Great Wide Open

Powerful things happen when humans frolic in spaces both blue (oceans, open air) and green (parks, forests). So why are we retreating from all that nature has to offer? Allure heads out in search of mind and body cures that can’t be bottled.

If the Great Outdoors had a LinkedIn account, it would be highly connected (happy to introduce you to the most epic sunsets and hiking trails), it would get ringing endorsements from the world’s top scientists (lifts mood! lowers cortisol!), and its stunning profile would be viewed by millions.

And yet these days it’s having a tough time finding clients. The stats tell a sobering story: We spend approximately 90 percent of our time indoors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. To boil that down to actual hours, another study found that more than half of us log fewer than five hours a week outside. (We’ve had single-session Netflix binges that lasted longer.)

Such findings are curious when you think about the huge demand for sustainably sourced skin- and hair-care products that harness the best of the planet without harming it. And we seem to have a bottomless appetite for beauty inspired by nature: shadows the hue of volcanic rock? Skin that shimmers like an alpine pool? Why, yes! How to reconcile these realities? Consider your time outdoors as much a part of your beauty routine as your daily moisturizer, says entrepreneur Jennifer Walsh, who spends at least 30 minutes a day outdoors. Walsh also runs hour-long Wellness Walks for students and executives in New York City’s Central Park. “A simple walk,” she says, “can do so much for your skin, your body, and your brain.” Add another endorsement to the profile page.

WOODSY NOTES