by | | Curated Content
July 28th 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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In a world obsessed with quick fixes, we’re often sold the idea that healing should be fast, dramatic and easy to measure. In reality, it’s messy, slow and goes beyond a highlight reel. What happens when we let go of those expectations and embrace a more authentic process?
You’re standing at the edge of change, waiting for something to happen. Maybe it’s the therapy session where everything will finally make sense. The retreat that promises transformation. The one conversation that will bring the closure you’ve been searching for. You’ve done the work, opened yourself up to the process, so where is the breakthrough?
The myth of the “breakthrough moment”
We’ve been taught to expect healing to arrive like a cinematic moment of clarity. A single, profound experience that rewires our thinking, soothes our wounds and sets us free. Social media is filled with stories of radical transformation: the day someone finally let go, the moment everything clicked into place, the single-best decision that changed the course of a life. These narratives position healing as a before-and-after story, measured in milestones and turning points.
Healing is rarely that tidy. Instead of a straight line from pain to transformation, it’s a winding path filled with setbacks, detours and unexpected roadblocks. The expectation and desire of a breakthrough moment can create frustration when the reality of healing feels slow, unclear or incomplete.
Neuroscience research on neuroplasticity shows that genuine transformation is gradual. The brain rewires itself through repetition, not sudden insight. A single realisation may provide clarity, but lasting change happens through the steady, daily eff ort of choosing new patterns and responses.
The frustrating “messy middle”
Many people embarking on a healing journey expect to feel progressively better over time. But the process is often non-linear with moments of progress followed by periods of stillness or difficulty.
This is the paradox of healing: the more we try to control it, the more resistance we create. This frustration is particularly evident in somatic healing practices like breathwork. People may come in expecting relaxation or a cathartic emotional release, but the reality can be very different. Some experience deep calm, while others feel tension, agitation or unexpected emotions surfacing.
Breathwork and other body-based modalities reveal the truth about healing: it’s not something you control. It’s something you allow. The nervous system releases stored patterns in its own time, and forcing a particular outcome often leads to resistance. Trusting the process means making space for whatever arises, even if it’s uncomfortable or slow. In short, you don’t always get what you want, but you always get what you need.
The body leads healing
For decades, healing has been framed as a mental process, understanding trauma, reframing thoughts and talking through emotions. But science increasingly shows that healing must also happen in the body.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a key role in your ability to process stress and trauma. Dr Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory highlights how nervous system regulation is essential for long-term healing. Somatic practices like breathwork, gentle movement and grounding techniques help shift the nervous system out of survival mode and into a state where true healing can occur.
Studies on trauma recovery confirm that small, consistent somatic practices, such as deep breathing exercises, can rewire the nervous system and reduce trauma responses over time. Slowing down, listening to the body and making space for “micro-moments” of healing are far more effective than searching for a single defining breakthrough or finish line.
Find what works
You light a candle, pour a cup of herbal tea and settle in with your journal because that’s what healing is supposed to look like, right? You’ve seen the posts: perfectly arranged self-care routines, sunrise meditations and captions about “doing the work”. Healing, according to social media, is supposed to be a beautiful, linear process. One where transformation is visible, where progress is measurable, where the before-and-after moments are obvious.
But what happens when your healing doesn’t look like that? What if, instead of journaling, you stare at the blank page, too emotionally exhausted to write? What if meditation makes you feel restless, not peaceful? What if the self-care rituals that seem to work for everyone else just leave you feeling … stuck?
Healing isn’t something that can be curated. Healing is deeply personal, often uncomfortable and rarely aesthetic. It doesn’t always fit neatly into an Instagrammable moment. Some days, healing looks like crying in the car after a hard conversation. Other days, it’s setting a boundary and feeling guilty about it afterward. Sometimes, it’s just getting out of bed and making yourself a meal when everything in you wants to shut down.
