Did anyone else notice that in 2017 wellness became so much bigger? Without doubt wellness trends are on the rise and better still, wellness feels more accessible. Each year we see new wellness trends hitting the marketplace and there will always be the fads and those claims that never quite live up to their promises, but in amongst them are some wellness gems that take the internet by storm.
So what does the rest of 2018 have in store for us? If the first month of the year is anything to go by we will be seeing trends that are not just about our own wellness and journey but really are starting to consider our wider environment and our effect on it. We as consumers will continue to expect more from brands:- cleaner ingredients, better quality, more sustainable, less plastic and reduction in waste!
There also has been a noticable shift to the way we care for our bodies and minds. Anxiety, mindfulness and wellness are all trending at a 5 year high on Google. Some have put this shift down to the stress of modern-day living or the current uncertain political climate. However, our obsession with wellness was very apparent when Pinterst released data to show that their site has over an astonishing two billion pins relating to wellness alone! Wellness is here to stay for 2018 and here are some of the top wellness trends.
Nootropics ….. aka the brain boosters
Cognitive Connect by Wild Nutrition £28 for 60 Capsules
Magnesium Oil
Magnesium is a mineral that is found at the earth’s core as well as in our bodies. It is essential for regulating more bodily reaction than any other mineral and is needed for healthy muscles, nerves, heart and bones. To be fair it doesn’t stop there, magnesium is needed for many other functions including controlling blood pressure, blood sugar and improve the quality of your sleep. Simply put, you need magnesium to survive and although it can be sourced from food there is still about 80% of the population who are magnesium deficient? magnesium can be taken in a spray of capsule form as well as enjoyed in a bath.
Together Marine Magnesium Capsules £7.25 for 30 Capsules
Better You Magnesium Oil £12.35
Westlab Magnesium Flakes £8.99 for 1kg
Natural Deodorant
Ingredient list transparency and some unsafe ingredients being banned completely has helped consumers make their natural buying choices. In 2018 it is not just good enough for natural beauty products to use safer and high quality ingredients, they also need to deliver when it comes to results. Natural Deodorant has got a pretty rough ride over the years and quite often that was totally justified. I have suffered at the hands of ineffectual natural deodorants all the name of trialing for Fifi Friendly, however good news is that there a number of premium and truly effective natural deodorants on the market. As consumers make the more natural switch, perhaps it is also telling that couple of the major natural deodorant brands have recently been acquired by big FMCG groups. For example, aluminium free Schmidt’s natural deodorants is a market leader and includes award-winning formulas derived from plants and minerals. Schmidt’s was acquired by Unilever at the end of 2017 and Native deodorant joined Proctor and Gamble.
Aurelia Natural Deodorant £18 for 50g
Schmidts Deodorant £12.50 for 92g
Time to unplug with a digital detox retreat
2018 is the year that switching off from technology will become one of our biggest luxuries. With more of us using multiples social media platforms daily, it is time to take a step back from being always “on” and take a visit to an unplug retreat. Say what???? Here your phone will be checked in at the door and you can de-stress and connect with the real world without being interrupted by your smartphone addiction. If you decide to visit the Digital wellness Escape and the Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas your room will have a Himalayan Salt Lamp to help get rid of those pesky electromagnetic fields! For those of you that can’t escape to a week-long retreat just yet there are a number of great apps like Forest and Moment that can help you restrict your online time, or you can visit a spa and lock your phone in the locker for your whole visit. For everyday detoxing…. try switching your phone to airplane mode at a certain time each night.
Forest team partners with a real-tree-planting organization, Trees for the Future, to plant real trees on the earth. The Forest App is designed help you focus by planting a tree when you need to get some work done. The tree will keep growing as long as you ignore your phone and those distracting apps that ruin your productivity. The aim is to work for half an hour to grow a tree and eventually a forest, but if you get sucked into your phone addiction the tree dies.
Moment is an iOS app that automatically tracks how much you use your iPhone and iPad each day. If you’re using your phone too much, you can set daily limits on yourself and be notified when you go over. You can even force yourself off your device when you’re over your limit. You can also manage your family’s screen time from your own phone and set up time for your entire family to be screen-free using family dinner time.
Moringa
Yep …. I clearly spent some of my youth watching Dirty Dancing because I struggle to see the word moringa without thinking of Baby doing the merengue! Hmmm …. for those of you that don’t get the reference ….#youtube …. moving on. Basically in 2017 you would have been living under rock if you had not noticed turmeric, or in 2015 when kale was a buzz word. The superfood you will be eating in 2018 is the nutrient dense moringa. Not only does it have triple the amount of iron than spinach, it is also a complete protein plant. But let’s get down to why you want to add it to your smoothie, hummus, snack bar or protein shake! Moringa is great for your skin health, aiding digestion, energy levels and strengthening bones. You can also expect to see it in beauty products too. Especially in face oils where it is sublime on dry skin. Also great in lipstick.
Kypris Body Elixir £91 for 100ml * currently £65 on offer
Adun Moringa Green Superleaf Powder £6.99 for 100g
Ooh Moringa Face Oil £19 for 30ml
Healthy Coffee
Perhaps not exactly new news but an extension on 2017’s awareness of all things gut! Throughout 2017 we started to see more gut friendly foods across the media. Fermented food (saurkraut or kimchi) and drinks (kombucha, kefir, miso) are brilliant for optimising digestive health. ALong with probiotics, prebiotics, also look out for gut funghi.
Adaptogens – Make room for the shrooms
Adaptogens like turmeric, reishi, tulsi, ashwagandha and maca are brilliant for their stress busting, immune and cognitive boosting properties. Best to be blended into your smoothies, drank as a tea or taken as a supplement
Collagen
As we age our natural collagen production naturally declines and collagen is not just the stuff that makes your skin look nice a plump, it has gut healing and immune boosting properties too. The easiest way to take collagen is to ingest it. It can be bought as a powder supplement to add to smoothies and as a collagen infused coffee or drink. However, after your next roast chicken why not make a bone broth which is naturally collagen rich. Expect to hear more of people having collagen throughout the day in 2018.
SLEEP!!!
Finally …. sleep. Who would have thought of sleep as a trend!!!! Perhaps it is better to say that sleep is becoming more of a priority again and it is about time. With lack of sleep being linked to hormone changes, anxiety, weight gain, burn out, and stress, more and more of us are ditching the burning of candles at both ends in order to get our hallowed 8hours + sleep every night. So it is time to say goodbye to those poor sleeps habits and get back into a good and screenfree nighttime routine to help your body wind down after a busy day. I have recently started to use the Headspace meditation app every night and would really recommend it.
