on the SCENE

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

Repêchage Day of Empowerment

Lincoln Plaza Hotel, London

Professional skincare brand Repêchage’s Day of Empowerment, hosted at the Lincoln Plaza Hotel, was a gathering of beauty professionals from around the world – including therapists from as far afield as India, Estonia and Mexico. The event featured a speaker lineup including Repêchage founder and chief executive Lydia Sarfati, partner and chief marketing officer Shiri Sarfati, spa director Yolanda Amador Origel, medispa owner Angela Noviello and beauty business owner Louise Conneally-Dowd.

Attended by features editor Ellen Cummings, the day started with a discussion on the intersection of wellness and science. Attendees also learned strategies for success in their business, whether as solo therapists or large-scale spa owners. The Red-Out Facial demonstration, paired with dermaplaning techniques, showcased the brand’s latest treatment, while a session on retail strategies from Lydia Sarfati provided actionable business insights. There were also plenty of networking opportunities, allowing the professionals to connect and exchange ideas with their peers from around the world.

Dermapenworld Valentine’s Day Ball

The Savoy Hotel, London

PB’s deputy editor Kezia Parkins was among the guests at Dermapenworld’s luxurious Valentine’s Day celebration in the Savoy’s Ballroom. The room was beautifully lit in blue and the tables were decorated with blue rose petals. Kezia got to sit on the head table with Kelly Tobin, the brand’s UK country director, and ambassador Andrew Hansford and their families. The room was buzzing with excited conversations and catch ups with the biggest names in the aesthetic industry.

Dr Andrew Christie, Dr Rachna Murthy and Hansford gave fascinating speeches about microneedling technology, exosomes, polynucleotides and their power to regenerate the skin and stimulate hair growth on the scalp. There was also an awards ceremony where guests saw facialist Aggie Singh take home the Clinical Outcomes award for her impressive documentation of client progress and case studies. The three-course meal was delicious and the live entertainment was incredible – from the string quartet to the air acrobatics.

Dermafocus anniversary gala event

Bafta, London

The prestigious Bafta venue at 195 Piccadilly provided the backdrop for a glamourous gala celebrating the five-year anniversary of distributor Dermafocus and its expertise in regenerative aesthetics. The evening brought together aesthetic practitioners, key partners and press (including Ellen) for a night of celebration and innovation. Guests arrived in black tie and were greeted with champagne, before a speech from Dermafocus co-founder and director Milad Bemana, who reflected on the company’s journey and highlighted its products like Newest and the Plinest range. The night featured a three-course meal alongside live entertainment, including music, magic and comedy, as well as plenty of networking opportunities.

Salon Services Professional Hair & Beauty Awards 2025

May Fair Hotel, London

The Salon Services Professional Hair & Beauty Awards returned for its second year with an evening at the May Fair Hotel, attended by Ellen and Charlotte Grant-West, editor of PB’s sister title Hairdressers Journal. Industry professionals, influencers and judges gathered to celebrate the most-loved products in hair and beauty. As a retailer of over 800 brands, Salon Services invited thousands of professionals to vote, alongside a panel of 26 judges, to crown this year’s winners in a prizegiving hosted by journalist Ateh Jewel. Winners in the beauty categories included Skintruth for Best in Skincare and Spa, Professional Beauty Systems Eyelash and Eyebrow Tint for Best in Eyebrow and Eyelashes, and Gelish Soak Off Gel Polish Range for Best Nail Gel Range.

Pause Live International Women’s Day Event

Home House, London

Editorial assistant Erin Leybourne celebrated International Women’s Day with the Pause Live team. The event provided networking opportunities for press, influencers and brands in the women’s health space. It also saw the launch of Pause Live’s #IAmEveryWoman campaign, championing women at all stages of life, from menstruation to menopause. A panel, hosted by journalist Vicky Eldridge, included female health experts Dr Itunu Johnson-Sogbetun, a GP with a special interest in women’s sexual and reproductive health, and menopause care, aesthetic doctor Dr Shirin Lakhani, and author and menopause ambassador Deborah Garlick, alongside some of Pause Live’s team. They answered questions about the state of menopause care in the UK, and touched on other women’s health issues.

Epicutis event

Balance Massage and Wellness, London

The Epicutis event was an exclusive introduction to the brand’s approach to skincare and an opportunity for press, including Ellen, to meet the brand’s co-founder Maxwell Stock and gain firsthand knowledge of the skin health research led by his father, Dr Jeffry Stock, a Princeton University biophysicist. The event also featured the unveiling of the new Arctigenin Brightening Treatment, a topical skincare product designed to brighten skin tone, reduce dark spots and provide deep hydration, and a real highlight was the chance to experience an Epicutis facial. Epicutis is now available in the UK through Healthxchange.