Caroline
Yes, indeed. If you try to eat healthy and listen to what your body really needs, move enough but not too much, sleep enough so that you feel energised in the morning, manage to save a bit of time to take care of your mind, then you’re most likely going to glow. You definitely need skin care, you can’t go without cleaning your face, or hydrating and nourishing it with clean products, but it’s just a little percentage of the whole.

Caroline
I think that anything that has to do with creativity and feeling better is positive. And that’s what this DIY movement is creating, when you have to go out and buy your ingredients, ask questions and try and understand how you should use them and how it’s going to work on your skin. When you buy a ready-made product you are logically more “passive”. If you are suddenly in another mode of thinking and you decide to create a lavender oil with geranium to help you with your skin condition, for example, then you open a book and you understand what lavender does, and how many species there are. You open your mind and start to be creative, and I think all of this is positive.

The negative side is that there are some people who sometimes overdo the dosages, or use an ingredient in an inappropriate way, or skip reading the contraindications. You can harm yourself with essential oils like with any other natural substances and you must be mindful with every choice that you’re making. But really I am an advocate of giving the power to women and men towards their beauty regime, so that they can become active and knowledgeable in that department and that leads to growing awareness towards yourself too.

Caroline
Yes. It’s easy to fall into the trap of a beautifully packaged product or a glamorous endorsement. Honesty is the most important thing and, as a product designer, I think sharing what is in your formula is important.

Caroline
Yes, absolutely, and it’s very hard to do. I mean, to love yourself FIRST. If you really take care of what your body is telling you and try to love all of these things about yourself, then you will slowly start feeling light most of the time and go through hard times with more ease. It’s logical but it’s SO hard to do. I happened to put others first all the time and that does not lead to a balanced state of mind at all, trust me.

Caroline
I practice Ashtanga Yoga. There are many other disciplines – you can try and see if they work you, but for me it was yoga to really be in touch with every part of myself. After years and years of practice I became much better at bringing the focus back to myself. When I started yoga I was the opposite and all my energy would flow out, towards everyone else but me. I try and find balance within myself first so I can be more powerful or effective to help the people I love, and enjoy my time with them. It’s work! I think everyday of your life is hard work. You cannot just be passive and wait for things to happen.

Caroline
Exactly, balance doesn’t exist. Trying to stay calm in certain circumstances is the hardest. When you have hardcore things happening or terrible news, or somebody wanting something right now, to remain super calm and take everything as it comes is the hardest but it’s the goal to move towards. It requires a daily practice of self-love and listening. I think it’s important to have a discipline. I am extremely disciplined with everything I do and I am also a routine person. I try and follow a daily routine because I found that that works for me. It took years and years but I’ve found the way to feel good, but I’m always reminding myself that everything keeps on changing all the time.

Caroline
Many of the projects I work on force me to be really in tune with my clients. When I interview the clients and friends I work with I ask how they sleep, I ask about their memories, what did they like to eat as a child, what are their favorite products and what are they dreaming of. I ask all of these questions and observe them. When I start creating something for someone, I have to dig deep into myself and my intuition. It’s not really my body, but my intuition. The body is engaged through the sense of smell and touch that’s involved. It’s emotional, intuitive, creative. You need to be inspired and inspiration does not just come your way. You have to work on yourself and inspire yourself, and get out and look at the trees, and do whatever you need to ignite this creative spark. Again, it’s constant work and dialogue with your own self that should be involved without falling into the navel gazing thing. It’s something you do with yourself and you don’t need to share it with everybody.

Caroline
I feel like I’m in a constant mode of questioning. It’s exhausting but at the same time that’s the way I found to grow and get better every second. So, I’m questioning what I’m feeling and why I’m doing what I do. I feel a little bit like I am the General in Chief of myself! It can go both ways, because I can be too hard on myself, or not listen at all and do the exact opposite. I am trying to work towards that personal balance and let that be my guide.