The Backstory

My journey into beauty and wellness first began when I did exercise physiology for a year at Wollongong University. That drew me to anatomy and physiology, thanks to an amazing lecturer, Mark Brown. I then moved to the University of Sydney, where I studied chiropractic with a major in anatomy and physiology. This included comprehensive subjects like medicine, radiography, and pathology, working with cadavers and in wet labs, to really understand head and neck anatomy.

I then worked in the pharmaceutical industry, which was insightful in understanding mental health. I later fell ill and began mixing my own oils, sparking my love for oils and their impact on the skin. I studied clinical aromatherapy, craniosacral therapy, and various other modalities. Eventually, I studied Chinese medicine, which integrated my interests in treating both the mind and body.

The product side of the business began by mistake – it literally grew out of demand from my patients. I started out making bespoke oils and teas, because I’m always treating internally and externally, and then patients would want to take home the cleanser or whatever product it is that I’d used. I would give it to them, come home, make some more, and my husband was like, “That’s not a very good business model”. So we put labels on them and did a website and that was the start of what I do. We’ve been so lucky in that our retailers and everything have all come to us and so things have grown very much by word-of-mouth.

The Evolution of de Mamiel

We had a small PR agency, who just got what we were trying to do, and really that was it. Everything else was through treatments, through patients, and through recommendations. And that’s exactly how the business has grown – we don’t have a marketing and sales team.

Chris and I were on a holiday on the West Coast of America and we received an email from Goop saying, “We love your oils, can we talk? We’d like to start stocking them”. And I’m like, how did they find our products? And we went back to say we’re going to be in Los Angeles on Monday, we can meet with you. And it was actually fortuitous that Gwyneth was moving out of their pool house into their first office, so we met and they stocked us. And that pattern has happened again: people have found the products, talked about them, and that’s it.

The inspiration for our seasonal oil is to give people the tools they need to ease the stress in their life – because I’m never going to be able to completely take that stress away. What I can do in terms of my findings as a practitioner, is share the best tools to be able to make alleviating stress easier. And I think still to this day, that is why I do what I do. For me it’s not about creating another oil because there are a thousand lovely oils out there. This is really about bringing it back to how to ease the stress in your life, whether that’s through scent and smell and the limbic system and the brain, whether it’s through the soundtracks that we’ve created, or turning a mundane skincare routine into a ritual that gives results that you actually see on your skin. It is all about that level of education to help ease stress.

The Philosophy

Everything in terms of the treatment and the products is about trying to get to the root of the problem and understanding the why because otherwise we just put band-aids on things and it just keeps coming back. We can mask it and cover it up for a long time, but my aim is to always reduce it and get to the core of the problem and the root of the problem. And so that’s what we do with each treatment.

Breathwork is another integral part of our philosophy because it’s the only conscious way to affect the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, which is all about cortisol and the flight, fright and freeze complex. And so there’s real reason behind it. It’s not sort of just a lovely little added extra, we are doing it to actually change the internal chemistry and to begin to slow us down and to switch off.

Every treatment I do will be different, even if I’ve seen you before. Our hormones are different every time. Our cycles are different every time, our age is different, the amount of stress in our life is very different. And so it’s really about listening to what my patient is saying and then listening to their body through the tongue, the pulse and the cranial sacral fluid – things like that. And really getting to understand what they need to help trigger a rebalance. In a treatment I might do craniosacral, acupuncture, tuning forks, and then all of that informs me of what to do on your skin and how to work through your skin. And then you’ll always get take home lessons and what to do. So it’s just varied, everything is different each time.

The Challenges And What’s Next

What surprised me about setting up my own supplements is how few labs were willing to manufacture without cheap fillers. Some fillers are functional, for example magnesium is a very sticky nutrient so without a little bit of the filler it will stick to the capsule and clump and the dissolvability is bad. Most people will use a very chemical filler to help to negate that, whereas we use brown rice flour, which I think is better than talc or a titanium base filler. So my challenge was trying to find labs that would work with the standard we had, which is that it has to be as natural as possible.

