Tips To Reduce Your Beauty Carbon Footprint

Written by

Caring for your complexion and keeping your make-up bag well-stocked with the latest must-haves can take its toll on your skin and your purse-strings. One thing it shouldn’t take its toll on however, is the environment. Peer into the depths of your cosmetic cabinet and you’re likely to find a whole host of lotions and potions that are harbouring secret, nature-damaging ingredients. Sound familiar? It’s time to clean up your eco-act and reduce your beauty carbon footprint. And we promise you won’t have to sacrifice the aromas, effectiveness or luxurious lathers that you love.

 

Make your country your beauty oyster
Choosing products manufactured in your country is a simple way to keep your eco-conscience in check, as it reduces the CO2 emissions that it costs to bring the product across the globe to your doorstep. For our fellow Brits, our favourite is Neal’s Yard Remedies. Their gloriously-rich Frankincense Intense Lift Cream is a god-send for keeping those winter skincare woes at bay, and is manufactured right here in the UK. They were the first high street retailer to be certified as carbon neutral and are this year collaborating with conservation charity World Land Trust. They’ve protected 400,00m2 of endangered forest and offset an incredible 146 tonnes of CO2 emissions since 2012.

 

Say no to microbeads!
When reaching for your favourite facial exfoliator, have you ever wondered what’s actually doing the exfoliating? Note to self: look for one without microbeads. The tiny polystyrene balls are seriously damaging to marine life as they absorb and release toxins into the ocean. Some countries banned them upon realising the dangers, but there are still thousands on the market. Fortunately for you (and us), the brains behind beauty brands are smart little things and have found that ingredients like sugar, coffee and salt work just as well, if not better! Particularly good is this Sister & Co Raw Coconut & Coffee Body Scrub which we stock on Hip & Healthy! The roasted and ground Robusta coffee beans not only exfoliate but also stimulate blood flow, remove dry skin and promote collagen production.

 

Check that ‘natural’ means natural.
‘Natural’ and ‘organic’ are basically the beauty version of ‘superfood’; buzzwords that brands know we look for in order to be kind to our complexions. But did you know that ingredients don’t actually have to be 100% organic or 100% natural in order to be labelled as such? For products that are as good to nature as they are to your skin, meet a brand that’s new to our beauty repertoire: JK7. It’s the brainchild of Dr. Jurgen Klein, founder of Jurlique, who took his vast experience and scientific knowledge to create holistic and synergising skincare that’s utterly luxurious. They use only the purest essential oils and natural, high-performance herbal compounds backed by research. The result? Effective skincare that’s a joy to use. It’s available online and in high-end wellness centres around the world including London-based members club for women, Grace Belgravia. We’d highly recommend visiting to enjoy the decadent JK7 facial!

 

Make friends with multi-taskers.
We women love to multitask, and why not? We’re so good at it, after all. Why then do we so often pack our beauty bags to the zip-bursting limit rather than choosing a few crowd favourites that achieve multiple things in one fell swoop? Enter the world of multi-tasking cosmetics. From lip tints that double as cheek colour and bronzer that you can use as eye-shadow; even your skincare can do more than you think! Plant-based, organic skincare line R Devine (hailing from Ontario, Canada) prides itself on creating products that take the place of more than one bottle on the shelf. Their Sacred Garden Makeup Remover is seven products in one, as it can be used as a moisturising facial serum, oil-based cleanser, makeup primer, cuticle oil, hair serum and will even keep your man friend happy as a beard oil too!

 

Look for earth-friendly packaging.
Brands that favour recyclable packaging are obviously more earth-friendly than those who don’t. It’s great to see more companies using biodegradable materials, and even better to see those who go one step further. Neal’s Yard Remedies for example, use recyclable packaging when they can, but when they can’t, they don’t just shrug their shoulders and say “oh well, we tried”. They opt for recycled materials instead! Their trademark blue bottles are made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials which are more energy-efficient to produce and mean less plastic waste in landfill sites. They also ensure what’s inside is pretty darn fantastic too. Win win!

words by Zoe Louise Cronk

More Beauty articles we think you’ll love…

 

Pumpkin, Coconut & Seitan Curry

Written by

Here’s a winter warmer recipe for you! Nicky Clinch, Macrobiotic Nutritionist, Life Counsellor, Chef & Teacher has created this nutritious Pumpkin, Coconut & Seitan Curry to heat you from the inside out!

Seitan is a really delicious vegetarian protein option and yet so many people are scared of it.  It is incredibly meaty and can be so satisfying for those who are trying to cut down their meat consumption but still crave that meaty texture.

Seitan is pure wheat gluten.  Yup, that’s right, it is pure unadulterated gluten.
But it is the pure, unrefined gluten extracted from wheat and pretty much massaged continuously until you get this amazing, meaty, rich protein.

Gluten gets such a bad name.  Over the past 5 years poor old gluten has become the blame for almost everybody’s digestive problems. And yet in my experience, unless you have Coeliac Disease or an Autoimmune Disease, it is very very rarely the gluten that is the problem.

Often the main causes of digestive issues is a diet of refined foods, refined sugars, excess meats and excess intake of antibiotics.  Which all weaken the digestive walls.
Plus of course, any held suppressed emotions in the body that cause anxiety & internalised stress, causing the digestive tract to contract.

So in my experience, it is important to try and strengthen the gut again by small amounts of very good quality gluten and regular consumption of wholegrains.

If of course you really aren’t ready to try Seitan in this curry then please feel free to substitute it with some tofu, tempeh, chickpeas or prawns.  All would work just as well.

 

INGREDIENTS (Serves 4)

 450g New Potatoes (peeled and halved)

400g Pumpkin (peeled, de-seeded and cut into 2inch chunks)

2 Medium onions (finely chopped)

2 Large Garlic Cloves (finely sliced)

500g Seitan (drained and cut into cubes)

400g Coconut Milk

100ml water or stock plus an extra 3 large ladles

2 Tbsp Coconut Sugar

3 Tsp Curry Powder

2 Tsp Turmeric Powder

1/4 – 1 1/2 Tsp Cayenne Powder (depending on how hot you want it)

2 Tbsp Tamari

3 Cups of Kale Leaves (Stripped from stalks and chopped into bit sized pieces)

1 Tbsp Coconut Oil

2 pinches Fine Sea Salt

Fresh Coriander

Natural Coconut Yoghurt

 

Method

Heat up coconut oil in a large pan and add your onions with a pinch of sea salt.

