Denise Leicester | cheriecity.co.uk

Beauty

ila spa New Gold Cellular Age-Restore

October 27, 2015 by cheriecity

ila spa is a British spa and beauty brand that has a special place in my heart, so when I was invited to visit the ila barn in the Cotswolds, I jumped at the chance.

I spent the afternoon with ila’s magnetic founder Denise Leicester who I’ve met a few times at ila spa events in London. Not only did I get a rare glimpse of these luxurious, natural creams and oils in production, but I was treated to an exclusive preview of ila spa’s new game-changing Gold Cellular Age-Restore collection.

The ila barn

After a short drive from Charlbury through the rolling Oxfordshire countryside, I was warmly welcomed by Denise at the peaceful ila barn, framed by seemingly endless green fields. Over a healthy snack of dates filled with cashew nut butter and warming cardamon and saffron tea, we chatted about the hotly anticipated collection and Denise’s extensive travels.

ila spa Gold Cellular Age-Restore

ila spa Gold Cellular Age-Restore is the result of three years of experimenting and fine tuning. The innovative anti-ageing ritual harnesses the power of ethically harvested frankincense from the Garden of Ethiopia and three types of naturally occurring gold. Its unique BosTriWell formula combines three different kinds of frankincense to reduce inflammation while 24-Carat Gold, Homeopathic and Colloidal Gold boost the production of collagen.

A plant-derived hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin completes this powerful trinity of active ingredients working to promote radiance and reduce the signs of ageing. Denise explained that the range was formulated in partnership with a world-renowned German pharmacy to achieve the best possible results while staying true to ila’s natural, ‘beyond organic’ philosophy.

A Tour of the workshop

First on the agenda was a tour of the ila spa workshop where all of the organic face and body products are hand-blended, bottled and packaged up. It’s such a unique, pleasant environment with exquisite aromas filling the air that I found myself daydreaming about packing up for the Cotswolds to be an ila apprentice.

Blending Oils

The work stations are adorned with a golden sri yantra to channel good energy into the products and every product is blessed with a positive affirmation by its creator – truly made with love. I tried my hand at blending ila’s best-selling Body Oil for Inner Peace, mixing heady top note oils jasmine, sandalwood and ylang ylang with a base of argan oil and rosehip seed oil.

The Wedding Labyrinth

I then took a reflective walk around the special wedding labyrinth at the back of the barn with a lighted candle in hand while being watched intently by the flock of sheep in the adjacent field. I’m guessing they’re pretty chilled out sheep with all the Ayurvedic aromas flowing into their field.

A Rejuvenating Facial

Already feeling serene and revived by the fresh country air, I was set for further relaxation with a signature ila spa Gold Cellular Age-Restore Facial. Expert therapist Jo performed the most fantastic healing and rejuvenating facial in the warm, tranquil treatment room. She thoroughly cleansed and exfoliated my skin and intuitively massaged my head, shoulders and face using lymphatic drainage techniques.

A paper sheet drenched in a zingy mask was pushed deep into the skin using the ila Sonic Wave Therapy, leaving my skin feeling tingly and taut. The treatment finished with a light application of serum and face cream and I was gently awoken from my trance-like state.

Meditation

The treatment was made even more relaxing and effective with a soundtrack of hypnotic, tribal music composed and sung by Denise. After the treatment, we sipped on Radiance Cleanse detox juices and Denise led us in a meditative sound therapy session, chanting and playing crystal singing bowls in harmony. It was the perfect end to an afternoon of wellbeing and I left feeling truly inspired by Denise and her soulful, holistic approach to skincare.

The Range

I’ve been trying out the collection since visiting the ila barn and am already hooked. My skin was terribly stressed out with a new type of breakout that I had no idea how to tackle and it was getting me down. The Gold Cellular Age-Restore has dramatically helped calm and soothe my skin, reducing the bumps with its anti-inflamatory properties and re-balancing the tone.

Face Cleanser

Gold Cellular Age-Restore Face Cleanser is my hero product and an absolute joy to use. The oil-based cleanser is made up of Babassu oil, Boswellia Extract, Jasmine and vitamin-rich Sea Buckthorn to purify and nourish the skin. It’s just the right texture to give the face and decolletage a good massage and turns into a light milk when emulsified with water. It leaves my skin feeling comfortable and clean and most importantly leaves no greasy residue.

