7 Secrets of Beauty & Wellbeing: Yolanda Wetteland
Yolanda Wetteland, founder of and ‘heart’ behind trii, has quite some story. Born in Odessa, Ukraine, to a Zimbabwean mother and an Angolan, soon after she was born, Yolanda was sent to live with her late grandparents, both teachers in Zimbabwe, while her mother was studying.
Later, Yolanda moved to Leeds to live with her mother, who was by then juggling two jobs as a sales assistant and a cleaner while continuing to study as a social worker. As she says: ‘I grew up in a very strict environment and the take-home message from that upbringing is always strive for the best for yourself and everyone around you.’
Her own career journey is impressive. As Yolanda says, ‘My first job was as a sales associate at TKMAXX whilst studying BSc Medical Biochemistry at the University of Huddersfield. After completing my studies, I started working in cosmetics regulations and soon realised I had a passion for the beauty industry.’
Yolanda worked for SpaceNK, Charlotte Tilbury, and most recently served as Global Regulatory and Technical Director at ELEMIS, before launching her brand TRII, which is helping to drive the plastic-free beauty revolution with solid products – body washes, body exfoliations and body moisturisers – all of them vegan, cruelty-free and featuring truly fabulous scents, all designed to help us simplify our beauty regimes.
Yolanda’s a perfect candidate, then, to share the tips, philosophies and guidance that works to help keep her balanced and healthy, as she juggles building trii with motherhood.
I’ve learned to be kind to myself. Being a full-time working mother of two can be quite challenging, even on the easiest days. Therefore, I make sure I carve out some ‘me time’ to reset and recharge. Taking time and being kind to myself allows me to perform better in all aspects of my life as I’m not constantly stressed out and exhausted.
You really need to slow down for self-care. Like so many people who are juggling and leading busy lifestyles, over the last few years I found myself wanting to find time to slow down in all aspects of my life. We don’t all have the luxury to take a morning or an afternoon off here and there, but we can create little moments of ‘me time’ in our daily lives. This became my inspiration behind my brand trii – to create a simple, streamlined, three-step, self-care ritual using a luxurious body cleanser, exfoliator and moisturiser, all in solid form and infused with the most divine scents, designed to trigger your senses and enhance your mood. From calming lavender, uplifting lemongrass, soothing rose, energising peppermint and enticing incense, trii’s solid body care trios (£26 for the three, at trii.co.uk) help transform daily habits, like taking a shower before taking the kids to school, into a self-care ritual.
I make it a habit to reflect on my successes and my failures, and pay heed to any advice I have received throughout my life. Through this practice, I have gained a deeper appreciation for my journey and the valuable lessons learned along the way, which aid me in making informed decisions for the future. Reflection allows me to pause and avoid hasty decision-making.
I exercise for my mind. Exercise is essential not only for my physical health, but my mental health too. As someone who spends most of their days sitting and thinking behind a computer screen, I’ve found that exercise helps me break out of that sedentary mindset and leaves me feeling more positive and invigorated to take on the day. Plus, exercising also encourages me to eat healthier, which, in turn, helps me maintain focus throughout the day. It’s a win-win!
Spending time with family and friends is essential for me to maintain a work-life balance. Whenever I catch up with my family and friends, we laugh, eat good food, relax and just enjoy each other’s company. We can easily spend hours just chatting about our past experiences, current happenings, and future plans. Plus, some of the best life advice I have received is from my loved ones!
I have come to embrace the saying, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.’ I have faced numerous unexpected challenges in life, and there have been moments when I felt overwhelmed and questioned everything. However, despite setbacks, I have never allowed anything to keep me down for too long. I have always found ways to be resilient, learn from my mistakes and seek out opportunities to overcome adversity. I’ve learned success cannot come without set backs, which has allowed me to stay motivated and keep on going.
I believe we have to live our life and enjoy it. Life is meant to be experienced, not just endured. I used to delay pursuing my desires, always waiting for the ‘right time’. Then I realised, there may never be a ‘perfect’ time to act on my dreams. So, I have started to embrace living my life to the fullest and enjoying each moment. If there is something you want to do, go for it, if it does not harm yourself or others.
