☆ This is everything thats wrong with wellness, a new mushroom breakthrough, a plastic surgeon's skin favourites

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Hey lovely,

Jasmine here, Editor of Daily Rituals, back with your Wellness Dose.

First up, as I write this, I've just come across Skims' new launch that really has me questioning everything in the beauty and wellness space - or at least the standards within it (since this nylon head strap is not beauty or wellness). From a pure cash, business standpoint, I get it - they're set to make $1 billion in sales this year thanks to shaping pieces that have found their way into our wardrobes since 2019 (some of them, admittedly, are pretty good too). No one has ever had major issues with shapewear, and Kim wasn't the first to make it a thing. But things get icky when that "looking snatched" ethos - maybe for an event or big occasion - suddenly becomes looking our best hourglass selves 7-days a week, and at the same time, what was once a little smoothing of cellulite here & there then becomes much more extreme contouring. And now? Well, Skims is coming after our sleep.  

In many ways, the “sculpt face wrap” is leaning into morning shed routines already popular on TikTok. But when a brand as big as Skims gets behind such an OTT trend, it's scary. Scary because (more) brands will follow suit, and what seems crazy now might soon feel normal. Scary because it takes one Sephora kid raving about this at school for it to take hold of a generation way too young to be concerned about getting a sculpted jaw in their sleep. And honestly, scary because it's normalising that post-facelift recovery look - which can't be good for anyone. 

So, whilst I’m all for optimising the things that make me feel good - this is certainly not that. It’s not self-care even if TikTok (& the influencer army about to be gifted this thing) will tell you it is. Instead, here's to choosing the kind of wellness that actually makes us feel well, not more anxious about how we look while unconscious. This week? I’m opting for this meditation app I heard about on Arielle Lorrie’s podcast, committing to a consistent sleep/wake time & taking myself out on a creative date. I’d love to hear yours!

As always, thank you for being here. I'm so grateful for you.

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The best stories & updates that caught our eye this week → 

• 🌞 Book this: Creative retreats are the new girls holiday, and these are Conde Nast's top 5 picks. We're also adding, if we may, a new sort of getaway - the Founder Residancy. Equally creative, but where you'll co-work, workout & chat about the highs and lows of running a business with fellow founders, all while enjoying the sunset. Looking for support closer to home? This is the final call to join The Becoming Club.

• 🕰️ It’s a time warp: Feel like you blinked and it's nearly December? First off - despite the hot weather coming and promptly exiting, you've got plenty of 2025 left, so deep breaths. This piece explains why time speeds up as adults - we experience less novelty, more predictability, and generally less awe day-to-day, unlike kids where everything is a "first." The hack? Anchor your days to remember them. You'll remember that random Tuesday when you tried a new recipe or switched up your routine for a morning swim. The world (and especially the rest of 2025) is your oyster.

• 🧬 A new biohacking era: It's hard to trust most of what you read about popular biohacker Bryan Johnson, but his latest revelation (sort of) makes sense. He's reportedly ditching his "pain in the ass" Project Blueprint supplement business to start a religion focused on "what it means to be human" in an age of AI advances. Why the pivot? The business isn't performing well (& after selling his first business for $800m, he definitely doesn't need the cash), but more importantly, he's realised that pushing his own products while documenting longevity experiments makes him seem far less credible. He admits though, that he's not sure how to actually start a religion…

• 👟 Lace up: It appears It appears Miu Miu has heavily inspired this summer's latest sneaker launches (and we're not mad about it). First, Alo's new Sunset Sneaker that could pass for these if not for the rather large Alo logo. Then New Balance themselves are filling the gap from their iconic Miu Miu 530 SL collab earlier this year with a very similar (but much more attainably priced) style that also flew out in minutes. For an option that's still available with a similar profile, we're fans of these.

• 🚩 Red flags: In wellness, if something sounds too good to be true - it usually is. Case in point: this athleisure brand, featured in WWD this week, says their compression tech is as good as a "lymphatic massage, for less than the price of one." Their fabric uses graduated compression with "3D textured micro massage zones (raised bits on the inside) to stimulate lymphatic pathways." And even if it was necessary to be a walking lymphatic massage, compression leggings (even with fancy raised bits) can't replicate skilled lymphatic massage that involves intentional, directional strokes to move and drain fluid. Sure, they might help with circulation and could be handy for long flights, but don't ditch your massage therapist.

