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Is detox culture dead? 2026 is the year of gentle wellness – here’s why
The latest trend in wellness? Tackling the restrictive, rigid nature of detoxing. In 2026, detox is getting a softer, less punishing makeover. “True detox isn’t about deprivation or extreme cleanses; it’s about supporting the body’s natural rhythms, particularly the liver, which underpins hormone balance, metabolism and energy,” says Jess Shand, naturopathic nutritionist, hormone health specialist and author of The Hormone Balance Handbook.
After years of restrictive wellness trends, people are exhausted by anything that feels punitive or performative. The language of “cleanses”, moralised food rules and extreme resets has started to feel outdated, particularly as conversations around burnout, nervous system health and hormone balance have gone mainstream. Post-pandemic, wellbeing is less about control and optimisation at all costs and more about sustainability: what actually helps you feel better without making daily life harder.
Aotea, Auckland, New ZealandJono Parker
There’s also a growing understanding that the body already knows how to detox – it just needs support, not starvation. As education around gut health, liver function, sleep and stress deepens, supplements and rituals that work with the body rather than against it feel more credible. According to Shand, detoxes that demand eliminating whole food groups or cutting calories can push the body into survival mode, resulting in unhelpful cortisol surges, anxiety spikes, disrupted cycles and a vanishing libido.
Add to that a collective re-evaluation of productivity culture, rising awareness of disordered eating patterns, and a desire for wellness that fits into real lives and travel schedules, and gentle detoxing makes sense. It reflects a wider recalibration: health as maintenance, not punishment; consistency over extremes; care that restores rather than depletes. What do the experts suggest? Small, cumulative shifts – consuming liver-supporting foods such as beetroot, parsley and green tea, or body brushing – are a gentler and sustainable route to clearer skin, reduced brain fog and more energy. And, of course, the right supplements to support your gentle detox journey. Below, we’ve created the ultimate ‘gentle detox kit’ – the items and products to integrate into your life for slow, steady, consistent health.
Hydrate Electrolytes Peach Spritz
Electrolytes help the body absorb and retain water, supporting energy levels, nerve function and overall balance. This peach-infused electrolyte blend works as an easy soft-drink replacement, replenishing essential minerals lost through sweat, while the handy sachets make it especially travel-friendly.
Revive Collagen Enhanced Plus Collagen Drink
Travel-friendly collagen sachets supporting skin, hair and joint health, with added mushroom extracts to support focus and mental clarity – ideal for busy days, flights and periods of low energy.
A 14-day liver-support formula designed to aid digestion, boost energy and promote clearer skin. This expert-created supplement course blends amino acids, antioxidants and plant extracts including NAC, turmeric and milk thistle, with added choline to support normal liver function and healthy lipid metabolism.
Sleep is the body’s most powerful nightly reset, supporting everything from hormone balance to detox pathways. These smart supplements are non-habit-forming and use a bio-identical melatonin compound to promote deeper, more consistent rest, alongside ashwagandha to encourage relaxation and help manage stress. Added probiotics support overnight gut function, making this a smart option for travel, time-zone changes or periods of disrupted sleep, when quality rest matters most.
Designed to support energy at a cellular level, this clever combo of nicotinamide riboside with the powerful antioxidant resveratrol helps reduce fatigue and support metabolic function. By aiding mitochondrial health, it helps cells produce energy more efficiently, making it a useful addition during busy periods, travel or times of low energy, when the body needs gentle support rather than a quick fix.
Ancient + Brave’s True Biome
This powdered blend is designed to support gut health by strengthening the gut barrier, balancing beneficial microbes and helping the body clear metabolic waste. By improving digestive resilience, it can contribute to clearer skin, a steadier mood and stronger immune function – particularly helpful during periods of stress or dietary disruption.
Selfish Give Me Plant Protein Vanilla
This vegan protein blend delivers 20g of plant-based protein per serving to support sustained energy and muscle repair. Easy to digest and simple to incorporate into smoothies or breakfasts, it’s a practical option when maintaining balanced nutrition can slip.
