Meet Ervina Wu and Angela Chau Gray, co- founders of YINA.

YINA embraces the timeless wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as a holistic approach to promoting inner beauty, overall well-being and longevity.

TCM is centered around the concept of healing, much of which is prevention-based. TCM is more than Medicine.

It’s about tuning into your body, feeling around for the unexpected, and treating ourselves as a radiating, energetic whole unit rather than a sum of separate parts.

Ervina Wu is a registered TCM Dermatologist. She received a scholarship from the Chinese government for her PhD in TCM and clinical training in autoimmune disease. Ervina healed herself with Chinese Medicine during her cancer treatments.

Angela Chau Gray`s journey to TCM started with a class in Medical Ethnobotany at UC Berkeley. This ignited her love of plant biology and spearheaded her pursuit of understanding Chinese medicinal plants. Angela was born and raised in New York but grew up immersed in TCM and the art of Yang Sheng (nourish life).

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has been integral to my health and wellbeing my entire life. It has helped me and my patients and I’m inspired to share its relevance with more people. I created a TCM lip balm during my graduate studies, which got into several prominent retail shops. After graduating, Ervina suggested taking my lip balm to the next level, I said yes and YINA was born.

YINA is deeply rooted in Chinese medicine and philosophy. 
The earliest form of self care is Yang Sheng - “nourishing life”, is a powerful TCM lifestyle practice that supports thriving health and longevity, a concept that has been around for more than 2,500 years.  Yang Sheng is a way to cultivate vitality from within and to develop mind-body wellness.  Our topical and ingestible products go beyond skincare, to help you look,feel, and live your best.

Both of us are licensed TCM practitioners and Ervina is a certified TCM dermatologist.  We source and custom extract our TCM herbs before adding them to our formulas - this is a time-consuming and expensive process but worth it because it creates a more potent product.  These extracts are truly one-of-a-kind and unique to YINA.

Tell us more about the concept of Chinese Medicine in Skincare?

The earliest records of TCM for skin care can be traced back to ancient China. Herbal remedies and natural ingredients were employed to treat skin conditions and enhance beauty.  Ancient texts laid the foundation for TCM principles, including the concept of Qi (vital energy) and the interconnectedness of the body and mind. Our skin is the largest organ in our bodies, we absorb at least 60% of whatever we put on it.  This is why we need to be mindful about what we put on our skin.

Topical medicine has always been a big part of Chinese medicine - we have gua sha, patches, creams, salves, ointments, heat + bath packs, etc.  Through applying herbs and tools on the skin, we are able to alleviate skin issues, stress, travel sickness, pain, digestive issues, and more.  YINA products are created to help boost your skin as well as to promote vitality.



What are the key ingredients you are using in YINA skincare and why you selected them?

Tremella mushroom is one ingredient we use instead of hyaluronic acid because it does more than just plump the skin.  It’s rich in polysaccharides with trace minerals, and vitamin D to soothe and protect the skin barrier.
Centella is another herb we use in several products to repair the skin and improve elasticity.

We also frequently use adaptogens such as astragalus, ginseng, schisandra berries for their potent antioxidant and reparative properties, and to boost your skin’s resilience against stressors.

Creating formulas is both art and science, ingredients work in synergy with each other and we intentionally combine different ingredients for optimal efficacy.

Where are the herbs you use inside your YINA products coming from?

They are mostly from China, Korea, and Japan. 

Our partners use strict global standards of testing for purity, concentrations levels of therapeutic value, pesticides and heavy metals.  We use the highest quality of TCM herbs available, often they are certified organic or grown wild with no human intervention.

 

Nourish Botanical Serum- My skin tends to be on the dry side.  This serum helps keep everything hydrated, deeply nourished, and the scent is intoxicating (always reminding me to ground my energy, take time for rest and self care).  The Essential Mist is my must have throughout the day.  There is a bottle on my desk, in my vanity, and in my purse.  A great refresher, hydrator, keeps my skin super happy.

Ervina: 
For the face - Bioadaptive Cleanser, Essential Mist, Hydracloud, and Divine mask.  I travel frequently so I make sure to bring the most effective products that do it all.  For the body, it’s the Bath Ritual and Decolletage Treatment.

Misting my face between each layer of products works like a charm.  Getting good sleep (8+ hours), eating well, and gentle exercise is the ultimate anti-aging serum.  Using the right products then becomes icing on the cake!

Healthy lifestyle, less stress, weekly masks and frequent massages all over - scalp, face and body definitely helps with my 50+ skin!  For face and neck massage, I love using the Décolletage Treatment ( note: a little goes a long way!) and for the body, I swear by Recovery Body Treatment.

I go to bed by 11pm, eat plenty of seasonal produce, take frequent baths, practice qi gong and sitting meditation to take care of my mind and body.  Weekly acupuncture is a must, helps keep qi and blood moving optimally to stay balanced.

Ervina: 

Daily self massage, walks in nature, mindful movement, lots of warm herbal teas, herbal tonics, and of course two Lumidrops a day to maintain my vitality.

Morning: I stay in bed for 5 mins to stretch my entire body before getting up.  It’s the perfect time to stretch fingers, limbs, and back when your body is warm and relaxed. Before bed I take 3 diaphragmatic breaths with vocal exhales grounding my body deeply into the mattress, to let go of the day and enter my dream state.

In the morning, it’s cuddling with my husband and dog even for a quick minute.  Before going to bed, I practice gratitude meditation to end the day.

Exploring local farmers for fresh produce and experimenting with new ingredients or dishes..  Sharing culinary creations with my loved ones brings me utmost joy.

 

It’s the simple things - good sleep, keeping a consistent routine, and spending time alone from time to time.  I also love greenery; my home is surrounded by tea plantations and taking walks here always elevates my mood.



What is your personal mantra?

 “Be compassionate, be kind, and let go.”

“All I need is within me.”

 “The universe is not going to give you your dreams, it’s all up to you to make it into reality.”

“Don't pick the easy choice just because it’s there. Pick the right one for you, even if it’s harder.”