Morning Glow Newsletter Vol. 9
- Solana
- Jul 8, 2025
- 12 min read
Updated: Jul 10, 2025
8th July 2025
Perimenopause: Not for the Weak
If you’re reading this and you’re in perimenopause, do yourself a favour. Hit forward. Send it to your partner, your boss, that one bloke at Pilates who side-eyes you when your Warrior Pose turns into a small nap. They need to know.
Perimenopause is chaos with a capital C. It’s physical, emotional, existential – and completely bonkers.
No, you don’t “get it” because you watched a 20-second reel of a man earnestly explaining his wife’s hot flushes. No disrespect, but if that’s your PhD, we’re all in trouble. Real perimenopause isn’t a tidy list of symptoms; it’s a revolving door of surprises in a body that no longer sends a courtesy text before turning on itself.
We’re not just talking about night sweats and skipped periods (though some of us have more periods than ever – surprise!). Some of us are basically walking furnaces; others sleep in thermals with a hot water bottle tucked under each foot.
Sleep, by the way, is a mythical beast. You chase it, hope for it, maybe drug yourself into it… and when it finally shows up, it’s the sort where you wake in the same position you fell asleep, convinced you’ve been taxidermied.
Our joints ache like we’ve been doing Olympic lifting in our sleep. And if it’s not joint pain, it’s anxiety, old faithful, popping up with all her mates. Now we’re lying awake wondering whether it’s the end of Western civilisation or if we’ll ever train our loved ones to stack the dishwasher properly.
Let’s talk knickers. Some of us are dealing with the Desert Issue, everything dry, itchy, and reluctant. Others are dealing with the Tropical Situation, daily humidity levels you could grow a fern in. Neither is ideal. Either way, we’re walking around wondering what happened to our bodies and when exactly we signed up for this.
Oh, and the subtle aroma of… something not-so-fresh? Let’s just say some of us are carrying around the eau de residential care home thanks to the thrilling new game of bladder roulette. It’s not incontinence exactly… It's more like enthusiastic dribbling. All day.
Orgasms? They’ve packed a bag and left town. Breasts? Suddenly tender like you’ve slept on a cactus. Periods? They now have the personality of your least favourite teenager. Unpredictable, rude, and prone to slamming doors.
And then there’s the brain fog. Not cute forgetfulness. We’re talking full sentences lost in traffic. You say things like, “Can you put the dinner in the bath?” and think nothing of it. One woman reported swapping the first letter of every word for a month. “Bo wutch pe mappening” was apparently a thing. We salute her.
The panic is real. Is this normal? Is it early Alzheimer’s? Do we need a brain scan? Half our group chats say yes, the other half forgot what the question was. Honestly, who can tell anymore?
Meanwhile, partners and children watch us unravel like an old cardigan and think we’re “just a bit hormonal.” They don’t get it unless they’re in the trenches with us… and if they are, we see you. Are you okay? Do you need snacks? A calendar? Someone to come round and remind you how buttons work?
Let’s be crystal clear: this is not a joke. It’s not a quirky character arc. This is biology. Hormones. The very substances that once helped us make babies, run meetings, smooth over arguments, and sense tension at fifty paces are now on a slow, theatrical exit. We are gods… having a bit of a moment.
And society expects us to manage. Smile through it. Keep caring for everyone else. Organise everyone’s lives. Do the shopping, the working, the remembering.
But in the middle of all this mess is a secret gift: midlife fury.
Yes, rage. Not the smashy-smashy kind (though we understand the temptation). But the clarity that comes when you’re finally too tired to pretend. When you’re done people-pleasing. When you finally say, “You know what? No.” This isn’t a breakdown; it’s a boundary.
You’re not losing your mind. You’re navigating a seismic shift with grit, humour, and possibly a fan under your desk.
Welcome to the club. We’ve saved you a seat and a spare pair of knickers.
Stay well,
Solana, Editor-at-Large, Yara
Is Inflammation Really Just a Part of Getting Older?
We’ve been told for years that chronic, low-level inflammation, what scientists call “inflammaging,” is part and parcel of growing older. But what if that’s not the full story?
