A Sustainable Life With Creative Ryan Lopes

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

I wash up, make my bed and make my way for a brew of coffee. 

What are you having for breakfast?

Six-minute eggs, toast, leftover baked goodies. I love to supplement with tinctures, alternating to matcha, and adding reishi. 

What’s your daily beauty routine?

I try to keep it simple. Water, toning with my own aloe, serums, spf and non-drying masks. Oil cleansing has saved me too.

How would you describe your day-to-day style?

It’s regardless and comfortable due to our lives changing. But I love classic styles – things and silhouettes with form. Button ups, always. Layering with knits and slouchy slacks. 

How do you inform yourself throughout the day? What are you listening to, watching, reading?

Lots of music. Lots of Alice & John, C. Bingeing Grey’s Anatomy and always a random podcast to kill time. I do incorporate a lot into my day, so these moments of watching and listening are a little more tender to me.

Do you have any personal life hacks for getting through the day in the most sustainable way possible?

Waking up early is very important to me. Moving around, too. Tidying up your space whenever you can to keep a momentum and awareness of both our internal and external, which to me is sustainable.

How do you wind down at the end of the day?

More music, dinner, wine, conversations with family. Facial masks and using a gua-sha. I like to catch up on my creativity in this moment, too. It’s nice to have that to look forward to. 

What does dinner time look like for you?

Where my family comes from, lots of our cooking and meals come from creativity. I mean that by shuffling whatever is in the fridge and cabinets and making something great out of it. 

What’s your night-time beauty ritual?

Oil cleansing, sometimes twice. I love to incorporate serums like vitamin C and practice gua-sha for an extended amount of time, about ten minutes or so. It’s become my favourite part of the day. Also dressing down and adding warmth to my environment.

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability is presence and commitment. It is to be aware, and assertive within ourselves to tend to our needs, and to learn about the most valuable parts of ourselves. Being in the moment, improvising and communicating. 

What drives you to live a sustainable life?

The chances we are granted to walk, talk and create. With that comes intention, and with intentionality creates outlets for more sustainable practices. 

Finally, what are three changes you would like to take from this time to move forward with in a more sustainable way?

The changes I am committed to make from this time on to move forward are to tune out, and act moderately. Prioritize my well-being and communication. Lastly, to give and practice conscious giving.

Words and imagery by Ryan Lopes.