From the natural deodorant that's so chic, it will make you want to 'switch' to the gut health-boosting supplements that taste like sweets as well as the self-warming eye mask that will help you fall asleep. These are the wellness buys the team can't get enough of
Whether you're a wellness warrior all year round or have decided that 2023 is the year you're going to invest in your own self-care and explore more health and wellbeing options that are out there, we have put together an edit of some of the products that help us feel better, improve our state of mind, aid our sleep and boost our health. You'll find out more as you keep on scrolling but there are collagen supplements we really rate, the gift set that will boost your energy and get you focused and major wellness newsflash: 90s oil burners are back and here to stay. Enjoy.
The natural deodorant we've been waiting for: Glossier Sandstone Deodorant, £18
"I was raising my arms up in a yoga sun salutation the other day and I thought, oooh what’s that lovely and rather sophisticated smell? Oh, it’s me! Rather, it was day one of me using Glossier’s first deodorant. It comes in three scents and an unscented version (in case you want to let your favourite perfume do the talking ). One of the deodorant scents is Glossier You, the brand’s cult fragrance and there’s also Orange Blossom. I prefer this more herby, spicy one. The texture is that of a dry cream, but it goes on clear, no white pit marks. Plus the refillable packaging is to die for: chic and minimalist. I can’t fault it. As my colleague Sarah-Jane said in her roundup of the best natural deodorants if you’ve never gone form a natural deodorant before, this is the one that will turn you.”" Victoria Woodhall, GTG Editorial Director
The energy-inducing gift set: This Works Switch On + Focus Set, £21
“A brilliant gift for a friend (or yourself) who needs a moment of selfcare and a boost in the morning. Don’t we all? This duo consists of Morning Expert Wake-Up Drops, an energising uplifting aromatherapy blend of rosemary, lavandin and peppermint - although I swear I can pickup notes of zesty orange too - that can either be dropped into a diffuser (looking for the best electric diffusers, we’ve rounded them up) or sprinkled onto a tissue, or even your coat, to breathe in on your way to work or on the school run. There’s also the Morning Expert Wake-Up Spray which has the exact same scent but can be spritzed all over your being (not directly on your face as I almost did!) as you sit at your desk or wherever you may be and for when an instant hit of energy and vitality is required.” Sarah-Jane Corfield-Smith, GTG Beauty Director
The supplement you'll want to take: JS Health Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies, £14.99
"If you’re someone who wants the benefits of apple cider vinegar but hates the taste and the inconvenience of having to remember to drink it every day (FYI: it can be damaging for your tooth enamel if you drink it diluted in water). then these gummies are the solution. Like most people, I'm terrible at remembering to take daily vitamins, but for some reason gummies are an easier alternative - maybe because you just eat them like a sweet? And while these are not Haribo, I think they taste really good, a bit like a sour apple sweet. I keep them on my desk which also helps me remember to take the recommended four a day. In terms of what they do, the fermented juice from crushed apples has been infused with beneficial bacteria cultures designed to support your general health and well-being. Oh and did I mention they’re also vegan and a great price tag too?" Christina Callaghan, GTG Commercial Director
The complexion clearing gadget: SolaWave Anti-Breakout Skincare Wand, £126
"This LA-based skincare and technology brand has won the hearts of Hollywood. Reece Witherspoon, Doja Cat and the icon that is Jennifer Coolidge are all fans. I’ve been trailing the blue light acne focused wand (you can also buy a red-light version that targets wrinkles and pigmentation) for a couple of months now and I understand the hype If you have acne-prone skin like me, or you're partial to an angry breakout or two, then this is for you. Blue light therapy works to zap and eliminate acne-causing bacteria in the skin which can cause inflammation. I use it for five minutes most days, it's designed to replicate a gua sha wand so you can give yourself a facial massage alongside your regular skincare routine. The best part is the wand warms up to help the absorption of skincare products, reduce redness and help your skin to glow. It’s a therapeutic moment I look forward to — and it feels incredibly soothing. The wand only takes 120 minutes to fully charge and a full charge delivers 60 minutes of use. Plus it’s totally portable, so much so I took it on holiday with me for five days!" Jemma Thompson, GTG Design and Social Media Manager