One of the biggest surprises has been the heartfelt feedback from our customers. When we launched Gravity Fix, we received handwritten letters from people detailing how the product had transformed their skin. This level of gratitude and personal connection is incredibly rewarding.

In terms of what’s next for de Mamiel, there are lots of exciting things happening and incredible opportunities, but for me it’s just about helping more people. I mean that sounds really corny, but without that level of education and giving people the tools, then I’m not going to be able to help them, which is I guess why the actual product side of it started because I can’t see everybody and do it all myself. Being able to get the word out and help people – that’s what it all comes down to in the end.

The Advice

1. Be proactive about your health and wellness: We often wait until we feel bad to invest, but actively focusing on how you want to feel is the best way to stay resilient and thrive. I now have a standing desk and try to be mindful of just moving when I can. I try to walk 8-9km a day and run a lot but the standing desk has made such a difference, my back hurts less, I don’t get as hungry…I think there are small things you can do that really make a change.

2. Support yourself with good quality supplements: The basic ones that I tend to go through with most patients are probiotics, but really, really, really good ones. There are very few brands that make a really good impact on the skin and they are brilliant and they can be a game changer in terms of if you suffer from skin barrier problems. I love Seed and The Nue Co and Symprove. You see a real change with Vitamin D, especially living in England where we don’t get a lot of it. And then an Omega also really helps.

3. Prioritise rest and recovery: We are in such a rush to get back to the ‘norm’ whether it’s after illness or pregnancy but there’s a period that your body needs to recover. Even if it’s recovery between workouts, after a period of stress or grief or from an illness. I think it’s a big part of what’s missing from our health right now. Recovery is one of the most underrated tools we use.

4. Be in it for the long-term: Be consistent and think of health as a daily practice. We never get what we want out of it if we dip in and out of it with the seasons. Find healthy food that you love and take the time to experiment and make it taste incredible. Food is pleasure. It’s all about balance and enjoying the moment the process. So I’m not going to say, don’t drink coffee. Have it, enjoy it, enjoy making it and the smell and the taste and that pleasure far outweighs any negatives of what that one coffee will do.

5. Include mindset as one of your health pillars: Creating a positive, beneficial mindset will influence your biology and have a knock-on effect on the rest of your goals. Look after your systemic health: movement, rest and recovery plus nutrition. Proactively cultivate this balance and say every three months spend time doing a cleanse and chill and have massages – not in a panic “I’ve been bad so need to cleanse way” – do it in a way that’s about self-care and helping you to get out of any up and down spirals. Plan in some time for you – it’s just about doing the things that make you feel so good, things that fuel you in a nourishing way.

6. Breathwork: I start the day with some breath work, especially because I’m not the best sleeper in the world, I never have been. So I will always begin with doing some breath work, generally with an oil to help that and increase the depth. But one of the funny things that I get my patients to do is, I get them to go and buy a packet of red dot stickers and put them on their computer or on their phone or on their wallet or on a light switch. And when you see a sticker, you stop and pause and breathe. And so when you then are out and about and you see a red stoplight or the red man at a crossing, you then subconsciously pause and you breathe and you reset.

The Kit

Skincare Routine:

1. Brightening Cleansing Oil: I use this in the morning to start my day fresh.
2. Multi-Active HydraMist: A hydrating mist that I use after cleansing.
3. First Fix: This is a cortisol product that helps manage stress effects on my skin.
4. Skin Nectar SPF 30: I always finish my morning routine with this SPF, which also has a tint to even out my skin tone.
5. Cleansing Balm (Night): At night, I use this to thoroughly cleanse my skin.
6. Gravity Fix: I follow up with this oil at night to nourish my skin.
7. Skin Recovery: I tend to get inflamed due to stress, so this product helps bring that down.