Fry your onions on a medium heat until your onions start to turn translucent.

Add your garlic, pumpkin and potatoes with another 2 pinches of sea salt.  Mix everything in really well and add your 100mls of stock or water.

Turn the heat down to low/medium and put the lid on and leave to sweat for 10min. Check every now and then to make sure it isn’t catching (burning).

After about 10min the pumpkin and potatoes should have softened a lot.  Now add your curry powder, turmeric, cayenne and mix in well and leave to toast for another 1-2min.  Then add the coconut milk and the extra 3 ladles of stock.

Add you seitan pieces and leave to simmer on a low heat with the lid on for another 10-15min or until the veg are nice and soft.  The pumpkin should almost have melted completely and become part of the sauced the potatoes should be soft but not falling apart.

Then add the coconut sugar, tamari and the kale leaves.  Leave to simmer for another few minutes then its ready to serve!

Best served with some brown basmati rice, fresh coriander and coconut yoghurt. Enjoy!

For more information on Nicky, head over to her website nickyclinch.com

More recipes we think you’ll love…

How The Chelsea Set Get Fit

Written by

Want to find out where the Chelsea set work up a sweat? We’ve got the inside scope on their favourite studios and go-to personal trainers they put their trust into when Ibiza comes calling!

Paola’s Body Barre
A popular studio amongst many London workout go-ers is Paola’s Body Barre. Let us tell you, Paola and her amazing team of instructors take no prisoners! This workout fuses pilates, barre and yoga with HIIT and makes your muscles burn and shake like they’ve possibly never done before! The classes are dynamic, high-energy and are totally rewarding! No wonder PBB is such a hit with the likes of Millie Mackintosh! Click here to book your class www.paolasbodybarre.com

 

Lulu Adams
Responsible for getting the gorgeous, new mum and MIC star, Binky, bouncing back looking fitter than ever after her pregnancy is Lulu Adams. As well as offering tailor made nutrition programmes and personalised studio sessions, she aims to make fitness fun and something to enjoy and feel passionate about. As a Pre and Post Natal Fitness Specialist, Lulu is the perfect person to call for post-baby fitness! Check her out at www.lulufitness.com

 

Core Collective
Another workout hub you’ll want to add to your “to workout at” list is Core Collective in High Street Kensington. Frequented by model, Emma Louise Connolly and ex MIC star, Rosie Fortescue, there’s definitely going to be a class that ticks your boxes. From specialised “Lift” classes which specifically focuses on weight training, “Pace” classes that combines metabolic conditioning and toning, to the slightly more gentle, “Power Yoga” for energising you after a busy week. More info can be found on their website www.core-collective.co.uk

 

Lonan O’Herlihy
For a more one-on-one approach to working out, many of the Chelsea set call upon Lonan O’Herlihy to whip their bodies into peak condition. Not only an excellent personal trainer, Lonan is really hot on nutrition and getting his clients eating well to support their training and lifestyles. Clients include Tiffany Watson and Ed Westwick (aka Chuck Bass from the hit TV series Gossip Girl) just to name-drop a few! Check him out on instagram here for meal ideas and workout videos to get you inspired! @theposhpt

 

KXU
New studio on the scene for autumn 2017 is KXU in Chelsea. The more affordable sister to super exclusive, members-only club KX, KXU is a new fitness and wellbeing experience offering pay as you go classes, spa treatments and thier amazing Nutrition Bar, offering poke bowls, superfood salads, sumptuous smoothies and healthy take-out, all focused around recovery. Food blogger and chef, Tess Ward, and model, Sarah Ann Macklin are already regulars at this hot new space just off Sloane Square, so if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us! Book your next workout at www.kxu.co.uk

 

Method Movement
Method Movement is where you’ll want to hang if you need to escape from busy London living and get your mojo back into action. We love their Mindful Garden which hosts meditation classes and yoga al fresco as well as their selection of different classes and results-lead personal training. You’ll most likely bump into your favourite youtuber here or even model and designer, Natasha Oakley who’ll often workout with her beau, Gilles. With such a lovely team behind Method Movement, its popularity isn’t surprising! Find your perfect class at www.methodmovement.co.uk 

words by Molly Jennings

Why Eczema Sufferers Will Love This Activewear Brand!

Written by

We’re always looking for new, exciting, innovative activewear brands to stock on Hip & Healthy. Comfort is key when working out and it’s even better when you find a style or brand that looks good as well! New to the store this month is Harvey & Mills. Fresh on the activewear scene and born in the UK, the company was created by Emily Honeywell, who wanted to build an activewear brand that was not only beautiful, but economical and, quite uniquely, suitable for people with inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema. Read on to find out more about her innovative designs!

 

Emily, we assume you are ‘Mills’, so who’s ‘Harvey’?
Harvey is my miniature long-haired dachshund puppy. He’s a lovely little chap, and has upstaged many a photoshoot!

 

What were you doing before Harvey & Mills? What caused you to drop that to create your own activewear company?
I was working in the city as a freelance advisor to the Government’s innovation agency. I talent spotted young fashion and retail start-ups, helped them raise seed capital, and mentored them through their growth. I was surrounded by highly creative and inspiring minds every day, and the entrepreneurial energy was infectious. I’m not a natural risk taker, but seeing other ‘unexpected’ founders running successful companies gave me the confidence to go after my own idea when inspiration struck.

 

What sets Harvey & Mills apart from other activewear brands?
It all began one morning when I couldn’t find leggings to my taste, and with the functionality I needed as an eczema sufferer. In a sportswear world saturated with bright colours or dark monotones, I craved intricate prints and flattering colour palettes. I also wanted the assurance that the garments were manufactured responsibly. So those three elements became my mantra: beautiful bohemian prints, highly breathable and silky soft fabrics, and ethical production from the mill to the market.

