Need to Know
05 : 10 : 21

US – Catering for the lifestyle needs of US families, the personal assistant streamlines everyday tasks to give parents more free time. Available as an app and online platform, Yohana assigns subscribers dedicated assistants to help with tasks such as online shopping, scheduling appointments and planning a weekend getaway.

The service ensures a convenient approach to daily planning, even taking into account personal information such as children’s clothing sizes. By combining human input with data systems and intuitive tools, Yohana offers an accessible form of support for young parents who may be struggling to move past the shocks of the pandemic. ‘My vision for Yohana is to create products and services that are personal and enhance wellbeing for mums and families. We're starting with the Yohana Membership,’ says Yoky Matsuoka, founder and CEO of Yohana.

With many Millennial parents struggling to keep up with daily demands such as at-home education, they’re looking to technology brands to help manage daily family life. Such initiatives show how the idea of Brand Parents is evolving to reflect the needs of modern consumers.

UK – Skincare brand Pelegrims is transforming waste ingredients from wine-making into beauty products. By using by-products from the wine-making process, such as waste grape seeds, skins and stems, the brand can create antioxidant-rich extracts for its facial oil, facial balm, hand cleanser and hand pomade.

Pelegrims is recognising how food and drink by-products can double as active skincare ingredients – while also supporting wine-makers as they move towards a zero-waste future. ‘Our intention is to formulate low-intervention, active skincare formulations that work in harmony with the skin, supporting it to heal and rejuvenate itself,’ explains Alex Verier, co-founder of Pelegrims. ‘Sustainability is hugely important to us, so using waste products from the wine-making process and harnessing the powerful grape extracts are at the core of our brand and our future research.’

For years, we've been tracking the rise of by-product beauty, as more skincare brands convert waste ingredients into desirable items that cater for eco-conscious consumers.

While India has previously been considered one of the happiest nations in the world, research from Ipsos shows that mental health is declining among Indian citizens. The research identifies three main causes for the decline: mass digitisation, the impact of the pandemic and growing urban pressures.

According to the Ipsos Global Health Monitor 2020, just 66% of Indians would describe themselves as ‘very happy or ‘rather happy’. While globally the percentage of people reporting to be happy in 2020 has fallen by 14 points compared to 2011, in India this has fallen more than 20 percentage points.

With more Indians now living and working in urban areas, this has resulted in an increase in traffic congestion and noise pollution, which is in turn leading to higher levels of stress and anxiety. To combat this, brands and businesses are prioritising efforts to improve Urban Wellness.