What’s New in Wellness: CF's Guide To Living Well This September

Banya No 1 in Hoxton first brought the centuries-old rituals of the Russian banya to London in 2012. Now the authentic bathhouse is bringing its expertise to Sardinia too, via a partnership with five-star resort Forte Village, which is renowned for its focus on benefits of thermal bathing by the sea. There’s something particularly appealing about experiencing such an immersive – and rather unique – ritual against Forte Village’s coastal setting, and its likely to be one of the most memorable body treatments you’ll probably ever try if you haven’t had the opportunity before. At the heart of the spa-based ritual is hot/cold contrast therapy, with alternating thermal cycles designed to encourage circulation and leave the body feeling deeply relaxed. This is then followed by the pièce de résistance, the signature Parenie treatment. Fragrant birch branches are gently used across your body to stimulate circulation and create a distinctive sense of physical and mental release, which can be combined with other purifying scrubs and massages to really pamper you from head-to-toe. Every session is also led by a banya master and opens with the Aroma Steam Ceremony, a botanical welcome prepared with natural plant extracts, ensuring the experience really feels like a true ritual, not just a one-and-done sauna trip.

Founded by registered nutritionist Hannah Cartwright and certified Pilates instructor Alice West, The Aloha Girls is a wellness platform that actually makes healthy living feel achievable, enjoyable and sustainable. That’s why so many beauty and wellness editors have already signed up. The online-based membership gives users unlimited access to on-demand Pilates classes, nutrition masterclasses, healthy recipes, expert guidance and lifestyle content and, best of all, it is designed to fit around busy schedules (because, let’s face it, nowadays we all have those). The community also specifically empowers members to build healthy habits without the pressure, guilt or unrealistic expectations often associated with traditional diets and workout routines – as this was something both Hannah and Alice faced themselves in their own lives and careers. It’s not just a digital community either. The Aloha Girls host sell-out wellness events across the UK too, with each event combining an energising Pilates class, an expert-led nutrition workshop and the opportunity to connect with like-minded women over food, drinks and conversation. That makes motivating yourself to keep pursuing your goals even easier, with recent topics including gut health, hormones, stress management, sleep and everyday nutrition. Ultimately, the events are almost guaranteed to leave you feeling informed, inspired and part of a supportive community.

It’s true that there are a lot of LED masks on the market nowadays… and a lot of people still wondering which one is actually worth investing in. This one from Dermalux is my top pick, not least because it brings professional LED technology into your home just in time for some post-summer skin TLC. Dermalux is a brand well-known in clinics for being a leading supplier of LED devices so it’s perhaps a surprise that the brand hasn’t entered the at-home market until now. But, good things come to those that wait. Transforming Dermalux’s clinic-developed approach to phototherapy into a lightweight, wearable format, the mask combines three clinically proven wavelengths – 633nm red for smoother skin, 830nm near-infrared for skin repair and 1072nm deep near-infrared for microcirculation – and rather than having to choose between different settings, all three work together in a single, streamlined 10-minute daily treatment. What also makes the device particularly interesting is its construction: rather than sitting directly against the skin as with many competitors, its off-the-skin design is intended to distribute light more evenly, helping to reduce hotspots and provide consistent coverage to maximise your results. There’s a lot of science involved, but ultimately the ritual itself is comfortingly uncomplicated. You just cleanse, put on the mask, press the button and relax for ten minutes. That means it actually slots easily into a busy routine, helping improve the appearance of fine lines, promoting a more even-looking skin tone and enhancing your radiance.

What if your jewellery box could enhance your wellbeing? That’s exactly what Resette is aiming to achieve, bringing auricular acupressure into the world of wearable wellness, with decorative ear seeds designed to look more like jewellery than the traditional treatment. Auricular acupressure is based on the idea that points on your ear correspond with different areas of your body. Rather than needles, the tiny bead-sized ‘seeds’ sit on specific points of the ear and can be pressed periodically throughout the day, helping you supercharge your wellbeing as you go about your usual routine. Resette’s ear seeds have launched with four protocols – Calm, Focus, Digestion and Sculpt – designed around core wellbeing intentions, with each of them placed according to the corresponding acupressure points. They are also available in crystal, pearl, gold and silver to allow them to sit alongside existing jewellery rather than feeling like another conspicuous wellness device. There’s no apps or statistics to decode either; just a long documented history of wearers feeling calmed and soothed with continued use. Ultimately, for anyone feeling slightly exhausted by the pressure to optimise every aspect of their health, the concept taps into an interesting shift in the way we approach wellbeing. After years of increasingly quantified routines, there’s growing interest in rituals that feel less like another target to hit. Resette positions itself within that softer approach: something you can wear and incorporate into your day without adding another task to your to-do list.

