The Weekly Well Vol. 1
Hey y’all!
Welcome to the first edition of The Weekly Well.
Joining the wellness conversation has been on my mind for a while now, but was in the backseat while I was getting my latest venture (Welpr) off the ground. We just launched the website last week - check it out! It’s a really simple way to find trusted, non-toxic products. Definitely a passion project of mine and I’m really proud of what we built.
All of this happening makes total sense for where we are in eclipse season. This one, especially with how it aligned with mercury retrograde, signaled an exceptionally strong period of change and renewal for us. Eclipse season (meaning back-to-back eclipses) is a time when everything that takes place is “fated, destined, and extremely karmically important”.
Speaking of the eclipse, I’m lucky enough to live in Austin, one of the main viewing spots on its path. It was slightly overcast but still so cool for it to look like 11pm while I was eating lunch in my backyard.
Spring is in the air in Austin, bringing warmer days and my morning cold plunge routine with it. Coupled with the eclipse (and maybe the cold plunges?), feels like a fresh start, and I’m feeling extra energized for what’s next.
A rundown of what we’ll be talking about this week:
The must-have elevated essentials for your minimalist, capsule wardrobe
Criticisms of wellness culture and the books you should read about it
My favorite non-toxic hair products, plus the ones I tried and did not love
NEWS: new regulations by the FDA and EPA, how to maximize vitamin D, the Huberman “scandal”
RECIPE: a chocolate protein frosty
As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from purchases made through links in this post. While I aim to buy directly from brands, sometimes Amazon is necessary. Most links in my posts are not affiliate links, as most small brands I support don't have affiliate programs. I only share products I personally use and recommend. Thanks for your support!
Things I’m Loving This Week
Vincent James Clothing
THE most chic, elevated essentials, ethically and locally made in the US out of regenerative fabrics and natural dyes. The whole collection is timeless and everything goes together to create an easy minimalist, capsule wardrobe. While her prices may appear steep to some ($300 for dresses, $100 for t-shirts), they reflect the quality and materials used.
Some of my favorite looks, all sustainably made by Vincent James
Fast fashion, on the other hand, uses cheap, synthetic fabrics, and is often produced unethically, with workers enduring harsh conditions for unlivable wages. These cut corners are what allows fast fashion brands to offer such low prices.
Choosing slow fashion not only supports ethical practices but can also save you time and money. I might spend more on a single item these days, but my overall clothing expenses have significantly dropped. And since I wear everything repeatedly, the cost per wear on an item is much lower.
And in regards to saving time, I no longer agonize over “what to wear” because I feel like each piece in my closet serves a purpose for every occasion. Beyond that, everything goes together, so I don’t have to think twice about which top goes with those pants or what shoes to wear with that dress. I finally feel like I have a closet full of special pieces that reflect my personality and fit my lifestyle, which makes getting dressed fun and easy.
Shop my obsession here
Criticisms of Wellness Culture
Wellness Culture: a topic that has been consuming my thoughts, my Notion, and my Kindle lately. Specifically its criticisms.
Unable to find a new World War II novel to turn off my brain one night, I unintentionally stumbled across the topic with a search for books in the “wellness” category. It sent me down a rabbit hole where I found more than just great reading material. I found a deeper meaning behind what I do.
Reading these criticisms has been extremely thought provoking and has expanded my perspective on wellness. As with any subject, you have to hear out the contrarian view to truly understand your own position. To put a “why” behind it. It’s what really motivated to me to start this Substack.
These are the books & podcasts I recommend, which I believe are must reads and listens for anyone in the wellness space:
Wellness Culture
The Wellness Trap
The Gospel of Wellness
Hippie Food
Rethinking Wellness (podcast)
For purposes of this newsletter, I’m keeping my views short. But there is one idea I want to sprinkle into your thoughts as you get into these books: the concept of health sovereignty. Until the systemic issues are addressed, all we can do is take responsibility for our own health and wellbeing. Reduce the amount of toxins we put in and around our bodies and to become our own biggest health advocate.
Much, much more to come on this!
Under Luna Hair Products
After some trial and error over the past few months, I’ve found my new favorite clean hair care products, as well as a few I didn’t love.
Let’s start with my favorite: Under Luna. Their products are made from wildcrafted, non-GMO, organic ingredients (no weird chemicals), locally made in Oregon and packaged in glass. There’s a quiz on their site that will tell you which one to get based on your hair type. I’m using the Tulsi Bloom for fine, dry & damaged hair - it smells amazing and leaves my hair feeling so nice. Also loving the everything oil (used as both a body cleanser and oil) but verdict is out on the hair scalp serum. I wil say it smells really good, but I will report back if it actually helps with hair growth.
Hair products I tried but did not love were from Act + Acre and Ranavat. They smell good and are both considered “clean” but still contain some questionable ingredients. With the conditioners from both brands, I felt like I had to use an obscene amount to coat my hair despite it being pretty thin. I actually really liked the Act+Acre shampoo, but the Ranavat did not lather well in my opinion.
Lately I’ve been approaching my hair and skincare in the same way I do with food - if I can’t understand an ingredient, I don’t use it. It’s so hard to know what 90% of these chemicals are so I feel like this makes it easy to know you’re using clean products.
Wellness News
This post by the Sustainable Fashion Society perfectly explains why we’re drawn to fast fashion - and how we can reshape the narrative.
The EPA’s new rule will apparently slash over 6,000 tons of toxic air pollutants annually.
Is Huberman really spreading misinformation? Or is the anti-wellness crowd using his personal scandal against him?
PFAS (aka, forever chemicals) are on their way out of food packaging thanks to the latest FDA regulation.
Midday sunlight converts cholesterol to Vitamin D - and an app to show you the best time to get outside.
Recipe on Repeat
Okay, guys…frozen cucumber is going to be your new favorite ingredient for smoothies/bowls/basically any frozen treat. It’s so refreshing and thickens things up without being overbearing on taste. You honestly can’t even taste it. I saw this recipe on IG and have been making it nonstop:
CHOCOLATE FROSTY
Ingredients (serves 1):
1/4 cup yogurt (dairy or non-dairy)
1/2 cup frozen cucumber, skin removed
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (Be Well By Kelly is what I use, and the best imo)
1 tbsp cacao powder (could skip this if using chocolate protein powder)
Pinch of Redmond’s salt
1 scoop pure monkfruit powder
Splash water or milk (dairy or non-dairy)
1/2 cup ice cubes
Toppings:
nuts & seeds
fruit
Instructions:
Add the above ingredients to a blender, blend until smooth, and add toppings of choice.
