Wellbeing Journal
GIVE YOUR SKIN A FACIAL WORKOUT
Like keeping our bodies active, a facial workout is equally important. Like our bodies, the skin benefits from regular care and attention to combat the signs of ageing and environmental stressors. At Jurlique, we believe a holistic approach to beauty that nurtures the skin and overall wellbeing is essential. A FACIAL WORKOUT TO ENERGISE, REVITALISE & REAWAKEN STRESSED SKIN One effective facial workout is using our Mini Cryo Tool with the Herbal Recovery Bi-Phase Serum. Here’s how to get started: 1. Begin with clean skin: Gently cleanse the skin then apply your Activating Water Essence+. This ensures your skin is free of makeup and impurities, ready to absorb the serum's nourishing benefits. While waiting for the essence to absorb, start cooling the Mini Cryo Tool in a bowl of iced water to chill it. 2. Apply the Herbal Recovery Bi-Phase Serum: Shake the serum to mix the oil and water phases, then warm 4-5 drops in your palms. Press and smooth the serum onto your face, neck, and décolletage, allowing it to absorb fully. As the serum melts into your skin, it gets to work straightaway —skin appears smooth in just 30 minutes* after applying. 3. Cool down with the Cryo Tool: Once the Cryo Tool is chilled, wipe off any excess water. Then, start at the jawline and work your way upwards and outwards. This technique not only feels refreshing but aids in helping reduce puffiness. 4. Focus on key areas: Focus on areas that show the first signs of ageing, such as around the eyes and forehead. The Cryo Tool's cooling effect, combined with our exclusive Jurlique Recovery Blend in the Herbal Recovery Bi-Phase Serum, will leave your skin feeling revitalised, rejuvenated and refreshed. Like any workout, the key to seeing results is consistency. Regularly applying the Herbal Recovery Bi-Phase Serum increases adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by 19%^, promoting a healthy-looking complexion everyday. GOING BEYOND SKINCARE TO HELP CARE FOR YOUR SKIN Now that you’ve given your skin a facial workout, allow the rest of your body to enjoy the benefits of making healthier decisions. Below are extra tips on keeping your body and skin in peak condition: • Establish a gym schedule: Aim for at least 30-60 minutes of moderate aerobic activity everyday. This could include brisk walking, cycling, or swimming. Regular exercise promotes healthy circulation, which is vital for skin vitality. • Join a yoga or Pilates class: These low-impact workouts improve flexibility and strength while reducing stress. Both enhance blood flow to the skin and help maintain a youthful glow. • Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water is essential for overall health and skin hydration. Aim for at least eight glasses of water a day to keep your skin plump and radiant. • Get quality sleep: A good night's sleep is always beneficial for your overall health. Aim for 7-9 hours of restful sleep each night to allow your skin to repair and rejuvenate. • Manage stress: Chronic stress can take a toll on your skin. Consider activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises, or hobbies that bring you joy to keep stress at bay. * 76% of 55 subjects said skin appears smooth 30 minutes after a single application. ^In vitro study, Jurlique Recovery Blend in Herbal Recovery Serum and Herbal Recovery Cream, POLA Chemical Industries Inc
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WELLNESS MADE EASY: YOUR CHEAT SHEET
In the whirlwind of the daily hustle, finding the time to prioritise our wellness journey can sometimes feel challenging. But by introducing a few small changes and embracing a perfectly imperfect wellness routine, we can unlock the gateway to a happier, healthier version of ourselves. Let's dive into some practical tips and tricks to kickstart your realistic (and achievable!) wellness journey. FOOD When our schedules fill up, what we eat can sometimes take a backseat, but fuelling your body with nourishing food doesn't have to be a challenge. Often, a little preparation can go a long way. Planning ahead of time and cooking meals that can feed you over multiple days can save time and keep you on track with your health goals. Think batches of overnight oats, nutritious soups and delicious curries. Focus on incorporating whole, nutrient-dense foods into your meals and opt for colourful vegetables, lean proteins, and complex carbohydrates. EXERCISE Squeezing in a rigorous workout may seem daunting, especially with a packed schedule. Keep it simple and kickstart your exercise routine by focusing on movement that brings you joy, whether it's a brisk walk around the neighbourhood, an at-home workout, a dance class, or a short yoga session. Consistency is key, so start small and gradually build up. The goal is not perfection but the integration of movement into your daily routine. Fitness apps are a great way to make exercise more fun and keep you on track. ENERGY BOOSTERS While coffee is a staple for many, consider swapping it out for tasty matcha. This green tea alternative provides a slower release of caffeine, avoiding the highs and lows associated with coffee. The sustained energy boost from matcha allows for increased focus without the jitters. It's a small but impactful change that can positively influence your daily productivity and mood. Nothing impacts our energy levels more than sleep, so try your best to establish a relaxing bedtime routine, limit screen time before sleep, and create a cosy sleep environment. Even in the midst of the daily grind, find pockets of time for deep breaths or a quick 5-minute meditation. HYDRATION Water is a multitasker, aiding digestion, nutrient absorption, and transporting essential elements throughout the body. It is also great for our skin! Keep those hydration levels high by purchasing a refillable water bottle and carrying it around like it's your sidekick. Natural, sugar-free electrolyte powders can be mixed with water, providing hydration and essential minerals. And for those looking to cut down on sodas, get your fizzy fix by adding a squeeze of lime to soda water for a refreshing drink. SKINCARE Skincare is a form of self-care and an important addition to any wellness routine, but finding the time to give your skin a bit of self-care can always be a challenge! If you are short on time, use 8 drops of Activating Water Essence+ and 2 drops of your favourite Jurlique Face Oil for a quick and easy ritual that will leave your skin softened, refreshed and hydrated. Embarking on a wellness journey doesn't have to be overwhelming. By incorporating these simple tips into your daily routine, you can kickstart a realistic and sustainable daily ritual that aligns with your busy lifestyle. Remember, it's about progress, not perfection.
