March Newness
from a monk's perspective on life to impressive haircare collaboration via cards that bring sexiness back into life
With the arrival of Northward equinox we are officially in spring mode ( or in autumn, if you live in the Southern hemisphere ) and that is a great time to pause and reflect on how you feel and what you need to help you adjust to seasonal changes. I feel a little bit like a bear emerging tentatively into the spring sunshine and wondering what lies ahead. This month I will regale you with stories about balloons and a monk, a world-famous hairstylist who created something noteworthy with Zara, something from Finland that will uplift your mood in the shower, unexpected cards that combine art and sexiness, as well as something blue that is used daily, rather than on the day of your wedding. Shall we dive in?
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Something for the senses: EmotionAir exhibition in London
EmotionAir is quite a unique exhibition that explores the relationship between art and emotions through the medium of inflatable art. My kids were quite keen to see it and even though the tickets weren’t exactly a bargain, I would say the joy we felt exploring it is worth factoring in, if you are contemplating a visit. Please bear in mind that there are lots of people with small children exploring the exhibition ( it is located by the banks of the river Thames, at 1 Billingsgate walk ), so sometimes ‘navigation’ can slow down, but there are lots of rooms to explore and lots of things to see. Each piece is designed to attract your gaze and even pause to consider how this or that installation makes you feel. There are several floors and some stairs to navigate, so do bear that in mind, if you visit with small children and a buggy.
The work of twenty artists is quite diverse and while some rooms look and feel darker, the balloon room, which is the last one of the exhibition, will surprise and delight anyone, from a baby to a cynical adult. You will laugh, giggle and look around in wonder - that much I can guarantee. Don’t delay your visit though, as even though London exhibition has already been extended, it’s due to close down on April 14th.
Something for the face: Free + True Bi-Phase Essence with desert milk & blue tansy
Toner or no toner, that is the question. Opinion on this particular skincare product continue to be divided. Often, we are sold toners because they can help to make pores look smaller ( for it to be true the toner has to contain a special ingredient for that particular purpose, an acid for example), offer extra hydration ( but if you cream contains a humectant, do you need a toner at all ?) or to remove traces of make-up ( if your cleanser is effective, why would you need a toner ? ). Personally I use toners on occasion, but not regularly, but in the case of this particular product it isn’t exactly ‘just a toner’, it’s actually a hybrid product.
Milk + Tansy Bi-Phase Essence would be more accurately described as “hydrating oily serum toner”. Tami Blake, founder of Free + True, who happens to be a certified cosmetic formulator and licensed aesthetician, created this product in order to serve the skin with several benefits at the same time. Shake the glass bottle and it will emulsify into an essence that is richer than an average toner. It will simultaneously sooth, calm, hydrate and reinforce skin’s natural barrier.
A synergistic combination of Blue Tansy, Watermelon Seed, Baobab Seed & Kalahari Melon Seed oils and a complex of watermelon, apple and lentil plant extracts is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. Minimal effort on your part, maximised results for your skin. A multi-hyphenate type of skincare that matches the multi-hyphenate roles of its creator, who clearly has passion for innovation and taking ingredients that already might be known to new heights via the mathematical sum of all parts.
Something for the hair: Lumene Nordic C Strength & Shine Shampoo and Conditioner
Sadly Finnish brand Lumene doesn’t distribute or sell its full range in the UK, so this recently launched haircare duo arrived on to my shower shelf thanks to a visit from my bestie, who always spoils me with Lumene newness all year round. Sadly, Lumene website is a bit of a nightmare for an English speaker to navigate - when I wanted to get more insight into this haircare range, the website ‘insisted’ on pinpointing my location and while it doesn’t sell haircare in the UK, on Finnish site everything is in Finnish. Restrictive and not very customer facing. Plus every time you browse the website you are bombarded with cookies, subscribing prompts etc - so I think I will rely on my friend to keep me updated with brand’s news, as attempting to browse or get the information on specific products in English was incredibly FRUSTRATING. Side note: after I shared this on my Instagram, Lumene press team got in touch and sent me requested information in English, which was nice of them. They also said that if the product isn’t sold in the UK, they don’t share English language information about it. I hope this gets corrected, as it is most unhelpful to customers, if they want to explore product insights.
The first thing you will notice about this haircare duo is the bright and uplifting colour of its packaging (100% recycled and recyclable, containing biodegradable formula). Pop shampoo’s cap up, inhale the scent - and you might feel so good, you will start dancing on the spot. The orange “zinginess” woke me up on grey winter mornings or uplifted in the evening, after a busy or exhausting day. Scent plays such an important part in our life, impacting our parasymptomatic nervous system - something I came to value even more after I lost my sense of smell during the first round of Covid.
