The last few weeks have seen seismic shifts in how we live and work — and even for those of us comfortable with alone time, this period of self-isolation is likely to be challenging. While this is a stressful time, there are a few things we can do to tend to our physical and emotional needs. Not only can these self-care practices help us cope with isolation and stress, but also keep us feeling our best all year long.

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1 / Maintain social contact

We, humans, are social animals. Research on the effects of loneliness suggests that when people lack social connections they are more likely to suffer from physical health problems. Maintaining social contact doesn’t have to be in person; this can be as simple as phoning a friend for a chat, arranging a Google hangout, or joining in with a discussion via social media. We’re always happy to receive messages, too. Reaching out to a friend and feeling part of a community has been shown to boost mental health all round

2 / Eat well, exercise… and listen to upbeat music

Exercise and getting enough vitamins have been proven to contribute to a healthy immune system… as has listening to upbeat music, according to Psychologists.

3 / Structure your day

While self-isolating we may have difficulties with sleep [insomnia], feelings of restlessness or sadness, or start to feel demotivated. To combat this, create and maintain a structure to the day. Set a schedule for mealtimes, bedtime and plan out activities and goals to help to maintain positive levels of motivation and mood.

4/ Take care with news and information

There’s nothing wrong with keeping up to date with what’s happening, but taking in too much [negative] news can trigger stress and anxiety. To help with this, limit news to certain times of day [from trusted sources], take frequent breaks from social media, and mute any unnecessary notifications.

5/ Focus on what you can control

There is so much in this time that we can’t control if we focus on those things our mental wellbeing can be taken out of our hands. If you’re feeling this way, a useful exercise is to write down a list of all the things out of your control, and all the things within your control [like what we eat, exercising, and checking in on loved ones]. Then think how you can focus more on the things you can control – what would that look like? When we focus on what we can control, we don’t worry as much about what we can’t.

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Those are just a few of our suggestions, but we’d love to hear yours! What daily habits have you put in place to help mind and body during this time? Feel free to send us an email or direct message on social media.

Stay Safe.

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Photography by: Cristina Gareau — Nanou Studios

The post Adjusting To Isolation appeared first on The Wild Together.

Our epidermis has a big job: it protects us from the outside environment, helps to regulate our body temperature, balances fluid levels and even offers protection from sunlight. We often take for granted our skin’s importance and — even more so — our skin’s health.

To ensure your skin is properly taken care of — to keep it looking its best and in healthy, working condition —a skincare routine with the proper products is crucial.

There are a lot of skincare options out there — a lot of synthetic products high in chemical ingredients and low in vitamins, natural oils and antioxidants. However, the very best products to use on your skin contain only organic, plant-based ingredients.

Our skin is more of a filter than it is a barrier; it absorbs everything from environmental pollution to the products we apply, which is why it’s important to make sure we avoid putting anything on our skin that we wouldn’t want inside our bodies. In order for a skincare plan to keep you healthy, it must be based solely on what’s best for your skin.

Ingredients from the earth — why plant-based is best

Plant-based skincare products come from the earth and share the same biological chemistry as our bodies. They skip synthesized additives and the less-effective, cheap substitutes used by many brands.

Ensure your skin is getting the TLC it deserves by opting for a skin product with all-natural ingredients, such as our adaptogenic and 99.5% organic blend, The Serum.

Benefits of plant-based skincare products

Antioxidants – Antioxidants restore and strengthen your cells by combating free radicals [oxidants] manufactured by the body and the environment.

Vitamins – Vital to maintaining your skin’s functioning health, vitamins support cell repair and help decrease signs of ageing. 

Essential Oils – As well as reversing the look of ageing, essential oils can help calm acne, fight dryness, combat oiliness, smooth scars and increase skin elasticity. 

Proteins – Proteins can work wonders for the strength and durability of your skin cells.

Terpenes – Occurring in strong-smelling plants, these healing aromatic components help to soothe your senses as well as increase your body’s ability to deal with pain and inflammation.

Hydrocolloids – These naturally occurring polymers give skincare products natural texture, avoiding the need for petrochemicals or other synthesized polymers.

Damaged skin can be the result of a number of things

Our skin is bombarded by stressors daily, some that we can control and others that we can’t, but however this damage has been accumulated there are ways to fix it.

