Lady Dawn Russell

Names like Juice Press, Pressed Juicery, Juice Bar and Juice Box decorate the storefronts of every bustling Manhattan street. Twelve dollars will buy you 12oz of a bottled up green juice that may or may not taste good, and may or may not contain 95% apple juice, 5% kale. Regardless, it’s time to drink up, folks. Dawn Russell is teaching us that a bottle a day keeps the doctor away.

But she’s not talking about the stuff you’ll find in a Times Square chain. No, her fight against lymphatic cancer took her around the world on a quest for the greens that would save her life. And now, fifteen years and 263 trials later, she’s sharing them with us.

Introducing 8Greens, the friendly (tasty) little tablet jam-packed with as much vitamin B6 as in 11 cups of Lima beans, vitamin B12 as in 10 cups of milk, vitamin B5 as in 30 cups of broccoli, Zinc as in 10 cups of asparagus… the list goes on. Long story short, Dawn’s done the work for you.

Buy Me!

Dissolve this powerful formula a la Alka-Seltzer and feel the benefits of wheatgrass, kale, blue-green algae, aloe vera, chlorella, barley grass, spirulina, and spinach sink into your system.

Join us as we learn a little bit more about Dawn and her journey.

YOUR INSPIRATION

How to be an effective leader

I try to support, not lead. As much as learning curves pain me, they are great for development and ultimately success.

Give everyone space to be themselves, to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. I try to support, not lead. As much as learning curves pain me, they are great for development and ultimately success. It nurtures independence, happiness, creativity and the best end results. A happy team means a happy founder and happy results.

How you stay creative

Move. Whenever I feel stagnant or flat, I will go for a walk through Notting Hill in London or the West Village in NYC where I live, read a great book (which is truly the best and rarest find), workout, or simply switch it up. If I am sitting too long, I will go turn on music and dance with my boys. Long ago, Bobbi Brown told me she spends little to no time at her desk. She will get the greatest creative inspiration while riding a camel, and quickly call the office at that moment (one of the few upsides of technology).

YOUR CITIES

(NY & London)

Wellness destinations

New York City

• Tribeca Spa of Tranquility. There’s nothing tranquil about it, but they scrub every last dead skin cell off of you. It’s not for the delicate.
• Christine Chin facial. It takes a few days to recover, but I have never had more compliments on my skin as I have after seeing her.
• Eyelash tint at Bella Spa on Hudson Street.
• CAP Beauty for discovering new health products. She has a great eye for finding new little brands.
• Shen Beauty for the Goop Exfoliating Mask. Gwyneth nailed it with this one.

London

• Brent Osborn-Smith is the best osteopath anywhere.
• Araminta Crawley provides the best massage in the world. No exaggeration.
• Elita at M&V Salon on Queensway for a true finger and toenail cleaning. I hate the light touch manicures where you could have done it better yourself. You feel clean and smoother after a visit to Elita.

For go-to, healthy food

New York City

• Health & Harmony is the best smoothie bar. Unfortunately, my beloved dreadlocked friend left to start his own store; however, they still have amazing, healthy smoothies (though not the same experience). Joe is the man for any vitamin question. He is truly the man of knowledge.
• The Elk for granola and caramelized grapefruit. It’s so good my mouth is watering just writing about it.
• Fred’s for the Chicken Noodle Soup you wish your mom made when you were ill.
• Three Lives & Company bookstore in the West Village. It’s the best bookshop in NY. My husband and I read a LOT! It’s one of the things that first drew me to him. His first present to me was A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving.

London

• The Coffee Plant on Portobello Road has coffee that even my Italian friends seek out, which is saying something.
• Juan Santa Cruz‘s restaurants have simple, fresh, unforgettable food. Simple is the most difficult and he has nailed it.
• Osteria Basilico in Notting Hill is like my second kitchen. Order the penne with spicy salami, and tiramisu for desert. Got to keep it real and balanced.
• Planet Organic for Manuka honey and kid probiotics.

