Anna Bjurstam will write a monthly column in Beauty Salon News, UK – here is the first one!
Klick on image to enlarge. Continue reading
Anna Bjurstam will write a monthly column in Beauty Salon News, UK – here is the first one!
Klick on image to enlarge. Continue reading
January, and a completely new year is finally here. The busiest month of the year at fitness clubs and gyms around the world. Everyone is trying hard to make their new year’s resolutions happening…
For me, just like for most of us, January feels like a new start, but I find it difficult to start all over again with the same things that I’ve been doing the previous year, I need something new and exciting to get me motivated and inspired! So, this year I want to try; Xtend Barre!
Xtend Barre is one of the latest fitness trends to hit the world. This popular workout was developed by a former dancer, Pilates and Fitness trainer; Andrea Rogers. Xtend Barre mixes the discipline of dance with the strength of Pilates in a fast-paced total body workout. Andrea was certified to become a classical Pilates instructor. She believed in the Pilates principles (stabilization, concentration, control, flow, breath and precision) and observed the long-term results in her Pilates clients. In an effort to provide cross training and seek better results for her clients, she began to incorporate dance elements and music into her Pilates sessions in order to offer challenges in coordination, rhythm, and cardiovascular fitness. By raising her Pilates clients to a vertical position, and diversifying their range of motion, Andrea found greater results by offering Xtend Barre than by maintaining a routine of Pilates alone. Most importantly, her clients were gaining energy, enjoying elements of dance, and having fun! The philosophy is simple: Developed from a dance and Pilates background, the Xtend Barre workout combines the results of dance with the principles of strength and safety in Pilates.
The Xtend Barre session is spilt into 3 parts; the first part is inspired by ballet (thankfully you can manage without a ballet background), the second part is focusing on exercises for the gluteus, hamstrings and the quads and are performed by the ballet barre. The last part is performed on the mat and reminds more of a traditional Pilates class.
The Xtend Barre is marketed as a system that sculpts the body proportionally so that all body parts are equally challenged. This total body workout serves to strengthen, lengthen, and stretch the body from top to bottom, from inside out. The end result is a long and lean physique… without added bulk. The Xtend Barre method is best summarized by a long-time client: “If Pilates sculpts your body, Xtend Barre ™ chisels it.”
This might be my new challenge for 2012, do you have any experience form Xtend Barre? Is it a just a booming trend or something that we will find in most fitness clubs during the coming years?
/MN
After spending a few days, mostly inside, eating lots of yummy Christmas food and too many sweets, I must admit that I feel a bit dull in the skin and there is a major need for a “kick off” treatment to get my skin back in “shape”. If you feel the same, and have already starting to worry about how to gain that Cinderella effect for New Years Eve, I might just have the solution…
Look for your nearest spa or beauty spot where they offer The Organic Pharmacy (TOP) treatments. TOP has launched a new, high potency treatment to target age spots, pigmentation and uneven skin tone across the face, neck and décolleté. Glucosamine, Hibiscus and Liquorice act as high performing lightening agents to lift the skin and reduce pigmentation, whilst Vitamin C, Gingko and Ginseng brighten the skin and will give an immediate radiance boost. Papaya extract will powerfully exfoliate the skin, encouraging cell renewal, to enhance the skin condition and make it smooth and pure.
At our Nordic Spa & Fitness at Grand Hotel in Stockholm, we offer a short, but effective radiance boosting treatment with TOP’s enzyme peeling. A gentle, but very effective treatment, perfect to do the same day or the day before THE party of the year. (For a deeper effect and result on pigmentation we recommend to do the facial as a cure, with a minimum of 4-5 treatments).
/Maria
I don’t think anyone would question the benefits of massage, we all know what a good massage can do for us. Even though we know this for sure, it is still very gratifying to read studies that outline the benefits of massage. A joint team from RMIT University and The Australian Association of Massage Therapy (AAMT) has published a report; Effectiveness of Massage therapy, which states that massage can – and should- be used to treat a number of ailments. The report is a review of 740 Australian and international evidence-based academic research papers published over a 30 year period.
The report concludes that doctors and nurses should be more active in including massage as a part of treatment plans for illness ranging from back pains, anxiety to nausea and stress, as well as chronic disease management.
