Routines & Rituals with Carson Meyer

Routines & Rituals is our series that sees us interview some of the dewiest, earthiest, and loveliest ladies and gents on their — yep, you guessed it — routines & rituals. Self-care has become a giant buzzword of late, but (as much as the wellness world would like us to believe) there is no one-size-fits-all approach to beauty and healing. Each month, we’ll be detailing the practices and tools of a myriad of healers, creatives, and entrepreneurs to uncover the individuality of true self-care. This month, we chatted with Carson Meyer, the Founder of clean skincare line C & The Moon and a highly sought after doula.

Q. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m a birth doula and the founder of C & The Moon, an environmentally conscious skincare line. I grew up in Malibu and was raised by an environmentalist who warned me of the dangers of toxic chemicals found in everyday products from a very young age. My mother named me after Rachel Carson, an ecologist and writer, whose work inspires me every day!During my time at New York University, I studied the mind-body connection and complementary health practices. It was there that I was introduced to the film, The Business of Being Born, which opened my eyes to an entirely different perspective around birth and healthcare in America. It wasn’t until after I returned to Los Angeles in 2016 and met a midwife that I was inspired to begin my work as a doula. As a birth doula, I have the honor of getting to support parents and babies through a healthy and informed birth process by educating them on their choices and acting as an advocate in the birth space.In addition to my work as a doula, I have a skincare line, C & The Moon. The line was founded on the belief that the way we care for ourselves has a direct impact on how we care for the planet, and the way we care for the planet, has a direct impact on how we care for ourselves. Our debut product, The Malibu Made Body Scrub, is a formula I have been making in my kitchen for as long as I can remember. It was the only thing that would nourish my dry and sensitive skin with the ingredients that lived up to my standards of clean beauty. The scrub is made with organic botanical oil, brown sugar, and a food grade vanilla scent.

What is your AM/PM routine?

First thing in the AM, I am greeted in bed by my puppy. His cuddles are the very best way to start the morning. I do 20 minutes of Transcendental Meditation before getting up and having a cup of coffee. I drink Kion Coffee with collagen protein and grass fed butter, or I will have a matcha with Gut Connect 365 by United Naturals. I eat a big healthy breakfast of pastured eggs, kraut, and greens and then I take a plethora of herbal tinctures, supplements, and vitamins.After checking my email and going on a Topanga hike with the pup, I shower and scrub with my Malibu Made Body Scrub, which leaves my skin feeling hydrated all day long. There is nothing I love more than a warm shower or salt bath with Ancient Minerals Magnesium Flakes and bentonite clay. For me, bathing is the ultimate form of relaxation and me time, which is one of the reasons why I created C & The Moon.After bathing, I apply Priya Apotheca serum and moisturizer. Priya’s products are gentle, soothing, and thoughtfully made. I use the Linea Method sculpting tool to give myself a lymphatic face massage beginning at my neck. If I wear makeup, I use Iris & Romeo's Best Skin Days Foundation, Living Libations Eye Shadow, ILIA Eye Liner, RMS Concealer, and Saie Mascara. I always opt for a hat instead of sunscreen (unless I am wearing a foundation with zinc for sun protection). Many chemical sunscreens contain endocrine disruptors that I try to steer clear of.My evening routine consists of a sunset dog walk through the neighborhood before enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal by my boyfriend who is an incredible cook. I like to wind down by reading a book on my bio-mat or watching the latest alien documentary.

Do you have any rituals that you practice? How and why are they meaningful to you?

Some of my weekly rituals include yoga, lymphatic massages, sauna time, acupuncture, ice bathing, purge writing, and meditation. These practices are all meaningful to me because they deepen my connection to myself and deliver healing benefits to my whole being. I really believe that in order to support others you have to be giving that same love and care to yourself. I wouldn’t be able to hold space as a doula in the same way if I didn’t have the privilege of getting to tend to my own physical and mental wellbeing.

What are some pre and postnatal routines or rituals that you recommend to your clients?

I really believe that the pre and postnatal period is such a sacred time that really benefits from thoughtful rituals. Creating rituals around this huge life transformation can be so grounding for new and expecting parents and a beautiful way to connect with the soul inside.Something I recommend my clients do is build an altar in their home. This can be a space where they gather special items that hold meaning or symbolism such as objects from nature, photographs, or drawings. This altar then becomes a place to go for meditation, journaling, or letter writing. It is a place for deep relaxation, introspection, and solitude — a place to connect with the child and mother within.The Birth Blessing Candle is something I created this year as a way for new mamas to bring into their rituals around their transition to motherhood and to welcome their community to do the same. Each candle is adorned with a rose quartz crystal and a birth blessing mantra. This candle can be used through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and makes for a wonderful gift to honor the mother.

What advice would you give to someone wanting to transform something that seems mundane and everyday — say, having a shower — into something more sacred?

Music and movement makes everything more sacred!These days putting away my phone and staying focused on one thing helps me get into a mindful space. I think bathing is so sacred for that reason — there is not much else you can do but be present in the sensations that arise. There is something womblike about bathing that has the potential to be very nourishing.For 20% off your C & The Moon order, use code FULLEST20 at checkout.Carson Meyer is an entrepreneur, healer, and artist. She is a certified birth doula, birth photographer, and the founder of C & The Moon. In 2016, she graduated from New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study where she pursued studies in child development, art therapy, and alternative medicine. Carson returned to her home in Malibu, California and began her journey as a doula supporting parents through a healthy and peaceful pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.