Isolde Walters is a freelance features journalist who writes for 

, among other publications. She has worked in newsrooms in London and New York and specialises in writing about relationships, wellness, personal finance, and how we live now

We’re witnessing the ‘wellnessification’ of absolutely everything. Beyond boosting their physical health with fitness and nutrition, people are looking for a path to being well in all aspects of their lives, including their finances, careers, activism, spirituality, home design, tech usage, and so much more. The global health and wellness market is expected to reach over $8,945.3 billion by 2032, while self-improvement and the quest for reprieve and relaxation have become integral to all areas of our lifestyles.

Wellness was once for the elite, expressed through a Goop-like look and lifestyle. But now a more fragmented definition of wellness is on the rise, encompassing people’s diverse backgrounds and distinct needs. In a society ruled by high stress and burnout, what was once considered a baseline are now status symbols: sleep is a luxury, glucose monitors signal exclusive healthcare, and sob parlours offer curated spaces for catharsis. People are embracing more radical forms of wellness, employing minor plastic surgery and weight-loss drugs as a means of control over their lives.

Wellness is rapidly reaching new demographics across generations. Exhausted by the permacrisis, Gen Z is rejecting more traditional, buttoned-up wellness movements in favour of little treats, girl dinner, ‘bedrotting’, or ‘rat snacking’ as forms of self-care with a sense of release. At the same time, longevity is becoming a priority as Gen X and Boomers rethink wellness to suit their needs. Some are taking up clubbing as a way of keeping an active lifestyle, while others are looking for nuanced approaches like menopause diets to support the changes that come with age. A desire for more bespoke wellbeing is driving an increase in health hacking – whether through technology or prioritising socialising with peers.

Being+

Madeleine Spencer is a beauty journalist who has written for 

among many other publications. She regularly appears on BBC television and radio to discuss beauty stories and is currently the beauty and wellness editor at the 

. She also hosts the podcast Beauty Full Lives, where she discusses beauty memories and rituals with her guests, who have included fashion designer Alice Temperley and make-up artist Lisa Eldridge.

United States

United Kingdom

Beauty

Hair-care

Amazon

Global Cosmetic Industry

Attest

Cosmetics Design Europe

Mintel

Interview with Madeleine Spencer conducted by the author

TikTok

Space48

The Rich Skin Club

Cosmetics Business

Nature Spell’s Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth was dreamt up by two sisters from London who cared about clean beauty and wanted to share Indian hair oiling techniques with British customers. How did this small family business result in a TikTok sensation and a product that is a beauty bestseller?