Seven secrets of wellbeing: Kerry Anne Moore

Kerry Anne Moore is one half of the natural skincare brand AMLY with Lisa Smallpeice. (Watch out for the fab AMLY prize draw, which goes live Wednesday 15th January.) Learning Kerry’s backstory is fascinating and pretty awe-inspiring.

While she was a medical student, Kerry was spotted by a modelling agent. That life didn't suit her but she did work for Christian Dior in skincare and promotions before training as a facialist. Then came marriage to her musician boyfriend, raising her family and a re-emergence of her interest in healthcare.

After a foundation in homeopathy, Kerry graduated as a biodynamic craniosacral therapist and specialised in working with mothers and babies, and also trauma among a range of other conditions.

Kerry had always loved the world of beauty and particularly skincare but she became increasingly aware that many of the ingredients in mainstream brands were contributing to the chemical load on her clients’ systems.

That realisation coincided with Kerry’s close friend Lisa moving with her family to Hawthbush organic farm in Sussex where a dowser discovered a source of pure water 100 metres under a wildflower meadow. 

Analysis showed the water was rich in minerals and silver. The discovery led to Kerry and Lisa teaming up to formulate their first AMLY products – the now cult Face Mists, launched in 2016 – and, since then, to a range that’s become a byword for beautiful natural skincare.

Here are Kerry’s personal wellbeing secrets.

1. Laughter! Nothing makes you feel better than a good, hearty laugh. I have three boys, all have a great sense of humour and luckily Lisa and I really enjoy each other’s company and are both liable to dissolve in to fits of laughter. There are stacks of research studies showing that laughing relieves tension and stress and boosts the immune system. Laughter actually prompts the release of our own opioids, which help to reduce the sensations of pain amongst other things.

2. Apple cider vinegar first thing. Every morning Lisa and I drink about an eggcup full of organic apple cider, either straight or with a squeeze of lemon. It really wakes up the digestive system and is a great gut balancer.

3. Complementary therapies. I had persistent back issues following the birth of my first child. I was studying homeopathy at the time and heard about craniosacral therapy. I visited a therapist and it had a profound effect on me, not only resolving the back pain but also allowing me to look at unresolved issues around the difficult birth. I went on to study biodynamic craniosacral therapy and graduated 20 years ago.

4. Prevention is better than cure. I believe in paying attention to my health and supporting it rather than fighting symptoms. So as well as trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle I look after myself with whatever feels appropriate at the time. That might be a great massage to ease tired muscles and get the lymph moving, or a more longterm strategy such as consulting a nutritionist to adjust my diet or my doctor of Chinese medicine for seasonal adjustment.

5. Take time… I am a great believer in slowing down. I try to include pauses in my work schedule and my daily life. It is vital to recharge and have time to reflect and connect to how I’m feeling in that minute. This is an integral part of AMLY, which we have built into our Rituals. Our mists are like mini reminders to take a pause and breathe. I spray one of our mists over and around my face and neck, take a deep breath and allow the aromatherapeutic effects of the essential oils and hydrosols to work. I release each breath slowly, letting go of stress and tension as the breath ebbs out.

6. Being in Nature. If I’m feeling stressed or irritable, getting outside for a walk is always the best way to reset. I have a dog so I am never short on company. There is something about connecting to the earth, the weather and the colours of nature that helps to bring the nervous system back into balance. It seems obvious but it is probably the most important thing

7. Treating ourselves with love. We are much more at ease with using a loving touch for others – partners, children, pets – but it is so important to extend that to yourself. I try to use my morning and evening skincare rituals, no matter how brief, to touch my skin as if I am petting someone I love and to look at myself with loving eyes. It may feel a bit awkward but it does become easier if you practise it.