Apothékary Founder Shizu Okusa Swears By Forest Bathing

In the ultimate quest for inner beauty and outer glow, Marie Claire asks our favorite trailblazers to share intel on finding balance in their busy lives. Read it all here, in Beauty Inside & Out
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Shizu Okusa (opens in new tab) knows the merits of letting go. After ditching her career as a Goldman Sachs broker to prioritize her health, the first-generation Canadian traveled the world to learn the nuances of Ayurveda and blend her Western and Eastern education into a passion project. The resuly: Apothékary (opens in new tab), Okusa's beauty and wellness line that bridges the gap between her Japanese roots and farm upbringing. Here, the founder shares her secrets for stunning strands and staying grounded.

Inner Beauty

Forest Bathing

"I grew up on a farm near Vancouver, and I find a lot of peace when surrounded by nature. Last year, when I moved to San Francisco, I was so excited to practice Shirin Yoku—Japanese for forest bathing—again, to relieve stress. When I can’t get outside, I love to use my Aroma Om diffuser (opens in new tab) and Peppermint Pure essential oil (opens in new tab) from Saje Wellness to create a soothing, clear environment."

Theragun Prime Handheld Percussive Massage Device (opens in new tab)

"My Theragun has been a savior over the past year or so. I use [it] at night to relax my muscles. Then I’ll use a homemade blend of almond, castor, jojoba, and other grounding oils to massage around stress points, like under the balls of my feet, my forehead, neck, and shoulders."
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Jade Yoga Fusion Mat (opens in new tab)

"[Exercise] is such a great way to release endorphins while also taking the time to focus on caring for your body. Sometimes I’ll do an intense workout, other times I do a slow session of yoga or take a long walk—whatever my body is asking for that day. If at home, I love my mat from Jade Yoga."

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Outer Glow

Kérastase Ciment Thermique Blow Dry Primer (opens in new tab)

"I typically blow-dry my hair, so this primer is crucial to protect my hair from any heat damage. It also smooths my hair and adds shine!"

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (opens in new tab)

"I like to start my day with my favorite cleansing oil. It gets rid of any leftover makeup, and is rich in antioxidants and other nourishing ingredients."

Apothékary Peak Bloom Exfoliating Rose Mask (opens in new tab)

"My current obsession is Apothékary’s new mask, which we just launched in June. It’s a superfood herb-to-mask that we carefully formulated using traditional Japanese skincare ingredients. It’s packed with nutrients to brighten and balance skin tone, kick acne in the pores, and the exfoliation factor is amazing. It leaves my skin so incredibly soft."

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Recipe for Success: Okusa's Slay All Day Matcha Tea

Make the Tea

Add 1.5 tsp of Apothékary Slay All Day (opens in new tab) matcha blend to a chado bowl (“the way of tea” in Japanese; I use one of my mom’s ceramics (opens in new tab)). Add 4 oz water, then whisk with a chasen (a Japanese matcha whisk) in swift, light circular movements before drinking straight. Optional: Add an extra dose of Lion’s Mane, a medicinal mushroom, for focus and brain health.