☆Answering your (hard) gift questions, 2025 wellness predictions, your vision board invite

This edition is brought to you by Qualia Life.

Hey lovely,

Jasmine here, Editor of Daily Rituals.

In a week where I learned that only 54% of men brush their teeth daily, I’m once again grateful that we women - and our sparkling oral microbiomes - are running the world (even if we rarely get the credit for it). 

This week, we’re getting into Six Senses’ 2025 wellness predictions (spoiler: some we rate, others.. less so), tackling your gift-giving dilemmas, and rounding things off with our Wellness Web favourites. 

So, brew your tea, grab your green juice, or maybe even pour your wine (Monday must have come at you hard, but it’s nearly Christmas so you do you..) - let’s get into it.

If you’ve got any feedback or recommendations of topics you’d like us to cover in the Wellness Dose, feel free to reply to this email directly & let me know.

As always, I’m grateful to have you here! Enjoy xo

Unpacking 2025 Wellness Predictions

For some reason, every wellness brand in the land decided to drop their 2025 wellness predictions last week. Naturally, many of them contradict one another and ironically cite “overwhelm” as their rationale for half the trends - no kidding. 

We’ve been working on our 2025 predictions for a hot minute BTS, and they’ll likely be ready to share during that beautifully dazed space you find yourself in between Christmas and NYE. Until then, this week we’re breaking down Six Senses 2025 predictions, and as always, giving our hot take on whether we call BS. 

#1: Wave goodbye to wearables

Six Senses predicts we’re over our smart rings and watches telling us we’ve had a bad day. Instead, we’ll all go inwards and tune into our bodies, naturally.

★ THE DR VERDICT →

They argue there’s plenty of ways (many that they offer, FYI) to tune into your natural rhythm - and they’re not wrong. But, tech as we know it is only going to get more useful and discrete, not in an AI-take-over-the-world kind of way though.

Imagine this: your wearable notifies you that your hormones did the macarena today, so.. this evenings workout has been updated, you’ve got a custom light & vagus nerve stimulation meditation waiting for you, and you’re encouraged to hit the hay an hour earlier. Without sounding OTT, we’ll become one with tech, rather than opt to go without. That said, we will see a rise of “phone-free” experiences as they’ll feel even more novel (think digital detox retreats or no phone community gatherings), the two paths can coexist.

#2: The rise of spiritual travel

Rooted in the idea that we’re all craving meaning, purpose and something bigger from our lives, wellness tourism becomes spiritual tourism in 2025. Ice baths, saunas, and meditations alone won’t cut it anymore. Six Senses argues (although this isn’t how they phrase it) that we’re all seeking a touch more woo woo. Think: fire ceremonies, full moon rituals, awe walks and singing bowl rituals.

★ THE DR VERDICT →

With many wellness girlies now interested in that something extra, you can see the appeal if your spa day comes with an added tarot experience, sound healing, or maybe even guided mushroom ceremony (albeit not in the UK, for now). There’s some risks here though. First, there’s the money-wasting potential in an already unregulated space (what if my awe walk isn’t very awe-inspiring at all?). And second, there’s a darker side, with some practices going too far - just last week, a Mexican actress tragically died during a detox involving poisonous frog venom.

#3: SOS - Save Our Sleep

They talk of how their “Sleep with Six Senses” program takes rest very seriously. Picture a Sleep Ambassador (best job title ever) greeting you before adjusting your room’s natural linens, guiding you through bedtime yoga, and tailoring meals to optimise your shut-eye. The idea is that rather than going on holiday for a blow out, you’re vacay-ing to get your sleep back on track.

★ THE DR VERDICT →

This one is a lil snooze-worthy. Sleep makes it onto trend lists every year, and the stats they cite (17.5% more people suffering with poor sleep) are probably more about awareness, thanks to wearables (see #1) rather than an entirely new problem. The luxe sleep-focused retreat is an easy sell, though, and we wouldn’t say no to a Sleep Ambassador fluffing our pillows.

#4: Live long, and be well

This one leans into the rise of the biohacker - the idea, as we all know, is that looking well and young is one thing, but actually being (& feeling) young is another. Queue plenty of therapies lined up to help: oxygen therapy, red light therapy, and treatments to reduce senescent cells.

★ THE DR VERDICT →

Predictable but on point. Longevity is already a focus (Amazon and Apple’s latest investments into their Longevity Hackers series prove that). But, now is probably a good time to remind you of Julie Gibson Clarke - she’s aging slower than infamous biohacker Bryan Johnson, and does it all without the tech.

#5: Seeking pleasure

Six Senses says that not all dopamine is created equal, and don’t we know it - everyone from Dr. Huberman to the TikTok wellness girlies have been teaching us how to reset our dopamine in 2024. Their plan? Encouraging more of the good stuff through somatic experiences (aka, body-centred therapy), watsu therapy (imagine you in a pool, being stretched by your “guide” who’s also in the water with you) and even creative writing retreats (which you may well think I ought to book myself onto) to boost the “good” dopamine and find flow.

★ THE DR VERDICT →

It’s easy to agree with this one. We’d add though that sound therapy, whether via binaural beats for happiness or tailored soundscapes will also find their way into treatments and retreats for that extra dopamine boost. Plus, retreats love a good upsell and sound is an easy one to monetise.

Six Senses’ 2025 predictions are equal parts thoughtful insight and polished self-promotion (naturally, they’ve got a solution for every trend). Still, they nail a shift we’re seeing everywhere: the art of coexisting contradictions. Tech guiding us back to intuition, spiritual woo balanced with science-backed therapies - 2025 is shaping up to be the year of “both/and.” And honestly? We’re not mad about it. Why settle for one path when you can have the whole damn moodboard?

