable. Pay attention to what you're throwing into the recycling bin versus the trash bin and compost bin. Wish-cycling is actually very harmful because recycling things like your sachets, which is trash, will disrupt the recycling process at your local recycling facility. When recycling facilities sort, in some cases, if they find trash in one batch, that piece of trash is thought to contaminate the rest of the batch. So rather than one item thrown away, a bulk is thrown in to the landfill and thus creates more waste & pollution. Other unrecyclable items include multi-layered plastic tubes and other daily items like plastic bags, yogurt cups, pizza boxes. Best practice to follow the brand’s disposal instructions or check your local recycling facility. If not, throw it out. (What Is Recycling & What to Recycle | Waste Management (wm.com))  Another interesting fact is that darker colored plastics are not easily detectable at recycling facilities because some MRF (material recovery facilities) use infrared sensors to identify and sort the plastic resins. So unfortunately, our existing black caps currently may not be recycled, and that is why we are looking for options like using black identifiers to signal to the recycling facility. I’ve seen another company, Sprite transition into clear bottles rather than their famous green bottles for this very reason. (Sprite bottles are going clear to make them easier to recycle (fastcompany.com))  What are Some Other Tips and Tricks you can Integrate into Your Skincare Routine to Become More Sustainable?    Remove make up wipes from your routine. These wipes cause a lot of waste. Move into the popular Erno Laszlo double cleanse method to completely remove all the gunk from your face. Start with an oil-based cleanser like our Detox Cleansing Oil and finish off with a water-based cleanser like our Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar.  Look into buying reusable cotton pads and swabs over their single-use counterparts. I have transitioned into reasonable cotton rounds, specifically when I use an exfoliating toner. Once I finish using my set, I throw them into the wash with other laundry. And honestly, with more hydrating toners, I just use my hands to press it into my face (pro tip because you don’t waste product). I also am looking at buying reusable cotton swabs to use for spot treatments.  A small tip, aim to use the little spatulas that come with creams, like our Phelityl Night Cream. Use it with other creams or serums, instead of throwing it away, especially if you like to keep your creams sanitary.   Reuse sample/ smaller packages as travel size products. Instead of throwing away your sample products or smaller bottles and jars, keep them for any of your future travels. I either pour from the full-size into the small size or any other products as well. I actually just did this for a weekend staycation: I took our VTM vials and filled one each for my shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. It fits great into my travel bag and I didn’t have to spend extra money on travel sizes.  Repurpose/ upcycle your packages out of your skin care routine. Before disposing of your package, think of other ways you can upcycle or bring it new life. (Same goes for candles!) I've seen some creators on Tik Tok refurbishing their jars and decorating them to be little pots for their plants. Others have repurposed them to store little pins or rubber bands. Others love the beautiful luxury packaging too much and just use to hold their jewelry.   If you finished your product but don’t know how to recycle it, collect all your empties and bring it into Nordstrom. Nordstrom has partnered with Terracycle to establish Beautycycle.  For unfinished products, try to: 1) give it away to a friend 2) donate to Project Beauty Share 3) try it on your body or hands. Products, especially like our creams and moisturizers, are safe to try on your arms and hands. Two people from our EL family have reported Phelityl Night Cream and Phelityl Day Lotion SPF 15 are wonderful hand creams. Best practice is to extend a product’s life cycle rather than throwing it away into the trash.    More Resources to Learn About Sustainability!  What Is the circular economy? (ellenmacarthurfoundation.org) – Ellen MacArthur Foundation, great website for learning about the circular economy  Packaging, the beauty industry’s news arms race – interesting article concerning luxe packaging and the sustainable solutions  Impact | Fast Company – news on innovations and business ESG strategies  Instagram accounts:   @theslowfactory  @nyczerowaste  @sustainthemag  Super informative Podcast on Sustainability:  How to Save a Planet with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Alex Blumberg  The Energy Gang  Green Dreamer    Photo 5, courtesy of Garbo Glassware Photo 9, courtesy of Ellen Macarthur Foundation

