Episode 206: The InstaPot of Skincare with Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak
Kate and Doree celebrate their iHeart Radio’s Best Beauty & Fashion Podcast award and the lovely women they share a podcast category with. Then, Add To Cart’s Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak join them to learn that SuChin and Kate are the yin to Kulap and Doree’s yang, why reading a new skincare device’s instructions is a hotly contested subject, and how cinnamon and nutmeg are definitely not the same thing when baking.
Photo Credit: Robyn Von Swank
Mentioned in this Episode
To leave a voicemail or text for a future episode, reach them at 781-591-0390. You can also email the podcast at forever35podcast@gmail.com.
Visit forever35podcast.com for links to everything they mention on the show.
Follow the podcast on Twitter (@Forever35Pod) and Instagram (@Forever35Podcast) and join the Forever35 Facebook Group (Password: Serums).
Sign up for the newsletter! At forever35podcast.com/newsletter.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
Transcripts
Kate: Hello and welcome to Forevermore, a podcast about the things we do to take care of ourselves, I'm Kate Spencer.
Doree: And I am Doree Shafrir.
Kate: And we are not experts.
Doree: No, but we're two friends who like to talk a lot about serums.
Kate: You can always visit our website forever35podcast.com for links to everything we mention on the show. And on today's episode, there's going to be a lot of links because we get into it with our guests.
Doree: Oh yeah, baby.
Kate: Oh, it's good. It's good.
Kate: You can follow us on Twitter @forever35pod, Instagram @forever35podcast, and of course on Facebook, there's the Forever35 group where the password is 'serums.'
Doree: And please do sign up for our newsletter. There's a new issue going out tomorrow.
Doree: You can do that at forever35podcast.com/newsletter, and you can always call or text us at 781-591-0390.
Doree: And you can email us at forever35podcast@gmail.com.
Kate: Well, I mean, thank you, listeners. No, this is dumb. Scratch that.
Kate: Hey, we won an iHeartRadio Podcast Award.
Doree: We did.
Kate: And I don't know how to be cool about it.
Doree: I mean, we don't have to be cool about it. One thing that I... I posted about this on my Instagram and I said there's just not a ton of industry-wide recognition for podcasting, so it is kind of cool to be recognized by your podcasting peers.
Doree: The people who vote on these awards are other podcasters, other people in the industry. So, that, to me, is pretty cool. Also-
Kate: Yeah.
Doree: ... It's the second time we've won.
Kate: Which is ridic. Ridic.
Doree: I mean...
Kate: Its truly... When we saw that we won last night, Doree and I were both dressed like we...
Doree: Oh my God.
Kate: ... I mean, we were in our best haven't showered in a week outfits. Right?
Doree: Yes.
Kate: Wouldn't you say?
Doree: Yes. And we won in the fashion and beauty category, and I just was cackling because I was like, "Wow. It's a good thing it's not based on the way I look right now," because they would be like-
Kate: Our own fashion.
Doree: ... We're taking this award away."
Kate: Yeah. I really love the podcast community that we are so lucky to be a part of. All the nominees in our category... I mean, our guests today were nominees in our category.
Doree: Yes.
Kate: And we've had almost everybody in our category on the pod, we've been on their pods. It's just a really amazing group of people, and I feel so fortunate to get to be recognized alongside these other podcast creators.
Kate: It was Jackie Johnson of Natch Beaut, Kirby and Sarah from Gloss Angeles, Ku and Su our guests today from Add2Cart, and then The Business of Fashion, a podcast that respectfully I have not listened to but I'm sure is fantastic.
Doree: Totally.
Kate: Anyway, so that was fun. That was a nice surprise treat, I would say, for us.
Doree: Yeah. It was a really nice surprise treat.
Kate: So, we are award winners. Let's just add that to the intro of the podcast.
Doree: Two-time iHeartRadio Podcast Award winners.
Kate: Kate Spencer and Doree Shafrir.
Doree: ... Doree Shafrir, Kate Spencer. Here we are.
Kate: Here we are. And we're both in sweatshirts.
Doree: Yep. And I need to shower.
Kate: I need to shower, too! I also need to shower. You know what, though? Exciting news, we are going to talk, we're going to do a little followup episode about shower scrubs because a lot of people weighed in with their scrubbing tools. And today I ordered two sets of scrubbing tools, so I'm waiting for them to arrive before I shower.
Doree: Yeah.
Kate: Now, we want to hop into our interview, but can I tell you a brief story of my rubber face cloths that I have?
Doree: Yes please.
Kate: I realize I've never talked to you about how I use rubber face cloths.
Doree: No, you haven't.
Kate: Okay.
Doree: What is going on here? What are these?
Kate: Very quick background. I once got a facial, or maybe a couple times, from this woman in Los Angeles out of her apartment. She was an older Russian woman. Our mutual friend Grace recommended her and so I went and saw her. And she sold me a bunch of products. And she was the first person who turned me onto glycolic acid, Squalane. And one of the things she gave me, like sold me, was a rubber washcloth. And so, I stopped seeing this person years ago, the pandemic happened, but I've always thought about these rubber washcloths.
Kate: So, last year, I emailed this facialist and I was like, "Hello, I haven't been to you in about seven years, but when I did come, you sold me like a spongy washcloth and I think you said it was from France. Where can I get one?" And she was just like, "I can order you some. They come from a professional supplier." I was like, "Okay."
Kate: I paid for them and then she dropped off five of my rubber washcloths at my house, and I really love using them. Now, I have Googled for years trying to figure out what these things are, and only today did I kind of get an answer, and they are quite literally made of rubber.
Doree: Wow.
Kate: They're PVA, I believe. It's like a spongy material that... I mean, a lot of the PVA cloths are used for drying cars, so I don't quite know what I'm putting on my face right now.
Doree: Wow. Okay. Okay.
Kate: But I love these... And I just wanted to mention it because I went on such a journey to track these things down.
Kate: Am I the only one washing my face with these things? Does anyone else know what I'm even talking about?
Doree: I don't, but I'm intrigued.
Kate: I'll give you one because I have five that she gave me. So, I will... Yeah. The next time I see you-
Doree: Thank you!
Kate: I'll be honest with you, I think you are going to be like, "I don't like the way this texture feels." It's very strange.
Kate: It's like a very thin sponge, but I am... I'm just curious. I just need to know, and when it dries it hardens like a rock.
Doree: Wow.
Kate: So, you can kind of like... Yeah. It's very exciting. Anyway, that's what I've been up to, Doree.
Kate: I just wanted to throw out that I have rubber wash cloths and see if anybody else is there with me.
Doree: Consider it thrown.
Kate: Thank you. I will. I do. Now, you've been having a craving for something and you can't quite scratch that itch?
Doree: Yeah. It's kind of a weird craving. I'm having a craving for like a classic basement rec room.
Kate: Not like a fancy one, like the kind-
Doree: No.
Kate: Where the basement's never been finished and your parents just tell you to go down there.
Doree: No, not a gross one. I mean like-
Kate: Not like a cellar.
Doree: No, not like a cellar. Like something really cozy and comfy where you could watch TV, but also there would be like a puzzle table and a place to maybe play poker. Just like a rec room.
Kate: Yeah. I recall rec rooms.
Doree: And the thing is, in California, almost no houses have basements because of earthquakes.
Kate: That's right. We don't have a basement.
Doree: You don't want to be stuck in a basement when your house pancakes on top of you.
