27 Wellbeing Buys That Are Worth The Hype
No fads – promise.
By Jenny Brownlees
Wellness has become somewhat of a buzz-word in the lifestyle industry – in fact, we just penned a feature asking what wellness actually means?
Experts know that a balanced diet and lifestyle, fitness that focusses on strength, and activities that promote true mental wellbeing are the best things for our health. No quick-fix-promising detox powder is going to alter that fact. This year, say no to faddy (and often dangerous) juice cleanses and ‘detoxes’ and yes to science-led, health-boosting buys that promote real wellbeing. But which items are worth their impressive claims? We’ve cut through the BS to decipher the worth-it from the wasters.
Wellbeing
A brief moment of calm is better than no calm at all – if you struggle to get into meditation, the Simple Habit 5 minute meditation app might be for you. It’s ideal for busy people who might not have 40 minutes a day to practise getting their om’s in.
Simple Habit | The Best Meditation App for Busy People
If you like CBD oil, try this one. I swear by these drops – which contain the highest quality European organic grown Cannabis Sativa L extracts available in the UK today – for improved sleep and a feeling of overall calm.
1000mg (10%) CBD Oil | Organic Broad Spectrum CBD Oil | KLORIS – £83.00
Nothing beats a healthy, balanced diet. However, modern life and the way we farm means we aren’t always getting the amount nutrients we used to from our food. Hence, a supplement that can top up the rest. Lumity was created by Cambridge University graduate scientist Sara Palmer PhD, and has garnered a cult following (including the likes of Kate Moss, Angelina Jolie, Helena Christensen and more). The two-step capsules offer high-quality omegas, amino acids, minerals and vitamins to promote overall energy and immune support.
Lumity | Day & Night Nutritional Supplements | Cult Beauty | £75.00
Hear us out here – as far-out as these may sound, ear seeds have been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for many years before they became popular in the west. Used in auricular acupuncture, these tiny ion seeds work by creating a continuous compression on different points of the ear. This can help relieve stress, aches and pains, as well as boosting the mood.
Scientific studies are continuing to make the link between gut health and mental health, with the first improving the latter.
Harnesses the power of beneficial bacteria with Votary’ Probiotic Support to help boost your gut function – not to mention helping the skin glow from within, too.
VOTARY | Super Gut Probiotic Support Supplement | Cult Beauty | £60.00
Acupressure has been used in Chinese and Indian culture for centuries, as practice of healing and meditation. Time spent relaxing on these pillows helps promote great sleep, soothe aches and pains and even aids skin’s luminosity (the spikes help the body rid itself of toxins and increase blood flow for a healthy glow). HLN has the black version, and setting even 10 minutes aside to lay and meditate on our Bed Of Nails is our favourite part of the day.
Sleep Is King
Whilst many wellness gadgets are overrated, this intelligent sleep sidekick is getting rave reviews. Created for insomniacs, it combines meditation, yoga and behavioural cognitive therapy techniques to help you get a peaceful 40 winks.
DoDow | DoDow | Cult Beauty | Cult Beauty | £49.99
Spritzing this lavender and camomile spray on our pillow before bed is one small change that always makes us sleep deeper and more peacefully.
Try Mela’s weighted blanket to help calm a restless body. The blanket helps reduce feelings of stress in the same way a warm hug does: by enhancing oxytocin and dopamine and helping to reduce the stress hormone cortisol.
Environment
Creating a calming environment is key to feeling your best. Essential oils needn’t be saved for spa visits only – bring the soothing scents home, while humidifying the air at the same time.
Terracotta Ceramic Essential Oil Diffuser & Humidifier | anatomē |
If you prefer, get your aromatherapy fix in the form of a handy roll on.
Infused by hand, without synthetic fragrances and chemicals, indulge in calming and relaxing scents of lavender, fir balsam and grounding cedar wood. Put down your phone and breathe it in.
Fermented Foods
This year, you’ll see a huge increase in probiotic-rich foods and recipes that include them. Again, this is done with a healthy gut in mind. Try adding gut-boosting foods like kefir, live yoghurt, sauerkraut, kombucha, and miso into your menus. Thank us later.