Life’s been crazy. You’ve been going non-stop, and it’s all starting to catch up with you. With your mind and thoughts constantly racing, struggling to switch off, your skin’s showing signs of fatigue and one too many late nights.  You need a break - a moment to give both your skin and mind some well-deserved rest and recuperation. Does that sound eerily familiar? I’ve mentioned before that I love using my skincare as a window into my mental health.   Taking time each day for some much-needed self-care is crucial.  Combining mindfulness practice with your skincare routine makes it so much easier to carve out time in your day to check in with yourself, allowing you to nurture and nourish your skin and soul simultaneously. Making this part of your skincare routine significantly boosts your chances of actually fitting it in. Rather than following a strict schedule of twenty minutes a day or five times a week, this doesn’t need to be a big undertaking or commitment. And there’s something empowering about this more low-maintenance, everyday approach to mindfulness. It’s why I’m so thrilled to see Erno Laszlo release their incredible VTM Micro-Essence - the newest member of the VTM family. This is the perfect pairing for those mindful, skin-care moments we can all benefit so greatly from, and I can’t wait to share why I love it so much already! VTM Micro-Essence A restorative essence lotion, Erno Laszlo’s VTM Micro-Essence is brilliant for boosting radiance, energizing and purifying your skin. It keeps you looking and feeling your best, having been shown to improve skin tone and texture over time. Its microfluidic technology means there are thousands of encapsulated oil droplets floating in the clear gel. As soon as the product touches your skin, the release of meadowfoam and raspberry oil gives you the cool rush of weightless hydration alongside the nourishment of an oil serum.  Other ingredients include Madonna Lily for balancing aging and uneven skin that’s been damaged by UV rays, marine extract to perfect pores and reduce texture, and a multi-mineral complex for rejuvenating tired skin. Hungarian Facial Mindfulness Massage So how do you get the very best out of this incredible product? I’ll let you in on a little secret: all you need is 60 seconds to indulge in a full sensorial experience.  I love this technique because the relaxing massage helps to ground me in the present moment, the structured breathing calms my nervous system and quiets any racing thoughts, and the beautiful texture of the product leaves my skin feeling hydrated and replenished. Here’s a quick step-by-step on how you can perform a Hungarian Facial Mindfulness Massage at home in just a minute: 1. Warm some VTM Micro-Essence between your fingers. 2. Take a deep inhale. 3. Gently press the product all over your skin. 4. Take a deep exhale. 5. Repeat this a few more times. 6. Take a deep inhale. 7. Gently slide your hands in a downwards motion across your face. 8. Take a deep exhale. 9. Take a deep inhale. 10. Gently slide your hands in an upwards motion across your face. 11. Take a deep exhale. 12. Take a deep inhale. 13. Gently tap your fingers around your skin, going upwards from your jawline and downwards from your forehead. 14. Take a deep exhale. And there you have it - a quick yet indulgent way to treat your mind and skin to some much-needed TLC!  I wholeheartedly recommend you add it to your routine and see what wonders it works for you. If you do give it a try, I’d love to hear about your experience. With love,  PoppyFounder of @happynotperfect  and Not Perfect Podcast with Poppy Jami‪e‬

The temperature’s rising, we’re spending more time outside, and the sun’s finally starting to show itself. Summer is coming and we should be thrilled about it. But there’s also the niggling worry of what negative impacts the sun might be having on our health.  Is the Sun Our Best Friend or Our Worst Enemy? There’s so much conflicting advice out there - that we should spend as much time as possible soaking up the sun for its valuable nutrients, that we should avoid direct sunlight at all costs to protect ourselves from its damage, that we should be striking a perfect balance between the two. Quite frankly, it’s confusing. The Sun on Our Health The list of benefits our bodies get from sunlight is impressive: from more happy hormones and lower stress levels to a boosted immune system. And nearly all roads lead back to Vitamin D. The sun's rays help our bodies make this powerful nutrient and it can work wonders for our health and wellbeing. 