 

You pride yourself on having found a happy place between fashion and fitness. How have you managed to create fashionable active wear without sacrificing its suitability for fitness?
The brand journey began with a 3 month search for the perfect fabric. It needed to be suitable for printing detailed patterns in rich colours, as all of our garments take inspiration from high fashion styling with hand painted prints. To accommodate the functionality required for fitness, the material also had to be hydrophobic, UV protected, with shape retention, be durable enough even for mountaineering and gentle enough for sensitive skin. Iconic prints, stylish silhouettes and luxe performance fabrics are the intrinsic ingredients in finding that balance.

 

How do you choose the prints and patterns for your sets? Do you design them yourself or source them from somewhere?
We create detailed mood boards that are inspired by anything from Persian rugs to the flash of a plum lipstick on a person walking by. Stephanie Breeze is a good friend of mine and a magical textile designer, who then creates each print by hand. She always surprises us with little details – like the addition of a tiny beetle on a petal of a floral print.

 

What type of exercise is Harvey & Mills designed for?
Technically speaking, the fabric is suitable for a range of impact workouts, and can even be used for swimming or as a base layer for winter sports. That said, the styling is tailored particularly for yoga. Our sports bralettes totally have your back during downward dog!

 

What does health and wellness mean to you? How does it fit into your daily routine?
Emotional and physical wellbeing are equally important to me, and as a naturally anxious person, exercise and meditation are my antidepressants. Harvey is the best personal trainer – he is always two steps ahead of me when we go running, and snuggles up during Childs Pose at the end of a bedtime yoga session. Luckily Harvey & Mills gives me lots of opportunity and motivation to try out new gyms and workouts in the name of ‘research’!

 

You launched Harvey & Mills nearly a year ago! What have been the highlights of the past year? What have you found the greatest challenge?
Seeing women feeling powerful and happy in their skin is the brands reason for being, so I still get a huge rush when people tag me in their Harvey & Mills sets on social media, accomplishing amazing things. Launching with Hip + Healthy in year one truly blows my mind, as you’ve long been an inspiration and inherent in my decision to embark on this adventure in the first place.

The biggest challenge was when a supplier let me down, and I’m still recovering from that. But failure carries the seed of a greater success, so I know the silver lining will make the brand stronger in the long run.

 

What can we expect to see from you in your second year as a brand?
Bewitching new prints, appearing in new places, and more social media! We’re still learning to tell the story, but we’ve found our feet and are ready to fly.

Like the sound of Harvey & Mills? Shop below on Hip & Healthy!

 

Vegan Beauty Brands To Know About

Written by

Happy World Vegan Day! Now, you might think we’re going to be inundating you with vegan recipes and vegan cafes to add to your to-do list, but this year, we want to move the spotlight onto skincare. We all know that what we put on our skin is just as important as what we put in our bodies so today, we revealing our top four vegan beauty brands that you are bound to love (if you don’t already)!

 

Sister & Co.
It’s no surprise that one of our all-time favourite skin and body care brands creates vegan products! Made with ingredients from around the world more associated with eating than cleaning or moisturising, Sister & Co.’s full collection contains organic cold-pressed plant oils, raw nut butters and milks, sugars, salts, clays, waxes and pure essential oils. If all of that doesn’t sound good enough to lather on your skin, we don’t know what does. Get your hands on the full collection in our online store here – once you’ve tried Sister & Co. Skin Food you won’t ever go back.

 

Bybi
Bybi is another of our most recent new brands in stock! And it’s also totally vegan and cruelty free! Which we don’t doubt one bit given that Elsie and Dominika, founders and clean beauty lovers, pride themselves on promoting positivity and transparency in beauty, empowering individuals to take control over what they put on their skin! Bybi’s range of beauty products is made with high quantities of the best quality active botanicals and luxurious ingredients – plants, nuts, flowers and seeds – that feed your skin and hair from morning to night. And we need give no more excuses for stocking it, right?! Head over to our online store now to see for yourself!

 

Rawgaia
Hemp infused skincare is hot news right now! So it’s no wonder why we’re loving Rawgaia’s brilliant range of 6 organic, vegan and cruelty free hemp skincare products. Hemp seed oil has been used in folk remedies for centuries, and it is now being hailed as the buzzword in beauty, providing powerful antioxidant activity to promote beautiful skin. The Rawgaia range of Organic Hemp Glow Superfood skincare products – which includes a balm, cleanser, mist, serum and soap – are made using pure, cold pressed and organic ingredients that are totally vegan friendly. Brb, we’re just heading to rawgaia.com to purchase the entire range! (Also available at Whole Food Market Stores)

 

Alchemy Oils
You might be paying attention to what’s in your skincare products, but have you thought about what you’re putting in your hair? Alchemy Oils are hair oil specialists, whose entire haircare range is vegan. Combining Ayurvedic practice of hair oiling from India, where oils are used in massage for a deep conditioning treatment, with Western hair styling sensibilities (smoothing fly-aways, adding shine and protecting from heat), Alchemy Oils have created blends to stimulate hair growth, treat hair loss, and promote longer, stronger hair that’s soft, shiny, smooth and manageable! Shop the range here.

words by Kate Harrison

More beauty articles we think you’ll love…

Founder Focus – Meet Annee de Mamiel

Written by

There’s no denying our love for de Mamiel skincare, and there’s no denying our love for the wonderful woman behind the brand, Annee. Having recently launched de Mamiel as part of our skincare offering here on Hip & Healthy, we thought we would sit down with Annee and discuss how her gorgeous brand came to be!

 

Where and why was the idea for de Mamiel born?
de Mamiel evolved from my treatment room. It was something that grew organically from trying to get exceptional results when working with my patients, I used to give product that we had been using to them after the treatment and come home and make some more, the demand began to grow and my husband convinced me to pop it on the website to see how it went and its grown from there! For me, de Mamiel is about making a difference and not just for your skin but about relieving stressors in our life.

 

How have your professions and knowledge as an acupuncturist, aromatherapist and healing holistic facialist contributed to your brand and your products?
These drive the foundation of what I create – I feel very privileged that people have trusted me with their skin and so the experience I am able to gain in treating my patients over time, seeing what effects ingredients have on people has enabled me to develop products that really make a difference to your wellbeing and your skin.

