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 Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 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
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
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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 Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 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
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
The Global Wellness Summit (GWS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the 2026 event in
Phuket, Thailand, later this year with the theme: The Science, Art and Soul of Wellness.
Auko, an all-inclusive development, is opening in Phong Nha in Vietnam in Q3 2026, with a
series of 30 tented eco-lodges and wellness hospitality operations by Lumina Wellbeing.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, has opened a 2,800sq m spa called The Sanctuary,
with the design and concept inspired by the Native American people that populated Florida’s
Southwest coast – the Calusa.
Swire Hotels’ luxury hospitality brand Upper House has revealed it will roll out its two-day
House of Healing retreats at its three hotels in Hong Kong, Chengdu and Shanghai.
LVMH-owned beauty house Guerlain will launch up to five spas with partners a year as part of
its plan to expand globally, according to the brand’s international spa and wellness director,
Diane Davody.
A new global study by Kevin Kelly and Peter Yesawich, called WELLSurvey 2.0, has revealed
more than half of consumers in the UK, US and Germany would not choose numerous high-
profile wellness resort brands for a future trip.
Luxury hospitality and wellness pioneer Jeremy McCarthy has launched Leisure Alchemy, a
digital platform that will provide professionals with strategic guidance on how to build
transformational leisure experiences that drive profit.
The Spa Life UK Convention returns from 21–23 June 2026 at Whittlebury Park Hotel, Spa &
Golf Resort, bringing together spa managers, directors and owners for two days of focused
education, meaningful connection and commercial insight. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Clinique La Prairie Clinique La Prairie is a name that has been synonymous with health and longevity for over 90 years, [more...]