1 billion people worldwide suffer from a vitamin D deficiency, while 50% of the population has an insufficiency. Since it isn’t always readily available in our diet, 50-90% of our vitamin D must come from direct sunlight. Let’s look at some of the core health benefits of sunlight and vitamin D: Sunlight increases serotonin levels, boosting our mood and promoting calmness and positivity. It supports our immune system, potentially reducing our susceptibility to illnesses. The sun has been suggested to shrink fat cells and aid in weight loss. Early morning sunlight has been linked to higher quality sleep. Vitamin D improves the uptake of calcium and phosphorous in our gut, leading to strong and healthy bones. Low Vitamin D levels have been linked to osteoporosis, cancer, and depression, amongst other health issues. And keep in mind that this list is by no means complete! Essentially, spending time in the sun can be critical for our health. But how long should we be spending soaking it up? Scientists suggest the optimum dosage of sunlight is 5 to 15 minutes - going up to 30 if you’re dark-skinned. You can obviously stay out in longer doses, so long as you’re taking the necessary precautions. The Sun on Our Skin It’s no secret that, while good for us in many ways, too much sun can also be detrimental to our health. Sun-damaged skin basically means the top layer of your skin cells are damaged. And this increases your chances of skin cancer, worsens its quality and complexion, and speeds up the aging process, meaning more wrinkles, leathery texture, and dark spots.  So, What’s the Solution?  Strike a balance. We should be able to open ourselves up to all the incredible health benefits being out in the sun can give us, while also protecting our skin as much as possible.  It’s time to find yourself a really good SPF.  My personal favourite is Erno Laszlo’s Firmarine Moisturizer SPF 30. I can put it underneath my makeup and not only does it make for a great base, but it protects my skin while also repairing it.  Its ingredients include Spirulina Maxima - a blue-green algae that’s rich in iron, amino acids, and essential minerals - that works to repair the skin. And the sea water helps draw out toxins for a rejuvenated, healthier-looking complexion. All of this on top of protection from the sun’s UV rays! We all want to get out there and enjoy the sunshine, boosting our wellbeing, mental health, and happiness. While it’s critical to look after our skin, doing all we can to prevent the harmful effects of the sun’s rays, it doesn’t have to be a pain or stop us from enjoying ourselves. Happy (almost) summer, everyone! With love, PoppyFounder of @happynotperfect  and Not Perfect Podcast with Poppy Jami‪e‬  

Poppy Jamie, Author of 'Happy Not Perfect,' interviews with 'Cheddar Wellness' to discuss how to apply the FLEX method to turn your thoughts from negative to positive, and tips for embarking on your journey towards self help.@ PoppyJamie@ HappyNotPerfect

We all have an inner critic who plagues our minds with doubts, constantly reminding us of our worries and deepest darkest fears. This inner critic also has a habit of repeating every mean thing you’ve ever been told at the most inconvenient moments… like just before you’re about to give a presentation, before an important job interview, when you’re on a first date, or at 3AM when you’re desperately trying to get a good night's sleep. Some people like to call this devil inside the “ego” but I actually advise people to name this voice a proper name. For example, I’ve appropriately called my inner critic, Regina, based on Regina George from the film, Mean Girls. My friend has named hers Maureen, and another Petunia after the character from Harry Potter.  One thing’s for certain, you do not need to be dictated by this mean voice. You wouldn’t dream of treating a friend in the same way. You instead boost them up, try to lift their spirits and remind them of all their talents when they’re having a bad day. So it’s important that you start treating yourself with the same kindness. Think about how your health and skin would improve if you became better at listening to your body’s signals and started responding with love and compassion. When you are kinder to yourself, you glow from the inside out!   As Roald Dahl wrote — 'If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.' Check out my 5 top tips on how to become a kinder you: 1. Get Curious  When you hear that inner meanie niggling at you, ask yourself these four questions from the wonderful and inspiring thought leader and author Bryon Katie.  Is this thought true?  Can I be 100% sure it’s true?  When believing this thought, how does it make me feel?  Who would I be without this thought?  By getting curious and asking ourselves those four questions, you will quickly begin to see that the majority of critical thoughts we have are in fact not true. 2. Forgive Yourself Often We are all guilty of blaming ourselves for things we said, could have done or should have done “better”. The woulda, shoulda, coulda’s are all self critical thoughts that keep us trapped in the past. Practice self forgiveness and remember Maya Angelou’s quote, “when you know better, you do better”. Remembering we’re only human and can only do the best we can and it’s inevitable that we will make mistakes, releases a lot of pressure. Forgive, forgive, forgive, and free yourself from a past that you cannot change. You forgive friends when they mess up, so don’t you think it’s time to forgive yourself? 