Beauty, Health & Wellbeing

Women Who Launch: Gillian Woods of Jane Darcy

Jane Darcy is Woods’ luxury lifestyle brand which sell home fragrances, candles, diffusers, 100% silk accessories and a bath and body line. I was able to test out a few of their products such as the Luxury Silk Sleep Set in a gorgeous champagne colour, which included the softest 22 momme 100% mulberry silk eye mask (I now use it every night!), pillow case, and hair scrunchies, making for the perfect gift for someone who deserves a relaxing night in. I also tried some items from their bath and body collection, formulated with natural organic olive extract, giving them a relaxing aroma and a rich velvety feel that soaks into the skin and moisturises without feeling tacky. When I asked Woods about how she decides on which products to create, she turns to the same two people who inspired her brand’s name, her daughters (whose middle names are Jane and Darcy). “I created the silk scrunchies and pillowcases for their skin and hair and eye masks because my daughters don’t sleep unless it’s pitch dark,” she shares. Whilst her collection is perfect for anyone who, like her daughters, suffer from sensitive skin, Woods is passionate about how using her products makes her customers feel. “I wanted to encourage not just myself but the people around me to treasure the simple moments in life, the moments that matter the most,” she explains. “I wanted to create products that would encourage people to take time for themselves. We are all so busy these days so it’s more important than ever to take stock of the little moments. I want to change peoples’ lives for the better, one product at a time. Sounds cliché but it’s true.” On this edition of Women Who Launch, I speak with Woods about her go-to wellness ritual and why she’s never afraid to ask for help.

Featuring Your Guide to Luxury Christmas Hampers

Diptyque - The Perfect Treat Yourself Gift

The act of purchasing a luxury candle for yourself, unboxing it, lighting it for the first time and taking in the captivating scent whether you’re on the couch reading a good book, or trying to navigate your evenings after school pick-up's with the children running about whilst you’re preparing dinner (like me) make it a little bit more calmer (and elegant) when you’ve got your Diptyque candle lit.

Treat Yourself to a Luxury ESPA Spa Day

Michael Isted on Supercharging Superfoods, Sustainably

Michael Isted, co-founder of Phyto Nectars - a new breed of superfood drinks made from functional blends of plant and mushroom powders - speaks to The Sybarite about what practises the business has embraced to ensure that consumers, the community, and our environment all come out on top. The drinks company has invested in small, community-based cooperatives and farmers, where it sources the plants and mushrooms used in its blends. These cooperatives support the farmers and the wellbeing of their families by providing them with food, clothes, medicine, and transport. They also support the biodiversity and regeneration of the land by encouraging and working with the farmers to ensure that different plant species are planted. Additionally, all of the Phyto Necars packaging is entirely recyclable and the business has every intention of upgrading and evolving into more sustainable solutions alongside technological advancements in this area.

Wellness Gifts for Health, Happiness, Fitness, and Beauty

Be it a Christmas gift, birthday present, or something special for another occasion entirely, our gifting edit below is composed of the best and latest items and experiences spanning health, fitness, beauty, skincare, and more. Our lineup of thoughtful, high-end, and wholesome gift ideas will save you time, energy, and headspace, so your schedule outside of work is freed up for quality time with loved ones, as opposed to trawling through generic gifting roundups elsewhere on the web. Read on to learn which wellness gifts are worth it, how best to use each one, where to buy them and, of course, what they'll cost.

The World’s Best Hotel Suites for Rest and Relaxation

Whether you're on the lookout for an escape to a private island or a sanctuary in the city - just away from the hustle and bustle of people and traffic - read on to see what our contributor Ollie Poole has to share about our edit of places to get away from it all. Our suggestions below have been carefully curated to give you the pick of the crop when it comes to choosing somewhere to hole up for a few days to a couple of weeks. If you're keen to kick off the year right, take a break between hectic work projects, or ignore a barrage of social invites, these suites at some of The Sybarite's favourite hotel properties across the globe will cater to your every need.

Review of CACI at Lisa Franklin: A Facial That Transforms

I’m not often blown away by the results of a facial, but wow... my transformative CACI experience at the Lisa Franklin Clinic in Knightsbridge has to be discussed! Having seen the CACI brand for many years and curious as to whether their treatments lift and tone as they claim, I decided to finally try one for myself - and what perfect timing! I had been experiencing a really bad breakout with my skin, so it felt like God was answering my derm prayers. Walking through the luxurious & chic South Kensington, when I arrived at the Lisa Franklin clinic I was greeted by the beautiful team and the most incredible, aesthetically pleasing interior! The surroundings alone made me feel like I was in safe, professional hands. 

The Movember Moustache: How to look after your tash in style

Movember is an annual charity event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's suicide. In 2021, the suicide ASMR for males in England and Wales was 16.0 deaths per 100,000, so charities such as Movember are crucial to ensuring this rate only goes down. It's never to late to join in & start growing your tash, so follow our guide for the best kept grooming tips that will give you a fierce bit of facial hair by Nov 30th! Growing your tash takes a lot of time, patience and TLC. The number 1 key factor is having enough facial hair in the first place so that the moustache isn't patchy or thin! If you've made it that far, follow these steps below to have the best 'stache in the city!

Meet Emlyn Brown, Global VP of Wellbeing at Accor

Join The Sybarite as we chat with Accor’s Global Vice President of Wellbeing, Emlyn Brown, about how the group is elevating the scope and depth of their guest experiences. And with an interest in luxury at an all-time high, it makes sense that wellbeing is an important aspect of the product offering; one that encompasses not only subtle enhancements such as improving noise control but more obvious ones, like in-room fitness, for instance. Read more to learn what you can expect from an Accor stay and how the hotel group is growing with new offerings.

Wellness Destinations for the Elite Traveller’s Radar

No matter your personal style of self-care or level of yogic knowledge, there’s a wellness destination to suit you. Explore further to see which unexpected but life-changing wellness destinations make the Sybarite edit.

Unwind in Mayfair with Canova London

Canova London is a luxury bespoke aesthetics clinic situated at 71 Duke Street designed to take you away from the noise and immerse you into a tranquil and peaceful state. You can be assured of a tailored experience to suit your needs and concerns using industry-leading technology and cosmeceutical treatments and brands. From the moment you enter the staff make you feel as though you are going to be well taken care of, greeted with smiles as you enter the bright, airy lounge area where you can enjoy a list of refreshments before your treatment - my favourite being the fragrant fruit tea and the scrumptious shortbread.