Photo courtesy of Chantal Anderson/The Licensing Project
A Gentle Winter Detox in 3 Steps
Winter can be punishing. There are the shorter days, the longer nights, and everything discouraging that comes with a more distant relationship to the sun. It feels like it takes more energy to live; if you’re cold, that’s a physiological reality. And then there’s this winter.
January is also the time in the Gregorian calendar that we associate with transformation and fresh starts: Despite every known reality of winter, we’re still usually compelled to seize the moment, form new habits, and return to the behaviors that we know help us get closest to feeling well.
So this is where we remind ourselves (and you): Detox does not have to be punishing. In fact, a winter reset can lend itself to a comforting, rewarding, and downright cozy state of mind. The key is to focus on all the good things you can add into a day instead of all the little self-imposed rules that can feel like deprivations.
Think of it as the lifestyle equivalent of this Rooibos Almond Latte: It’s warm, indulgent, and good for you, with the power to brighten a dull afternoon.
1
Seek heat sources.
Yes, this directive is intuitive. But there are more-creative ways to stay warm than plugging in your faithful space heater and calling it a day—and they offer more than just a reprieve from the cold.
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THE HEATED (INFRARED) MAT
If you’ve ever done yoga under infrared heaters, you’ll want to down-dog on top of one. Or you can lie on it and chill out with a book, if that’s what you’re after. This mat is an alternative to the infrared sauna blanket. It doesn’t induce an intense sweat session. And it has layers of amethyst and tourmaline.
HigherDOSE INFRARED MAT goop, $995SHOP NOW -
THE WEIGHTED BLANKET
Like a comforting hug, this fifteen-pound weighted blanket is designed to simulate the effects of deep-pressure touch, which has been shown to soothe the nervous system and help you unwind (side effects include sleeping like a baby). It’s made from super soft, breathable cotton—meaning you won’t want to retire it in the warmer seasons.
Baloo COOL COTTON WEIGHTED BLANKET, 15 LBS goop, $169SHOP NOW -
THE CANDLE
We originally made this candle for winter and changed the name when we realized we liked burning it year-round. But the scent remains: Resins of red cedar and labdanum spike a mix of cypress root, frankincense, clove-leaf oil, and helichrysum flower for a perfume that evokes a (very fancy) crackling fire.
goop Beauty SCENTED CANDLE: EDITION 01 – CHURCH goop, $72SHOP NOW -
THE HERBAL TEA BLEND
Your go-to herbal tea works hard, but this one works harder: Designed to support overall wellness, this organic blend contains elderberry and hyssop, traditionally used to support immune health, together with yarrow, honeysuckle, lemon balm, ginger oleoresin, lemon, amla, and the adaptogen cordyceps.
House of Waris Botanicals IMMUNITY ONE TEA goop, $30SHOP NOW
2
Give your body a break.
Call it rest, call it relaxation, call it hibernation-lite: Anything that gives your body a chance to recover is encouraged. Bonus points if those behaviors give your detox organs time to catch up.
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THE FORGIVING PANTS
Letting go of restrictive waistbands not only feels great; it’s also, we recently learned, a surprising solution to physical tech stress. Any loose pants will do. But bonus points should be awarded for wearing sweats that look like wide-leg jeans.
Nili Lotan KIKI SWEATPANTS goop, $245SHOP NOW -
THE SPALIKE BATH
A hot bath is deeply relaxing. And soaking in glacial marine clay and activated charcoal takes the ritual to another level. With G.Tox, you get the benefits of pharmaceutical-grade Epsom salt, plus botanicals and essential oils that combine to help cleanse and remove impurities, from modern pollution to plain old grime. It’s a rejuvenating event.
goop Beauty G.TOX DETOX 5 SALT BATH SOAK goop, $35SHOP NOW -
THE (CLEAN) NONALCOHOLIC HOT TODDIE
One of the most straightforward ways to help your liver do its thing—detox the body—is simply to not burden it with the task of processing alcohol. We like to make this mulled drink to replace the ritual of pouring a nighttime drink. The mocktail recipe uses Dream Light, a nonalcoholic spirit from Kin Euphorics that’s made with adaptogenic reishi and passion flower, plus L-theanine, L-tryptophan, and a teensy bit of melatonin to help lull you to sleep. (You can also drink Dream Light on its own or mixed with the milk of your choice. It’s earthy and smoky, with oak, clove, ginger, cinnamon, and chili.)
3
Indulge in what feels good.
Detox rules disqualify some of life’s great pleasures (whiskey on the rocks, French fries, cheese). Balance it out by dialing up the joy and gratification factors wherever you can.
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THE SHOWER UPGRADE
The speaker is specifically designed to maximize bathroom acoustics (singing-in-the-shower types, this one’s for you), while the showerhead delivers a luxurious full-coverage spray. It’s perfect for taking an otherwise routine habit and transforming it into a cathartic sing-along moment or just for winding down with some good tunes and a particularly steamy session (wink, wink).
Kohler MOXIE® SHOWERHEAD + WIRELESS SPEAKER goop, $200SHOP NOW -
THE FACIAL DETOX
This is perhaps the most instantly rewarding suggestion of the bunch: Made for blemish-prone skin, this exfoliating mask leaves skin soothed and smoothed. Apply a thin layer to cleansed skin, leaving it to work for ten to fifteen minutes before gently rinsing off with warm water. (You can use it as a spot treatment, too.)
Goldfaden MD FACIAL DETOX goop, $65SHOP NOW -
THE COMFORT FOOD RECIPE
For this year’s annual detox, our food editor created only recipes that are simple, adaptable, wholesome, and delicious. Which means they work well for a five-day cleanse following a taxing year, and we’re also keeping them in our back pocket for the rest of the year. Take this detox-friendly stew, for example: Even if we’re following zero detox protocols, we’d cook it the same way (okay, maybe we’d add Calabrian chilies and parm).