Kate: No. I mean, even with a puzzle table, you do not want to be stuck in the basement.
Doree: No, exactly. Yeah. I mean, look, I'm not going to move back to the East coast just have a basement rec room, but...
Kate: Can you not even suggest the idea of moving away from me? I don't like that. I've seen you kind of dip a toe in this like, "What about the East coast?" conversation, and I want you to know it's not allowed.
Kate: Don't even think about it.
Doree: Oh my gosh. I mean, especially now, the East coast has just been walloped with storm after storm.
Kate: Thank you.
Doree: So, I get it. But I mean, what about a rec room?
Kate: Why are you guys moving back to the East coast? Work, or you want to be near family? No, Doree just wants a rec room. I mean, it's reasonable.
Doree: Is that weird? Anyway, just an idle thought that I had.
Kate: Well, rec rooms conjure up for me a lot of nostalgia and good feelings about my youth and about a time before TikTok, and I've really been in that weird, sad, nostalgic space lately. And I feel like there's something like... Do people even have... I feel like anytime I see a rec room now it's been like Pinterested within an inch of its life and it's on some influencer's Instagram, and it's not the fun basement wonderlands we got to explore as kids where your mom's weird bell bottoms were hung up in a corner.
Doree: Totally. Yes.
Kate: And you could roller skate to Debbie Gibson and no one would bother you.
Doree: Now, listen, to be clear, I did not grow up with a rec room.
Kate: I had a gross basement that scared me, but I would hang out in it kind of.
Doree: We had a guest room finished basement in half of the basement, and the other half was like where the laundry... And I think my dad had a woodworking bench.
Kate: Of course, of course he did.
Doree: And then there was the garage that just was used for storage. Anyway. Yeah. So, I'm nostalgic for something that I never even had, but you know.
Kate: Well, you're following '90s art school-
Doree: Oh yeah.
Kate: ... Instagram. Right?
Doree: So, maybe I'm just feeling nostalgic for that time.
Kate: I'm feeling super nostalgic and grieving it almost and kind of weepy looking at these pictures and knowing we'll never get this weird time again.
Doree: Yeah. That's true.
Kate: I don't know if we'll get rec rooms again. Now, I'm sure we're going to find out they do still exist. People still have rec rooms. I hope they do. And I hope for your sake, Doree, that you get one one day.
Doree: Thank you so much. Thank you so much, Kate.
Kate: Just not on the East coast.
Doree: Just not on the East coast.
Kate: Yeah. Don't leave.
Doree: Sure, sure. Okay. All right. Okay. Well, Kate, we're going to cut our little chit chat a little bit short because we went a little long with Su and Ku.
Kate: Oh my gosh. Okay. We want to play our whole interview. There were so many laughs to be had. We got to sit down with Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak, hosts of the Add2Cart Podcast. Amazing individuals in their own right.
Kate: Kulap is a comedian, a writer, a director. She had a amazing documentary called Origin Story which chronicles a road trip into her complicated past to meet her biological father and understand her mother. She was the creator and showrunner and has directed episodes of Bajillion Dollar Properties. I mean, she's just done like a trillion things. And SuChin Pak, I mean, hello.
Doree: An icon.
Kate: Which every time I talk to her, I'm like, "You shaped my youth," which I feel like has got to be a really creepy thing for someone to say to you. But look, she's known as an MTV News correspondent and she has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show. She's the narrator of MTV Cribs. I mean, she's just done it all.
Doree: She really has.
Kate: And together, they just make the most charming, amazing podcast team.
Doree: Yes, they are truly delightful.
Kate: I had so much fun. I could have done this for six hours talking to them. I mean, I was really bummed to have to end it.
Doree: I know. I know. So fun.
Kate: So, we're going to hop to our interview with them right now.
Doree: All right.
Kate: We are so excited to have the co-hosts of Add2Cart on Forever35 today.
Kate: Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak. I mean, this is a dream. We've teamed up on your podcast, and now we get to have you on ours.
Doree: It feels so right.
SuChin: And we feel comfortable.
Kate: It does feel good.
Doree: It does. It does.
Kate: It does feel good.
SuChin: The temperature of the water is exactly the temperature that I love, that I live in and sleep in, so it's just so-
Kulap: Which is very warm, you guys, so very warm.
Doree: Let's just get cozy.
SuChin: Yeah.
Kate: There's nothing worse than when you get into the water and the water is too hot and then you don't know where go, and you try to endure it, but then you have to get out of the tub.
Kate: Do y'all ever do that where you made it boiling hot, but then you're cooking your feet?
Doree: Yes.
SuChin: Yeah.
Doree: Yeah. I've done that. I've done that. And then I'm like, "But I don't want it to get too cold," so I keep going back in.
SuChin: You got to go in. You just got to keep dipping. Dipping whatever body part that you need to dip. And I like to have it... I'm okay with a bit of a scald. You know what I mean? I like it just shy of call the doctor.
Doree: Well, to her detriment, that I'm sure we'll dive into pretty quickly.
Kate: Okay. Because I was going to say, I was recently listening to an Add2Cart episode. I'm catching up. I of course was drawn to the SolaWave challenge you're doing with Matt McConkey, and you were saying this-
SuChin: Not an ad, by the way. Just for fun.
Kate: Not an ad.
Kulap: Not an ad.
SuChin: Kulap bought it full price.
Kate: Yep. That's how you know.
SuChin: [crosstalk 00:14:32] people are very confused.
Kate: Well, I have one, but they did, they sent it to me to try, so I should clarify that.
Doree: Well, also, let's just back up and explain what the SolaWave is for the benefit of our listeners who may not be familiar.
Kate: We are just going off the rails. We're going to get to self care practices later. We're starting with a micro-current skincare wand that also has an LED light, it also heats, and it also massages. Yes.
Doree: It does it all.
Kate: It does. It does.
Doree: It's basically the instant pot of skincare that-
Kulap: Ding, ding. Ding, ding.
SuChin: In more ways than you know, and we'll find out about it here.
Doree: Yeah. I mean, we keep teasing it, but it's coming pretty quick.
Kate: It's coming.
Kate: So, in this episode from a few weeks ago, let's say at the beginning of January, you discuss how you basically were only supposed to use it for five minutes a day, but you have just, you doubled and tripled that usage.
Kate: And there's some joking about skin falling off like, "Ha ha ha, what if that happens?" I'm curious. Where are you now with the SolaWave?
SuChin: Well, let's be clear, Kulap, as always, read the directions, her skin is fine. And she's loving it.
Kulap: The box even, the box.
SuChin: Fine. She read the box. I, as you know, from trying to set up, even this interview, I don't read anything, and so I just went to town with it. I was so excited to get the thing.
Doree: With an aggressive hand. Kate, you mentioned time, but it's not just time that we're talking about, we're talking a-
SuChin: A grip. Yeah.
Doree: A grip.
SuChin: Steel grip.
Doree: Really putting her back into it as if she's mowing her skin.
SuChin: That's right. And I do that with my dental care and I do that with my skin care and I'm happy to share that with you later on. So, I was doing it, I don't know, about 30, 40 minutes a day.
Kate: Oh my gosh.
SuChin: Well, let me tell you, this is how it happened.
Doree: By the way, she loves it. She loves this.
Kate: Loves it.
SuChin: Love it. And I did try the five minutes when Kulap told me I'm only supposed to do it for five minutes, and I have to tell you, I'm back to 20. And I'll tell you why in a second.