Tricia Huges, Chief executive of AAMT says; “Among the key findings of the report was that there is a growing body of research supporting massage therapy as being an evidence based therapeutic modality”
“This groundwork provides remedial massage therapists, complementary and alternative medicine practitioners and the broader allied health community with a basis to pursue evidence-based practice.”
The report also shows that massage can be used to delay the onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) and increasing pulmonary function. The research is systematically done with randomized controlled trials and comparative studies as well as case series/studies. All research covers a number of different massage techniques such as acupressure, lymphatic drainage reflexology, tuina, rolfing, shiatsu and Swedish massage among others.
So if you need more proof why you should treat yourself with massage this upcoming holiday season, get your hands on this study, or just book a massage right away…and ENJOY!
//Maria
As Christmas is coming up we thought it would be nice to share a list of our favorite books of the year. If you lack ideas for Christmas gifts, one of these books can be a really good choice for someone you care about, but be aware, they might have a life changing impact… 🙂
One of Raison d’Etre’s core values is to GROW PEOPLE, and we try hard to walk the way we talk. So every month we read a book on the theme; Personal growth and Personal development. During our monthly meetings we dedicate some time to discuss the book we have read, and talk about what we can learn from the book and how we can implement it to our lives.
Here is a selection of books that we have read during the year and that we highly recommend if you wish to improve the quality of your life:
Patrick’s favorite book:
Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson
“I really like this book since Mark presents a straightforward and really basic system based on science and evolutionary/paleo principles in a very non-dogmatic way. If followed, the Primal Blueprint will increase a person’s health and fitness level more than any other system, philosophy or training schedule I have come across so far, and I have read it all ;-). The Primal Blueprint incorporates diet, exercise as well as lifestyle factors. Also it is really for everyone: the super athlete as well as the ordinary couch potato. Mark Sisson’s Primal Blueprint is a pragmatic and result oriented system than a person can follow for his/her entire life, not some crazy low calorie or low fat diet that will result in a crash and burn/adrenal fatigue after a couple of months. This book does not explore into depth the very complex biochemical pathways in the body nor does it go very deep into the nutritional science (even though it is science based). But let’s be frank, most people do not need that, understand that or even want that. Most people need and want an easy system or way to live a better, fitter, leaner and healthier life full of energy. This book is a must for anyone wanting to become exactly this, working with health or just wanting to have some basic knowledge about the major health contributing factors. Furthermore, Mark Sisson is someone really walking his talk! Good luck!” //Patrick Wahlberg
Anna’s and Michael’s favorite book:
168 hours -You have more time than you think by Laura Wanderkam
There are 168 hours in a week—this is a new approach to getting the most out of them It’s an unquestioned truth of modern life: we are all starved for time. With the rise of two-income families, extreme jobs, and the ability to log on to the world 24/7, life is so frenzied we can barely breathe. But what if we actually have plenty of time? What if we could sleep eight hours a night, exercise five days a week, and learn how to play the piano without sacrificing work, family time, or any other activity that is important to us? According to Laura Vanderkam, we can. If we re-examine our weekly allotment of 168 hours, we’ll find that, with a little reorganization and prioritizing, we can dedicate more time to the things we want to do without having to make sacrifices
“It is one of my favorite books, not because the writing style, but the message, it really made me re-evaluate how I look upon time and realize that I have massive of time. Almost life changing…” says Anna.
“For those with families this would be an INVALUABLE BOOK. For me it came down a lot to prioritising and focusing on what is important to me and MY LIFETIME GOAL – BALANCE!! Working on that Work and Life balance” says Michael.
Anna and Maria also have another favourite, among the books we have read during the year:
Many life many masters by Brian L Weiss
“We really enjoyed reading this book because it is spiritual in a scientific way, it heightens that we are always supported and guided in life”.
The book is the true story of a prominent psychiatrist, his young patient, and the past-life therapy that changed both their lives. As a traditional psychotherapist, Dr. Brian Weiss was astonished and skeptical when one of his patients began recalling past-life traumas that seemed to hold the key to her recurring nightmares and anxiety attacks. His skepticism was eroded, however, when she began to channel messages from the “space between lives,” which contained remarkable revelations about Dr. Weiss’ family and his dead son. Using past-life therapy, he was able to cure the patient and embark on a new, more meaningful phase of his own career.
