Spring Wellbeing

Reviews by Saffia Farr, Kimberley Goldsmith and Jess Hazel

Mama Retreat Day

For a retreat to be relaxing and thought-provoking, you need a great guide. Cathy is remarkable. She has such a calm, soft and understanding presence, and creates a beautiful space for you to feel held. I attended one of her retreats with my young baby in a sling – my third child – and it was exactly what I needed to find some clarity and direction. We were well looked after with a delicious lunch and well-thought-out activities. We were guided into a variety of meditations during the day, finding spots in nature and using our senses to feel grounded. There was also journaling and writing poetry, and we experienced the power of sitting around the fire together. The energy between everyone was really special. I left contented and full of nourishment. A truly beautiful experience that I would recommend. KG

£125 (early bird £115) chilledmama.co.uk/mama

And Breathe... Ashwagandha Hot Chocolate

This hot chocolate is absolutely delicious! It’s rich and soothing, it's designed to support relaxation and wellbeing, and drinking it really has helped me relax and feel like I’m taking a moment for myself. What I like best are the spices – cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg – which give it an energising kick and add to the wonderful taste. The blend is inspired by Ayurveda, which I’ve been learning about through this issue, and it’s wonderful to think that drinking this hot chocolate can help me eat across the six tastes of Ayurveda for my health and wellbeing. The blend is made up of 42% Ghanaian cacao, coconut sugar, chai spices and ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is known for its adaptogenic properties, which can help reduce stress and anxiety, while cacao is packed with antioxidants that support immunity and mental clarity. With 100% natural ingredients and no artificial additives, this is a great option for those seeking a more mindful alternative to traditional hot chocolate. Note that it’s not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding due to limited research on ashwagandha’s safety during these times. SF

£12.50 hotteamama.com

Organic Rosewater

I love the scent of roses, and this is one of my favourite products – a 100% natural and organic steam-distilled rose water. It’s created by passing steam through fresh rose petals, which releases tiny aromatic particles and volatile oils. The steam cools to create a fragrant and authentic rose water. Renowned for its ability to calm and care for the skin, rose water has been used as a beauty treatment for thousands of years. It’s refreshing and conditioning, making it perfect as a facial toner after cleansing. A spritz now and then during the day is a wonderful pick-me-up, immediately lifting my mood! You can apply it to cotton pads for a cooling, relaxing eye treatment, and it can also be used instead of oil to nourish the hair. A beautiful, simple product I don’t like to be without. JH

£9.95 akamuti.co.uk

New Mum Support

Being a new mum can feel daunting at times. This set of three essences provided me with the comfort and confidence I needed to navigate the harder moments. Each carefully chosen blend addresses a different challenge that comes with motherhood: Calm and Confident, for helping cope with new situations and to manage anxiety; Shock Release, designed to release physical and emotional trauma following birth; and Easy Sleep Mist, a pure lavender hydrosol, which really helped to set the tone for maximising rest when sleep is in short supply. This thoughtfully selected set of essences comes in a beautifully tactile green box, making it a perfect gift of self-care and support for any new mum. RKJ

£36 saskiasfloweressences.com

Radiant Collagyn

Ancient + Brave’s Radiant Collagyn is a powder blend designed to support skin health from within. It’s packed with amino acids and ingredients that help promote collagen production. While it’s not true collagen (which is derived from animal sources), it contains antioxidant-rich raspberry, haskap berry, rosehip and beetroot to help protect cells from oxidative stress. It also includes vegan-friendly nutrients for overall wellbeing, plus prebiotic fibre for digestion, and protein for muscle health. You can mix it with water or plant milk, or add it to a smoothie. Ancient + Brave encourages building wellness rituals into your day and there is something lovely about mixing this up into my favourite glass and drinking in the goodness! It helps me with recovery after exercise and I’m less achy in the days that follow. This is a B Corp company and part of 1% for the Planet. JH

£32 ancientandbrave.earth

Inner Goddess Drops

These drops offer a natural way to support hormonal balance and menstrual health. Designed to be taken daily, they offer a mini wellness ritual throughout the month. They have a sweet, floral, honey taste and are taken either in a little water or straight on the tongue. Infused with traditional ‘women’s herbs’ like lady’s mantle, mugwort and rose, they help ease period pain, regulate cycles, ease perimenopause symptoms and promote overall wellbeing. Some reviewers have found them transformative, reporting lighter, more regular periods for the first time in years. Others experienced relief from pain and PMS symptoms including mood swings and breakouts. The whole range is vegan and made in the UK. The packaging is beautiful and all recyclable too. JH