SuChin: But what happens is, is I sit in front of a TV show, that's like my TV time, and the thing is so soothing and so just warm and comfortable that I was doing that thing for an episode of whatever that I'm watching. And so, that's kind of how I started to realize like, "Wow, I'm spending a lot of time with this thing."
SuChin: The other thing that happens [crosstalk 00:17:24].
Doree: Before you get into this, sorry, Su, just... This whole five minutes, the company, they're trying to cover their asses.
SuChin: Yeah.
Doree: Right?
SuChin: That's for dummies.
Doree: Right. Yeah.
SuChin: Right.
Kulap: Because liability. Right?
SuChin: Correct.
Kulap: I just want to throw that in there, but go ahead, Su.
SuChin: Thank you Ku, thank you Ku, and you know, me, I'm no dummy, right? So I said, that's for the dummies five minutes, what can be accomplished in five minutes? What, what are we doing for five minutes? That, that is worth your time.
SuChin: And so, by the way, getting great results, loving this thing. And one day I noticed about week three, I had a little sensitive spot just right outside my eyes, right above your cheekbones.
SuChin: And I was putting on my skincare in the morning. And I was like, gee, that's a little, that's a little sensitive there. And, oh, it is a little scaly as if I've got a burn.
Kate: Oh no.
SuChin: And it was, it was just a small patch, just a little patch of a burn right here. And this is where I do a lot of my SolaWaving, and so I had mentioned it innocently as always, because I'm nothing but innocent on our podcast Add2Cart. And I bring it up to Kulap, and I say, "Gee, I got this burn." And then that's how it started off like, well, how long are you using it?
SuChin: And I said 30. And she said, "Did you read the instructions?" And I said, "It didn't come with instructions." And she said-
Kulap: It did, it did come. It did come.
SuChin: I mean, how complicated?
Doree: Oh no.
Kulap: But then at one point she, she goes, "It's not meant for the eyes." And I was like, "Yes it is! But not meant to do 20 minutes." Just hardcore Zamboni-ing of your eyes.
Kate: Oh my God.
SuChin: Having said all that, I love this thing.
Kulap: Love it.
Doree: And Su, what is the other reveal is that you've had... How long have you had this Solawave?
SuChin: Oh, I don't know. I don't know. [crosstalk 00:19:25] But based on the-
Doree: Maybe a month?
SuChin: Maybe two months.
Doree: Two months and how-
SuChin: I'm all out of juice.
Doree: Is it in working order?
SuChin: No, it's... I broke it and I've run out of all the serum but I think... I don't know how long the serum... I'm assuming the serum is supposed to last you three to six months.
Kate: Oh my God.
SuChin: This thing two weeks. I was tapped out.
Kulap: Hold on.
Kate: Oh my God, I'm dying. I'm done.
Kulap: We cried because Su... We were crying for SolaWave like little babies. We need more serum.
Kulap: They, out of goodness of their hearts and best interests, sent us each three vials, and what you are telling me.
SuChin: Yeah.
Kulap: That you are done with those three vials?
SuChin: Oh God, no, I'm not done with the three vials, but I am going through it at a pretty rapid rate, you know?
Kate: You're slapping it on.
SuChin: Yeah. I 'cause you can't put it on dry skin, guys, I know that much. I've bought and returned the New Face many times.
Doree: Wow.
Kate: Oh the New Face.
SuChin: The New Face. How do we feel about the New Face? I have returned that thing twice.
Kate: I think like anything. I mean, I'm actually really interested to hear your thoughts on skincare gadgets as a whole because, and you've said this on your show and I agree, it's consistency.
Kate: Like anything is probably going to work a little bit. If you do it every day and the New Face for me, it was so hard to commit to everyday slathering the goop on my face.
Doree: Okay.
Kate: Standing there, zinging it. So I have a Dr. Dennis Gross LED light mask and that's the only thing I've ever really been consistent with because you just put it on your head.
Doree: Okay.
SuChin: Impressive. How is that thing? I've been eyeing that for a while.
Kate: I like it. I like it.
Doree: Do you have to put something on?
SuChin: [inaudible 00:21:11].
Doree: Whoa!
Kate: No. I mean, you have to put an actual...
SuChin: But you don't put a serum on.
Doree: You don't have to put like a product.
SuChin: No, you don't have to put a gel or anything?
Kate: No. I mean, unless I didn't read the directions, which is also a thing I do. I literally just talked to my psychiatrist today about how my ADHD affects my inability to read directions, but I don't read directions either.
Kate: So I do the same thing you do where I just rip a box open and start using something without knowing how to use it.
SuChin: That's right.
SuChin: As soon as I pull out an instruction booklet, you might as well put the whole thing in the trash can.
Doree: Kulap and I are both like... [inaudible 00:21:49] people.
SuChin: I lose all interest in the thing. As soon as you point me to... Be it a board game, I will play a board game incorrectly for years frustrated.
Kate: Yes, I do the same thing.
SuChin: And the second you tell me the instructions are there, put it in the trash can. I'm not interested.
Kate: This is like... I relate to this so much.
Doree: The creator intended for it to be played a certain way.
Kate: It's too hard to learn that part.
SuChin: Yeah. And by the way, Bravo, I commend you for creating the game. [crosstalk 00:22:23]
Doree: Are you able to follow recipes? Like how does this...
SuChin: Recipes, no, no. [crosstalk 00:22:29].
SuChin: This is why I'm also not a baker.
Doree: Got it. Okay.
SuChin: Right. I can cook. I cook all the time. Cannot bake to save my life because what I'll start doing is I'll say "I don't have Cinnamon, but I mean isn't Nutmeg cinnamon?" And then my kids always [crosstalk 00:22:49]-
Doree: No.
Doree: They know too.
Kate: Thank you, Doree.
SuChin: They know as soon as I get the muffin tin out, you know it's about that time when...
Doree: "Isn't Nutmeg Cinnamon?"
SuChin: It's not?
Doree: No, no, not at all.
SuChin: Be honest, is it close?
Doree: Very, very different really flavor profile.
SuChin: Really?
Doree: Yeah.
Kate: I feel like they're up the same spice family though.
SuChin: Yeah, thank you, Kate.
Doree: You know what, they're often combined.
Kulap: They're different spices. [crosstalk 00:23:12].
SuChin: Yes! Right!
Doree: They're often combined because they are two different things.
Kate: Yes.
SuChin: I don't know about that. I'm going to have to... I mean, I love you both, but I do feel like... I feel like they're the same color. Aren't they the same color?
Doree: Oh come on now! That's what we're going to do? We're going to talk about...
Kulap: Wow.
SuChin: They're the same consistency.
Doree: Because taste and smell is different.
SuChin: I don't know. I'm on the fence about this one. All right, I'll take your word.
Kate: I have a question, a baking question for you Su, because I do feel like for the first time I've been truly seen, do you, when a recipe you're starting to bake and you've like already started because you didn't read the directions and then it's like room temperature butter, but you don't have room temperature butter.
SuChin: Absolutely.
Kate: You just do cold butter. Even though there's like a point to the room temperature butter. Okay.
SuChin: Is there?
Doree: Yes. There is a point.
SuChin: This is why I don't bake. Yeah. I like to... I do this and Kulap, listen, it's very clear that she carries the weight of our podcast.
Kulap: No, no, no.
