8 New Year, Fresh Start Health, fitness & beauty resolutions Cutting back


Eager to banish hangovers and morning-after anxiety for good? You’re not alone. Emilie Lavinia examines the Sober Curious movement to see how our drinking habits are evolving


few hours drinking alcohol is a compromise many are now unwilling to make. At least that’s the opinion of a growing cohort of people embracing the Sober Curious lifestyle. According to behavioural


I


analysts at consumer insights agency Canvas8, 60% of alcohol consumers have recently cut down to achieve improved wellbeing. Tese same people are also seeking out healthier beverages such as beers with low-alcohol and high-vitamin content, embracing what’s known as functional drinking. But this isn’t about going teetotal. Instead, Sober Curious is a mindful drinking movement sparked by the global wellbeing boom. “I became Sober Curious in 2017 due


to health issues,” says Archana Patel, a former NHS professional who’s now a qualified health, nutrition and alcohol- reduction coach. “I didn’t drink to excess but I did drink habitually. Once I took a break, every aspect of my life — mood, energy levels, patience, fitness, general happiness — started to improve.”


n an increasingly health- conscious world, white- knuckling through a hangover for the sake of spending a


Te majority of people who identify


as Sober Curious don’t see themselves as having a problem with alcohol. In fact, they enjoy drinking. Te CGA reports that only 7% of consumers who drink low- or no-alcohol products are teetotal, which means the other 93% aren’t ditching booze out of necessity. So who’s leading this movement and what are the benefits of being Sober Curious? Te hashtag #sobertiktok gives some indication. “To be Sober Curious is particularly


popular with Gen Z,” says Sandra Parker, an alcohol abuse coach. “Mindful drinking is a very useful tool to take back control. It shines a light on how much you’re drinking and whether you like the taste or are drinking for the impact.” But it’s not just Gen Z leaning


into the Sober Curious lifestyle. Te #sobergirl movement has been gathering online momentum for years across a broad spectrum of demographics, with more women embracing a low or no relationship with alcohol for improved health and wellbeing. It’s a well-known fact that alcohol is a depressant. After consuming alcohol, the body must metabolise it through the liver and this detoxification process


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causes mild withdrawal symptoms, ranging from stress and anxiety to restlessness, body aches, stomach issues and even panic attacks. As an increasing population of


health-conscious women attempt to take control of their hormonal and reproductive health, many are using apps and journals to track symptoms and biomarkers. And for many, the correlation between reducing alcohol intake and better sleep, increased energy and improved mental health is easy to observe. Francesca Lyon, lead nutritionist


at Future Woman, a hormone health specialist, recommends that women try drinking more mindfully if experiencing any symptoms of hormone imbalance. “Alcohol slows down oestrogen detoxification,” she says. “It worsens PMS and it affects blood sugar and insulin resistance which can worsen PCOS symptoms. Drinking also shrinks the hippocampus region of the brain, making stress management more difficult. Alcohol disrupts circadian rhythm and sleep, vital for hormone health, damages the gut microbiome and it can also lead to nutrient depletion.” According to mindful drinking


Mindful drinking is a way to take back control of your health PHOTOGRAPH: GETTY


organisation Club Soda, half of UK adults — approximately 25 million people — are either not drinking any alcohol or are planning to cut down soon. With sober club nights and boujie health retreats growing in popularity, not to mention a growing wellness industry comprising mainly a generation of health-concerned young people, we all might soon be asking ourselves what a future without booze could look like.


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arlou is a French perfume brand created in 2016 with the intention of questioning


the olfactory presence of the body in our society. Briac Frocrain, the brand’s artistic director, works with animal notes (materials with scents that are close to those of the body) to create olfactory trompe-l’oeil. Tese particularly intimate scents challenge the notions of clean and unclean. Tey remind us of the extent to which the body can be desirable and invite us to return to a primary relationship with odours and emotions. Unlike mainstream perfumery, this


work is completely focused on crea- tion. Tis justifies a budget essentially dedicated to the juice and to the raw materials that compose it. Marlou has also chosen modest packaging: plastic is kept to a minimum, but there’s an abundance of biodegradable mate- rials. Te containers respond to a function, for example their bottles


are made of amber glass to protect the liquid as much as possible. “What’s important to us is the quality of the juice and the emotions it brings, any orna- ment seems superfluous to us,” says Briac. Each of Marlou’s creations refers to


Marlou fragrances can be found at


marlou.paris or at the saintecellier.com shop in the UK


a singular and evocative universe: its first perfume, Carnicure, which has facets of wax-finished wood and what Marlou describes as a ‘feline presence’; Ambilux, which is like summer sweat among


dune plants; Poudrextase,


with its milky finish and its notes of ‘the smell of a newborn’; and, finally, Corpalium, Marlou’s latest creation, which deals with the earthy facets of iris root with what they call a certain ‘equestrian sensuality’.


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rofessionally blended Muscle Mechanics balms, with essen- tial oils, are kind to your


skin and help you relax muscles that are tired from exercise or working long hours. Te balms are enriched with shea butter to moisturise so they sink into the skin, helping you to massage tight muscles and leaving you feeling relaxed and invigorated. With over 15 years’ experience in aromatherapy, Muscle Mechanics is a family business that uses natural ways to manage everyday physical challenges. Made in the UK, the balms come in tins to travel with you wherever you need.


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Lasting up to four hours after application, a little goes a long way. So order your Muscle Mechanics balm kit today at muscle-mechanics.com, or call 01344 202 469


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