Dr. Barbara Sturm’s AM/PM routine

…or, more likely, am woken up by Pepper, my six-year-old daughter, we have a cuddle and then I go to the bathroom, brush my teeth and, even before my first coffee, I put on a face mask. Then, with the mask on, I make a latte with soya milk and check my emails and messages.

…especially when I’m in different climates and my skin needs extra care. After my shower, I use my Hyaluronic Serum and Anti-Pollution Drops. I’ve also recently started using the Balancing Toner, as I’ve found it’s really good for treating the skin after wearing a face covering. I wasn’t that interested in it for myself beforehand, but it corrects the skin’s pH and microbiome, and it hydrates. I find it’s good to keep my skin feeling healthy and comfortable when wearing a face mask all day.

I’ve only just started to use an eye cream; I never did before, but it does make all the difference with the lines. I’m so lazy and I want to be done in two minutes, but if you want to see benefits, you have to use the products. I don’t wear makeup, but if I’m doing filming or Zoom calls, I use concealer to look fresher, but no foundation – it’s not my cup of tea.

…and get the blood flowing, and I body-brush twice a week. I’m not someone who uses a body lotion every day, which is why I formulated my Anti-Aging Body Cream, as you don’t need to use it every time you take a shower. I use it every three days and that’s enough for me. I’ve been working on other body products, so I’m always trying my lab samples in the shower, but I do like the Ligne St Barth Shower Cream, which contains coconut oil.

…starting with my Skin Food and Repair Food with breakfast, as I have a sensitive stomach. Other supplements I take are vitamin D, 1000mg of vitamin C twice a day, zinc and selenium.

…I do a headstand and then use my face mask for a total skin, mind and body refresh. I never really look puffy, but if you do, it’s easy to do a lymph-drainage massage on yourself: massage behind your ears and the sides of the neck and then do 50 gentle little strokes from the side of the nose out to the side of the face, and then from the temples down to the side of the neck – it drains away the puffiness. I also use tea bags or spoons that have been chilled in the fridge under my eyes. If you are prone to morning puffiness, try drinking less water before bed and during the night, and sleep propped up on a bigger pillow.

…but recently I’ve been doing the Melissa Wood Health Method with my daughter Charley. We do 30 minutes every day; it’s easy to follow and uses a mix of yoga and Pilates to work the core and your posture. I don’t like workouts that give you crazy muscles; I prefer to be firm and toned. We also do hikes and swim, and I love to play tennis and do sports.

…because I just didn’t want to eat meat anymore, and now I’m super-healthy in what I eat and follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Recently I went to the Viva Mayr clinic in Austria for 10 days and I did the kinesiology testing, as I have always had issues with pain from a stressed stomach. They found out I had problems with gluten, histamine and dairy. I was eating lots of tomatoes, avocados and spinach, and now that I’ve cut them out, my stomach pains have totally gone. I’m not super-crazy about being gluten-free and I do eat normal bread, I just don’t overdo it. As with everything, it’s about not being extreme.

…was from my parents. They taught me to be kind and respectful to others, to keep both feet on the ground and to be grateful. It’s what I have taught both my daughters.

…but I’m occupied with my job 24/7 and I’m on calls or Zoom. I wish I could have the time just to meditate. The most I do is use my Enzyme Cleanser in the shower.

…and we had a pop-up event in LA where one of my aestheticians did this incredible lifting facial. Before I had my makeup done, I used my Face Mask, Hyaluronic Serum and Face Cream, and then I had my eyes made up, plus some bronzing powder, a little contouring and concealer. I loved it – I looked so good!

…and I like to add a whole gallon of full-fat milk to the bath water. It makes your skin so soft and very hydrated. Once, when she was very small, she was playing with some perfume and put it all over her face and her skin went bright red. I bathed her in milk and by morning it was all gone.

…but I don’t drink water late at night in case I have to get up to go to the bathroom – because, if I’m awake, I know that my mind will start racing.

…is a lip balm, as it’s the last thing you put on at night, and a copy of J. Krishnamurti’s Freedom From the Known. Often, I just read one page, as it always takes my mind away from other things.

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