☆ New skin biohacking treatments, your 2024 gift guide, Goop drama

This edition is brought to you by The Salad Project - your go-to for eating well on-the-go in London.

Hey lovely,

Jasmine here, Editor of Daily Rituals. A reminder that this week is your last chance to add your favourites into the GLOW survey. It funnels directly into our community-powered GLOW GUIDE☆ that I’ll share next week - not to be missed! And before we get into it, this week I learned the word “glimmer”. Glimmers are the small moments in your day that make you feel joy. So, as you’re going about your Monday, think about what your glimmers are (& try fill your day with a couple more of them).

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

MOVE OVER FILLERS

If you feel like everyone and their Pilates instructor is getting PRP, PRF or some other three-letter skin treatment this year - you’re not alone. There’s not a skin doc on TikTok that isn’t raving about these treatments lately. In 2024, nothing says “I love me” quite like injecting a syringe filled with something straight from your own body.

With so many options (each with a sciencey name that means nothing to us mere mortals), it’s no wonder why we’re all a bit confused about what’s what.

THEIR RISE TO IN-CLINIC FAME

It feels like they came from nowhere, but many have actually been around for years, decades even. Why the sudden hype? Most likely, it’s thanks to the rise of the minimalist clean girl aesthetic paired with celebs dissolving their fillers. Suddenly, we’re all seeking a more “au naturel” approach to our skin rejuvenation, one that doesn’t involve injecting synthetic fillers (and god knows what else).

So, let’s get into it - what are they, really? And which (if any) is worth the splurge?

PRP (PLATELET-RICH PLASMA):

the “quick fix” for hydration & healing

PRP starts with a simple blood draw. The blood is then “spun down” in something called a centrifuge. The goal here is to separate it, splitting out the plasma that’s rich in growth factors that’ll then be injected back in. Why would any sane person do that? The growth factors act like well-behaved messengers that tell your skin to heal, regenerate, and importantly, get their ass to work on your collagen production. 

Best for: Acne scars and those “I-need-a-glow-up-now” moments. You’ll see effects pretty quickly, depending on how effective your growth factors are.

PRF (PLATELET-RICH FIBRIN):

the slower burn

Although similar in process to PRP, the difference with PRF is how your blood is spun. Put simply, it’s intentionally spun slower and without something called anticoagulants (that stop the blood from clotting). Without them, the mix that forms is thicker, and creates a sort of “time release net” (called fibrin, hence PRF). So unlike PRP where you’re getting one hit of growth factors, with PRF, the growth factors in your skin release slowly, over time.

Best for: A natural glow up with more staying power.

POLYNUCLEOTIDES:

deep hydration, with a side of salmon 

Unlike PRP and PRF that rely on your body’s own growth factors, polynucleotides rely on nucleotides from salmon DNA (read: sperm). Why salmon? It’s chosen because its DNA structure closely resembles human DNA and it’s a handy source of nucleotides. These provide the DNA structure that gets to work on repairing your cells themselves (the do-er). Growth factors, on the other hand, encourage cells to grow and repair (the cheerleaders). A subtle difference, but an important one - it’s why many clinics combine both procedures, since they work slightly differently on your skin.

Best for: Juicy, bouncy skin with improved elasticity and texture over time.

EXOSOMES & BIO-EXOSOMES:

the futuristic ones

These are like the overachieving cousin of PRP and PRF. Instead of relying on growth factors from your blood, they’re derived from stem cells (typically from umbilical cords or bone marrow). Because of this, you’re going to get a more potent dose of the good stuff. They’re like messengers but these ones are 3 coffees deep, and bossy, demanding your cells to get their act together to heal and regenerate faster.

Slowly on the rise are bio-exosomes. More high tech as they’re bioengineered (e.g. entirely lab grown) and designed to target specific issues and kick your cells into gear more intensely. 

Best for: Advanced anti-ageing, hair growth & wound healing.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Without sounding like a Debbie downer, any treatment where you’re getting something injected into your skin carries risks, so don’t book on a whim. Swelling, bruising, and even potential infections are on the table, not to mention that results will vary depending on your skin’s response.

• Try something else at the clinic first: Get a vibe for the clinic you’re eye-ing up by trying something less invasive first. 

• Ask questions: Where are their exosomes from? Are they lab-certified? How do they ensure strict sterilisation practices? Are the polynucleotides ethically sourced and lab-tested for impurities? A good clinic will have the receipts and won’t make you feel awkward for asking for the deets.

• Don’t forget the basics: These treatments can work wonders, but they’re not a substitute for good skincare, whole foods, sleep, and SPF. Consider them a boost, not a magic fix.

★ THE DR VERDICT →

The truth is, no one needs these treatments. But if they help you feel more confident, align with your goals, and let you dodge fillers or botox, then go ahead - just do it responsibly. Don’t treat them like any regular facial; there are risks, and TikTok rarely shows the full picture. At the end of the day, the best treatment is the one that makes you feel like your best self, fits your budget, and aligns with your skin goals.

• 🥬 Girl dates = salads + yap: The Salad Project just opened their new shiny (green) store in Tottenham Court road. If you haven’t tried their colourful delights yet, this is your sign. Current Daily Rituals favourites are The GOAT and The Satay Bowl - dreamy. PSA, they’re currently giving away a free month of salads here. 

• 🧠 Want to practice mind control? Tell a great story. Neural coupling is a real thing, and when your audience is hooked, your brains actually wire together. 

• 🫧 Goop in hot (filtered) water: Sources say their lower-priced good.clean.goop brand is in the bottom 15% of brands at Target. Gwyneth has recently laid off another round of employees in a bid to restructure the company and focus on beauty, fashion & food, despite its wellness roots. Goop in Health, the infamous £1k per ticket wellness summit, will go ahead this weekend though in LA. 

• 👓 Huberman’s new specs: Daddy wellness himself has teamed up with ROKA to launch red-lense glasses, designed to filter out both blue and green light. If you can’t wait for their launch later this month, these also do the job.. 

• 🍎 A night in NYC: This Sporty & Rich x The Carlyle collection is their best drop yet. These striped PJ’s are firmly on our wish list. 

• 👋🏼 Spots be gone: We ran to buy this underrated liquid pimple patch (yes, liquid!) after watching this. 

• ❄️ Wrap up: This new Scottish knitwear brand sold out of nearly everything from their launch in 10 hours. Who knew a scarf could be so cool (or hot?!). 

• 🎧 Listen to this: We’re here for this Hot Smart Rich energy from investor and founder Maggie Sellers in this podcast. 

• 💖 An evening of Self Love: On the 21st, tarot readings, skincare & pre-loved fashion are all under one roof at The Self Love Lab’s pop-up at Bali Breathwork in Shoreditch.

• 🏃🏾‍♀️ Vuori takeover: The Cali-born brand just raised nearly $850 million at a $5.5 billion valuation. So whilst they may not the go-to amongst the London wellness girlies yet, they’re well-loved in the US for their athleisure basics.

It’s gift-guide overload out there right now. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good guide (we’re creating our community-powered GLOW GUIDE after all), but scrolling through endless categories (and their 183,240 options) can get overwhelming.

Plus, many feature gifts that are a little risky - skincare sets, eyeshadow palettes, supplements. Perfect if you get their shade match bang on, or already know the magnesium they swear by, but if not - probably best to steer clear.

So, I’ve done the legwork for you: here’s my round-up of the best gifts for the wellness girly that actually hit the mark.

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