ageisano

Sometimes you don’t notice a trend until it starts appearing everywhere

For me, it began in early July when I attended the Healthy Longevity Talent Incubator 2026 Open Day at NUS. The keynote speaker was Angeline Tay, Head of Research at L’Oréal Singapore, whose presentation explored skin longevity from cellular biology to evidence-based interventions. Rather than focusing on products, she spoke about the science behind skincare and the growing emphasis on understanding the root causes of skin ageing rather than simply addressing its visible signs.

That philosophy immediately resonated with me. Looking beyond symptoms to understand root causes is an approach I’ve increasingly adopted—not just in health, but in many aspects of my life.

Towards the end of her presentation, she briefly mentioned Lancôme’s new Absolue Longevity range. It wasn’t the focus of her talk, but the word longevity lodged itself in my mind.

Over the following weeks, I started noticing it everywhere.

A few weeks later, while wandering through Gourmet Market in Bangkok, I found myself standing in front of a display offering a Mediterranean Salmon “Longevity Salad,” alongside Brain Fuel and Gut Harmony salads. Then I started noticing longevity clubs opening across Singapore and Bangkok, offering everything from ice baths and infrared saunas to magnesium pools and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

That’s when it hit me.

Longevity had gone mainstream. Not just as a scientific field or a way of thinking about healthy aging, but as a consumer category. And, to be honest, I think the word has become rather overused.

From Science to the Supermarket Aisle

None of this is to dismiss the science. In fact, I think the growing interest in longevity research is exciting. Researchers are helping us better understand how lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and even skin health influence how we age. Companies are increasingly investing in longevity research and innovation, and that’s encouraging.

What fascinates me is what happens next. Once an idea captures the public imagination, it inevitably becomes commercial.

We’ve seen this before. Remember when everything was a superfood? Then came hot yoga. Then mindfulness. Today, longevity seems to be the latest buzzword appearing on everything from salads and skincare to supplements and luxury wellness clubs. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s simply what happens when science meets consumer demand.

My Longevity Journey

If I’m honest, I’ve probably been exploring what we now call “longevity” long before I started hearing the word everywhere.

I’ve loved saunas since I was a teenager. Back then, they were simply a way to unwind after exercise—not a longevity intervention.

Years ago, I experienced Japan’s wonderful onsen culture, where soaking in hot mineral baths has long been part of everyday wellbeing.

In 2022, while visiting Ubud, I met a friend who had already embraced regular ice baths. His setup couldn’t have been simpler—a basic tub filled with cold water. Looking back, he was quietly ahead of the trend.

Then, during Chinese New Year in 2025, I decided to celebrate a fresh beginning at Panpuri Wellness in Bangkok. It felt like a fitting way to welcome the year.

The experience wasn’t just about hot and cold onsen pools. It flowed naturally from one element to the next—a relaxing massage, followed by a beautifully prepared, wholesome meal. I remember leaving with a sense that wellness wasn’t being presented as a single treatment, but as a complete experience

In many ways, that’s still the approach that resonates most with me.

A holistic one.

One that nourishes both body and mind.

That’s also why I’m genuinely curious about the new wave of longevity clubs opening across Singapore and Bangkok. I’ll certainly be trying some of them over the coming months—not because I’m searching for a miracle, but because I’m interested in understanding what they offer and how they fit into a balanced approach to healthy ageing.

It also reminded me that many of today’s “new” longevity ideas are, in fact, timeless practices viewed through a modern lens.

That, in turn, led me to think about longevity in three simple layers.

The Three Layers of Modern Longevity

I ‘ve come to see modern longevity as having three distinct layers.

1. Timeless Longevity – The Foundations

These are the habits that have stood the test of time.

• Regular movement
• Strength training
• Nutritious food
• Quality sleep
• Managing stress
• Meaningful relationships
• Curiosity
• Joy
• Purpose

They may not be glamorous, but they remain remarkably effective.

2. Science-Informed Longevity

This is where research helps us understand why many of these habits work and explores promising new approaches to healthy ageing.

Science deepens our understanding of exercise, nutrition, muscle preservation, cardiovascular health, sleep and even practices such as sauna bathing.

It helps us make better decisions—not just follow trends.

3. Commercial Longevity

This is where longevity becomes a marketplace.

Suddenly, everything promises longevity.

• Salads
• Supplements
• Skincare
• Recovery lounges
• Wellness clubs

Some products and experiences may genuinely add value.

Some are simply riding the latest trend.

The important thing is remembering that they should complement the fundamentals—not replace them.

Final Thoughts: One Ordinary Day at a Time

I’m genuinely delighted that younger generations are becoming interested in longevity much earlier in life. If today’s enthusiasm encourages more people to move their bodies, build strength, sleep better, eat more thoughtfully and take better care of themselves, then that’s something to celebrate.

Commercialisation isn’t the problem. Confusing products with the principles of healthy ageing is.

A longevity salad may be delicious. An ice bath may be invigorating. A wellness retreat may be restorative. They may all have a place in supporting our wellbeing. But none of them replaces the habits that have always mattered most.

To me, longevity has never been about chasing a magic bullet.It’s about cultivating a way of living that is healthy, meaningful and, above all, sustainable.

Because real longevity isn’t built in a single workout.

It’s built one ordinary day at a time.

And perhaps that’s the most powerful longevity lesson of all.

Longevity may have gone mainstream.

Living well never went out of style.