Biologique Recherche has spent the past 40 years developing technology and
products to understand the skin on an individual level. Pierre-Louis Delapalme
and Rupert Schmid tell us about the Parisian brand’s latest innovations
Biologique Recherche has built its business on the concept of personalisation. Can you explain how this works? Pierre-Louis Delapalme: Everyone is talking about personalisation today, but we started focussing on personalisation 40 years ago. So for 40 years, we have slowly built a sophisticated methodology, adding new products to make sure that we cover all possible skin issues and problems. When you have 40 years + to develop personalisation, then it gives you the time to reach a certain level of sophistication.
The combination of all these things generates a personalised dermocosmetic file, which will recommend a selection of Biologique Recherche products and treatments specifically tailored for each client. Guests love that we give them the tools to be involved actively in their treatment. Every step, we select the right product for the right diagnosis, so the possibilities are endless. Because of that, we get results.
P-LD: The diagnosis is where we try to innovate – this year we added a visual app, which takes pictures and measures the pores, skin pigmentation, and the length and depth of wrinkles, so it’s really another angle on the skin.
Every time the guest comes to us, we assess their skin and identify how it’s changed. Your skin will change every time you come back to us, depending on stress, what you eat, hormonal cycle – there are so many reasons why your skin can change. Biologique Recherche spas keep a personalised history for each guest, monitoring the changes over time so that recommendations can be dynamically adjusted for a long-term treatment programme.
Why is it important to have such a deep level of understanding of the skin? P-LD: Many people think the cosmetic industry is an ingredient battle – what’s new, what’s best etc. We work a bit differently, because a main source of inspiration is understanding the skin’s functioning. This is very important, because one of the mistakes that can be made is that you only select ingredients to treat the problem, but you might miss the cause of the problem. Our formulations have the highest quality active ingredients, and high concentrations – usually over 20% – of botanical, marine and biological extracts. We try to be as rigorous as possible in getting the full picture, and that’s why our formulations are so complex – because we really want to treat not only the symptoms but also the root cause. Treating the root cause is very different, and requires different actives.
What we hear from a lot of our customers is that they feel the methodology has really transformed their skin. They see the difference – they see their skin coming back to life. Once they’ve rediscovered their skin, they’re a little bit hooked.
You invest heavily in research and innovation. What are some of the newest things you’re offering your customers? P-LD: We’re launching our own DNA testing methodology in January 2020, ‘My Beauty DNA’, which measures what you cannot see: the skin you are born with. Science used to think that 25% of your skin was controlled by DNA, and 75% by your life conditions; now, the studies suggest it’s more like 50/50, so DNA is actually a big part of skin health. ‘My Beauty DNA’ is a tool for prevention; if you can identify issues early on, then you can change the skin’s condition.
It’s a simple saliva test, and the results are sent to the spa, where the therapist can read them and be able to say exactly what the strengths and weaknesses of that person’s skin are from their DNA. The therapist combines this information with the testing on our machines and recommends products and treatments specifically for that guest.
RS: This is a programme that is devoted to people who are really involved in understanding the skin. The future of beauty will rely on knowledge and experience. And knowledge and experience is something you do not get overnight – that is why we invest heavily in training and technology. We want our therapists to have the tools and the knowledge to understand the skin and the treatment options. We really believe that we’re just at the beginning, and that our experience of the past 40 years, always developing new products and new diagnostic methodology, puts us at the forefront of innovation.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 4
Editor's letter: Democratic wellness
To truly flourish, the spa industry needs to step outside its comfort zone and reach out to different markets with new and exciting business models, says Katie Barnes
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Boundary-pushing wellness in Iceland, self-care focus at Devarana and Civana’s equine retreat all feature in our spa menu round-up
Interview: Alexandre Cantin
Canada’s Groupe Nordik wants to open 10 nature spas, focusing on bathing and thermotherapy, by 2027. Katie Barnes talks to its VP of growth and strategy
Promotional feature: Starpool - Star quality
Wellness expert, Starpool, is known for offering complete wellness solutions with Italian design flair, enabling operators to create world class treatments and experiences
Training: Covering all bases
Resense joins forces with Lobster Ink to create an online training program for multiple spa roles
Promotional feature: Gharieni
Spa equipment innovator, Gharieni, is partnering with leading spas around the world to showcase its products to clients in real world settings, as CEO, Sammy Gharieni, explains
Research: Positive picture
ISPA’s latest US spa study shows continued growth across key metrics and pinpoints CBD and gen Z as trends. Russell Donaldson reports
Promotional feature: Zimmer MedizinSystems - Cool customer
Rainer Bolsinger, who heads up hotel and spa sales of icelab at Zimmer MedizinSystems, and icelab customer Chenot Group, explain how cryotherapy can be incorporated into your business
Promotional feature: Biologique Recherche - Skin deep
Biologique Recherche has spent the past 40 years developing technology and products to understand the skin on an individual level. Pierre-Louis Delapalme and Rupert Schmid tell Spa Business about the Parisian brand’s latest innovations
Research: On the move
The global physical activity market is now worth US$828bn according to a new GWI study. But what emerging trends do spas need to know about?
