Skincare, Wellness And Health Trends To Get Excited About In 2019
Everything you need to know for the best self-care
Everything you need to know for the best self-care
You might have known about the rise of CBD-infused in the US, thanks to niche luxury skincare brands like Vertly and Lord Jones as well as celebrity fans like Olivia Wilde and Mandy Moore. CBD, which is short of cannabidiol, is extracted from the hemp plant (aka cannabis sativa plant). Yes, you read that right, it’s from the same plant that can result in mind-altering effects. Yet, CBD is just one of the many compounds that can be extracted from said plant and it doesn’t contain any of the mind-altering effects (that’s the result of another compound called THC). And since CBD doesn’t have any psychoactive properties, it isn’t a controlled substance in Singapore. Moreover, there is an increasing amount of research that supports the fact that CBD can have therapeutic properties against seizures as it is able to affect the brain’s chemical and electrical activity. Singapore’s National Research Foundation has also launched a Synthetic Cannabinoid Biology Programme to study this group of compounds and devise sustainable ways to produce medicinal cannabinoids and their derivatives. In countries like the US and UK, there’s also an increase in the use of hemp oil as an oral supplement to relieve stress and aid relaxation. While it seems to be a challenge to find hemp oil supplements in health stores like Unity and GNC, you can your hands on hemp oil supplements on iHerb. That said, not all of them contain CBD as it is only present in the flowers, leaves and stalks of the plant. If the supplement only contains hemp seed oil, that means you are only getting the health benefits associated with ingesting fatty acids and not get the reported benefits of CBD.
Similarly, many skincare products also contain hemp seed oil for there nourishing and replenishing properties. Usually extracted via a cold press method to preserve the integrity of the active ingredients, hemp seed oil is also free of psychoactive properties. And just like many other botanical seed oils, it is rich in fatty acids, which make hemp seed oil an excellent option to hydrate and soften skin. Get your hands on Allies of Skin Fresh Slate Clay & Manuka Honey Purifying Cleanser + Masque, $59 for 70ml, which is a powerful combination of hemp seed oil, manuka honey, coconut extract, marine algae, salicylic acid, probiotics, yeast extract, oat kernel extract, colloidal silver and hyaluronic acid that cleanses, rebalances, stimulates cellular turnover and hydrates skin.
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If you’re a food trend junkie, you would have known about the terms, “macronutrients” and “micronutrients”. The former refers to the main food groups which we eat and get our energy from, including carbohydrates, proteins and fats. The latter, on the other hand, refers to the groups of nutrients which are essential to our body for energy production, immune function, bone health, cell multiplication etc. And the latest buzzword in 2019? Mesonutrients. Derived from Greek, macro means “big”, micro means “small” and meso means “inside”. At such, mesonutrients refer to the specific active compounds that are found within the foods that we eat, which make them beneficial to our health. Some common mesonutrients are curcumin (present in turmeric), lycopene (present in tomatoes) and astaxanthin (present in salmon).
Whether you believe in the healing powers of crystals or simply love the cooling and depuffing benefits of a rose quartz face roller, most of us aren’t strangers to crystals. And while it brought an element of spirituality into self-care in 2018, it is set to elevate self-care—or skincare, in particular—as more skincare products will be infused with crystals. An indispensable part of beauty rituals in ancient civilisations, crystals are said to have healing powers. This is because crystals are essentially minerals which contain tiny electrical charges. As a result, when they are finely ground and whipped into skincare products, these tiny electrical charges can enhance the product penetration into skin or increase cellular energy for accelerated results and healthier skin. Get your hands on Swiss-based luxury skincare brand, Nazan Schnapp’s Sublime Hydrating Treatment Essence, about $136 for 100ml. Delicately scented and packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid, Centella Asiatica, Rose de Mai, peony and hibiscus extracts, this toning mist is supercharged with rose quartz to replenish skin’s moisture and stimulate cellular turnover for plump and glowing skin.
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2018 might have been the year about mindfulness, with many people practicing mindfulness when it comes to living in the moment, in situations like breathing, controlling your temper and even your eating habits. This year, the mindfulness movement will also include your posture. Since most urbanites spend long hours at our office desks or at home looking at our phones, it’s easy for us to slouch and over time, this can lead to muscle tension and chronic aches. One easy way to improve your posture is to take deep breaths when you’re seated at your desk. This is usually sufficient to let you be aware of your incorrect posture as it is difficult to take deep breaths where your lungs are fully filled with air and your diaphragm rises if you’re not seated upright. Or try taking up yoga and pilates classes as they help strengthen your core muscles, which can then help with your posture. If you’re already suffering from chronic pain at your neck, back or shoulders, it could be time to see a chiropractor to help realign your body and improve mobility.
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If you love beef, it’s inevitable to feel a tinge of guilt every time you indulge in your favourite cut of steak, knowing that it’s one of the most environmentally unfriendly livestock to rear. Which is why plant-based meat replacements like Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods are gaining in popularity. Since making their debut in 2018, Beyond Meat is now available in major hotels including Grand Hyatt and The Fullerton Hotel. According to the brand, the Beyond Burger (one of the products offered by Beyond Meat), looks, cooks and tastes like a fresh beef burger patty. Plus, it also contains 20 g of plant-based protein, which is comparable to the amount of beef protein in a regular beef patty.