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Living a healthy and happy life is most likely at the top of everyone’s wishlist, but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t always come easily. Taking care of your mind, body and soul is a commitment, but it comes with great rewards. This is why we have created the HOPE Principles, to provide a framework for glowing skin.

With little life lessons to keep in mind, the HOPE Principles can help you put together the pieces of a larger puzzle to look after yourself. Whether you’re hoping to find ways of relieving symptoms of sensitive skin or adopting a more positive mindset, the HOPE Principles can give you the tools you need.

H for home

Where you are is so important, and it can be key to create a healthy environment around you, whether it’s in your home or in your head. Decluttering both physically and mentally can have a hugely positive impact on your day, whether you achieve that through literally tidying your home or taking some time off from scrolling through social media.

Your home should be a sanctuary; somewhere for you to feel at ease. In turn, this can aid a better sleep pattern, which is important for keeping your energy levels high and ensuring you keep stress at bay.

By having a little more control over your environment, you can boost your energy and enable a feeling of calm.

O for optimism

The science of positivity is real; being able to open your mind and focus on positive emotions instead of the negative ones. Worrying can affect our cognitive ability, meaning our rational minds are not in control, which can make it more difficult to come up with a solution to stop worrying. What can follow is a difficult cycle to pull yourself out of, without trying to adopt a more optimistic outlook.

It’s important to focus on what’s in your control and what you can change, and to not worry so much about the things that are out of your control. While it’s easier said than done, you can begin with small changes to your day like morning affirmations or writing down what you’re grateful for.

P for purpose and pampering

Having a purpose in your life can make all the difference, whether it’s in your professional or personal life. It can help to add meaning to everything you do, even more so if you love what you do as well. If you aren’t at that point yet, what can you do to get there?

In the HOPE Principles, P is also for pampering. The art of self-care is so important for looking after yourself mentally and physically, with a routine that works for you. Make time each day for me-time, whether it’s reading a good book for an hour, indulging in a long bath or having a skincare routine to follow day and night.

Pampering yourself can include both your body and mind, and our skincare range can help you to achieve both.

E for eating well, exercise and ecotherapy

The final pieces of the puzzle are eating well, exercise and ecotherapy. Healthy eating together with a healthy approach to exercise can help you to look after yourself both inside and out. Balance is so important, and exercising can help to boost your mood and your cardiovascular health.

A balanced diet and exercise go hand-in-hand to help you feel better, but it’s equally important to listen to your body and not push yourself too far. Find a routine that works for you, and learn to identify any foods that don’t necessarily agree with you.

Ecotherapy can also play a huge part in feeling healthy and happy. Being outdoors and at one with nature can teach you to switch off and clear your mind. Nature has such great qualities and can help to reduce stress, enabling you to think more clearly.

If you want to learn more about how the HOPE Principles could change your life, you can read all about them in more detail in The Beauty of Eczema e-book!

Over the last year or so, self-care has never been more important. We’ve all gone through a lot , and it can be incredibly helpful to find some self-care rituals that help us feel calmer during times of stress. By following a daily ritual of pampering and self-care, you might just see some changes to your mental and even physical health. Stress can have a huge impact on our bodies, leaving us feeling overwhelmed and even under the weather.

So, if you’re looking for a little haven in the midst of all the uncertainty, discover a new self-care ritual to pamper and look after yourself.

Your morning ritual

It’s so important to try and get in the right frame of mind from the moment you wake up. When you get up in the morning, start the day by standing in front of a mirror and reading some positive affirmations to yourself out loud. This can play a huge part in keeping a positive mindset and can help you start the day with the right intentions.

Jumping in the shower is a great way to energise yourself and wake yourself up, whether you only have 5 minutes to spare or a little longer. Use a cleansing face and body wash to indulge your skin and rinse off the night’s sleep. Our Skin Warrior Wash is made with gentle, naturally-derived ingredients that are rich in antioxidants, with an allergen-free fragrance.

Once you’re out, don’t forget to moisturise. It’s so important to keep your skin hydrated, especially after a warm shower. Moisturiser can help your skin’s natural barrier to function properly, locking in hydration to keep your skin feeling comfortable. Use our Calming Cream, which is made with natural butters, oat lipids and Omega 3 and 6.

Time for breakfast! One of the most important meals of the day, breakfast kickstarts your metabolism for the day ahead and gives you the energy your body needs. One of our favourite breakfast recipes from The Beauty of Eating Well e-book is gluten-free porridge.

Recipe:

Serves 2

100g x gluten-free porridge oats

200-250ml x almond milk

2 tbsp x raw cacao powder

1 x banana, sliced to serve

1 tbsp x maple syrup, to serve

Mix the oats and milk into a pan and heat gently while stirring. Mix in the cacao powder and gently bubble for 10 minutes until the porridge is thick and creamy, adding more milk if necessary.

Serve with the sliced banana and drizzle of maple syrup.

Your evening ritual

You’ve made it through the day, and now it’s time to unwind and switch off. It can be difficult to change your focus, especially after a busy day, but it’s so important to help you de-stress and get ready for a good night’s sleep.

Take the time to fill in a journal and reflect on your day, or even the week so far. What are you grateful for? What are your thoughts on the day’s activities? Our Positive Scribes journal provides you with a perfect place to jot down your thoughts and keep track of your mental and physical health.

Making a healthy dinner is a great way to keep off your phone for a while and take your mind off the day, while nourishing your body with a hearty dish to keep the hunger at bay! We love this comforting cottage pie recipe, which is great when the weather is a little dull outside.

