Runako Inside Out with Lia Vialva
Inside Out is our weekly profile on people and all things personal care. Our profiles will look into different aspects of personal care including physical, skin, mental and health care. We want to know how you’ve been taking care of yourself inside and out and help us share tips, tricks and advice with others.
Lia Vialva is the founder of Creative Women of Atlanta, an online platform that connects creative women across Atlanta. She was born in Annapolis, Maryland but moved to Atlanta at the age of 7, so Atlanta will always be home for her. She is currently working in marketing in the entertainment industry, her dream job! She plans on expanding Creative Women of Atlanta into a global platform for young women to learn the necessary skills to explore and secure creative industry positions.
Runako: How are you? Especially now with the on-going coronavirus pandemic?
Lia: Thank you for asking! I’m maintaining. Definitely doing better than I was in the beginning! I had to readjust my mindset because the abrupt switch of my lifestyle had me down for a minute
Runako: How have you been taking care of your mental health? Have you implemented any changes to your personal routine?
Lia: Honestly, the best thing I’ve done for my mental health during this time is be patient and gentle with myself. I was being super hard on myself after I lost my job but once I started looking at everything I have vs. what I didn't have, things started feeling better.
Runako: How have you been taking care of your physical health? If not, why?
Lia: Ugh! I haven't been. I was depressed for a good chunk of time, so I was unmotivated to get back into the gym. I finally found a kickboxing studio so I'm waiting for classes to start. I'm super excited about that!
Runako: We can’t forget about skincare, how has your skincare routine been during the quarantine? Any significant changes?
Lia: Oh my gosh! Skincare has been a big part of my year. In February I went to Trinidad for carnival and the sun was SO intense. When I got back to Atlanta I realized I had a couple of light spots on my face. I thought they would fade away but they ended up getting worse, so I had to go to the dermatologist to receive some professional help only to find out that my skin overproduced yeast and those spots are actually called "Tinea Versicolor". Unfortunately, they're still on my face and I'm still trying to figure out how to get rid of them or if I even can. The dermatologist suggested that I use super mild cleansers and moisturizers to avoid irritating my skin.
Runako: What are some products you’ve been loving and using?
Lia : I've been using Pacifica's "Kale Detox Deep Cleaning Face Wash" and Elf's "Daily Hydration Moisturizer." My skin doesn't require much so I've been trying to keep the product usage at a low because of the Tinea Versicolor. I also spot treat with tea tree oil and vitamin E oil!
Runako: Any natural skin care tips or products you’ve tried and are now part of your personal routine?
Lia: I LOVE Aztec Clay Masks! I normally add a little bit of apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, and a couple of drops of an essential oil to the mask for fragrance. It's super refreshing!
Runako: Do you have any go-to DIY skincare recipes or combinations that you can share?
Lia: Oh wait, I think I answered two questions in one but I can share another lol. I love sugar scrubs to exfoliate my lips. I just combine honey and brown sugar and rub my lips together. Then I let it sit on my lips for a few minutes to soak up the moisture.
Runako: What’s a must in your personal care routine? (Don’t be shy)
Lia: A must in my personal care routine is moisturizer. It's honestly a shame how dry my skin can get LOL. I always reach for "extreme hydration" or "intense moisturizing" products in the skincare aisle. I just have to keep an eye on how my skin reacts to it because I could end up looking like I've been marinating in baby oil.
Runako: Any advice, tips or tricks you want to share? Something you might have discovered recently that might help someone reading this?
Lia: The biggest piece of advice that I have is wear sunscreen. I wouldn't have these spots on my face if I did! I'm still looking for the perfect SPF moisturizer for me, but please understand how important sunscreen is for our skin.