Julie wears the Anya Puff Sleeve in Optic White and the Racer Low Rise Slim in Stormy
Lessons in Self-Love
with Julie Civiello Polier
To put it simply, Julie Civiello Polier, founder of LINEA, is a celebrity facialist, holistic esthetician, Reiki Master, and intuitive guide. But to know her is to know she is so much more. We have been fans of hers for years and we are thrilled to celebrate the launch of her latest book, Gua Shua & Crystal Massage. We met up with Julie to chat all things self love and care.
Kayla Shirt in Tide
Ayla Baggy in Skylights
As you know, we’ve been fans of your work (or as we call it, magic) for years. We are so excited for the launch of your new book. Can you tell us about it and what you hope your readers will take away?
You all are so kind. I too am so excited about this book!! I've created a lot of different things in my life so far, and I've never been so proud of an offering as this sweet book, Gua Sha and Crystal Massage. And I am so grateful to everyone who brought this book to life. Gua Sha and Crystal Massage is a tutorial book of simple, illustrated techniques for healthy, clear, and glowing skin. There are so many incredible step by step massage sequences that offer the organ-emotion connection of the area we are massaging, since the face is a map of the entire body. It is my intention that this book gifts readers many more peaceful and tender moments where they soften into the radiant beauty that is uniquely them and only them!
Aside from the visual effects, there are many mental benefits to Gua Sha and crystal massage work – can you expand upon the importance of including self-care in your daily routine?
Yes, there are endless mental benefits in addition to the lifting and contouring gua sha provides. Because of the increased circulation from the gua sha massage, the brain benefits deeply from an abundance of blood nourishing and feeding the face and brain. Meaning, one has much more focus, clarity, decision making abilities that are all much more available and immediate. Gua sha is soothing and calming to the mind, especially when massage strokes are slow and light in pressure, and these techniques invite a well-rounded connection between mind, body, and spirt. Often people report that their whole nervous system relaxed and their breathing became much longer and deeper. So many have shared their sleep changed after they introduced gua sha to their evening ritual, detailing that they slept more nourishing and restful hours than ever before.
Kayla Shirt in Tide
Ayla Baggy in Skylights
Your book launches on Valentine’s Day, a day rooted in celebrating love. In your words, what does self-love mean and how do you best maintain and celebrate that relationship?
I practice self-love as a divine recognition that I am the leading lady of my own life. No one else is going to intuit my life's path and carve it out for me. Being my best self is possible when I am giving from overflow, so I fill my own cup first as often as possible. It's taken me a long time to recognize that I have needs, that they're important, and they need to be honored and fulfilled (and not by just one person and not in just one way). And my ability to be present with and care for our son is so much easier when I've seen to my own needs first.
I best maintain and celebrate this caring relationship with myself by tending to the basics on a daily basis (might seem obvious, but as a busy, working single mother, the basics sometimes don't happen on the daily):
- Eating clean and healthy food consistently throughout the day so my blood sugar doesn't drop or surge
- Drinking pure water in slow and small sips (the slow, small sips hydrates the kidneys and doesn't rush right to the bladder)
- Dressing in an outfit that makes me feel confident and like I could go anywhere or be in any photograph
- Massaging my face daily, even if I'm in the school pick up line, so I am releasing tension, releasing stagnant emotions, and offering love and acknowledgment to all my organs, bones, tissues. And yes, so I infuse my face with all the lifting, toning, contouring, radiance these healing hands have to offer!
Isabel Tank in Black
Gaucho Wide Leg in Notions
Your book launches on Valentine’s Day, a day rooted in celebrating love. In your words, what does self-love mean and how do you best maintain and celebrate that relationship?
I practice self-love as a divine recognition that I am the leading lady of my own life. No one else is going to intuit my life's path and carve it out for me. Being my best self is possible when I am giving from overflow, so I fill my own cup first as often as possible. It's taken me a long time to recognize that I have needs, that they're important, and they need to be honored and fulfilled (and not by just one person and not in just one way). And my ability to be present with and care for our son is so much easier when I've seen to my own needs first.
I best maintain and celebrate this caring relationship with myself by tending to the basics on a daily basis (might seem obvious, but as a busy, working single mother, the basics sometimes don't happen on the daily):
- Eating clean and healthy food consistently throughout the day so my blood sugar doesn't drop or surge
- Drinking pure water in slow and small sips (the slow, small sips hydrates the kidneys and doesn't rush right to the bladder)
- Dressing in an outfit that makes me feel confident and like I could go anywhere or be in any photograph
- Massaging my face daily, even if I'm in the school pick up line, so I am releasing tension, releasing stagnant emotions, and offering love and acknowledgment to all my organs, bones, tissues. And yes, so I infuse my face with all the lifting, toning, contouring, radiance these healing hands have to offer!
Isabel Tank in Black
Gaucho Vintage Wide Leg in Notions
Alba Polo in White
Neve Low Slung in Oasis
"I practice self-love as a divine recognition that I am the leading lady of my own life. No one else is going to intuit my life's path and carve it out for me. Being my best self is possible when I am giving from overflow, so I fill my own cup first as often as possible."
Alba Polo in White
Neve in Oasis
How does your dedication to self-care impact your wardrobe choices? What is your approach to daily dressing?
Our skin breathes, as our largest excretory organ, and I feel it's so important to wear clothing that is made with really clean ingredients and doesn't fit too tightly, where it's cutting off circulation. If our skin is working too hard because of plastic fibre blends, then our brilliant immune system or ability to sweat and regulate body temperature has to expend so much extra energy. Energy we might not have! It is such a treat wearing COH because I know the sustainability pledge is in place and deeply honored daily by caring for the manufacturing workers at dignified wages and working conditions, by making changes so that Mother Earth is included in decision making and cared for, and the textiles used are clean!
I find that I carry myself confidently and I take up my full height when I'm in a tailored fit and when I'm in heeled boots. In contrast, I notice my posture may collapse a bit when I'm in cozier, loose fitting clothing. When I want to feel magnetic, radiant, and vibrant I wear something that elevates me: fitted Citizens of Humanity jeans and a button down with a unique feature either in texture or a detail with the sleeve.
My approach to daily dressing is "want to feel great? look great!" on the inside and the outside will follow. We love an outfit on someone who radiates luminous energy and has magnetism and charisma; this energy makes the outfit even better. And when it's a great outfit, it feeds someone's inner energy too. A two-way love conversation between beautiful being and fabulous outfit.
Speaking of love….which pieces from the collection are you loving right now?
I live in the Isabel Rib Tank and switch between Navy and White. And I love the Anya Puff Sleeve for an elevated look that's different and very feminine. I live in Citizens of Humanity jeans or vegan leather every day and just rotate the styles: Jolene High Rise and the Guacho in Recycled Leather.
Anya Puff Sleeve in Optic White
Racer Low Rise Slim in Stormy