What’s the philosophy behind Spa My Blend by Clarins?
Quite simply, the pursuit of excellence. A Spa My Blend by Clarins facility is designed to be an exclusive place where Clarins’ legendary expertise and the high-tech beauty of My Blend meet, to offer tailor-made treatments created by Dr Olivier Courtin-Clarins.

We aim to build an elite group of exceptional hotels across the world able to offer this ultimate spa and skin experience. With the Clarins brand, clients benefit from six decades of operational savoir-faire in skincare from a European leader. We offer a completely manual method for face and body treatments, a collection of cult products and a pioneering approach to beauty using plant extracts.

My Blend offers highly personalised facials delivered with a precise skin diagnosis and the creation of a unique product blend in real time.

My Blend has just been relaunched. What changes have you made?
We’ve streamlined the range and focused even more on customers’ individual beauty concerns. We also recognised the need to be all the more environmentally responsible by getting rid of bulky boxes and reducing packaging. Our jar can be used indefinitely by simply replacing the personalised refill. Packaging volumes have been greatly reduced and the paper
for the packaging comes exclusively from sustainably managed forests.

We’ve launched an additional Booster product called Invisible Pore, and it’s now possible to combine two Boosters in each Essential Formula for a result that is twice as personal. We’ve also re-launched our facial treatment protocol, Youth Synergy.

Can you explain this protocol in more detail?
Youth Synergy is based on the scientific reality of your skin. In addition to its type and nature, your lifestyle influences your skin. The protocol consists of a sequence
of remodelling, gentle smoothing and sliding knuckle massage with the fingers, counterbalanced by the use of two or three anti-age technologies depending on the
facial chosen (1h or 1h30).

Technologies include My ColorBlend, an LED light therapy mask which combines colours known for their soothing, anti-age and purifying actions; My WaveBlend, which is active vibration and stimulation technology for firming or revitalising, lymphatic drainage and a deep sensation of relaxation; and My CryoTech, a cryotherapy method known for its remodelling and revitalising powers.

More than just a facial, Youth Synergy extends its benefits from the face to the neck and top of the back and décolleté, including the hands and feet. It’s an indulgent, sensorial experience that leaves the client feeling totally rejuvenated.

How does the My Blend prescriptive process work in practice?
Because the skin lives, changes, evolves and reacts (whether its due to the environment, food habits, stress levels or quality of sleep), My Blend uses a skin diagnosis machine called My Skin Diag.

This is an exclusive high-tech software application that questions, analyses, diagnoses and prescribes the appropriate skincare regimen in real time, taking into account age and lifestyle.

Alongside this, My Blend now features an impressive range of more than 360 Essential Formulas, two Boosters blends and nearly 6,200 day-night combinations.

What do you look for in a spa partner, and how do they benefit from My Blend?
We plan for long-term, win-win partnerships and look for partners who share a common vision and values.

We look for high quality standards in terms of facilities and equipment, brand positioning and property location. We’re also extremely demanding with the level of staff skills and expertise.

In return, partners benefit from Clarins’ 60 years of know-how in spa development, strong visibility through PR events and press releases; plus assistance in spa layout for an enhanced guest experience and maximised profitability; design of the retail area; extensive pre-opening support; menu engineering with the development of a signature treatment; an annual customised marketing plan; pre opening on-site training and continuous education for both brands; follow-up through operations and assistance to the management where needed.

Who are some of your Spa My Blend clients?
To name them: Royal Monceau – Raffles Paris, France; Ritz Carlton in Toronto, Canada; Hotel Barrière Le Majestic in Cannes, south of France; Velaa Private Island in the Maldives; St Regis in Florence, Italy; Villa Agrippina in Rome, Italy, and the brand new Le Guanahani, on the island of St Barths in the Caribbean.

What other Clarins projects and partnerships will be launching in 2016/17?
We have some projects in the pipeline for 2016/2017 but we can’t reveal them right now. We’re currently opening Spa My Blend by Clarins at The Guanahani. This splendid hotel is celebrating its 30th anniversary and 12 of those years have been with a Spa by Clarins; by adding My Blend, the hotel has seen the opportunity to enhance and vary the customer experience with an exclusive offer that’s very innovative and high-tech.

We have projects all over the world because the Clarins Group is perpetually moving ahead. A big project scheduled for the end 2016 is an all-new and innovative merchandising concept where the client is really going to experience cosmetics like never before. Our first openings will be Paris and Hong Kong.

How will the Clarins brand stay ahead of the competition and meet the changing expectations of consumers?
Today, Clarins is the leader in skincare in Europe; tomorrow, we want to be the most desirable skincare brand worldwide.

We’re creating new developments in make-up that are very innovative, and we’re gaining market share everywhere with this; in Russia we are number one. From the very beginning, Clarins has cultivated a philosophy of being close to the client through respect and listening. Clarins wants to surprise and will always pursue innovation, while continuing to care and to listen. The client is and always will be at the centre of our actions.