😮 Is this f'king with your skin?

This edition is brought to you by 7Pines Ibiza

There aren’t many things worse than turning up to your reformer class 5 minutes late and having to beg to be let in (a real low). Or at least I thought as much anyway. That was until I got to the gym yesterday for my peach-building workout, ready to blast Olivia Dean for an hour, and my headphone’s decided it was the perfect time to pack in.

It took everything in me not to head back home. & then I remembered that Dr. Huberman kindly told us (& I told you!) that going music-free every so often does wonders for resetting our dopamine baseline. 

So, I took my own advice (miracles happen) & got on with it. I’m not sure what went down, but a workout that would usually take just over an hour was done in under 45 minutes. & not only that, I was ridiculously sore the next day. 

A PT I had years ago that used to always go on about the ‘mind-muscle’ connection, and I think I finally understand what she meant. Without music, there wasn’t much else to focus on other than the movement itself and the muscle being worked. Plus, since there’s only so long you can stare at a gym wall for before you look mildly crazy, I took way less rest too.

So, when you find yourself extra busy this week, go to the gym without your headphones for a deeper, more productive workout.

In your weekly dose:

• 🤫 My honest thoughts on Sanctum: the Amsterdam-born movement-meets-silent-rave class taking over London this summer.

• ❣️Ask Daily Rituals: “Are oxalates f’king with my skin?”

• 🐚 Meet us on the White Isle: It’s no secret we love a wellness escape around here and this laid-back Ibizan resort & spa may be the best yet.

• 🔍 The Wellness Web: Glossier relaunched their iconic Balm Dotcom, an ice bath you won’t want to hide in the corner, the monthly facial subscription and much more.

• 💄New In: Editor’s new favourite wellness products this week.

^{_{SANCTUM HAS ARRIVED IN LONDON}}
Wave your hands like you just don’t care

There were plenty of things that intrigued me about Sanctum. The viral videos of hundreds of people bouncing around a candlelit church was pretty high up on the list. As was the fact that it got a glowing Vogue review a few months back.

So obviously, I had to go check it out. 

The Venue

I’d booked a 7pm mid-week “Signature” class for £32 at the Last Days Church in Soho. I’ll be honest, when I arrived I was convinced this couldn’t be it - it looked like (& turned out it was) a building site. Luckily, I spotted another girl waiting around and she confirmed it was infact the location, but the outside was mid-renovation. For the next 15 minutes as we waited outside, every single person that arrived looked equally confused, before plucking up the courage to ask the person closest to them if this was really it. 

We were then welcomed in by some of the Sanctum team (who I noticed were all incredibly good looking and impeccably chiseled), instructed to take off our shoes & find a mat.

Despite looking a bit of a mess on the outside, the inside of the church was beautiful. Candlelit, with techno music playing in the background and around 50 yoga mats placed diagonally in the centre - it felt like we were about to experience something quite special.

The Class

A few minutes later, Luuk, one of the Sanctum co-founders, took to the small stage in front of the stained glass windows at the church’s altar. It was time to see what this was all about.

Like a silent disco, we put our headphones on as he explained that Sanctum was created to be a safe space for you to let go, go inwards & connect. It’s a hybrid of “kundalini yoga, martial arts, high-intensity movement & breathwork”, he said, but it was likely we’d feel a “little awkward and self-conscious” at first doing some of the movements. He wasn’t wrong. 

But, the longer I followed the almost tribal movement sequences, the less I started to care about how daft I looked (especially as I noticed that there were plenty of others really getting into it). Luuk encouraged us to make our movements “bigger and more energetic”, as we followed his deep rhythmic breathing that often escalated into loud “HA!” sounds.

Occasionally, the other team members would reappear and walk around wafting a cinnamon-like incense, which was a nice surprise to the senses.

After about 25 minutes, I’d finally got over myself & got properly into it. By the end, I’d worked up a sweat, my arms were sore (since most of the moves involved waving them around) & I felt noticeably lighter about life. 

The DR Verdict: Would I go again?

Yes, I think I would. It’s a friendly crowd, and although there was a variety of ages there, everyone seemed quite likeminded & open. After all, we’d all booked this somewhat strange class in the first place.

I’d have loved for there to have been some ‘encouraged networking’ afterwards though, since it felt like we were all a little closer after dancing like crazy people for the past hour. Admittedly, I’m a bit of an introvert, but even I got the sense that people wanted to connect but needed a gentle nudge to go up to a stranger & start chatting.

It also felt the session missed out on a breathwork-only section to round it off (like a yoga class), but then again, maybe that would make it like every other class?

Where to book

Over the summer, Sanctum are taking over various gothic venues across London that you can book via ClassPass or directly on the Sanctum website. & if you’re interested (or perhaps just intrigued like I was), I’d suggest booking a few weeks in advance to make sure you get your slot, as I’d bet they’re going to get even more popular.