“Reading this beautiful book gave me lot’s of thoughts; There is always a reason why we act and react in the ways we do, but maybe the reason for this can’t always be found in this lifetime. I’m sure we carry on experiences from another life times, and challenges we have in life is to be seen as learning opportunities. This book is a beautiful story for those who wish to know more about things that are not always visible for the eye…” //Maria
Healthy feet treatments, cold and ice therapies and online gaming are among the top spa themes for 2012, according to the ninth annual trends forecast by global spa and wellness resource SpaFinder.
Charting the year ahead, the report also predicts that health coaching at spas will become more popular while there will also be consolidation between hotels’ spa and gastronomic offerings and an increase in “spa, wine and dine” packages.

The full list of trends for 2012:
1. Healthy Feet Treatments
2. Cold and Ice Treatments
3. Wellness and Beauty Coaching
4. Online Wellness Gaming
5. Spa, Wine and Dine Packages
6. Vibration, Sound, Music, Light and Color Therapies
7. The Glam Factor
8. Spa Evidence
9. Spa Becomes a Family Affair
10. Spas Aim for the “Wow” Factor
The list is based on analyses from SpaFinder Research and its team of experts who visit hundreds of spa and wellness businesses around the world every year.
SpaFinder also conducts interviews with leading industry analysts and takes into account data and feedback collected from SpaFinder’s partnerships with more 15,000 spas, yoga, pilates and fitness studios, wellness practitioners and salons worldwide.
Gabriela Lexmyr Lindström, the distributor of Nvey Eco, organic makeup in Sweden, talks to us aboutwhy you should go all organic, even when it comes to makeup.
What are the main advantages of using natural and organic makeup?
G: First of all it makes your skin gorgeous, natural makeup will take care of the skin and is very gentle for the skin, and of course it is also good from an environmental perspective as well. You should choose organic makeup for the same reasons you go for organic food.
What does natural makeup contain compared to more “traditional makeup”?
Natural makeup contains of totally natural pigments from the earth, instead of synthetic pigments. The natural makeup is based on organic oils and natural vitamins which is there, not only for their skincare benefits, but also to act as preservatives. “Traditional makeup” is using more and more natural ingredients, but usually the products are still based on petroleum.
Would you say that natural makeup is as efficient, and gives the same result as ”traditional makeup”?
G: If I’m going to talk about natural makeup brands in general, I must say the quality varies between the brands just as much as between the more traditional brands, but it is important to know that organic makeup brands can reach up to the same results and performance as the more traditional brands. An excellent proof for this, is that Nvey Eco is used by many makeup professionals, among them makeup artists working at the Royal Dramatic theatre in Stockholm, as wells as makeup artists working for national TV channels.
Is there something special you need to consider when working with natural / organic makeup, when it comes to technique?
G: No, not really. If you choose a range with good quality it is as easy to use as any makeup brand. Just play with the makeup and have fun! And when I say there is no special technique needed I talk about organic make up, not mineral makeup, which obviously needs a specific technique when applied. And many people mix natural and organic makeup with mineral makeup, which is something else, and not always as natural as you may think.
Can you find water resistant natural makeup?
G: Nvey Ecos creme de luxe foundation is water resistant and will stay on the skin no matter which snow storm will hit us this winter. Completely water resistant and natural mascara that can stand a swim in a pool does not exist. Natural mascaras do have a high quality, but to make them 100% water resistant you need to add ingredients that are not organic. So it is a choice you have to make. I also try to remind people that the eye is sensitive and can easily absorb what is applied nearby the eye, so you should be careful and avoid harsh ingredients especially around the eyes.
You have chosen to work with Nvey Eco and be the distributor for the makeup brand in Sweden, why did you go for Nvey? *)
G: I’m always looking for what is best. We call our concept exclusive organic skin care, which means that we wish to offer the best quality and the highest feeling of luxury. And it does not have to be expensive. Nvey Eco is a brand that is used by many makeup professionals which, for me is a guarantee that it is of good quality, and as a beauty therapist I’m also very concerned about what is applied on the skin; Ingredients that are not harmful for either the skin or the environment is an absolute must for me!