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LESSONS ON MOTHERHOOD FROM MOTHER NATURE
The mother and daughter behind Indigenous Australian Art business Miimi & Jiinda, Lauren Jarrett and Melissa Greenwood share important motherhood lessons from Mother Nature. Celebrating the very best of Mother Nature, this year Jurlique’s Mother’s Day gift selection is adorned with the artwork of Aboriginal mother and daughter duo Miimi & Jiinda. Here they share with us the greatest lessons, gifted from Mother Nature herself. We come from the earth and we are part of the earth, our mother earth is our greatest teacher our divine authority Nature teaches us that everything is living, reciprocal and interconnected Nature teaches us to be patient, kind and gentle Nature is a child's playground filled with magical things and mystical creatures Nature teaches that everything is a cycle and everything is forever changing, motherhood is never the same, each day is different and unique. Being a mum is the most rewarding experience life can possibly give Nature is medicine, it’s healing and it's a part of who we are Our ancestors created this earth and all that lives and breathes within we must take care of it and it will take care of us Being born on country gives us strength as Indigenous women, birthing my babies on country was empowering Children are our greatest gift that life can give The Gaagal (the ocean) is our totem and our protector. It heals and cleanses our spirit Our hero ancestors created the waterways, mountains and seas, they created all living things Miimi & Jiinda is an Australian Art business, founded by Aboriginal mother and daughter, Lauren Jarrett and Melissa Greenwood. Hailing from the Gumbaynggirr, Dunghutti, and Bundjalung tribes of Australia’s East Coast, Lauren and Melissa share their interpretations of Country, which spring from their own personal cultural identities as Aboriginal women. In the spirit of honouring our First Nations people and deeply acknowledging their connection to this land, we pay our respects to the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia. REFERENCES https://miimiandjiinda.com/pages/about-us
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THE POWER OF PLANTS
Indoor plants have been used to decorate homes and heal people since 1,000 B.C. China. Their benefits have since been recognised by the science community, proving household plants as essential indoor companions in urban dwellings. We adorn our Jurlique offices with these all-natural air purifiers, for they improve the air quality while reducing the stress levels of those working amongst them. Read on for all of the reasons to bring more greenery into your home or workspace.They pay their wayIn 1989, NASA conducted a study looking at the benefits of houseplants, naming it the NASA Clean Air Study. It found that having one plant per nine square metres of your home or office will remove toxic airborne agents, such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Garden Mums, Spider Plants and Dracaena are the top performing pollutant removers. Plants such as orchids, succulents, snake plants and bromeliads also absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen all through the night (unlike most other varieties that only do this during the day time), making them the perfect bedroom companions.They are visually beautifulPlants are an easy way to enhance your loungeroom or workspace. By adorning your windowsills with succulents, draping macramé hangers from curtain rails or bringing a big and bold potted fiddle leaf fig, you’ll make a huge difference to the look and feel of your space. Get your hands dirty by simply taking a cutting from a friend’s plant and propagating your own from scratch; you’ll feel a true sense of achievement as it flourishes.They reduce stressThe art of shinrin yoku, or forest therapy, was first invented in Japan and is predicated on the idea of visiting or looking at nature as a means to calm, rejuvenate and restore the mind. Studies have found that plants bestow positive changes in the brain’s electrical activity, relieving muscle tension and calming heart activity. Bring a piece of the forest into your living room with your very own bonsai tree.They bring the outdoors, inAs more people move to be closer to big cities, they inevitably have less exposure to Nature, which means they come into contact with a less diverse microbiota. This refers to the community of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in your gut and on your skin, and which is essential to fighting off disease. Keeping a herb garden will encourage you to have direct contact with plant life, while also offering a constant supply of fresh basil, thyme and mint.Jurlique’s Tree Planting Day At Jurlique we love our plants indoors and out. Every year since 2012, Jurlique staff have been planting native trees at our farm in South Australia. The trees improve our carbon footprint, enhance the area’s biodiversity, and offer protection for our organically grown botanicals. Learn more here.