^{_{ASK DAILY RITUALS}}
“Are oxalates f’king with my skin?”

I heard about oxalates recently and my immediate reaction was WTF. How can can someone’s skin get WORSE when eating “clean”?

Please lord, give us a break. 

What are oxalates?

Oxalates are in certain plant-based foods like raspberries, leafy greens, potatoes, beets, almonds, to name a few. They all have a small amount of toxin called oxalic acid in them.

So, should I stop eating them?

For most people, our kidney’s get to work and get rid the oxalic acid, so we don’t get any side effects (only the much-deserved upside of eating well).

For some though, their body might not be able to get rid of the oxalates well enough. This can be because they're eating too many every day (who knew that was a thing?!), or they're simply more sensitive to them in the first place.

Crucially, too many oxalates in the body can stop you from absorbing other all-important nutrients that your clean skin game really needs.

The DR Verdict

If you think you could be sensitive, you could reduce your oxalate intake for a few days and see if you notice any difference.

With my own skin journey, I already try to avoid soy, dairy and gluten (during the week anyway), purely because I’ve noticed the difference when I don’t. So if cut out some of the other healthy goodness I eat instead, I’m not sure I’d have that much left. It’s exhausting!

Sure, if you suddenly started eating super clean and saw your skin decline, there’s a chance it could be linked. But, if you already ate relatively well, it’s unlikely to be the trigger (it’s more likely to be one of the more common causes like high stress, gut problems, pore-clogging makeup etc).

There’s really no one size fits all here though, so listen to your body & do what feels right for you.

If you’ve got a Q or want the Daily Rituals hot take on something before you pull the trigger, just reply to this email & we’ll try feature it in next week’s Ask Daily Rituals.

THE WELLNESS WEB:

• 👄 It’s finally back: Glossier divided fans back in 2023 when it’s viral lip balm, Balm Dotcom, went vegan (they replaced the lanolin with a synthetic version, and it really didn’t hit). Fans literally begged them to bring their original formula & like all good brands - they listened. Could it be the start of a new trend in the beauty industry? I think so.

• ☕ Spilling Sephora tea: According to insiders at Puck, Rare Beauty is no longer on track to be Sephora’s #1 brand. The brand taking the top spot? Sol de Janeiro, with their iconic bum bum creams & cult-favourite perfume mists.

• ❄️ Get icy: Most ice baths look pretty ugly, let’s be honest. Not this one. Monk’s debut ‘Smart Ice Bath’ would fit right in at any minimalist Scandi-style hotel. Designed in London & backed by Anthony Joshua (FYI, their website is worth a look just to see him testing out the baths….), the Monk cold plunge comes with integrated breathwork, it’s self cleaning & it’s ready to go whenever you are.

• 🌹 Girl chat: If you’re not sure whether to make the switch yet from tampons, watch this from our fave TikTok Doctor.

• 🧖‍♀️ Facials on tap: Popular clinic’s like Esho and FaceGym now offer monthly subscriptions to their most popular services. At Esho, £290 per month gets you monthly access to a huge menu of treatments like ClearLift Laser or a targeted Resurfacing Treatment (both usually £420 each). At FaceGym, an £80 monthly subscription gets you one workout per month (usually £100) plus discounts across boosters & additional workouts.

^{_{TIME FOR SOME TLC}}
The Ibizan Resort Designed for Wellness Girlies: Meet 7Pines

_{This partnership with 7Pines Ibiza}

One thing I loved about Ibiza when I visited was that they really get wellness. There’s plenty of it on offer too. Whether you’re into a cacao ceremony, cave yoga, sound healing or a morning hike, my go-to place to do it all was at 7Pines. Part hotel, part wellness sanctuary, every detail is designed to help you release that tension your holding right now in your shoulders.

The panoramic view from the gym area is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, and don’t get me started on their weekly wellness program (plus, unlike most, it’s open to staying guests & visitors). They’ve also recently started a new series of Goddess Days (dream!), where you can book on to a massage, a mindful movement class & a private coaching session, all with the intention of embracing your femininity.

My favourite thing though about 7Pines is that they’re all about balance. One evening you could be watching the sunset at their Cone Club after wandering around their monthly Artisan market, the next you could be diving into their tasting menu at The View & sipping on mixologist-made cocktails.

One things for sure, you’ll want to stay longer (I did!).

To book onto a Goddess Day or a class at 7Pines, you can email [email protected] 🤍

EDITORS FAVOURITE NEW IN’S

Enjoyed this? Tell the girls & unlock your rewards

I’d loooove it if you could share Daily Rituals. Use the link below & start referring to earn some incredible wellness-girl favourite rewards 💖 

With love,

Jasmine