YOUR GREENS

The True Benefits of Eating 8Greens

I wasn’t going to make 8Greens unless these eight greens were included, particularly the blue-green algae. Blue green algae is commonly known as the most powerful green there is as it is the only one 100% non-man manipulated. These greens detox, oxygenate, and make the body alkaline. We are at the beauty counters at Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, and Peninsula Spas because these greens are so amazing for the skin. Greens help with general immunity building, circulation, etc., but from a vanity perspective (which we all have) they also have immense beauty benefits.

• Spinach: rich in antioxidants, vitamin A, calcium, iron and alkalizing properties, it helps support a healthy aging process.
• Barley Grass: slows down the aging process.
• Kale: with seven times more beta-carotene than broccoli, it is one of the healthiest vegetables in the world.
• Spirulina: supports the body’s natural ability to regulate sugar intake, and assists in body’s ability to lose weight.
• Chlorella: highly detoxifying.
• Wheatgrass: boosts red blood cell production, improves circulation, and fights inflammation. It is also rich in alkalizing minerals.
• Aloe Vera: promotes immunity and soothes the stomach.
• Blue-Green Algae: boosts the immune system, energy, memory, and metabolism.

8Greens is an effervescent tablet rather than a pill or powder. With no excess spilling, it is easy to travel with; simply drops one in a glass of water and drink. There’s no need to stir, no need to measure. 8Greens is unique because it tastes great, has zero sugar and just 9 calories. I wanted to make getting greens easy, tasty, and affordable. Not everyone has the time to make a green juice, a smoothie, or healthy nutritional choices. 8Greens is perfect for late morning starts, the 4PM slump and the days you don’t eat right.

YOUR DAY

Morning routine

My morning always starts by getting out of bed in my Budd men’s pajamas and going downstairs for a snuggle with my boys. I start by drinking hot water and lemon before taking my older son to school. Our walk to and from school is when we really connect and I can hear about his day. Then our “sleeping hug” every night is when I might sneak a thought or suggestion in about his day.

After drop off I come home, have my 8Greens and get my most productive work done, uninterrupted. Twice a week a trainer comes and about once a week I will have a business breakfast meeting. When I am “Dawn,” I go to Farmacy, Daylesford or The Electric House top floor. When I am “Lady,” I go to Claridges for the scrambled eggs, or to Hertford Street.  Any Jeremy King restaurant is also worthy (The Colony Grill Room and Wolseley are my favorites). Full disclosure: he is a friend, but his sense of detail with tasty, healthy food is why I go.

I try to always do a bath, read a book and have bedtime with my boys. Then my work calls begin and I have my second 8Greens of the day. I force myself to stop at midnight, which normally means I need a 30-minute nap midday.

Your perfect outfit

I’m not a fashion person so I keep it simple. I live in Mother Denim and Bella Freud sweaters. For work I do Church shoes, Céline pants, and Victoria Beckham blouses (they always have a twist). For black tie I go vintage and invest. My wardrobe is far leaner than one would expect. I do my best shopping online waiting in a school pick up line. It’s the best way to avoid school gate gossip.

Evening relaxation

I am the queen of Epsom salt baths. I learned acupuncture in China so I put a handful of needles in my scar tissue, drink some dandelion tea if I am being really good, and read a good book. Since starting 8Greens, I have grown addicted to reading at night, as it is my only way of switching my brain to something else. Then, I will meditate for five to ten minutes before falling asleep.

YOUR BEAUTY

Must-have skincare products or routines

• Epsom salt baths with the whole bag, not just a cup as is recommended.
• Coconut oil at night all over the hands, on the cuticles.
• Dry scrubbing as much as possible.
• Shaving with conditioner to avoid bumps.

Favorite makeup products

• Nars Laguna bronzer. Use a big powder brush, not the recommended blush brush. You will get a more natural sun-kissed bronze look. You will look post-holiday, not post-make up application.
• Nars Concealer Cream for under eyes (I am a working mummy) or a blemish spot. Apply with a concealer brush to distribute and then use your finger – the heat from the finger makes it look invisible, which is something I learned from a pro.
• I love Buxom lip gloss.