Endermologie Alliance from LPG

New at The Secret Spa.

The brand new Endermologie Alliance machine from LPG

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Having had the LPG Endermologie for years and with it being clients go to treatment to get beach ready we decided to upgrade to the brand spanking new Endermologie Alliance. Triple action in one single treatment: Elimination of resistant and localized fat +70%* Smoothing of the orange peel aspect Natural redensification of the dermis (endogenous collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid)

Endermologie is 100% natural

No Chemicals

Non-Invasive

No Recovery Time

Pain Free

Stimulates dormant cells within the body to reactivate and reawaken

can be used on both body and face

Who is a good candidate for Endermologie?

Anyone wanting a natural treatment for resistant fat, cellulite and skin firming.

What else can Endermologie be used for?

Endermologie can be used to help relieve water retention by a process called lymphatic drainage.

It can be used to relieve muscle fatigue helping candidates recover from exercise quicker.

It can also be used for relaxation.

How many sessions before my client can see results for reduced fat, cellulite and skin firming?

Using the latest Alliance technology, results are visible from 3 Sessions on the body and 1 session on the face.

How many sessions before my client can feel the results for water retention, muscle fatigue and relaxation?

From the first session.

How many sessions are recommended?

For optimal results on fat, cellulite and skin firming, a course of 10 – 12 sessions is recommended.

To be carried out as follows;

2/3 per week for 8 weeks

After initial course;

1 per month as maintenance

How can my client ensure she is getting the best results?

Ensuring the client is following a healthy diet and lifestyle whilst undergoing the treatment will optimise results. The LPG 28 day tea program and LPG 14 day Slimming program is available to help speed up the effects of the treatment. Drinking plenty (at least 2 -3 liters / day) of water to help flush the toxins through the lymphatic system more efficiently. Exercising will also help this.

Working mums

Written for Professional Beauty 2019

I recently saw a thought-provoking quote online that said, “We expect women to work as if they don’t have children and raise children as if they don’t work.” 

In the debate that followed, one woman commented: “The sad truth goes back to the 70’s when we felt like we had to make motherhood invisible to prove we could work as brilliantly as the men (who made their fatherhood invisible).” 

This is quite a sweeping statement but it got me thinking – why did businesses then, and why do some now, not see mothers as good investments? I opened The Secret Spa in Chester 19 years ago and over the years I’ve had my fair share of employees who have left the business to start families, but have returned after their maternity leave. However, having spoken to other salon owners over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that for many, a staff member announcing their pregnancy can be a problem. 

But why is that? Is it because their number one therapist now has another plate to try and spin, and the employer is worried about what it means for the success of the business? Well I think this fear is illogical and the answer is simple, what if your top employee could choose their working days to suit their new lifestyle as a mother? Of course I know first-hand – I’m a mother of four – that having a family means your priorities change, but with the right support, success in your employee’s career can still be achieved, just in a different form. 

I want to see my team happy and successful and, as a result, I do whatever I can to support them in their personal lives. This year alone three of my therapists have had children and my advice to them is to enjoy every second of this magical journey. When they’re ready to come back to work their career will be waiting for them, along with an open conversation about how we can make it work for both of us. 

I appreciate that this might not be the case for all beauty businesses, or the route they take, but by allowing my therapists to choose their hours/days it works because they stay with me, are loyal because of the flexibility I offer and give the job 100%. By doing this, I know they are happy and focused when they’re at work. 

If my therapists decide to work part time to care for their families, it doesn’t mean that they are viewed as a lesser part of the team. They can still attend events, are entitled to annual reviews and can be booked on training courses that will expand their career in a timeframe that suits them. 

Having practiced this working ethos for some years, I’ve found that when the time allowed, members of my team who are mothers then organically extended their hours or offered to do more overtime with no pressure from me, which is brilliant.

I would never want to hide the fact I’m a mother just to be seen to have a successful career – it’s the biggest part of who I am. I feel honoured to be able to work with and help women with the biggest job they will ever have in their lives, and when women support each other amazing things happen. 

