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This month, a Skin Food spa has helped models to rest and recharge between presentations and shows, fittings and photo shoots during London Fashion Week (LFW).
Clean beauty pioneer Weleda has sponsored The Model Zone for 12 years, each time creating a supportive space for holistic health and wellbeing.
This season, The Model Zone was in a private location just a stone’s throw from the hub of London Fashion Week at Somerset House. Tucked away from the media glare, the relaxing retreat was a haven where models could unwind, eat healthily, take off their makeup and be pampered with organic skincare.
Weleda’s beauty therapists offered radiance-restoring Skin Food facials and aromatic body massages, while its homeopaths provided holistic health consultations.
Models booked themselves in for a free Skin Food facial – a 30-minute miracle worker. The facial skincare routine is designed to perk up a lacklustre complexion and sooth skin stressed by winter weather and a busy LFW schedule.
Weleda Skin Food worked its magic backstage at scheduled LFW shows, with makeup artists choosing organic skincare to prep models’ sensitive skin.
For Victoria Beckham’s show, a Weleda Wellbeing Zone was created backstage. Models were encouraged to take time out to enjoy a therapeutic hand massage courtesy of Weleda Wellbeing Advisors.
With acupressure points all over the hands, the therapeutic effects of this holistic mini massage – which helps relieve tension and promote relaxation – makes it the ultimate express treatment within the confines of the pressured backstage environment, calming the mind and soothing the senses.
Weleda collaborated with Phoebe English – a recognised sustainable fashion designer who is included within the British Fashion Council’s Positive Fashion collective – for her show at 11:30 on Saturday 15 February.
Phoebe has actively pursued change within the fashion world; she has worked alongside the UK Environmental Audit Committee to help push through new legislation to improve sustainability within the UK fashion industry.
Fabric for Phoebe English is sourced in the UK or Europe using Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) organic cotton and Oeko-Tex certified materials that are free from harmful chemicals.
Waste offcuts are returned to the studio to be put back into future collections, and surplus and deadstock fabrics are repurposed in a similar way.
To finish pieces, Phoebe uses a variety of biodegradable natural finishings such as buttons made from palm nuts and milk protein to avoid the unnecessary use of plastic.
For Phoebe’s AW20 presentation, Weleda worked closely with makeup designer Crystabel Riley, who used Weleda skincare to prep the models for the show.
‘My makeup team operates with a ‘zero-waste’ backstage approach, so I really want to demonstrate, and enjoy, the full multi-functionality of the Weleda range: moisture as masks, creams as light reflection. The Almond Soothing Cleansing Lotion is worked in to the skin with a lymphatic-conscious massage and taken off with hot reusable natural cloths. With a model-focused approach to skincare, the most dehydrated receive Skin Food face masks, whist others benefit from extra gentle skin stimulation with a little Lavender Bath Milk used as a hot facial compress. I really want to show that these luxury yet pragmatic skincare rituals work in tandem with the low-waste and considered approach of Phoebe’s collection.’
CRYSTABEL RILEY
Makeup artist
Both Phoebe English and Crystabel Riley use Weleda in their personal beauty routines.
Weleda also collaborated with makeup designer Kathryn McSwein for the Johnstons of Elgin presentation 14:30 on Monday 17 February.
Johnstons of Elgin are known the world over as experts in cashmere and fine woollens, whether the softest tweed for country pursuits or eyecatching colours for the catwalk, using the highest quality natural fibres – just as Weleda uses the finest natural ingredients for its cosmetics. will be creating a sophisticated natural look:
‘The designs have been inspired by the Peruvian Andes, the ice capped Mongolian Mountains and the magnificent Scottish Highlands – all the places the luxury fibres are sourced. Because of the heady mix of textures and colours in the garments, the makeup will be kept sheer with an emphasis on healthy, glowing skin. It’s important that the skin has a healthy outdoorsy shine to it, so I will be prepping the skin with a mix of the Almond Soothing Facial Oil and the original Skin Food. This mix ensures the makeup stays sheer but with a really surreal fashion gloss to it. I will also apply the Skin Food Body Butter across any areas of exposed skin to ensure the models have an all-over glow heading down the catwalk under the lights. For matching hues of colour across the cheeks and lips I will be using my kit favourites of the Weleda lip tints in Rose and Berry Red.’
KAT MCSWEIN
Makeup designer
Fashion designer Phoebe English showcased natural beauty and sustainable design in her London Fashion Week presentation.
Natural beauty stole the show at London Fashion Week – we went backstage to discover makeup artists’ must-have products.
With two new products launching in March, you’re about to fall in love with Skin Food all over again.
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