BODY matters

This is the time of year to highlight the importance of body care to clients in order to help them prepare their skin for the warmer months, and to boost business in the process

The summer months are a timely opportunity to remind clients that body care is every bit as important as facial care, particularly in 2021 when salons were closed for the first four months of the year.

“This is the time of year when clients are baring all, but many may have neglected their bodies during lockdown,” says Louise O’Loughlin, owner, Iguazu Beauty in Rush, Co Dublin. “You need to ask them about their main concerns. They could be worried about cellulite, dry patches or poor circulation. Their muscles may be in need of some care from sitting at a home computer for months on end. Some clients might want a complete overhaul.

“It’s vital that you offer treatments that will prepare their skin for the sun ,without causing excessive peeling. The aim is to achieve the correct balance of exfoliation, hydration and protection. We recommend treatments such as the Honey Body Polish by Repêchage, which addresses a range of issues, and includes a seaweed body cream that protects and hydrates the skin. This treatment is a great preparation for both natural and salon tanning.”

“In the summer time we always recommend body treatments to our clients as these are the months when they get to show a bit more skin,” says Tanisha Mongan, manager, The Buff Day Spa in Dublin. “Our menu includes the 30-minute Voya Express Scrub, which is a full body exfoliation, after which lotion is applied to nourish the skin. For anyone looking to extend their treatment, we recommend the 55-minute Voya Sugar Scrub, where the lotion is massaged into the body so the client leaves both relaxed and revived.

“We often see clients suffering from back breakouts, so we would recommend a specialised treatment such as the Dermalogica Beautiful Back; this works wonders on congested skin as an exfoliation is performed and extractions are carried out if needed. For clients with particularly congested skin, we would suggest a course of six of these treatments.”

‘As beauty therapists who are passionate about our work, we should educate our clients on the role body care plays in relaxing both the mind and body’

“We would also recommend body exfoliating treatments for this time of year, as they leave the skin glowing and refreshed, and they also promote the elimination of toxins,” says Agnes Gajewska, therapist at Essentials Beauty & Skincare Clinic in Dublin. “They are a must-have for pre-tanning and pre-waxing clients. It’s never too late for clients to introduce body treatments for the summer, but it has to be a team effort. In our salon, we provide the professional treatments, and the clients do their ‘homework’ of dry brushing, home body cupping and applying body lotions.” professionalbeauty.ie

Wrapping up 

Body wraps are popular with clients all year round, but they are particularly sought after in the summer time. “We see a huge demand coming into the summer months for our Universal Contour Wrap,” says Mongan. “It is an ideal treatment for any client who is looking to lose inches all over their body, whether in preparation for an event or just to feel extra fabulous in sundress season. Our Venus Freeze body treatment works great alongside it; this non-invasive treatment reduces the size of fat cells, resulting in a smoother, more contoured shape.”

“It is important that as therapists we explain the benefits and possible results of body wrap treatments to clients in an honest and realistic way,” says O’Loughlin. “Certainly inch loss can be obtained from wraps, but it is fluid loss, and not weight or loss of fat. These wraps are great for aching muscles, water retention, firming the appearance of the skin and reducing the appearance of cellulite. They are also wonderful for relaxation and relieving stress. If you are offering these treatments and explaining their benefits correctly to your clients, they can be a great addition to your service menu. But never make a promise you can't keep; one disappointed client will result in 20 more hearing about it pretty quickly.”

“There is no magic pill to make you slimmer in a day, but daily self-care and effort will give long-lasting results,” says Gajewska. “In Essentials, we offer Slim Logic from Guinot, which features an active exfoliant, massage techniques and a fluid-reducing body wrap. Alginates in the wrap help eliminate excess fluid in the tissues, while caffeine helps to burn fat. The skin appears firmer and more radiant immediately after the treatment.”

Body care investment 

The lockdown saw clients investing a considerable amount of time, effort and money into facial skincare, so there’s no time like the present to encourage them to put the same effort into body care, according to Roisin Leacy, owner of Eikon Beauty, which has salons in Gorey, Co Wexford and Shankill, Co Dublin.

“Facial skincare is paramount at the moment, with salons offering online skin consultations. Clients have become much more aware of facial care and treatment options. We aim to incorporate body skincare into consultations as much as possible now, especially to clients with acne and those who have very sensitive skin. Body massage is another growth area, as many clients are working from home and finding they are suffering with aches and pains, and also in need of general relaxation.”

“The skin is our largest organ, so it’s very important that we educate our clients in looking after the skin all over the body,” says O’Loughlin. “We know stress affects the skin on our face, with breakouts, flushing and sweating. It is the same on the body. Introduce clients slowly to body care with one or two products; soon they will see the difference and get into the new routine of using them daily.”