*) Nvey Eco can be found worldwide, it is a natural and organic makeup brand (with eco certification) from Australia. For more information www.nvey.com
**) Gabriela is a trained beauty therapist, she grew up in a family that worked with complementary medicine and her father taught her reflexology and massage, and when she was younger she used to go out in the forest to pick herbs with her grandfather. She works with her passion; organic skin care and makeup.
//Maria
Anna Bjurstam is a co-founder of Raison D’Etre, Swedish based consultancy which createsand manages luxury spas around the world.
More luxury hotels are developing co-branded fitness centres with famous trainers or brands. Given your extensive experience, what do you think about this concept? And to what extent luxury fitness centres within hotels can become concepts beyond just mentioning the brand of the equipment. Fitness in hotels is extremely underdeveloped today. In most cases it ends with placing the equipment in the facilities and opening the doors. Many city hotels operates clubs, some do it well, but most attract their membership not because of the offering, but the hotel brand and location.The challenge for hotels is to invest in the right people, systems and education to develop their fitness offering, as it is costly and takes time. We have seen the challenge for hotels when it comes to spa, where it is about building a whole team and not a one-man-band, as it then becomes very subjective. Both the spa and fitness industries are very subjective industries, where, for example, one spa person in charge of a hotel chain spa loves natural products and the next one hired is an advocate for chemical products, and that completely changes the spa strategy. The same with fitness and it therefore makes sense to bring in outside help with a proven track record may it be a brand or a B2B consultant.
Which has been the most sophisticated organic product based treatment you created? Why? I think that we have given it all at our Grand Hôtel Nordic Spa, by Raison d’Etre in Stockholm, where we have a Nordic concept and we have developed our own product brand with hand picked organic ingredients from the Nordic countries, which means that we have to book the framers crops for next season and sometimes have to make adjustments to the product due to farmers availability of herbs and flowers. The products are so pure and potent, that they speak for themselves. We have then put them to use in three 2 hour treatments, for example Arctic Detox, which uses the above products to greatly heighten the result, with a variety of techniques using lymphatic, connective tissue, cupping, warm stone bead bags and various other techniques. Together with proper food and advice, the result has proven to be profound.
What do you think is, nowadays, the key competitive advantage for a successful SPA brand Authenticy and quality. The spa brands that are and do what they say they do, and do this at a very high quality, are the successful ones. Today, this is still not implemented to the degree we would have hoped for, for example massage – the number one treatment in any spa – is rarely quality controlled or even trained(!). Product companies do not train in massage, and it is normally the product companies that conduct all the treatment training there is.
Luxury hotel chains have created their own SPA concepts and dedicated teams. Do you regard this as competition or a challenge for SPA operators? It depends on how you look at it. It is definitely a competitive advantage for the hotel chains, but the implementation is not always that successful, and it then instead becomes a disadvantage. We see that brands are introduced everywhere, but the authenticity and quality does not follow. This is not true for all, and those who do introduce an authentic spa brand, and delivers these with great quality are indeed successful. Hats off to for example Andrew Gibson and Mandarin Oriental, who has truly succeeded in all of the above.
How can consumers rate or evaluate the quality of SPA products, especially since nowadays there is a growing confusion between organic, bio, natural and cosmetic. What are the ingredients SPA product manufacturers should avoid placing in their products and why?It is indeed difficult, this is the case that “the more you know, the less you know you know”. Natural and organic is not the same, although a selected few are both natural and organic. Then there is the labeling where it is written “natural ingredients, natural, ecological” etc. where you are free to write that even if you only have 1% of natural ingredients.To have a list with you, for example on your phone, with ingredients to avoid, for example-parabens- mineral oil, paraffin, petrolatum- SLS or sodium laureth sulfate- Acrylamide- Propylene glycol- Phenol carbolic acid- Dioxane- TouleneThese are all ingredients that you find in many of the product brands today, for example SLS Found in over 90% of personal care products and they break down the skin’s moisture barrier, potentially leading to dry skin with premature aging. And because they easily penetrate your skin, they can allow other chemicals easy access. Others are cancerogenic, linked to organ problems etc. More and more diseases are linked to the chemical cocktail we nowadays carry in our body, and there is no reason to increase that cocktail with so many great more natural, safe yet still very active product brands there are out there today.