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WHY AIR QUALITY MATTERS IN YOUR SKIN CARE
The ability to scientifically measure and study the impact of pollution might be relatively new, but we’ve always had a belief that air quality is one of the crucial factors in producing pure, effective skin care. It’s one of the reasons our founders moved across the globe to settle in the rolling Adelaide Hills of South Australia.How pollution affects skin (and skin care)For many decades, there was one clear environmental culprit capable of wreaking havoc on our complexions; this was, of course, the sun’s UV rays. More recently, another offender has come along: the air itself. Unlike the sun, however, air pollution gives no early warning signs.Separate studies have found that air pollution can have a significant impact on the skin, leading to the premature appearance of visible signs of ageing, such as fine lines and pigmentation.But there’s another side to this story that’s far less known: what’s the impact of air pollution on the botanical ingredients grown specifically for skin care?The quality of air that surrounds plants plays a huge role in determining just how robust and healthy those plants may be. According to a report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), air pollution can cause damage to soil quality, which “in turn, penetrates into the plant structure and impairs its ability to develop”. As a result, botanicals may turn yellow, develop spots or die completely.The purity of South AustraliaAdelaide, as one of Australia’s smaller cities, has benefited from relatively low levels of pollution – seven times lower than that in Shanghai, and more than one-third of the levels in Seoul, according to data compiled by the World Health Organization.For this reason, we made South Australia our home base. In this unspoiled environment, which our founders refer to as “the purest place on Earth”, we grow all our botanical ingredients, including hydrating Rose, which goes on to become our antioxidant-rich Rosewater Balancing Mist. Thanks to the clean-air conditions in which the Rose is grown, the resulting mist restores your skin and instils an unmistakable glow.Our home is a particular point of pride for Jurlique, for the growing conditions found here are what enable us to grow botanicals far more powerful than any other. What is pure and grown in Nature can only deliver radiant, glowing skin. It’s as simple as that.
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HOW TO REBALANCE YOUR ENERGY NATURALLY
How to Rebalance Your Energy NaturallyModern workers complain of the mid-afternoon slump. All of a sudden, it feels as if all the energy has drained out of you. Some call it brain fog, others refer to it as plain old exhaustion. Rather than reach for a quick fix, the wiser option is to implement naturally energy-boosting habits you can maintain long-term. Your precarious balancing act ends here.Aid your digestionAn unhealthy gut can have huge health implications for the rest of the body – energy levels included. Apple cider vinegar is an alkalising liquid that can help with digestion, especially for those who don’t produce enough hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. Opt for the unfiltered organic variety, and drink it diluted in water about 15 minutes before meals.Step away from the white breadWhile they can provide your body with energy, foods heavy in carbohydrates will, for the most part, leave you feeling sluggish. The main culprit? Simple carbs, like those found in sugary drinks, white bread, and pasta, which burn through your body quickly. Stick to wholegrain, low-glycaemic carbohydrates that take longer to digest. Nuts, legumes, sweet potatoes, oats, and brown rice will all provide your body a steady supply of energy, helping you avoid the crash-and-burn effect.Break a sweatIf you’ve ever gotten your sweat on, you’d know the incredible clarity that comes from a flood of endorphins hitting your system. Exercise gives your cells more energy to burn, circulating oxygen around the body and releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine (stress hormones) that in modest amounts that make you feel energised. Even a brisk walk on your break can help.Have another glass of waterFeeling fatigued is one of the first signs that your body is short on fluids. The recommended daily amount of water is 2 litres per day, but be sure to drink slowly and keep it at room temperature, so it is easily ingested and absorbed by your body.School yourself in essential oilsStudies have found that inhaling essential oils under stressful conditions can lead to noticeable positive neurological responses, as fragrance compounds directly affect the brain. When it comes to improving energy levels, essential oils with citrus properties are great for boosting energy and motivation – we love a few drops of our Revitalising Blend Essential Oil, which can be used in a vaporiser for the office. If you don’t have a diffuser handy, try a spritz of our Revitalising Blend Aromatherapy Mist, close your eyes and spray mist above your head, and deeply inhale the Orange, Bergamot, Lemon and Lavender blend to awaken the senses.
