Beauty On: Charmaine

Life is filled with surprises, and I never thought I would end up where I am today, being a Wellness and Mindfulness Coach.  I didn’t even know what a health coach was, and if it weren’t for my health journey, I would have never found my purpose and inspiration in pursuing what I love as my career. 

I used to work in the PR/Marketing industry and found my love of cooking in high school. I enjoy cooking for others and seeing how something I create brings my family and friends joy and satisfaction (most of the time!). I started teaching cooking classes on the side and found that lively interaction with the students and sharing my knowledge and experiences in the kitchen resonated with me. It wasn’t about having the perfect final dish but more about getting the students to enjoy the process and guiding them on moving efficiently in the kitchen with tips and hacks. I feel this opens up the space for them to explore and discover their unique ways of cooking, building confidence in them and allowing them to become better home cooks. I love making a difference, even if it starts in the kitchen. 

This same idea is what I bring forth into my wellness and mindfulness coaching. Everyone has the innate ability to heal themselves and become the best version of themselves with guidance, encouragement and space. I have learned to value and nourish myself physically and emotionally through awareness, boundaries, and grace. 

I wanted to share this way of life with others - that being sick, tired and drained is not set in stone. We can all make a change if we only know where and how to start and are not overwhelmed by choices and noise. This is why I became a functional medicine certified health coach, a singing bowl therapist and an EFT practitioner. Along with my experience in cooking, this combination of knowledge and skill sets has allowed me to create unique mind and body practices and wellness programs for my clients. 

I believe in and love routines, especially those that add to my sense of wellness. 

First thing in the morning, even before getting out of bed, I would meditate for 30 minutes. It sets me up to live each day with intention. Regarding skincare, I wash my face with a gentle cleanser, then put on toner, Vitamin C serum and a nourishing moisturiser. I would then use my jade gua sha tool to wake my face up and get the circulation going, using the gua sha down the sides of my neck to drain my lymphatics. 

I love brewing my cup of coffee in the morning. The smell of good coffee just put a smile on my face. Then I would read, journal and map out three important tasks I must complete that day. 

I always make myself a nice hot cup of herbal tea at night. This act is the first signal to my body and brain that it is time to wind down and get ready for bed. Then it’s my choice of essential oil, a good book and my gratitude journal to wrap up my day.

I listen to my body, go with my cycle, and nourish my body the way I feel it needs. Fasting gives my body enough time to rest, detox and recover. However, I don’t fast during my cycle because my body is already under quite a bit of stress and with the cycling of my hormones, I need to eat breakfast to feel well. I also plan less these days as I know my body needs more rest. I prioritise rest, sleep and stress management.

If we eat well and satisfy our body in every meal with whole, fresh and nutrient-dense foods, our body will not crave the sugars and junk food it used to crave. I keep refined sugar, simple carbohydrates, and processed foods to a minimum, as these foods cause inflammation in our bodies. Our skin is usually the first organ to reveal these inflammatory symptoms. If you fuel your body with the right foods, you will feel amazing and get that natural glow. 

When I do have the indulgence, I just let myself have them and enjoy them. There is no need to feel guilty about it because I am mindfully choosing to put these foods into my body and not in an excessive way.

I treat beauty as part of my holistic wellness. Some products and gadgets I mention below may differ from typical beauty items. Still, they help me with my overall physical, mental and emotional health, essential for staying beautiful inside and out.

Skincare beauty products:

1. Foreo Luna cleansing device, which I use every night to get all the make-up off and not clog my pores
2. My jade gua sha and roller improve drainage and circulation from my neck up

Supplements must-haves: 

1. Magnesium, resveratrol, CoQ10, probiotics and L-Theanine, grass-fed collagen powder 

Self-Pampering items:

1. Organic, non-toxic scented candles
2. Range of organic essential oils for skin & hair care, relaxation, immunity boost, respiratory protection, muscle tension and air purification in my home
3. Herbal tea favourites: peppermint for digestion, rooibos for antioxidants, chamomile & lavender for relaxation

Wellness gadgets and app: 

1. Oura ring - helps track my sleep, body temperature, cycle and heart-related stats. I discovered that I got covid because of the stats from this ring! I love this ring.
2. Apollo - A recent addition to my day where it helps to rebalance my neuro activities for better sleep, stress relief and focus using low-frequency sound waves and vibrations
3. Gratitude app - I write down what I am grateful for daily and have been doing this for over four years. Looking back at the 1500+ entries has made me smile every time and reminds me of how lucky and blessed I am. And smiling is always beautiful.