When choosing topical products to repair damaged skin, here are just a few incredible natural ingredients to look out for…

The Best Natural Ingredients To Heal Damaged Skin

Liquorice Root – To Combat Sun Damage

Damage due to prolonged or unprotected sun exposure is one of the hardest to repair, as it affects everything from collagen production to the moisture content of the skin.

Liquorice Root contains the antioxidant glabridin and licochalcone A. They both have powerful anti-ageing and skin-soothing properties. Glabridin, in particular, has been shown to mitigate the effects of sun damage. This helps to keep the skin firm, smooth and taut but it also means that the skin’s protective barrier will remain generally intact, defending the body against external stressors and bacteria.

[Liquorice Root is one of the key botanicals found in The Essence]

Mango Butter – To Heal Dry, Eczema-Prone Skin

Dry skin is often more prone to damage as the gaps between the surface skin cells tend to be bigger [this is what lets moisture escape and allergens enter the skin] which means they require deeply nourishing ingredients to heal the skin and repair these gaps to create a more defensive epidermal barrier.

Mango Butter is a non-comedogenic natural emollient and is packed with essential fatty acids which are important components of healthy skin. The higher the concentration of Mango Butter in a topical moisturiser or lotion, the better it will be for dry, damaged skin.

[Mango Butter is a key ingredient in The Moisturiser]

Prebiotics – To Create A Barrier Against Environmental Stressors

A mixture of natural polysaccharides where the Inulin is extracted from chicory roots and the Alpha-glucan oligosaccharide is obtained from sugar beet. This acts as a food for the desirable bacteria present on the skin — a food that the undesirable bacteria is unable to process. The prebiotics promote the friendly bacteria on the skin to recover and grow faster whilst the harmful ones are reduced, in turn restoring the natural bacterial balance to the skin.

This unique combination helps to create a barrier against pollution and environmental damage and is useful for acne-prone skin that is susceptible to infections.

[Prebiotics are a key ingredient in The Moisturiser]

Marine Algae – To Encourage Faster Healing

Over exfoliating the skin, cosmetic procedures and extreme trauma can all leave the skin damaged and struggling to heal which results in an inflamed and uncomfortable complexion. Marine Algae is especially rich in omega 3 and sterols that are soothing and anti-inflammatory for irritated and damaged skin. It plays an important role in the skin’s barrier function due to its repairing properties. clinics are even using Marine Algae in preparation for surgery, as it helps the skin recover postoperatively, and beauty clinics are using it to restore the skin after deep peels and laser resurfacing.

[Micro Marine Algae is a key ingredient in The Serum]

Snow Mushroom – For All Round Repair

Whether your skin is dehydrated due to harsh weather conditions or compromised following surgery, Snow Mushroom can help to repair and restore the skin’s protective layer to encourage faster healing time and a more comfortable recovery.

Snow Mushroom can hold up to 500x its weight in water, with super fine particles that drive hydration deep into the skin. It has soothing anti-inflammatory properties, stimulates collagen production for plumper skin, and has been proven to provide more enhanced lightening and brightening properties than compounds such as arbutin, vitamin C and kojic acid.

[Snow Mushroom is a key ingredient in The Essence]

Our ingredients are highly multifunctional and designed to work just as well in isolation as they are in tandem with other products in the range. They are formulated to provide you with tailored rituals to suit your skin’s needs on any given day.

We have full details of all the ingredients benefits on our website — however, if you have any questions about our products or how they could suit your skin then feel free to drop us an email at hello@thewildtogether.com — we’re here to help.

The post Natural Ingredients To Heal The Epidermis appeared first on The Wild Together.

But what are free radicals?

Free radicals are unstable molecules that start the oxidation process — the process that causes damage to body tissue and leads to cell dysfunction. They are a major contributor to all visible signs of ageing on the skin, from age spots and fine lines to sagging and wrinkles.

So why are antioxidants important?

Antioxidants help reduce signs of ageing and calm inflamed skin while tightening and toning the complexion. To improve the skin’s overall health, it is important to properly incorporate antioxidants into your diet and skincare routine.

Look for skincare ingredients Vitamins B3, E as well as Green Tea. These help fortify cells against damaging free radicals while encouraging cell and tissue growth for renewing and repairing the complexion. Vitamins B3 and E are best known for their ability to protect against sun damage and help boost existing sunblock while aiding in improving skin tone, texture, and discolouration. Flavonoids in Green Tea Extracts help improve skin tone and texture and prevent inflammation.