 

That’s a lot of professions! How do you balance your work/life?
Sometimes that line is so very fine!!! I ensure there is balance – meditation, journaling and exercise really help and I love to cook!

 

How does being a healing holistic facialist differ from the usual facialists our readers may know about?
A holistic facialist means that I look at the whole body as everything we do impacts our health and wellbeing which is written all over our face! Beauty really begins from the inside and if we ignore what else is happening in our lives then we never get to the cause of the problem and keep treating the symptom. My treatment can last up to 2 hours and I go through stress and how you cope with stress, where we hold it in our bodies, nutrition as well as skincare – what you are using and what needs to be added or taken away. Each component is an essential part of getting a whole picture to rebalance the body and we begin to add tools and rituals to help that will benefit.

 

There are a lot of other organic skincare brands out there at the moment. What sets de Mamiel aside from these?
I believe it the experience, the research and the level of care that goes into each step of our process so that no stone goes unturned. There is no compromise on anything that goes in the bottle and I am always looking at how better I can do this – evaluating if this is as good as it can possibly be. My products need to perform on a physical level on the skin, a cellular level and an emotional level, that way I know the product is the most vital it can be when it arrives.

 

How do you formulate your products? Where do you source your ingredients?
When I create the products, I have brought my experience from the treatment room into the lab. I am lucky enough to try the product on a lot of people, adjust it before its good enough to begin to sell. Before they even get to that stage I start with a mind map of the issue that needs to be solved, many of the issues are things that I see coming through the clinic and I have tried to get a result but need a little extra help. I map out the physical, cellular and emotional components of the issue and overlay the physiology, biochemistry components and then the Chinese Medicine component will give me a holistic picture of how the product needs to perform. I ask a lot from my formulas but each ingredient needs to earn its place in the formula.

I source my ingredients from around the world – I love digging into the real science and chemistry of the oils and essential oils – where they are grown and how they are grown, how they are harvested – all affect the potency and purity of the final ingredients. Biotechnology plays an important role in some of the ingredients I use because of the bioavailability and the way the skin ‘uses’ them but also for sustainability reasons. In creating a product there are so many choices for ingredients so I think it is important to look at the research and data behind the choices, I like to get to be as close to the source as I can and in some cases we work directly with the farmers.

 

Of all your products, which are the ones you can’t be without?
It depends which day you ask me!!! For me, it would be Exhale Daily Hydrating Nectar, Restorative Cleansing balm, Antioxidant Elixir…

 

Apart from your looking after your skin, what else do you do to ensure a full state of health and wellness?
I think health and wellness is about balance and finding what works for you. For me, food and nutrition are vital, I need to move and exercise to get qi moving but that won’t always be a cardio workout – yoga, qi gong or a walking meditation is what I need sometimes! One thing that is a constant challenge is learning when to say No to things and being OK with that – reading the signs that my body is telling me to slow down!

Shop de Mamiel online at Hip & Healthy!

Meet The Founders – BYBI Skincare

Written by

Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic started Clean Beauty Co to shine a light on beauty formulations and empower people to take control of what they put on their skin. Clean Beauty Co is seen as the UK’s premier destination for green beauty content and the girls are recognised as natural beauty thought leaders and innovators in the UK. Their book Clean Beauty was published by Penguin in Jan 2017.

They launched BYBI in Feb 2017. BYBI provides transparency and innovation in natural beauty to bring you really great, high performance products that actually work. Everything they make is 100% natural, vegan and cruelty and promotes fresh, glowing skin, always.

Not only do we love the skincare products you create through BYBI, we also love your brand philosophy of positivity and transparency in beauty! Can you tell us how Clean Beauty Co began and how it lead to BYBI products?

The idea for CBCo and making our own beauty products was a natural extension of what we were already doing with food: moving away from processed foods and trying to gain a better understanding of how food fuelled our bodies. If we were doing this for what we put into our bodies, why weren’t we thinking about what we put onto our bodies? When we realised we were paying big bucks for moisturisers and treatments that just simply were not worth it, we felt disappointed and a little betrayed. We decided to make a change by taking control of exactly what went into our beauty products – by making our own! We documented this journey and grew a following by sharing natural beauty recipes, advice and tips.

Going through this journey really allowed us to identify what was available on the natural beauty market but more importantly, what wasn’t. We were talking to our followers every day and used their frustrations with the lack of products available as inspiration for our own line of skincare products that we knew people actually want! High-performance beauty using high-quality ingredients that actually have an effect on your skin.

How did the two of you meet and what do you think you value most about each other as friends and business partners?

We met working together in advertising; we joined the same company at the same time and were working very closely together. The fact that we had already worked together and appreciated each other’s work ethic was a great grounding for a business partner relationship. We have a lot in common in terms of our attitude towards work – we’re both incredibly driven, passionate and hardworking – but equally, our differences compliment each other. We play to each other’s strengths and weaknesses!

BYBI products are high performance, allowing our skin to be in tip-top condition…what are your two favourite products?

Elsie: Babe Balm and Supercharge Serum. Babe Balm is my go-to multipurpose saviour – face, hands, lips, highlighter…even a makeup remover. Supercharge Serum provides my skin with that hit of concentrated nutrients, a couple of drops at night sorts my skin out for the next morning.

Dominika: Prime Time and Mega Mist. I get through bottles of Mega Mist a month, I absolutely love how light but effective it is (and love mixing it with Detox Dust for a super hydrating mask). Prime Time is perfect for soft and bouncy skin, plus it smells good enough to eat!

What other non-skincare rituals to you rely on for your skin to look its best? Green juices? Turmeric shots?

An obvious one but an absolute essential; water, water and more water. We both have S’well bottles and use charcoal filters in the office to ensure we’re hydrating with pure water. We generally apply the same benefits that food and drink have on our insides to our outside; so foods high in fatty acids are wonderfully nourishing for the skin, anything with antioxidants will aid in rejuvenating and replenishing skin.

Alongside your passion for natural, cruelty-free and toxin-free skincare, what else drives you to keep on going building your businesses on the days that nothing seems to be going right?