3. Write a Grateful Diary to Yourself  It is too easy to find faults in yourself, our minds are constantly being interrupted with thoughts like: ‘I don’t like my ears… or the way my hair curls, or my chubby ankles’. It’s time to put a stop to the constant critical commentary about the way you look. Start writing a daily gratitude ritual for yourself. Begin your day noting down three things you like about yourself and it’s amazing how impactful this is in changing the relationship you have with yourself. Self respect starts with self appreciation.  4. Move Your Body  You will always feel better once your body has had an opportunity to move. I always say an outside GLOW starts from within and our physical health. Put self care at the top of your to do list even when you don’t think you have time for it. Women are notoriously bad at neglecting themselves and relegating their health needs to the bottom in service of others. Start being kinder to yourself by looking after your body and setting aside time to do this. You only have one. 4. Celebrate Yourself  Celebrate the small wins often. Have you finished the washing up and managed to squeeze in a work call? High five yourself for every little achievement no matter the importance. Being your own cheerleader means becoming your own source of encouragement and enthusiasm when you’re faced with challenges. By marking all your accomplishments throughout the day, from washing your hair to securing a work promotion, your brain will start releasing more feel-good endorphins. This becomes a snowball effect and quickly, you’ll have even more energy to achieve more. Go get em!  Please let me know how you get on with incorporating these tips into your day. Everytime I take time out to Double-Cleanse and use my Erno Laszlo Hydraphel Skin Supplement, it is like a daily sprinkle of kindness to my skin! Having a skincare routine like the one Erno Laszlo created is like a ritual of kindness in itself. Invest in your skin and show yourself you deserve it! You do!  Big kiss,  Poppy Founder of @happynotperfect  and Not Perfect Podcast with Poppy Jami‪e‬

Great skin doesn’t happen just because you’ve found the perfect moisturizer - though that obviously helps! Radiant skin is an inside out, outside in process. Everything you put into your body makes a difference.  Just compare your skin on a dehydrated, hungover day to a morning after 8 glorious hours of sleep. It’s night and day. This is why we need to take a more 360-degree, holistic approach to our skin, paying attention to the mental, physical, and everything else in between. Nutrition and hydration impact the quality of our skin, but an idea less explored is how our mental health and thoughts affect the glow factor of our face.  Your mindset and skin are more interlinked than you might realise... Mind and Skin - What’s the Connection?   This connection comes down to a key hormone called cortisol. Cortisol forms a crucial part of our fight-or-flight response, increasing energy, repairing tissue, and halting non-essential bodily functions.  Cortisol is good when it’s regulated. But if we’re struggling with our mental health, battling chronic stress or anxiety, cortisol production dials up to 11.  When we’re stressed, we pump out a load of excess cortisol. It’s like a panic button; suddenly, our body increases oil production from our skin’s sebaceous glands, clogging pores and causing breakouts. It speeds up the ageing process and can heighten issues such as rosacea or psoriasis. So stress inevitably leads to bad skin. Now we know this, it’s our secret weapon. We can use our skin as a mechanism for better caring for our mind - and vice versa. I've spent the past five years campaigning for better mental health education, creating tools to help millions globally care for their minds better. More and more, I’ve realised the crucial part skin plays in this conversation. It can be a great motivator to help us care for the unseen mind. Regularly making time to slow down and look after your skin can help carve out equally critical time to check in with your thoughts. Emotion Regulation Think about how your face feels when you’re really angry. Is it scrunched up? How about when you’re stressed? Do you touch your face more when you’re nervous or apprehensive? This only promotes the transfer of bacteria across your face and results in even more breakouts. When we’re happy, we do the opposite. In the good times, when we can’t stop laughing and smiling, we’re exercising our face muscles in the right way. Our emotions just radiate from our faces. The happier and more regulated you are, the happier your skin will be too. If we can better regulate our emotions - such as by using the FLEX method in my book, Happy, Not Perfect - we’re more equipped to manage high-stress situations. We improve our mental health management and help our skin look even