Recipe:

Serves 2

3 small or 2 large x sweet potatoes

1 x onion, finely sliced

1 x leek, finely sliced

2 x carrots, finely diced

2 x garlic cloves, finely sliced

4 x sprigs of fresh thyme leaves

3 x anchovy fillets

400g x turkey mince

2 tbsp x chestnut flour

300ml x chicken bone broth or vegetable stock

4 tbsp x olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Place the sweet potatoes in a roasting tray and roast in the oven for 1 hour until the insides are soft. Leave them to cool.

While they are cooking, heat 2 tbsp of olive oil in a deep frying pan and sauté the onion, leek, carrots and garlic over a low heat for 15 minutes until golden and translucent. Add the thyme and anchovies and cook for another 2 minutes.

Add the turkey mince and cook over a high heat, stirring often for 5-7 minutes until browned.

Peel away the skin of the sweet potatoes and mash the flesh, add the remaining olive oil and season to taste. Place the filling into an ovenproof dish and top with the mash.

Bake at 180C/350F for 30-35 minutes until bubbling and starting to brown on top.

Once you’ve eaten, enjoyed your evening and are now prepping for bed, a bath is one of the best ways to truly relax and free yourself from the day’s work. Our Pamper Me bathing oil is perfect for adding to a running bath to create a beautiful milk, with ingredients to soothe and protect the skin.

If your body is tired or your mind is going too fast, our Salty Soother bath salts are perfect for restoration. Simply add a handful of these blend of mineral-rich salts to your bath and indulge yourself with a little music or meditation. Once you get out, don’t forget to moisturise again to hydrate your skin before bed.

Following a vegan lifestyle has become a popular choice amongst many around the world, as people make more plant-based choices. Whilst this started mostly with giving up meat and other animal-based food, veganism has now gone a step further. Whether you’re hoping to do your part to help save the environment or you simply don’t want to use animal products for ethical reasons, there is so much choice when it comes to plant-based products.

In particular, vegan skincare has become very sought-after as a way for people to make a more ethical choice. At The Beauty of Eczema, all of our products are made from naturally derived ingredients and are vegan. So, what does that actually mean?

What is vegan skincare?

Many of today’s skincare products can include ingredients that are derived from animal products, such as lanolin, carmine, gelatine and ambergris. Some of these products can be used to achieve a particular effect, such as carmine to make red lipstick.

Our skincare range uses a variety of naturally derived ingredients to achieve our moisturising and hydrating products. Many plant-based ingredients can offer the necessary vitamins, minerals and antioxidants your skin needs. For example, almond oil contains vitamins A and E along with Omega-3 and zinc, and you can find it in our Calming Cream.

Vegan vs cruelty-free

At The Beauty of Eczema, our products are both vegan and cruelty-free, which mean they haven’t been tested on animals and don’t contain any ingredients derived from animals. It’s important to remember that these two criteria are not the same, and other products may be one or the other. You can see our labels on the packaging that says our products are vegan and cruelty-free.

The Beauty of Eczema is also registered on PETA as part of their Beauty Without Bunnies programme.

Buying vegan skincare

Whether you are already vegan, thinking about going vegan or just want to make some different choices when it comes to your everyday products, buying vegan skincare can make a big difference to the environment and of course the welfare of animals!

You can check out our ingredients using our Inci Decoder and see all the wonderful vegan ingredients to pamper you from head to toe.

Having a great skincare routine can be great for nourishing your skin and making sure you’re taking care of yourself both inside and out. However, there are many other factors that can also help you achieve a healthy glow for your skin, including exercise and ecotherapy.

Both of these principles can help you towards your goal of good wellbeing and health, but it’s all about finding your rhythm and routine. The Beauty of Eczema explains more about the connection between exercise, ecotherapy and skincare.

Understanding stress

Stress is one of the biggest triggers for health issues, and it can make skin a little more sensitive than usual. Stress can cause a whole host of physical symptoms. This is because stress causes cortisol to be released into our bloodstream, which stops a hormone called DHEA from being released. DHEA helps to support our immune system, and without it, you might start to feel a little poorly.

Despite this, stress can act as a helpful warning that something isn’t right and that something needs to change. This could be anything from your daily routine, your diet or your environment. By recognising this, it could help you to make a positive change.

Using exercise as a force for change

Moving your body in any way is good for your health, whether it’s a daily walk, yoga, weightlifting or team sports. Exercise is one of the most recommended activities for reducing stress, which in turn can help your body to stay healthy, including your skin.

Exercise can boost your mood, improve cardiovascular health and support your metabolic function. What’s more, exercise can promote blood flow which can have a positive impact on your skin.

The impact of ecotherapy

Another stress reliever that can do wonders for your skin is ecotherapy. Ecotherapy is a type of therapeutic treatment that involves being outside, surrounded by nature. Being outdoors can do wonders for your overall wellbeing, and there’s some science behind it too.

Trees emit essential oils known as phytoncides to protect themselves, but these oils can help to boost our immune system too, as we breathe in forest air. What’s more, being outdoors can give your body and mind a chance to rest and switch off, reducing stress levels further.

This improvement in mental wellbeing can have a positive impact on your skin, particularly if you are prone to dry or sensitive skin. By taking some time out to exercise or spend an hour outside, you can reap the benefits of a balanced routine which can lead to a healthier mind and body.