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Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how
PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare
development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
What’s the family history of PHYTOMER? We’re a third generation skincare company based in St Malo in Brittany, France. Over 40 years ago, our founder Jean Gédouin began a hands-on scientific study into the benefits of seawater and different seaweeds on the skin. He was inspired by the effect on his own health, and set out to introduce city dwellers, notably Parisians, to the remarkable benefits of the sea’s trace elements and minerals. From there, the PHYTOMER story and range has grown globally, with the subsequent involvement of Jean’s son Antoine, and Antoine’s daughter Mathilde, who still run the company.
What’s special about your products? We use all-natural ingredients and develop them using natural, non-chemical processes to create highly results-driven products. In particular the products that we’ve developed in the past three years truly represent the cutting edge of skincare.
Our foundation is the unique marine habitat here in Brittany, and the diverse ecosystem of seaweed, algae and sea micro-organisms that form the basis of our ingredients. The mineral properties of seawater are very similar to the mineral levels in our blood, so there’s a degree of bio-mimicry at play that has very exciting implications for the future of skincare.
The real alchemy happens in our extensive R&D laboratories where we’ve successfully isolated molecules from the marine environment and applied them to modern skincare requirements. To give an example, a species of seaweed called Armeria maritima is found thriving in abandoned industrial sites on the coast, and it appears that it has a clear function to eliminate pollution. We isolated this molecule and used it very successfully to the same effect in our products.
Can you explain the key processes in your marine biotechnology? PHYTOMER made a real breakthrough in the use of marine biotechnology by using micro-organisms extracted from the sea to produce unique marine sugars. This involves a very complex process in a sophisticated large-scale laboratory, where the optimum conditions we create enable the harvested micro-organisms to grow and produce a biofilm.
The biofilm produced is a complex chain of sugars called exopolysaccharides (EPS). EPS cannot be artificially copied by traditional cosmetics, they are eco-friendly and provide an almost infinite number of possibilities for new skincare applications.
The PHYTOMER research team has identified 800 micro-organisms that can each produce a unique marine sugar, and patented 30 of those for future developments. For example, our XMF marine sugar (Extra Marine Filler) is the star ingredient of PHYTOMER’S PIONNIÈRE XMF premium range. It visibly smoothes wrinkles in one hour, and once absorbed by the skin, it reinforces the firmness and density of skin layers.
What are some of your most popular products, and what’s new for 2015? We first launched PIONNIÈRE XMF in 2012 and it’s expanded to become by far our best-selling range.
Given its amazing success, we decided this year to add to the range with our PIONNIÈRE XMF WHITE – a biotech anti-ageing cream with the power to target hyper-pigmentation and erase all visible discolouration. It includes two exclusive marine sugars: XMF, and WHITECH, a UV and anti-pollution shield that ensures optimum control of the production and transfer of melanin.
With a ‘second skin’ texture, enriched with golden pearls, PIONNIÈRE XMF WHITE envelops the face in a halo of light and leaves a matte, velvety finish on the skin for a ‘photo-finish’ effect. The skin appears transparent and refreshed, with a subtle scent of jasmine and citrus.
Why should spa businesses partner with PHYTOMER? We see ourselves as the new frontier of professional skincare, as we innovate in all the key areas that are relevant to developing a successful spa in today’s competitive market.
PHYTOMER is one of the only laboratories in the world that perfectly masters marine biotechnology to produce unprecedented natural ingredients with record effectiveness. We entirely control the manufacturing process, and aim at limiting our impact on the environment. The results are outstanding products using an eco-friendly method. It’s the future of manufacturing and we have long been a leader in this area.
Our brand is also renowned for its strong focus on business, and increasing our partners’ profit is a constant priority for us. Our treatments are cutting edge, but they are typically 20-100 per cent less expensive than those of our competitors.
Finally PHYTOMER has been investing heavily in the digital field and deploying an ambitious digital strategy to enhance the brand’s visibility online, and help drive business to our partners’ facilities. For example our web-to-store application allows customers to reserve products on our website, and they are then directed to their local PHYTOMER retailer for pick-up.
For our partners, we offer a highly developed range of on-line training applications as well as our specialised, hands-on assistance.