better in the process. A Case for Reconnecting Our Mind and Skin When we feel stressed and are struggling mentally, we often just push through. We ride the wave and keep going because “it’ll pass eventually”. Yet, when we have really bad skin, we immediately do something about it. It’s because our skin is visible. The problem is staring back at us every day. What we fail to realise is that taking care of our minds and mental health is in its own way taking care of our skin, too. If we’re taking care of ourselves, we’re more likely to be emotionally balanced and have regular cortisol levels. Less cortisol, less spots. Not to mention that eating healthier, drinking more water, and getting enough sleep and exercise as habits in and of themselves can boost our skin’s appearance. Let’s take sleep as an example. Studies suggest chronic poor sleep quality is linked to ageing, diminished skin barrier function, and lower satisfaction with our appearance. Sleep deprivation affects blood flow to your face, resulting in a duller complexion and boosting inflammation.  A study carried out by the University of York found that sleep-deprived participants also experienced a 50% increase in unwanted thoughts. And like we saw earlier, this dip in mental health in turn can trigger unwanted effects on our skin. So it’s important to grab every morsel of sleep you can! Keep yourself hydrated, get outside for daily exercise, watch your sugar intake. All of these will make for a healthier mind, and much happier skin. How to Reconnect When I first began to explore this theme, I stumbled upon Dr. Erno Laszlo’s incredible work in the 1920s. He was one of the first pioneering doctors to encourage clients to embrace mindfulness in their pursuit for better skin. And his advocacy for the mind-skin connection is still revolutionary nearly 100 years later.  Challenging skin can be an incredible reminder to slow down and commit to our mindfulness practice.  In his work with Marilyn Monroe, Laszlo suggested she go for a walk every day to accompany her skincare routine. Why not try it? Get outside and take three deep breaths to relax your nervous system. Being outside in green space has been shown to reduce levels of cortisol - meaning less stress, reduced inflammation, and fewer breakouts.  Slow Down Your Skin Care Routine  We all know mindfulness can be really difficult to stick to. So use your skin as a much-needed window into your mental health. Making more time for your skin regimen can carve out some much-needed space for mindfulness and meditation. At night, use your skin care routine as an opportunity to really slow down and indulge. Take that moment purely for yourself. Shut the bathroom door and leave all your daily stressors and distractions outside. Massage the products in. Notice how everything feels - the fingers on your face, the water splashing against you. Take deep breaths as you go.  Whenever I massage in the Erno Laszlo Firming Cream with Spirulina, I make a special effort to smell the light tones and use them to relax me deeper into the moment. At night, the smell of the Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask is divine, while the putty-like consistency feels like pure indulgence on my skin. This is something I implore you all to try ASAP. Use your face mask moments as an opportunity to introduce twenty minutes of extra meditation in a week. For so many years, I thought that putting on a face mask was a treat best saved for special occasions. But now I make an effort to connect that treat for my skin with some downtime for my mind. What I LOVE about connecting mindful moments with skin care is that by hooking new habits onto activities we already do, we're far more likely to remember and stick with them.  This is really just scratching the surface of the relationship between our mind and skin. Erno Laszlo and I are both passionate about connecting skin health and mental health so everyone can look and feel their best. And remember, self-care is selfless. When we feel better about ourselves, we’re more relaxed, our energy and emotions are contagious, and everyone around us benefits too.  Stay tuned, because over the coming months, we have so many exciting announcements in this psycho-cosmetology space. Our mission is to be your partner for life, helping you glow from the inside and out!  With love,  PoppyFounder of @happynotperfect  and Not Perfect Podcast with Poppy Jami‪e‬