Promotional feature: SpaSoft - Onwards & upwards
The enhanced integration between SpaSoft and multiple PMS systems will help your team save time, remove the possibility of human error and create an elevated guest experience
Software: Monetising
How is software helping spas to navigate e-commerce and further monetise their relationship with clients
Biologique Recherche has spent the past 40 years developing technology and
products to understand the skin on an individual level. Pierre-Louis Delapalme
and Rupert Schmid tell us about the Parisian brand’s latest innovations
Biologique Recherche has built its business on the concept of personalisation. Can you explain how this works? Pierre-Louis Delapalme: Everyone is talking about personalisation today, but we started focussing on personalisation 40 years ago. So for 40 years, we have slowly built a sophisticated methodology, adding new products to make sure that we cover all possible skin issues and problems. When you have 40 years + to develop personalisation, then it gives you the time to reach a certain level of sophistication.
The combination of all these things generates a personalised dermocosmetic file, which will recommend a selection of Biologique Recherche products and treatments specifically tailored for each client. Guests love that we give them the tools to be involved actively in their treatment. Every step, we select the right product for the right diagnosis, so the possibilities are endless. Because of that, we get results.
P-LD: The diagnosis is where we try to innovate – this year we added a visual app, which takes pictures and measures the pores, skin pigmentation, and the length and depth of wrinkles, so it’s really another angle on the skin.
Every time the guest comes to us, we assess their skin and identify how it’s changed. Your skin will change every time you come back to us, depending on stress, what you eat, hormonal cycle – there are so many reasons why your skin can change. Biologique Recherche spas keep a personalised history for each guest, monitoring the changes over time so that recommendations can be dynamically adjusted for a long-term treatment programme.
Why is it important to have such a deep level of understanding of the skin? P-LD: Many people think the cosmetic industry is an ingredient battle – what’s new, what’s best etc. We work a bit differently, because a main source of inspiration is understanding the skin’s functioning. This is very important, because one of the mistakes that can be made is that you only select ingredients to treat the problem, but you might miss the cause of the problem. Our formulations have the highest quality active ingredients, and high concentrations – usually over 20% – of botanical, marine and biological extracts. We try to be as rigorous as possible in getting the full picture, and that’s why our formulations are so complex – because we really want to treat not only the symptoms but also the root cause. Treating the root cause is very different, and requires different actives.
What we hear from a lot of our customers is that they feel the methodology has really transformed their skin. They see the difference – they see their skin coming back to life. Once they’ve rediscovered their skin, they’re a little bit hooked.
You invest heavily in research and innovation. What are some of the newest things you’re offering your customers? P-LD: We’re launching our own DNA testing methodology in January 2020, ‘My Beauty DNA’, which measures what you cannot see: the skin you are born with. Science used to think that 25% of your skin was controlled by DNA, and 75% by your life conditions; now, the studies suggest it’s more like 50/50, so DNA is actually a big part of skin health. ‘My Beauty DNA’ is a tool for prevention; if you can identify issues early on, then you can change the skin’s condition.
