MAY22: Meet the Makers
“We believe that Time is an invisible ingredient, and so the majority of what makes up an IDYLHOUR box is carefully handmade.”
There’s an enlivening element of spring. With more sunlight and outside weather that feels good, we naturally get a little extra pep in our step. What a rush! After a winter of hibernation, all that returning energy can make you feel like a superhero ready to conquer the world!
But wait, before you get all caught up in the wheels of obligation and project completion, take a thoughtful pause. Do you value conquering your to-do list or feeling balanced? Would you prioritize rushing to complete a project over savoring the good feelings of doing it right?
“As we watch the world come back to life, it sort of feels like we do, too.”
Those aren’t rhetorical questions — you should really take a moment to consider what outcomes you’re after. Often, done is better than perfect. Sometimes balance is completing your to-do list. The ways we tetris our priorities at any given time varies. What’s cool is that when we ask ourselves this question, it’s a way to stop cycling through old patterns and an opportunity to do things a different way.
This season, what if you prioritized your own energy levels and rested when you needed to? Maybe having a big influx of energy doesn’t mean you have to immediately burn through it. If that sounds good to you, check out our MAY22 Makers and sign up for your own care box.
AEnons, founded by herbalist Queenie Wang-Sitterson, is a compelling and effective minimalist skincare line. Their branding is top tier, no surprise as the founder’s background is in the arts. Just holding the product in your hands is both pleasing and calming in itself. This is before you even use their incredible formulas!
Queenie was inspired to start AEnons in 2014 in part by her mother’s commitment to self-care. As Queenie also began inventorying the seemingly endless list of cheap fillers and additives in her skincare, she turned toward herbalism and folk medicine to find a better way. She is a creator at heart, and so a skincare line was born.
We love that the minimalistic approach extends to their packaging, which makes AEnons a sustainable choice.
Included in this month’s box from AEnons is the refreshing Desert Bloom, a hydrating essence face mist. Although it looks not much different from water, it’s actually shocking to see how this simple essence can rejuvenate your skin. Its astounding impact on your skin is because of the power couple it contains: Hyaluronic Acid and Prickly Pear.
After using their Honeyful In-Shower Mask, Mona said, “Is this the best my skin has ever looked?” And it was! It’s a pure pleasure to apply this thick and bountiful mask and your skin will Thank You.
A fellow quarantine-founded brand (just like us!), Steep & Mellow was founded by Meg Pedersen. As she was stuck at home, her attention turned to sharing the immense benefits of adaptogens with others. Creating a line of teas that include these herbal medicines is an ingenious way of making them more accessible and palatable.
Adaptogens are herbs that impact our bodies’ ability to heal stress, fatigue and anxiety. While we’ve included herbs like holy basil and turmeric in our teas (tisanes) before, Steep & Mellow takes this practice to the next level by including Reishi and Ashwagandha in their Dream tea.
Reishi helps to support adrenal gland function, which manages our cortisol production. It also boosts immunity, aids in deep sleep and soothes anxiety. Its nicknames are ‘Queen Mushroom’ and ‘Mushroom of Immortality.’ Historically, only extremely wealthy or royal peoples could access this ingredient.
Ashwagandha is an integral Ayurvedic ingredient that helps brain function, improves memory and supports muscle strength.
Not only does this month’s IDYLHOUR box give you the tools for self-care, Steep & Mellow’s Dream tea helps to introduce you to the innumerable benefits of including selective adaptogens into your routine.
Meg’s efforts are fundamentally mission-driven (their brand values include: Integrity, Innovation, Inspire and Impact), which led to creating an entirely compostable tea bag and wrapper that makes Steep & Mellow a delicious and responsible choice.
Shop the MAY22 IDYLHOUR boxes here.