Ebanks says. “The therapists will consult
with the guest before starting and also
indicate which products are best for
them.”
Patella requires all team members to
attend at least two outside educational
programs annually to keep them abreast
of industry trends and new products,
while Bradshaw advises spa clients to
partner only with resource partners who
can provide periodic training and offer
online courses or FAQ calls via Skype.
“Internally, spas can use slow business periods to assess staff performance
through mystery shopping. Ongoing
training/skill development can be provided through quizzes, games, and so
on,” Bradshaw says.
Ideally, this training should support a
commitment to client education about
the importance of skin health that gives
them the tools to care for their own
skin. Patella also highlights the importance of marketing support. “We hold
many events that offer mini facials, mini
eye treatments and mini massages. We
also give complimentary product packages for clients to try at home,” she
says.
Patella adds that, overall, she looks
for a resource partner who is willing to
make a commitment to the spa and its
customers. Bradshaw agrees, adding that
spas should look for four key factors in a
potential resource partner: ability to
respond to customer requests, feedback
and trends; brand fit with the spa’s
concept and philosophy; ability to
deliver treatments well and consistently,
and ability to provide a balanced cost of
treatment.
“Thorough and on-going training is
vital to ensure therapists and the spa
team are fully aware of the heritage of
the products, the ingredients, and their
role and function within the product,”
Ebanks says. “Experiencing the treatment and skin care for themselves is one
of the most successful means of training, as this personal endorsement is
appreciated and trusted by guests.” n
Phytomer Group Brands
FarmHouse Fresh
Anti-aging ingredient: XMF (Extra Marine Filler)
“XMF is a biotechnologically derived exo-poly-saccharide, which is a natural sugar produced
by marine micro-organisms that helps them cling to rocks and
other marine structures. Each micro-organism produces a unique
sugar impossible to create via traditional chemistry. A single sample
of micro-algae is harvested
from a protected natural
environment.The species is
then cultivated under strict
controls to produce a higher quantity of micro-algae,”
says Phytomer Director of Education Angela
Eriksen-Stanley. “The extracellular polymeric
substances (EPS) molecules it produces are duplicated by a method known as ‘bio-process,’
which is a highly controlled fermentation process that yields high quantities of EPS without
the addition of solvents or chemicals.With continued use, XMF stimulates the production
of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid to restructure, tone and plump the skin.”
Anti-aging ingredient: Resveratrol
“Our resveratrol ingredient comes from grapes grown at a local Texas
winery,” says FarmHouse Fresh President
Shannon McLinden.“Resveratrol is an
antioxidant found in numerous studies to be
one of the most potent and natural
chemopreventive agents. It has been shown
to decrease and stop the cellular processes
associated with tumor development,
including the initiation, promotion and progression. As part of our
Wine Down Serum, we blended this antioxidant with a whole host of other potent
antioxidants that, when combined, is essentially a cocktail you can apply at night, so that as
you sleep, the blend can help your body’s natural repair processes that fight signs of aging.”
Somme Institute
Anti-aging ingredient: Molecular Disperson Technology (MDT5™)
“MDT5™ comes from vitamins that are re-engineered.
These are potentiated and stabilized
for reparative action before being
encapsulated within peptides,”
says Somme Institue President
Michèle Mas.“Each re-engineered
vitamin in MDT5™ has multiple
and well-documented actions on
skin structure. Once dispersed within the skin layers, the following actions are initiated by
different vitamins alone and in combination: firming, thickening, tightening, evening out skin
tone and restoring of skin elasticity.”
HydroPeptide
Anti-aging ingredient: Peptides
“Our Research & Development team works with
several labs, universities and leading scientists to
develop and manufacture
each peptide [we use in our
products],” says Dr. Neal
Kitchen, HydroPeptide’s
VP of strategy and
development.“Peptides are
critical components to results-driven skin-care products because
of their ability to induce multiple responses without the negative effects seen with other
active skin-care ingredients. Each peptide acts as a unique molecule to help your skin react
better to the constant bombardment of harsh substances. HydroPeptide combines multiple
peptides to trigger and amplify the body’s own repair system in order to increase hydration,
reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and enhance the skin’s natural luminosity.
July 2015
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