A new global study from Columbia University has thrown a spanner in the works, showing that inflammation might not be a built-in feature of aging after all. In fact, it might have more to do with our modern lifestyles than with our age.
The researchers compared people living in industrialised countries (like Italy and Singapore) with Indigenous communities in the Bolivian Amazon and rural Malaysia. In wealthier countries, inflammation levels tended to go up steadily with age, and were linked to age-related illnesses like heart disease and kidney problems.
But in Indigenous groups, it was a different picture. Inflammation levels were generally higher to begin with, due to frequent infections and parasites, but they didn’t rise with age. And crucially, people in these groups weren’t developing the chronic illnesses we associate with aging in the West.
So what’s going on?
Dr Alan Cohen, one of the study’s lead researchers, puts it simply: “In industrialised settings, inflammation is often tied to diseases of aging. But in high-infection environments, it looks more like a response to germs than to age itself.”
In other words, inflammation might not be a guaranteed sign of the body breaking down with age. It could just be the immune system doing what it was designed to do: fight off bugs.
And here’s the kicker: these communities, despite having constant immune activity, don’t suffer from the long list of chronic illnesses that plague more developed countries. That’s a big clue that inflammation, in and of itself, isn’t always harmful. It depends on the context.
The study looked at 19 immune markers (tiny proteins that tell your immune system what to do). These markers tracked closely with age in Italy and Singapore, but didn’t show the same patterns in the Tsimane or Orang Asli groups.
Instead, most of the inflammation seen there came from things like parasites or infections, not aging.
And yet… conditions like dementia, diabetes, or heart disease? Pretty rare.
So what does this mean for us?
Well, it challenges the idea that there’s a single, universal way the body ages. It also suggests that our own environments, pollution, diet, stress, infection exposure, might be shaping how our immune systems change over time.
This could open the door to better, more personalised ways of thinking about ageing and health. Not everyone’s body follows the same script.
As Dr Cohen says, “It’s not that inflammation is always bad. It’s that it behaves differently depending on where and how you live. That means there are things we can change.”
If we want to live longer, healthier lives, understanding how lifestyle and environment interact with aging might be just as important as genetics.
We’ll be watching this research closely—and cheering on anything that helps us age with a bit more grace and a lot less guesswork.
References and Credits
This article is based on a Columbia University study published in Nature Aging. Lead author: Dr Alan Cohen. Research involved teams from the Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, the Butler Columbia Aging Center, and global collaborators. Funding came from multiple sources, including the French National Research Agency, the German Research Foundation, and the NIH.
Original title: Nonuniversality of inflammaging across human populations
Author: Stephanie Berger
Contact: Columbia University
How to Burn More Fat While Walking (Without Breaking Into a Run)
You don’t need to be a runner to burn fat or boost your energy. Done the right way, walking can be just as powerful, especially if you’re over 50. It’s easier on your joints, feels more manageable most days, and actually works… if you make a few simple changes.
Here are five smart ways to get more out of your walk, whether it’s in your neighbourhood, on a treadmill, or just a lunchtime lap.
1. Walk Like You Mean It
Good posture and strong steps matter. Stand tall, keep your shoulders soft, and use your arms as you walk; elbows bent, swinging naturally. You’ll move better, burn more calories, and go for longer without tiring.
2. Use Hills or the Treadmill Incline
A bit of an uphill makes your walk more challenging (in a good way). If you’re outdoors, find a gentle hill. If you’re indoors, press the incline button. Even short uphill bursts can get your heart rate up and work your legs more.
3. Add a Little Weight
A light weighted vest or small hand weights can increase how much energy you burn. Keep it gentle; no need to overdo it. Just 20 minutes a couple of times a week with a bit of added resistance can make a difference.
4. Mix Up Your Speed
Start at your normal pace, then try walking briskly for a minute and slowing down for two. Repeat this a few times. The changes in speed help your body burn fat more efficiently.
5. Drop in Some Simple Moves
Every so often, pause for a quick round of squats, lunges, or push-ups against a bench or wall. You’ll build strength and raise your metabolism… even after your walk is done.
