Say Namaste To... The New Age Skincare Movement

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If you think wellness is just the pet obsession of acai-munching health enthusiasts and well-heeled yoginis, guess again. According to non-profit research organisation and think tank Global Wellness Institute, the worldwide wellness economy is now worth US$3.7 trillion (S$5.18 trillion). Work, stress and other pressures of a cosmopolitan lifestyle, plus their knock-on health effects, have led to a shift in focus towards life balance and well-being. People are paying more attention to looking after themselves, whether through diets (such as the clean eating revolution), trendy exercise programmes (like black metal yoga) or newfangled de-stressing methods (digital detox spas and “downtime abbeys”, anyone?).

Cynthia Chua, founder and CEO of the Spa Esprit Group, attributes this development to our constant engagement with social media, and increasing savviness. “We are fixated with mobile devices, Facebook and Instagram, resulting in the effect that there are more things to know and do. I feel that the body and mind are crying out for ‘me’ space,” she says. Coupled with this generation’s proclivity for information – “We read product labels (and) we want to know more,” she opines – and it’s not surprising that a more mindful, holistic attitude towards leading a balanced life is garnering momentum.

This emphasis on wellness has also manifested in the beauty circuit – and it’s big. With more consumers looking for ways to incorporate elements of wellness into their daily routines, beauty- and wellness-related companies are responding with products and services that promise better skin resilience, energy and immunity. It’s a long-game approach that focuses on getting skin healthy from the inside and out, executed through innovative skincare, supplements and services.

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