When it comes to wellness, it seems like there’s a new trend every day. From a new rose quartz facial roller to taking ice-cold showers to calm anxiety, with so many hot takes, it can be hard to know what will actually help you to feel your best self. Whether it’s fitness, mindfulness or even your skincare, information overload is real.
To help cut through the noise, we spoke to Michelle Elman, who started her career as a five-board accredited life coach. She has since gone on to appear on numerous TV shows (you might remember her helping Emily Atack overcome her insecurities on reality series Adulting) and is the author of three bestselling books, including Cosmo fave The Joy of Being Selfish. Michelle chatted to us about common wellness myths she regularly debunks with her clients, she's here to help us sort the wellness from the well-not. Get ready to breathe deep...
Myth 1:
“You need a complicated skincare routine”
While it’s great to have solid skincare fundamentals with products that work hard for you, feeling you have to use an overwhelming list of formulas every single day could be taking away time from more important things in your life.
Michelle suggests that relying on a staple skincare routine might help to lessen the mental load. Simple’s products focus on three manageable, efficient steps – cleanse, treat and moisturise – and still deliver supercharged results.
Simple Replenishing Cream Cleanser
Simple 3% Hyaluronic Acid + B5 Booster Serum
Simple Repairing Rich Cream
Myth 2:
“Yoga and pilates is for certain body types”
Pilates and yoga are definitely a mainstay on the wellness menu, but how deeply do you think about your downward dog?
Michelle is keen to see the practice taught more holistically and embrace inclusivity, as it was intended to be. “Yoga is a mindset and a breathing pattern – there’s so much more to it than calories and exercise.” Look for instructors or online tutorials that resonate with you and take things at your own pace – even five minutes each day has its benefits.
Myth 3:
“Skincare is all about the latest gadgets”
When you’re scrolling through social media, it’s easy to feel like there’s a new “life-changing” gadget dropping every week.
But while it can be exciting to add something new to your routine, it might not be beneficial for your skin. “I bought a face cleansing brush after being influenced by social media. It was the ‘cool’ thing to have, but it actually damaged my skin,” explains Michelle. “It’s very easy to fall for these things if you’re not questioning the motive of why you’re so interested in them,” she adds. Instead, lean in and trust the power of sticking with your skincare staples – consistency, rather than trend-chasing, is key.
Myth 4:
“Drinking two litres of water a day is a must”
How diligently do you down your massive two-litre water bottle? Turns out, all that hydration might be overkill – a recent study by researchers at the University of Aberdeen suggested that eight glasses a day may be too much.
As Michelle adds, “two litres was a rough estimate at the time. Research shows that we actually get water from our food too, so we don’t need to drink two litres on top of that.” Water requirements are unique to the individual and their daily changing needs, and can be influenced by factors including health conditions, medications, activity level, and even simply the temperature. So while it’s important to be thoughtful about your hydration levels, there’s no need to religiously track every sip.
Shop the Simple skincare range here