We live in a world that loves results — visible, tangible proof that progress is happening. But real healing isn’t a performance. It’s not something you need to prove to anyone, least of all yourself. It’s about finding what works for you and learning to trust your own process, even when it doesn’t look the way you thought it would.
Sustainable healing
If healing happens in the small, daily steps, how can we embrace this approach?
Here are some practical actions to consider:
- Set small, achievable goals: Instead of aiming for a complete transformation, focus on tiny shifts. For example, if self-compassion is a struggle, start by noticing negative self-talk and countering it with a single kind thought or moment of gratitude each day.
- Track the little wins: Progress isn’t always obvious. Keeping a journal or simply taking a moment to reflect on small improvements and moments of joy can help reinforce the sense that change is happening.
- Build rituals of care: Healing is supported by daily practices that promote regulation. This could be morning stretches, evening gratitude or a few minutes of conscious breathing during stressful moments.
- Accept plateaus as part of the process: Just because you don’t feel different doesn’t mean healing isn’t happening. The brain and body need time to integrate change, and sometimes progress looks like simply maintaining the gains you’ve already made or being ok with the stillness.
- Seek support but own your journey: While therapy, community and friendships are valuable, healing ultimately requires personal commitment. No one can do the small, daily work for you, but those who walk beside you as your allies can offer encouragement along the way.
Redefining what healing looks like
Perhaps the biggest shift you can make is redefining what success in healing looks like. Instead of waiting for a grand breakthrough, you can start celebrating the quiet victories — the moments when you choose self-care, when you break an old pattern, when you show yourself kindness.
Healing isn’t about reaching a final destination. The journey is probably longer than you can anticipate. It’s about becoming someone who consistently chooses growth, even when it’s slow, invisible and unglamorous.
And in that choice, real transformation happens not in a single moment but in the steady accumulation of small, meaningful steps.
Article featured in WellBeing Magazine 217
The post Unglamorous healing appeared first on WellBeing Magazine.
Read the full article here:
Unglamorous healing
by | | Curated Content
July 28th 2025
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WellBeing Magazine
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From dry, lacklustre skin to static-prone hair, winter brings a handful of beauty woes. They don’t however, have to define the season. Discover how to keep your glow and embrace the cold season well and beautifully with a bit of winter beauty advice.
Winter is a paradox. It’s a season of cosy moments, nourishment and comforts, yet it can also be harsh and ruthless. The colder months can really have an impact on your skin, hair and overall vitality. Just as you instinctively swap breezy linen for layers of cashmere when the temperature drops, your beauty routine deserves the same seasonal shift.
The drop in humidity, coupled with indoor heating and a natural tendency to move less and crave richer foods, alter the body’s rhythms. It affects everything from circulation and lymphatic flow to skin regeneration and hair health. But year-round beauty isn’t about resisting the seasons — it’s about working with them. From dry, lacklustre skin to static-prone hair, winter brings a handful of beauty woes, but they don’t have to define the season. By winter-proofing your beauty routine, you can glide through the chilly months feeling as resilient and radiant as ever. Here are some of the most common cold-weather concerns and how to beat them.
Dry, dull skin that feels like parchment
Winter air is a moisture thief. The low humidity outside and artificial heating indoors create an environment where water evaporates from the skin more quickly. The skin is left tight, rough and prone to irritation. Compounding this, cold temperatures slow circulation, meaning fewer nutrients reach the skin’s surface, affecting its glow and ability to repair.
The fix: Think deep hydration and skin barrier support. Swap foaming cleansers for cream or oil-based formulas that cleanse without stripping. Then layer a hydrating serum containing active ingredients. Like ultra-plumping hyaluronic acid and brightening vitamin C. Then, locking it in with a rich moisturiser containing ceramides. Research has found that ceramide enriched moisturisers reduced transepidermal water loss (TEWL) by 26 per cent, reinforcing the skin’s barrier in dry, wintery conditions.