How do you plan to further develop the PHYTOMER brand? Our strategy is focused on three core areas. The first is our continued investment in innovation to increase performance: biotechnology, enzymatic synthesis and green manufacturing. The second area relates to our treatment menu. We will continue to offer even more in terms of a sensorial experience, both for the consumer and the therapist, to provide effectiveness with systematic clinical tests, and to increase profitability for our partners by controlling treatment costs.
The third area involves the ongoing upgrading of the brand through its image. The packaging has been redesigned with a lot more sophistication, and our visuals are increasingly high-end.
Our premium positioning is of course reinforced with the continued opening of luxurious spas around the world, including our own 500 sq m flagship spa, PHYTOMER Spa & Wellness, which we extensively redeveloped and reopened this spring in Saint-Malo as a clear expression of our brand and wellness philosophy.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Letters:
Concerns raised over massage-on-demand vetting systems
Interview: Michael Tompkins
What’s next for Michael Tompkins as he takes a step back at Hilton Head Health? Rhianon Howells finds out
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Leading skincare brand Dr Burgener Switzerland combines natural ingredients with advanced technology to produce exceptional results – and the company sees customisation as the way forward for each of its spa clients
Trends: Workplace wellness
Neena Dhillon looks at two award-winning employee wellness programmes and asks how spas can get involved in this burgeoning market
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA International has always been a leader in the global spa business but has never been averse to change. The CEO and son of its founder explains how the company he joined 22 years ago is adapting to meet the challenges facing the industry today
Research: Onwards & upwards
ISPA research shows the US spa sector has reached new heights. Colin McIlheney analyses the findings
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
Spa concept: Eforea 2.0
Hilton has refreshed its spa concept to make it more appealing to hoteliers. But what’s changed? Jane Kitchen finds out
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the company is helping spa operators become more efficient with space-saving but stylish spa equipment and accessories
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how
PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare
development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
What’s the family history of PHYTOMER? We’re a third generation skincare company based in St Malo in Brittany, France. Over 40 years ago, our founder Jean Gédouin began a hands-on scientific study into the benefits of seawater and different seaweeds on the skin. He was inspired by the effect on his own health, and set out to introduce city dwellers, notably Parisians, to the remarkable benefits of the sea’s trace elements and minerals. From there, the PHYTOMER story and range has grown globally, with the subsequent involvement of Jean’s son Antoine, and Antoine’s daughter Mathilde, who still run the company.
What’s special about your products? We use all-natural ingredients and develop them using natural, non-chemical processes to create highly results-driven products. In particular the products that we’ve developed in the past three years truly represent the cutting edge of skincare.
Our foundation is the unique marine habitat here in Brittany, and the diverse ecosystem of seaweed, algae and sea micro-organisms that form the basis of our ingredients. The mineral properties of seawater are very similar to the mineral levels in our blood, so there’s a degree of bio-mimicry at play that has very exciting implications for the future of skincare.
The real alchemy happens in our extensive R&D laboratories where we’ve successfully isolated molecules from the marine environment and applied them to modern skincare requirements. To give an example, a species of seaweed called Armeria maritima is found thriving in abandoned industrial sites on the coast, and it appears that it has a clear function to eliminate pollution. We isolated this molecule and used it very successfully to the same effect in our products.
Can you explain the key processes in your marine biotechnology? PHYTOMER made a real breakthrough in the use of marine biotechnology by using micro-organisms extracted from the sea to produce unique marine sugars. This involves a very complex process in a sophisticated large-scale laboratory, where the optimum conditions we create enable the harvested micro-organisms to grow and produce a biofilm.
The biofilm produced is a complex chain of sugars called exopolysaccharides (EPS). EPS cannot be artificially copied by traditional cosmetics, they are eco-friendly and provide an almost infinite number of possibilities for new skincare applications.
The PHYTOMER research team has identified 800 micro-organisms that can each produce a unique marine sugar, and patented 30 of those for future developments. For example, our XMF marine sugar (Extra Marine Filler) is the star ingredient of PHYTOMER’S PIONNIÈRE XMF premium range. It visibly smoothes wrinkles in one hour, and once absorbed by the skin, it reinforces the firmness and density of skin layers.