It’s a simple saliva test, and the results are sent to the spa, where the therapist can read them and be able to say exactly what the strengths and weaknesses of that person’s skin are from their DNA. The therapist combines this information with the testing on our machines and recommends products and treatments specifically for that guest.
RS: This is a programme that is devoted to people who are really involved in understanding the skin. The future of beauty will rely on knowledge and experience. And knowledge and experience is something you do not get overnight – that is why we invest heavily in training and technology. We want our therapists to have the tools and the knowledge to understand the skin and the treatment options. We really believe that we’re just at the beginning, and that our experience of the past 40 years, always developing new products and new diagnostic methodology, puts us at the forefront of innovation.
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2019 issue 4
Editor's letter: Democratic wellness
To truly flourish, the spa industry needs to step outside its comfort zone and reach out to different markets with new and exciting business models, says Katie Barnes
Spa Programmes: On the menu
Boundary-pushing wellness in Iceland, self-care focus at Devarana and Civana’s equine retreat all feature in our spa menu round-up
Interview: Alexandre Cantin
Canada’s Groupe Nordik wants to open 10 nature spas, focusing on bathing and thermotherapy, by 2027. Katie Barnes talks to its VP of growth and strategy
Promotional feature: Starpool - Star quality
Wellness expert, Starpool, is known for offering complete wellness solutions with Italian design flair, enabling operators to create world class treatments and experiences
Training: Covering all bases
Resense joins forces with Lobster Ink to create an online training program for multiple spa roles
Promotional feature: Gharieni
Spa equipment innovator, Gharieni, is partnering with leading spas around the world to showcase its products to clients in real world settings, as CEO, Sammy Gharieni, explains
Research: Positive picture
ISPA’s latest US spa study shows continued growth across key metrics and pinpoints CBD and gen Z as trends. Russell Donaldson reports
Promotional feature: Zimmer MedizinSystems - Cool customer
Rainer Bolsinger, who heads up hotel and spa sales of icelab at Zimmer MedizinSystems, and icelab customer Chenot Group, explain how cryotherapy can be incorporated into your business
Promotional feature: Biologique Recherche - Skin deep
Biologique Recherche has spent the past 40 years developing technology and products to understand the skin on an individual level. Pierre-Louis Delapalme and Rupert Schmid tell Spa Business about the Parisian brand’s latest innovations
Research: On the move
The global physical activity market is now worth US$828bn according to a new GWI study. But what emerging trends do spas need to know about?
Promotional feature: SpaSoft - Onwards & upwards
The enhanced integration between SpaSoft and multiple PMS systems will help your team save time, remove the possibility of human error and create an elevated guest experience
Software: Monetising
How is software helping spas to navigate e-commerce and further monetise their relationship with clients
A US$50 million (£44.2 million, €51.2 million) transformation of Chicago's historic McCormick
Mansion has created a new destination that combines live magic, immersive theatre, dining and
private membership under one roof.
The Montana Historical Society has officially celebrated the opening of its new Montana
Heritage
Center, a US$107 million (£79 million, €92 million) destination that combines immersive
storytelling with cutting-edge audiovisual technology to bring the sta
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long transformation programme that has seen almost US$200 million invested into the Texas
attraction.
Plans for the AU$180 million redevelopment of Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville, Australia, are
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education and conservation.
Abu Dhabi-based investment firm Mubadala Capital has made a binding, fully financed
€1 billion
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continental European Center Parcs business.
Disney has reaffirmed its commitment to investing US$30 billion in its US parks and cruise
business by 2033, using new America250 celebrations to underline the role its attractions play
in supporting jobs, tourism and economic growth.
Expo 2030 Riyadh is being planned as a permanent visitor destination, with organisers
confirming the six-million-square-metre site will become a Global Village after the event closes.
The owner of one of Australia's best-known waterparks has acquired a major competitor,
creating a new attractions business spanning two of the country's largest visitor destinations.
The Toverland theme park in the Netherlands has announced a €98m expansion programme
that will add a resort, new attractions and staff facilities as it pursues plans to become a multi-
day destination.
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
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