KEY INGREDIENTS
Arctic Cloudberry seed oil:
A source of essential vitamins and fatty acids; helps to nourish hair and scalp.
Helps to smooth and strengthen hair and add its shine.
Vitamin C:
Helps to nurture scalp for stronger hair.
Helps to prevent protein damage caused by free radicals that leads to hair breakage and dulling your hair colour.
Strengthening protein:
An essential building block of hair, protein is needed to strengthen and restore the hair fiber.
Our strengthening protein made from chia helps to repair and prevent hair damage.
Nordic C shampoo and conditioner are meant to be used on treated or damaged hair, as well as coloured, and were developed to strengthen hair roots ( by nourishing the scalp, hair’s fertile ground) and add shine to hair that appears lacklustre - not forgetting that hair is a ‘dead’ material and we need to focus on follicles and taking care of the scalp in order for our hair to be healthy. Shampoo and conditioner both contain Arctic cloudberry (one of Lumene ‘star’ ingredients in many of its best-selling skincare products), vitamin C and plant-based protein and you will notice a difference in how your hair feels - softer - and most definitely ‘shinier’. I tend to do two shampoos and it doesn’t ‘dry’ the hair out and makes the scalp feel well tended to - meaning it doesn’t feel itchy or dry. My daughter on occasion ‘borrows’ the conditioner and says that it makes her hair softer & smoother. So definite thumbs up for Lumene haircare. It’s also worth noting that both shampoo & conditioner are vegan and formulated with wildcrafted and upcycled ingredients. I just hope Lumene haircare lands on British shores eventually, as this duo is not only effective, but thoroughly sensorially enjoyable, bright orange packaging included!
Something for the mind: “I May Be Wrong And Other Wisdoms From Life As A Forrest Monk” by Bjorn Natthiko Lindeblad
This book is as beautifully human and engaging, as it is surprisingly painful to read. I drank it in, like a thirsty traveller hiking through the desert, but it became heavier to process in the second part. Too often we expect wisdom and happiness, forgetting that real life stories don’t necessarily have a happy or uplifting ending or evolution of the story. Never-the-less, I urge you to find the time to read this book, as it’s human, humble and very relatable - even if you have never contemplated becoming a monk of any kind yourself.
A young, smart man climbs the ranks of professional ladder fast, becoming a business executive in his 20s - only to swap it for monastic direction and travelling the world to deepen his spiritual practise and correct his human flaws, lean into things and responding to his teachers lessons about life and humanity. After seventeen years he feels the deep need to return to ‘regular’ life only to face a mountain of unexpected challenges. As we all increasingly struggle with the state of the world and our own inner turmoils, this book will offer a perspective that many of us will find incredibly relatable and possibly perfectly timed too! Let me leave you with this Albert Einstein quote that Bjorn shared in chapter nine of his book: “The rational mind is a servant. The intuitive mind is a sacred gift. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
Something for the body: Bodyologist Skin Gloss Beyond Nourishing Body Oil
I wrote about Danish bodycare brand Bodyologist last month & if you missed it, you can read about some of the products I talked about here. Bodycare seems to be hitting its stride and attracting a bigger interest of both consumers and investors, but fewer brands actually deliver a multi-layered experience, combining sensorial with efficacy to the point that you actually repurchase the same product, rather than look for something else to try. Bodyologist has really impressed me thus far, as I can’t find much to fault and very much enjoy using the products regularly. Winter has been cold and with a busy schedule and no sunny holidays my skin has not only become paler, but dryer too, even if I keep myself internally hydrated with water, tea and smoothies. So effective bodycare can truly make a difference to skin’s appearance - and if you want tanning drops for the body, I will feature another product from Bodyologist in April.
Skin Gloss is quite an unusual product because it feels like a gloss and an oil hybrid, quickly melting into the skin and making it feel to the touch not dissimilar to baby’s skin. You get a little bit of a sheen, a definite feeling of softness and smoothness, as well as a little bit of a glow. Skin Gloss boasts Omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids known for their soothing, conditioning, and fortifying properties. There is also
Squalane derived from olives sources in Europe and Brown Algae Extract, which contributes to improvement of skin’s elasticity and suppleness, in combination with Vitamin E. I also like the combination of almond, jojoba, olive, rapseed and sunflower oils, which add a light scent to the skin instead of perfume.