SuChin: Be it, we're reading ads. Be it we're reading scripts or agenda.
Kulap: Weak as! The voice of a generation? MTV? [inaudible 00:24:26].
Doree: You really are.
SuChin: I really...
Kulap: MTV SuChin Pak, come on.
SuChin: I have a hard time. And as I get older, I get real ornery about it too, before I would actually apologize and try to fake it. Now I just get mad. Like why are we recording things differently then? What is this about?
Kate: Is this our fate as we age? Are you feeling that a little bit? Because we're all... Kulap, you are over 40, is that correct?
Kulap: 41.
Kate: Okay. I know you're younger.
Kulap: Hurtling towards 42.
Kate: Welcome. Welcome aboard, it feels good to have you here...
Kulap: Thank you.
Kate: As a 42 year old, but do you feel like this is kind of just like our weight to bear as Generation X-ers, as we just kind of plod forward?
Doree: I mean I'm a geriatric millennial, so there is a bit of a...
Kate: That's right. You are 1980.
Kulap: Resistance?
SuChin: As the 46 year old...
Kate: It's a weird thing to want to point out that and say the word 'geriatric' but...
Doree: But hey, that's my instinct!
SuChin: And as the oldest, as the wizened old nut in the group as 46-
Doree: Nut-Meg.
SuChin: Nutmeg, very different than Cinnamon. And as I approach the five zero, man. Yeah. You just, listen when-
Doree: Wait, you're 46. What are you talking about?
SuChin: Yes. I'm 46, basically 50!
Doree: No.
SuChin: And when you're facing menopause, do you know what I mean? Like reading the instructions on a Nutmeg recipe? Not a priority.
Doree: Okay. Well I'm not going to argue with that.
Kate: Are you dealing with perimenopause yet? Is that a thing that's popped up for you?
SuChin: Sure. How do you know Perry menopause? I feel, I
Kate: Don't know.
SuChin: I know. I feel like all this stuff, I feel like is such a... I don't know, is it gas lighting? Is it a scam? I don't know what it is. They're like you'll get brain fog. You'll get hot flashes. The symptoms are so... Do you know what I mean? I feel like I've been perimenopausal since 26. Like how do I really know? I don't know. I mean...
Doree: Plus you welcome the hot flashes because you prefer the heat.
SuChin: Love it. Yeah, that's right. So I don't know. I'm looking forward to when it's finally here, so I don't have to keep checking on whether I'm there.
Doree: We got a pitch the other day to interview women who had started a company that is Pearl necklaces that you wear in menopause that are cooling.
Kate: Okay...
SuChin: Oh!
Doree: And I was intrigued.
SuChin: I'm very intrigued as well.
Kate: And they're big necklaces.
Doree: They're big. They're big, chunky, big, chunky...
Kate: Yes.
Doree: But you wouldn't know that like someone was wearing them because they're getting hot flashes, their statement-
Kate: Yes, exactly.
Doree: Cooling Pearl necklaces.
Kate: Statement, cooling Pearl necklaces.
SuChin: I'm interested, I would like you guys [crosstalk 00:27:25]...
Kate: 40 pounds of Pearls.
Doree: I applauded the ingenuity and I'm intrigued.
Doree: Can we just maybe shift gears a tad.
Kate: Okay.
Doree: And talk about self care practices.
Kate: Yes.
Doree: Other places in our bodies that we've burned.
Kate: Yeah. Or you know, or soothed.
Doree: Okay, better, better, better.
Kate: Yeah. So is there something current that each of you is doing that you want to talk about? Have we, because Su, I know I saw Su earlier and she had a migraine.
SuChin: Yes.
Kate: And she was self soothing.
SuChin: Yes.
Kate: With this wonderful game changer that we talk a lot about. And it's from Lachen, are you guys familiar with...
Kulap: Yes. Oh my gosh. Is it the massager thing?
Doree: The Tourmaline massager.
Kulap: That looks really cool.
Doree: You know what? It kind of looks like... It looks like something from a Super Mario Brothers?
Kate: Yeah, it does!
Doree: It is a little octopus.
Kate: A little Toadstool octopus kind of vibe.
Doree: Yes!
Kate: I'm into it.
Doree: Do you fill it with the hot water?
SuChin: So, okay, it's this little, almost like a hot stone massager and I'll pop it open and I have water in it. And you put hot water in there, in the top, and then you put the lid back in and this whole thing gets burning hot so be careful. And you then use it-
Doree: Are we only going to bring you things that you could possibly-
Kate: SuChin is like, "And then I walked across hot coals."
Doree: That's all we have to offer you.
Kate: "And sometimes I put my hand on the stove."
SuChin: By the way, can can't get hot enough just to feel alive, feel emotion.
Doree: Oh God.
SuChin: Feel something not dead, but yeah. I just use it all over and then what I like to do, what was a game... Because I was using this for a while and it was a game changer was I was pairing it with a CBD cream.
Doree: From Asutra?
SuChin: From Asutra.
Doree: Yeah.
SuChin: And that has been for someone who suffers from TMJ, who suffers from migraines, who suffer from like constant, just shoulder, neck, which I think is all of us, it has been a game changer.
SuChin: I think every day I use it, almost every single day I use it and it just it's really easy.
Doree: Wow.
SuChin: You don't have to plug it in. You don't have to charge it. Do you know what I mean? Yes. You have to kind of manually work it, but there is something where you're like, oh no, I didn't charge it. Or I don't have the right serum. It's none of that. It's very sort of like your grandmother can use it. I use it, my kids love it. You know, at night they'll be like, "Oh, do the hot thing." And so after their bath sometimes I'll give them a little massage with it.
SuChin: So it's just very simple. There's no technology involved and I sort of love that too. Even though I love, of course, burning myself with things that you plug in, there is something nice about this.
Kate: Speaking of burning things that you plug in, are you guys familiar with the TOMARIAN2? Do you guys know about this product?
Kulap: No.
SuChin: No.
Kate: Okay. So it is... You can get it on Amazon, you can get it on their website. It's most basic form, it's like a replacement for a hot water bottle, but it's way more than that. Right? Speaking of magical stones, there's, Tourmaline in the middle of it that when you plug it in, it heats up, but it slowly heats up within and it can stay warm. This sort of kidney bean shaped warmer. And because it's got the far infrared with the Tourmaline you can put it on aches, body aches, it stays warm for a long time. It soothes in a way that is just so yummy and comforting. And also if just you want to warm up in your bed at night, if that's a feeling you want to have, it's truly, I don't know Su, you can speak, I think, clearer about it.
SuChin: No, it's a technology I think people have been using in Korea for years and years. And it's something that the founder of this company has brought to America, but the infrared heat, it actually raises your core body temperature up a degree or two, I forget what it is. So it's totally different than an electric pad that you plug in.
Doree: There you go.
Kate: That's what I do at night. Okay. Right. Wait a second.
SuChin: So it creates it's a totally a different type of heat that penetrates tissue and muscle, does that make sense?
Doree: And, and I'll just take it down, I'll put it on the back of my neck and lay on it. I'll take it down my back, every part of my back, and just any place that I have aches or stress, I put it on it.
Kate: This is a pad shaped... Can you say the name of this item again? Because you know, I'm currently on Amazon.
Doree: Tomarian2. The company is Evimerok and the product is the Tomarian2.
Kate: Okay.
Doree: And it isn't cheap and we did get it for free, but also I use it all the time and truly swear by it.