Face Toner

Gold Cellular Age-Restore Face Toner is distilled from the purest organic orange blossom (instantly taking me back to summer in Provence) and helps revive and tighten skin. I don’t usually see the benefit of toners (unless they’re acid toners to exfoliate) but this one is really rather special.

Face Serum

Gold Cellular Age-Restore Face Serum is the ideal product for getting a good dose of those effective ingredients without overwhelming the skin. For best results, it can be massaged deeply into the skin with the ila Sonic Wave Therapy device.

Face Cream

Gold Cellular Age-Restore Face Cream is a rich, indulgent face cream with collagen boosting 24 Carat Gold, White Gold and Gold Dust to boost cell oxygenation and eliminate toxins from the skin and White Lily stem cells to target fine lines. I find the texture a little heavy for everyday use on my combination skin, but I love using it at night and on lazy weekends to thoroughly nourish and repair my skin.

Impressions

ila spa Gold Cellular Age-Restore is a truly luxurious, results-driven organic range that enhances the brand’s excellent offering. Priced at the higher end of natural skincare it’s certainly an investment, but believe me there’s much more to the products than simply the decadence of 24 Carat Gold.

The ila spa Gold Cellular Age-Restore collection is now available exclusively at Harrods and is priced from £40 to £180. For more information and to buy online, visit: www.harrods.com and www.ila-spa.com

Chérie City was a guest of ila spa

Photos by Chérie City and ila spa

Beauty

Ila Spa New Little Body Treats Range

August 29, 2013 by cheriecity

ila spa has been one of my favourite luxury natural skincare brands since I was first introduced to it three years ago. I’m a big fan of the rose-scented Glowing Radiance range and the massage I tried at Grayshott Spa using ila spa body oil sent me off into a heavenly trance like nothing I’ve experienced before.

For a perfect introduction to the brand, ila spa has recently launched Little Body Treats (£40) – a sleek bag featuring deluxe-size samples of its signature products. It includes everything you need for a super soft, relaxed body and is the ideal size for travel.

Body Oil for Vital Energy

This is without a doubt my top beauty discovery this summer. The invigorating oil has a light texture and is so easily absorbed into the skin that it can be worn morning or night. It has a pleasant zesty, aromatic scent that comes from wild-crafted juniper berry, rose geranium and rosehip-seed oil.

Also rich in argan and almond oil, it stimulates circulation, energises the body, removes toxins, restores energy to the cells and reduces cellulite. It’s a great all-round product that suits all skin conditions and really uplifts the senses while softening the body.

Body Balm for Feeding Skin & Senses

This is a rich, nourishing balm that is particularly soothing for dry skin. Rose geranium calms the senses while argan and rosehip-seed oil (rich in fatty acids and anti-oxidants) restore suppleness and help improve the tone of skin. ila spa also suggests that the balm benefits skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and helps condition where there is hormone imbalance.

Body Scrub for Energising and Detoxifying

This luxurious treat polishes the skin and reveals radiance. Himalayan salt crystals gently exfoliate the body and are infused with alpine lavender, geranium, lemongrass and wild organic juniper.

I found that the body scrub leaves an oily film on the skin after using, so it is best to cleanse the body properly before using and allow the oil to sink in while asleep. If you don’t want to feel too slippery during the day, I’d recommend only using the body scrub in the evening.

Bath Salts for Cleansing

I’m looking forward to using these heavenly bath salts during the colder months. The combination of juniper berry, rose geranium, lemongrass alpine lavender are said to help stimulate circulation, detoxify the body, reduce swelling and puffiness and combat fatigue. The bath salts smell divine and the Bath Salts for Inner Peace are already a staple of my winter bathing regime.

To see the full range and to learn more about ila spa and its founder Denise Leicester, visit: www.ila-spa.com

Photos by Cherie City and ila spa

*Sample

Beauty

An Introduction to ila spa Skincare

January 9, 2012 by cheriecity

Some natural beauty brands go so far as being nourishing and highly effective, but with ila spa, the connection goes a little deeper. It’s the first brand that I’ve really connected with, in terms of its history, philosophy and soul.