£23.97 foragebotanicals.co.uk

Organic House Roast

We’ve really enjoyed trying this coffee at JUNO HQ! Exhale has a range of organic, coffees that have been optimised for health. The coffee is lab tested to ensure it is high in antioxidants, vitamin B3 and polyphenols, and free from mycotoxins, mould and pesticides. One cup has the same antioxidants as 1.8kg of blueberries, and the high levels of polyphenols help reduce the feeling of the caffeine jitters. The house roast has a delicious aroma and a smooth, slightly fruity flavour. Coffee beans come from the fruit of the Coffea tree, and rather than being an unhealthy fix, good quality coffee can be a nutrient-rich part of our diets. Exhale uses plant-based packaging from renewable sources, and the beans are fully traceable to source. While on the expensive side, it’s comparable with other speciality, certified organic coffees. The range is well worth a try, and a pouch would make a lovely gift for a coffee lover. JH

£20 for 450g exhalecoffee.com

Self Tan Lotion

I have reacted to some self-tan formulations in the past but there are lots of gentler products available now. This lotion from Green People is certified organic, and the dihydroxyacetone (DHA – the ingredient responsible for the colour) is naturally derived from sugar. The lotion is easy to apply and feels gentle, with nourishing ingredients like rosehip oil and aloe vera. It develops gradually over a few hours to a natural glow – not too strong or orange! You can layer it for a deeper colour. It does have the classic fake-tan smell, but it’s not overpowering, and vetivert and sandalwood essential oils give it a fresher scent. It lasted several days on my face with gentle cleansing. As someone with slightly olive-toned skin, I was at ‘base pale’ after winter, and this lotion gave me just the right amount of colour. For those with deeper skin tones, it’s worth noting that DHA may have a subtler effect. JH

£28.50 greenpeople.co.uk

Self-belief Coaching

I left a career in academia after my third child. My children were getting older and I felt more space opening up. I’d changed, and whatever I did next had to align with me, but I felt lost and overwhelmed and I was experiencing a lot of self-doubt. I struggled to hear my own voice over what I felt I ‘should’ be doing. Coaching with Lisa felt like coming home – a safe place to land. Lisa listens and helps me to know and understand myself better. She shares wisdom and insights when needed, but supports me to see and build my own path. I feel so much more connected to myself now, to who I am, what I need and what I want to do in the world. I have confidence and trust in myself and I’m now realising a dream I’ve had for many years. K

Starting at £260 mothernurtureandwild.co.uk

Pure Whipped Tallow

This moisturiser is rich and deeply hydrating, providing instant relief for chapped skin. After struggling with cracked hands throughout winter, my skin felt immediately soothed and deeply moisturised. With just two simple ingredients – organic tallow and a touch of enriching jojoba oil – it delivers intense nourishment without any unnecessary additives, making it ideal for sensitive skin. The tallow is sourced from organic, 100% grass-fed cattle, which produce tallow that is richer in skin-nourishing nutrients than grain-fed cattle. Tallow’s unique composition, packed with essential fatty acids and vitamins, closely mimics the skin’s own oils, making it especially effective for restoring balance. I also used it on my son’s eczema-prone skin after his bath, and it melted in beautifully. The natural ingredients help to calm irritation and lock in lasting moisture. RKJ

£30 feratallow.co.uk

Blue Gentian & Edelweiss Contouring Day Cream

I’ve used Weleda moisturisers for years and I love them! This cream is designed for mature skin. A luxuriously rich but light blend, it is a treat to apply. It absorbs quickly into the skin and has a lovely botanical scent. It works as a standalone product, but can also be layered with other products if you have a routine. Along with oils and shea butter, the specialist ingredients – organic blue gentian and edelweiss – help stimulate the skin’s collagen content. Using it every morning, a jar lasted me several months. It has contributed to my skin feeling smoother and a little firmer overall (particularly under my eyes). I love using this nourishing cream as part of my morning routine, and a complementary night version is also available. JH

£28.95 weleda.co.uk

Anytime Tea

This naturally caffeine-free organic tea blend is comforting and refreshing. It’s a mild chai-flavoured rooibos, with warming spices such as cinnamon, ginger and cardamom balanced with the freshness of lemongrass and nettle. Drink in the morning to help gently wake up your system, after meals to support digestion, or as an afternoon pick-me-up (the citrusy notes of lemongrass offer a gentle boost). The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger and turmeric, along with calming nettle, make this a perfect tea for unwinding before bed too. I love the sweetness of the fennel and liquorice. It’s smooth enough to drink on its own but you can add milk if you prefer a creamier chai feel. A nourishing drink for any time of the day. JH

£5.50  lore-botanicals.com