We’re both incredibly ambitious and have set ourselves very clear goals that we work to together, which keeps us focused and striving to grow and scale the business. Both coming from sales backgrounds means we’re incredibly numbers driven, so tangible business results really motivate us! But ultimately we want to spread the natural beauty message far and wide by providing really great products and content, so we feel inspired whenever we achieve this, even on the smallest scale.

Finally, we’re all fitness fanatics at Hip & Healthy…what are your favourite ways to break a sweat?

We love breaking a sweat and often use it as a way to distinguish between work and personal life as we find it hard to switch off at home! An hour in an exercise class where you’re unable to think about work is a great way to find balance. We work out together and Barry’s Bootcamp is our go-to for cardio, with yoga providing us with some zen time. We also box regularly and Elsie plays netball.

 

Shop BYBI On Hip & Healthy below!

Where The H&H Team Get Their Spa On!

Written by

Spa treatments from facials to massages and traditional therapies in between are often seen as rare treat but at Hip & Healthy and in conjunction with National Spa Week, we want to undo this perception and herald the benefits of spa treatments to escape from the stress of everyday life, relax, prevent illness and make you feel great.

The choice when it comes to spa treatments really is to invest a little in your health and wellbeing now or spend more later, treating issues. The spa isn’t the cure for everything but it certainly helps us to prioritise our wellbeing and take some time for ourselves. Here we’ve rounded up various spa treatments available across London to keep your spa experiences new and exciting!

spa

Who? Molly Jennings, Digital Content Editor

What? Moody Massage at Cowshed

Why try this? This is the ultimate de-stressor for desk workers, who need their muscles released and their minds quietened.

If I’m being honest, I am a bit of a worrier and stress head at times! I don’t mean to be but I’ve learnt, recently, that I like life to move at 100 miles an hour and it seems if I don’t have something to stress over, I certainly find something else to put worry and angst into! I do like to “chill” but normally that means not moving from the sofa spending way too much time on my phone, which actually no longer feels like chill time. It feels like wasted time. I am, however, partial to the odd massage! If there’s one thing I wish I could do more of if money was no object is get them on a regular basis. In my opinion, there’s no other place I’d rather spend my money than Cowshed in Holland Park. It’s my go to place where I can feel zen and like I’m being productive with my chill time. It’s designated time where for an hour, I can properly switch off mentally. I mostly opt for their 60 minute “Moody Massage” which offers a very personalised approach to a full body massage. You start off by picking a massage oil from their range to match the way you’d like to feel post-massage. I love their Knackered Cow oil if I really want to feel relaxed afterwards and if I’m heading straight home. Otherwise the Grumpy Cow tends to lift me out of my stress funk if I’m planning on doing something afterwards!

In 60 minutes, there won’t be many muscles that haven’t been treated. Starting off with the feet (just the best!), working up the legs and back they even tackle forearms (great for desk workers like myself who get the classic typing strain) and chest area to release tightness from hunching in front of a computer all day. They’ll always finish with the scalp, which, for me, feels like the cherry on top of the cake. I sometimes opt out, if I’ve got to look presentable for the rest of the day but otherwise, I let the therapist go to town! It’s good nourishment for your hair anyway… I just make sure I wash it before bed! Everytime, without fail, I feel completely rejuvenated (mentally as well as physically) and like someone has hit the reset button. I also love their cafe for a post-treatment snack. In the morning, choose from their “Morning Graze” menu where you’ll find porridge or (my personal fave) avocado with poached eggs on sourdough. From lunchtime onwards, choose from their “Midday Feed” menu where you’ll find healthy salads to fulfil your superfood ambitions!

Book here.

Who? Annabel Armitage, Brand & Events Coordinator

What? Russian Dance of Leaves at South Kensington Club

Why try this? If you’re looking for an out-of-the-box treatment, this is ideal. The traditional treatment underpromises and overdelivers, a rarity!

It’s hard to believe there’s a big and bustling city beyond the walls of South Kensington Club, a wellbeing escape, which helps visitors and members alike to create lives we don’t need escaping from. South Kensington Club’s wellness offering is a cut above the rest thanks to its focus on traditional spa treatments. Enter, the Russian Dance of Leaves, a sweaty, invigorating and uplifting spa experience.

Forget bright lights and high-tech procedures, the Banya treatments are about getting back to basics in the most luxurious of ways. Moving between the sauna, cold plunge pool and steam room in amongst the interior’s blend of water, fire, wood and stone means you’re entranced and relaxed before the treatment has even begun. Nature is at work in the 15-minute treatment as the banschik (bath attendant) massages you with eucalyptus and birch leaves to boost your circulation and detoxify your skin.

Surrounded by strong scents and the 35-degree heat, it’s easy to switch off your thoughts and be totally calm whilst in the treatment room. Then comes the gush of ice-cold water and plunging in a pool, which can’t be warmer than 10 degrees…and you’re awake again! Followed by a cup of tea in the club’s Tea Library where phones are banned and books and contemplation are a perfect means to ease you back to reality with a revitalised mind, body and soul.

Book here.

 

spa

Who? Sadie Reid, Director & Founder

What? ila Goldsilk Face Therapy at The Lanesborough Club & Spa

Why try this? If luxury is your thing and you’re looking for a facial to not only combat ageing, but also release tension and leave you with plump, glowing skin.

The word that comes to mind when thinking of The Lanesborough Spa is “luxury”. Everything from the service, the facilities, the treatments, even the treatment rooms are geared up to perfectly ensconce you in comfort. Upon arrival you will be taken to the spacious and decadently designed changing room by your spa butler – there to be on hand should you need an extra towel, some different post-shower products or, perhaps, a fresh bottle of water. Once you are changed into your fluffy robe and stylish sliders you’ll then be shown to another room where you wait for your therapist; decorated like a smart clubhouse complete with fireplace, comfortable seating and a bar of healthy treats to help yourself to.  The therapist will then show you to your relaxation-inducing treatment room, dimly lit with perhaps the world’s most comfortable massage bed. I had opted for the ila Goldsilk Face Therapy. I have always loved the brand ila for its heritage in organic ingredients and Ayurvedic principles and this treatment was complete heaven. Proven to heal the skin and protect it from natural signs of aging the treatment also managed to lull me into a coma of complete rest – of which I really needed. The therapist was knowledgeable and intuitive – knowing and adapting her massage technique to suit my needs (I had one of the world’s stiffest necks after 6 weeks of morning sickness!).  Post treatment I looked like a different person, I had colour in my cheeks, and my skin looked plump and glowy (not the sallow and grey visage I had become accustomed to seeing stare back at me in the mirror!). And after a delicious shower, using the ila products once again, I truly felt like a new person!