Kate: Maybe we could get a code.
Kulap: It's a pad shaped item with these Tourmaline stones and it uses the infrared. You plug it in, it uses infrared heat to heat your body in a different way from, let's say the heating pad that I go to bed with every night.
SuChin: Correct.
Kulap: Very important. I want to say you plug it in and when it beeps unplug it, that's the most important thing. Don't leave it plugged in.
Kate: SuChin, are you listening to what Kulap just said?
SuChin: Kate, do you know how long this thing sat in a box?
Kate: I do. I do know how long it sat in a box.
SuChin: I looked at that thing and I was like, "I know I have to read..." It sat in a box for months. I did not use this thing and I still hadn't been using it perfectly until I interviewed the founder, because it's such a fascinating product.
SuChin: And by the way, like this thing, you plug it into heat it on a base, but then you take it off and it's completely cordless, the actual gem or stone inside heats and it retains that heat. So...
Doree: And when you pull it off, it's not hot. And then it grows hotter.
SuChin: It's the strangest...
Doree: It's like magic.
SuChin: Yeah. It's a magic bean, so that's how you use it. And, and so she had told me you put it on your body. It reacts with the heat in your body. So that's really important because I was throwing that in my bed. Like one of those like old timey hot/cold pans.
Doree: It's a hot water bottle.
SuChin: Yeah. Turn of the century. And this thing was staying hot for like 18 hours. It was so hot in my bed and I was like how this thing. And she's like, no you got to put it on your body. And it will eventually cool off, actually faster, because the heat from your body, somehow the relationship between that, it regulates the temperature.
Doree: It's very soothing.
Kate: Yeah. I am on board. You're bringing something to the table that we've never talked about on the podcast before. I'm fully intrigued... I'm here for this.
Doree: I have a related question. Ha have either of you ever used and I don't know what they're called, but I'm going to describe it. It's like an ice thing that you put on your head.
Kate: Go on Doree. [crosstalk 00:35:29]
SuChin: I feel like Jessica St. Claire used the ice caps when she was trying to grow her hair back post-cancer treatment.
Doree: Not that, it's not that it's not an ice cap exactly. I think it's for depression and migraines.
Kate: Ooh, Su.
SuChin: The migraine part.
Doree: Sorry. I'm going to... I should have come more prepared to talk about this, but I didn't know we were going to go down this road.
Kate: Well since I'm interested on just a top line.
SuChin: Yeah. It seems like hot and cold is really where we've landed here.
Doree: Okay. I found it.
Kulap: Self-care, yay.
Kate: Okay.
Doree: I guess it is a... I don't know if this is just a generic one, but it's sold by a company called Magic Gel on Amazon and it's called a Headache and Migraine Relief Cap.
Doree: And it's a headache ice mask or hat used for migraines and tension headache relief. Stretchy, comfortable, dark and cool.
Kate: It does look like a jolly cap, like you might wear just out for a good time in the snow, but it's packed with ice packs. Wow, this is fascinating.
SuChin: But you also put it over your face.
Kate: Su why do you do this, you're not a cold person. A cold shower is more you.
Doree: This is what I'm wondering.
SuChin: Yeah.
Doree: I've been hearing heat this whole time, but would you consider going over to the cold side?
SuChin: You know, as a migraine person, cold is also part of the regimen and that makes a lot of sense. For me when I get a migraine where I can't get out of bed, I will use cold.
Doree: Really?
SuChin: That works more effectively for me. But just that kind of simmering, "Ooh, I feel something coming on." I will use heat. So I don't know if there's a science to that. That's just where I am.
SuChin: But the cold, if you suffer from migraines or tension headaches, icing that is... It's instantaneous. It will help the inflammation and that sort of thing. So I'm a big fan of that.
SuChin: I don't know about... Do you need a cap? The only thing with a cap without seeing a picture of it, is that, you want to get to where exactly the pain is. I don't just want to be cold.
Doree: I see. Okay.
SuChin: You know what I mean? So when I use an ice pack it's very specific where I'm feeling the tension, usually at the base of my neck. So, that's kind of the only thing, but I'm intrigued. I would test that out.
Doree: Look, I'm just throwing it out there.
SuChin: And also interested how it relieves depression.
Doree: Well, the person I originally spoke to about this who told me she was using, it was using it for depression. That's this might be an off-label use.
Kate: We had a guest on the show who would take a... She would take a three minute ice cold shower as kind of like a neurological reset to help her insomnia.
Kate: So before she'd go to bed, she'd stand in a cold shower for three minutes. And, and I wonder if it kind of does the same thing, Doree.
Doree: That is very interesting, Kate.
Kate: Good thing we are not doctors.
Doree: Yeah. Very good thing. Are we all familiar with the Wim Hoff method?
Kate: No!
Kulap: The Iceman. Have we not seen every episode of Goop on Netflix?
Doree: I only made it through the mushroom episode of Goop on Netflix, and then I was like...
SuChin: This is a deep dive, Kate and Doree. Deep dive.
Kulap: This is Wim Hoff's method... When people are doing like polar bear dives, he is able to swim in Arctic ice. It's a type of therapy is being able... He'll take people up to Big Bear and have them be their bikinis and swimsuits first on the snow doing breath techniques, like horse breathing techniques, and then they will eventually dive into the lake.
Kate: Have you done it cool up? Have you done it Kulap?
Kulap: No. I've gotten as far as taking cold showers and doing the horse breathing in the shower.
Kate: Wow.
Kulap: But I am fascinated to a point and I guess that point is actually diving into a frigid body of water, but ice baths in general are seen to for certainly for athletes to recover in.
Kulap: I believe Tom Cruise has an ice bath ready to go on all of his sets. I mean, to keep that body tight and right.
Kate: Yeah, baby. Who knows how old he is?
Kulap: We don't know.
SuChin: 640.
Kulap: I truly have no idea. He could be a vampire for all I know.
Doree: Okey-dokey, let's take a break and then we will be back in a flash.
Doree: All right. We are back as promised.
Kate: Here's kind of a question that I would love to get your thoughts on because we've been talking about this so much on our show, this constant quest when it comes to "wellness and self-care," and I think your show also gets into this a lot.
Kate: What is this in service of ultimately, do you think? What do you think on a deeper level we are trying to heal or discover or nurture or change about ourselves through all this exploration with products in this way?
Kulap: My friend Casey, our friend, Casey Wilson talks about how her and I are searchers, not knowing what we're seeking, because what is it... What's that island that we're hoping to find?
Kate: Yeah!
Kulap: Because the search doesn't stop that... What I don't know... I guess Nirvana? I don't know.
SuChin: Eternal happiness?
Doree: Like self-actualization?
Kate: Yeah. Maybe.
Kulap: Yeah. I don't know. Go ahead Su, sorry.
SuChin: No, no, you finish.
Kulap: No, it was more of me just rambling about... That's a great question of like all the things I do from serums to the various myriad of crystals that are around me to the three decks of tarot that I pull every day, to I have something here that says Hummingbird Healing that I pulled from somewhere.
Kulap: And I also have, what's also here, these are Silo. I'm going to try micro dosing mushrooms, and maybe I'll maybe something will come from that. I don't know, all of these things that I do, I just want to feel okay in myself, I guess, in my own skin, I'll start there.