The slumber stones: Feather & Down Sleep Stones and Oil, £18
"Oh the irony of wanting to stay up all night as a child and now all you want to do is sleep as much as possible. Annoyingly though I find my inner-child is appearing more and more at night and stopping me from falling asleep. I recently discovered these Feather & Down Sleep Stones which have been a lovely addition to my bedtime ritual. You keep the stones in the tin, add a few drops of the calming and relaxing lavender and chamomile oil to the stones each night (keep it on your bedside table) and let the aroma fill the air around your bed to help you drift off. They can be used alone or if you really want to up the calming scent ante, pair them a pillow mist of your choice. I can't be certain if these are they key to getting me to sleep but the routine definitely helps me feel more relaxed and signals to my brain that it's time to switch off." Amy Rostas, GTG Beauty and Social Media Assistant
The 'regular' toothpaste alternative: Weleda Salt Toothpaste, £6.99
"I don’t believe in barring fluoride from your toothpaste and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with regular toothpastes, but I do hate the intensely foaming, irritating effect of sodium lauryl sulphate in most toothpastes and I also wonder what it does to the microbiome in our mouth, as hardcore surfactants will kill off bad but also lots of good bacteria. So I like using this salty alternative, which uses antiseptic sea salt and plaque-dissolving bicarb of soda to make your mouth feel lovely and fresh (there’s mint oil as well, so it’s not like a mouth full of salt). Ratanhia (a Peruvian shrub), myrrh and horse chestnut extracts are included to calm gum inflammation and support their overall health." Ingeborg van Lotringen, Beauty editor
The collagen supplement that really works: Kollo Premium Marine Collagen, £35.99 for 14 sachets
"“I gave these liquid marine collagen sachets to a colleague to try after she’d fallen out of love with her usual liquid brand. – its fishy aftertaste was too much, she confessed. Four weeks into taking Kollo and the results are in! She showed me her nails: ‘Look you can see the new growth, my nails aren’t as ridged anymore!’ She says she has noticed her hair growth improving too and, as a runner, her joints are feeling the benefit too. What’s more, it’s tasty. It contains the optimum studied effective dose of 10g of collagen peptides (her previous choice had 8g) as well a host of collagen and energy-supporting ingredients such as the amino-acid l-lysine, B vitamins, and vitamin C. There’s much debate about whether collagen supplement work - and they are by no means all equal - but when a friend shows you the proof of the pudding, that’s a recommendation to trust.” VW
The pre-bedtime mask of dreams: Popmask Starry Eyes Self-Warming Eye Mask, £15 for pack of 5
“If you’re struggling with your sleep right now, may I introduce you to these. I can’t promise they will solve all your slumbering issues but what they most definitely do is create a serious moment of cosiness and calm before you (hopefully) shut your eyes. As soon as they’re out of the packet they start to warm up and then you pop them over your eyes and put the handy loops over your ears. I then put my regular Slip Silk Mask, £50, on top to keep it in place a bit more securely and allow the warmth to bring down my stress levels and set me up for what I always hope is going to be a better night’s sleep than the one before. I’ve tried warming eye masks before and found a lot of them have a slightly straw like smell whereas these ones are scent free.” SJCS
The calming candle: Sanctuary Spa Wellness Collection Scented Candle, £22