Book here.

Who? Louise af Petersens, Brand & Retail Executive

What? Detox Refresh Facial JK-7 at Grace Belgravia

Why try this? It has been too long since your last holiday and the next one is too far away…take your skin on holiday with the natural and active products from JK7!

Grace Belgravia has been delivering the best of the best for all aspects of health and wellbeing since it opened its doors and facials here are testament to that. The Detox Refresh Facial with JK7 products was my first facial in a long time that hasn’t left me more puffy and red-faced than when I entered. Clearly, the ingredients were hard at work as well as the facialist’s lymphatic drainage techniques, which helped to get rid of toxins and calm areas of inflammation.

With a foaming wash, facial scrub, steam and mask, my skin was soft, supple and squeaky clean, the perfect state to absorb all the goodness of the JK-7 products, each of them bringing a new scent of nature. Developed by Dr Jurgen Klein, founder and creator of Jurlique, with his years of experience and passion for the work of nature, you can trust these 100% natural and organic products are going to perform.

When you’re drifting off the Moisturising Mists fall onto your face reminding you to stay awake and enjoy the dance of magic hands on your face, neck and chest, making you glow more than you knew you could in ways you didn’t think possible in the thick and dirty London air!

Book here.

Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake

Written by

No-bake cheesecakes are always a good idea! This mouth-watering Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake recipe comes from the lovely Megan from plantbasedlondoner.com Enjoy!

Is there anything more autumnal than pumpkin pie? I made my first plant-based pumpkin pie last year and it was a real winner. So this year I wanted to step it up a notch. I’m having a raw cheesecake moment right now. I think people find raw desserts a bit intimidating to make, but they honestly couldn’t be easier once you know how. Plus, there are so many different flavour combinations you can experiment with once you understand the basics. These pumpkin pie cheesecakes are honestly to die for, and I might be bias, but I highly recommend you give them a go!

 

Ingredients: makes 8 squares

For the Base:

1 cup of pecans

8 pitted medjool dates

1 tbsp of almond butter

Cinnamon

For the cheesecake:

1 cup of soaked cashews (for 2 hours at least)

¾ tin of pure pumpkin puree (opt for organic)

½ cup of coconut oil

¼ cup of maple syrup

½ vanilla pod (the inside of the pod scraped)

1 tsp of mixed spice powder

1 tsp of cinnamon

Method

Make the base by blitzing the pecans in a food processor until fine and crumbly. Add in the dates, almond butter and cinnamon, further blending until a dough forms. Remove the dough from the food processor and press into the base of a lined baking tin. I’ve found that a loaf tin works very well for these types of recipes. Ensure that all the mix is tightly packed and evenly distributed.

To make the cheesecake later, place all the ingredients into the food processor and blend until smooth, this may take a few minutes. Pour the mix over the cheesecake base and spread out using the back of a spoon. Place into the freezer for an hour to set. I topped my cheesecakes with maple roasted pecans, that are beyond delicious. To make them, coat a handful of pecans in a few tablespoons of maple syrup and a dusting of cinnamon. Roast in the oven for around 10 minutes at 180.

Slice the cheesecake into small squares and place the cooled pecans on top. I’ve drizzled some melted dark chocolate on top for some extra decoration. I’ve also found that this helps hold the nuts down. Keep in the fridge until ready to devour.

10 Superherbs To Boost Immunity

Written by

Having a fighting-fit immune system is crucial, especially at the moment, when you’re getting sneezed and coughed on by your fellow commuters, and we’re all about boosting our bodies the natural way! You wouldn’t expect anything less from us, would you? Here are 10 superherbs you need to stock up to boost immunity.

Elderberry
Elderberries have been found to act as a natural immune stimulant and immune modulator, helping to balance the immune system’s response. The berries have strong anti- inflammatory and antiviral properties, and are known to be able to halt a virus in its tracks by actually deactivating the enzyme within a virus, stopping it from proliferating within the body. Impressively, they are known to be able to do this with ten strains of flu virus.

 

Green Tea
The catechins in green tea (another type of polyphenol) help enhance the immune system, together with vitamins A, C and E, zinc, selenium and B vitamins, which all protect the body from viral and bacterial infections.

 

Hawthorn
After an illness, look to hawthorn to help the whole body recuperate and convalesce, stimulating and nourishing the whole body system – a perfect adaptogen tonic. In traditional Chinese medicine hawthorn stimulates the spleen, increasing the body’s immunity and its ability to purify the blood.

 

Holy Basil
Holy basil’s primary active constituents, eugenol, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, vitamins A and C, carotene, calcium, iron, selenium and zinc, balance and nourish the body and its immune system and stimulate anti- inflammatory actions in the body.

 

Liquorice
The polysaccharide constituents in liquorice have an immune balancing and regulating effect, stimulating where the immune response is lacking and reducing the immune response where there is an auto-immune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or allergic reactions.

 

Nettle Leaves and Seeds
Phytonutrients (also known as phytochemicals) within nettle provide us with antioxidants along with flavonoids, helping to enhance our immune response, strengthening our natural resistance.

 

Reishi
Rich in polysaccharides, flavonoids, triterpenes and sterols, reishi is a remarkably beneficial herb for those who are completely exhausted by life – those who have too many stresses to deal with, causing their vital energy to spiral to an all-time low. This can provoke a general feeling of no energy, depletion and a lack of inspiration. Reishi helps prevent the body getting to this point by enhancing the immune system and lifting the whole body system.

 

Rhodiola
Rhodiola in traditional Chinese medicine dates back centuries, and is known as hong jing tian. It is used to replenish qi or chi energy, supporting heart and spleen function, boosting mental focus, clearing the lungs, calming the nervous system and strengthening the immune system.