SuChin: My goodness. That's perfectly said. I also think that like, there's something for me, at least about the balance of overstimulation and specifically overstimulation of information screens, people, phones, all of that and the act of my nighttime skin routine or a bath routine or putting on a full face of makeup. All of that, for me, it's almost like a grounding, there's just so much buzzing happening.
SuChin: For me, it creates a quiet that feels very tactile, that's also different than what we're doing here and constantly in this digital world and in this... I think this information overload for me is a constant battle. If that makes sense.
Kate: It does. And actually it's really interesting hearing you say that, and this is me projecting onto you but you know, I grew up with you being one of my main information sources. And I feel like if you were a teenager, a kid and a teenager in the nineties, MTV was where you got your news. That was truly where I learned everything. And now as we like reflect on how the world is changing and how information just comes at us from all places.
Doree: Yes.
Kate: You know, it's on my phone and on my computer and on whatever TV I might be watching. It's just the overwhelm is I do think a different level and I know obviously everything changes over time and this is just a new generation reflecting on what it feels like to be old.
Kate: But there is something I don't know... There's something to be said about how that has changed so quickly and how zillennials or whatever the hell they're called, they don't even know anything different. This is just it.
Doree: Their brains are completely wired differently than ours because they-
Kate: Are right.
Doree: Well, because they've been around this technology in those formative years.
Kate: Yeah. I know.
Doree: SuChin, you alluded to your nighttime skin care routine.
Kate: Ooh. Let's dig in.
Doree: Let's get into it.
SuChin: Okay. Go on.
Doree: No, no, you go on.
SuChin: Oh, okay. [crosstalk 00:45:11]
Kate: No, no, no.
Doree: Ha ha, the tables are turned once again.
SuChin: I see, I see, should I tell everything amazing?
Doree: I want everything. I want SuChin's journey [crosstalk 00:45:21].
SuChin: Take us on the journey, let us know what products you're using.
Kate: You're there, it's nighttime.
SuChin: All right, I'm there, it's nighttime. And also I'd like to say that I like to switch it up every few weeks.
Kate: Sure.
SuChin: I'm one of those.
Doree: You and Kate really are simpatico-
Kate: I know, we are the same person.
Doree: That's wild.
SuChin: True. Or Dor, are you like, I have my tried true [crosstalk 00:45:45].
Kate: Yeah, and every day I'm like, "I'm using a new oil from blah-blah."
SuChin: That's right.
Kate: Yes.
SuChin: I'm like, "What's the humidity? What's the electrical current of the field of magnetics?" None of that is science.
SuChin: So the double cleansing, a hundred percent all the time. My right now absolute favorite bomb, that's the that's the cleanse number one is the Naturium. It's in a purple container. I'm on my second or third of this. I got it free, and then I was like, "Oh, I'm hooked." And Naturium is great. We've talked about Naturium, it's just the price point is right.
Kulap: Can get it at Target.
SuChin: The formulation, a lot of the products, not every product, they're they just are effective. So that bomb for some reason, it's that perfect consistency. Because I've tried other bombs and really expensive ones where you're just like, this is Vaseline or it's just too heavy.
SuChin: This is the perfect lightness and it's such a good one. I'm obsessed with it. And then I will do my second cleanse and there's this Korean brand called Knours. K N O U-R S. And it's an oil cleanser. I have very dry skin, so you can use a water based cleanser, but that's cleansing.
Doree: See, when I double cleanse, I do oil first and then water base second.
SuChin: Yeah. Sometimes I do water based cleanser, I have a water based cleanser, but it depends on how dry my skin feels. I almost can't have enough in terms of oils and that sort of thing. So I do that.
SuChin: Then we've talked about this brand a ton on our podcast called Good Light. Have you guys seen the Good Light?
Doree: No.
SuChin: Okay, so it's called Good Light.
Doree: No, I have not seen it.
SuChin: And they have this product called their... Kate if you're on the site, what's it called? It's their toner, it's their milk.
Kate: Moonglow Milky Toner?
SuChin: Moonglow Milky toner. So this is a very K-beauty, Asian beauty type of thing. It's not a toner where it strips away, it's almost like an essence. It's the consistency of water, which is kind of weird when you're like "I'm not sure this does anything." And I use a lot of it, I think that's the key too.
Kulap: This is... I love this product.
SuChin: And because it's so thin, I think it just goes into your pores and your skin.
Kulap: It's an immediate soak.
SuChin: Yeah, rapidly.
Kate: Ooh, baby. Okay.
SuChin: And what it will do is it'll pH... It'll balance your skin, it'll do all that stuff. And as I'm not a skincare expert, but as skincare experts say-
Doree: You're pretty close.
SuChin: That the pH balance of your skin, right, if it's not pH balanced then maybe the serum that you're using next, isn't really going to-
Kulap: Be as effective.
SuChin: Yeah, be as effective. So it'll balance your skin, blah, blah, blah. But it just leaves it kind of damp because whatever you're putting on, you want to make sure your skin is still a little bit damp. And then at night right now I'm using... So what I will do is, I love of the Naturium retinol. They have like an oil, but it's the cream. Whatever the cream is, it's different. They have a few retinol products. Should I get the exact name? So everyone...
Kate: Well, let's see. Listen, I'm on all the websites researching in real time because I'm making a shopping list.
SuChin: No, you're going to love this.
SuChin: The retinol complex cream.
Kate: That's it. $20! What a good price.
SuChin: Yes. Not a serum.
Doree: Wow. We love to see it.
SuChin: Yes. So I put that on and then that's when I go in with the SolaWave.
Kate: Oh baby.
Kate: With the serum that comes with the solo wave. You put that on top of the cream. Oh this is fascinating.
Doree: She loves a Blue Tansy moment guys. She loves a Blue Tansy.
Kulap: I like a Blue Tansy too. Blue Tansy is so nice.
SuChin: I'm going to get... I mean I think if I have another child, it's not happening, but I would name it Blue Tansy.
SuChin: I love Blue Tansy so much. I love the smell of it, I love how it feels on my skin. So, the Blue Tansy is also in this...
Doree: SolaWave serum. Yeah.
SuChin: I think that because I have a little bit of the retinol cream on and then I'll go right into the SolaWave. I feel like they're both kind of being pushed into my skin with this heating device because I'm seeing little bit more of a glow.
Doree: Well also you were pushing the device into your face with such a...
Kate: The aggressive gusto. Yeah, the muscles.
SuChin: So much muscle. You know what I mean? Just like breathing through it anyway. So I do that, the SolaWave and then I like to go in, before I go to bed with another Blue Tansy oil.
SuChin: There's so many darn face oils out there. I've tried expensive ones, cheap ones, blah, blah, blah, and this is one of the best I've ever tried. The company is called Blunt Skincare. Kulap introduced me to this brand.
SuChin: And I think every product, every product line has an oil, and then you're just like-
Kate: Yes, they do.
SuChin: And to me, I don't know. I haven't... It's very few times am I like "Wow, this is actually a really fantastic oil," and they have an oil-
Kulap: That's all they do is various oils. Maybe there's maybe three or four oils in their entire line.
SuChin: And I'm going to give you the exact name, but they have a face oil. All their oils are good because they sent us... I haven't actually tried all of them, but they sent us, I've tried two of them and they're great.
SuChin: But the one that I love the most is called Isolate Pure CBD Balancing Face Oil. And it has a lot of Blue Tans in it.
SuChin: I just think that their products are so well researched and formulated. Have you guys done a deep dive on CBD? That's something I want to do.
