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WIRRAL LIFE TALK TO NICOLA BRAZIER - SKIN SPECIALIST & WELLNESS MANAGER OF NOVUM BEAUTY & WELLNESS BOUTIQUES
Tell us a little about your background and how you got started in the Skin and Wellness industry ? For as far back as I can remember I had a passion for Skin and Wellness . I Studied at college and continued to study around the globe to further my knowledge and achieve the highest Cibtac Awards . I have for most of my career worked at sea on prestigious Superyachts and worked with many high-profile clientele including royalty and celebrity A list . I had the opportunity to design luxury spas and spa experiences on these vessels and was given complete creative control with endless budgets as you can imagine ; I was in my element and gained a lot of invaluable experience . Over the years I studied authentic wellness treatments around the globe with most of my inspiration coming from Indonesia and Fiji , all of which shines through in elements of the treatments I have designed within Novum .
Why did you decide to join Novum ? When I initially met Dave and Julie , we hit it off straight away . I believe in their vision for Novum . The brand has just arrived and I ’ m excited about the company ’ s mission and values which are focused around helping people become the best versions of themselves , and to be a part of something that is making a positive impact in creating meaningful changes to people ’ s lives . Their mission is to empower and showcase a world in which everyone believes self-care isn ’ t optional and prioritises their wellbeing . Due to life ’ s demands and pressures from all aspects of people lives , they believe by taking time from your busy lives for selfcare , you will feel good about yourself , and when you feel good every other part of your life feels better , more enjoyable and you have so much more to give everywhere else .
We want to focus our efforts on showcasing the value of self-care , so everyone takes more time , and reduces the gap between the time we want and the time we spend on self-care .
What do you enjoy most about working at Novum ? I love how involved I have been in the development of Novum Skin & Wellness . It ’ s been great to be apart of the business from the beginning and being able to design the treatment services . Since working here , I have a great work life balance which is what Dave and Julie want for their employees . It ’ s a real family vibe and we are a close team who all share the same values and passion to deliver only the best treatments . Training and development are much encouraged , and I always feel valued which is so important to me . It ’ s a lovely place to work and because of this it doesn ’ t feel like work a lot of the time but a second home .
Why is Wellness so important to you ? For me , Wellness profoundly affects every area of our lives . My passion is improving people ’ s wellness and overall feeling of wellbeing . We define health as the absence of illness or disease . However , that ’ s only part of the story . Health and wellness can only be understood as parts of a whole , and all the dimensions are inextricably connected . Take , for example , stress . It ’ s widely understood that stress causes or exacerbates most major health issues . And there ’ s not a single person who can ’ t describe the emotional impact of extreme stress . Stressful events are a perfect example of how seemingly unrelated areas of your life can affect your emotional , and subsequently your physical , health . In today ’ s fast passed world , finding a space for wellness and beauty maintenance is essential for nurturing our mental and physical wellbeing .
You have mentioned your extensive travels , what ’ s one of your favourite travel stories ? Over the years I have been fortunate enough to travel afar and wide and experienced many cultures . Not so long ago I explored the beautiful Land of Fiji , which has the most mesmerising clear blue lagoons and Coral reef I have ever seen . “ Bula !” I would hear whenever encountering the kind and welcoming locals “ Bula ” I would reply back ! smiling , thinking what a beautiful paradise this actually is Beyond its beaches , there was so much to see , explore , and experience ; from the intriguing traditions and customs that the Fijians have preserved , to the lush inland rainforests and the raging rivers that flow through its rugged mountains . During my stay I befriended a local driver called Ash who so kindly invited me to his village in Viti Levu to meet his chief and other villagers . What an honour ! I was greeted by the locals to song and dance followed by a welcoming drink of Kava with the chief himself .
According to Chiefs , Tribal Leaders , and high Dignitaries , the presentations and the drinking of Kava signifies highest respect and deepest reverence for the Chief , for his or her people and the land (“ vanua ”) from where they hail . This was such a magical night and will forever stay in my heart , more so because the Chief shared with me how no westerner had ever been invited to their village ceremony nor had they visited in over 25 years !
Finally , what is your vision on beauty ? For me beauty is timeless , indestructible by our age and conditioned by a persistent desire to improve our mental and physical wellbeing . Beauty doesn ’ t require reinventing or drastic changes . Just a little reimagining and enhancing what is already there .
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