 

Rose Hips
The Rosa species has been found to have the ability to boost the immune system while calming and strengthening the nervous system, balancing the whole body.

 

Siberian Ginseng
Its nourishing tonic effects enhance the immune system, protecting the body from infection when you’re feeling depleted. It also shortens the duration of illness if you do fall sick. Reach for this herb if you’re suffering from a debilitating chronic or stress-related illness such as chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn’s disease or hypertension.

Extracts from Superherbs by Rachel Landon (Piatkus, £12.99)

Superherbs

Sleep Rituals Of Successful People

Written by

Throughout this week, we’ve been highlighting the significance of good quality sleep for your health and wellbeing. It’s clear that lack of shut-eye hugely impacts our bodies and many of the essential functions it needs to perform to keep us alive and well. Nailing that evening wind-down routine can be a little tricky if you’re not used to having one so we’ve asked some of our favourite people within the wellness industry to reveal their sleep rituals and how they get in the zone for bedtime in the hope it might inspire you!

Madeleine Shaw, author, food blogger & new mummy

“Once I’ve put shay to bed at 7pm I like to make my dinner, Im always pretty tired by this point so I’ll cook up a nice broth with salmon miso and mushrooms. After that I’ll watch some TV. I’m watching the Hand Maidens Tale at present, its pretty harrowing but so addictive. After that, I like to wind down and meditate, as shay is up early I don’t often get to do this in the morning so I’ll meditate in my bedroom. Then I’ll do a long skin care routine, putting on all my lotions and potions! My favourite new product is the Origins Ginzing Ultra Mositirser. After that, I’ll hop into bed with a cup of Pukka camomile tea around 8.30/9pm (super early I know but new borns like to start the day early and often like saying hello in the night) I’ll read for a bit then hit the lights around 9.30pm.”

Sadie Reid, founder of Hip & Healthy & mum of one (plus one on the way!)

“At the moment I am super tired as I have a toddler and another baby on the way. My evenings start after Max, my son, goes to bed. At this point I’ll have some supper whilst finishing emails for the day. And then it is switch off mode. Computer and phone goes off from around 9pm. If I am not already crawling into bed at this point, I’ll run a hot bath and tip about 2/3rds of a bottle of Sister & Co Coconut Bath Soak into the tub as I love the way it smells, plus it leaves my skin feeling really moisturised. After this, I’ll read a bit (currently reading Inside Vogue by Alexandra Shulman) or watch some TV in bed. Then it’s lights out at 10pm!”

Nick Higgins, founder of Hotpod Yoga

Dim the lights – both on my phone and in the flat. On the phone, I set it to night mode (all day actually) so the light is orange to take the glare away from the strong blue light. In the flat, I light candles, again to take away any glare of any bright lights to get my mind and body to start to really relax and prepped for sleep.

Magnesium spray – I sweat a lot, due to teaching and practising, so getting the right nutrients back in is important, certainly, magnesium – spraying this oil on before bed, really relaxes me and definitely helps me get to sleep immediately.

No pillow – I find not sleeping with a pillow makes my sleep feel much deeper, better, therefore, more refreshed the next morning too.

The window open – I need my bedroom to be cool, almost chilled. I find if the heating is on, I wake up feeling stuffy and frustrated in the morning. So as cold as I can get it gives me much better zzzzz’s.

One Coffee – Any more than one coffee in the morning and its curtains (excuse the pun) for my sleep. It makes the biggest difference to not only my energy levels during the day, how I am as a person, but also how well I sleep.


image: Ben Crocker

Venetia Falconer, TV presenter and blogger

Once I’ve made supper, I’ll set the table, put on my favourite calming Spotify playlist and light some candles. My boyfriend and I recently made a commitment to limit TV dinners to once a week. I find chatting about our days really helps me unwind and the lack of distraction from a TV show helps me eat more mindfully.  

After dinner, I’ll make myself a herbal tea or a hot chocolate with raw cacao. Then we will usually watch an episode of a show that we like and this is also the time I try to put my phone away.  

Then it’s time to get ready for bed. I’m militant about my my cleansing routine – I find it so relaxing and love the feeling of a fresh face. If I fancy a bath, I’ll add loads of Himalayan rock salt and then moisturise with Neal’s Yard’s Beauty Sleep Body Balm. 

Next, my most important step: I take 2 magnesium citrate tablets – I find they really help my sleep and soothe any anxiety. Then I’ll slather on some hand cream and a little Dr Organic Lavender Sleep Therapy Body Oil, sprits some This Works Sleep Mist onto my pillow and get into bed. I use the ‘sunset’ feature on Lumie alarm clock while I read a book. The light gets gradually darker as my eyes get increasingly heavy… zzzzzz 

 

Is PMS Affecting Your Sleep?

Written by

It’s well documented that women have more problems sleeping than men, with the hormone variation of the menstrual cycle being one of the main reasons. In fact, a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation in 2007 suggested that 33% of women suffer from disturbed sleep during their menstrual cycles. As part of our “Sleep Week” with Warren Evans, we’ve enlisted their very own Sleep Consultant, Dave Gibson from The Sleep Site, to help shed light on how your monthly visitor (and PMS) could be wrecking havoc on your sleep.

There are two main hormones involved in the cycle:

Oestrogen, which builds up during the first 14 days of the cycle (follicular phase) and peaks just before ovulation at day 14 of the cycle, helping to stimulate the release of the egg via Luteinising Hormone.

Progesterone, which rises after ovulation (luteal phase) to maintain the lining of the uterus and then falls just before menstruation on day 28, as the lining of the unfertilised uterus breaks down.

In general, these hormones have different impacts on the body as a whole, with Oestrogen being an energy booster and Progesterone having a sleep-inducing effect.

There are three main times when women with regular cycles report increased sleep disturbances. These are when the hormone levels change.

  1. Premenstrual (7 out of 10 woman report changes here, 3 to 6 days before starting their period). This is often linked to PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) symptoms; the more severe the PMS the more sleep is seemingly disrupted.)
  2. During menstruation
  3. Around ovulation 

 

 

Premenstrual effects on Sleep
Days before the start of a period, Oestrogen and Progesterone levels drop. Since, Progesterone has a calming effect on the body; it is thought that the removal of this sedation causes many women to experience insomnia. This decrease also affects the body’s temperature control and therefore, sleep quality. During this time, there is also a decrease in REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is when we dream. REM is the deepest and most restorative sleep stage, which could explain why women feel so groggy when they have PMS.

