Work on your wellbeing with NEOM Organics founder Nicola Elliott

Whether it’s having the odd wobble or succumbing to sleepless nights, many of us are feeling a little out of sync at the moment. And yet it also happens to be the perfect time to check in with ourselves and bring some balance back into our lives.

We caught up with Nicola Elliott, founder and creative director of luxury natural brand NEOM Organics during our recent Virtual Beauty Weekend to discover her ultimate self-care tips. Elliott’s philosophy is centered around the idea that wellbeing starts with little moments, after the small steps she took to overcome anxiety in her late 20s had a hugely positive effect on her life: ‘My first panic attack hit me like a bolt from the blue. There was no real trigger; I was enjoying my career as a journalist on a glossy magazine but I was also burning the candle at both ends.’

Realising that she needed to make some basic changes to her life she started eating better, took up exercise (‘nothing too crazy, just walking more and bike riding’) and began learning about the benefits of aromatherapy, initially just tinkering around with essential oils in her bathroom and making bespoke blends for friends. ‘It really opened my eyes to the therapeutic benefits of essential oils and the power of natural ingredients. What also really stuck out was that everyone who was coming to me for help were all experiencing difficulty with either sleep, stress, mood or energy so for me, “wellness” is all about keeping those four pillars in check.’

‘For something to work on your wellbeing you have to enjoy doing it as this will help to instill habit. Whether I’m looking to get a better night’s sleep or de-stress, routine is everything, so taking the time to implement one without seeing it as a chore is the first crucial step. Play around with creating your own wellbeing toolkit and recognise that it has to be holistic; there’s no point in following a calming routine if you’re going to grab a coffee straight afterwards or start scrolling through your phone before bed.

‘I always recommend starting with a scent discovery test, as the scent you’re drawn to tends to reflect what the body needs most. Customers who think they need help with their sleep for instance often find that what they’re actually lacking in is energy. This will influence their ability to exercise which in turn affects their sleep.

‘Then it’s about finding an achievable routine that works for you so that even if you go out and have a couple of drinks or you’re away from home you know you can still stick to it. My best advice is try and make sure that the routine you pick starts at a decent time to respect that all-important wind-down zone.’

‘No one looks or feels their best if they haven’t slept properly and unless you’re under the age of 25, no amount of lotions or potions are going to replicate a good night’s sleep. For me, a bath is such an important part of my pre-sleep routine. I’ll light a candle, pour in some bath foam or oil and use the time for some mindful breathing. 7/11 breathing which is breathing in for the count of 7 and out for 11 is really great if you’re having a moment of panic or anxiety as it helps to lower the blood pressure and slow the heart rate.

‘I recommend staying in the bath for 12-15 minutes which sounds a bit prescriptive but it’s the amount of time needed for the essential oils to be absorbed and inhaled at their optimal levels and goes to show that you don’t need to languish in there for half an hour. Once out, I’ll slather on our Magnesium Body Butter which has been a total game-changer. Magnesium is a complete wonder mineral that most of us tend to be deficient in and it’s great for helping to relax and prepare the body for sleep.

‘No tech before bed is absolutely critical, there’s so much evidence of blue light disrupting our sleep cycles and it’s about recognising the two distinct time zones. I’m an avid reader so I’ll get stuck into a book for 15 to 20 minutes before deploying the killer blow – our Pillow Mist which I take with me wherever I go.’

‘I’m a strong believer in creating a calm zone wherever you are whether it’s at home or just before a meeting. One of the first fragrances I created back in the early days to help my anxiety was the Real Luxury Essential Oil Blend which is a complex, calming blend of 24 of the purest essential oils including lavender, jasmine and Brazilian rosewood [which you can use in a diffuser]. It smells very spa-like and is the cashmere blanket of the collection as it’s so soothing and enveloping. I use it around the home with the reed diffuser to create a sense of calm for the rest of the family and it comes in a hand and body lotion too.

‘If I’m having a particularly jittery day, I’ll use the Real Luxury Magnesium Body Lotion for anxiety with the Stress Relief Pulse Point which you can keep in your handbag whenever you need a more intense pulled-together moment.’

‘My husband’s a sports teacher so I originally devised the energy fragrance for him as he never had the energy to come out with me after work. Pretty soon after that he was asking me to make it for the football club.

‘Now, I tend to use it whenever I need a boost; those days where you need three coffees instead of one. I’ll either light a candle or pop it in a pod and I love using it first thing as my body wash in the shower before slathering on the body lotion when I get out. If I find I still need a little get-up-and-go throughout the day I’ll use a spritz of the Feel Refreshed Home Mist Room Spray or the Grapefruit, Lemon & Rosemary Natural Fragrance if I’m out and about. The essential oils are also really versatile for whenever you need that macchiato moment.’

‘Aromatherapy can have a profound affect on our mood and whether you’re genuinely feeling down or just need a little boost the right blend can absolutely help. It means that when I’m creating blends I have to make sure that they actually smell gorgeous as well as deliver therapeutic results and they also have to work within a certain time frame as we’re all so pressed for time these days.

‘As a result all our candles have three wicks so they throw off just enough scent and burn completely cleanly and evenly using natural waxes and the purest essential oils in the highest legal limits. I love our Happiness Reed Diffuser for a really uplifting fragrance throughout the day or if I’m out and about and feel like I just need a little mood pick-me-up I’ll reach for my Pulse Point or dab a little essential oil onto a tissue.’