It’s still a little hard to believe Lauren “Lo” Bosworth was just a senior in high school in 2004 when she and her six classmates became mega-stars thanks to the unscripted MTV smash “Laguna Beach.” She also flourished while living with her besties on the millennial-loved spin-off, “The Hills.”
But a decade later, Bosworth’s mental and physical health started to decline. She suffered from urinary tract and yeast infections as well as bouts with anxiety and depression. “I came to find out that it was all caused by a severe vitamin deficiency exacerbated by poor gut health,” she says. When she tried various products to ease her pain, “I noticed that many were causing me more irritation than relief and didn’t address the root causes of my issues.”
She decided the only way to feel better was to be a go-getter. Bosworth is the founder of Love Wellness, a female-first lifestyle company dedicated to boost gut, brain and vaginal health. “It’s the only wellness brand in the market that makes clean, safe products paired with body-positive messaging,” she explains, adding that the items are free of toxic skin irritants and microbiome disruptors.
Beyond vitamin supplements and skin care products, Bosworth shares that she’s found mental and physical happiness by prioritizing self-maintenance. “I’m a firm believer that if you don’t take care of yourself and rest and recharge, you won’t show up as your best self in any area of your life,” she says. “You need to treat yourself and have a work-life balance.”
Bosworth took some time out of her day to list her everyday musts for CNN Underscored.
Bosworth, who consulted with doctors while developing her products, stresses that good gut health “affects your whole body, including vaginal health and mental well-being.” That’s why she makes a point to take two capsules of this supplement — which consists of live and fermented bacteria — to calm her digestive system.
Protecting the skin is a top priority for this native California girl. During the day, Bosworth uses a lightweight 50 SPF broad-spectrum sunscreen. “It smells great and makes your skin slightly sparkly,” she says. “It’s also really pretty on your neck, chest and arms.” For down there, she singles out her line’s Comfy Cream: “I use it after shaving and anytime I need a little extra moisturizing comfort.”
Related: The best sunscreens in 2023, tested by editors
Bosworth elevates her heart rate (and gets in her steps) using a portable under-the-desk treadmill at her Love Wellness office. No wonder she says she’s “always sipping” from her white FlowState Tumbler, which features a comfort-grip handle, vacuum insulation, stainless steel construction and a rotating FlowState lid. It can also stay cold for up to 11 hours.
Related: How does Stanley’s new Quencher tumbler compare to the cult-favorite original?
As part of her self-care, Bosworth enjoys urban farming and has been tending to “an army of seedlings” on her New York City balcony to grow tomatoes, zucchini, carrots and more. “There’s something so gratifying and meditative about the process of planning, pruning and watching something grow,” she says. The star gets some help from this lightweight soil conditioner, which enables the growth of tomatoes and other vegetables.
Hey, you can take the girl out of the early '00s but you can’t take the early '00s out of the girl! Bosworth says she still listens to her favorite music on her iPhone using “old-school” Apple buds. “They never run out of battery,” she says. (The built-in microphone and volume-control remote are still handy too.)
Related: Apple’s $19 EarPods are hot again — here’s what it’s like to actually use them
When it comes to bedtime skin care, Bosworth has a whole regimen. “I’m obsessed with the ‘glazed donut’ look and have been seeing great results,” she shares. To start, she applies her dermatologist-prescribed .05% Tretinoin cream that she dots on a just-cleansed face. Next, she gently applies The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10%?+ Zinc 1% serum to address discoloration. The third step: COSRX’s Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence on face and neck to improve texture and give the skin a natural hydrating glow. Finally, she slathers on the Egyptian Magic cream “to seal it all in.”
Related: The 11 best oil-free moisturizers, according to skin experts
Hello, dairy queen! As an afternoon snack, Bosworth likes to eat a cup of Good Culture’s thick, creamy and hormone-free cottage cheese. She tops it off with “some sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, a crack of sea salt and a drizzle of olive oil.”
Related: The essentials list: Partake Foods CEO Denise Woodard shares her pantry must-haves
