Gielly Green

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

As online beauty retail continues to grow, it can be difficult to remember the names and who sells what, but I always find myself returning to boutique sites that offer a carefully selected range of niche brands and products.

NUUSUITE.com is a new UK-based beauty website that offers a selection of handpicked products for all skin and hair types and beauty concerns.

Founded by a make-up artist with over 10 years of experience in the beauty industry, NUUSUITE brings together products that they have found most effective and even have UK exclusives of Make-Up Designory and Amazon Series.

I was invited by NUUSUITE to try some products from two of their beauty brands, Gielly Green and Lubatti.

Founded by Fred Gielly and Shai Greenberg, Gielly Green is a Marylebone boutique hair salon with a holistic approach to beauty and styling. Gielly Green Boutique Collection is a luxurious range of natural hair products, formulated from the world’s finest ingredients.

I was given the Gielly Green Nourish Mask (£29.50) to try, as I needed to bring life back into my hair and repair it after a period of over-styling.

The mask has a thick consistency and is packed full of Dead Sea minerals, with a deliciously rich pamplemousse and cassis fragrance. Leave it in for 10-15 minutes before washing out and the results are astounding. My hair really soaked up the mask and felt significantly more hydrated and manageable after use.

It helps to define my curl and leave my hair volumised at the root (not at all weighed down). The monochrome packaging is stunning and makes it feel like a real treat to use, which is a real incentive when you just don’t feel like making the extra effort!

The story behind the Lubatti brand is fascinating and worth a mention. Madame Lubatti was a well-known skincare specialist in 1920s London, who treated the city’s society ladies, royalty and celebrities such as Vivien Leigh from her plush apartment.

Renowned facialist Tracey Malone’s mother Eileen was trained by Madame Lubatti and so her recipes and treatments have been passed down the family and luckily for us, are now available as the Lubatti collection.

I tried the Deliciously Rich Body Lotion – Bergamot & Grapefruit (£22.50) and absolutely love it. Although it says ‘rich’ on the bottle, it’s actually quite light in texture but rich in aroma. It’s perfect for the upper body and using on the go, as it sinks in quickly and doesn’t leave an oily residue.

I like to apply it in the morning, as the zesty citrus scent and invigorating bergamot instantly uplift the body and awake the senses – exactly what you need to kick start your day!

An Introduction to ila spa Skincare