When it comes to beauty, wellness, or healthy aging – Melissa Meyers, AKA The Glow Girl – has become the go-to source for the latest tips and trends. Melissa’s vast experience stems from her background as a lifestyle expert and contributor for NBC’s Today and Weekend Today in New York, New York Live, Better.TV, Fox’s Good Day New York, and her own blog, The Glow Girl.

To get some inside insights from the go-to guru of beauty and wellness, we ran through a quick Q&A with Melissa to learn some of her best beauty tips and learn of the wellness trends to set our sights on in 2021.

Q: What are you top three beauty supplements? 

A: I like to take Biotin for hair and nails, Vitamin C for healthy collagen and glowing skin, and a probiotic for weight management support.

Q: What advice do you have for our readers looking to promote healthy aging? 

A: It’s not about doing one thing—I think it takes several daily rituals to help age well. Consistency is key. Find a healthy diet plan that works best for you that is high in fiber. For me, a Mediterranean diet that consists of mostly fresh vegetables, salads and fish works well for weight management. If you eat meat (I do), make sure it’s grass-fed and organic.

Intermittent fasting is another great way to manage weight. Limit sugar and starchy food to weekends only. If you love sugar, replace it with monk fruit sweetener. Get moving every day, even if it’s just 20 minutes. I like to use a foam roller daily to massage the fascia and maintain good circulation. Try to get 8 hours of sleep and go to bed early, carving out time to destress and rejuvenate on weekends (I like to stay in bed late on Sundays). I love using box breathing daily, which is a technique to reduce stress, and I recommend downloading a good meditation app like Calm or Unplug to help decompress.

Q: What are some beauty trends to be on the lookout for in 2021? 

A: I am an advocate for clean beauty and think making the switch from toxic to clean skincare and make-up is a rising trend. Another trend that was coined by Pinterest is “skinimalism”—this is all about embracing natural skin and less makeup (think tinted moisturizer vs. foundation). I prefer this look to the heavy matte make-up looks of the past. A glowing, dewy complexion is a popular beauty trend too, so more people are using organic face oils as moisturizers. In terms of hair styles, sporting curtain bangs is one of the hottest trends of 2021. I love the way they frame the face and look good on everyone! 

Q: What are some of your favorite workouts and how do they play a role in healthy aging?

A: I think it’s important to “move” every day and get the blood flowing and the endorphins going to maintain overall mental and physical fitness which directly impacts overall health and wellbeing. The level and intensity of activity is different for each person (for me doing something physical every day is like taking a shower or brushing your teeth)!

Some of my favorite fitness classes include yoga and an online streaming fitness mind and body workout called, The Class. I also love classes from CoreBarreFit and the KT Method. These classes combine a combo of cardio and weight-bearing exercises which are very effective in reaching my overall fitness goals. I like to spend a lot of time outside and enjoy regular hikes and tennis, skiing, and horseback riding. Walking 10K steps a day a great way to maintain your weight and a low-impact way to stay in good shape too!

Q: Do you have any advice for our readers about nutrition and diet and how it can play a role in healthy aging?

A: I think good nutrition is imperative and it’s all about balance and variety. Eating well can help prevent so many health problems as we age. I focus on consuming a balance of lean proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals to increase the benefits of healthy aging. Some of my favorite foods include salads, avocados, dark leafy greens like kale, spinach and Brussel sprouts.

I like to eat fruits like blueberries and raspberries that are loaded with antioxidants and satisfy my sweet tooth. I try and eat fish that is wild and not farm-raised. I like to eat small amounts of lean meat and poultry that is grass-fed, antibiotic-free and organic (only eat a small portion of meat—you can use what would fit in the size of you palm as a guide). I also love eating nuts as a snack—marcona almonds are my favorite and are loaded with protein.

Staying hydrated is always important at any age so I drink eight 8 oz glasses of water or supplement with an herbal tea (I like Rooibos tea) that I make at home to put on ice. I have a sweet tooth but I replace my sugar with monk fruit sweetener. Since I love bread, pasta, cheese and fries, I make sure to only eat them (small portions) on weekends and don’t feel deprived.

There are some great gluten-free bread and pasta options available now too. I think limiting dairy is a good idea to prevent brain fog and additional inflammation. The good news is that there are so many great dairy and cheese replacements available now. Eating well and daily exercise can boost your overall immune system and definitely keeps weight in check! And, whatever your body is still missing, you can always supplement with Thorne!

To learn more about Melissa, The Glow Girl, and her favorite wellness supplements, visit @melissameyers on Instagram or check out theglowgirllife.com.