What antioxidants do for YOU:

1. Anti-inflammatory properties help increase circulation and cell metabolism. Alpha Lipoic Acid, found in pine bark and green tea, is especially well-known for its ability to help even skin tone and keep acne and wrinkles at bay.
2. By helping promote cell turnover, antioxidants are ideal for those suffering from hyperpigmentation [age or sun spots] and scarring and those who seek to improve overall skin tone and texture. Products featuring Snow Mushroom as an active ingredient are also highly recommended because they help even out and brighten the complexion for a more youthful, radiant glow [see The Essence, which includes Snow Mushroom as one of its key botanicals].
3. Skin-firming abilities not only help slow visible signs of ageing like wrinkles and sagging but also improve the skin’s overall health.
4. The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are reduced. Keep in mind that no product can “get rid” of wrinkles, but here’s where antioxidant-rich creams and serums come into play. Ingredients like Niacinamide [Vitamin B3] and E help restore hydration and therefore plump the skin, leaving the complexion lifted, toned, and more youthful-looking.
5. Protecting against sun damage is what antioxidants are most well-known for. They help stimulate blood flow, thereby encouraging cell growth, and also work to boost your sun protection.

The Essence [Active Concentrate] contains Green Tea Extract and Snow Mushroom [in addition to host of other potent anti-ageing ingredients!]

The post What Are Antioxidants? appeared first on The Wild Together.

~ Katrina Louise [London based Model / Performance Artist / Photographer]

“I’ve always had to wear a lot of makeup for work, so for me getting dressed up was when I felt beautiful”.

“As I’ve gotten older I’ve respected my body and my skin more, seen so many improvements and feel like I’ve finally found the perfect balance of internal and external care”.

“Having happy skin means when the makeup comes off at the end of the day, that’s now when I feel fresh and beautiful”.

The post The Skin I Live In. appeared first on The Wild Together.

Leaves are falling, Halloween stores are setting up shop, and those early morning starts are made a little more difficult with that chill in the air… Fall is officially here.

Sweaters may be out of storage, but skin is always in — which is why October is all about maintaining balance as the seasons continue to shift. With the dry, cool air moving in, this is the perfect time to start easing those richer moisturisers back into the regimen while retiring lightweight formulas. If you’re not sure where to start, here are our recommended blends this Autumn to ensure you’re skin looks and feels its best:

The Night Repair

Autumn air can leave skin tight, ashy, and dry — which is why it’s essential to nourish the skin daily. The Night Repair is an intensively hydrating blend designed to replenish and reinforce the skin’s natural barrier while you sleep. The Night Repair works overnight to comfort, repair and protect sensitive, dry and stressed skin. The blend reduces inflammation and provides a boost of phytosterols to strengthen the skin’s lipid barrier and encourages new collagen production. If the skin is particularly dry, you can use this protective blend in the daylight hours as well.

The Omega Scrub

Fall weather, indoor heating, and back-to-work stress tend to leave the complexion a little lacklustre, which is where hydrating masks comes in. For an instant pick-me-up [and 10 minutes of built-in TLC], apply our Omega Scrub as a face mask when your skin is looking dull, tired, and dehydrated. It’s sufficiently gentle to use on the delicate neck and décolleté areas and deeply purifies skin without clogging or drying whilst balancing and hydrating to reduce inflammation and redness.

The Serum

If there’s one product you need this season, it’s this. Unlike most facial serums, our 10-Lipid Elixir boasts a lightweight, moisture-intensive formula that helps revive and smooth dehydrated skin. Powerhouse actives, adaptogenic botanicals and CO2 extracts combine to brighten lacklustre skin while also hydrating any dry patches — revealing softer, more radiant skin. The Serum is the most versatile product from our wild family as it can be combined in four blends and works wonders on the hair as well.

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If you’d like to know more about our products and how they can work for your skin, send us a message and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have.

~ Photography by Lori Haberkorn & Manuel Platzer

The post The Monthly Edit: Autumn Skin Essentials appeared first on The Wild Together.

Want to Unleash Your Wild Side?

We’ve partnered up with Eluxe Magazine and we’ll be offering one lucky Eluxe reader the chance to experience our luxury organic range for themselves.

