Taking spa treatments to the next level, Elemis was one of the first brands to involve clinical trials to verify that a facial can provide both results and relaxation.
The British brand opened a spa at The St. Regis Bangkok in mid 2011, and since then customers have been able to experience the Elemis expertise accumulated from its 24 years in the industry. This expertise encompasses both the development of facial and body therapies, and skincare products, particularly anti-ageing treatments.
"As a spa brand, we have an advantage because we have more time with customers who are in the treatment room for more than one hour, whereas retail skincare brands spend a couple of minutes with the customers. We are able to get more guidance and feedback about what they want," said Sean Harrington, Elemis co-founder and managing director. "The only way a brand can succeed is to deliver what customers want, and we do that at the spa and through our skincare products."
Unlike spas with a dimmed lighting, Elemis spas boast a contemporary interior design using a white colour scheme that makes for a bright battery-recharging ambience. The therapists are professionally trained to deliver treatments to the same standard as other Elemis spas around the world.
Sean Harrington, co-founder of the Elemis Spa.
Elemis is best known for its clinically proven Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial, which targets signs of ageing, with measurable results after one session. Lasting 75 minutes, it begins with a skin analysis and consultation for any customisation needed.
The skin is deeply cleansed, exfoliated and toned before it is transformed by a peel-off mask and a cream mask, followed by a stimulating massage, before being nourished with Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Serum. Quartz along with rhodochrosite, malachite, montmorillonite and tourmaline are key ingredients of product used in the facial.
The precious minerals are believed to help revitalise tired and stressed skin, while scientific studies have demonstrated their roles in cellular function.
The facial ends with the application of the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, the brand's iconic skincare product that celebrated its 10th anniversary this year with an event at The St. Regis Bangkok.
"Elemis differs from other brands in conducting clinical trials in order to find a high-performance formula. Out of 52 formulations, we chose the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream with 5% active ingredient Padina pavonica, which is now used by other skincare brands at 1-3%," said Harrington.
"Since the clinical trials have proven its real-world efficacy, over the years there was no need to upgrade the Pro-Collagen Marine Cream, which remains an Elemis classic."
Padina pavonica is a brown algae, and its skincare application came after a French cosmetic scientist noticed how it was growing on a shipwreck when he was diving off the coast of Malta. He was amazed at how well the wood under the seaweed was preserved.
Elemis was the original investor in a seaweed farm that still provides the brand with the strongest brown algae from the deepest water reached by the least sunlight.
Containing two other marine actives from another brown algae and red coral, Elemis' iconic gel cream is complemented by a whole range of anti-ageing skincare products for at-home use, including a serum and a cream mask enriched with quartz that reinforces padina pavonica's benefits.
The Pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial is also available at Anantara and Mandara spas, The Spa by MSpa at Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok, and the Royal Garden Spa at Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa.