Doree: No.
SuChin: Because it's in every skincare product [crosstalk 00:52:17].
Doree: We get sent so much stuff. But I'm curious, I'm definitely CBD curious.
SuChin: Yes. And I-
Kulap: I think there is a lot that is snake oil, but the things that we've brought to you guys for sure awesome is the Asutra CBD pain relief cream.
SuChin: Yes.
Kulap: And then also this Blunt Skincare oil.
Kate: These are hot tips. I know none of these products, I'm so excited.
SuChin: I think that the Blunt Skincare, I just think that there's actually real science behind it and I don't think it's just snake oil.
Kulap: No, Stas Chirkov is the founder. And he comes from the cosmetic industry and decided, got tired of it, disenchanted by it, used and abused and decided to go off on his own.
Kulap: And he's very... It's really important to have the best products and stuff, best quality.
SuChin: And because I've been really enjoying it after the SolaWave, the Blue Tansy has anti-inflammatory it has almost like a cooling effect without temperature cooling, but your skin feels very sort of soothing.
Kate: It's an anti-inflammatory.
SuChin: Yeah. And so, and at this time [crosstalk 00:53:33] that combo works
Doree: At this time are you having your nighttime sandwich by the bedside?
Kate: I forgot about that.
SuChin: I do. I have my nighttime sandwich before and then the very last thing I have it right by my bedside is this isolate skin oil. I'd like to start my nighttime routine, you guys, six o'clock.
Doree: So this is a process that is-
SuChin: This is hours long.
Kulap: Yeah. Things are happening in between. Kids are being talked to, there's all these...
SuChin: That's right. Between four and six, you know what I mean? I've cooked dinner, I've slowed down for the day. I'm like, ah, I'm going to start.
Kate: Just start.
SuChin: Pounding on my face.
Doree: In the meanwhile she's putting on her entire sleep outfit. First of course, the hiking socks to not have any drops on her feet, then long johns, then pajama pants tucked into the hiking socks.
SuChin: Yeah.
Kate: I also wear hiking socks to bed. I don't want to be too creepy here, but I also wear a thick sock to slumber. I just... I can't. In the summer I don't most of the time, but in the winter it's a heavy sock.
SuChin: Yeah. Tight knit heavy sock.
Kate: Yep.
Doree: Okay.
Kulap: I get hot, so I can't cool.
Kate: Kulap, what is your nighttime skincare routine?
Kulap: Oh, okay well...
Kate: What's happening over in your neck of the woods.
Kulap: It's not...
SuChin: Everything is matte black.
Kulap: Not everything, a lot. A lot is though. You know that for me, it's happening before bed and that's going to be around, depending when I retire to the bedroom, that might be between nine and ten, I would say when that happens. And got to take the contacts off and then I got to handle this. So I don't always double cleanse, depends if I was wearing a sunblock and also if I'm lazy, I might not double cleanse. And generally I'm using for a water based cleanser I'm using the Good Light cleanser.
Kate: That also looks intriguing.
Kulap: Yes. They have four things on their line. I like it. I like all three, all four. Sorry.
Kulap: And then, so now we've cleansed. Now it's time to tone and I will use the toner, the Good Life toner that she mentioned, also the Naturium toner... Su, what is that one called? It's the Naturium one you got me into?
SuChin: Yeah. Like once a week or so... It's oh my gosh. This is the standout product in Naturium, I think. The thing that got me hooked, it's called the... Let me see, it's the BHA... Sorry, we want to get it right.
Kulap: Yeah because it's like a bunch of numbers and stuff.
SuChin: Yeah. I never know the... But it's annoying for someone to talk about something and then not get the actual-
Kulap: Yeah. But I think that this product-
SuChin: She got me into it. She got me into Naturium period.
Kulap: Yeah. I think that this product is their best product. The BHA Liquid Exfoliant 2%.
Kate: Okay.
SuChin: You don't need to do very much, once a week for me, even once every four weeks.
Kate: Exfoliating, okay.
SuChin: But it is like turning a fresh page in a notebook.
Kulap: Well, as Su puts it, I think this is right. If you want to try out a new product, to give it a chance. It's almost like, clear your face up with this...
Kate: Yes, okay.
Kulap: Just a face pallette cleanse. Speaking of pallettes, Doree while we are so similar. I think I come in the middle here because I like to say that I am a painter and I'm not going to always use the same colors, right? What's going on with my face, what am I feeling, what are the conditions? And I'm always using an eye cream, I use the Goop one.
Doree: Oh!
Kulap: And I do that early. I do that after the toner. I want it to get into under my eyes. But there's... I have so many serums. I love the isolate that, well, that's a face oil. I used to do the 10 step Korean, and so I've various potions and notions there. And depending on the dryness in my face, am I going to double moisturize? Probably.
Kulap: But I also do a sleep mask too, in general. It's either going to be the isolate that Su brought up as a last step or I'm going to use the brand is called, I think Leonel and it's their water sleep mask, which is super hard to find right now.
Kulap: But that'll be my last step. What other things do I put on? Sometimes I put on an ampul, I'll put an ampul.
Kate: I love that word. Ampul.
Doree: I like the brand Misha.
SuChin: Oh, yeah.
Kulap: So sometimes... Their Time Revolution Ampul, which I believe... Isn't that they're like often used as a dupe for the SK2 Essence...
Doree: Yes, that's right.
Kulap: Yes. I feel like they're often held up together.
Doree: That's right. And I sometimes I use their essence as well.
Kate: Well, I'm going to be really adding onto the credit card bill after this episode. I feel like I'm going to buy all these things.
Kate: Doree will stick to her routine and I will be adding eight million new things I want.
SuChin: I do just want to clarify, it's not the exact same every night. I just have products that are in the rotation.
Kate: You're monogamous. [crosstalk 00:59:51]
SuChin: They're in the rotation. They're loyal. Right. As Kulap was saying like, sometimes my skin feels a little drier, so you got to tweak, but it's not like I'm always testing new stuff out because I just don't have the patience or the time, honestly, you need like four to six weeks to really see if something really works.
SuChin: And then it's like...
Kate: Yes.
Kulap: You know, I don't know. And because of knowing SuChin now what I have been so surprised is, I've really expanded my dental care. [crosstalk 01:00:23] I have lived many years with just having one toothbrush at any given time. And now, I've got like three, many flosses.
SuChin: Oh, sorry, Kulap. You just reminded me, I need to Stimudent.
Doree: Oh boy. Gosh. Oh boy.
Kate: What? What is Stimudent? Wait, you're holding it right now.
SuChin: It's the Stimudent Original Plaque Remover. Fights gum disease and gingivitis. It's these little sticks, but they're shaped kind of with a curve so they can get really in between. And the reason I'm doing this guys, all day, let me just tell you. Nobody asked is that when I went to my last cleaning-
Doree: We were all silent.
SuChin: When I went to my last cleaning, my dental hygienist, Brother Mike, that's what he wants me to call him. Brother Mike.
Doree: Oh, okay.
SuChin: The tissue around my implants, I'm 46, is dead or dying. And so I needed to stimulate blood flow. You guys don't have implants yet. Don't worry, your teeth will start falling out mid-forties.
Kate: Oh shit.
Doree: We, when we were recording yesterday, I was watching her in-between, and she was taking that thing to her mouth like the SolaWave. It was a jab-jab, dig-dig.