What are the latest trends for SPAs at leisure luxury hotels? Maldives, Bali, Seychelles, CaribbeanLocal treatments, outdoor treatments, more wellness-oriented programs, natural products and more and more result oriented alternative therapy coupled with other offerings in the hotel such as food & beverage.When creating a SPA treatment or a SPA menu, for instance for a SPA in India versus a SPA in theMiddle East, which are the key elements you take into consideration? – skin type, weather conditions, pollution, genetics etcWhen choosing products, it is very much dependent on weather, humidity, skin type, and genetics, together with what the market research shows us. There is no one product that fits world wide, and this is why we have chosen to be independent of any product brand and choose freely among the many brands available.In India, for example, there is such a long tradition of sesame oil, which is used instead of more modern product brands (with great results!) and the new product brands therefore had a greater challenge then for example Middle East, which is very brand savvy.When it comes to developing treatments, that as well as depending on the culture, tradition, target market and each country’s healing history, in our spa at Grand Hôtel in Stockholm we have developed a authentic Nordic spa experience, whereas for Taj hotels when creating the Jiva brand, we worked with Ayurvedic doctors’s and chose to work with only Indian treatments. Then again, for Atlantis in Dubai it was more a world wide experiential aquatic theme. We work with a number of strategies, ranging from the more traditional market analysis, to brainstorming, meditating and thinking completely out of the box, creating the perfect fit and further something unique for that exact spa.
Thermal waters and muds are more and more used at SPAs worldwide. What are the main differences between treatments based on thermal waters and treatments based on muds?They have similar properties, their traits are derived from the earth. Whereas thermal water is identified as a hot water with composition rich in salts, iodine and gases, muds are product of natural decomposition of multitudes of plants under special conditions. They work in different ways and are often used in a combination, with great success. The water is good for the respiratory system, skin conditions and the muds strengthens the immune system, improves circulations, and relieves pain.

What projects are you currently working on? Which are their common features?We are working with a number of exciting projects, for example Baccarat Spa in Rabat, Morocco, Away spa for W in Verbier, 2 stand alone 3000sqm day spa and clubs in Riyadh, an Auriga spa in Singapore and another 10 something projects. They all have their different traits, ranging from crystals, moon phases, Nordic avant garde, seasonal to European concepts.The common features are the quality in which the staff is trained. We devote 4 weeks of pre opening training, while also having our Operations Manager on site to support and opening the spa. Thi si about double compared with our competitors, and of course train in massage with the aim of growing people. First we grow the actual staff delivering the experience, and these can then in turn enhance the lives of the guest.
Which is your number one every day motivation which drives your passion for wellness ?The ability that I have by doing my part to enhance peoples lives, simply to grow people. That gives me the absolute greatest fulfillment in life, when I see a person grow either physically, mentally, emotionally and/or spirituality. This is what spas can do, it enhances people’s lives, and there is no one right science, each person is treated differently depending on their needs and wants and the results are astounding.For me personally, to meditate every day is the basis of my wellness, and then try to eat healthy and work out at least 3-5 days a week and couple that with emotional wellness through children, spouse and friends. Spas has taught me to live a more balanced life.
I love new ideas and innovative concepts that can be implemented into spas. I always get thrilled about meetingpassionate people who have come up with new, creative tools. Recently I had the opportunity to meet the person behind Aquaroll; Mr Thierry Favreau. Aquaroll is an innovative hydromassage with glass beads. The device can be used for both hands and feet and is the perfect addition to manicure and pedicure treatments. Not only for the health benefits and the visible results, but it is also a great tool for spas to up-sell additional treatments to manicures and pedicures.
The device (seen at the picture) looks almost like a contemporary laundry machine, and I must admit I was a bit skeptical the first time I saw it. Will this really work? Will I enjoy this?
First of all you need a comfortable chair in front of the Aquaroll machine. Once seated in the chair, you just stick your feet into the device. The feet will sink into water and thousands of softly shaped glass beads (30 000 glass pieces and 4 liters of water), already this feels very refreshing.
As the machine gets started you get a lovely hydromassage of the water and the beads, in a perfectly slow pace. It feels like a continuous wave and the pressure from the beads give reflexo-therapy to the feet and the legs.
