Nature & Nurture: Cultivating True Holistic Wellness with Carole Bamford

Bamford was founded on the belief that true well-being should be nurtured in a gentle, holistic way—honoring our deep-rooted connection to nature and the healing it provides us. Carole Bamford firmly upholds that what we put on our body should be as nourishing and nurturing as what we put inside it. Bamford’s naturally sourced beauty products, holistic spas, artisan-crafted clothing, and bountiful wellness cafes beautifully embody this philosophy.

In honor of Wellness Month, we spoke with Carole Bamford about the mission behind the company, the many ways the wellness world has evolved throughout her career, and how Bamford has organically adapted to the changing tides while maintaining authenticity and integrity. Join us as she reveals her personal approach to well-being, favorite morning rituals, proudest moments, and top tips for those beginning their natural beauty journey.

For an effortless window into the warm, nourishing world of Bamford, enjoy our signature line of products found in-room and online at Goodthings, and treat your mind, body, and spirit to soothing treatments at Bamford Wellness Spas at most 1 Hotels.

A Heartfelt Conversation with Carole Bamford

From organic skincare to sustainable clothing, cafes, and more, Bamford has grown significantly since its inception, and since we started working together. What guiding principle has helped you maintain the brand’s mission throughout this growth?

No matter how significantly The Bamford Collection grows, it will always be about a sustainable way of life. Everything we do is born out of my belief that we need to live more consciously: to slow our pace, be mindful of our footprint, and take care of the earth that provides for us. In doing so we nourish and nurture our own well-being too. 
 
The growth of my businesses has been very organic, so listening to my intuition has always felt like a natural way to ensure we stay aligned with our guiding principles. Like 1 Hotels, we share a desire to nurture, inspire a connection with nature, and celebrate its healing qualities.

How do you approach holistic wellness, and why do you believe it's important to address the mind, body, and spirit collectively?

To me, being ‘well’ means feeling happy and healthy in body, mind, and spirit, so I have always been conscious of how these work in tandem with one another. Each needs nurturing, and if you neglect one, then the others will suffer. Finding balance is central to this philosophy, so I choose rituals and routines that help me feel grounded in all areas, including meditation, gentle exercise, crystal healing, a consistent sleep pattern, and eating lots of nourishing, seasonal produce.

I think it’s important not to be too rigid and to listen to your wants as they evolve throughout the seasons; sometimes your body needs a plateful of greens, whereas sometimes your soul needs the soothing comfort of a slice of cake or a glass of wine and a good conversation with friends.  

Wellness is a journey that resonates with everyone. How do Bamford’s inclusive skincare products, found in our guestrooms and spas, cater to all skin types? Could you speak to some of the key ingredients used in these products and their benefits?

Alongside the hydrating, nourishing, and cleansing properties of our bath and body collection, the intention with Bamford’s products has always been to give them therapeutic properties. Our signature geranium fragrance is inspired by the hundreds of varieties of the plant that I have loved and grown throughout my life. It’s a nostalgic scent that represents home for me. 

The iteration of geranium that your guests will discover through their bathroom amenities is 100% natural. We extract the oil from the scented leaves of the pelargonium graveolens plant and blend it with soothing peppermint, refreshing eucalyptus, and calming lavender to create a fragrance that is at once uplifting, grounding, and wonderfully unique.

What advice would you give to consumers who are just beginning to explore natural beauty products?

I would encourage anyone looking for small ways to live more sustainably to explore natural beauty products. For me, it began over 20 years ago; after I began making conscious decisions about what I was consuming through my food, I began to consider other areas of my life in the same way. Our skin is our largest organ, and we ingest so much through it that it made sense to me to look at what I was putting on my body—and create my own natural products to nurture it.

At its essence, a ‘natural’ product should mean it is made from ingredients found in nature—of plant or marine origin. And yet, in a sector that is largely unregulated, so many of the beauty products claiming to be natural offer little proof as to whether that is really the case. I recommend looking for the Soil Association’s COSMOS Natural or COSMOS Organic logo, certifying that the product meets a list of criteria regarding its provenance and production. The distinction is that the COSMOS Natural products do not have to contain any organic ingredients—some things, such as clays, waters, salts, etc. cannot be classified organic—although in practice many do. 

Reflecting on your journey, what moments or achievements are you most proud of in the wellness space?

As conversations around wellness and natural beauty have entered the mainstream over the last few years, I am proud that our approach to developing products has evolved accordingly. We have embraced technological developments that allow us to become even lighter with our environmental footprint—most recently turning to biotechnology with the launch of Bamford’s award-winning Stem Cell Serum. It’s a process that enables us to replicate active natural ingredients by extracting a plant’s stem cells and reproducing them under controlled conditions in a laboratory.

It’s a means of using fewer of nature’s resources as we only harvest a very small quantity of an ingredient yet retain the quality, strength, and purity of the original through its replication. Guests who enjoy a Bamford facial during their stay at 1 Hotels will discover its deeply hydrating and brightening effects too. It gives my skin an instant natural glow. 

It’s Wellness Month, so we have to ask, are there any specific rituals or routines you find essential for maintaining your wellbeing?

I start every day with a dog walk. I need that time in nature, and one of my favorite moments of the day is when the garden is just waking up and the world feels so peaceful. I’ll always try to do a meditation practice, and when I have time, some gentle yoga as well. I practice meditation with my teacher, Vettri, and we’ll end with some breathing exercises and say a Sanskrit prayer together. I always feel much calmer, focused, and clear-headed on the days that I do this. I’ll also try and set aside a few minutes each day to read something inspiring or uplifting—even if it’s just a short poem or a quote. I love the words of Osho or Rumi and always find something comforting in their thoughts to lift my spirits.