Behind the scenes at all the parties, launches and events in the world of beauty and spa

URBAN RETREAT AT THE WHITE HOUSE LAUNCH PARTY KNIGHTSBRIDGE, LONDON

PB’s editor Eve Oxberry and social media editor Chris Halpin got a first look at the new Urban Retreat at the White House salon during the launch party in August, held for press and clients. Managing director Reena Hammer gave guests the grand tour of the building, which is a renovated five-storey town house offering everything from lashes to tattooing, alongside a bar and plenty of space for retail. Guests enjoyed lychee martinis and canapés courtesy of in-house restaurant Flavour.

SALON LIFE ILEC CONFERENCE CENTRE, LONDON

The first beauty salon-focused event from the organisers of Spa Life took place in July, offering delegates a combination of face-to-face meetings with suppliers, an education programme, and a mini exhibition featuring sponsor brands including Caudalie and Mii.

Keynote speaker was Lopo Champalimaud, chief executive of bookings platform Treatwell, who shared some industry statistics before giving advice on how best to use online bookings to increase revenue. Other speakers included Menno Kuijper of app specialist gappt, who shared case studies of businesses that have tackled loss of income from no-shows by taking card details on booking, and retail specialist Jaclyn Hughes, who outlined strategies to improve average client spend. Delegates also enjoyed a three-course lunch and a goody bag with products from exhibitors.

LASH PERFECT IREVIVE BREAKFAST LAUNCH LASH PERFECT BEAUTY BAR, LONDON

The lash brand invited press, including PB’s deputy editor Amanda Pauley, to the reveal of its first-ever eye treatment iRevive. The 30-minute ritual promises to reduce the appearance of dark circles and puffiness by using under-eye patches infused with microcurrent technology, which claim to boost collagen and elasticity in the skin, in combination with a lymphatic massage using a rose quartz roller. Beverley Piper, director of Lash Perfect, talked attendees through the treatment, which the brand says is an ideal add-on to any lash treatment, while techs demoed the ritual. Press took away a goody bag filled with the matching retail products to try at home.

SAKS FUNDRAISING FOR THE EVE APPEAL VARIOUS LOCATIONS ACROSS THE UK

Staff from Saks Hair & Beauty salons across the UK joined forces this summer to raise money for the Eve Appeal. The franchise salon chain, which has been fundraising for the gynaecological cancer charity since 2015, has just hit the £150,000 mark – well on the way to its £250,000 target. Activities have included physical mud challenges, mountain climbs and several in-salon events with clients.

Saks head of marketing Janet King said: “I’m blown away by how everyone’s joined in with our ongoing fundraising activities. A big part of our partnership is raising awareness. We’ve got to keep teaching our daughters the correct language to use so they’re not embarrassed to talk to their GPs about gynaecological issues. Vagina is not a dirty word.”

REFECTOCIL BROWISTA CREATIVE CUSTOM COLOUR WORKSHOP BEAUTYSTACK, LONDON

PB’s Amanda spent the day learning the art of personalised brow tinting at Salon System’s Refectocil Browista workshop.

The one-day course began with brow and lash experts Lisa Stone and Ruth Atkins talking through the season’s biggest trends, before demonstrating how to mix up different shades to harmonise with clients’hair colour. Delegates were shown how to intensify and lighten a shade as well as how to develop more vivid colours like red, silver and blue. The day ended with attendees demoing a variety of tints on one another.