#DestinationHappiness by Swisse @ Wanderlust108

This weekend I had the opportunity to check out the Philly Wanderlust 108. I’ve never been to a Wanderlust event before - it was good to see what’s going on in the wellness-event-world outside of GOOD Fest. Sometimes I am too buried in what we are doing.

To be clear - I don’t run. I injured my back a few years ago (herniated disc) and have been terrified to do anything high-impact ever since. So I didn’t participate in the active-activities - I just went to check out the Kula Market and to see @kate.van.horn.

Swisse is the No.1 supplement brand in Australia and after doing some research, I was super intrigued with by their formulas so I really wanted to check them out and meet their brand reps. If you are reading this, and a Wanderlust 108 is coming to your city - you should 100% go! This entire activation will be present at your event, too (you can even win tickets to go to Wanderlust 108 with Swisse at destinationswisse.com)

First of all - their #DestinationHappiness activation was stunning. We see a lot of nice work at the GOOD Fest, but this was just beautiful and so well-thought-out. They organized their space into a few different areas based on ways to take care of the SELF. First was a Botanical Wall, where I used an iPad to take a quiz, resulting in a personalized recommendation for supplements (looks like I am doing pretty well - just a multi-v for me!)

Here, I was also able to speak with Pippa, who was running the event and is based in their new US office in San Diego (jealous). She had the most delightful accent and was super knowledgeable about the formulas (which I will explain below).

Did you know - their entire office meditates DAILY? Talk about living what you preach.

What I find really interesting is that Swisse supplements work to help your body do things on it’s own. Your body is supposed to produce melatonin for sleep, your body is supposed to produce collagen for hair skin and nails. Swisse formulas help your body do these things instead of just skipping those steps completely and supplementing you with them directly.

Also! They are very specific about their standards (Australia...well, the rest of the world, really...is under very strict guidelines for supplement safety which Swisse adheres to). And, they source their ingredients really specifically, with intent. Blood oranges come from Sicily - because they are the best. Artichoke comes from Spain - because it is the best product. Etc.

Anyway, here’s what I learned (or, relearned…) after talking with the brand:

• SLEEP - so important for every function of wellness, right? - from daily energy, to long-term memory, to radiance of the skin. Swisse has a sleep supplement that is melatonin-free. (I am not saying that melatonin is bad, but it is synthetic). This formula, instead, includes natural herbs and vitamins (like valerian root), which work together to lower cortisol. This means it could help you fall asleep and stay asleep. (NOTE! I’ve seen a small percentage of people who have the opposite effect from valerian root - ie anxiety - so be sure to test it out before you commit)

• HAIR, SKIN, NAILS - Swisse has a liquid and tablet to help in this area. The liquid, I find especially fascinating. It includes blood orange extract from Sicily (only Sicily) - and the vitamin C in it helps the body naturally produce collagen instead of just supplementing with collagen and skipping this step. Collagen is a key building block for shiny hair, supple skin and strong nails.

• DETOX - Liver, especially. The liver eliminates toxins from our bodies - diet, pollution, stress, or too many cocktails. Swisse has a Liver Detox supplement containing turmeric, milk thistle, and ARTICHOKE extract (from Spain, again very carefully and thoughtfully sourced). These ingredients have been used for centuries to aid the liver in the detox function but I had NO IDEA that artichoke was a major player! Did you? How cool.

• There are tons of other options, too - from Children’s Health to Men’s Health to Cranberry extracts - your best bet is to take their quiz and see what you might be lacking. From here, read up on the ingredients and the mission of the company and how it sources, and decide what is best for you!

After I became obsessed with their vitamins, I found the perfect spot to re-center amidst the #Wanderlust108 crowds - the Dream Dome. The last time I was in a dome, I was playing indoor soccer in high school. This one was way different;  SO beautifully appointed, with comfortable chairs, blankets, essential oils diffusing, and floral accessories hanging down. Each headset played a guided 5-minute meditation, which was perfect to jump into and out of (and is actually the max amount I do daily at home). Ideally I could have stayed here all day, but I only had a babysitter for a few hours :-P

There was a yoga teacher present, doing private sessions with attendees. She was showing everyone how to detox and cleanse with specific Ashtanga yoga poses. She told me that a group of people came to do yoga with her instead of the massive 108 session - SMART people.

Were you at Wanderlust? Are you planning to go to any of the upcoming events? Check out #DestinationHappiness for a little reprieve, if so!

FYI This post is sponsored, but all opinions are my own