Connecting Mind and Body with the Eleos Nourishing Body Cleanser
I’m hardly the best at sitting still with my thoughts, but having sensory rituals to ground your day makes it a little easier.
To celebrate the launch of Aesop’s Eleos Nourishing Body Cleanser, we had the pleasure of attending a private yoga class on the outskirts of town that embodied what it meant to connect body, mind and soul.
On a delightfully sunny but not suffocatingly warm day (a rarity for April in Hong Kong), we set off early for Central Pier 3 to Discovery Bay. I’m an easy victim of motion sickness, but thankfully, the ferry dropped us off soon after a gentle, pleasant ride, and we caught a local bus to the north, where YogaUp’s studio is.
In an unfamiliar environment, our bodies often go into a hyper-aware mode that accentuates senses we don’t usually rely on, like hearing and scent. But over the years, I discovered that you can flip it around to your advantage, allowing you to be ever-present in the moment by taking all the minute details in. It’s why, as an infrequent and irregular yoga practitioner, I enjoy exploring independent yoga studios; they always have the power to jolt me back to the present.
Chau Kei was ever so gentle in prodding us, and after a much-needed stretching class (I blame my long hours at the desk), I washed away the stickiness with the new Eleos Nourishing Body Cleanser, the perfect pick-me-up to end a morning yoga session.
Eleos Nourishing Body Cleanser
Texture: Creamy, comforting emulsion
Aroma: Herbaceous, woody, spicy
Key ingredients: Cedar atlas, patchouli, clove bud
What it does: Leaves skin cleansed, soft and supple
I’ve been a longtime fan of Aesop’s Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser; its green citrusy notes slice through the humidity like an instant mood-lifter, and I was curious how the new Eleos would compare. After eight years of experimentation, the shower curtain rises on Aesop’s first-ever cream body cleanser, which comes in a squeeze tube and a large, refillable pump bottle.
The Eleos Nourishing Body Cleanser shares the warm, evocative scent and delightful lilac packaging of its sibling released last year, the Eleos Aromatique Hand Balm, but reincarnated in body cleanser form. Aesop does botanical scents so well (they’re a hallmark of the brand, really), it was unsurprising that the blend of cedar atlas and patchouli with a hint of spicy clove turned out unisex but not uncomfortably overpowering like many men’s shower gels. More importantly, the cleanser’s creamy consistency glides and lathers easily, and thanks to emollients like shea butter, jojoba seed, and vitamin E, it gently cleanses without stripping away moisture, leaving a supple touch in its wake. Follow up with a generous dash of the matching balm to areas like the elbows, knees, and the soles of your feet so they get a little extra TLC before bedtime.
I often oscillate between two extreme modes: dashing to the shower immediately after a long day or procrastinating until the last minute before bed. Either way, it feels more like a chore (ask any Asian girl with long hair) than a private moment in a self-care ritual. That is precisely what I have to work on: having an intentional approach to bathing. I don’t have to contemplate the world’s greatest mysteries or work through my to-do list for the next day. Instead, enjoy a brief interlude by connecting body and mind in calm and care beyond the yoga mat. Is the water delightfully hot? Does the water rain down on your face? Do the suds feel smooth slipping through your fingers? Perfect. The simplest acts in our day can be sensorial and joyfully poetic if you let them.
The Dance and Music
For the cleanser’s launch, Aesop commissioned Nayoung Kim, a dancer of Tanztheater Wuppertal, to choreograph a uniquely energetic performance. It’s a celebration of not just the cleanser but also of showering itself, highlighting the splashing, lathering and rinsing, messy but playful moments often overlooked.
If you need help getting into the groove of showering, check out Aesop’s ‘Songs for Showering’ playlist for added inspiration. Its diverse selection of hot rhythms and soft soundscapes allows just enough time for your body to warm up, test the acoustics, and clean between your toes.
“Music is the language of the spirit.”
For transparency, the post features press products kindly gifted by the PR team but without an obligation to share on the blog. This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we receive a commission when you click the links and make a purchase.
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