What Is Holistic Self-Care? ALUNA beauty with Alejandra Ramirez
What Is Holistic Self-Care? Looking Beyond Skincare with Alejandra Ramirez
We often think of self-care in terms of the things we do to improve our appearance. A skincare routine, a facial treatment, a new product, or a little time spent in front of the mirror. But what if taking care of ourselves begins somewhere deeper?
In a recent episode of the Simon Vadelma Podcast, I sat down with Alejandra Ramirez, holistic skincare specialist and founder of Aluna Beauty in Amsterdam, to explore the idea of holistic self-care — what it means, why it matters, and how our relationship with beauty might change when we look beyond the surface.
Beauty Is More Than Appearance
Beauty is often presented as something we need to achieve. Trends change, new products appear, and social media constantly introduces us to new standards and expectations. It can become difficult to separate what we genuinely enjoy from what we feel encouraged to pursue.
For Alejandra, a holistic approach to beauty is about looking at the person as a whole rather than focusing only on the skin. It considers the connection between our physical well-being, emotional state, daily habits, and the way we experience ourselves. This perspective invites a different question. Instead of asking only how we can look better, perhaps we should also ask how we can feel better. That doesn’t mean appearance becomes unimportant. It simply becomes one part of a much bigger picture.
The Importance of Feeling Safe and Taking Time for Yourself
One idea that stood out during our conversation was the relationship between well-being and the environment in which we receive care. Alejandra describes her approach to beauty through the idea that a treatment should begin with a sense of safety. It is not only about the products used or the technique involved, but also about the experience itself.
In a world where so much of our time is spent moving between responsibilities, notifications, and different demands for our attention, moments of genuine calm can become surprisingly rare. A treatment, a quiet morning routine, or simply putting aside some time for yourself can offer an opportunity to slow down. Perhaps self-care does not always need to be another task to complete. Sometimes, it is about allowing ourselves to pause.
Well-Aging Instead of Anti-Aging
We also discussed the language surrounding aging and the expectations placed on our appearance. The beauty industry has traditionally placed a great deal of emphasis on anti-aging. The expression itself suggests that aging is something to resist or correct. But what happens when we approach it differently? The idea of well-aging offers another perspective. Rather than treating the natural process of getting older as a problem, it places more attention on maintaining healthy habits, caring for our skin, and feeling comfortable with ourselves throughout different stages of life.
It is a subtle but meaningful change in perspective. The goal is not necessarily to look younger, but to take care of ourselves in a way that supports our well-being over time.
Finding Your Own Definition of Beauty
Another interesting part of our conversation was Alejandra’s perspective on beauty, shaped in part by her Colombian roots and her experiences living in different countries. Our ideas about beauty are influenced by the cultures we grow up in, the people around us, and the environments we become part of. They also change as we gain new experiences.
Yet, with social media making trends and comparisons part of everyday life, it can be easy to lose sight of our own preferences. There is nothing wrong with enjoying beauty trends or discovering new ways to care for ourselves. The important distinction is whether something genuinely resonates with us or whether we are simply following an expectation.
Finding your own definition of beauty might begin with being a little more selective about the voices you listen to.
Building Something of Your Own
Beyond beauty and skincare, we also spoke about Alejandra’s journey as an entrepreneur and the story behind Aluna Beauty in Amsterdam. Starting a business involves much more than having a good idea. It means making decisions without always knowing the outcome, learning through experience, and finding a way forward when things become challenging.
We discussed what inspired her to create something of her own, the realities of building a business, and the decisions involved in creating a life in a new country. Her story adds another dimension to the conversation: self-care is also connected to the choices we make about the lives we want to build.
A Different Way of Thinking About Self-Care
It can begin with paying a little more attention to what makes us feel good, understanding what our bodies need, and creating small moments of space in our everyday lives. Beauty can be part of that experience, but it doesn’t have to define it. Ultimately, taking care of ourselves is not simply about changing how we look. It is also about developing a more thoughtful relationship with ourselves.
Listen to the Full Conversation
If you would like to hear more about holistic beauty, skincare, well-aging, entrepreneurship, and Alejandra’s journey, you can watch or listen to the full conversation on the Simon Vadelma Podcast.
