Wellness and Beauty

"Wellness is the complete integration of body, mind, and spirit – the realisation that everything we do, think, feel, and believe has an effect on our state of well-being." -Greg Anderson.

Beauty and Wellness Rooted In Nature

The concept of beauty and wellness, rooted in nature, emphasises a holistic approach to health and beauty that draws inspiration from the natural world. It focuses on harnessing the power of natural ingredients, ecosystems, and traditional practices to promote inner well-being and outer beauty. Here are some key aspects:

  • Natural Ingredients. Using plant-based, organic, and sustainably sourced ingredients in skincare, haircare, and wellness products to minimise chemical exposure and support environmental health.
  • Holistic Well-being. Recognising the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, often incorporating practices like meditation, herbal remedies, and natural therapies.
  • Eco-conscious Practices. Emphasising sustainability, eco-friendly packaging, and cruelty-free testing to protect and preserve nature.
  • Traditional Wisdom. Incorporating indigenous knowledge, herbal medicine, and age-old rituals that have been used for centuries to enhance health and beauty.
  • Minimal Intervention. Favouring simple, gentle routines that enhance natural beauty rather than masking or altering it with synthetic chemicals.
  • Inclusivity. The trend also shows the importance of inclusivity in beauty, acknowledging that diverse cultures and traditions have long used natural ingredients and practices for beauty and wellness. 

Overall, "Beauty & Wellness Rooted in Nature" advocates for a balanced, authentic approach to self-care that respects the environment and promotes long-term health and vitality through nature-inspired methods. The mental health benefits of spending time in nature can improve mood, reduce stress, and help with mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

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The Connection between Wellness and Beauty

The connection between wellness and beauty is a symbiotic relationship where internal well-being directly influences external appearance. Wellness practices like stress reduction, mindful self-care, and a healthy diet improve skin and hair health from within, while beauty rituals can boost self-esteem and mental well-being. This Shift has broadened the beauty industry's focus to encompass holistic health, leading to new products such as ingestible supplements and mindful skincare.

How Wellness Impacts Beauty
  • Stress reduction. High stress levels can trigger skin issues like acne and eczema and accelerate ageing. Reducing stress through wellness Practices can lead to a more radiant complexion.
  • Mindfulness. Integrating mindful practices into beauty routines, such as focusing on the feeling of products and water, can turn self-care into a meditative experience that boosts emotional well-being.
  • Holistic health. A healthy lifestyle, including proper nutrition a hydration, is recognised as fundamental for a "beautiful complexion" beyond just topical products.
  • Internal connection: Research is exploring the link between factors like mood, the gut microbiome, and skin health, further solidifying the connection between internal balance and external appearance. 
How Beauty Supports Wellness
  • Self-care and confidence. Engaging in beauty rituals can be a form of
    self-care that promotes positive self-esteem and confidence.
  • Mindful rituals. Focusing on the process of skincare can be a form of mindfulness, promoting a sense of calm and mental clarity.
  • Holistic products. Consumers are looking for products that offer both beauty benefits and wellness features, such as products that reduce stress or promote sleep. 
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Different Perspectives of Wellness

There are different perspectives as to what wellness is, but many important organisations agree that wellness is not limited to health, as follows:

  • The National Wellness Institute defines wellness as: “... an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence”
  • According to the Global Awareness Day, “Wellness is the conscious development of the whole self. Embarking on a wellness journey is a process of searching for the appropriate tools” to make you a healthier and happier human being, plus discovering your own effective methods to use these “tools” for continued growth and development.
  • It is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as ” ....the optimal state of health of individuals or groups. There are two focal concerns: the realisation of the fullest potential of an individual physically, psychologically, socially, spiritually and economically, and the fulfilment of one’s role expectations in the family, community and place of worship, workplace and other settings“.

The above definitions show that recognising and getting the tools for maintaining an optimal state of health is part of a lifestyle to have a successful existence. This is so because the way you feel about yourself, for example, that you look good, has a psychological effect on you. especially your self-esteem and confidence.

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The Eight Dimensions of Wellness

Wellness, in its truest form, extends far beyond the typical gym workout or daily meditation practice. It encompasses a lifestyle that prioritises physical health, mental clarity, emotional balance, and spiritual fulfilment. While it has gained immense popularity in recent years through movements like yoga, mindfulness, and nutrition, wellness has always been a part of human culture. It’s about nourishing every aspect of yourself, recognising that your
internal state affects your external experience.

When we talk about wellness in the context of beauty, we start to look at it in a different light—one that isn’t just about appearance, but the overall radiance that comes from feeling good, inside and out.

The National Institute of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, defines wellness as “a holistic integration of physical, mental, and spiritual well-being, fuelling the body, engaging the mind, and nurturing the spirit. Although it always includes striving for health, it’s more about living life fully and is “a lifestyle and a personalised approach to living life in a way that… allows you to become the best kind of person that your potentials, circumstances, and fate will allow” ( Stoewen, 2017).

It identifies eight dimensions
of wellness:

  • Emotional wellness. Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships.
  • Physical wellness. Recognising the need for physical activity, sleep and
    nutrition.
  • Financial wellness.. Satisfaction with current and future financial situations and goals.
  • Social wellness. Having a sense of connection and a dependable support
    system.
  • Occupational wellness. Personal satisfaction and enrichment from one’s
    work.
  • Environmental wellness. Good health through pleasant environments that
    support well-being.
  •  Intellectual wellness. Identifying creative abilities and expanding
    knowledge and skills.
  • Spiritual wellness. Expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life.