"Sanctuary Spa unveiled a new collection at the end of 2022, the 'Wellness Collection', a welcome addition to their amazing range of spa-inspired products. And this gorgeous looking (and very well priced) candle is that star of the show for me. The scent is a combination of jasmine, sandalwood and violet, which are apparently proven to help you fall asleep faster and for longer. I've been lighting it for half an hour before bedtime as part of trying to implement a sleep routine and I've really noticed a difference that this seemingly small change has made. The soft candle light, combined with the relaxing and spa like scent help me calm down and switch off my mind before blowing it out and falling asleep. It has a burn time of 45 hours so it's going to last me quite while and the ceramic jar is reusable once you’re done, I’ll be using mine to hold my makeup brushes." CC
The subscription supplement: Starpowa Vitamin D3 Gummies, £9.99
"During these cold, dark winter months we need the 'sunshine supplement' aka vitamin D more than ever. It's advised that you take Vitamin D between September-May to support your immune system (needed with all the pesky colds going around), it also helps with muscle function, maintaining healthy bones and even supporting your skin rejuvenation - it's a pretty hard-working vitamin. I have been taking these vegan, gluten-free Starpowa vitamin D3 gummies for a while now, you only need to take one a day and as its a gummy they do feel like more of a yummy juicy orange treat (containing less than 0.1g of sugar) rather than a rather dull supplement that you'll end up forgetting about. On that note: Starpowa has a new subscription service that deliver them straight to your door every month, so you’ll never forget to buy or run out." AR
The Himalayan salt face wand: Pietro Simone Skincare Salt Mushroom Face Massager, £29
"Facialist Pietro Simone likes to throw in a left-field element as part of his otherwise holistic but hi-tech skin treatments. Known for exfoliating skin with a cotton thread (surprisingly effective) and putting your head in an oxygen bubble, his latest invention is massage wands made out of solid pink Himalayan salts – the same rock salts they make cosy orange lamps out of, or bath salts that are supposed to be ace at remineralising your tissues for detoxifying and sleep-improving results. Pietro’s body paddle is shaped like a foot and has knobbly bits, while this facial tool is super-smooth and comes in the shape of a button mushroom massager. Used with cleanser or face oil, it stimulates lymph flow and microcirculation while infusing skin with 84 minerals and hydration-balancing electrolytes and purifying it thanks to the salt’s antibacterial properties. It does slowly melt with use and can get a bit scratchy as it does, so make sure you keep its surface smooth (as piece of sandpaper is recommended, very Handy Andy)." IvL
The nostalgic experience: The London Dispensary Grounding Luxury CBD Wax Melts, £22
"Essential oil burners were all the rage in the nineties and I wish I’d kept mine because now there’s a modern and less messy and less naff way to use them to infuse you home with scent. It’s now all about the aromatherapy wax melt. These, which are from British ethical CBD brand The London Dispensary, look like domes of white chocolate and are beautifully packaged for a moment of mindfulness. They come in three scents: Grounding (with orange and bergamot, frankincense and ginger), Breathe (great for stuffy noses) and Slumber. There’s something calming about watching the wax transform from solid to liquid as it releases the aroma. Unlike a scented candle, it burns evenly and without producing soot. The ranges are currently all discounted from £28 to £22 for eight. Oil burners have come on style-wise since the nineties too – try this wooden Japanese oil burner one from Amazon, £13,49." VW
The skin hydrating vitamins: Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Moisture IQ, £77
"Even with all the information I’m exposed to I find knowing which supplements to take hugely confusing. But as I’m approaching my 40s I want to be taking something to keep my skin ticking over. With these tablets Advanced Nutrition Programme have done all the hard work and put together everything you need to take taking away the guesswork. There are a few differently ‘themed’ packs, I went with moisture because that’s what I feel my skin could do with from the inside out, but there are also ones that focus on collagen, acne and brightening. Each little pod contains the vitamins you need to take that day - there are 5 in these; one containing hyaluronic and ceramides, two omega tablets, a vitamin A table and a mutli-vitamin. While these are very much skin focused, I have also found that when my entire family has been getting ill around me I have managed to stay unscathed and the only thing I have changed is taking these" SJCS