SuChin: I must stimulate, my gums are dying. I must stimulate. I must revive and stimulate at all costs.
Kate: My husband flosses all day long, and he leaves little flossers like trails around the house.
Doree: Oh, no, no, no.
Kulap: All day long!
Doree: Little flossers, Plackers. He has a Placker, he's always just picking with a toothbrush.
SuChin: I love a Placker but no, you don't get to scatter them around like the Goldilocks trail.
Doree: I find them them everywhere, in the couch [crosstalk 01:02:17].
Kulap: Follow the crumb.
SuChin: Follow the Placker crumbs.
Kulap: That's my dad.
Kate: Before we, before we wrap up, I would love to kind of reflect on your relationship and friendship and how it's grown, working together. How did you, how did you all meet? What has it been like to go from friends to business partners in this way? Because Doree and I have done it and it's been very rewarding. I would love to hear what it's been like for you all.
Kulap: We met while organizing within an Asian-American women's group in entertainment and didn't know each other that well, but we would be in a corner giggling and doing dumb bits. And then it was like, oh, we should... As one does, the thought comes to your head, "We should do a podcast." Aside from our circles? Does that happen ever? I don't know.
Kate: In LA it happens once every half second, right?
Doree: If you go to coffee with someone, you kind of know, they're going to maybe ask you to do a podcast with them that's the temperature here.
Kulap: And as I mentioned before, SuChin Pak American icon, truly.
Kate: Also you Kulap, also an icon, so let's not get it twisted here.
Kulap: I appreciate that. But I've gotten to know her so well, so intimately... SuChin...
Kate: And she keeps coming back from more. Listen, I'm shocked.
SuChin: No, my wants and desire is bottomless because...
Kate: Shocking.
Kulap: I know you can relate to this, but it's like maybe you have a plan to talk about something and then you start to talk about how my dear friend SuChin Pak changes her underwear two to three times a day.
Kulap: And then we that's what we're talking about. That's what needs to be talked about.
Kate: I get it.
Doree: Is there also something about becoming friends as adults where you're just more open with these things about ones self?
SuChin: I think the plus of being 40-plus.
Kate: Yeah.
SuChin: Give less shits, but at the end of the day I'm just trying to not do any harm. Take no shit, not do any harm, basically. I'm messing up that phrase. But we can just go there and the insecurities of your twenties, and I think part of, most of my thirties-
Kulap: Most of my thirties.
SuChin: It has fallen away and you can just be.
Kate: I mean, this has been just the most happiest pleasant hour of my life.
Doree: Same.
Kate: It's just been so much fun. I wish we could do this for five hours. I but SuChin you would have to change your underwear within the five hours.
SuChin: Listen, I can do it right here. I've gotten real good at it. I do a little slippy slip and you won't even know it.
SuChin: Underwear, fresh underwear.
Doree: They're just at the ready?
SuChin: At the ready, you never know.
Kate: Listen, that is how... With age comes wisdom and great skill.
Kulap: Yeah.
Kate: The rest of us, it would be very, it would be very obvious.
Kulap: Yeah.
SuChin: Yeah.
Doree: Yeah.
Kate: Well, you all can find Add2Cart anywhere you listen to podcasts. It's such a great show, it is really fun and it does explore shopping, but also kind of a consumption on a deeper level. And it's really such a pleasure to listen to.
Kate: Where else can listeners find you both individually or together online?
Kulap: Please follow us at @Add2Cartpod for all podcast related stuff. I'm @Kulap on Twitter and @IamKulap on Instagram.
SuChin: And I am @SuChinPak on Instagram.
Kulap: And Twitter, but she's rarely on Twitter.
SuChin: Yes. I have a Twitter account and it is @SuChinPak.
Kate: Thank you both so much. This is really fun.
Kulap: Thank you. So fun. Yay.
Kate: Su and Ku, we love you!
Doree: Oh my God. I mean, we just went deep on that SolaWave tool.
Kate: And you know, we did.
Doree: We did.
Kate: After we talked to them, I immediately went and busted it out and SolaWaved my face.
Doree: And how'd it go?
Kate: Feels great. I like it, and I do like their serum that you put on with it.
Doree: Wow, okay.
Kate: I didn't do it for like 20 minutes.
Doree: Sure, sure, sure.
Kate: But I did do it for five. Yeah, I did enjoy it. It's a nice little gadget.
Doree: Hmm. Hmm. All right. Noted. No-Ted.
Kate: Well, Doree, here in the intention zone of this podcast, we have talked about meal planning because you have become... You're transitioning into the meal planning world, into the community.
Doree: I am.
Kate: How has it been going?
Doree: You know what, Kate it's actually been going really well. I don't want to jinx it because I feel like along with everyone else, I can do something for a couple of weeks and then it kind of fades away.
Doree: So I'm a little loathe to say, "It's going great," a week and a half into it, but so far so good. I will say.
Kate: I'm very proud of you.
Doree: Thank you so much. Thank you.
Kate: You know, I do want to say you shared with me a fantastic recipe for a sheet pan mini meat loafs with potatoes and carrots and I made it, or actually Anthony made it this week. It was fantastic.
Doree: Yeah.
Kate: It was scrumptious.
Doree: I thought it was really tasty. So I'm glad that you enjoyed it as well. And then this week, Kate, I am theoretically getting my boot off.
Kate: Is this week three of the boot?
Doree: Well, I'm supposed to, I think I'm getting it off, like on the two week anniversary of getting the boot.
Kate: Happy anniversary.
Doree: Now, it feels like it's been much longer, but...
Kate: Yeah, those boots are work.
Doree: It has in fact, only been two weeks and I'd like to just ease my way back into exercising. I feel like it definitely affects my mental health when I don't get to exercise.
Kate: Yeah, I'm with you on that for sure.
Doree: So looking forward to that is my intench this week.
Kate: I love it for you. Well, over here, I've been working on figuring out some like positive reframing for my little brain and I did a mantra that a friend recommended and I've read it to myself two days in a row.
Kate: I put it in the notes app on my phone so I can find it on any gadget that I'm on. And I really like it, it really made me feel better yesterday.
Doree: Wow.
Kate: Yeah. And it was just kind of a three sentence statement. So I don't know, I'm going to keep trying it and see if that works.
Doree: Cool. And then what about this week, Kate?
Kate: Well, Doree, if you've been listening to the podcast or following me on Instagram at @KateSpencer, you know that my family has a new member and that is Penny the puppy.
Kate: And my intention this week is just to kind of be very present and enjoy the puppy time, not get too stressed about the puppy time.
Doree: Oh, yay.
Kate: Because I know it is fleeting. This dog is only going to be this little for long and she's going to grow and become a very big queen. And I just want to not worry about how much pee I'm cleaning up, but just enjoy like how sweet this dog is. This dog is like the sweetest dog.
Doree: Aww.
Kate: And she's very smart and she's just a real little... And she's getting in everything, she's a real rascal. So I just want to enjoy the rascallyness.
Doree: Yeah. Oh, I love that.
Kate: Anyway, shout-out again to Forever35 Pets, my support group on the internet.
Doree: Aww, I love that.
Doree: Well, Kate, I do just want to remind everyone that award-winning podcast is hosted and produced by me, Doree Shafrir and you Kate Spencer and produced and edited by Sam Hunio. Sammy Reed is our project manager, our network partner is A Cass. We will talk to you all again so soon. Bye-bye.
Kate: Bye!