Beauty, Health & Wellbeing

A Holistic Approach to Aesthetics at Lound Hall

I’ll be the first to admit that I am easily convinced when trying the latest beauty crazes. But as I’ve gotten older and become more attuned and comfortable in my own skin, I’ve wanted a more natural appearance and approach to ageing. Gelida is a family-owned wellness and aesthetic experience dedicated to revolutionising the aesthetic industry through a holistic approach to initiating treatments. I was curious to find out how the terms aesthetics and holistic could coexist, because I for one, was not entirely convinced. Driving down the rolling hills of Northamptonshire by a member of the Gelida team in a very classy Range Rover, my curiosity piqued as we swerved into the long country road that led us up to the stately Lound Hall; my eyes wide in amazement. Lound Hall is the home of Gelida, as well as the home of its founder, Susan Mills. As I entered my senses awoke; potent incense sweeping past my nose, my eyes met with warm smiles, and my ears erected at the crackles of a roaring fireplace. I relaxed and sunk into the grand sofa, soaking up the aura that surrounded me, while indulging in an impressive selection of cakes and sandwiches for afternoon tea.

The Best Luxury Skincare & Fragrances for the Summer

In a rather over-saturated market, it can be difficult to know what luxury skincare and fragrances are worth the bang for your buck. Here's a rundown of The Sybarite's favourite products for you to get your hands on this summer.

Five Steps to Glowy Spring Skin with The Skin Culturist

Although April showers are still among us, we can only hope that the sun will begin to shine soon… but how can we begin to prep our skin for when the first signs of spring begin to emerge? I visited The Skin Culturist, a gorgeous boutique clinic tucked away in a scenic side road in Maida Vale. The classic coastal interior aesthetic made me feel right at home, and ready to prepare my skin for spring.  The cold and harsh winter we had meant I was constantly layering on moisturisers and serums, exposing my skin to artificial heat and lacking exposure to Vitamin D. A build-up of dead skin cells led to a dull and dehydrated complexion that was often congested, causing breakouts and other skin issues, so how did we tackle this? My consultation began with Dr Kam, a fantastic and informative dentist and master of facial aesthetics and skin health. Together, we identified my current skin issues using The Skin Culturist’s state of the art technology, and set out a plan of how I was going to get the very best skin. 

The Glow-Up Diaries: The Best Salons, Gyms and Clinics in...

The sun is finally shining, the beer gardens have awoken from their slumber and day-drinking is about to become your favourite weekend hobby again. But after a rather harsh and cold winter, you’re probably not feeling your best. Fear not, we’ve compiled a list of the best spots in London to help you glow-up in time for the summer months.

Meet the Founder of this Popular Celeb Pilates Spot

Discover the Secrets of Chinese Skincare with Ashmira...

Who doesn't long for that inner luminance that prompts your coworker to not-so-subtly ask, "have you had some work done?". Yet, despite being our body's largest organ, our skin often suffers from neglect due to daily encounters with pollution, harsh weather, and the demanding lifestyles many young professionals lead. (Yes, I'm talking about those of you who manage on 5 hours of sleep, subsist mainly on Pret-A-Manger, and perhaps tally only 2000 daily steps.) This is where Ashmira Botanica enters the scene. As a 21-year-old social media editor fresh from an incredibly hectic stint at fashion week, I was yearning for some well-deserved relaxation. A morning at the exquisite Chuan Spa at The Langham sounded like the ideal antidote. My therapist, Tracey (also the founder of Ashmira Botanica), enlightened me about the treatment's personalized approach. Not only would it address my typical skin concerns (hormonal fluctuations, acne-prone tendencies, dryness), but it would also factor in my biorhythms, current emotions, and the prevailing season. In the context of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), spring symbolises renewal and commencement – a period for purging toxins from the body and negative energies from the mind. It felt only natural that the treatment and products would focus on the liver and gallbladder. To encapsulate, this experience transcends mere skincare treatment. The utilisation of natural plants, essential oils, and clays harmonizes the skin's essential energy, intertwining physical and emotional aspects. This holistic approach alleviates physical tension and fosters mental clarity, offering a comprehensive rejuvenation.