A Dermatologist Tip That Can Plump Crepey Skin In One Simple Step
Listen, a lot of skin woes ultimately come back to one simple issue: lack of hydration. When our skin is parched, fine lines appear deeper, texture issues are more pronounced, the complexion grows dull, and thin skin looks papery. That's why finding high-quality moisturisers that provide sustained hydration is the backbone of any skin care routine—head to toe!
On the papery skin point, lack of moisture is a driving force behind crepey skin. Here's what you need to know.
How lack of hydration will lead to crepey skin
Crepey skin just describes the appearance of thin, delicate, slightly wrinkled skin that tends to appear on more mature skin. It gets its name from crepe paper and looks very similar to the material. While it can appear on the face (around the eyes mainly), you'll most often see it on the body: the backs of the hands, chest, neck, arms, and legs.
Like many signs of aging, crepey skin can be attributed to collagen and elastin loss. As we age, the collagen in our skin slowly starts to decline, which leads to fine lines, sagging, and yes, crepey skin. So certainly that's a big part of the issue.
But it also has to do with hydration. On an old Clean Beauty School podcast episode, I spoke with board-certified holistic plastic surgeon Anthony Youn, M.D., who described parched skin like a raisin in comparison to a well-hydrated grape.
It's an apt analogy here too. When your skin lacks moisture, the crepey appearance is more pronounced with wrinkles. Whereas when the epidermis is flooded with moisture, it's going to look supple and smooth.
Listen, a lot of skin woes ultimately come back to one simple issue: lack of hydration. When our skin is parched, fine lines appear deeper, texture issues are more pronounced, the complexion grows dull, and thin skin looks papery. That's why finding high-quality moisturisers that provide sustained hydration is the backbone of any skin care routine, head to toe!
On the papery skin point, lack of moisture is a driving force behind crepey skin. Here's what you need to know.
What you apply is just as important as when you apply it
Derms generally recommend applying your lotion as soon as possible after washing or showering. Any time under two minutes can lock in the moisture, just don't put it off any longer than that.
If you wait too long, you miss that narrow window of opportunity to really trap and seal those nourishing ingredients in the skin before all the water evaporates off the surface, further compromising your skin, when caring for your skin microbiome. When that water evaporates (a concept known as transepidermal water loss1), it'll leave your skin even drier than it was before, especially if you rinse with hot water, which evaporates faster.
The takeaway
While crepey skin is ultimately caused by natural collagen loss over time, its appearance is made considerably worse by lack of hydration. If your skin is looking more parched lately, consider finding a more hydrating product and be sure to apply it immediately after getting skin wet.
So if you're seeing crepey skin start to appear on the backs of your hands, neck, or elsewhere on the body, take it as a sign that you need to up your moisturiser game.
 
Peppermint Tea Might Give Your Brain a Little Boost
A new UK study has found that sipping peppermint tea could help sharpen your memory and attention… at least for a short while. In the experiment, adults who drank a small cup of peppermint tea did better on a range of mental tasks compared to those given plain hot water.
Researchers used brain imaging to see what was going on and found increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex, the area involved in focus and memory. But here’s the twist: the improved blood flow didn’t actually explain why thinking improved. So something else in peppermint, possibly its natural compounds like menthol, might be giving the brain a gentle nudge.
The study involved 25 healthy adults between the ages of 20 and 56. After drinking their assigned beverage, they did a series of tasks, including remembering pictures, subtracting numbers, and recalling words. The peppermint drinkers consistently outperformed the placebo group.
Surprisingly, some in the placebo group even did a little worse the second time around, suggesting peppermint might help stave off mental fatigue.
The research doesn’t claim peppermint is a miracle cure for brain fog, but it does suggest that a cup of peppermint tea could offer a mild cognitive lift, without the need for supplements or stimulants.
More studies with larger groups are needed to see how long the effects last, but for now, this everyday herbal tea might be worth a spot in your daily routine.
Reference
Netzler, L., & Lovell, B. (2024). A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Exploring the Short-Term Cognitive and Cerebrovascular Effects of Consuming Peppermint Tea. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental. Northumbria University.