Beauty editors are always eager to let celebrity facialist Hadda Akrim and her hand-picked team get her hands on their faces – after all, the founder of Minimal by Hadda and Global Wellness Expert for Dior Beauty, is known for helping you achieve what seems like effortlessly glowing, healthy-looking skin. Now, she’s opened up her treatment books once more, by bringing her science-led approach to The Cadogan in Chelsea and you are going to want to book in for a covetable slot as soon as possible. That’s because her new residency offers particularly results-driven personalised treatments that combine holistic techniques with advanced technology, including lasers, chemical peels, microneedling and deep-tissue facial massage, all tailored to your specific skin concerns. The Advanced Facial, which focuses on deep cleansing, resurfacing and replenishment is a great initial ritual to try, especially if you haven’t had a facial for a while, although our favourite is probably The Quick Reset. Designed for anyone short on time but unwilling to sacrifice results (which is so many of us!), Slimyonik Body Styler pressure therapy is used to support lymphatic drainage across the body, while the facial combines tension release, a gentle enzyme peel and LED light therapy to brighten and de-puff the skin. Consider it your cheat sheet to a better-looking complexion, even within a high-stress schedule.

If you’re looking for a reason to escape to the Peak District, Wildhive Callow Hall’s new dedicated wellbeing space should be one of them. Housed in the hotel’s Coach House, just a few minutes’ walk from the main building, it’s a brilliant example of ‘high-tech’ forest bathing – aka using your environment alongside wellness therapies to help you slow down and properly reset in nature. At its heart is an immersive thermal circuit inspired by Nordic and European bathing traditions, where you can move between halotherapy, Finnish and herbal saunas, and a cold plunge or cold shower at your own pace. Outside, a barefoot reflexology path extends the sensory experience into the grounds, while the restored Potting Shed and Vitality Cabin offer a more high-tech side to the experience. Here you can try specialist Gharieni wellness loungers, which use vibration and sound frequencies to lull you into deep relaxation and red light therapy combined with a vitamin D sunshower to re-energise your body from head-to-toe. For those who prefer to work up a sweat, a state-of-the-art Technogym sits alongside studio space for yoga, breathwork and sound therapy, while creative workshops, from botanical drawing to claymaking, offer another way to unwind, with the really unique Twilight and Starlight Sessions making the most of the Peak District after dark. Our advice: make a day of it with a Morning or Afternoon Wellbeing package, or stay overnight with one of four wellbeing escapes. And, don’t forget to book an indulgent treatment during your visit too, with rituals from brands like Evolve Organic Beauty and 100 Acres. A highlight includes the Wildhive Signature Honeycomb Ritual, a nourishing 90-minute ritual involving a full body exfoliation and massage with wild honey butter.

For anyone looking to make their wellness routine a little more holistic, especially as the seasons change, this is your reminder that what happens on your plate can be just as important as what happens in the treatment room. The spa industry is taking note. The humble spa lunch menu, once something that was just a ‘nice to have’ as part of a spa day package, has been undergoing a revamp and one leading example has particularly caught our attention. As part of its renewed spa and wellness offering, Biome by Corinthia London has unveiled a new partnership with Dr Federica Amati, head nutritionist at ZOE. Guided by her wisdom as well as guest demand, the revitalised Spa Lounge menu focuses on delicious food that makes healthy eating easy, without restriction or trend-chasing. Gut health, metabolic balance, plant diversity, recovery, cognitive function and mood are all considered within every bite and you’ll certainly never go hungry. With delicious-sounding treats including butter bean dip (which tastes like an upgraded hummus) and charred cauliflower steaks to choose from – as well as quick and easy ‘power’ shots for when time is more precious – you might just find yourself booking into Biome purely to get a table for one.

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Lead image: Resette

Becki Murray is Citizen Femme’s Beauty and Wellness Director. As one of the only UK journalists to hold a Distinction-grade diploma in cosmetic science, she combines her unique knowledge with an editor’s eye to help you make smarter choices about beauty and wellbeing. Becki also heads up CF’s spa guide so you could say she’s an expert in the science of relaxation too.