“Attention to the body is a must; we can't treat it like the forgotten cousin of the face,” says Gajewska. “As beauty therapists who are passionate about our work, we should educate our clients on the role body care plays in relaxing both the mind and body.”

Care packages 

Offering clients a range of treatment options and combinations can help to introduce them to the body treatments on your menu. “Packages can be a great way to get your clients involved in different treatments, as well as boosting business, but be mindful of your time,” advises O’Loughlin. “Instead of putting together two or three full treatments that might be time-consuming and not cost-effective, try blending them to make something new. It is easy to ‘cross pollinate’ treatments to get the most out of your time, achieve a better bottom line, and give the client a bespoke experience that they love and will talk about.

‘If you want your clients coming back time and time again for body treatments, you need to give them a plan’

“For example, you can apply a facial mask when doing a body treatment. I hear a lot of professionals talk about their ‘waxing clients’ or their ‘facial clients’. The best solution for both your business and your clients is to have them all under every category.”

“Offering aa variety of different treatments as a package is a great way for clients to experience your entire menu,” says Mongan. “Getting a body exfoliation with a massage, or a facial and manicure/pedicure together, will refresh and rejuvenate them from head to toe. We offer many of our packages at a discounted rate, so it is better value for our clients to choose from these.”

Planning ahead 

Incorporating treatment plans into packages will encourage client loyalty as well, and ultimately be good for business. “Every year we print new summer body treatment menus, so clients are aware of what we have to offer,” says Gajewska. “We always provide them with a treatment plan, which includes a price reduction or complimentary retail body product.”

“If you want your clients coming back time and time again for body treatments, you need to give them a plan,” says O’Loughlin. “Start off by doing a full consultation, and make a list of all of their concerns, expectations and goals. Then draw up a plan and share it with your client.

“Discuss what you can do in the salon or spa, and what you will need them to do at home. Map out their six sessions over the coming months, include their homecare and, if necessary, do up a payment plan. Make sure they feel like it is value for money, and include outside support such as emailing them to see how they are getting on. Be enthusiastic and let them know you are there to help them reach their goal.”PBHJ

Lotions & potions

From scrubs to creams, here are some of our body care product picks to help clients keep their skin in top condition

ESSENTIAL MOISTURE
The Environ Body EssentiA Alpha Hydroxy Derma-Lac Lotion contains lactic acid to deeply moisturise and soften uneven skin texture. For best results, it should be used alongside Environ Body EssentiA Vitamin A, C & E Body Oil, which is formulated to provide the skin with a high concentration of vitamins and antioxidants.
RRP: €38.00 environskincare.com

SUMMER GLOW
This Salt Glow figure-boosting duo encourages the release of toxins from joints and improves circulation. With ingredients including jasmine, geranium, lavender, soya oil, grapeseed, organic algae, kelp and Mediterranean sea salt, it’s ideal for clients who have previously lost weight and want to tone up

RRP: €42.80 heavenskincare.com

SEAWEED POWER 
Repêchage Seaweed Body Cream is enriched with vitamin C and E, gingko biloba, aloe leaf juice powder, and sustainably-harvested seaweeds to deeply moisturise the surface of skin, reducing the appearance of dryness and flakiness. It also exfoliates with lactic acid and is lightly fragranced with cedar leaf, lavender, lemon, neroli, coriander and thyme.

RRP: €38.00 iguazubeautytherapy.com

SUPER SCRUB 
Kaeso’s range of body scrubs includes the Mandarin & Black Pepper Sugar Body Scrub, which promises to exfoliate dead skin cells and enhance skin renewal. Other ingredients include jojoba oil and cocoa butter to moisturise and boost skin condition
RRP: €17.95 kaeso.co.uk

DOUBLE ACT
Mila d'Opiz Iso-Slim Firming Lotion is a two-in-one body lotion and anti-cellulite cream that contains four slimming active ingredients – caffeine, genisteine, carnitine and spirulina extract. These aim to break down fat, strengthen skin firmness and moisturise the skin. The lotion promises to improve skin quality in problem areas such as the arms, legs, thighs and hips.

Trade: €43 sunaura.ie

BODY BRIGHT 
Dermalogica Thermafoliant Body Scrub is a dual-action body exfoliant thataims to energise and brighten dull skin with ingredients such as Indian bamboo stempapain, lactic acid and natural sea salt A blend of replenishing bio-lipids helps to protect and strengthen the skin barrier.

RRP: €47.50

NO MORE CREPINESS
Containing longan fruit, Pevonia’s new Crepe-No-More Body Cream dermalogica.ieaims to reduce crepiness and fat accumulations, while tightening, firming and smoothing skin texture.
RRP: €58.15 pevonia.co.uk