A dermatologist trick to help keep skin hydrated
The first rule of hydration is to find a robustly formulated moisturiser. Look for body lotions or hand creams rich with lipids, humectants, and antioxidants. There are many great skin-supporting ingredients to look for, such as ceramides, aloe vera, shea butter, oat extracts, botanical oils (like jojoba, moringa seed, argan, or coconut), and vitamin E. These can all soothe the skin, improve skin barrier function, and provide lasting hydration.
Best-Selling K-Beauty Brand Is the Backbone of Skincare Routine—Here's Why
1: Incredible Ingredients & Research Processes
When it comes to cutting-edge skincare discoveries and buzzy, ultra-efficacious ingredients, K-beauty brands are at the forefront of the industry. I already knew this prior to my visit to Seoul, but once I had a chance to visit Sulwhasoo's HQ and tour its laboratories, I realised just how groundbreaking the brand is when it comes to its heritage and product research. Sulwhasoo spotlights a variety of key ingredients within its skincare collections, but Korean ginseng, a superstar ingredient throughout the K-beauty arena, is, without a doubt, the brand's most studied hero ingredient.
Ginseng is a plant that contains saponin, which is a clearly effective ingredient when it comes to anti-aging. The skin benefits of this saponin ingredient through research, and as a result, the product we developed is Ginsenomics.
While Ginsenomics possesses remarkable bioactivity, it exists in very small amounts that can only be utilised by the body after being converted by digestive enzymes. Therefore, it's not naturally usable by the skin and inspired Sulwhasoo to develop a patented bioconversion technology that mimics the enzymatic process, concentrating this ingredient and allowing its efficacy to be effectively utilised in skincare.
Through ingredient research and studies, they discovered its ability to repair and strengthen damaged collagen in the skin. When utilised in a formulation, they saw that it helps visibly restore skin elasticity and lifting, resulting in hydrated and radiant skin. This is the reason that I can't get enough of the Concentrated Ginseng Collection.
Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalising Mask 120ml
2: Double-Cleansing
I'll be the first to admit that I can be lazy when it comes to my beauty routines. Sure, I'm infuriatingly picky with what I'm using, but I've always wanted to do the bare minimum and devote the least amount of time possible to my different regimens. Thus, the popular K-beauty practice of double-cleansing was never super appealing. That was until I went to Seoul and used the brand's luxurious Gentle Cleansing Oil and Gentle Cleansing Foam each night before bed. Not only did I realise how much I enjoyed the ritual of a double-cleanse, but it was also hard to ignore how much healthier my skin looked and felt.
Double-cleansing is one of the most essential steps in Korean skincare. It involves first using a cleansing oil to remove oil-based impurities like makeup, sunscreen, and excess sebum, followed by a cleansing foam to eliminate any remaining impurities.
Whether double-cleansing is already a part of your routine or you're just now dipping your toe into the ritual (like me), I can't recommend the below combination of products enough. (They're also great solo if you're not in the mood to double up or are short on time!)
Skin Care by Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam 200ml
3: Dreamy Serums & Treatments
I thought I had my skincare routine sorted, until I tried a few new serums and treatments that completely changed the game. Turns out, following a proper double cleanse with hydrating, skin-supportive ingredients makes all the difference when it comes to keeping your skin plump and luminous. I’ve been using a few key products consistently for the past nine months, and my skin has never looked so dewy, fresh, and well-rested. Hydration really is the cornerstone of that healthy, bouncy glow.
Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum (Yoon Jo Essence) / 90ml
Conclusion
Some skincare products feel luxurious from the start, velvety textures, beautiful scents, but the real test is time. Results aren’t immediate, and good skin doesn’t come from wishful thinking. After months of consistent use, though, the difference becomes clear: brighter tone, smoother texture, a kind of natural softness that sneaks up on you. Not filtered or dramatic. Just… better.
The key is consistency. And let’s be honest, it helps when the routine feels like a moment of calm rather than a daily task. When the products invite you in, not rush you out the door. That’s when skincare starts to feel less like upkeep and more like care.
Yara
Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional.
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