M2B Ingredient Spotlight
Argan Oil

We are in Morocco. Approaching Essaouira’s sandy-colored dunes, passing olive groves and grazing donkeys, this is where you notice signs announcing women-run argan cooperatives: Argan Co-Op, Women’s Argan Collective. Argan oil, made from the nuts of the argan tree, which grows almost exclusively in this region. The oil, which is said to have restorative and age-defying effects, has become one of the latest miracle ingredients in the beauty industry.

High in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it is believed to help all sorts of skin conditions: dry skin, acne, psoriasis, eczema, wrinkles. Moroccans slather it on their skin, hair, nails and even their babies.

If you pull over to a cooperative, the Berber women — and it is only women who make argan oil — will often invite you in to watch them work. In most of the cooperatives, the older village women sit in the courtyard and work as the younger bilingual girls walk you around, giving a tutorial about the process. (Pull over too many times, though, and be prepared to hear all about the process again. And again.)

The nuts, which look like a cross between a walnut and an almond, are picked out of the fruit of the squat, gnarled argan trees that dot the yellow hills above Essaouira. Depending on the season, there might be goats up in the branches, munching on the fruit. The nuts are roasted on an open flame over a large steel drum, like chestnuts, which brings out their distinctive peppery aroma.

The women first crack the shells with sharp stones. They then place the kernels between two Flintstone-size slabs of rock, grinding them into a brown paste, which resembles chunky peanut butter. The paste, kneaded by hand to extract the oil, transforms into a solid hunk and is sent to nearby factories, mainly in Agadir, where more oil is extracted by a press. Some is made into soaps, creams and shampoos, but it is the pure oil that is most sought after.

The souks of Essaouira are filled with little jars of argan oil that have suspicious locals rolling their eyes. “Vegetable oil,” they’ll warn you. (Check the bottle for provenance; if it has a cooperative’s name on the label, it’s probably authentic.) The best way to find the real deal is to follow the smell of roasted nuts that will lead you to the cooperatives.

Because the extraction of argan oil is a labor-intensive task perfected by the Berber women native to the area (it takes a few days to produce one liter), the government has established a fund for the cooperatives. . Women from the villages nearby are invited to work half days (so they can still tend to their families) in exchange for fair wages and good working conditions. Eventually, the cooperatives should pay for themselves. UNESCO has designated the 10,000-square-mile argan-growing region as a biosphere reserve.

Argan oil is rich in essential fatty acids, especially linoleic acid, a precursor of vitamin E giving its moisturizing, strong antioxidant and skin anti-aging properties. Long observed empirically, the beneficial effects, moisturizers and restructurability of argan oil have since been confirmed and explained scientifically. By its content of essential fatty acids (EFAs), argan oil makes it possible to correct deficiencies that inevitably occur with age, and which result in dehydration and loss of skin elasticity.

Argan oil is also rich in tocopherols (vitamin E) at the rate of 700 mg per kilogram, or more than twice as much as olive oil (320 mg / kg). The latter, as well as polyphenols also contained in the argan oil, are natural antioxidants and anti-free-radicals.

Argan oil benefits summary:

For centuries, Argan oil has been used locally for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes, today the whole world is appreciating this oil.

Argan oil is highly rich in essential fatty acids oleic and lineoic acids (47%) as well as in vitamin E (60-90mg/1OOg) , which positively boost our skin regenerating capabilities.
Essential Fatty Acids in Argan oil repairs and protects the skin against the elements, preventing premature aging.

Argan oil is rich in antioxidant-rich natural vitamin E.

Argan oil protects muscular degeneration.

Argan oil softens and revitalises the skin, by rehydrating and giving the skin its lost youthful elasticity.

Argan oil is also highly effective as a relief of scars and scar tissue. Argan oil stimulates intracellular oxygenation, neutralizes free radicals and protects the soft tissue. Its skin application restores the skin and increases the nutrient content of skin cells.

Some information extracted from an article appearing in The New York Times 1 June 2008

Would you like more information contact us:

E: sales@victoriasessentials.com W: www.victoriasessentials.com

New Product Range

2009 is the perfect time to move to the lucritive Mum-to-Be market with M2B by victoria's essentials. Our specialised range of products have been carefully formulated using the World's finest essential oils, humectants, botanical extracts and minerals all chosen for their skin conditioning, nourishing and relaxing effects on the Mum-to-Be.

Expectant Mothers need pampering too and our M2B treatments have been formulated as safe and effective specialty products for Mums to Be. With such dramatic changes in a woman’s body during pregnancy it is vital to keep the skin supple, conditioned and nourished and each of our products contain Natural active ingredients that smooth, condition and soothe the skin during all stages of pregnancy and after birth.

All products contain high levels of essential fatty acids (EFA's), specifically Omega 3, 6 & 9, which are crucial to each cell membrane in our body including the skin. During pregnancy, the bodies EFA levels are at their lowest as the baby absorbs these as a food source. The deficiency has a direct effect on the elasticity of the skin, which can accelerate the aging process and often leads to stretch marks! Our products contain ingredients that supplement the level of EFA's directly where they are needed the most - on the skin!

M2B is about treating the unique challenges to women’s skin, health and well being during pregnancy. All products are lightly scented with our unique blend of pregnancy-safe 8 essential oil combination to not only give skin benefits but relax the mind.

Whatever your clients’ needs, whether it be Stretch Mark Prevention, a smoothing Body Scrub or a relaxing Pedi Treatment, we offer a product for each Treatment.During pregnancy, the body goes through a spurt of growing faster on the inside than the skin on the outside can keep up with, the fibrous and elastic layers deep in the skin stretch and tear. The stretch marks which form in the area are actually scar tissue which forms to heal the tears. Stretch marks tend to be worse in areas affected by gravity, such as the breasts and buttocks.

