Jayn Sterland, managing director of Weleda UK & Ireland, shares her wellbeing tips and thoughts on beauty.
‘I learned the art of meditation while on various retreats. It’s a practice I love but struggle to stick to when at home! I do think it’s important to have some sort of daily practice though; mine has become my mid-morning, five-mile walks, and I’m getting better at fitting short bursts of me-time into my day. It’s so easy to think “I’ll just check social media” when we should be using those five or ten minutes to sit and just “be”.
‘When I’m at home, I have a lovely wooden swing chair that I love sitting in, eyes closed, phone off. While at work, I have a favourite bench in the garden there to which I retreat several times a day; it’s so important to stop the noise and switch off.
Jayn Sterland: ‘It’s so easy to think “I’ll just check social media” when we should be using those five or ten minutes to sit and just “be”.’
‘I live by the motto “everything in moderation”. I avoid processed food, alcohol and caffeine as these don’t serve me well. We try to cook everything from scratch at home and we grow our own fruit and vegetables, so I would hope these count as healthier options – at least I know what I am eating!
‘My go-to staple is oats: either a simple pinhead oatmeal porridge or my homemade muesli, which is baked organic jumbo oats, maple syrup, almonds and coconut oil, to which I add dried fruit, nuts and seeds. It’s easy to make and delicious with fruit and a spoonful of yoghurt.
‘The best tip I was given is that if your skin gets upset (and my face regularly used to fl are up), stop using product, wash only with water and drink plenty of water, too. It’s kind of the opposite of what we do: when we have a problem we throw yet more product at it when really our skin needs to rest and have time to rebalance.
‘I also believe we use too much product in general – research tells us that people use an average of 14 personal care products a day which, if they are synthetically based or produced, isn’t good for their bodies or the planet.
‘And, of course, I would have to recommend Weleda Skin Food (from £8.25)! It’s a wonder cream that you can use anywhere and everywhere – even on hair to tame flyaways. It is great for sun-exposed skin as well as winterparched complexions.
Jayn Sterland: ‘People use an average of 14 personal care products a day which, if they are synthetically based or produced, isn’t good for their bodies or the planet.
‘I joined Weleda UK in 2008 and was appointed managing director in 2016. During that time I helped change the company into a truly customer-focused business. Weleda has a range of more than 120 certified natural and organic cosmetics and is considered the original pioneering green beauty brand. I have a real passion for what I call “conscious beauty” so I like to promote a healthy, holistic lifestyle, encouraging the idea that authentic beauty comes from within.
‘Pre-Covid, my morning was pretty much like most working mums. I would be up early and dash to the 7.30am school bus, then over to the office if I wasn’t travelling. Now it’s so different.
‘I’ve found a new rhythm to my day – starting at my desk earlier, then having brunch and a long walk with our dog, Bella, before going back to “screen time”. I find that being out walking for a couple of hours midmorning makes me happier and more productive – particularly now I’m spending so much more time on screens, and Bella loves it too!
‘For me, many good things came out of the first lockdown. I used to travel so much, and staying at home for so many months was a revolution. I rediscovered the art of baking, gave my veg patch a complete overhaul and discovered many new walks around where we live. Also, I discovered, as many of us did, that life is about family, home and community.
Jayn Sterland: ‘I have a real passion for what I call “conscious beauty” so I like to promote a healthy, holistic lifestyle.’
‘I feel blessed and I now realise what a privileged life I am living. I have become more mindful of money, too, realising I don’t need as many of the daily expenses I used to have, so now I get to spend money in a more considered and meaningful way.’
Jayn was recently voted no.1 in the natural beauty industry’s Top 25 Who’s Who in Natural Beauty for the fifth time. Having been appointed to the British Beauty Council’s Advisory Board in 2019, Jayn was appointed chair of the Sustainable Beauty Coalition in 2020.
An energetic activist, for more than a decade Jayn has ploughed her energy into Weleda, helping to drive the beauty industry towards social and environmental responsibility and more sustainable business practices – a mission she continues as a public speaker and columnist.
