A Plant-Based Life

So you’ve made it through the holidays and like many, you’ve been pondering your resolutions and radical lifestyle changes with every glass of wine and mince pie you imbibed. From faddy, whirlwind promises to a hasty overhaul of every inch of your life – you pledged that this year it would be different! Of course, the reality is that research shows most people give up their resolutions by January 12^th, due to unrealistic expectations and setting the bar way too high.

Don’t despair, with Veganuary upon us, we at Romilly Wilde believe that one can make mindful, conscious choices that will have a profound impact on one’s health and the environment without setting oneself up to fail. Our suggestion: make the intention to gently move towards a cleaner, plant-based lifestyle, even if you can only manage a few small changes in your life. Most realise by now that it is the small changes over time that will make the difference and not the (glaringly misleading) expectation that change happens overnight. Furthermore, a more mindful approach that considers something bigger than ourselves (Mother Earth for starters) can often give one a more far-reaching and profound purpose. 

It is important to note that a plant-based life is not just about one’s diet. It is a more interconnected journey that can encompass one’s skincare routine, the products used in your home, the clothing one wears, and of course how one recycles and reuses. As we see it, it is all linked and contributes to the overall impact on one’s health and the environment. Be it, switching to a non-toxic skincare serum, burning soy/beeswax candle at home, using white vinegar instead of bleach when you clean, or pledging to eat plant based for the month of January – it’s about making small, thoughtful changes in any of these departments that can result in a huge step forward.

The great news - one of the many benefits of moving towards clean, plant-based skincare means less synthetic chemicals/preservatives absorbing into your skin. It also means active, nutrient-rich ingredients that have been farmed sustainably and organically (with proper certification from the Soil Association). It also ensures (with the proper certifications) that the products you are using have not been tested on animals. Furthermore, Veganuary is about nutrition, not only what goes into our body, but what goes onto one’s skin. Within the Romilly Wilde line, some of our favourite active plant-based ingredients purposefully promote skin renewal and regeneration and remain uncompromisingly free of toxic chemicals. From narcissus – known for its brightening, anti-aging properties, chondus crispus (red algae) a hydrating powerhouse, to gardenia cell extract, a cell culture active that encourages cell turnover and collagen production. We believe that if you’re working hard this January, why shouldn’t your skincare products do the same.

When it comes to your diet, a plant-based lifestyle has been shown to have a plethora of benefits. Plant-based diets are lower in saturated fats, cholesterol, able to regulate one’s blood sugar and lowers one’s risk for certain diseases (diabetes, heart disease to name a few). A plant-based diet is also incredibly rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and is very conscious of animal welfare. A plant-based diet is also better for the environment as animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation sector. It's also responsible for nearly 90% of the deforestation in the Amazon and is a huge drain on our water supplies. So any shift you make away from meat/dairy consumption does the planet good. 

So this Veganuary, it should be about the mindful, methodical journey, not the improbable mad dash that will only result in scrapping your intentions by months’ end. Join us and make the shift towards a clean, plant-based lifestyle, one conscious step at a time!