New Mummy's

We have had two new arrivals at The Secret Spa and another new addition coming in June! With this baby boom we asked our new mummies what treatments and products have made their sleepless nights a little easier.

Becky and Baby Talia.

I didn't have the easiest of deliveries and recoveries with Talia, and as a result my skin really suffered. It became incredibly dry...something I've not suffered with ever with my skin. 
I started using a lot of the Carita products for their anti ageing qualities but I needed to up my game, so I started using the Carita Gold range (serum, moisturiser, mask and eye cream) along with the Decleor Double Radiance Scrub to make sure my products were working as deeply as possible

My skincare routine is as follows 
Day
Cleanse with Carita Lagoon cleansing gel
Carita gold serum, moisturiser eye cream
Night 
Cleanse with Carita Lagoon cleansing gel
Carita gold serum, moisturiser eye cream
Twice a week I use the decleor scrub and sleep in my Gold mask.
I also started drinking Skinade again, this not only helped my skin out but also supported my immune system and helped my body heal.
I couldn't wait to get back to having facials, I have been having the Carita and our Signature facials to get my glow back....and have a sneaky snooze.... a quick spray tan makes me feel amazing!

Sarah and Baby Arthur.

One of my absolute favourite skincare products is the Decleor lavandula iris night balm, its a serum, mask and moisturiser all rolled into one. It drip feeds the skin over 8 hours and no joke it is what I put on my skin whilst trying to get out of the door during contractions knowing it would help with the artificial lighting and heating in the hospital. Always the Beauty Therapist haha.
One of the other Decleor products I just couldn't live without was the prolagene gel; not only has it improved old scars and stretch marks, it stopped me getting new ones in my pregnancy.
My skin has always been a little sensitive and with pregnancy hormones I started using the Carita cotton range. It's amazing and my skin feels much less sensitive, and I don’t even mind going without makeup it’s improved my skin that much. Masks are a brilliant time saver and an intense treatment for the skin…also you can usual slap one on one handed… a skill i’ve had to learn very quickly.
My favourite treatments to become "Mummy ready" are Yumi lashes HD Brows and reflexology. Looking wide awake when you feel dug up and feeling relaxed and balanced are a absolute must!

Gemma and Baby Bump.

Pregnancy hormones have made my skin very dry and a little sensitive. A the moment I use the Decleor Rose balm at night, this is truly magic in a jar; with two other little ones to get off to bed it’s usually the last thing I do before bed time. I also use the harmonie calm serum oil with moisturiser in the day to help with the sensitivity. To give myself an at home facial once a week I use the phytopeel and white petal mask and I cannot get enough of Decleor lip balm. The Delilah's aura pure light and bronzer to gives me that healthy glow when I’m running out on the school run!
My pregnancy must haves are the new gel bottle gel manicure and pedicure...you always feel better with lovely nails, and a spray tan is a must! 


Mummy to be package

Secret spa luxury manicure* 
Secret spa luxury pedicure *
Yumi lashes *
Secret spa signature facial
Back massage
Light lunch included

*upgrade to gel polish for £10
*patch test required

£170

Professional Beauty, south west and wales regional boutique salon of the year!

Sunday the 21st of October we were announced Professional Beauty, south west and wales regional boutique salon of the year! The event was held in the beautiful Principal Hotel in Manchester; Professional Beauty sure know how to throw a party, but this year was exceptional!

Lots of hard work and dedication comes with entering these awards and just to be nominated is a massive achievement, let alone become finalist and then to win! We a so thrilled!! Our feedback from the judges was everything that Team SS strive to offer each day with every client.

“The winning salon was described to have a highly motivated team, that perform at a consistently high level of professionalism and expertise” Professional Beauty Judges 2018

This award is a true representation of the team spirit that is Team SS.

We are now entered into ‘ UK Boutique Salon of the year’ which will be in London in February….. we have everything crossed.

