Deeper Beauty: Mindfulness

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Written by Eurídice Castañeda Senior Manager of Translational Science

The beauty industry has come a long way. It wasn’t so long ago that the likes of mindfulness were seen as niche ideas at best – misunderstood by some, mocked by others and largely ignored by the majority.

Today, the line between beauty and mindfulness has been well and truly blurred – for the better. In a world that only seems to spin faster – finding simple, effective methods to slow down, tune in and listen to your body feels more important than ever.

That’s why this Aurelia blog is exploring the holistic practice that both complements the aim of cellular beauty and echoes much of the Aurelia philosophy.

Because we are what we eat, how we sleep and how we nourish our body, mind and soul.

People have been practicing mindfulness for thousands of years. Its roots lie in ancient Eastern religions, such as Buddhism and Hinduism, but its enduring popularity in all corners of the modern world, is testament to the profound universality of its principles.

In the simplest terms, mindfulness is being fully aware of where you are and what you’re doing at any given time. Some describe it as purposeful consciousness. By paying intentional, non-judgemental attention to the present moment – observing each thought, feeling and physical sensation as they happen – you can heighten your self-awareness and focus while reducing negative thoughts and even stress levels.

How does mindfulness work?

Mindfulness is open to everyone. You don’t need any equipment or specific skills. And you can practice it anywhere. You can do so on your own or as part of a group. You can practice formally – such as meditation, yoga and body scans – or informally, applying the same heightened awareness to everyday activities – like walking, cooking or simply having a conversation. But, like all practices, it’s a muscle that can be strengthened through repeated effort and attention.

Mindfulness principles

Focus on the present
This involves gently bringing your attention to what is happening right now. Paying close attention to what is going on inside and outside yourself, moment by moment –right down to the air moving past your body.

Awareness of your thoughts
Many find that the moment they stop moving is precisely when their thoughts start to race. Mindfulness isn’t about banishing these thoughts but sitting with them and acknowledging their presence as fleeting moments in time – without the need to label them as ‘good’ or ‘bad’.

Use your breath as an anchor
This is a common technique to stay rooted in the present moment. When the mind wanders, as it naturally will, using your breath as an anchor can help gently redirect focus back to your thoughts.

Reconnect with the body
An important part of mindfulness is focusing on each sensation your body feels – this can be as profound as something like grief or as fleeting as your feet padding up the stairs. By paying close attention to each moment, many find they can reconnect with your body.

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The inside-out approach

Mindfulness takes an intuitive, inside-out approach to health, wellness and beauty that resonates deeply with us at Aurelia. And the kinship doesn’t end there. In fact, mindfulness plays a central role in an intentional beauty movement that we have a lot in common with too.

Slow Beauty

Slow beauty is the sweet spot where mindfulness, skincare and self-care meet. At its core, slow beauty is the belief that true beauty stems from deep within – and comes from consistency and care, not quick fixes. A reaction to fleeting, topical beauty trends, slow beauty shifts the focus to quality over quantity; natural ingredients and ethical practices; sustainable skincare and mindful rituals; for a slower, more conscious approach to beauty.

Less a trend and more a return to what matters, slow beauty is a movement Aurelia identifies with – because we know exactly what natural, sustainable cellular supplements can do.

And when it comes to tangible physical benefits, mindfulness techniques have much more to offer than many might realise.

The science behind mindfulness

While there’s still more for science to unravel about the physical impact mindfulness can have on the human body – several studies have shown that it carries a number of health and beauty benefits, including:

Lower blood pressure
Practicing mindfulness can slow the heart rate and reduce inflammations – contributing to lower blood pressure – which helps maintain skin elasticity and promote a smoother, more even complexion.

Better sleep
From calming the mind to reducing sleep latency, mindfulness can help you fall asleep faster and improve overall sleep quality – leading to increased collagen production, cell regeneration and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles.

Stronger immune system
By boosting immune cell activity and reducing stress and inflammation, mindfulness has been shown to improve overall immune function – which can accelerate healing, reduce redness and strengthen the skin barrier.

Reduced stress
Mindfulness techniques dial down the body’s response to stress – reducing harmful cortisol levels that can lead to the visible signs of ageing, such as dryness, wrinkles and dullness.

In summary

As the line between mindfulness and beauty continues to blur – more and more exciting, intentional and effective forms of holistic skincare will become available.

The future is bright. But the most important shift has already happened.

Mindfulness is now mainstream – offering its unique perspective to the beauty industry, alongside its ancient techniques to improve sleep, reduce blood sugar and naturally alleviate stress levels. And slow beauty’s more thoughtful and aligned approach to producing and consuming cosmetics has already arrived.

While, at Aurelia, we’re already delivering on tomorrow’s promises.

The Aurelia collection consists of 6 cellular supplements – designed to work alongside your body’s natural biology to unlock long-term beauty from deep within. Because when your body is relaxed, and your cells are replenished from within – you can see and feel it on your skin.