Club Diaries

Sustainability practices to take into 2025. January isn’t over just yet - so we’ve still got time to think about all the ways we want to improve this coming year. We’ve tackled skin care and wellness, but we wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t acknowledge our beautiful planet and what we can do to let it thrive. Sustainable living isn’t just a trend, it’s a commitment to preserving resources, reducing waste and fostering a harmonious relationship with the planet that gives us life. So in the light of doing good, here’s some impactful practices to take with you into 2025. 

St Valentine, immortalised by Valentine’s Day, comes from the great legend of a courageous Christian martyr who, while imprisoned, fell in love with the jailer’s daughter. Before his execution, he penned her a heartfelt farewell note signed “Your Valentine.” He has since become a timeless symbol of unwavering love and the profound power of a love letter. Today we celebrate Valentine's Day as a day of gratitude towards our loved ones, family and friends - reminding us to appreciate the connection and affection we are lucky enough to experience. 

What is overlooked in times when outward grandeur expressions of love are so famed and craved, is self love. In the whirlwind of romantic relationships we often forget to love ourselves first. So this year, I’m turning the love inward. Self-love, the cornerstone of true wellness, is about more than pampering - it’s about embracing who you are, setting boundaries, and prioritising your own well-being. By cultivating self-love, you’re not just nurturing yourself; you’re building a foundation for a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life.

In 2025 we’re welcoming the weird and the wonderful - giving our skin the much needed love and care it deserves. Let’s delve into what we’re adding to our skincare routines in 2025. 

1 - Probiotic Skincare. Probiotic skincare boasts the ability to balance the skin’s microbiome, reduce inflammation and enhance the skin barrier. A game changer for your skin. Incorporating probiotics can address concerts such as acne and improve overall skin health. 

2 - Collagen Powders. Marine Collagen has been shown to have anti-aging properties by slowing the aging process in studies, improving skin elasticity, reducing wrinkles and enhancing the overall structure and appearance of skin. Taken in pill or powder form, it’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine and your morning tea or coffee. 

A list of everything you can add to your selfcare routine and rituals or your lifestyle. We suggest trying one a week to figure out what works for you. 

Green tea instead of coffee. Reducing your caffeine intake is great for your gut and heart health. Plus green tea has great anti-aging properties and can make your skin appear more glowy and hydrated.  

40 mins of movement daily. Yoga and pilates are my personal favourites. There are so many great routines online, or go for a hot girl walk in the sunshine 

Read before bed. Spark your creativity and curiosity with a classic novel or educational nonfiction. Reducing screen time and before bed is also proven to help you get to sleep easier and stay asleep longer.

The first week of the new year can be characterised as a week of reinvention. We mindmap, journal, moodboard and discuss with friends the person we want to be, and all the ways we want to achieve this glorious fantastical version of self. I’ve fallen deeply into this hole. I’ve written a letter to myself reflecting on the coming year like it had already happened in hopes of manifesting a perfect existence. I’ve outlined exactly what i want from my year; what countries I want to visit, what outfits I’ll wear to my job, what grades I need to boost myself from a distinction to high distinction average, what diet to follow for model abs, what the perfect Sunday reset routine looks like, the dinner parties I’ll host with friends. Every minuscule detail has been selected, refined and encapsulated in a photo I can look at daily to remind me of my path. 

Shea Butter. Shea butter is deeply moisturising, an excellent emollient, sealing moisture into the skin without clogging pores. Rich in Vitamin A and E, these vitamins support repair and protect against free radicals, reducing signs of aging. Shea butter is also naturally anti-inflammatory, it helps soothe redness and irritation, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Fatty acids; oleic, stearic, linoleic, found in shea butter help strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. 

Cocoa Butter. Cocoa butter is highly effective  at hydrating and nourishing the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. Rich in antioxidants, it contains polyphenols that help project the skin from oxidative stress and environmental damage. Cocoa butter enhances the skin's elasticity, keeping the skin supple, due to its healing properties that promote skin regeneration.

Coconut Oil. Penetrating deeply into the skin, coconut oil provides long lasting moisture to prevent dryness. Coconut oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties - containing lauric acid that protects the skin and reduces the risk of infections and acne. Packed with antioxidants like vitamin E and vitamin A, coconut oil helps alleviate skin irritation, redness and inflammation having a calming and soothing effect. Coconut oil promotes a healthy, radiant complexion by nourishing and repairing the skin barrier. 

Shea Butter. Shea butter is deeply moisturising, an excellent emollient, sealing moisture into the skin without clogging pores. Rich in Vitamin A and E, these vitamins support repair and protect against free radicals, reducing signs of aging. Shea butter is also naturally anti-inflammatory, it helps soothe redness and irritation, making it ideal for sensitive skin. Fatty acids; oleic, stearic, linoleic, found in shea butter help strengthen the skin’s natural barrier. 

Pure Planet Club presents the ultimate gift guide for all things it-girl this holiday season. Whether you're shopping for your girlfriend, sister, bestie, daughter or looking to spoil yourself, we’ve got you covered. These three curated lists are filled with an assortment of gifts that help nourish your loved one on their wellness journey, no matter how flamboyant or reserved their personality. 