I was surprised how relaxing it was and at the same time how powerful the massage was. After about 10 minutes I felt an immediate lightness in my legs and feet, almost a numb feeling, but not uncomfortable at all. The feet were soft and the skin was bright and clear. The micro circulation is boosted and it’s efficient draining of heavy legs, and at the same time it exfoliates the skin.
One of my hesitations to this tool was the hygienical aspect, but the company has clear instructions about how to use it safely (and how to clean it) and the turnover time between the treatments should not be more than 5 minutes, but to be realistic I would say 10 minutes.
Aquaroll was launched about a year ago and can be found in spas and thalassotherapy centers, but I would not be surprised to shortly find it in many VIP airport lounges, airport spas or in VIP lounges and day spas located in shopping malls. The perfect and easy solution to achieve Happy feet!
//Maria
For more information www.aquaroll.fr
Recently I had the opportunity to go to Dubai for SPAMEETING, which is an event that takes place three times a year in different locations. SPAMEETING is two days of business meetings, where buyers and suppliers meet. I managed to conduct 24 meetings in 2 days, all of them with people I never met before. How is it possible? The secret is speed-dating; Each meeting lasts for 20 minutes and everyone tries to make the most of the valuable minutes before the bell rings and you have to move on to the next table. Personally I value face-to-face meetings, especially these days when most things happen on the web. It is amazing how much you can talk about in 20 minutes as long as both parts are well prepared and know what they want to achieve. But of course, to make business happen, the most important is to actually connect again after the event and continue the discussions.
I discovered some very interesting new cosmetic brands. A few of them really share Raison d’Etre’s passion and dedication for 100% natural and organic products. Right now I have the benefit to test and explore some of the products. (I must admit, it is one part of my job that is very enjoyable). I also had interesting meetings with linen and towel producers, equipment suppliers and innovative new concepts, such as Aquaroll. I will share more about this exciting tool in the next coming days…
The SPAMEETING in Dubai focused on the Middle East area and spa projects where coming from all around the GCC, North Africa and South East Asia. As Raison d’Etre is having several projects in the Middle East region it was very valuable to meet, not only suppliers and distributors in this area, but also meeting Spa Directors working in the area.
I was very happy about the location for the SPAMEETING; Dubai, as I had not been there before. The destination is not new to Raison d’Etre, as we created and opened the spa at Atlantis about 3 years ago. Of course I paid a visit to the beautiful spa at Atlantis and I had the pleasure of meeting staff that was trained by Raison d’Etre for the opening and were still working in the spa!
Dubai is a very unique destination; it is filled with dynamic business centers, skyscrapers, all the shopping you could ever wish for, spas to die for and amazing hotels. As you probably know the world’s only seven star hotel is located here.
The SPAMEETING event took place in Park Hyatt, next to Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. The resort was beautiful, with lush gardens (must have been one of the greenest spaces in Dubai) and from my terrace I had a view over the yacht club and the impressive Burj Kalifa tower (one of Dubai’s master pieces; 828 meters with 160 stories) in the background.
During the SPAMEETING we had the opportunity to listen to Daniella Russel, from Spa and Wellness solutions in Dubai. Daniella had an interesting speech about the Spa market in Dubai and the changes that has occurred there during the last years. Just a few years ago everything was booming in Dubai, it was all very vibrant and fast growing, spas opened rapidly. Now many spa projects are on hold due to the recession, everyone is more cost conscious, budgets are more restricted and the number of staff in spas are reduced. Daniella also talked about the challenges about staffing in Dubai, only 20% of the population is originally from Dubai, so it is a very international mix among the spa staff, many therapists comes from Asia. So there are many language- and cultural barriers to overcome, and there are challenges with work permits. When it comes to training, the actual product and opening training can take much longer time than in Europe and spas need to estimate for this. When it comes to cosmetic products in the Middle East, spas must be aware of that imported products needs to have a license and be registered for each country. The registration process can be long, sometimes up to 18 months, so be aware if you plan to launch a new brand in your spa and ensure that all registrations are set. It was interesting to hear Daniella’s reflections as it goes very much hand in hand with our experience from working in many of the countries in the Middle East.
All in all, it was a great event, some intense, but productive and fun days, with lot’s of inspiration and new business opportunities.