• 🍑 The what gap: It’s rough being a woman - we’re trying to get paid fairly, carrying the unseen load & now, a study has highlighted that the “orgasm gap” (yup, really), is real - we experience 22-30% less than the guys. Aiming to do their part, and make up for the lack of reviews online on sexual wellness products, Dame launched Toy Stories. 10 free short stories by erotica authors, each featuring one of their products. Genius really.

• 🍄 Mushroom magic: In a new breakthrough study, psilocybin delayed aging in middle-aged female mice by 10 months, while human skin cells exposed to psilocin lived 50% longer. Whilst plenty more studies are needed to show real human impact (& safety), we've no doubt biohackers will be eagerly waiting on the sidelines.

• 🎨 Your beauty crystal ball: Leading beauty trade show Cosmoprof hit Las Vegas last month, giving us a sneak peek into what we can expect in stores over the next year. Our standouts? JMOON's microcurrent-LED combo device (think NuFace Trinity with the LED attachment, but without needing to switch heads), Havyn's toxin-free fragrances bridging the gap between clean and allergy-friendly (they're not the same!), a "dry head spa" system that has us positively intrigued, and the overwhelming K-beauty presence with Olive Young taking up serious space as they prep for US domination.

Not many in the aesthetics industry have the perspective Dr. Rumi Kisyova brings. Alongside her clinic, she's a plastic & reconstructive surgeon in the NHS. She's seen skin from every angle, understands how it heals and functions, and certainly isn't swayed by the latest TikTok trends. Her background and training mean her approach to aesthetics is refreshingly holistic and importantly, grounded in science. She's the doc who'll tell you to invest in your gut health as heavily as your skincare routine, and that sometimes, the best treatment is no treatment at all.

Today, she's answering your most asked skincare health questions - from botox to bridal, so let's get to it.

⚬ What's the biggest difference between what people actually need for great skin versus what they think they want?

I've had patients wanting to reverse years of aging with a couple of treatments after using nothing but occasional moisturiser most of their adult life. Almost everyone asks to go straight for injectables, but this is where we, as medical professionals, should step in. For me, skin health always comes first.

Be consistent with SPF, start using antioxidants (e.g. Vitamin C, E, Ferulic Acid), and look after your gut microbiome. When you have healthy skin, the longevity of any aesthetic treatments is optimised. It's all about building the right foundation.

⚬ When it comes to botox vs. toxic-free or less-toxic living, how do wellness-focused women navigate this contradiction?

Be mindful when people recommend toxin alternatives, especially in the UK's unregulated market. For patients wanting great skin without neuromodulators, I recommend microneedling with exosomes and peptides. Copper peptide is well-known for its Botox-like properties and offers a more natural approach.

⚬ Okay, let’s say a 2026 bride comes to you a year out - what's your dream treatment plan?

I'll be a 2026 bride myself, so I’ll share what I’ve been up to! I focus on treatments that improve skin texture like microneedling with peptides and purasomes (exosomes + growth factors). Regular red light therapy revives the skin beautifully. For supplements, Nuchido Time+ and EQUI Beauty Formula are my go-tos. Botox can be great depending on what you’re hoping to achieve, but it’s not essential.

⚬ What supplements do you recommend for skin health, and do your recommendations change for women in their 20s versus 30s?

I find there are two types of people - those religious with routines and see it as a ritual, and those who are much more sporadic. For the consistent types: EQUI Beauty Formula and Totally Derma Collagen. For sporadic supplement takers, Sisterly daily support or Vida Glow products are great as you can keep these in your bag and take them

For age-specific additions, something for cellular support with NAD+ precursors (e.g. the body’s natural building blocks of NAD+) is one worth considering once you hit your late twenties. This essential coenzyme starts declining and is vital for cellular aging and mitochondrial health.

⚬ Finally, where can we find you?

You can find me on Instagram @dr.rumikisyova for questions or to book a consultation. I love connecting with women who want to take a holistic approach to their skin health.

If you aren’t sure where to start when it comes to your supplement stack for your wellness goals right now - book a consultation with W-Wellness today for personalised expert-led guidance. 

★ Book your W-Wellness consultation for just £25 with code DR50 for a limited time.

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