What are some of your most popular products, and what’s new for 2015? We first launched PIONNIÈRE XMF in 2012 and it’s expanded to become by far our best-selling range.
Given its amazing success, we decided this year to add to the range with our PIONNIÈRE XMF WHITE – a biotech anti-ageing cream with the power to target hyper-pigmentation and erase all visible discolouration. It includes two exclusive marine sugars: XMF, and WHITECH, a UV and anti-pollution shield that ensures optimum control of the production and transfer of melanin.
With a ‘second skin’ texture, enriched with golden pearls, PIONNIÈRE XMF WHITE envelops the face in a halo of light and leaves a matte, velvety finish on the skin for a ‘photo-finish’ effect. The skin appears transparent and refreshed, with a subtle scent of jasmine and citrus.
Why should spa businesses partner with PHYTOMER? We see ourselves as the new frontier of professional skincare, as we innovate in all the key areas that are relevant to developing a successful spa in today’s competitive market.
PHYTOMER is one of the only laboratories in the world that perfectly masters marine biotechnology to produce unprecedented natural ingredients with record effectiveness. We entirely control the manufacturing process, and aim at limiting our impact on the environment. The results are outstanding products using an eco-friendly method. It’s the future of manufacturing and we have long been a leader in this area.
Our brand is also renowned for its strong focus on business, and increasing our partners’ profit is a constant priority for us. Our treatments are cutting edge, but they are typically 20-100 per cent less expensive than those of our competitors.
Finally PHYTOMER has been investing heavily in the digital field and deploying an ambitious digital strategy to enhance the brand’s visibility online, and help drive business to our partners’ facilities. For example our web-to-store application allows customers to reserve products on our website, and they are then directed to their local PHYTOMER retailer for pick-up.
For our partners, we offer a highly developed range of on-line training applications as well as our specialised, hands-on assistance.
How do you plan to further develop the PHYTOMER brand? Our strategy is focused on three core areas. The first is our continued investment in innovation to increase performance: biotechnology, enzymatic synthesis and green manufacturing. The second area relates to our treatment menu. We will continue to offer even more in terms of a sensorial experience, both for the consumer and the therapist, to provide effectiveness with systematic clinical tests, and to increase profitability for our partners by controlling treatment costs.
The third area involves the ongoing upgrading of the brand through its image. The packaging has been redesigned with a lot more sophistication, and our visuals are increasingly high-end.
Our premium positioning is of course reinforced with the continued opening of luxurious spas around the world, including our own 500 sq m flagship spa, PHYTOMER Spa & Wellness, which we extensively redeveloped and reopened this spring in Saint-Malo as a clear expression of our brand and wellness philosophy.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
View contents of Spa Business 2015 issue 4
Letters:
Concerns raised over massage-on-demand vetting systems
Interview: Michael Tompkins
What’s next for Michael Tompkins as he takes a step back at Hilton Head Health? Rhianon Howells finds out
Promotional feature: Dr Burgener Switzerland
Leading skincare brand Dr Burgener Switzerland combines natural ingredients with advanced technology to produce exceptional results – and the company sees customisation as the way forward for each of its spa clients
Trends: Workplace wellness
Neena Dhillon looks at two award-winning employee wellness programmes and asks how spas can get involved in this burgeoning market
Promotional feature: ESPA
ESPA International has always been a leader in the global spa business but has never been averse to change. The CEO and son of its founder explains how the company he joined 22 years ago is adapting to meet the challenges facing the industry today
Research: Onwards & upwards
ISPA research shows the US spa sector has reached new heights. Colin McIlheney analyses the findings
Promotional feature: Phytomer
Director of international development, Tristan Lagarde, explains how PHYTOMER has become a leader in the field of technological skincare development, and how spas can benefit from the brand’s success
Spa concept: Eforea 2.0
Hilton has refreshed its spa concept to make it more appealing to hoteliers. But what’s changed? Jane Kitchen finds out
Promotional feature: Living Earth Crafts
Brian Paris, spa designer and VP of sales for Living Earth Crafts, explains how the company is helping spa operators become more efficient with space-saving but stylish spa equipment and accessories
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.