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WHAT DOES WELLNESS MEAN TO YOU?
What does wellness mean to you? Some think quitting sugar, others think yoga on the beach. So here’s a question: what does wellness mean to you?Wellness, the state of experiencing wellbeing. When people think wellness, they sometimes picture their ideal selves: a perfect zen balance of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. However, that image is usually marred by the reality of modern life – we’re often too busy, too stressed to make wellness a priority. To make ourselves, our health, our connection with nature and our happiness, a priority. And that’s something we all deserve to change.This month, we’re launching our national Wellbeing campaign, to inspire us all to wellbeing and lives we truly love – like reconnecting with nature, nurturing your body through nutrition and fitness, and practicing daily mindfulness.At Jurlique, we believe beauty comes from within, and it shows when we’re living in harmony with ourselves and the world around us. So we’ll be looking at how the power of nature can help promote radiant skin, no matter what your skin type or concern. And, with the help of some of Australia’s top nutrition, fitness and mindfulness experts, we’ll also be exploring: The whole foods story – what it is and why it matters, as well as recipes for delicious, nutritious meals How to set and manage fitness goals and energy levels with fun workouts you’ll enjoy The self-love and self-care benefits of being mindful in each moment – and how it can help minimise stress Wellness happens by making incremental changes that add up over time. Some of these changes can be small, like eating more vegetables, or swapping coffee for green tea. Others, however, may involve challenging preconceived notions about how we should think, feel, act or simply be – like letting go of negative self-talk, feeling guilty, saying ‘yes’ more often than saying ‘no’ and being the perfect parent / friend / partner / employee / person.This is one of the most important things to remember. Because what links the wellness pillars of skin care, nutrition, fitness and mindfulness isn’t what you’d normally expect. The truth is, what connects them all is you and your experience. You’re the key to realising your happiness and health, and living a life that fills you with joy and contentment, every single day.It’s not about a magic bullet, or having a perfect record. It’s okay to stumble every now and again on the path to wellbeing. What’s important are those gentle gains, and being open to what you might be able to do, right now, in order to start feeling happier and healthier. Because if you can end each day having done one more thing to add value to your life, then every day will be better than the last.And that’s our challenge to you over the coming month.Enjoy September.Team Jurlique x“Our vision was to formulate and manufacture the purest skin care products available based on the healing properties of nature and to inspire people to health and wellbeing.” – Ulrike Klein, Jurlique Co-founderThis month’s skin care, nutrition, fitness and mindfulness articles delivered straight to your inbox – sign up to the Jurlique newsletter.
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UNDERSTANDING: THINGS HAPPEN FOR YOU AND NOT TO YOU BY VASHTI WHITFIELD
As part of our Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge, executive life coach Vashti Whitfield has created an exclusive four-part series of guest blogs for us. In part four, she explores how actively practicing mindfulness can help you deal with whatever life throws at you.Over the last decade, I dove into – and then out of – the role of ‘wife of a superstar’. I learned very quickly the value of self-worth, which became an absolute necessity as a stay-at-home mum. With too much alone time with two small children in remote countries, I was forced to question and explore the whole concept of life, love and legacy.I also nursed my husband through a tumultuous 18-month cancer journey from “Yay, you’re going to make it!” to “No, you have three months to live”. I transitioned from being married to my best friend for 13 years into being a widow, the single parent of two gorgeous kids, and the sole provider and breadwinner. Oh, and did I mention that I’m also driven by my unwavering commitment to make a difference in people’s lives in any way possible?So believe me when I tell you that I totally get it. I know what it’s like to wake up in the night wondering how I’m going to manage the multiple balls I’m juggling. I understand the insane commitment it takes to be fully present for the people around me when my mind is racing; worrying about something in the future, or regretting something I could have done differently in the past.I had to explore different ways of looking at life to learn how to approach the scale of the life I was asking for – and cope with the mind-bending scenarios life decided to throw back at me. Because regardless of whether life is easy or difficult, it’s how you choose to interpret it that will either make you or break you.Creating the life you wantWhile no two brains are alike, we’re all hardwired to think our way forward, towards what we most desire. This is the part of our brain that, when it’s clear in its intention, is motivated and capable of making almost anything happen.But we are also hardwired – rather cleverly and somewhat annoyingly at times – to detect and protect