Emma Heming Willis and Helen Cristoni are prioritizing women’s brain health.
The Make Time Wellness founders discussed what inspired the idea for their brand, the importance of brain health, their product line, and their new podcast at WWD’s 2nd Annual LA Beauty Forum.
“Years ago, I suffered from incredible brain fog,” said Hemming-Willis, who doctors blamed on stress, lack of sleep and other factors. He added that he continued to ignore him. “I felt like this wasn’t right.”
When the fog persisted, Hemming Willis visited an expert who introduced him to the term that would eventually lead to Make Time Wellness.
“He talked about brain health, which was something I’d never heard before,” she said. She said, “Once I changed my lifestyle and took a handful of medications, I started noticing changes and the fog started to lift.”
Hemming Willis, who was suffering from severe pill fatigue, asked Christoni, a veteran of the beauty industry, if he could create an alternative, specifically a drink supplement. When Cristoni started researching supplements to support brain health, the offerings were bland and very masculine. Hemming-Willis and Christoni recognized an opportunity to create something specifically for women, who make up about two-thirds of Alzheimer’s patients. Additionally, a woman’s brain begins to decline after the age of 30.
“When I started peeling back the layers around brain health, I was stunned by how much this conversation was missing,” Cristoni said.
Make time for brain health
Damion Lloyd
“Make Time Wellness” was born as a brand for women with the theme of “Brain, Body, and Beauty,” with a lineup of powdered drinks and gummies that support brain health and life stages such as prenatal and menopause. Key ingredients include Omega, Curcumin, and Rhodiola.
“Our mission is to get the world thinking seriously about brain health and to make it easy for consumers to talk about it,” said Hemming Willis. To that end, the two launched the Make Time podcast. This podcast features short 15-minute episodes in which experts talk about brain health and how to make time for yourself.
Helen Cristoni and Emma Hemming Willis, founders of Make Time Wellness.
courtesy
In addition to new products, the brand is also gearing up for brain awareness and Alzheimer’s Month in June, during which it plans to double down on education. Make Time also donates 5 percent of all profits throughout the year to his Hilarity for Charity, which supports families and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and supports brain health research.
At the end of their presentation, Hemming Willis and Cristoni implored the audience to support the cause. “Make time. It’s your brain,” Cristoni said. “Let’s think about it.”