Further your efforts by combatting winter’s slower skin regeneration with regular, gentle exfoliation. Try incorporating bakuchiol, a natural retinol alternative that’s a superstar when it comes to maintaining a youthful, radiant complexion year-round. It has been shown to work in a similar way to retinols, boosting skin cell turnover without the irritating and drying effects.
Internally, omega-3 fatty acids can improve skin hydration and elasticity. They can be found in foods such as salmon, flaxseeds and walnuts. Additionally, hydration isn’t just about drinking more water. Enjoy a hot cup of antioxidant-rich herbal teas like chamomile and green tea for comfort and to support skin resilience from the inside out.
Static hair that won’t stay down
Winter’s dry air and lower humidity levels create the perfect conditions for static, frizzy and flyaway locks. Cold temperatures lift the hair cuticle, making strands more vulnerable to breakage and moisture loss. Add the friction of scarves, beanies and wool coats, and you have a hair situation as unruly as the chilly winds.
The fix: Humectant-based leave-in treatments help retain moisture in the hair shaft, reducing static and breakage. Look for leave-in conditioners or serums containing ingredients such as glycerin, panthenol or aloe vera to help draw moisture into the hair. Sealing in hydration with a lightweight oil such as argan or jojoba smoothes the cuticle and keeps flyaways under control.
Your choice of tools also matters — swap plastic brushes for a boar-bristle brush. Natural fibres help distribute natural scalp oils evenly through the hair, providing a protective, anti-static effect. For a quick hack, run a dryer sheet over your brush or lightly mist hair with a hydrating mist to counteract static electricity in a pinch.
Other simple tweaks can make all the difference: sleeping on a silk or satin pillowcase reduces friction, helping to prevent flyaways and frizz overnight (as well as breakage). Meanwhile, using a microfibre towel instead of a standard cotton one can minimise static when drying your hair.
Puffiness and a sluggish complexion
Winter tends to slow everything down. This includes circulation, and the lymphatic system, which is responsible for flushing out toxins and excess fluid. This can result in facial puffiness, water retention and a sluggish, tired-looking complexion. The cold also causes blood vessels to constrict, meaning fewer oxygen and nutrient-rich red blood cells reach the skin.
The fix: Stimulate both facial and full-body circulation. Massage, gua sha and dry brushing encourage lymphatic flow. Meanwhile, contrast showers (alternating warm and cool water) can boost circulation and revitalise the skin.
Treat yourself to a manual lymphatic drainage massage with a therapist. They’re a proven way to significantly reduce puffiness and inflammation by stimulating circulation and makes for a nurturing winter self-care moment.
Internally, potassium-rich foods such as bananas, avocados and sweet potatoes help regulate water balance. On the other hand, dandelion or ginger tea along with supplements such as milk thistle and fennel seed can support detoxification and digestion with a ripple effect to the skin.
Sun damage doesn’t take a winter break
It’s easy to assume that cooler temperatures mean less risk of sun damage. But the reality is far from that, especially under the harsh Australian sun, which never hibernates. While UVB rays (which cause sunburn) may be weaker in winter, UVA rays aren’t. UVA rays responsible for premature ageing, pigmentation and deep skin damage — and are just as strong year-round. They penetrate through clouds, windows and even car windshields. Therefore, daily protection should be a non negotiable. If you’re heading to the slopes, be even more vigilant. Research shows that snow reflects up to 80 per cent of UV radiation, significantly increasing exposure in alpine regions.
The fix: A broad-spectrum SPF 30+ (or higher) should remain a staple in your morning routine, no matter the time of year. Opt for a hydrating formula to double as a skin conditioning layer. If foundation is a must, look for tinted sunscreens or SPF-infused base. This way, you can streamline your routine without compromising on protection. Don’t neglect your neck and décolletage. These areas are just as susceptible to UV exposure and premature ageing.
As for internal support, lycopene-rich foods such as tomatoes, watermelon and red peppers offer mild natural UV protection. Meanwhile, vitamin C aids in collagen production, helping the skin recover from sun exposure. However, no amount of diet-based protection replaces sunscreen. Consider it a winter skincare essential.