Maintaining moisture and flexibility in the affected areas will reduce the likelihood of stretch marks appearing. Remember, once a stretch mark has developed, it is permanent – no amount of massage will make it disappear. So the trick is to prevent the stretch mark in the first place! We have formulated a stretch mark oil and butter that, in combination with massage techniques and exercises will fight the onset of stretch marks.

A New Year and a New Horizon: Time to think outside the square.

With the dawn of 2009 we see a new World, one with many challenges and opportunities. There is no doubt there will be victims of the financial crisis but there will also be winners. People and companies, both large and small that will understand the impact of this challenge and will rise to the occaision and not only weather the storm but come out stronger then ever.

What does it take to survive and prosper? Forsight and understanding of the realities of running your business in a tight economic environments without letting your customers down, without letting your service down and without letting your quality down. At the same time there is opportunity to actually excel in all these. many of your competitors will not recognise these challenges and not survive this challenge. Where will their clients go? To you, making your business stronger.

Big Brands, are they really worth it. The make or break in many Spas are the cost of treatments. Many Spas have the thought that a Basic Spa treatment requires a "big brand name" to pull clients. But quite the opposite is true. We find that it is the result and the delivery of the treatment is what is really the key factor in client satisfaction that counts. of course, it is vital to have a quality product that will deliver results, contain active ingredients and makes the client feel special. This includes the delivery of the treatment as well. During the treatment the only person aware of the brand is the Spa Therapist and that costs money, and possibly the make of break of the Spa. Some basic European Spa Treatments can cost upwards of 10-30.00 per treatment thus eroding the profit and driving the treatment cost out of the affordability of the client. it is time to rethink!

Delivering dry treatments allows our clients many benefits:

Avoiding any chemicals, preservatives or stabilisers
Formulating using traditional techniques involving spices, barks, botanicals and essences, avoiding mass production
Delivering the Freshest products and increasing longer shelf life
But most importantly to provide treatments that can be infinately customised by the Spa to make our treatment their own.

Special Delivery

A treatment should be an experience that the client will long remember, something that makes them feel special, makes them feel as if you went out of your way to plan their treatment just for them, we call signiturisation. Simply squeezing the treatment from a tube is not enough. Asian Spas have always understood this, grinding spices, blending and applying them fresh for the client. In time poor Australia this has seemed to be impossible. All Victoria's Essentials Fresh Spa Treatments take all the skill and time consuming blending techniques and package them in an easy to blend treatment that will show your client you care enough to provide the very best traditional treatment.

Value that translates to profit

All the freshness, quality, uniqueness meaqn little without profit. When formulating the concept of fresh Spa Treatments it was our primary goal to deliver this at ethical pricing. Being able to supply our Spas with complete treatments costing the Spa less then $ 5.00. The combination of a wide selection of treatments, fresh ingredients, and complete rituals allow Spas to make healthy profits without sacrificing quality or uniqueness.

To find out more about Fresh Spa Products click here.

Secret Men’s Business: Getting Men into the Spa

The secret is out: Men go to Spas!

Jeffrey Slater

For the busy man, a spa offers a place to ease away stress. The perfect place to escape when they need time from daily routine. In fact, according to the American Spa Association men's spa servicing is up 35%.

But how do we get the Man into the Spa?

Catering to the Male Client takes some strategy. If you want to grow your Spa clientele and move into the lucrative male market it is important to develop a strategy.

Thinking Like A Man:

Spa owners need to think like Men. Men like straight talk, and they expect the therapist to explain products in plain language. This means getting right to the point, as men want results and want them right away.

Hobart’s leading Day Spa, Savoy Baths use “couples experiences” to introduce a man and his partner to share time together in their therapeutic baths followed by treatments in their Couples Room. This “safety in numbers” approach has led to a 50% male to female client ratio.

Savoy Baths employs a stealth approach. Owner, Neil Molloy says "Men are comfortable coming for a plain massage but won't try body treatments, hence we launched a “Body Release Massage for Men” which disguises a spa treatment in a massage! It includes a herbal deep tissue back massage using a herbal oil formulated for Men, followed by an exfoliating back scrub & mineral clay wrap using Victoria's Essentials Professional Men's Range. Once they try this they come back for other body treatments and even facials!"

Some Spas, like Melbourne’s first exclusively Male Spa, Zipt Grooming for Men, have introduced Swedish style cold splash showers, male grooming services, masculine waxing rooms, larger spa robes, shoe polishing services, and sports sandals. Many Spas also feature lounges furnished in wood and leather stocked with a variety of newspapers and Men’s Magazines. Recently, we have noticed American Spas feature “Men Only Periods”, for example 9am-7pm daily for women and 7:30pm – 11pm for men.

Men and spa treatments:

Spa Treatments for men can be as varied for men as they are for women. Most men can now enjoy a relaxing facial, therapeutic sport massage, rice-based body scrubs and herbal wraps, an express manicure and pedicure or even a body waxing treatment. Men have different requirements and skin types the Women and therefore should contain ingredients formulated for them. Male-oriented Scrubs and Wraps formulated with natural, charcoal based deodorisers, betel nut leaf and ground rice with masculine aromas of citrus and herbs are proving extremely popular.

Products for Men:

Most Spas and Salons provide a wide array of retail Spa Products. This is a healthy income earner and extends the treatment into the Home, however most products are geared towards Women, and many “Men’s” products are thinly disguised Women’s Products. We have found that Men prefer products without fuss, frills or the exaggerated claims found in women's cosmetics. Products that are reasonably priced and masculine in their presentation with a masculine aroma and formulated for the men’s skin.

With the economy tightening, it is more vital now then ever to bring new clients to the Spa. With the right strategies and products the male market awaits. Will it be your spa or your competition?