Thankfully being green is no longer code for ‘worthy hippie’, which was not the case in 2002 when husband and wife team Margo and Francesco Marrone launched The Organic Pharmacy on the Kings Road in London. I was working at Conde Nast and thanks to my two glamourous green girlfriends, the writer Kamin Mohammadi and stylist Sharon Leddel, I had become a convert to all things natural and organic – the gorgeous Terence Stamp popping in to deliver his healthy gluten free bread didn’t hurt either. But 60’s movie stars aside, it was safe to say not everyone at Vogue House found natural quite as alluring back then, which worked in my favour when a box of Organic Pharmacy products arrived at our office!
Fast forward to 2012 and The Organic Pharmacy is celebrating 10 years in operation. What started as Margo’s search for truly natural, all organic products that were free from toxins has become the benchmark for organic products. And from this week Hong Kong can also get a piece of the action as The Organic Pharmacy launches its facial and body treatments exclusively at the Four Seasons Hotel Spa.
Part of Director of Spa Shoshana Weinberg’s second phase of the spa’s menu restructure, which began in January 2012, The Spa at Four Seasons will offer four of the brand’s treatments: Resculpting Treatment, the Organic Pharmacy facial, Seaweed Cleansing Cocoon and a Vitamin C Antioxident Facial all of which have marvellous results. The Organic Pharmacy’s famed products don’t just include skin care either. I also love their candles, toxic free nail polishes and the Organic Glam range of make up and perfumes. This stuff is seriously good for you and judging from the amount of people who have asked me what perfume I’m wearing (Organic Glam Jasmine) it’s no wonder eco-conscious mothers like Gwyneth Paltrow and Stella McCartney are fans.
Here’s a look at our treatment picks:
*Resculpting Treatment
Focusing on firming, draining and aiding the breakdown of fat cells, this treatment uses slow-release ingredients to provide continued benefits over time. A full body exfoliation, followed by massage with ginger and chili oil, while alternating between heat and cold, stimulates the lymph and circulation and begins to drain the system of toxins. A final application of hero product Resculpting Body Gel leaves the skin instantly smooth, toned and soft in appearance.
Key ingredients include ginger, chili, coffee, mountain ash, linseed, fig, horse chestnut and menthol, juniper, grapefruit, garcinia, guarana, gotu kola, dandelion and bladderwrack.
90 minutes; HKD 1600.00 weekday, HKD 1700.00 weekend
*Seaweed Cleansing Cocoon
Designed to rid the skin and body of pollution and toxins, this treatment uses a scrub and shower, followed by a wrap and shower, finishing with a detox oil application. The wrap provides the environment for the body to absorb a combination of highly active, deeply penetrating ingredients to detox and energize the body.
Key ingredients include seaweed, lemon, eucalyptus, rosemary, juniper, fennel and grapefruit.
120 minutes; HKD 2600.00 weekday, HKD 2900.00 weekend
*The Organic Pharmacy Facial
The brand’s signature facial is a luxurious lifting and firming treatment that uses acupressure massage to stimulate the lymphatic system. This treatment exfoliates, steams and extracts, then uses a deep cleansing mask, while arms and hands are massaged, acupressure and lymph massage follow with rose crystals and antioxidant serum, the facial then finishes with an anti-ageing mask, scalp massage and moisturizer application.
Key ingredients include flower petal, oats, milk, clay, rose, jasmine, chamomile, juniper, orange, lemon and grapefruit, carrot, DMAE, ALA, vitamin C, aloe, marigold, evening primrose, rosehip and collagen.
90 minutes; HKD 2100.00 weekday; HKD 2300.00 weekend
120 minutes; HKD 2800.00 weekday; HKD 3100.00 weekend
*Vitamin C Antioxidant Facial
A deeply effective treatment, this facial is designed to cleanse, exfoliate and reduce discolouration to leave the skin with a radiant complexion. The treatment uses exfoliation, two masks, massage and acupressure.
Key ingredients include carrot, rosemary, lavender, St Johns wort, oats, milk, clay, rose, chamomile, lavender, papain (the outer layer of the papaya skin), glucosamine, hibiscus, liquorice, vitamin A, C, E, ginko and ginseng, grapefruit, Sicilian lemon, alpha lipolic acid and rosehip, dill, pine bark extract, ursolic acid, kigelia africana.
60 minutes; HKD 1300.00 weekday, HKD 1500.00 weekend
90 minutes; HKD 1900.00 weekday; HKD 2200.00 weekend
The Spa at Four Seasons
Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, 8 Finance Street, Central, Hong Kong
+852 3196 8888, www.fourseasons.com