Erno Laszlo Debuts Carina Lau as Global Brand Spokesperson The brand introduces its latest icon with a "legendary" new partnership Erno Laszlo has always believed in the power of legends. When Dr. Laszlo founded the line in 1927, he pioneered a scientific approach to formulating life changing products with bespoke prescriptions for icons including Marilyn Monroe, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Greta Garbo and Audrey Hepburn among others. Nearly a century later, to mark International Women’s Month, Erno Laszlo is announcing a new legend to its roster with Chinese movie star, Carina Lau, serving as its first ever Global Spokesperson. In her extraordinary life both on and off the screen, Ms. Lau has greatly influenced the movie industry through continuously redefining what it means to be a resilient woman during her 30-year career. The partnership with Erno Laszlo is another chapter in her life as she continues to inspire women all over the world to overcome obstacles and believe they can follow their dreams and define their own destiny. It's a matter of public record that Ms. Lau experienced a deeply traumatic experience in the early 1990's which has demonstrated her resiliency over the course of her life. Four men were ordered to kidnap the actress after she refused to act in a movie. Ms. Lau feared for her life after being held at gunpoint and photographed naked. The photos were released in the media over a decade later, forcing Ms. Lau to relive the distressing experience. Ms. Lau’s ability to handle these extreme challenges with grace and dignity has inspired women who have also faced difficulties in their lives and added to her global appeal. “We spent some time searching for the right person to champion our values. After meeting with Carina Lau, the decision was easy. Ms. Lau represents true feminine power. She’s really a model for modern women everywhere. Her independent spirit and accomplishments in the face of adversity, mirror our belief that every woman can and should be encouraged to live their own legendary life,” said Charles Denton, Global CEO of Erno Laszlo. When discussing the new global spokesperson partnership, Ms. Lau said, “I have been using Erno Laszlo since 1997. I’m a loyal customer and love the results I get from using the rituals. To me, Erno Laszlo is like a best friend, always by my side. I am honored to work with this wonderful heritage brand to bring their message of confidence to women in China and all over the world." This strategic move also reflects Erno Laszlo’s commitment to growth in the Chinese market, which according to financial records, contributed to over 50% of Erno Laszlo’s global sales. “The partnership with Carina Lau demonstrates the brand’s acknowledgement of the influence of Chinese women and their increasingly multi-dimensional and diversified sense of conscious consumption. The partnership with Ms. Lau will further draw Chinese customers to the brand while also introducing Ms. Lau and her influence to the American market,” said Pamela Kruse, USA General Manager of Erno Laszlo. Carina Lau’s favorite products include the recently relaunched Vitality Treatment Mask, which she calls her “secret weapon on the red carpet,” and uses it before big events due to its ability to instantly smooth, hydrate and restore skin. Ms. Lau also carries the Multi-Task Eye Serum Mask in her bag no matter where she goes, as she applies the eye masks to relieve dark circles and eye strain and is a longtime fan of the Phormula 3-9 Repair Cream, initially created to help heal Marilyn Monroe’s appendix surgery scar, for the healing effect it has on irritated and sensitive skin. As Erno Laszlo looks into the future, the brand will continue to expand beyond the successful Vitality Treatment Mask to include an essence lotion under the same range this summer as well as debut the brand’s premium anti-aging Phormula 3-10 collection this fall. IG @ErnoLaszloNYC // FB @ErnoLaszlo Press Contact: Kristin Breen // Kristin.br@gmail.com About Carina Lau Carina Lau is a famous Chinese actress and singer with more than 30 years of experience. She began her acting career in TV, before pivoting to starring in films while in college. She has won Best Actress awards at Hong Kong's Film Awards and Mainland China's Golden Rooster Awards in addition to being nominated at the Cannes Film Festival and Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards. Ms. Lau is married to fellow Hong Kong actor, Tony Leung Chi-wai, who is involved in many charities, and frequently appears in the Hong Kong fashion scene. About Erno Laszlo A premium heritage skincare brand with a unique story since 1927. Founded by the father of modern skincare Dr. Erno Laszlo with a mission to support and encourage women in pursuing their life ambitions by providing science-based solutions that restored their skin to its optimum health. His pioneering approach to enabling self-care and confidence through customized skin rituals is trusted by icons of the past and present. Today Erno Laszlo is recognized for delivering proven results through clean science and a 360-lifestyle approach that addresses modern skincare wellness needs. The products are available internationally through leading department stores, e-tailors and through www.ernolaszlo.com. The company has consistently grown every year during the last decade and in 2020 recorded their most successful year, with over 70% of revenue being generated via e-commerce channels.

