Current self-care supports.

August 2022 | As above:

1. Eye of Horus Skin Tint Serum Foundation, $75 (30 mL).

   Crafted in Byron Bay, arguably the natural health epicentre of Australia, this skincare-makeup hybrid is created from a nourishing blend of quality, certified organic oils along with vitamin C, vitamin E and minerals for antioxidant and (modest) SPF15 protection. With a lightweight yet nourishing feel, I find it layers well over my dedicated SPF50 sunscreen, providing light, even and luminous coverage, and wearing well throughout the day. I wear shade Medium, available here.

2. Osea Gigartina Therapy Bath, $88 (454 g).

   Deeply hydrating, mineral-rich Gigartina Skottsbergii algae features in this revitalising bath soak - truly, the most transformative I have ever tried (and there have been a few) - for an at-home dose of hydrotherapy. An enduring feature of traditional systems of medicine, worldwide, hydrotherapy continues to be used today for treatment and rehabilitation as well as disease prevention and health promotion [1, 2]. Different water temperatures, pressures and additions support different therapeutic outcomes; when combined with minerals and essential oils - such as the organic lavender and plumeria extracts within this formulation - warm water immersion lowers heart rate and blood pressure, promotes relaxation and stress reduction, soothes muscle soreness and enhances skin integrity, in particular [1, 2]. Available here.

3. Remedy Ginger Lemon Kombucha, $8.75 (4 x 250mL).

   Produced from certified organic and natural ingredients including fermented black and green tea, with no added sugar, this kombucha is a wonderful source of probiotics to support a healthy gut microbiome for healthy liver function, immune function, mental health and skin health, to name just a few benefits! [3, 4]. This flavour is really refreshing; a few times a week I like to enjoy one in the afternoons, when in a previous life I’d have opted for a second coffee. Available here.

4. CorePlus Connected app, $19.95 per month.

   I love the Hot Mat Pilates, Hot Yoga Flow and Warm Yin classes at CorePlus, but am finding my usual energy levels are just not there after an intense university semester. I’m prioritising rest at the moment, enjoying vinyasa flow and yin classes - proven to reduce stress and increase psychological wellbeing - on average once per week in studio, and a couple of times at home via their online offering [5, 6]. There’s a huge variety of workouts available and many of the incredible instructors also teach from my local studio, so it feels wonderfully familiar whenever I log on. Download the app here, or find a studio here.

References.

[1] An, J., Lee, I., & Yi, Y. (2019). The thermal effects of water immersion on health outcomes: An Integrative Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(7), 1280-1301. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16071280

[2] Mooventhan, A., & Nivethitha, L. (2014). Scientific evidence-based effects of hydrotherapy on various systems of the body. North American Journal of Medical Sciences, 6(5), 199–209. https://doi.org/10.4103/1947-2714.132935

[3] Hori, T., Matsuda, K., & Oishi, K. (2020). Probiotics: A dietary factor to modulate the gut microbiome, host immune system, and gut–brain interaction. Microorganisms, 8(9), 1401-1425. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms8091401

[4] Tripathi, A., Debelius, J., Brenner, D. A., Karin, M., Loomba, R., Schnabl, B., & Knight, R. (2018). The gut-liver axis and the intersection with the microbiome. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 15(7), 397-411. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41575-018-0011-z

[5] Daukantaitė, D., Tellhed, U., Maddux, R. E., Svensson, T., & Melander, O. (2018). Five-week yin yoga-based interventions decreased plasma adrenomedullin and increased psychological health in stressed adults: A randomized controlled trial. PloS One, 13(7), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200518

[6] Wang, F., & Szabo, A. (2020). Effects of yoga on stress among healthy adults: A systematic review. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 26(4), 58-64. http://www.alternative-therapies.com/openaccess/9912.pdf

Image credit [4.]: CorePlus Connected by Apple Inc., 2022; https://apps.apple.com/au/app/coreplus-connected/id1527156036

Note. Only products and services I genuinely love - and use often - are included in the above edit. Each inclusion is independently and personally sourced, sampled and photographed, unless otherwise credited.