I will end this report with sharing one of the most memorable moments from Dubai – meeting Lisa in the deep waters…
Autumn is an excellent time to detox. The body has been more active and outgoing during the light summer months and is now in need of some attention.
The seasons follow the same pattern as the moon’s phases. And as summer is like the full moon, autumn can be compared with the waning moon, when it turns away from the sun towards darkness. At this time it is natural to become more inward, retreating into a reflective mode.
As the energy of the season changes, the autumn offers us the chance to retreat and cleanse, allowing space for the body to renew and replenish. During this time tensions and toxins are more easily released making it the perfect time for weight loss and fasting.
It is especially important to focus on the following during this period to help cleanse your body and mind:
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To welcome autumn at the Grand Hôtel Nordic Spa, by Raison d’Etre we are introducing 2 new treatments
The beauty market is continuing to push boundaries and developing new and exciting technologies, products and treatments. So what are the beauty trends this fall, what is the market bubbling about right now?
The hot mix of ingredients in your beauty cream this year
Cosmetic brands promoting stem cells has dramatically increased this year, even though there is a debate if stem cells in skin care actually has the biological effect on the skin that the industry claims. Stem cells in skin care are supposed to stimulate cell growth which would lead to skin rejuvenation. It is said that skin care with stem cells can convert resting adult stem cells to newly-minted skin cells and to “reset” the skin’s ageing clock. However the form of stem cells that is currently used in beauty products (plant stem cells) is mainly protecting the human skin stem cells from damage and deterioration. We can say that stem cells in skin care do provide an optimal environment for your own stem cells, so they can function as good as possible. And who knows, what is just around the corner? Stem cells are big in the medical world and as we all know, a major part of advanced cosmetic ingredients used today, came initially from the medical industry…
Another “it-ingredient” is peptide. Peptides help the skin to produce collagen and elastin, fibers in the skin that creates the mesh that keeps the skin tight and firm. Peptides (both synthetic and natural) are mainly used to reverse aging and sun damaged skin. Interesting is that some peptides inhibit neuromuscular transmissions and thereby reduce mimic movement that cause wrinkles and lines. A while ago I had the opportunity to listen to Dr Diana Howard from the Dermal Institute and according to her peptides together with antioxidants such as vitamin A, C are ingredients that we can trust when it comes to delivering results in the skin. However one has to always pay attention to the formula, the concentration, the packaging and the mix of ingredients to be sure. (For example vitamin A is very sensitive to oxygen and light, hence it should never be stored in a jar, only in packaging with pumps or tubes, and preferably used at night time).
Advanced Beauty
Maybe it is due to the recession, the fact that people are more hesitant to spend their money, but there is a decrease in the use of cosmetic surgery, and an increase in non-invasive (less expensive?) treatments. Injections (Botox, hyaluronic acids) are still on the rise. People tend to act more preventive, starting to see dermatologists and beauticians regularly and before the actual problems occur. Beauticians and spas are going towards more high tech treatments, using advanced therapy equipment. The well known spa brand Kerstin Florian has recently launched K-lift, a device to treat mature skin and prevent the skin from sagging. K lift is marketed as a facelift without surgery. It uses a combination of kinetic energy, LED light and pulsifying micro current.
Eyes, eyes baby
There is boom in chic eyelashes and eye brows! Eyebrow bars, dedicated only to treatments on the eye zone, can be found in almost all department stores in London, Paris, New York…Treatments like threading (sculpting eyebrows with cotton thread), tinting, waxing, lash extensions and special massages for the eyes area are offered. Blink – eye brow store has just opened at Henri Bendel in New York, and in the menu they even offer a separate section for male grooming; Eye brow Tidy & Trim! Movie star eyes are no longer an unachievable dream. To get those long and intense lashes, Revita lash has launched a high tech product that stimulate lash growth, a nourishing balm that works as a conditioner for the lashes and is said to make a change in 3 – 10 weeks time. In our own Raison d ‘Etre spa we have followed this trend by launching Lash extensions – An effective and yet simple way to have magic eyes for up to 6 weeks. The eyelash extensions are applied one by one for a natural, but amazing look! (Saves us 5 minutes every morning, as hardly no eye makeup is needed anymore!)
