Our beauty and wellness editor trials and reviews BraveFace, a herbal supplement range for stress and worry.
I like to think (and I hope my friends and colleagues at least somewhat agree) that I have a bright, sunny disposition. I like to laugh a lot, I’m strong and confident, and have a positive outlook on life.
This doesn’t mean that I don’t get stressed and anxious. I do. A lot. For me, the biggest challenge is the ‘monkey mind’, that continuous jumping from one unrelated thought to another, often plagued by ‘what ifs’. Digital distraction makes it challenging to focus on one task for a sustained period of time. Sleep feels elusive. (As an aside, I turned 30 earlier this year and admit that I’m also kept awake by the classic “am I where I should be in life” train of thought.)
This ongoing cycle of stress, anxiety and sleep deprivation can deeply affect day-to-day quality of life. Which is why BraveFace have come up with a smart, convenient and natural trio of remedies (LiveCalm, CoolHead and HeadRest) designed to tackle stress from every angle – acute, sleep and long term.
The first thing I noticed when trialling HeadRest was the herbal taste: it’s strong. That’s because the dose is concentrated and powerful – and it works. HeadRest is formulated with passionflower to calm the mind and chamomile for a sedative effect. Mind still whirring, I tucked myself into bed and within 10 minutes of taking HeadRest my physical body had noticeably relaxed, my shoulders dropping away from my ears. My thoughts were hovering around but much quieter, a sense of fluidity replacing the nagging worries and ‘what ifs’. I slept deeply for the first time in a long while, waking without an alarm in the morning and feeling ready to tackle the day.
LiveCalm is BraveFace’s answer to sustaining a long-term sense of everyday calm. I’m not usually one for taking daily stress relief supplements for fear that I’ll get into a dependency mindset, however all BraveFace products are completely natural and exclude any ingredients that may become addictive. Taking LiveCalm twice a day has, for me, become more like a shield – I think of it like a daily vitamin for its overall effects rather than something I need. Formulated with adaptogenic herbs ashwagandha, holy basil and rosemary, LiveCalm soothes the nervous system, restoring long term day-to-day balance. Again, the biggest difference for me is in the quality of my thoughts. Unnecessary worry no longer takes up free rent in my headspace meaning I’m able to focus on the task in front of me.
CoolHead is all in the name – helping you to keep a cool and clear head in those times of heightened challenge, perhaps a job interview or a presentation. CoolHead has been a game changer for me when things don’t quite work out as planned and I need to quickly navigate unexpected change or solve a problem. A pocket-sized sanity saver, CoolHead is formulated with passionflower and mānuka honey to restore calm before worry starts to escalate.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from BraveFace, it’s that facing anxiety and stress doesn’t mean giving up. It means equipping ourselves with the tools to productively manage situations and our responses. BraveFace has helped me put anxiety back in its lamp, letting me be my lightest, best self.
BraveFace is available at braveface.com, Farro, and selected pharmacies. Use VERVE10, for 10% off online.