Makeup:

1. Foundation: I’m not great at makeup. I’m actually really lazy, which was why I put the tint in our SPF because it evens a skin tone without coverage, so I don’t have a foundation.
2. Concealer: I have the Gucci Westman Vital Skin Foundation Stick. I love her stuff, it’s really, really lovely.
3. Lipstick: I don’t wear lipstick very often, but when I do, it’s a Chanel Rouge Allure one that’s a sort of red/crimson. It’s so out there for me, but it makes me feel like I’ve been hanging out in the car kissing all day.
4. Mascara: At the moment, I’m using Gucci Westman’s Eye Want You. It’s really difficult to find a good mascara.

Secret Weapon: Altitude Oil – it literally lives in my handbag and whenever I just need a clear head or I’m feeling a little bit hemmed in and congested, then it saves the day. I put some on a tissue and tuck it in my bra, so I’m smelling it all day.

Favorite Products: First Fix and Gravity Fix and I change between the two depending on what I need and where I am. In LA, everyone needs brightening, so I reach for Fatigue Fix. In New York, it’s Gravity or First Fix, and in London, it’s Gravity Fix.

Biggest Indulgence: My Higher Dose PEMF Mat. I’ve been using one for a long time and recently upgraded. It has LED, PEMF, crystals, and near-infrared heating. It’s a spend but makes a significant difference, especially when feeling overwhelmed.

Best Budget Buy: Arkive Shampoo. I adore Adam Reed and what he’s done and Arkive shampoo is my go-to.

Beauty Advice: It’s got to be sunscreen. There is no question about the damage that the sun can do, even when we’re unaware of it. Always wear sunscreen.

Signature Scent: I don’t wear perfume  but I do use a drop of rose essential oil.

Red Carpet Transformer: Bamboo Sheet Masks. I soak them in The Mist and apply over a layer of Gravity Fix or First Fix for a quick, effective boost. It hydrates, plumps, and radiates the skin, perfect for an event.

The Experts

The Experts

Hairdressers: Tony at Salon Sloane for colour, and Adam Reed for cuts.

I’ve got three lovely, lovely, lovely guys who I’ve been seeing for many, many years. Tony Culver at Salon Sloane does my colour, and Adam Reed cuts my hair. They’re such therapists, it’s an incredible experience.

Facials: Anastasia Achilleos and Katie Light

I haven’t seen a facialist in so long, but Anastasia Achilleos is amazing, with magical hands. I also work a lot with Katie Light, a lovely therapist who does body work and everything in Brighton.

Dermatologist: 

I’m actually on the lookout for a good dermatologist. I do my annual skin checks and things like that, but I haven’t found anyone specific yet.

Workout Spot: Peloton 

I’m a Peloton girl. I like it because it’s there, and when I’m traveling, I can put on the app and do my yoga or Pilates, whatever is needed. I’ve always been a runner and used to do quite a lot of running and triathlons, but yeah, I’m a bit of a Peloton girl.

Manicurist/Pedicurist: Various locations

Wherever I can get in. It’s interesting being in the country where you don’t have a regular spot. When I dash into London, it’s usually for work and always quite rushed. I’ve been back in England for 10-15 years and still haven’t found a regular place, so it’s often just an emergency stop.

Masseuse: Perry James

Perry James, who has been in my black book for years, is an absolute angel.

Chiropractor: Dominic Cheetham at Sloan Square Chiropractic

For chiropractic treatments, I see Dominic Cheetham, who I’ve literally been seeing since I moved to this country 23 years ago. He is just magic. He’s a crucial part of my wellness routine and has kept me aligned and feeling my best for decades.

Best Beauty or Spa Treatment:

Every time I go to New York, I get an amazing massage treatment at The Greenwich Hotel. It’s extraordinary, and I tell everyone about it. It involves a whole body treatment and a bit of massage in various ways. When you get off the table, you literally feel 10 feet tall and just free. It’s amazing.

Favourite Spa Destination: Four Seasons in Anguilla

I did a residency at the Four Seasons in Anguilla two years in a row, and it was amazing. The place is just off the charts, with beautiful sunshine in January, which is gorgeous. There are many places on my wish list, but the Four Seasons in Anguilla is definitely up there.

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