I know.
Life has a way of rushing by, and in the quiet in-between, I realised how much I’ve missed connecting with you — not just about skincare or products, but about the why behind Vanderohe. The slower pace, the small moments, the beauty found in nature and within ourselves.
Over the past couple of years, as I’ve juggled motherhood, built a new business in the background, and tried to rebuild my health and energy after Covid, returning to simplicity has felt more vital than ever. It’s what’s kept me grounded. It’s also what continues to inspire everything I create.
So, I'm starting this weekly round-up — a gentle note from me to you — to share what’s been nourishing me, from the ground up, and shaping the heart of this brand. A window into the world behind the bottle.
I hope it brings some calm, inspiration and a deeper sense of connection.
Olivia x
BTS
We’re about to go to print with our beautiful new packaging. It’s been a long road with pauses and pivots, but we’ve finally landed on a design that perfectly reflects how Vanderohe has evolved. It feels like the brand is getting a long-awaited dose of exciting new energy.
Roots
There’s something deeply healing about tending to the garden, even in the smallest way, and an easy (and inexpensive) trick to make your garden, terrace or balcony come to life and bring you instant fulfilment is with geraniums. This week, I replanted old geranium stems from last year, ones that looked half-lost but were still clinging to life. With just a little care and attention, they’ve rooted, bloomed, and now spill their joy across our terrace.
It’s reminded me how closely our own health mirrors the garden: we don’t always have to start over — sometimes we just need to slow down, nourish what’s already there, and allow space to grow again.
Body
A few weeks ago, my eldest son began reacting quite severely to a tree at school, returning home each afternoon with eyes so sore and swollen he could barely see. Antihistamines and eye drops offered little relief, and we were at a loss — until a friend suggested trying a simple ice roller. I picked up an inexpensive one, kept it in the freezer, and gently rolled it over his eyes each evening. Remarkably, it was far more effective than any of the conventional remedies we’d tried.
Since then, I’ve adopted the ritual myself. Each morning, I use the ice roller as a kind of at-home cryotherapy, instantly soothing my tired eyes. So simple and far more sustainable than single-use eye masks.
Long Haul
As some of you might know, I’ve been on a slow healing journey over the past few years after suffering from Long Covid. It's been a pretty brutal journey, but has opened my eyes to the potential benefits of all those annoying, but probably rather effective, longevity hacks. Given that the chronic pain and dysautonomia I developed from Long Covid likely shares its root cause(s) with a whole range of other health issues some of you might be struggling with, I will share my guinea-pigging here.
First up is hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT. I’ve recently started an 8-week course: two sessions a week in a soft chamber at 1.3-1.5 ATA pressure level, for 20-30 mins. During each session, you lie inside a pressurised chamber and breathe in pure oxygen while your body absorbs it at a deeper level to support healing and regeneration. Adjusting to the increasing pressure is the only slightly uncomfortable part, but you soon get used to it. Two sessions in, I definitely feel a lift in my energy levels, but increasing to 1.5 ATA proved too much for me (muscle cramping), so I'll be sticking to 1.3 for the time being.
Mind
I've just finished reading True and False Magic by Phil Stutz, an exploration of the hidden forces that shape our lives. Stutz blends practical psychology with a touch of mysticism, offering tools that feel both grounded and surprisingly empowering. It’s the kind of book that invites you to rethink how you face challenges — preferably head-on and with creativity. A refreshing read for anyone curious about personal growth beyond the usual self-help fare.
