Why Self-Heating Technology Is For ALL The Family!
Clare Anderson, founder of Shared Beauty Secrets and Sensory Retreats, sits down and talks to PBL Magazine about the vision and inspiration behind her latest kids’ wellbeing range, Elfland UK and how she’s bringing self-heating technology to the entire family this Christmas! Ho Ho Ho and a big warm Hello, Clare…
Welcome to PBL Magazine. Can you tell us how a beauty therapist went on to create a range of self-heating eye masks?
Thanks for inviting me to talk to your readers today. It all started 30 years ago at Champneys Health Resort, where my passion for well-being and helping people feel good was ignited. Several successful sales roles later, including with leading professional skincare brand Gerards, I discovered Lava Shells while on a family holiday in Turks and Caicos.
This was when my entrepreneurial journey started, and my interest in self-heating technology’s benefits for improved well-being began. At that point, I was focused purely on the professional market, but we now have a range of award-winning retail products all the family can enjoy, including our latest product, Elf Eyes, which we’re super excited to launch in time for the Xmas gifting season.
Ah, yes, Lava Shells! Such an innovative tool. I’m sure many of our readers have already trained in one of your accredited massage courses.
Exactly, Lava Shells! The world’s first self-heating massage tool, which I’m proud to say we’ve been successfully distributing for 13 years. In that time, my team has trained over 10,000 therapists, and Lava Shells treatments are currently available in over 2000 spas, and salons and are used by mobile beauty therapists.
So yes, I hope some of your readers have already successfully completed one of our training courses, and if not, we have a great offer exclusive to PBL Magazine readers.
Tell us how Lava Shells lead to you launching a self-heating eye mask range.
2020 was a hugely challenging and, in hindsight, transitional year for the business.
When the pandemic hit, the spa industry literally closed overnight. Something many of you will all have experienced first-hand. I was devastated for all my corporate clients and saw my core business disappear.
I had to think on my feet…and fast! I fast-tracked a product development idea that had been bubbling on the back burner for a while - to introduce self-heating technology in a more accessible and affordable application…as a pampering and relaxing eye mask.
I wanted to introduce a revenue lifeline to my professional customers by providing them with a product they could promote to their clients at home. I also wanted to help the nation relax and sleep better during these worrisome times, offering them an opportunity to escape and unwind. Delivering 25 minutes of soothing heat, they’re the perfect way to squeeze a little “me-time” into a hectic day.
How would you describe the experience of wearing one of your self-heating eye masks?
I like to describe the sensation as a comforting cuddle.
There’s something that’s not just deeply relaxing, but also soothing about the gentle heat, combined with the delicate aromatherapy scents, that helps transport you to a more restful place….even if all you can squeeze in is a quick 15 minutes break.
It’s just enough time to press the reset button!
So tell us about Elf Eyes, your latest eye mask, and what inspired you to branch into kids’ well-being.
It all started with my daughter Siena. She’s one of my biggest inspirations, and having her has made me acutely aware and passionate about the importance of well-being for children.
Siena wanted a product that she and her friends could use. As the Sensory Retreats self-heating eye mask was her favourite product, we started working on a new, inspiring design that would appeal to younger children and teens. The result was Elf Eyes. Smaller than our original designs, colourfully illustrated and unscented to appeal to their more delicate senses.
But it didn’t stop there! Inspired by a visit to Lapland, Siena had an idea for a story about elves. This developed into Elfland UK, a well-being portal bursting with wonderful well-being gifts and ideas for kids The range includes perfect Xmas gift ideas like our award-winning self-heating eye masks, wish wands, and plush soft toys, as well as woodland adventures and outdoor activity days to help children surrender to their inner spirit elf. It also includes “The Lost Wish”, a modern festive fantasy adventure story set in Elfland, a magical place where wishes can come true. It’s filled with adventure, magic and festive fun, featuring friendly elves, dangerous dragons, flying pixies and talking rats.
2022 has been a hugely busy but incredibly rewarding one. I hope that our range of well-being products for adults and children, and especially our self-heating eye mask range, will bring some welcome relaxation and a chance to recuperate from all the festive cheer and excitement this Christmas.
They’re wonderful stocking fillers! I know we’ll all be curling up in bed with our eye masks on Christmas Eve, reading a few chapters of The Lost Wish! I hope your readers will enjoy a magical family experience too.
Want to expand the client treatments you offer or add a new revenue stream to your salon or spa business? Why not train in either the Lava Shells or Therma Bliss massage techniques or why not stock up on the Sensory Retreats range of retail products ahead of the busy Xmas gifting season?
You can enjoy an exclusive 20% discount across the entire Shared Beauty Secrets website for a limited time only here with the code “SBSAdvent20”.*