NEWS

Massage and touch therapy could reduce sick days by 1.76 million

A new report has highlighted the positive effects of personal care services on mental health and wellbeing, stating that the introduction of touch and massage therapy could reduce mental health problems by more than 10% and cause a reduction in sick days by 1.76 million, saving the UK a staggering £10.5 billion in the process.

The Effects of Personal Care Services on Mental Health & Wellbeing report, created by Dr Neil Carpenter along with British Beauty Council’s Helena Grzesk and UK Spa Associations Yvonne Ebdon, was presented to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy as the Government had requested more supporting evidence to illustrate the phenomenon.

The report not only demonstrates the numerous health and economic benefits of touch therapy, but also explains that there is an opportunity for the beauty sector to become part of the toolkit for solutions and social prescribing within existing medical services to support the NHS. Key findings include: • Mental ill-health is the single largest cause of disability in the UK, contributing up to 22.8% of the total burden, compared to 15.9% for cancer and 16.2% for cardiovascular disease.

• There is now significant global evidence that touch therapy, as well as massage, can have a significant effect on reducing mental health problems. There is also evidence that it can address fatigue, compromised immune issues, pre- and post-menopausal problems, and improve cancer therapy.

• Additionally, the report states that massage therapy is part of healthcare in mainland Europe and Asia but is less supported in the UK. The report also shows that touch therapy can help manage back, neck and shoulder pain, osteoarthritis, cancer symptoms and treatment side effects, HIV, fibromyalgia and premature infant care.

“For months, the British Beauty Council, UK Spa Association, the National Hair & Beauty Federation, and Babtac and have been in conversation with the Government addressing this issue and promoting the positive effects of personal care services on mental health and wellbeing,” said Grzesk.

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Complaints against health and beauty adverts up 40% year on year

The health and beauty market had more adverts amended or withdrawn than any other sector last year, according to the new Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Committees of Advertising Practice (CAP) Annual Report 2020, which highlights key emerging issues for advertising regulation.

Complaints against health and beauty adverts were up 40% year-on-year, with 5,285 complaints registered in 2020 in comparison to 3,779 in 2019, the data found. The sector also reported 3,088 cases with the regulators during 2020, which equated to 16%.

Some of the key issues surrounding beauty adverts focused on body image, specifically limiting young people’s exposure to ads for cosmetic procedures and posts that promote dangerous weight loss, leading CAP to publish a public consultation on proposals for new rules that would prohibit advertising for cosmetic interventions being directed at those under the age of 18.

Many related to a crackdown on illegal advertisements for anti-wrinkle injections. And, in fact, since the report was published, the Government ruled in April that it will become illegal to administer botulinum toxin or fillers to under-18s from this autumn under the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act.

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UK named most body positive country in the world

The UK has been named the most body positive country, with the highest amount of media coverage on body confidence and inclusivity, according to a study by sportswear brand Reebok.

The report, which analysed how body inclusive countries are to shed light on the state of representation in 2021, took a look at how often terms like “body confidence”, “body positive” and “plus size” appeared in the news and were searched for online.

The UK’s number of monthly Google searches for body inclusive terms is 67,700, with the number of news articles on body inclusivity in the past year hitting a staggering 4,245, making it the most body inclusive country in the world, the report states.

The UK also has the most inclusive fitness influencers, with 8.37% of posts from these people highlighting body positivity, followed closely by France (4.30%) and the Netherlands (4.10%). For example, The Body Coach Joe Wicks has 3,800,00 followers and 13.61% of his posts are body inclusive.

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World Spa & Wellness Asia returns in June

World Spa & Wellness Asia is back this year as a free online exhibition and conference on June 21–23, 2021.

The three-day event will see high-profile speakers including Angela Derks, founder of the Australasian Sustainable Wellness Academy, and Suwadee Pachriyangkun, secretary general of the Thailand Medical & Wellness Tourism Association, address challenges impacting the spa market and share real-lie examples of how they’ve overcome these in their own businesses.

The online event will also allow delegates to meet and network via video calls, as well as discover new innovations and products from spa brands.

Register for free at worldspa.online

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Marble most popular Insta nail art trend

Marble is the most popular nail art trend on Instagram so far in 2021, with a staggering 1,832,896 hashtags about the design on the social platform, revealed OnBuy Body Care’s report. The five most popular nail art trends on Instagram this year are: 

1. Marble nails – #1.8 million 

2. Galaxy nails – #249,082 

3. Gradient nails – #230,428 

4. Animal print nails – #121,354 

5. Geometric art nails – #115,472.

The most popular polish choice is glitter, with 9.4 million hashtags; natural nails came in second with 5.4m; and pink third with 4.8m.