The cool girl gift guide. This is for the style icon. The girl whose perfectly assembled outfits you always admire. She looks great dolled up or dressed down, and loves a statement piece. A fan of gold jewellery, she has a collection she loves expanding with unique pieces. 

The wellness girl gift guide. This girl has it all worked out. She wakes up early for her morning yoga or pilates classes and loves a hot girl walking in her matching activewear set. She thrives in routines. Her skincare game is unmatched, and uses this time to practice her self love affirmations. While she may not have it all figured out, but she’s loving the journey. 

Let’s go back to the basics. It’s hard to find clarity through the noise of health and wellness gurus, podcasts and social media. In which, wellness and wellbeing are terms that are often used interchangeably. But what do they really mean, and are they the same thing? While both concepts are connected to living a fulfilling and healthy life, they differ in scope and focus. Understanding these differences can help us make more informed choices about how we approach our health, happiness, and quality of life.

What is Wellness? 

Wellness is a proactive process of making intentional choices to improve and maintain one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. It often revolves around practices, habits, and activities designed to enhance specific areas of health. The concept of wellness is often structured around dimensions, such as: physical, emotional, social, intellectually and spiritual wellness. 

Wellness is often seen as a journey, involving deliberate actions like adopting healthier diets, committing to a workout routine, or practising mindfulness. The focus is on optimising health and avoiding illness. It’s a long and slow process defined by small steps and actions towards a greater goal. 

What is Wellbeing? 

Wellbeing, on the other hand, is a holistic state of being that encompasses not just health, but overall satisfaction and contentment in life. It reflects how we perceive our lives and how well we’re functioning emotionally, socially, and psychologically. While wellness focuses on specific dimensions, wellbeing is broader and encompasses: happiness and life satisfaction, quality of relationships, sense of purpose, work life balance and emotional resilience. 

Unlike wellness, which focuses on actions, wellbeing is often the outcome of those actions combined with external factors like environment, culture, and economic conditions.

The key differences lie in their focus, scope, progress vs outcome orientation and measurement. 

How Wellness and Wellbeing Work Together

While wellness and wellbeing are distinct, they are deeply interconnected. Practising wellness can significantly enhance your overall wellbeing. For example, physical wellness through exercise can boost energy levels, which enhances overall happiness. While emotional wellness through stress management can lead to greater resilience and satisfaction.

Conversely, a high sense of wellbeing can encourage healthier behaviours. If you feel happy and purposeful, you’re more likely to engage in activities that support wellness, like cooking nutritious meals or staying active.

 

Practical Tips to Cultivate Both

1. Set Wellness Goals: Start small with specific habits like drinking more water or meditating for 10 minutes daily.
2. Prioritise Mental Health: Recognize the link between emotional wellness and wellbeing. Seek support when needed.
3. Cultivate Gratitude: Reflect on what’s going well in your life to enhance life satisfaction.
4. Balance Work and Leisure: Protect your downtime and invest in activities that bring joy and meaning.
5. Connect with Others: Build relationships that nurture your sense of belonging and fulfilment.
   
   

Wellness and wellbeing are two sides of the same coin, each playing a vital role in living a balanced and meaningful life. While wellness focuses on specific actions to improve health, wellbeing reflects the broader picture of life satisfaction and contentment. By understanding and nurturing both, you can create a more vibrant, fulfilling, and joyful existence.

If you’re anything like me, your recent Google history might look something like “how to push through burnout”, “how to stop being burnt out” or “how to get over burnout fast”. This time of year, while so close to much-needed holiday restoration, can still feel incredibly challenging. Whether it’s exams, work, managing mental health, or balancing family responsibilities, it’s normal to feel like our plates are overflowing and our energy tanks are running on empty. Burnout doesn’t discriminate. Understanding its causes, recognizing its signs, and knowing how to recover can make a significant difference in your well-being.

In the realm of wellness and self-care, we often hear the term *highest self* tossed around like some transcendent mythical being, always just out of reach. Spiritual guides often talk to us as if becoming our *highest self* will solve all our problems—the missing link in our journey to self-fulfillment. However, it’s through conversations with friends that I’ve started to realize that as much as we long to be our perfect selves, this very longing can be a trap. Connecting with your highest self is less about perfectionism and more about the journey, strengthening the parts of ourselves that bring fulfillment—our creativity, our ambition—and taking steps to slowly improve the parts of ourselves that need it.

But what is our highest self? In many ways, it can feel like a dream. It’s an imagined, idyllic life. Draw out the things you want for yourself—from the values you hold dearest, the way you speak, the clothes you wear, to how you see yourself in the mirror. Defining this version of yourself in detail allows you to hold tighter to the future you want, even if it changes over time. In philosophy, we talk about how with each moment of self-reflection, we change and grow, making it impossible to truly know ourselves. It’s a daunting thought. Yet, it brings us back to the core theme—the cliché that it’s not about the destination but the journey. It’s about the process of learning and growing, not who we end up being in the end.