We’re the first to admit that ingredient labels can be difficult to navigate. So in the spirit of full transparency, here’s a list of our ingredients and the reasons why we use them in our formulations. As we continue to evolve and innovate we shall always ensure you have access to the best products. ALCOHOL The following products contain various cosmetic grade alcohol: Hydra-Therapy Refresh Infusion, Hydra-Therapy Memory Gel Sleep Mask, Phelityl Night Cream, Vitality Treatment Mask, Phormula 3-9 Eye Repair, Phormula 3-9 Repair Balm, Transphuse Day Serum, Light Controlling Toner, VTM Micro-Essence and Shake-It Tinted Treatment. ALUMINUM The following Erno Laszlo products contain compounds with aluminum: Phelityl Night Cream. DIMETHICONE The following Erno Laszlo products contain dimethicone: Hydra-Therapy Memory Gel Sleep Mask, Timeless Skin Serum, Phelityl Night Cream, Phormula 3-9 Eye Repair, Transphuse Day Serum and VTM Micro-Essence. FRAGRANCE The following Erno Laszlo products contain added fragrance: Phelityl Cleansing Bar, Phelityl Cream, Skin Supplement Essence, Phelityl Reviving Cream, Phelityl Reviving Essence, Shake-It Tinted Skin Treatment, Multi-Task Full-Circle Eye Serum Mask, Multi-Task Serum Eye Mask, Beyond SPF UV Defense Masque 30, Phormula 3-10 Essence Lotion, Phormula 3-10 Serum Concentrate, Hydra-Therapy Memory Gel Sleep Mask, Hydraphel Skin Supplement, Timeless Skin Serum, Hydra-Therapy Phelityl Cleansing Oil, Phormula 3-9 Eye Repair, Brightening Dual Phase Peel, Detox Cleansing Oil, Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar, Light Controlling Toner, Mattifying Gel Moisturizer, Phelityl Emulsion, VTM Cream-to-Foam Cleanser and VTM Micro-Essence. PALM OIL The following Erno Laszlo products use CSPO: Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar, Phelityl Cleansing Bar SYNTHETIC DYES/COLORANTS The following Erno Laszlo products contain various cosmetic colorant ingredients: Shake-It Tinted Skin Treatment,  Beyond SPF UV Defense Masque 30, Phelityl Cream, Skin Supplement Essence, Phelityl Reviving Cream, Phelityl Reviving Essence, Phelityl Cleansing Bar, Hydraphel Skin Supplement, Hydra-Therapy Refresh Infusion, Phelityl Night Cream, Vitality Treatment Mask, Hydra-Therapy Memory Gel Sleep Mask, Phormula 3-9 Repair Cream, Firming Essence, Transphuse Day Serum, Sea Mud Deep Cleansing Bar, Firming Eye Serum, VTM Cream-to-Foam Cleanser and VTM Micro-Essence. ANIMAL TESTING We have never tested our ingredients or final formulations on animals, and we have no intention of doing so in future. To ensure the efficacy of our products, every ingredient is carefully considered so that it meets our high standards of quality, safety and effectiveness. While we are committed to avoiding testing on animals, we acknowledge that in some jurisdictions both the formulations and ingredients may have been tested by government affiliates. We continue to lobby for change in these practices as we believe cosmetic industry has a responsibility to protect the well-being of animals. Our team in Shanghai meets regularly with the relevant government authorities and under the new China CSAR regulations there are specific criteria and guidelines that allow for certain qualifying products to be exempted from animal testing. We continue to work with our partners to meet all these guidelines and are confident that this collaborative approach will lead to a significant reduction in required government testing in the future.PREGNANCY DISCLAIMER If you are pregnant or nursing, we always recommend consulting your doctor first before making any changes to your skincare or cosmetic routine.