The Journal
Journeys, Notations Discoveries
Abigail Ahern x Wildsmith Skin
Bring Comfort & Calm Home This Winter
Curating a home that makes us feel sheltered, safe and nourished is vital in supporting our everyday wellbeing. I've been chatting with our friends at Wildsmith about home comforts and how to incorporate some moments of calm into our daily rituals.
I'm the hugest fan of Wildsmith Skin, I have used their products in my own daily skin-care rituals for a long time. I love their gentle philosophy and all of their products smell amazing (and they really work too.)
I had the exciting opportunity to chat to Kim, Wildsmith's head of education and I got to ask her some advice on how we can stay calm and incorporate moments of stillness into our daily lives, especially throughout this bonkers season.
Moments Of Stillness With Wildsmith
I love Wildsmith's philosophy of empowering us to live healthier and more connected lives through their botanical skin care products that make you feel and smell utterly amazing. I use a lot of their products but mainly their stillness range as incorporating these into my daily rituals helps me flip from work mode to relaxed mode. We asked Kim, Wildsmith's Head of Education some questions about how to carve out some time to support our wellness journey and how we can use their stillness collection to maximum effect.
A: We use lab grown actives in our formulations, that have been created in the lab and engineered to mimic the skin’s natural systems for maintaining skin integrity and health. Using biotechnology, we can create highly effective ingredients, often starting with naturally derived ingredients and using science to enhance their effectiveness – this process has led to many breakthroughs in skincare and is recognised as being gentler on the environment using less energy and waste in their production.
The performance of lab grown ingredients in our formulations are strengthened with Botanicals, these are plant extracts, oils and butters derived from flowers, herbs, nuts, seeds, roots and bark. Providing a vast range of benefits to the skin, body and mind including anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant protection, hydration, and enhanced cell renewal.
Q: We love your gentle philosophy and approach to prioritising wellbeing and a slower pace of life. What are the main pieces of advice you would give to someone new to Wildsmith in creating a healthier, more connected presence?
A: Working in tune with your circadian rhythm, our body’s in build clock, which regulates our daily rhythm. Set to a 24-hour cycle it controls natural functions from the release of hormones to cell repair. Today it is quite common for us to over-ride and disrupt our circadian rhythm due to our modern lifestyles and these changes in our body and environmental factors can cause our circadian rhythms and become out of sync. Some healthy wellbeing tips include but not limited to:
-Bright light therapy for shift workers
-Dimmed lights for new parents
-Regular exercise
-Daily exposure to natural light
-Consistent sleep pattern – waking up and going to bed at the same time each day
-Using Wildsmith products at the correct time of day.
Stillness Collection
A: Be kind to yourself, don’t be afraid to say no to those social event invites, checking in with yourself to see how you’re feeling and recognising when you need some time to rest and recharge. Try to avoid comparing yourself to others, from Christmas adverts to social media, these often aren’t the reality and can make us feel bad about ourselves. Perhaps take a break from social media or step out the room when the adverts are shown.
Q: At Abigail Ahern we love the power of scent and how it changes the feel of your living space. Can you tell us the top 3 botanical scents that are essential for promoting calm and stillness?
A: Lavender has a multitude of benefits but most significantly it supports the nervous system helping to calm and relax the mind. Rose Geranium is known for its balancing properties, helping to relieve stress and anxiety. Lastly Roman Chamomile has soothing properties, it acts as a mild sedative, helping to calm the nerves and aid a more restful nights sleep.
A: Our Stillness Collection has a 100% soothing natural blend of Roman Chamomile, Lavender and Rose Geranium, found throughout each individual product. These specially selected essential oils have been chosen for their sedating effects, helping to soothe and calm the mind to aid a restful night’s sleep.
Q: I do tend to suffer from poor sleep. How would you recommend using your stillness collection to optimise all of the benefits? And how do oils help us regulate our circadian rhythms?
A: Begin your evening routine by having a bath or shower to mentally ‘wash’ away the daily stresses. Apply Stillness Nourishing Body Cleanser to damp skin, gently massage in to create a lather. Leave on the skin for up to 2 minutes, to allow the Hyaluronic Acid and English Chamomile Hydrolat to deeply hydrate and soften skin, before rinsing thoroughly. Before stepping into your pyjamas, apply Stillness Nourishing Body Butter to the full body. The inclusion of the probiotics will help strengthen the skin microbiome to reveal smoother, more hydrated skin whilst Shea Butter, Aloe Vera and Rosehip Oil instantly softens.
At night, our skin cells undergo repair and regeneration, preparing the skin for the following day. Complete your evening routine with spraying a fine mist of Stillness Pillow Mist to your bedding, pyjamas and room around you, breathe deeply inhaling the soothing aromatherapy properties.
A: Creating a consistent daily routine with going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is crucial for improving your sleep as it keeps your body clock on time.
Beautiful interior at The Bothy, Heckfield Place, the home of Wildsmith Skin.
One of the calming treatment rooms at The Bothy, Heckfield Place.
A: Stillness Body Oil Is a wonderful gift for anyone as it can help to calm and quieten the mind and nervous system during the busy Christmas period. And I personally love the Portable Mushroom Lamp as part of your collection as it combines nature with something modern, beautiful and simplistic for the home.
Stillness Body Oil
Wildsmith Skin
Mushroom Lamp - Noir
Abigail Ahern
Stillness Body Oil
Wildsmith Skin
Mushroom Lamp - Forest Green
Abigail Ahern
Home Comforts Checklist
I’m talking a cosy, welcoming bolthole, the kind of home you walk into and feel immediately happy and relaxed in. You know how sometimes you can walk into someone’s pad and it feels instantly curl-uppabble, intriguing and at the very same time beckons you to linger and hang out a while – what’s the secret to that? I'm diving in.
Personal Touches
The more personal touches you add the more unique your pad will feel. Things you've picked up from your travels or something that's been in your family for a while and brings back all of those warm and fuzzy memories. Once you start filling your home with things that you love and you use regularly you’ll find it naturally oozes cosiness.
Get Tactile
The more you fill your home with things that beg you to touch and feel them the cosier your home will be. Adding layers of contrasting textures is one of the most transformative things you can do think slubby cushions, rugs skimming floors an old table, pieces like this instantly add warmth to a room.
Add Squishy Furniture
I say this a lot but your furniture has to ooze cosiness in order for your room to feel cosy. Anything that doesn’t to make it feel instantly snuggly add throws. I plonk sheepskins over my leather chairs it injects instant cosiness, and of course my furry kids are big fans.
The Right Glow
Lighting is an integral part of every interior and the key to making a room feel homely and cosy. Adding ambience through soft glows and shadows that create intrigue. Candles and portable lamps give you the flexibility to pop a cosy highlight and illuminate your space in the softest of ways.
Scent
I am obsessed with scent, when I open the door to my pad I want to be encased not only in the most magical interior, but also the most magical smells. I love scented candles and incense and always have one or more on the go, my trick is to have an underlying layer of scent so that as you transition from room to room or walk through the door everything smells amazing.
Giving The Gift Of Home
Thoughtful homeware gifts for cocooning spaces
Leoma Lamp
Abigail Ahern
Amsden Cushion
Abigail Ahern
Shower Oil
Wildsmith Skin
Shelton Throw
Abigail Ahern
Akira Sculpture
Abigail Ahern
Body Butter
Wildsmith Skin
Borough Throw
Abigail Ahern
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