This product can be applied to dry or slightly moist skin or even mixed with your body serum or lotion, if you skin is feeling particularly parched. Personally I prefer using it on its own and think it’s a wonderful product for all year round use. In colder months it definitely improves the feel and appearance of your body and in the summer it will enhance the beauty of the naturally tanned skin. This product is also a genuine credit to brand founders Charlotte and Didde - they created an efficacious, luxurious product that is not sticky, not tacky and can be used also on your cuticles, hair ends or even as a bath oil, if you add a few pumps into the running bath water. A 100 ml sized, sturdy bottle that houses the product also makes it handy for your gym bag or suitcase. The luxury of thoughtful functionality that Scandinavians are known for and two practical female founders, who worked in beauty retail, amassed customer feedback and launched something that stands out from many other body care ranges in the most positive & practical of ways.
Something sexy for springtime and beyond: Wonderlust cards
To be honest I haven’t come across such intimacy cards before and Wonderlust clearly had the desired effect - I wanted to know more about what they are for and who created them. Natassia, Wonderlust founder, is a sexologist in training, who believes that best relationships are founded on strong communications. In modern society where intimacy seems to me diminishing, people are struggling to communicate with each other post pandemic ( have you noticed how many people want to talk about themselves, but NOT to listen when it comes to stories of others? ), birth rates are plummeting and so does individual confidence, Wonderlust cards might help address all of the above gradually.
Natassia is currently studying for her certification as a sexuality educator at the Modern Sex Therapy Institute. Her professional background lies in finance and she launched Wonderlust in 2022, with cards going viral on TikTok. Her main aim is to educate people about sex in a comfortable, smart and elegant way. Since launching the cards, Natassia has invested herself in education and building up intimacy courses that she hosts online. She admits that she “loves products, but education is my passion. We were never taught how to have great sex and healthy relationships ( only modelled on what we saw, which isn’t always the best example). There is so much shame around asking for help in general and I want to help change that!”
Why the name “Wonderlust”, I asked Natassia? “Wonderlust represents lusting about someone or something. We think it. We imagine it, and our largest sex organ is the brain, so “wonder” and “lust” are a combination that represents that”. There is a dreaminess about this name for the brand and it encourages the users to have fun, to pause, think and be sincere in expressing inner thoughts and desires in the comfortable, rather than intimidating or pressurised, way. With so much nakedness before our eyes, we become almost immune to individuality of one’s body and end up feeling disconnected - do you feel that when you see another social media video, certain fashion ads, TV shows or celebrities in clothes that leave little to imagination?
Another issue related to the intimacy is the often accepted view of society that “pleasure is sinful and female bodies are too, so there is a lot to work through unfortunately” adds Natassia. I was recently quite shocked when some of the imagery that I posted alongside writing about a bodycare brand was temporarily suspended by Instagram - the image contained no nudity, but a card with women in underwear that the brand has sent me alongside the products. I complained and questioned Instagram there and then and have to give them credit that the post was reinstated within minutes - but you see my point, right?
How did the idea of creating such cards came about? Natassia found a study that showed that couples who talk about sex experience more desire, arousal and less discomfort or pain during sex. She also is very comfortable herself when it comes to talking about sex - and it’s clearly visible in her Instagram videos that are easy flowing and engaging. Natassia did a survey of 500 couples and found that talking about sex was their biggest hurdle to getting where they desired, which is having more and better sex. Quality matters not only when it comes to clothes or beauty or furniture we buy, but in our sex lives too.
Creation of Wonderlust cards took over eight months and the deck is easy and fun to use and will help you build comfort and confidence alongside your partner. Natassia has read many books on sexual health and wellbeing before and as she was developing the Wonderlust deck, which helped lay the foundations for the card prompts. She also structured the deck alongside two levels, which will make a smoother transition between steady and spicy questions and prompts. First level is more thoughtful and romantic, helping to warm you and the conversation up, without forcing anything that you don’t want to share; Second will dive much more into more sexual questions - but again, it’s all about the comfort of the couple, rather than forcing you to talk about something that you don’t want to or aren’t ready for.
Natassia partnered with a friend of hers, who is a well-known Brazilian artist, to create the artwork for the deck, while doing the design of the packaging herself. When the deck arrived and I took it out of the box, it made me think of a stylish, not seedy, combination of artwork and Kama Sutra pencil drawings. There are 138 cards for you to explore at your own pace. They will engage you, make you reflect on your own needs and desires and help you learn about your partner, thus forming a closer, more intimate bond between the two of you over time, while you both gain confidence in sharing your intimate needs and desires. If you are not comfortable with a particular question, you just put it back into the deck and choose another one.