ourselves against anything that might cause us pain, humiliation or rejection.In order for you to really dive into the potential of a situation and make things happen in your life, it is absolutely critical that you own, choose and understand what you want. This will immediately support you to clarify your level of commitment to your goal, and help expose any underlying fears that might have held you back up to this point.Actively practicing mindfulness is a powerful tool for reconnecting with your most intuitive and capable self (and it’s far more cost-effective than going on holiday). It’s also what the modern-day mind needs to tap into our innate wisdom, and our ability to create, adapt and grow from anything that life throws at us.Through this ongoing curious and non-judgemental enquiry of learning more about ourselves, we are able to live, love, and lead often remarkably inspiring lives.* With thanks to Byron Katie for the quote.Explore the Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge for tips, tools and a step-by-step plan for transitioning from mindful-mess to mindfulness. Download the Jurlique X Vashti Whitfield Mindfulness Challenge here
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TAKING CONTROL OF LIMITING THOUGHTS BY VASHTI WHITFIELD
As part of our Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge, executive life coach Vashti Whitfield has created an exclusive four-part series of guest blogs for us. In part three, she explores how our beliefs lead our minds to work for us – or against us.Have you ever found yourself feeling like you’re doing all the ‘right’ things – setting goals, taking action – but you’re just not getting any traction? It might not be your actions holding you back, but your beliefs.We are all born as perfect blank canvases: impressionable, absorbent, with the ability to become almost anything. And during our earliest years, while our brains and bodies are forming, growing and making sense of the world, we develop an acute awareness of what does and doesn’t feel good – and this has far-reaching effects.How our earliest experiences mould usThink of what happens when a toddler, having just mastered the word “please”, accidentally knocks a glass of juice all over the rug in her eagerness to grab what she’d been given permission to take. And her parents, who are exhausted at the end of yet another stressful work day, lose their temper and shout at her, complaining that she never listens, and couldn’t she just sit still.The little girl – who’d believed that using “please” correctly would be met with praise and adoration – is instead offered a confusing display of anger from her hugely frustrated and tired parents. The determination she set out with and was initially praised for now becomes something negative and unhelpful, as she becomes someone who “never listens and should do what they’re told”.If you’re that toddler, a few weeks of the same message being fed back to you – not to mention the confusion that comes when doing something impressive is met with anger and rejection – will form the beginnings of a very significant belief: that whatever you try to do without being invited will be met with a response that does not feel good.So, boom: you’re not even three years old, and you’ve already loaded a specific belief into the hard drive of your brain – one that will continue to influence everything you do or don’t do moving forward.Of course, this works both ways. If you get on stage at school and sing, and you’re praised and positively acknowledged, you’re 99% more likely to be confident singing in public again. Or if you try something and bomb spectacularly, but still receive encouragement from a loving support structure that challenges you to try again, it will help you build resilience – and form the healthy belief that as long as you try your best, nothing else really matters.Using mindfulness to take controlAssigning meaning to something is a very necessary tool. If we reach for a hot cup of tea and it burns our hand, our brain communicates to us through our pain receptors to tell us that this hurts. And we know for next time how to avoid danger and pain when it comes to hot cups of tea.The problem is that as we grow older and mature, we sometimes forget these past experiences – but we continue to act out the behaviours, habits and structures we put in place to avoid feeling the pain, embarrassment, abandonment, discomfort and hurt they caused. And as we travel through life, we might set goals to achieve something – but if deep down, we don’t believe we’re worthy of it, it becomes far less likely to happen.Unfortunately, we’re often caught living within the confines of a set of beliefs that neither serve us nor support us. But here’s the good news: once you realise that you’re operating from a self-limiting perspective – one that you know is far from how you would like to approach life – you can begin to map a new path.And when you’re courageous enough to acknowledge that what you believe may in fact be nothing more than a confused memory of your past, you can start moving towards what you’d most like to achieve – and learn to let that self-defeating belief and its accompanying behaviour be a thing of the distant past.Explore the Jurlique Mindfulness Challenge for tips, tools and a step-by-step plan for transitioning from mindful-mess to mindfulness. Download the Jurlique X Vashti Whitfield Mindfulness Challenge here
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