A massive thank you to Professional Beauty for offering these awards, the standard is improved on each and every year by all salons and spa’s that enter; and it’s such an honour to be showcased along side such amazing establishments.

Of course a massive thank you to our clients…. without your love for Team SS and your constant support we wouldn’t be ‘The Award Winning Secret Spa’ xxx

September Skin Bar

The 17th of September hosted our first skin bar event! We invited clients to come along and have a lesson in skincare. With all our girls newly trained in Decleor this was the perfect opportunity to transfer our long time fans of Darphin to the wonders of Decleor!!!

I think I speak on behalf of all the girls when I say that we lived and breathed Darphin for 18years collectively... and the thought of starting again with a new skin company was very daunting. We needn’t have worried.

Decleor blew us all away with its technology and ideas. They certainly are years ahead of any company we have worked with before. The training we received in the L’Oréal academy in Manchester was second to none, and even with 20 years experience under my belt I learnt so much about skincare and skin ageing that I and the girls just couldn’t wait to get back and transform our clients skin!!

The skin bar was a huge success, so much so we have planned another for the 19th of November. Appointments are limited so book ahead to avoid disappointment. A £20 deposit is needed which is redeemable against two or more products on the night, you also get a Decleor goody bag, and a full skin consultation with one of our girls! And of course a glass of bubbly or two.

Love Becky xxx

Bye Bye...

Today is a really sad day for the Secret Spa team; it's a day we have to say goodbye to one of our longest standing therapists. 

Everyone who comes through the door will know our beautiful Abby, her warm welcomes and contagious smile have been our norm for 13 years... she is "The Secret Spa" and we are going to miss her so much.

Abby is taking her career in a different direction and is setting up a new baby sensory group Laughter Tots, covering the Cheshire area. We know that after three children nobody is more qualified than Abby to support new mum's and create a warm, welcoming environment.

We wish you all the best with your new venture Abby and we want you to know that the spa will always be your home, and if its just a quick visit, the door will always be open, kettle always on, and a big warm hug will be here for you. 

Lots of Love Always, Team SS xx

New beginings

Just like in life, business has many things that are never for certain. Life changes and clients move away, therapists have families, change careers, life happens. In my 18 years you learn to roll with the punches and as one door closes nearly always another opens soon after, but sometimes, things that are seemly set in stone can crumble away and leaving you wondering which way is up.

And this is what happened to us a few months ago when our product house of 18 years Darphin wrote to us saying they were pulling out of all salon and spa's in the UK by July 2018. I must have read and reread the letter about 20times, "How can they do this? What on earth am I going to do?". I slept on it (Well barely) before me and the girls rallied around and came with the conclusion "This is totally out of our control. We still very much love Darphin and the science behind it... but what if this is a blessing in disguise, what if we found something that would take The Secret Spa to the next level!".

So we spent the next few days arranging meetings with product houses to see what they had to offer. Team SS are always known for their hard work and pulling together when we need it most, and I have to say that the girls made this transition really easy. Each an every one of them read manuals did their own research and came to me with their findings. It would have been so easy to just choose the next in line but my girls know that the products they use are their tools and you always need the best tools possible. I am totally grateful for all their help and that this was a team decision.

The brands were dwindled down and there were two brands that stood out to us and everyone agreed this was what we needed. The science and pro-aging qualities of Darphin but not losing the sensorial experience our clients know and love.  So it was agreed.......drum roll..... We The Secret Spa has chosen Carita and Decleor as our new product houses. We are so thrilled to be working with such dynamic products and cannot wait to show you all the new range.

Becky xxx

18th Birthday Party

The 11th of June was our 18th Birthday party!!! We hosted a party for all our lovely clients to thank them for their loyalty over the last 18 years.

We also launched our new makeup range Delilah which was a huge success; lots of the cosmetics sold out on the night. 

A massive thank you to all that came, sent cards or called to wish us well. We cant wait for our 21st!!

Team SS xx