"Bling Empire" Star Kelly Mi Li on the Importance of Self-Care, Her Favorite Spas, and More
“Bling Empire” star Kelly Mi Li enjoys a spa day at The St. Regis Singapore.
One of our favorite Netflix shows at the moment is “Bling Empire,” the hit reality television series that offers a glimpse into the glamorous lives of super wealthy Asian and Asian-American socialites living in Los Angeles.
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One of the stars of “Bling Empire” is Kelly Mi Li, a successful entrepreneur, film producer, and philanthropist who is the ultimate #GirlBoss. We could spend all day scrolling through her Instagram account (@kellymili), which includes pics of Li jet-setting to exotic locales around the world (pre-pandemic), visiting spas, and practicing self-care through activities such as meditation, yoga, and working out.
When you lead a life as busy as Li’s, it’s important to make sure that you take good care of your body, mind, and soul on a regular basis. Self-care is essential to leading a happier and healthier life—not only will it help you decrease stress, relax and prevent burnout, but taking care of yourself can also improve motivation, work performance, and productivity.
We caught up with Li to chat about the importance of self-care, how she incorporates wellness into her life, her favorite spas and spa treatments, and more:
Why is wellness important to you? How do you incorporate self-care into your routine?
I believe wellness and self-care help us become the best version of ourselves. Before my 30s, I didn’t fully realize how important it was to make time for myself. Learning this earlier would have made such a difference in my life. However, I’ve since grown so much and embraced self-love.
I incorporate self-care into my daily routine and always set aside time to do activities that I love such as reading or being outdoors at the beach. Before the pandemic started, I would also make time to travel. Traveling and experiencing new places and cultures is one of my favorite things to do! It really allows me to disconnect from my busy work life and appreciate the world around me.
What are your favorite ways to relax?
Some of my favorite ways to relax are face masks and bubble baths! At the end of a busy day, I love focusing on my skin care and doing activities that help me wind down. Bubble baths are great, especially when I have a glass of wine and a book to read alongside it!
Li also regularly incorporates meditation and yoga into her schedule.
What’s your favorite type of workout/exercise activity?
I love doing workouts and exercises that I can easily integrate into my life. With the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve been doing a lot of home Pilates and yoga. I also make time to go on daily walks. Short walks have been such a simple way to add more physical activity and exercise to my daily routine.
When did you start meditating and how has it helped you?
I started learning about meditation 10 years ago and have continued since! There are so many benefits of meditation from improving focus and concentration to helping with self-awareness and reducing stress. I have a busy work life that I love and am passionate about. However, I know it’s so essential to maintain balance. Meditating has helped me do this. With meditation, I’m able to slow down and reserve time for me to disconnect and self-reflect.
What are some of your favorite spas?
I love going to spas! I think spas are such a great way to pamper and treat yourself. It’s important to reward yourself for all the hard work you do! A few of my favorite local spas include The Spa at Terranea Resort and Spa Montage Laguna Beach. I also loved going to traditional Korean spas pre-pandemic.
Li relaxes in the dry sauna.
Do you have a favorite spa treatment?
It’s hard to choose a single spa treatment that I love since there are so many great ones out there. If I had to pick one, my go-to treatment would be deep tissue massages to help me de-stress!
Any favorite wellness tips & beauty secrets you’d like to share?
When it comes to health and wellness, I love maintaining a structure and schedule for my routine. I do a lot of activities on a daily basis, such as short walks every day and reading before I go to bed. I always do my best to work out around the same time every day—having this routine has made a lot of these activities become a natural part of my life. It’s also helped me stay committed to reserving time for self-care.
As for beauty secrets, sunscreen will always be one of my go-to items! It’s so important to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Simply staying hydrated and getting enough sleep have also helped me take care of myself.
For more of Kelly Mi Li’s spa and wellness adventures, follow her on Instagram: @kellymili
[Images courtesy of Kelly Mi Li]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk