SUPPORT

I don’t know anyone who can say that they don’t have times in their lives when they need to tap into some sort of support system, whether it’s the kind offered by family or friends, counselling, therapy, healing or the little things that we can support ourselves with on daily basis like exercise, affirmations and journaling. There are so many options and ultimately we can all benefit from knowing what makes us feel supported. It’s all about feeding your spirit.

I’ve always found it immensely comforting to have items with me wherever I go, that offer support on some kind of psychological or emotional level. Many of my supports are travel friendly and started when I used to travel intensively as a makeup artist; spending my time in airports, on planes and in hotels taught me the necessity of feeling supported.

The products that we’ve included in this section are those that offer support, on an emotional level. Many are aromatherapy based which makes them particularly powerful allies to have close at hand as we navigate our busy daily lives, surrounded by other peoples energy, noise, technology and our own internal chit chat. I truly believe that in order for us to navigate our way through our busy daily lives we require a large helping of self knowledge, some humour (okay lots of humour ) and a holistic view of ourselves.

Handbag Essentials 
Don’t you just love the idea of carrying your own little emotional support system in your handbag? Well, that’s pretty much what you get with this selection of aroma therapeutic roll ons and balms. Each one contains pure essential oils that are powerful in their own right; for example lavender oil is proven to help to eliminate nervous tension, and anxiety, it can also help to improve is sleep quality geranium oil traditionally is known for its ability to relieve stress as well.
Calm Balm by Roques Oneil Therapie
This wonder product appropriately named the ‘Calm Balm’ by the incredibly gifted Michelle Roques O’Neil has become a desktop lifesaver for those particularly frazzled and stressful days for us here in the office. It works as a support and to “offer vital support when nerves are frayed and need unifiction gently stroking them back to alignment.” All you need to do is apply a little of this luxurious product to the pulse points and let it do its magic… you won’t regret it!  You can read the full review of this gorgeous product here.
Buy it here.
Tisserand Essential Survival Kit
This rollerball set is aptly called ‘essential survival kit’ from Tisserand and aims to help you survive the trials of everyday life, supporting you when you’re out in the world. This jojoba based set includes ‘de-stress’, ‘sweet dreams’ and ‘energy’.
Buy it here.
Neals Yard Remedies to Roll: Relaxing
This little travel companion contains a comforting blend of lavender, bergamot and frankincense soothes body and mind while helping you to unwind… creating a sense of calm. Perfect to keep at your desk or in your bag for whenever you need a little support.
Buy it here.
Inner Light Crystal Clear Smelling Salts
These divine smelling salts will snap you out of fatigue and fragmentation and live on the desk ready to bring everything back to focus. These salts are modern take on the smelling salts of old when women swooned or were overcome with the vapours, now created as a dynamic wakeup for when one is feeling emotionally overwhelmed or tired. These live on the desk at work, ready to help us when we need it most.
Buy it here.
Travel Essentials
I think we all need a little support when travelling and sometimes it can make life just a little easier to take a little set with you on your travels… these will help you cover all bases.
These sets from Urban Veda and Green and Spring are perfect for when you’re on the go.
Urban Veda feature numerous types of these adorable little travel bags – ranging from ‘purifying’ to ‘radiance’, along with ‘reviving’ and ‘soothing’. Pictured here are ‘purifying’ and ‘soothing’. ‘Purifying’ has excellent antibacterial and antiseptic properties (so great for oily and acne-prone skin), infused witht he key ingredient, Ayurvedic cold-pressed neem oil. The ‘soothing’ bag is formulated to respect your skin’s natural moisture barrier and pH level, infused with sandalwood. The bags include a body lotion, scrub and wash, as well as a face polish, wash and day cream. Green and Spring also have a wonderful offering – this natural brand gift set made in the English countryside includes relaxing bath and shower gel smells of lavender and includes chamomile and comfrey in its ingredients to soothe and protect. The revitalising and exfoliating wash contains fine pieces of walnut shell and mint to exfoliate and smooth your skin and the fragrance of peppermint to stimulate your senses. So if you’re in need of some skincare support on the go – these are ideal.
Buy the Green and Spring set here.
Buy the Urban Veda set here.
Transform your space
Room mists are greatly underappreciated and can really help to change the mood of a room (and yourself!). These can be used to fill your space with a therapeutic or uplifting fragrance, whatever you need to suit your mood.  It can be like a burst of sunshine, transforming a room into a safe space with just a few sprays. Candles work in very much a similar way… they can help to create an atmosphere, to change the feeling of a room along with a scent that evokes an emotion.
Neom Home and Pillow Mists
Neom products promise to be made from 100% natural fragrances, made in Britain from ethically sourced, sustainable origins, only natural & organic ingredients, no petrochemical paraffin or mineral wax, no artificial perfume only pure essential oils and no harsh preservatives.
Buy them here.
We of course, cannot forget about candles. Some of our favourites include ones by Kiss the Moon, Therapie Roques O’Neil and This Works! You can find the perfect candle to suit your mood and create a safe space.
Bathing Beauty 
If there’s one thing that I think we can probably all agree on is that a good soak in the bath is one of the most restorative and soothing things that you can do for yourself: a long hot bath and some gorgeous smelling bath salts or bath oil can help to see the stressful effects of a long day can help to ease muscle aches and pains can help you to think a little bit clearer and can help you to unwind and be more receptive to sleep if you suffer from sleep issues. Of course, a bath cannot solve your problems but it sure can help you to feel better about them as possible solutions can often appear when in the bath. These gorgeous bath additions all smell divine thanks to the luxurious essential oils … so go ahead … indulge yourself.
 
Mauli Himalayan Healing Salts
These Mauli lush and divinely scented Himalayan Healing Salts are a blend of minerals and therapeutic oils (about 13 I believe) as well as some rose quartz powder! Perfect for a soothing and healing soak.
Buy it here.
Aromatherapy Associates Bath and Shower Oil Collection
This stunning little collection features a range of oils from ‘relax deep’ to ‘inner strength’ so you can choose a different oil  depending on the mood and what you need at the time.
Buy it here.
Olverum Bath Oil
Run only half a capful of this product in a bath and you’ll be transported into a world of relaxation… it’ll help one unwind, sooth aches and pains and will moisturise your skin at the same time. We have reviewed this bath oil on our website before, check it out here.
Buy it here.
Massage
Touch is a powerful stress reliever and massage has numerous benefits including:
 – Easing tension.
–  It evokes a release of endorphins
– It can encourage good sleep
– It increases mobility in tight joints
– Encourages good circulation

Elemis De-Stress Massage Oil
This oil is a beautiful blend of pure essential oils including Rosewood, Melissa, Marjoram, Geranium, Rosemary, Lavender and Chamomile. It smells wonderful, but what makes this stand out is how potent the blend is…. you start to feel relaxed just by inhaling it, so you can imagine how effective it is at soothing when having a massage with it. The other quality that stands out about this oil is how rich and luscious it feels! We have previously reviewed this oil here, have a read for more details on this gorgeous oil.
Buy it here.
Aromatherapy Associates Relax Massage & Body Oil
This beautiful oil is infused with natural ingredients, their oils are so powerful that you can actually apply them to your pulse points and inhale the scent for deep relaxation. Perfect for a mindful moment for you and your body. It includes lavender, ylang ylang, petitgrain, and coconut oil, reknowned for their stress-relieving properties.
Buy it here.
Meditation
Meditation can help support you with the hectic pace and demands of modern life. It can help us understand our own mind and overcome negative thoughts. Read our full article from expert Rajesh Ananda about meditation here.

The Power of Journaling

Words are powerful and they are especially powerful when they written down. There is real power in the written word. This is why keeping a diary or writing a regular journal can be such a life transforming experience; you can gain clarity from the simple act of just writing.

For me, my journaling is like a conversation with myself… my intuition, my guardian angels, my inner voice. Everything comes out on paper – I could make decisions, I can deal with situations that have been problematic – the answer is always there in my journal, I just have to take the time to write it.  Put pen or pencil to paper on a regular basis and by this I mean by daily for at least five minutes.

Many of us used to keep diaries were younger and it’s a habit that has followed many of us into adulthood. Sometimes, you just start writing probably from a place of positivity and contentment, sometimes from a place of frustration, anger or negativity …, but whatever your start point, somehow the more you write the clearer things become and the answers that you are looking for are there.. .on the page and provided by you.

In case you need a bit of support to start writing here are some cool ‘Inner Truth’ Journals. These are great because they combine writing space with upbeat quotes and short prompt questions that will totally get you writing! You can buy the journals here.
Colouring books are the latest trend to make a return to our lives; the idea being that we can lose ourselves and release some stress by focusing on colouring; this was one that the amazing Aromatherapy Associates gave out at the launch of their Wellness Experts event….but you can get a wide selection from places like The Works, so make sure to have a look when you get the chance!
Teas
These Ayurvedic teas by Mauli Rituals are each designed for a specific purpose:

Serenity A refreshing infusion of nana mint leaves, peppermint leaves, orange peels, roasted chicory root, ginger bits, to balance the Pitta energies governing the bodies biochemical changes. Serenity helps alleviate emotional outbursts and hyperacidity, while purifying the blood and improving skin health.

Spirited This Revitalising anti-oxidant rich infusion contains rooibos, vervain, cinnamon, lemon balm leaves and more to balance the Kapha energies governing immunity. Spirited helps bolster inner strength, so you can better combat lethargy, flu-like symptoms and frayed emotions.

Surrender A calming, detoxifying bouquet of sencha and gunpowder green tea, fog tea, pai mu tan, jasmine, rosebuds, marigolds and cornflower blossoms combine to release emotional and physical toxins, encourage clarity, calm an anxious mind, ease digestion and paves the way for a restful sleep for Vata energies.

You can buy the teas here.

Before you go…
As you’ll have noticed, we’ve talked about two products from the incredible Inner Light range created by Michelle Roques O’Neil. We had the pleasure of interviewing her earlier in the year, here’s a snippet of the interview where she talked about the ‘Calm Balm’ and the ‘Crystal Clear’!
It’s a wrap as they say!
But actually it’s only a wrap for now, because I always have something holistic to share with you, so that’s one thing: The other thing I would say is that I hope that you’ve benefited in some way from what we’ve shared in our first Holistic Beauty & Well being Special over the last couple of weeks. As I said in the introduction, the definition of holistic is ‘treating the whole not just a part’ which is at the core of my vision for Wow Beauty. I’m learning through my experience and yours just how vital it is for us as women to be reminded that we flourish when we live holistically…linking mind, body and spirit. I hope that as you read through Cleanse, Nourish, Treat, Sleep and Support, you found tips that might be helpful.
Lastly, don’t forget to email us or connect with us on social media to share your thoughts and recommendations.  
Hugs xx