At our spa at NK Rosenrummet our fantastic Agge makes all the diference and are soon to launch eye brow design, threading and style with Nina Asgar, celebrity eyebrow designer – more info to come! But rest assure, we can make all the difference to your eyes!
Stay tuned for Part 2…!
//Maria
‘Green’ chemistry is progressing at breakneck speed. We are living in an exciting time for skin care formulation, with numerous developments in areas such as natural sugars and synthetic proteins.
Yet the common perception still remains that chemical products work better than natural ones: if you are environmentally conscious and want to know what you’re putting on your skin, you choose natural skincare products, but if you want a real result you need to use chemical based products.
It seems as consumers we have been pre-programmed to favour chemical products. In the results of an efficiency test I read a couple of years ago, natural and chemical clothing detergents were scored as equally efficient. When provided
with this information, however, the consumers interviewed admitted they did not believe the results, suggesting that mistakes must have been made in the study.
If we are convinced our clothes are whiter when we use a chemical detergent, there is an explanation. Most laundry detergents
contain optical brighteners, chemicals which trick your sensory perception. Optical brighteners work by leaving a molecular residue on your clothes which reflects ultraviolet light. Rather than providing a deeper clean to brighten the fabric, these detergents leave behind a layer of chemicals which merely give the appearance of vivid colour.
This in turn creates a health risk. The ultraviolet-reactive molecules can cause your skin to become photosensitive and more susceptible to burn in sunlight. Increased exposure to ultraviolet rays can also increase the risk of skin cancer; one very good reason to avoid detergents containing optical brighteners.
Similarly, in years gone by we used skincare products containing mineral oils, paraffin and other petrochemicals which gave
the skin a lovely soft feeling by clogging the pores. We know now that these chemicals actually break down skin particles and speed up the ageing process. Quite the opposite effect of what we were hoping for.
I urge everyone to read and learn about natural products so that you can make an informed choice about what products are best for you. Having used both natural and chemical products extensively, I regard The Organic Pharmacy’s certified natural and organic product range the best in the world. Not only do they please my environmentally conscious side, they are also the most efficient products I have ever used. That’s two very good reasons why we have chosen them for our spa.
//Anna
6 September, 2011: Spas looking to improve performance in specific areas will now be able to beneift from Spa Operational Support (SOS), a unique support service launched by leading spa consulatancy Raison d’Etre.
The service provides spas with support on specific opperational areas including recruitment, audits, trouble shooting, revenue & profit maximisation, product consultation and training. This means clients can benefit from Raison d’Etre’s wealth of knowledge and target specific areas for improvement rather than buying into a whole package.
SOS expands on some of the successful services that Raison d’Etre has conducted for their clients previously, such as recruitment. “We have successfully
recruited spa directors and spa managers for many spas around the world, tailoring each placement to reflect different spas, markets and cultures. We will now broaden the scope of our recruitment services to include any hotel, resort or day spa that is looking for senior level staff to take their business to the next level,” explains Anna Bjurstam, Managing Director for Raison d’Etre.
Over the years, Raison d’Etre has built a strong database of spa management professionals and developed a solid spa specific interview process. They will offer permanent spa management placements as well as short term solutions. This will benefit spas in need of a replacement for a shorter period of time, such as maternity leave, and will ensure the continuous smooth operation of the spa.
“We often find we are more suited as owners, operators and consultants to evaluate and chose the right spa manager, as a result Raison d’Etre has not used a recruitment agency for any of our spas in the past ten years. We are confident we can find the right spa manager for any spa, which is why we decided to offer this service to the market,“ says Michael Clarke, Operations Director for Raison d’Etre.
Another area where Raison d’Etre has excelled is turning around underperforming spas. Through their trouble shooting package, which includes an in depth audit, action plan and execution, spas have increased profits between 30%-200% during the first year following the programme.
Raison d’Etre has developed one of the most comprehensive spa audit systems in the world, which includes a 3-4 day on site assessment. “This proven system allows us to assess every aspect of the spas operation from which we compile a detailed audit report, complete with an action plan for improvements,” says Bjurstam.
SOS is part of Raison d’Etre’s strategic growth plan to deliver ongoing support an opportunities for clients. To find out more about SOS contact info@raisondetrespas.com