However, the Global Wellness Institute limits the dimensions to six, excluding intellectual and occupational dimensions. So, wellness goes beyond physical health. It involves a wholesome approach to living and understanding the close interconnections between the various dimensions of wellness, enabling us to create a living environment that promotes wellness.

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Real Beauty

Beauty is not straightforward to define precisely because it involves aesthetics, which are subjective and differ according to individual perceptions and perspectives. For this reason, it has been described in different ways and
its definition continues to evolve. For example, Aristotle thought beauty was
objective and could be measured. He defined beauty as symmetry (BBC, n.d.).
However, other notable philosophers such as David Hume and Immanuel Kant
thought beauty was subjective.

The British Beauty Council now defines beauty in terms of
the services and products provided by the industry. It states, “Beauty and
grooming services are professional treatments purchased by consumers to enhance
and/or maintain their personal appearance, presence and/or well-being. They
will include categories such as treatments and tutorials for hair, nails, face
and body, and cosmetic and surgical procedures” (Shapland, 2019). For our
purposes, what we can pick out of the definition is that beauty is not only
about physical appearance but also related to well-being, which includes the
dimension of wellness mentioned earlier. 

Beauty reflects wellness The notion of beauty is converging,
if not already converged, with skincare, health and wellness, forming a much
more holistic combination that contains not just the externalities of
application of products on the outside of one's skin but also the surrounding
habits, choices and lifestyle as well as nutrition.

A campaign has been launched by Sue Y. Nabi, Coty’s CEO for
dictionaries to change the current definition of beauty.  Coty is one of the world’s largest beauty
companies with an iconic portfolio of brands across fragrance, colour
cosmetics, hair colour and styling, and skin and body care. Coty is the global
leader in fragrance, a strong number two in professional hair colour &
styling, and number three in colour cosmetics. Coty’s products are sold in over
150 countries around the world (March, 2023). 

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References

Aon Hewitt, (2014). Aon Hewitt Survey Finds Employers to Focus on Improving Financial Well-Being of Workers in 2014 [online] Available
at: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aon-hewitt-survey-finds employers-to-focus-on-improving-financial-well-being-of-workers-in 2014-239423061.html [Accessed 27 Nov. 2017].

BBC. (n.d.). BBC Radio 2 - Faith In The World Week - 8 brilliant definitions of beauty, from Aristotle to Aguilera. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4FgkDqgQN2nqTx8ltswmCGr/8-brilliant-definitions-of-beauty-from aristotle-to-aguilera.

Davidson, L. (2017). Workplace Financial Wellness Programs:
Best Practices. [pdf] California: Financial Finesse, page 4. Available at: https://ffinesse.app.box.com/v/FinWellnessGuide [Accessed 26 Nov. 2017]

Chatterjee, A. ed, (2018). Beauty2Wellness, Mitigating Barriers and Building Bridges, Research Report. [online] Global Wellness Institute. Available at: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Beauty2Wellness-Report-final_011118.pdf [Accessed 7 Mar. 2025].

Global Wellness Institute (2024). What is Wellness? [online] Global Wellness Institute. Available at: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what-is-wellness/.

Global Wellness Institute. (n.d.). Beauty Meets Wellness: A Global Initiative. [online] Available at: https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Miami_Roundtable_Summary_Final.pdf [Accessed 12 Mar. 2025].

Holland, K (2015). Fighting with your spouse? It’s probably about this [online]. Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2015/02/04/money-is-the-leading-cause-of-stress-in-relationships.html [Accessed
on 27 Nov. 2017]

March, B. (2023). The campaign for a new dictionary definition of ‘beauty’ explained. [online] HARPER’S BAZAAR. Available at: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/beauty/a42706042/change-dictionary definition-beauty/ [Accessed 10 Mar. 2025].

Shapland, K. (2019). THE MEANING OF BEAUTY: A LANDMARK DEFINITION - The British Beauty Council. The British Beauty Council. [online] 20 Mar. Available at: https://britishbeautycouncil.com/the-meaning-of-beauty-a-landmark-definition/. 20 Mar. Available at:
https://britishbeautycouncil.com/the-meaning-of-beauty-a-landmark-definition/.

Stoewen DL. Dimensions of wellness: Change your habits, change your life. Can Vet J. 2017 Aug;58(8):861-862. PMID: 28761196; PMCID: PMC5508938.

Sue Y. Nabi, Coty’s CEO, has written an open letter to the major dictionary houses which highlights the outdated nature of their definitions – ones which are embedded with prejudice on the basis of attributes – and their need for review. https://tks hpc.h5mag.com/hpc_today_3_2024/holistic_beauty_-_the_power_of_holistic_beauty_the_future_of_personal_care

Sun Trust, (2015) Love and Money: People Say They Save, Partner Spends, According to SunTrust Survey [online] 
Available at: http://investors.suntrust.com/news/news-details/2015/Love-and-Money-People-Say-They-Save-Partner-Spends-According-to-SunTrust-Survey/default.aspx
[Accessed 28 Nov. 2017]