My love of ila spa products started slowly when I first tried the rose collection a year ago and since, I’ve become a fan and believer in the karmic element of the brand.

Founder Denise Leicester

Inspirational founder Denise Leicester is a qualified nurse, aromatherapist, yoga teacher and yogic healer, who combines her knowledge and experience of the medical, holistic and spiritual spheres. She was moved to create ila spa, as there were few natural products that were 100% organic and committed fully to the practice of healing energy.

Reflecting the harmony of spiritual and natural elements, ila spa was named after the Hindu Goddess of Truth and the sanskrit word for Earth.

The Story of ila spa

The first 12 months of ila spa’s beginnings were spent travelling the globe, researching and sourcing the finest ingredients, followed by creating a sustainable infrastructure with ethical farmers and growers. This continued support and mutual reliance on global communities has led to viable industries where traditional methods are valued.

Ingredients from Around the Globe

The high quality organic ingredients that go into ila spa products are sourced from communities in India, Pakistan, Brazil, Morocco, Tibet and Bhutan. Processing the raw materials is done traditionally by hand, without the interference of electricity or chemicals. For example, rose petals are distilled slowly and naturally, yielding a small quantity of the purest oil, which is used in the ila spa rose collection.

The finished products are then securely sealed and sent to the ila spa barn in the Cotswolds to be packaged and sent out, ready to be used and loved.

The Products

One of my favourite things about ila spa products is the vibrant, eye-catching colours and luxurious gold card-lined packaging, contrasted with simple white and gold heavy glass bottles. The visually pleasing packaging is inspired by the mounds of spices and pigment found in India, particularly during Holi Day.

At a recent Handpicked Media event hosted with ila spa, we were treated to a selection of products to take home and try.

Incense for an Aroma of Purity and Peace

These incense sticks are luxurious and calming with a more appealing scent than any I’ve tried before. Denise recommends burning the incense when meditating to help concentration and clarity of the mind.

Bath Salts for Inner Peace

These luxurious bath salts include a fragrant blend of Himalayan salt crystals, Damascena rose otto and sandalwood. After a long soak in the bath with the salts, my skin always feels incredibly soft and the aromas help clear the head and unwind tense muscles.

Body Balm for Feeding Skin and Senses

This rich, thick body cream is made from Damascena rose otto, wild-grown argan oil and bees wax. The natural rose scent is not too sweet and the body balm is a luxurious treat, especially at night when you can slather it on, cocooning your body and waking up with fresh, plump skin.

Fragrant Candle for Inner Peace

This invigorating candle features notes of tuberose and rose. The scent is slightly sweet, fresh and light but with an enveloping warmth.

Advice from Denise

Denise told us that the best way to enjoy ila spa products and to really relax is to make your evening bath a spa ritual. Before getting into the bath, make a warming drink and place it by your bedside, so you don’t have to disturb your buzz with boiling the kettle!

To boost your body’s natural defences against the winter chill and just to relax, Denise suggests slicing and crushing up some fresh ginger and mixing with freshly squeezed lime juice, honey and boiling hot water. The ginger adds a real kick and gives you a warm glow, which helps relax the body before sleep.

ila spa Express Facial

When used in massage by a professional therapist, ila spa products are incredibly potent and have surprising results. I tried an ila spa Rejuvenating Rose Indulgence massage at Grayshott Spa and I was so relaxed that I had an unusual ‘out of body experience’.

My second ila spa treatment was an express facial at the Handpicked Media event and I could feel the healing energy flowing through myself and the therapist as she placed her hands on key areas of my head and upper body.

Selected spas across the world use ila spa, including Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Grayshott Spa and Gielly Green and all therapists are trained to perform treatments according to ila spa’s healing philosophy. I fully recommend an ila spa treatment, as you benefit not only from the therapist’s expertise but also the healing properties of the products.

ila spa is one of my favourite beauty discoveries of all time and I look forward to seeing the brand thrive and spread good karma and energy through skincare.

For more info and to buy online, visit: www.ila-spa.com