Cover Wellness influencers are using their platforms to dismantle beauty myths that do more harm than good. (Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash)
Wellness influencers are using their platforms to dismantle beauty myths that do more harm than good. (Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash)
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From gua sha to energy healing, these alternative wellness experts are challenging what beauty really means
In an era of skin-barrier obsession and supplement-fuelled self-care, the wellness space continues to grow—and diversify. Once dominated by sleek, Westernised ideals of beauty and health, it’s now increasingly embracing traditional practices and alternative methods rooted in ancestral knowledge. From gua sha and Ayurveda to science-led skincare and food as medicine, wellness influencers are using their platforms not just to promote rituals, but to actively dismantle beauty myths that do more harm than good.
Read more: What the future of beauty looks like, according to L'Oréal Hong Kong's president
1. Sophie Carbonari (@sophie_carbonari)
Known for her no-frills approach and enviably sculpted facials, Sophie Carbonari has become one of Europe’s most sought-after skin therapists. Her signature technique involves a combination of manual lymphatic drainage, fascia release and deep sculpting massage, all rooted in anatomical precision. Carbonari doesn’t push product-heavy routines—instead, she advocates for trusting your skin’s natural rhythm and focusing on what your body actually needs.
Carbonari’s sessions are as much about training your face as they are about touch therapy. She frequently debunks the idea that good skin is the result of ten-step routines or over-exfoliation, and instead promotes intuitive skincare anchored by consistency and simplicity. As a wellness influencer, she doesn’t shy away from challenging the industry’s dependency on newness, reminding clients that less is often more.
2. Rene McHugh Rodrigo (@renemchughrodrigo)
A former beauty queen turned certified breathwork coach and energy healer, Rene McHugh Rodrigo’s pivot from pageants to healing wasn’t a rebranding—it was a return to self. Her wellness work, which integrates Filipino indigenous practices, somatic techniques and intuitive energy clearing, focuses on the body as a vessel for emotion and stored memory. Rodrigo helps clients untangle inner blocks, often pointing out how unresolved trauma manifests in skin conditions and tension.
She challenges the myth that beauty is purely external, spotlighting emotional and energetic imbalance as root causes of chronic dullness, inflammation or ageing. Rodrigo’s following has grown not from aesthetics but from impact—her ability to connect the invisible dots between mind, body and spirit has cemented her reputation as a different kind of wellness influencer.
3. Sandra Lanshin Chiu, LAc (@treatmentbylanshin)
Acupuncturist and Chinese medicine practitioner Sandra Lanshin Chiu is on a mission to bridge Eastern medicine with modern skin and health concerns. Her Brooklyn-based studio, Treatment by Lanshin, has become a cult destination for gua sha and facial acupuncture. While these tools are now omnipresent on social media, Chiu brings necessary depth to the conversation, grounding her techniques in clinical TCM principles rather than superficial trend cycles.
She’s outspoken about the industry’s misuse of ancient practices for aesthetic gain alone. For Chiu, beauty is not a surface-level pursuit—it’s the result of internal health, digestive function and emotional regulation. Through educational content and hands-on healing, Chiu has redefined what it means to be a wellness influencer by calling for accountability, context and respect for cultural roots.
4. Zoey Xinyi Gong, RD (@zoeyxinyigong)
Zoey Xinyi Gong is not your typical registered dietitian. Trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine and public health nutrition, Gong is making edible skincare a thing—with congee bowls, jujube tonics and soup herbs taking centre stage. Her wellness philosophy integrates ancestral Chinese cooking with science-based nutritional knowledge, aimed at healing the body from within rather than fixing it from the outside.
As a wellness influencer, Gong is known for breaking down tired narratives, like the demonisation of carbs or the obsession with “clean eating”. Her recipes are functional, anti-inflammatory and often designed to support skin, hormonal balance or digestion. She represents a new kind of beauty expert—one that’s just as concerned with gut health as with glass skin.
5. Amrita Kaur (@amritaoflife)
Amrita Kaur is an Ayurvedic chef and wellness influencer based in India. Transitioning from a career as a radio jockey to a full-time food blogger, she shares recipes and wellness tips rooted in ancient Ayurvedic principles. Her content emphasises the use of seasonal spices and ingredients to promote holistic health and balance. Amrita's approach demystifies Ayurveda, making it accessible and practical for modern lifestyles.
Through her platform, Amrita addresses common misconceptions about Ayurveda, such as the belief that it is overly complex or inaccessible. She provides clear, relatable guidance on incorporating Ayurvedic practices into daily routines, focusing on diet, lifestyle and mindfulness. Her work encourages a deeper understanding of how traditional wisdom can inform contemporary wellness practices.
