I’ve always believed that beauty is an inside-out process and that what we eat can have a profound impact on how we look and feel. But this belief is not simply a gut feeling—it stems from my own experience with gut issues.
As a child, I suffered from eczema and allergies. It was only after working with a naturopath, and dramatically changing my diet, that I began to understand the close link between what we eat and our overall health. When my daughter experienced similar health issues, I became even more fascinated by the intimate link between what we eat and the state of our health. Limiting foods that put stress on our digestive system and introducing fermented foods into my family’s diet had a profound impact on not only our skin, but our overall wellbeing. It’s this passion for nutrition and fermented foods that has inspired the philosophy at the centre of The Beauty Chef, and the creation of my first inner beauty powder, GLOW.
While we’ve had so much wonderful feedback from those taking part in the 30 Days to Glow challenge in the past, after a tumultuous 2020 we wanted to offer our community even more holistic and in-depth support. The tools and education we will share throughout the month, and in fact, everything we do as a brand is underpinned by the concept of Healthy Not Perfect. As we usher in a new year, we want to help you to be the healthiest, happiest version of yourself. In other words, accepting that we are all imperfectly perfect. This isn’t about setting unrealistic, unattainable goals or striving for a one-size-fits-all definition of beauty. In fact, it’s the antithesis of ‘New Year, New You’—it’s a fresh outlook on resolutions that prioritises positivity and kindness to oneself and others. It’s about embracing what makes you unique and the uniqueness of others around you, with a greater focus on feeling good, not just looking good. After all, it’s inner beauty—self-confidence, self-love and acceptance and kindness to others—that gives you an outer glow that no amount of cosmetics can replicate.
And of course, we encourage you to invest in your health this year, or more specifically your gut health. Your gut regulates not just your skin health, but your metabolic health, your immune health and your brain health—so by looking after your gut as a priority this year, you are taking care of how you look and feel, too.
With that in mind, we’ve also partnered with some incredible women leading the charge in the world of wellness—Kirsten King from Fluidform Pilates, Jac Lewis, founder of The Broad Place, cook and stylist Sian Redgrave and Beck Wadworth of An Organised Life. Keep an eye on our Instagram account for some inspiring content from them all.
I do hope you’ll join The Beauty Chef team for four weeks of nourishment, movement, meditation and community, January 18 - February 16, and wishing you a happy and gutsy 2021.