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Lecenté launches in-depth education programme

Following 18 months of development, pro nail brand Lecenté has launched its Education Programme to provide the industry with accredited courses. In line with current demands, the courses will run part in person and part online, including one-to-one virtual sessions with an educator.

Lecenté is initially launching three conversion courses, with beginner courses set to launch later in the year. Even on the conversion courses, there is a primary focus on science and anatomy to cover any gaps from previous education.

The initial two-day conversion courses are: Create Gel Polish Conversion, covering Create system product knowledge, plus all types of application from one-coat colour, rainbow, glitter finishes, correct removal and aftercare; Create Builder Gel Conversion – Natural Nail, covering nail prep, filing, application for different nail types, re-balancing methods, and removal; and Create Builder Gel Conversion – Complete, which covers every application method of the Create Builder Gel including natural to enhancement, with both tips and sculpting.

All courses are accredited by Babtac and all educators have completed the Lecenté Educator training programme and passed the Nail Knowledge. Lecenté has also developed an online portal for students to access training materials, submit work and and receive ongoing support from their educator.

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Elemis outlines core sustainability pledges for next four years

Elemis has outlined new sustainability pledges to help reduce its impact on the planet, with the skincare brand’s chief sustainability officer, Oriele Frank, heading up the project.

Pledges for 2021–2024 include: using environmentally-friendly shippers for rolling out e-commerce; aiming to eliminate all plastics and use 100% recyclable paper; and to incorporate 30% PCR material and ocean waste plastic where possible.

Elemis also plans to replace high volume Pro-Collagen jars with 100% recyclable ones and move to single-walled tubes to reduce plastic waste, as well as utilise 100% renewable energy from the sun, wind and water at all UK locations.

“As we grow, we’re committed to a mindset change to ensure we focus on sustainability as a priority and drive a circular model of reinvesting into our product, our planet, our people and our philanthropic causes,” said Frank.

In the past year, the brand has already removed spatulas from products, saving 1.7 tonnes of plastic landfill; and removed 4.6 million internal leaflets, among other initiatives.

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Skinbrands takes on UK distribution of premium skincare range Swissline

Distributor Skinbrands has signed a deal to distribute premium skincare Swissline in the UK. Skinbrands will sell the Swiss company’s consumer and professional products via its network of 86 clinics, including those that are part of groups including sk:n, The Harley Medical Group and DestinationSkin. The rollout is expected to take place later this year.

Swissline chief executive Christophe Lesueur commented on the partnership: “Skin health and innovation is of paramount importance to Skinbrands, as it is to Swissline.” Skinbrands managing director Amanda Coveney added: “I’m very excited to explore the unique opportunities this full debut into the UK market is sure to bring, and I look forward to driving and developing the business.”

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Gharieni Ultra Therapy Concepts plans UK launch for 2022

Spa equipment manufacturer Gharieni has partnered with UAE distributor The Product House to develop new treatments – Ultra Therapy Concepts – which combine the company’s concept beds with therapeutic rituals from international skincare brands. The treatments are currently only available in the Middle East but there are plans to roll the concept out to the UK next year.

In the Middle East, Ultra Therapy Concepts by Gharieni will see the brand’s MLX Quartz bed, MLX i³Dome and Spa.Wave System become the foundation for a series of treatment protocols, developed by in-house experts using skincare partners from The Product House, including Aromatherapy Associates, Carol Joy London, Comfort Zone, Dr Burgener Switzerland, Elemental Herbology, QMS Medicosmetics and Maison d’Asa.

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Shop Beautiful now UK distributor of Exuviance Professional

Shop Beautiful is now the exclusive distributor of Exuviance Professional in the UK, including the Exuviance Professional Peel System, which offers beauty therapists strength options to address clients’ specific skin types and conditions. The brand’s peels use an effective combination of acids – AHAs, PHAs, mandelic and glycolic.

Lucy Barnard, marketing manager at Shop Beautiful, said: “We’re very excited to be able to exclusively launch Exuviance Professional to the beauty market in the UK.

“It is a fabulous range developed by dermatologists who have perfected the science of skin, which is why we love it so much and are confident our customers will as well.”

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