An unrelenting flaky scalp
Cold air, hot showers and heavy hats or wool beanies can disrupt the scalp’s oil balance, leading to dryness, itchiness and flaking. Additionally, winter’s lower humidity can alter the scalp microbiome, triggering irritation. This delicate ecosystem acts as a protective barrier, safeguarding the scalp from external stressors. When balanced, the scalp microbiome helps to regulate sebum production and maintain optimal pH levels. However, when this balance is disrupted, it can lead to scalp damage, which can have the unfortunate domino effect of compromising your hair’s health, too.
The fix: Treat your scalp like an extension of your face. The “skinification” of haircare is a term coined by experts who have identified the importance of this approach. Basically, a skincare routine for your scalp! A few drops of a high-quality daily scalp serum paired with a weekly hydrating scalp mask with argan oil, castor oil or rosemary extract can replenish moisture and support thriving scalp microbiota. Consider a switch to natural haircare. Pay special attention to selecting a sulfate-free shampoo to avoid stripping the scalp further at your regular washes.
Your supplement routine could also be tweaked, alongside the guidance of a health professional, to provide further scalp support. Zinc supplementation has been shown to improve scalp health and reduce flakiness in individuals with seasonal dryness, while vitamin D, an insufficiency more common during winter, can help regulate oil production.
Chapped lips that feel like cracked earth
Lips are the most delicate feature of your face, yet they bear the brunt of winter’s wrath. Unlike the rest of your skin, lips lack sebaceous (oil) glands, making them especially prone to dehydration, cracking and peeling when exposed to dry air, cold winds and indoor heating. Constantly licking them for relief? It only makes things worse, as the moisture quickly evaporates, leaving lips even drier than before.
The fix: Deep nourishment and barrier protection are key. Studies show that occlusive ingredients such as shea butter and lanolin significantly reduce transepidermal water loss. That makesthem the gold standard for keeping lips soft and supple. Apply a nutrient-rich balm regularly, opting for formulations that contain beeswax or botanical oils to lock in moisture. Exfoliating once a week with a gentle honey and sugar scrub can buff away flaking skin. But go easy — over-exfoliation can exacerbate irritation.
Makeup that looks lacklustre
Winter skin often loses the natural luminosity of its summer counterpart, thanks to the aforementioned dry air, slower cell turnover and reduced circulation. Powdered makeup can cling to dry patches, while matte products may accentuate dullness, rather than enhancing radiance. The result? Makeup that feels lifeless, settling into fine lines instead of seamlessly blending with the skin.
The fix: A well-hydrated base is the secret to makeup that looks fresh not flat. Swap mattifying primers for hydrating ones infused with hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to create a plumped, smooth canvas. Instead of powder-heavy formulas, reach for creamy, dewy textures — think skin-fusing liquid foundations, velvety blushes and balmy highlighters — that mimic a natural, lit-from-within glow.
For an extra radiance boost, mix a drop of facial oil into your foundation to add suppleness and prevent it from settling into dry spots. A cream highlighter, tapped onto the high points of the face, reflects light beautifully. A swipe of bold berry or red lipstick can instantly lift both your complexion and your mood. Have fun and play with winter hues! A final winter beauty step? Set everything with a hydrating mist, rather than powder.
Creating a winter beauty routine is an invitation to deepen self-care
By understanding seasonal changes and adapting accordingly, you can create a routine that supports the natural rhythms of the colder months. Consider winter an invitation to slow down and indulge in deeper self-care. From facial massages, to nutrient-dense meals that work in harmony with your beauty goals. With a mindful, winterproof approach, it’s time to embrace the season. Luckily, a winter beauty ritual can feel as effortless as a cosy cashmere wrap.
Article featured in WellBeing Magazine 217
The post The winter-proof beauty guide appeared first on WellBeing Magazine.
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The winter-proof beauty guide