Fitness
With gyms currently closed due to COVID, the focus for 2021 is on at-home workouts that can easily slot into our routines. Shorter, 20 minute fitness routines are king, as are virtual classes and apps. The focus going forward is the importance of feeling strong, not skinny. Weight training helps bone density, the metabolism, and can help fight off and prevent illness later in life. We’re using Bala’s weighted bangles at home for a quick mood-boosting fitness session.
Work harder
Similarly, using resistance bands in your workout are great for at home – they help your endurance, and have less risk of injury compared to machine equipment.
Bala Bands | Free People UK | £18.00
Time to relax…
Sensible training, with adequate recovering time with stretching, massage and foam rolling is key. We love this massage ball for relaxing tight muscles.
Try this. It works.
Magnesium is often called nature’s pain reliever – use it to ease sore muscles post-workout.
For post-jogging knees
Healist’s joint balm uses a medley of natural extracts – including pure CBD, Camphor, arnica and menthol – to bid farewell to niggling twinges the natural way.
Many are taking sobriety beyond Dry January, or are embracing low-alcohol alternatives to increase wellbeing. Saying goodbye to alcohol has a whole host of health benefits, from improving focus, reducing anxiety and boosting the mood. If you want to give it a go, rest in the knowledge that the days of boring soda and sugary drinks as no-alcho alternatives are over. Brands like Seedlip have created unique blends of distilled botanicals to create sophisticated non-alcoholic options. There’s delicious Spice 94, Garden 108 and Grove 42; simply serve with tonic or mix together to create sumptuous cocktails. You can still make it an occasion with a fancy glass, premium tonic and slice of fruit.
Non Alcoholic Drinks | The World’s First Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirits | Seedlip
Try Spirit Of Harrogate’s non-alcoholic spirit, with flavours of sweet orange and lemon and pops of ginseng. Delish.
Amplify | Distilled Non-Alcoholic Spirit
Gin-lovers needn’t miss out – Ceder’s refreshing blends are just as good as the real thing.
Self-care & Skincare
Cold balls on your face?
Consider these cooling face balls the jade rollers of 2021. Seen all over celebrity and beauty insiders’ Instas, these will de-puff, help lymphatic drainage, reducing redness and kick-start circulation for a radiant glow.
Tech face
Smart-beauty is all the range for 2021, and no devices are as clever as Foreo’s mask. Using Hyper-Infusion Technology (heating, cooling & T-Sonic pulsations), and LED light therapy, this provides a professional-level treatment in the comfort of your own home. We say make masking a ritual of self-care, as you close your eyes, deep breathe and relax as the device does the work.
Foreo UFO LED Thermo Activated Smart Mask Device | Space NK | £169.00
Fem-Forward
There’s a real focus on reclaiming feminine products in 2021, which have too long been hidden and shrouded in shame and embarrassment.
Eco period brand DAME are working to counteract this, making slickly designed period products that cause as little harm to our environment as possible. They’re also working to ensure people have access to better period products, education and resources, wherever they are in the world. The brand have created the world’s first reusable tampon applicator, and their reusable pads are equally as revolutionary. DAME are truly changing the period market and, if there’s any time to make the switch to eco, it’s in 2021.
Reusable Tampon Applicator & Organic Tampon Set | DAME – DAME. (wearedame.co)
Reusable Sanitary Pads Set | Reusable Sanitary Towels | DAME – DAME. (wearedame.co)
Intimate cleansing
Say no to any old shower gel and swap for Gallinee’s fem-safe perfume-free bar.
Gallinée | Cleansing Bar Perfume-Free, For Intimate Hygiene | Cult Beauty
Soothe PMS
PMS can cause all sorts of unwelcome symptoms. Soothe with Thearpie’s PMS Support kit, full of essential oils, including clary sage to help with cramping, lavender and cannabis oil to calm mood swings and soothe headaches and chaste tree berry for breast tenderness.
Fur real?
Indulge with Fur’s gorgeous intimate oil, designed specifically for pubic hair and skin. Natural, non-toxic ingredients mimic the body’s natural moisturising properties to soften, while anti-bacterial clary sage oil soothes post-shaving irritation and helps prevent ingrown hairs.
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