Simply head over to the link below and fill in your details to our competition to win!

Competition ends September 22, 2019. 

Good Luck!

ENTER THE ELUXE COMPETITION NOW

The post Win the Black Collection With Eluxe Magazine appeared first on The Wild Together.

Take a moment when you can to step outside and embrace the natural beauty available to us, and the benefits it freely offers.

Heading to work? Running to the shop? You can turn any walk [even from your car to the office] into a chance to connect with nature, simply by being mindful. Take a moment to notice the leaves rustling in the breeze, the flowers growing in the sidewalk cracks, the sun on your skin. Crumble leaves in your hand as you walk, even in the city, and take in the scents . . .  imagine them boosting your immune system and lightening your mood.

One of the most intriguing areas of current research is the impact of nature on general wellbeing. In one study in Mind, 95% of those interviewed said their mood improved after spending time outside, changing from depressed, stressed, and anxious to more calm and balanced.

Other studies show that time in nature or scenes of nature are associated with a positive mood and psychological wellbeing, meaningfulness, and vitality.

Furthermore, time in nature or viewing nature scenes has been found to increase our ability to pay attention. Because humans find nature inherently interesting, we can naturally focus on what we are experiencing out in nature — providing respite to our overactive minds and refreshing us for new tasks.

The simple act of taking time to experience the outside world is one of the most effective, satisfying self-care rituals; there is simply something magical about Mother Nature that allows us to recharge and reset our energy.

~ Photography by Megan Rose Patiry

Resources:
The Center for Health Design
Planetree

The post Pattern Shift appeared first on The Wild Together.

Many of us think that summer ends abruptly after Labor Day weekend [or whenever Starbucks announces that the Pumpkin Spiced Latte is back]. But fall doesn’t officially start until the sun crosses the Earth’s equator from north to south, in an event known as the autumnal equinox, or within Paganism, Mabon. This year, the equinox will occur on Saturday, September 22, at 9:54 p.m. EST. Spiritually speaking, this day signals much more than the start of sweater weather — the fall equinox is also viewed as the perfect opportunity to spend time outside, embrace changes in the natural world, and most importantly — practice gratitude.

The autumn equinox is a time to reconnect with a practice of gratitude and embrace everything in our lives that we’re truly grateful for. Acknowledging all that’s meaningful and important to us has a way of bursting open our hearts and brings with it a host of health benefits too. 

In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps us feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve our health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships. Researchers have also discovered that gratitude has some incredible benefits and that a daily practice can literally rewire the brain and body for health and joy.

In this regard, here are some simple ways to cultivate gratitude on a regular basis.

1. Write a thank you note. We can make ourselves happier through nurturing relationships by writing thank you letters expressing our enjoyment and appreciation for those person/s and their impact on our lives. Send it, or better yet, deliver and read it in person if possible. Make a habit of sending at least one gratitude letter a month. And once in a while, write one to yourself too.
   
   
2. Thank someone mentally. No time to write? It may help just to think about someone who has done something nice for you, and mentally thank the individual.
   
   
3. Keep a gratitude journal. Make it a habit to write down or share with a loved one thoughts about the gifts you’ve received each day.
   
   
4. Count your blessings. Pick a time every week to sit down and write about your blessings — reflecting on what went right or what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to pick a number — such as three to five things — that you will identify each week. As you write, be specific and think about the sensations you felt when something good happened to you.
   
   
5. Meditate. Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment without judgment. Although people often focus on a mantra or phrase, it is also possible to focus on what you’re grateful for [the warmth of the sun, a pleasant sound, etc.].

Of course, it doesn’t matter if gratitude makes us healthier due to the power of positivity, or if the dopamine in our brains sets off a chain reaction that ignites the benefits of gratitude, every study conducted on the subject of gratitude has indisputable evidence that the practice benefits our bodies, minds and those around us.

It’s understandable that we may sometimes feel that we have less to be thankful for, but perhaps the reason why we feel that way is because we aren’t saying thank you enough. If that is the case, start small and with consistency, it won’t be long before you start experiencing the benefits of gratitude. 

~ Photography by @feathersandstone

Resources:
Greater Good Science Centre
Harvard Health Publishing

The post Simple Ways To Cultivate Gratitude appeared first on The Wild Together.