• 🧘 Move over, LV: It’s been a bleak year for Lululemon in the US and Canada, but in China? They’re thriving. According to Business Insider, “China is finally waking up in terms of health”. Wellness is booming, with Gen Z slowing down and embracing WGSN’s so-called “rural revival” - think escaping the rat race, at least on weekends. Premium yet accessible is the vibe, and Lulu is perfectly placed.

• 📖 Roll out your mat: Conde Nast Traveller just dropped their picks for the 14 best yoga retreats in the world. Four are right on our doorstep too (well, almost). 

• 🍇 Wine not? Italy’s got a new take on antioxidants - vinotherapy. Think sipping, soaking, and massaging with wine (and its oils). It gets bonus points for sustainability too: the treatments use wine from batches that didn’t quite make the grade for bottling. We’ll toast to that.

• 🧠 Well, duh: Here, we’re holding space for some new (& very obvious) study findings. Poor sleep accelerates brain aging and a quality chat with your BFF reduces stress. Groundbreaking. 

• 💇 Slut hair is trending: Yep, you read that right. And this tutorial might just be our favourite hair how-to of the year. 

• 💉 Needle-free IVs? If needles aren’t your thing, but a glutathione IV drip is calling your name, you’re in luck. This Harley Street clinic just launched transdermal infusion patches. No needles, just vitamins delivered through your skin. They’re expected to hit more spas in 2025, but the science is still catching up, so don’t expect miracles. 

• 📅 Ready for your best year yet: Free on Jan 5th at 7:30pm? Join Resident Life Coach Helen Derbyshire for her popular goal-setting workshop. You’ll learn how to get clear on your goals, action them, and stay consistent throughout the year. Think visualisations, journal prompts & tips on overcoming limiting beliefs. PS, we’ve got three free tickets for DR Readers with code DAILYRITUALS. See you there!

• 🌿 Start strong: Female-founded new alcohol-free brand Drink Elixir is hosting their Elixir Experience in Kent this January. Yoga, breathwork, cold water dips, and cacao for just £85? Count us in.

• 💄 Beauty’s bumpy ride: It’s been a tough year for beauty brands trying to sell. Osea nearly joined Shiseido (but the deal fell through), and Rare, Glossier, and Makeup by Mario are all struggling to find buyers despite their “mostly strong financials.” Why? According to Rachel Strugatz of Puck, it’s thanks to sky-high benchmarks set by brands like K18 and Naturium, which sold for jaw-dropping multiples in 2023. Even Summer Fridays reportedly lost a deal over its heavy reliance on its viral Lip Butters (we love them, but still).

Your gifting dilemmas, solved

After sharing our GLOW guide and 2024 gift guide, my inbox went a bit wild with gift requests. Not for me, sadly, but anywho. When exactly I became your personal gift concierge, I’m not sure - but it’s a role I gladly accept.

I feel this to my core as I look around my small flat at the lack of space and the thought of my parents spending on gifts I don’t need or have a place for.

• Memories > clutter: Book a trip to a local social sauna for a chilled Friday eve together or maybe go a lil more luxe and book both of you into a recovery suite to detox & catch up. 

• Go digital: Audible gift cards, an online wellness journal, or even a wine & book monthly subscription (because, balance). Fresha gift cards are also a good call since she could try a new place she’s been eyeing up for a blow dry or massage. 

• Pricer picks: If she made it to the end of 2024 without knowing which colour season she is (same, girl) then book her in for a colour analysis consultation - she’ll thank you every time nails her outfit. Another option if you’re local to one is to book her in for a FaceGym workout.

• Useful “stuff”: Granted, it’s stuff, but it sounds like she doesn’t want big, unnecessary stuff cluttering her space. A luxe filtering water bottle, an aesthetic oil diffuser, a fresh makeup bag or even Roxiena Fousi’s manifesting journal will all be welcomed with open arms.

Tricky territory, how to impress without breaking the bank? A thoughtful gift that feels luxe. 

• Subtly tell her she’s a good cook: Gift her this recipe journal and convince her to start writing down her signature recipes.

• A sprinkle of cashmere: Nothing says luxe quite like it and Lily Silk have so many versatile options. 

• Personalise it: Get a family illustration done for just £28 and find a chic frame from TK Maxx to present it in - it screams thoughtful and seems like it would cost way more. Or, get her a monogrammed leather notebook - she’ll find something to use it for. 

• Some bougie extras: No Mother-in-Law gift is complete with a swanky candle or a gift set from one of these brands, to kind of, pad it out.

Meet the wellness industry’s new obsession

If you’ve tuned into a wellness podcast lately (this is our current fave, fyi), chances are you’ve heard of Qualia and their Senolytic formula. They’ve single-handedly made "senescent cells" (aka zombie cells) the new hot topic in longevity. Quick recap: senescent cells are those freeloading, non-functional cells your body forgets to clear out as you age (love that for us!!). Left unchecked, they can speed up aging and inflammation.

Qualia’s formula is like spring cleaning for your body, targeting overstaying guests and giving your system a fresh start. Taken just two days a month, it’s aimed at those 40 and over, but younger wellness girlies noticing the early signs of wear and tear can join in to (just check with your doc first - this isn’t a turmeric latte). 

But does it work? Early research is promising. Their study found participants experienced a 68% reduction in joint discomfort after just two cycles. It’s not a miracle pill (let’s not kid ourselves), but it’s kind of like the Marie Kondo of supplements: ruthlessly clearing out what no longer serves you. PSA for UK readers: you can get yours at Healf to avoid US shipping drama.

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