At-Home Anti-Aging (The East Asian Medicine Way, with a Side of Sass)

I caught myself in the mirror the other morning and thought, “When did I start looking like my passport photo?” You know that look - tired, a little puffy, like life has been…a lot. That’s when I had to remind myself: my skin isn’t betraying me, it’s tattling on me.

That’s the thing about East Asian medicine. Your face is basically your body’s snitch. Dry patches? You’re dehydrated. Puffy eyes? Probably ate nachos at 10 pm. Wrinkles deepening? Hello stress, my old friend. Instead of blaming your moisturizer, East Asian medicine asks: what’s happening inside that’s showing up outside?

Here’s how I keep my skin (and sanity) in check at home:

1. Hydrate your yin like it’s your job

In East Asian medicine, yin is your body’s juicy, plump, youthful energy. Without it, your skin looks like a raisin left on the dashboard. So yeah - water matters. Not ice water (your digestion hates it), and not just one giant water bottle at 8 pm when you realize you “forgot all day.”. Think warm/room temp water, herbal teas, or my favorite, goji + chrysanthemum tea. Basically, drink like your skin depends on it - because it does.

2. Feed your Spleen, feed your face

Your Spleen is like that overworked friend who just wants to keep everyone happy. You give it donuts and greasy fries, it’s like, “Fine, but don’t blame me when you look puffy.” You feed it veggies, bone broth, and omega-3s, and suddenly your skin is glowing like you just walked out of a spa. Pro tip: your face will always narc on what you’ve been eating.

3. Qi flow = glow

Saggy, dull skin? That’s stagnant Qi. Think of Qi as circulation’s cooler, more energetic cousin - it needs to move. So, walk, dance, stretch, wiggle - I don’t care. Just move. Bonus points if you grab a gua sha or jade roller and give your face a little workout. If your skin looks like it just pulled an all-nighter when you didn’t…yeah, that’s your Qi begging for attention. Move your Qi, move your glow.

4. Sleep is free Botox

Stop bragging about functioning on five hours of sleep. Your skin is not impressed. Skip sleep, and your skin will serve “crypt keeper” realness. In East Asian medicine, your Liver and Gallbladder clock in for the night shift between 11 pm–3 am, repairing and regenerating. If you’re up scrolling TikTok, you’re literally stealing collagen from your future self. Want plumper skin? Go to bed. It’s that simple (and free).

5. Stress: the ultimate wrinkle machine

You can spend $300 on fancy creams, but if you’re grinding your teeth through life, your face will show it. Stress blocks the flow of Liver Qi, which leads to frown lines, breakouts, and that permanent “are you mad?” look. Do some deep breathing, laugh, cry, sing badly in the car - just get that Qi moving. And yes, acupuncture works too (shameless plug).

The takeaway:

Your skin isn’t mad at you - it’s just honest. If you’re tired, stressed, dehydrated, or eating like a frat boy, it will show up. Instead of throwing more products at the problem, start with the basics: hydrate, eat real food, move, sleep, de-stress. Your skin will stop tattling and start glowing.

And if you need a little extra help? That’s where I come in. Acupuncture is like a reset button for your skin and your whole system - boosting circulation, calming stress, and supporting your yin so you don’t have to fight with your mirror every morning.

So drink your water, get to bed, stop yelling at your face cream, and if all else fails…come let me stick some needles in you. Your skin will thank you.