9 minute read

On the Menu

By Mark Smith

The rise of mindful beauty

As consumers sought comfort in their beauty regimes during lockdown, they began to combine ‘consciously created’ skincare and body products with calming rituals to help alleviate stress and anxiety. This concept of mindful beauty seamlessly blended wellness, breathing and meditation with daily self-care routines.

The #mindfulbeauty has so far been shared over 55,000 times on Instagram and its popularity continues to grow. In the Global Beauty and Personal Care Trends 2021 report, Mintel identified “the beautiful mind” as a key consumer trend.

“Brands that successfully highlight the use of beauty routines as a way to combat stress and anxiety will drive long-term value for consumers,” says the market research company’s associate director for global beauty and personal care, Sharon Kwek. “Brands will need to create strategies for third-party experts to educate consumers about the future of holistic wellness with self-care that touches on the mind-body-spirit connection.”

Engaging with clients at home This burgeoning trend presents a new business opportunity for wellness brands and spa businesses, according to Noella Gabriel, global president and co-founder, Elemis. “It is so important for the client to continue their skin wellness journey at home after their spa and treatment to really maximise the benefits of their experience,” she explains.

Noella Gabriel Global president and co-founder, Elemis

Noella Gabriel Global president and co-founder, Elemis

“Elemis webinars educate customers on how to incorporate wellness at home and spas should embody this to continue that journey into retail.”

Noella Gabriel Global president and co-founder, Elemis

Discussing how spas can engage with their clients, she adds: “A weekly facial at home is a great example of daily wellness. Elemis has been hosting regular webinars to educate customers on how to incorporate wellness at home. The steps we have been advising people to take have been highly successful and form a model that spas should absolutely embody if they wish to continue that journey into retail and at home.”

A whole new level of experience

By bringing mindfulness to a beauty regime, spas can deepen the experience for clients. “Mindfulness is all about living in the present moment and can help to manage stress,” says Anna Teal, CEO of Aromatherapy Associates. “Our spa partners already use many mindfulness techniques while using Aromatherapy Associates products – from breathing techniques to reconnecting with nature.”

Anna Teal CEO, Aromatherapy Associates

Anna Teal CEO, Aromatherapy Associates

“Our spa partners already use mindfulness, such as breathing techniques, while using Aromatherapy Associates products.”

Anna Teal CEO, Aromatherapy Associates

A combination of breathwork with essential oils in a treatment protocol works effectively to promote calm and relaxation, adds Teal: “Doing a breathing exercise relaxes the guest straight into the treatment, activating the vagus nerve to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system.”

Combining beauty with mindfulness certainly does help to bring a more holistic appreciation of wellbeing. In uncertain times, spas are in a unique position to help guests build a sense of calm and normality, aided by products and routines that are grounding, comforting and add value to the role of spa rituals in everyday lives.

www.mintel.com | www.elemis.com www.aromatherapyassociates.com

Our pick of the latest product launches and innovations

Super-smart skincare

Dermalogica’s Smart Response Serum offers an advanced formula developed to recognise and address micro-changes in the skin before they’re visible to the naked eye, effectively addressing the skin’s needs in real time with targeted active ingredients.

Gallic acid-rich Japanese cornelian cherry protects stressed skin against free radicals, soothing and reducing the appearance of redness. Mannose 6-phosphate smooths and provides a firming effect, responding to the first signs of visible skin ageing.

Hydrolysed wheat flour, rich in arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides, activates as needed to brighten and help reduce the appearance of dark spots. Oligosaccharides from hydrolysed beta glucan respond to dehydration signals, helping to maintain optimal skin moisture.

www.dermalogica.co.uk

Germaine de Capuccini Timexpert Radiance C+ Illuminating Facial

TREATMENT FOCUS

Developed to treat stressed, dull skin and combat dark spots and pigmentation, Germaine de Capuccini has introduced the Timexpert Radiance C+ Illuminating Facial.

Pure encapsulated vitamin C, boosted by vitamin E and ferulic acid, works to even skin tone, restoring skin radiance and glow.

The 60-minute treatment commences with a welcoming, warm Pinda ritual and mindful aromatic breathing. The facial then incorporates a massage ball to warm and activate the skin, applied through circular and linear movements to work on the stress relief points of the face.

Synergyage Aox System Ferulic Acid, Timexpert C+ Pure Vitamin C Antioxidant Facial Concentrate and Energising Facial Oleo Serum with Vitamin C are incorporated into these steps before Timexpert Radiance C+ Illuminating Anti Fatigue Mask with Vitamin C is applied to finish.

www.germaine-de-capuccini.co.uk

Vital skin nutrients

ESPA has boosted its Active Nutrients collection with the launch of three new targeted skincare products.

Isotonic Hydration Mask helps to restore tired, lifeless looking skin and is formulated with spirulina extract, guarana and vital minerals to deeply hydrate skin, restoring a dewy freshness and boosting radiance.

Fruit Water Cleansing Gel combines bergamot and grapefruit waters with pineapple and cucumber extract to gently cleanse, remove makeup and refresh skin without feeling tight.