Guest: Alejandra Ramirez
Founder: Aluna Beauty, Amsterdam
Visit Aluna Beauty: https://alunabeauty.nl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alunabeauty.nl/
Watch the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjHy1jysVx0
What Is Holistic Self-Care? Looking Beyond Skincare with Alejandra Ramirez
We often think of self-care in terms of the things we do to improve our appearance. A skincare routine, a facial treatment, a new product, or a little time spent in front of the mirror. But what if taking care of ourselves begins somewhere deeper?
In a recent episode of the Simon Vadelma Podcast, I sat down with Alejandra Ramirez, holistic skincare specialist and founder of Aluna Beauty in Amsterdam, to explore the idea of holistic self-care — what it means, why it matters, and how our relationship with beauty might change when we look beyond the surface.
Beauty Is More Than Appearance
Beauty is often presented as something we need to achieve. Trends change, new products appear, and social media constantly introduces us to new standards and expectations. It can become difficult to separate what we genuinely enjoy from what we feel encouraged to pursue.
For Alejandra, a holistic approach to beauty is about looking at the person as a whole rather than focusing only on the skin. It considers the connection between our physical well-being, emotional state, daily habits, and the way we experience ourselves. This perspective invites a different question. Instead of asking only how we can look better, perhaps we should also ask how we can feel better. That doesn’t mean appearance becomes unimportant. It simply becomes one part of a much bigger picture.
The Importance of Feeling Safe and Taking Time for Yourself
One idea that stood out during our conversation was the relationship between well-being and the environment in which we receive care. Alejandra describes her approach to beauty through the idea that a treatment should begin with a sense of safety. It is not only about the products used or the technique involved, but also about the experience itself.
In a world where so much of our time is spent moving between responsibilities, notifications, and different demands for our attention, moments of genuine calm can become surprisingly rare. A treatment, a quiet morning routine, or simply putting aside some time for yourself can offer an opportunity to slow down. Perhaps self-care does not always need to be another task to complete. Sometimes, it is about allowing ourselves to pause.
Well-Aging Instead of Anti-Aging
We also discussed the language surrounding aging and the expectations placed on our appearance. The beauty industry has traditionally placed a great deal of emphasis on anti-aging. The expression itself suggests that aging is something to resist or correct. But what happens when we approach it differently? The idea of well-aging offers another perspective. Rather than treating the natural process of getting older as a problem, it places more attention on maintaining healthy habits, caring for our skin, and feeling comfortable with ourselves throughout different stages of life.
It is a subtle but meaningful change in perspective. The goal is not necessarily to look younger, but to take care of ourselves in a way that supports our well-being over time.
Finding Your Own Definition of Beauty
Another interesting part of our conversation was Alejandra’s perspective on beauty, shaped in part by her Colombian roots and her experiences living in different countries. Our ideas about beauty are influenced by the cultures we grow up in, the people around us, and the environments we become part of. They also change as we gain new experiences.
Yet, with social media making trends and comparisons part of everyday life, it can be easy to lose sight of our own preferences. There is nothing wrong with enjoying beauty trends or discovering new ways to care for ourselves. The important distinction is whether something genuinely resonates with us or whether we are simply following an expectation.
Finding your own definition of beauty might begin with being a little more selective about the voices you listen to.
Building Something of Your Own
Beyond beauty and skincare, we also spoke about Alejandra’s journey as an entrepreneur and the story behind Aluna Beauty in Amsterdam. Starting a business involves much more than having a good idea. It means making decisions without always knowing the outcome, learning through experience, and finding a way forward when things become challenging.
We discussed what inspired her to create something of her own, the realities of building a business, and the decisions involved in creating a life in a new country. Her story adds another dimension to the conversation: self-care is also connected to the choices we make about the lives we want to build.
A Different Way of Thinking About Self-Care
It can begin with paying a little more attention to what makes us feel good, understanding what our bodies need, and creating small moments of space in our everyday lives. Beauty can be part of that experience, but it doesn’t have to define it. Ultimately, taking care of ourselves is not simply about changing how we look. It is also about developing a more thoughtful relationship with ourselves.
Listen to the Full Conversation
If you would like to hear more about holistic beauty, skincare, well-aging, entrepreneurship, and Alejandra’s journey, you can watch or listen to the full conversation on the Simon Vadelma Podcast.
Guest: Alejandra Ramirez
Founder: Aluna Beauty, Amsterdam
Visit Aluna Beauty: https://alunabeauty.nl/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alunabeauty.nl/
Watch the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjHy1jysVx0
