The 5 Wellness Trends to Try in 2021

Just when it seems we’ve reached peak wellness, each year rolls around and new trends and buzzwords appear on the horizon. And with the rollercoaster year that was 2020, it’s only natural we’re all craving a bit of self-care in 2021.

While 2020 was the year for mindfulness, plant-based diets and crystals, 2021 is shaping up to bring a rolodex of new and exciting trends. Have a read of our prediction of the top wellness trends for 2021 and take what you like - there’s no right or wrong way to do self-care, so have fun and give things a try.

Digital natives

While digital detoxes are becoming popular after we all watched The Social Dilemma, 2021 is also going to be the year we realise digital tools can improve our wellbeing and help us take care of ourselves. No, not spending more time on Instagram, but using apps for meditation and tracking sleep or even just fitness apps that allow you to work out anywhere, any time. Likewise, devices like the Whoop that track sleep and recovery, as well as your exercise, will continue to gain traction. There’s no denying the future is digital, and it’s great to see more tools that help, not hinder.

Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is the self-care you never knew you needed, yet the one you won’t be able to imagine your life without. It’s a technique used by beauty therapists to remove facial hair (aka that light “peach fuzz”). Using technology similar to shaving, dermaplaning also takes your dead skin cells with it, improving your complexion, and acting like an exfoliant treatment.

You can do it at home with some nifty devices, however we’d recommend seeing a beauty therapist for at least your first treatment as there are some no-nos. For example, it works better on some hair types and may need to be avoided in people with acne-prone skin.

Lymphatic health

While it did start in 2020, we think this is really going to skyrocket in 2021. Dry-brushing as a form of lymphatic draining has been around for a little while, but we’re now going to see a rise in crystal tools that allow you to perform Gua Sha on yourself. Gua Sha is the ancient Chinese practice of using crystals, as stones or rollers, to “scrape” your skin and drain fluid from your lymphatic system, purported to reduce puffiness and improve your complexion. Most people do this on their face.

It’s also very relaxing before bed or invigorating in the morning, especially if you pop your crystals in the fridge to cool them down. 2021 is also going to see newer technologies like nanocurrent devices that emit an electrical current to facilitate lymphatic drainage. Watch this space!

Sleep hygiene

Yes, this one isn’t a totally new trend and sleep has been cool for a long time now, but given the trend of “COVID-somnia”, sleep is making its way back up the agenda in 2021. And to do so, we’re going to see a whole range of methods and products designed to improve sleep.

From sleep elixirs and teas containing nutrients like magnesium to help you doze, to pillow sprays and weighted blankets, there’s never been a better time to take stock of your bedtime situation and look for ways you can make changes to help you drop off. We predict tweaks to your environment like digital detoxes before bed will take off as well.

Skin nutrition

While it’s well known that the nutrients you put in your body can affect your skin health, 2021 will be the year we start thinking about putting nutrients we put on our body. Ingredients like adaptogens (think Ashwaganda and Reishi), as well as prebiotics and probiotics are starting to make their way into skincare as beauty experts realise the benefits these nutrients can have as topical applications. While the gut microbiome has had it’s time in the limelight, the skin microbiome is the latest frontier and so we need to nourish this delicate community of bacteria too.

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