Katy Koyich-Pourrat (right) and Georgina Yu are the co-founders of TruLiving, a new online lifestyle platform offering health tips, experiences and products for people living in China. From working in the corporate world to becoming yoga instructors, the self-described “soul sisters” have shared quite the journey together.
So, what is TruLiving exactly?
Katy Koyich-Pourrat (KKP): TruLiving is an online lifestyle destination dedicated to healthy, conscious living. It’s made up of a weekly mini-magazine [on WeChat], which includes fresh perspectives about all things health, well-being and lifestyle; community events that offer enriching experiences for mind and body; and an online shop full of safe and honest home, health and beauty products.
Georgina Yu (GY): We’re talking to some beautiful brands, a lot of them based in Australia. We’re really excited to bring these products to a China audience soon. Right now they’re hard to get here.
Sounds great. Do you have any simple wellness tips?
KKP: Disconnect – put your phone on airplane mode two hours before bed and leave it that way until after you’ve done your morning routine. And create a morning routine that works for you. Think about what you enjoy, what brings you pleasure and what makes you feel good. Make the space to do that in the morning. Lastly, stay hydrated! Drink at least two liters of water a day.
GY: Another thing I recommend is journaling. A lot of us have a lot on our minds, and sometimes it builds up, especially when you’re really busy or have a lot of stress. Sometimes that needs an outlet. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. No one has to see it.
What trends have you noticed in the beauty industry?
GY: Now is a really exciting time as more and more natural skincare brands are coming onto the market. People are waking up and demanding more from their products. Brands are responding to that by operating more consciously and trying to create really highquality products that are good for the planet and customers.
What should people be looking out for when choosing a natural skincare brand?
GY: There are key things to [avoid]. They are fragrance, alcohol, phthalates, parabens and sodium Iauryl sulphate (SLS). Cosmetics companies use the word ‘fragrance’ and it can mean anything. Often they’re highly chemical substances. Alcohol burns your skin, but unfortunately it’s in so many products. Phthalates are a group of chemicals you find in many products. They’re hormone disrupters: once they’ve been absorbed through the skin, they mimic your body’s hormones and upset their balance. Parabens are a chemical derived from the oil-refining process. They’re a preservative, giving products a longer shelf life. SLS is a foaming agent, but also a known irritant. My mother had an eye allergy [but] when she stopped using products with SLS in them, her allergies cleared up.
Tell us a bit about your journey from corporate life to entrepreneurship.
KKP: Taking the path of entrepreneurship makes you look at things in a very different way. It’s very inspirational and a lot of hard
work. The responsibility is on you to make your business happen. It’s an adjustment, but it's worth it.
GY: The toughest part is believing in yourself. Having a plan and people around to support you is absolutely critical. There’s also a big learning curve once you make the jump. If you think you’re going to work less or that it’s going to be easier, you’re absolutely wrong. But once [you get into the] groove, it’s awesome.
Subscribe to TruLiving via their WeChat ID: TruLiving 臻活 [search TruLivingzhenhuo or scan the QR code below]; www.truliving.asia
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