PLANT power
In this edition of Well & Truly, Elizabeth Barbalich tells Tyson Beckett about the stresses involved in bringing New Zealand’s purest skincare ingredients to the world and the benefits of letting go.
As the founder, CEO and owner of Antipodes Wellness, the New Zealand-based beauty brand that has made a name for itself globally for its plant-powered skincare made from naturefriendly formulations, Elizabeth Barbalich knows the benefit of embracing greens.
Incorporated as part of her daily diet, skincare routine and wider self-care approach, the Wellington resident, who “never really switches off’’, knows the difference nature makes to life’s enjoyment. Here’s how she now keeps her own wellbeing on track.
What hours do you work each day?
Each day is different depending on the schedule – we could be shooting campaign images, working on new product development, meeting suppliers or doing interviews with media on the other side of the world. If it’s a typical day in the office, I’m usually in by 9am, after I’ve done my morning exercise.
Tell us about how you exercise ...
I like to do my exercise first thing in the morning. I switch things up to keep it interesting, either an early-morning run, a dog walk, a session on the stationary bike, yoga at home or a game of squash with my partner. It sets me up for the day.
What do you have for breakfast?
I’ve started each day with a raw juice for as long as I can remember. One of my favourites is carrot, spinach, beetroot, kale, apple, parsley and ginger.
Do you have set work/life boundaries or do they merge?
Being the owner of a skincare brand means I never switch off completely, but I think I’m fairly disciplined at keeping things in perspective and making time for the other areas of my life.
What do you do for fun?
I have a large family so there is always a birthday or a wedding to attend, and I love entertaining at home – my house is an open home for our children and their friends.
What time do you go to bed at night? Do you sleep soundly?
It’s lights off by 11pm. I wouldn’t say I’m a good sleeper, but I sleep a lot better than I used to. After years of insomnia, I found that magnesium supplements are amazing for relaxing my muscles, which in turn helps me to fall asleep.
What pillar of life causes you the most stress?
I guess I have to say work, but only because that takes up most of my thinking time. I live and breathe Antipodes, seven days a week, so it’s only natural. It’s an incredibly fulfilling role with so many high points and I’m privileged to do it, but it does have its challenging moments.
What do you do to manage that stress?
I try to make sure there are small sessions of selfcare, every day. I get out into nature as much as I can – I’m lucky in Wellington that the harbour and the hills are within easy reach.
My evening skincare regime is a chance to let go of the day before I go to bed. I consider my skincare ritual as an opportunity to have a mindful moment, so I take the time to breathe deeply as I massage in my serum and moisturiser at the start of each day. I don’t rely on a set routine year-round, I switch up my regime depending on season, skin issues, hormones and diet, but right now I’m using Maya Hyaluronic 72-Hour Hydration Serum, $56, and Baptise H₂O Ultra-Hydrating Water Gel, $52, to provide some refreshing hydration.
How do you deal with the stress of failure?
My home is my haven. I enhance my wellbeing by bringing nature indoors with lots of plants and flowers, which help me to feel more positive no matter how stressful my day has been.
And how do you deal with stressed employees, and colleagues?
We work in a very fast-paced, agile environment, but our award-winning Wellington HQ is also set up for fun – there’s a pool table, library and casual seating area away from the office space. The team do regular stress-busting activities such as ‘monthly moseys’, where they take all the office dogs to the harbour for a long walk.
Favourite free stress-buster?
My partner and I have recently built a yoga studio at home in Wainuiomata. It’s surrounded by native bush, so it’s a wonderful place to practise yoga and mindfulness, as you listen to the birdlife.
What’s been the biggest change you’ve made when it comes to looking after your health, mental health and wellbeing?
I love what I do, but lately I’ve been making a concerted effort to take more breaks away. My favourite destinations to relax and recharge are Queenstown and Bali.