I have never used cards like that and was genuinely surprised that I was drawn to them. They also would make for a perfect gift for a close friend, as the more people become confident and educated about their own desires and body, the better and happier society we will be. They are an educational and artful tool that you will be tempted to reach for again and again .)
Something for your hair: when iconic becomes mainstream-Guido X Zara
You might not know the name of Guido Palau, but I am sure you know his work. Remember young Kate Moss in Calvin Klein campaigns? Or George Michael’s “Freedom” video? Well, the hair in both is the result of Guido’s work, who has done hundreds of editorials, major catwalk shows for luxury brands and looked after the tresses of too many to name models and actresses. Last year he launched a limited edition haircare set with Zara, which included gold hair balm, comb and hair grips, which quickly sold out. Last month the collaboration went a step further with Guido’s Zara hair collection that has prominent space in various Zara branches dotted around London.
There are currently five products, if I am not mistaken, and my boys are regularly using Light Hair Balm, which is the finishing cream that adds some moisture to hair and makes it look shinier and feeling softer. It works really well on short hair and doesn’t make hair greasy - just apply the product with the light, rather than greedy touch. You can use it on wet or dry hair. The bottle is a bit chunky and colour-playful, reminding me a little of the play-doh constructions that kids create. You certainly won’t confuse the packaging with another haircare range - after all, it’s been designed by Baron & Baron and the scent of the products developed by perfumer Jerome Epinette, the nose behind some of Byredo fragrances, as well as the latest trio of perfumes by Victoria Beckham.
My hands were drawn to the Dry Texturizing Spray, which is quite versatile and you can use it on both short, mid-length and long hair. It helps to add a little volume when applied to the roots, as well as texture to the hair - using it on freshly washed hair gives great results and helps to refresh the hair after a couple of days as well. One tip on putting this spray to good use would be to tip your head upside down and spray the product at the roots, flip your head back and run the fingers through the hair, messing them up a little. Voila, have a look at your reflection in the mirror and smile!
There are many haircare ranges bearing the names of well-known hairdressers, but cutting or colouring hair is one thing, understanding different hair types and how to look after them is quite another. I have tested many haircare ranges over the years and talked to many hairdressers, some of them quite well-known, and what surprised me was how few of them gave really good, practical advice when it came to looking after the hair in-between appointments.
While I haven’t had a chance to meet Guido, let alone have him cut or style my hair, this haircare range will certainly help you feel more confident when it comes to styling your hair. And that is a sign of a master hairdresser, who clearly invested himself, time and practical skills, in helping Zara craft a really impressive range of styling hair care products for men and women alike - and at an accessible price point as well!
As I was doing the final edits of this post, two things happened. Princess of Wales released a video about her cancer diagnosis - and I hope many people hang their head in shame and will change their ways when it comes to pushing boundaries of invading privacy and respect for the wishes of other people. Having a public role and being visible doesn’t negate the right of people to privacy and I can only imagine the pain and upset that was caused to Catherine and her family by the endless interest and growing myths about what’s going on. She is a woman with a young family and the level of public intensity she never asked for. Let her heal, recover and gain strength, she is a human being first and foremost, with fears and vulnerabilities that we can all relate to.
The second event was the horrifying terrorist attack in Moscow that took the lives of many people. Luckily emergency and security services reacted quickly and humankind put the best foot forward, with people helping others to escape and getting medical help quickly. The scenes shared on TV and online were horrifying and I am sure they were even worse for the rescue services on site. Another grim reminder that none of us know what can happen in a public place at any moment in time. So I am saying a prayer and hoping that it’s not too late for all of us to come to our senses and no matter the circumstances, encourage ourselves to be kind - to ourselves and to others. Humanity can and does do many things wrong, but we all live in hope that the light and the good will emerge to the forefront in any dire situation. We have so much in common if we care to focus on things that unite us, rather than set us apart. Stay safe and please be kind to yourself and to others.
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince
Intuition, listening between words, being present, seeing between spaces, recognising connections, and sensing into circumstances ...
We could argue that these powerful capacities are what are urgently required for the real leadership needed to successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century!
I like your book recommendation and will check out Wonderlust cards too. They remind of The School of Life's Pillow Talk cards. I have seen many times the connection between tuning in to what brings aliveness into our systems and being able to access personal and relational power.