Those that suffer more are thought to have either a more abrupt withdrawal of Progesterone or a higher level that fell faster. For those who are sensitive there is also a drop in mood and increased anxiety or depression, which can disrupt sleep.

The Oestrogen drop at this time creates cravings and achy joints. Oestrogen is also involved in the uptake and utilisation of certain minerals including magnesium. Low levels of magnesium can exacerbate the aches, pains and cramps of PMS.

The womb releases prostaglandins to initiate contractions, which ultimately give you your period. In excess, they can cause muscle cramps and as they diffuse into nearby areas, period pains can radiate into backs and down legs. If these hormone-like chemicals make it into the blood, they can exert a more widespread inflammatory response with many women experiencing headaches and aches and pains all over the body.

In fact, over 20% of all women report that they get migraines during their period, with the highest risk on the first day.

My Top Tips

  1. Exercise regularly

Naturally alleviating stress, anxiety and depression, exercise can relieve menstrual pain. Exercise also helps to increase levels of chemicals called endorphins. It is likely that a lack of endorphins can affect your sensitivity to pain.

  1. Get outside in the sunlight

This strengthens our circadian rhythm (body clock). It also helps the body produce vitamin D, which is associated with good quality sleep.

  1. Bring relaxation into your daily routine

Yoga and other healing activities that help you relax such as meditation, deep breathing or relaxation exercises are really beneficial.

  1. Eat Healthily

Cut caffeine and alcohol during this time, as both affect quality and quantity of sleep. Eat Magnesium rich foods such as almonds, Brazil nuts, brown rice and dark green vegetables. Have less salt and sugar and try to eat more calcium (bony fish and nuts).

Look after your gut flora. The health of our gut flora is inextricably linked to our sleep quality and there is some evidence to suggest that fluctuations in reproductive hormones and digestive patterns may also affect your balance of gut bacteria. Take a probiotic or eat plenty of probiotic rich foods like unsweetened natural yoghurt to help support the growth of beneficial microflora.

  1. Sleep in the foetal position

This takes pressure off the abdominal muscles and can relieve cramps and reduce pain. Use pillows or a heating pad to relieve pressure.

 

During Menstruation

Women typically sleep the most during the early follicular phase at the start of their cycle. Indeed, some women may develop severe incapacitating sleepiness during menstruation. In addition, the low Oestrogen levels can make you feel achy as well as tired. Therefore, this, in addition to menstrual cramps, can disrupt your sleep. Women may also get digestive trouble such as indigestion, nausea or diarrhoea, which can also disrupt your sleep. Some find it hard to sleep during menstruation, having a slightly elevated body temperature and decreased REM sleep. As a result, these women feel fatigued during menstruation.

My Tips

  1. Keep good sleep hygiene

Keep the essential components of good sleep hygiene going, for example, a consistent sleep routine and avoiding technology in the last hour before bed etc.

  1. Avoid sugary foods an hour before bed

At this time, these foods will create a sugar peak in your blood stream and crash afterwards, which acerbates your low energy. In all honesty, it’s best to avoid sugar at all times as it’s empty calories with no nutritional benefits.

  1. Avoid heavy meals in the evenings as this can keep you digestive system active and functioning a lot longer than necessary, thus making it difficult to sleep.

 

Ovulation

There are massive hormonal changes just before, during and after ovulation.

Days before ovulation, oestrogen levels start to rise, which can make you anxious and stressed. They peak just before ovulation and the amount of REM sleep increases.

Then progesterone kicks in, a side effect being the increase in body temperature, with core body temperature rising almost half a degree after ovulation. In some women, their body temperature then stays high during the second half of the cycle!

The combined progesterone peak and oestrogen decline makes you feel tired. Progesterone then slows down your bowel contractions and movement too, so you can feel bloated, have constipation and water retention.

My Top Tips

  1. Try meditation and yoga

As Oestrogen levels peak try meditation and yoga to relieve any anxiety and always exercise to keep your body healthily producing endorphins.

  1. Take a warm shower or bath just before going to bed

One of the triggers for sleep is a drop in core temperature initiated by the sleep hormone Melatonin. To “trick” your body into feeling sleepy, take a warm shower or bath just before going to bed. As you get out of the warm bath, your cooler bedroom environment will make your body temperature drop and help with sleep onset.

  1. Keep your body and bedroom cool (15-20 degrees Celsius)

Chose loose-fitting cotton or linen pyjamas (synthetic materials are more likely to make you sweat) and try opening your bedroom window a little during the night.

  1. Eat more fibre-rich foods and drink more water

This helps to soften your stools and makes them less bulky them easier to pass.

 

My Number 1 Top Tip: Keep a diary

If you think that your menstrual cycle plays a role in the quality of your sleep, keep a diary for a few months listing symptoms day by day and include when your period starts and stops.

The first step is to understand what’s going on – if you know what to expect, you can take steps to protect your sleep and wake up feeling refreshed even while on your period. A diary also enables you to give information to health care professionals including your GP.

Finally, if you suffer from menstrual Insomnia try to make sleep your priority and focus on developing good sleep hygiene. For instance, keeping regular sleep and wake times, reserving your bedroom for sleep and sex only and having boundaries around use of technology at night, stopping about an hour before bed. For more information, visit the www.sleepsite.co.uk.

 

Dave Gibson is the resident sleep expert for Warren Evans bed makers, and is the founder of thesleepsite.co.uk. Dave has been practicing as a Naturopath and Osteopath for over 15 years and he is also a qualified hypnotherapist, providing naturopathic advice across a wide range of conditions to promote good sleep patterns and quality sleep.

London based bed specialists, Warren Evans has beaten top retailers to be named as highest-rated mattress shop in the Which? 2017 members survey. With their autumn sale now on it’s a great time to pop into a showroom yourself and check out their range of beds and mattresses as well as getting all the advice and support you need when making your purchasing decision www.warrenevans.com / 020 7693 8988.