A Q&A with Soori Balis Spa Manager

The Sybarite had the opportunity to interview Soori's Spa Manager to uncover their spa experience and their most recommended experiences.

Back to nature: low-intervention wine is no longer just a...

In a not-totally-unsurprising-move, given the direction social change has been heading in for the last couple of decades, wine drinkers have been well and truly seduced by the philosophy of natural wine. It isn’t regulated and it’s not very well defined, but the idea behind it chimes with the modern desire for authentic, artisanal products made with respect for the earth and its resources. There is currently no one set of rules that natural winemakers have to follow in order to use the term. However, natural winemakers will almost certainly employ organic farming methods – no chemical fertilisers here thank you. They’ll probably have stripped their processes back to a minimum, as the pendulum has swung from years of highly industrialised intervention to simple, ancient practices. They may even follow biodynamic principles, which bring an almost spiritual element to working with the land. The dominant theme is individualism over industrialisation; character over uniformity. Natural wines celebrate the terroir, the climate, the fruit and the process – and accept the unpredictability that comes with that.

Discotheque - A Bougie New Fragrance in Town

It’s bougie, it’s euphoric, it’s giving ‘70’s and 80’s dance club fever vibes concocted in a series of fragrances that are housed in a three-color gradient glass - a signature touch of the brand. Introducing Discotheque, a luxury and uber chic fragrance brand founded between Los Angeles and London where every candle is hand-poured in Discotheque’s UK atelier.

Geroscience and the answers to ageing

When it comes to staying alive, humankind has made impressive progress since the turn of the last century. We are undoubtedly living longer – on average twice as long, in fact – and many scientists now believe our natural lifespan could be 125 years or more. But along with an increase in life expectancy we’ve experienced an equally sharp rise in disease, and the focus now is on healthy longevity: healthspan as well as lifespan. To this end, the world’s richest are pumping billions into ‘geroscience’; a relatively new scientific field of research that looks at the hallmarks of biological aging and the connections between getting older and succumbing to disease. In just a couple of decades there have been some tantalising breakthroughs, and scientists have already succeeded in extending the lives of mice. As interest grows and the best scientific minds are lured away from academia and into tech-billionaire funded start-ups, translating that success across to humans seems not just possible, but likely.

New Year, New Me, New Skin: The Revive Room

There’s a chill in the air that I happily escape as I step inside Nelsons Homeopathic Pharmacy by Grosvenor Square (which also houses Nazmeen Khaliq’s Revive Room). The nature of the location is a reflection of Khaliq’s ethos of delivering a more natural, holistic approach to beauty and skincare. She first embarked on her beauty journey at the age of 16, working the cosmetic counters at Clarins and Estee Lauder whilst training for her beauty therapist qualifications. Though her first role saw her gaining experience with popular mainstream treatments at a beauty salon, after a few years and an IBS flare-up to boot, she shifted gears and joined a natural pharmacy where she absorbed everything she could from the homeopaths, nutritionists, and herbalists who worked there. She has now branched out and has grown a roster of high profile clients and a loyal following who turn to her for bespoke treatments and programmes fashioned in her own unique style.

Transform the Skin You are In: The Body Lab in Kensington

Running 15 minutes late, I had already envisioned what The Body Lab would look like - even though I had already seen glimpses of it on my social media! As I breezed down Kensington High Street, I was on the lookout for a small clinic perched amongst the big-branded stores until google maps pinged to alert me that I had arrived at my destination. I peered up to see The Body Lab standing before me, but it wouldn’t be until after I stepped foot inside that all my expectations would be far exceeded. The Body Lab is a unique, ‘new health’ concept, combining science and wellness to elevate their members' health, fitness and lifestyle. Based on three pillars: Fitness, Recovery and Nutrition, inside the lab you will find a luxury, private gym, alongside the expertise of industry professionals, cutting-edge technology and regenerative therapies.