Skin Nutrient Mist features carrot and turmeric oil and pearl algae to nourish, nurture and provide instant luminosity. ESPA’s Vital Nutrients Complex, omegas, vitamins, minerals and electrolytes help to boost hydration on-the-go and reduces pore size.

www.espaskincare.com

Firm and tone in a flash

111SKIN has reformulated its popular Celestial Black Diamond Neck & Décolletage Serum to offer users a more youthful-looking apppearance.

Inspired by brand founder Dr Yannis’s Y-Lift Surgery – a cosmetic procedure that lifts the face, jawline and neck – this specialty serum works to diminish the visible signs of ageing, including pigmentation, laxity and transdermal water loss.

The serum blends a high concentration of actives, including peptide complex, which stimulates collagen production to lift, firm and tone. Lactic acid smooths textured skin to support the barrier function and reduce skin discolouration.

A moisture complex uses humectants and polysaccharides to draw water to the dermal layer, binding it in the upper dermis to hydrate the skin. 111SKIN’s signature complex NAC Y2 neutralises free-radicals, brightening the skin and leaving it stronger, smoother and more youthful looking.

www.111skin.co.uk

Dark spot correction

Designed to help reduce the appearance of dark spots and hyperpigmentation, Murad’s Rapid Dark Spot Correcting Serum is a hydroquinone-free intensive serum that promotes surface cell turnover for more even, brighter skin.

Formulated to work on a wide range of skin tones and types, including oily, dry and combination, the formula contains a mix of antioxidants and soothing ingredients that help to diminish the appearance of pigmentation caused by inflammation.

Patented resorcinol technology exclusive to Murad reduces the intensity of the appearance of dark spots and uneven tone.

Tranexamic acid helps soothe, brighten and revive the skin while glycolic acid exfoliates to help remove dullness, improve texture and clear away dull cells for better penetration.

www.murad.co.uk

Perfect treatment partner

Developed to support retail sales to massage clients, Elemis has launched a new exclusive body collection called Recharge & Refresh Body.

Featuring two hero products from the brand’s Body Performance range, the pairing aims to support and maintain the benefits of therapeutic massage in the spa.

Aching Muscle Super Soak warms, recharges and energises the body and mind. The blend combines birch, juniper, clove, Alpine lavender, wild thyme and chamomile to soothe overworked, tired and aching muscles.

Instant Refreshing Gel is an instant revitaliser that refreshes and revives, combining the soothing benefits of arnica, birch and witch hazel with the cooling powers of camphor and menthol to relieve aches, pains and muscle tension in the shoulders, legs, neck, temples and forehead.

www.elemis.com

Soothing and relaxing salts

ishga has launched Invigorating Bath Salts, a relaxing and revitalising way to create an at-home spa experience in an instant.

Containing a blend of rejuvenating pure, white, crunchy sea salt flakes, the bath salts feature 60 naturally occurring trace elements to soothe aches, pains and tired limbs. Sea salt also works to detoxify the body and restore the skin’s natural pH balance.

ishga’s signature blend of essential oils includes lemongrass, which contains skin-healing properties to effectively cleanse and care for all skin types. Rose Geranium is fragrant and anti-inflammatory, lavender is calming and relaxing, and juniper berry is anti-rheumatic, astringent, detoxing and antiseptic.

Further enhancing the brand’s spa-at-home retail line, the salts are ideal for a relaxing soak anytime of the day and offer a post-workout solution for stiff, sore muscles. www.ishga.com

Two become one

Biologique Recherche has combined the benefits of two of its slimming creams – Crème Anti-C and Crème Amincissante Oxygénante MC110 – into one product.

Liposculpt AC features a unique combination of lipolytic and draining active ingredients to help refine the figure, reduce the appearance of cellulite and promote firmer skin. Vectorised caffeine triggers microcirculation to drain and detoxify, while artichoke and leven complex prevent the formation of adipocytes and reduce adipose tissue.

Canadian red seaweed works with corallina seaweed extract to help drain and reduce the ‘orange peel’ effect, while a resculpting biotechnological complex and Sahel desert microalgae promote detoxification to sculpt, define, firm and tone the skin.

Apply in the morning and evening onto areas including the stomach, waist, buttocks, thighs and arms, using upward movements.

www.biologique-recherche.com

Awaken and invigorate

Developed to revive and refresh dry skin, Elemental Herbology has introduced Zest Sugar Body Polish, which is enriched with a nourishing blend of superfood plant oils to maintain skin health and reveal brighter, smoother skin.

Hemp seed oil calms inflammation and strengthens the skin barrier while chia seed oil – rich in fatty acids, vitamin B3 and zinc – maintains moisture levels to give the skin a healthy glow.

Sea buckthorn oil protects the skin against environmental aggressors, pollution and free-radical damage, and the uplifting essential oils of sweet orange, rosemary and marjoram energise the body and ease stress and anxiety.

The body polish will be incorporated into a new Elemental Herbology Fire Energiser Body Scrub treatment, in which the whole body is exfoliated with the Zest Sugar Body Polish during a 45-minute experience to smooth, refine and revitalise skin, leaving it smooth and supple.

To conclude, the nourishing Lemongrass & Nutmeg Body Cream will seal in moisture to leave the skin nourished and deeply hydrated.

www.elementalherbology.com

European Spa selects the best professional product launches for spas. Contact mark.smith@spapublishing.com