Last Sunday brought the first of our in-house self-care workshops.

We opened with a facial massage class taught by Eve, founder of ede skincare. With five wonderful women learning the art of combining skincare and aromatherapy here at Nadinoo, it made for a calm, mindful morning.

Eve began with an introduction to her practise, detailing the way her personal experiences with sensitive and acne-prone skin spurred her on to pursue a diploma in organic skincare formulation, gaining further qualifications and awards in skincare and massage as she progressed. Learning about the philosophy behind ede brought home the idea that caring for your skin doesn’t have to be a pursuit of perfection. As with many human experiences, it’s about trial and error, and using shared knowledge to learn what works comfortably for you.

Slowly guiding our class through a series of massaging techniques, she carefully explained each of the beneficial effects that can be achieved through regular practise, including relieving tension, lymphatic drainage, and sculpting the muscles. All of these were completed with ede’s lightweight Needs Must Face Oil, and a selection of restful Roll-On Therapist scents.

Combining scent and skincare allows for a deeply soothing self-care practise, transforming a daily task into a ritual to be enjoyed and savoured. Ede itself is a space created to foster small moments of calm within our busy lives, and when we have the resources to incorporate natural, studied ingredients, we create an experience that improves the way we treat both our bodies and minds. Although scent isn’t usually the first of the senses to be associated with skincare, Eve detailed the inextricable link between the two, stressing how valuable it is to our mindfulness. Her choice to use essential oils in her products isn’t just a matter of taste, though - scent molecules within essential oils travel from the olfactory nerves directly to the amygdala, the emotional centre of the brain. Each of our ladies picked out their favourite Roll-On Therapist blend, using their chosen scent to enrich and heighten the facial massage process.

Eve took advantage of our small, open class, sparing time to answer specific skin questions with methods that can be incorporated into five minutes of stillness in the quieter parts of your day. What sets Eve apart from many of her contemporaries is her call to the principle of accessible self-care, free of strict rules and step-based routines - and even without the need for tools. All of the techniques Eve taught in our workshop can be practised in the shower with a little water or facial cleanser, when you’re a little more pushed for time.

As our workshop came to an end, Eve gifted small guides to each of our visitors alongside a little sample of Needs Must Oil, as a way to transfer new skills from workshop to home. There was a feeling that Eve had passed on really valuable knowledge to our class; not just of the science and practicality of her work, but of how small acts of self-love can change how we feel. Perhaps it’s only five minutes in the morning, but it can become the most centred part of our day, in which we ground ourselves, engage our senses, and pay attention to the essential link between the wellbeing of our bodies and minds.

If this all sounds like a dreamy way to spend a Sunday, our next Sunday Self-Care workshop is already in the calendar and available to book.

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Words by Lily Burrows

Ede workshop