NEWS

From left: Thalgo France international director Jean-Loup Proutheau; Thalgo SA CEO Debbie Merdjan; Thalgo France business development manager Nawael Marechal; and Thalgo SA COO Alison Yammin.

Thalgo la Beauté Marine turns 60!

Thalgo la Beauté Marine celebrated 60 years of excellence during an event at Two Oceans Aquarium on 9 October.

Birgit Andrag of Stellenbosch Hills generously supplied a glass of Anna Christina Cap Classique Bubbly to welcome more than 70 VIP guests to the aquarium. She also supplied wine for the evening, with each bottle being personalised with a special Thalgo birthday tag.

Guests were ushered into the shark and kelp forest exhibit, where everything Thalgo was on full display—from personalised Thalgo cupcakes to Thalgo branding on the podium in front of the shark tank to a Thalgo French Riviera-inspired photo wall!

Marine Distributors and Thalgo SA chief operating officer (COO) Alison Yammin opened the evening with a welcome and a thank you to special guests. During Alison’s speech on the opening slide about the importance of preserving marine life, a clip from ‘Jaws’ played. At that moment, two beautiful resident ragged-tooth sharks swam by.

Marine Spa Distributors and Thalgo SA chief executive officer (CEO) Debbie Merdjan spoke of the 18 incredible years of distributing Thalgo la Beauté Marine in Southern Africa.

The Thalgo head office in France is represented by two of our esteemed colleagues who are flying out to support and participate in the festivities.

Thalgo France international export director Jean-Loup Proutheau led the Cupcake Cheers—’La’Sante Marine’, or ‘to Good Health’—after divulging some great information on the way forward for the Thalgo group.

Thalgo France business development manager Nawael Marechal spoke about the soonto-be launched French Riviera, Sun and Sand, and Cica Marin Sensitive Skin Prebiotic Treatments. The group was filled with enthusiastic applause.

After the speeches concluded, everyone was invited to visit the sales pods where the new ranges were on display, together with the new iBeauty PRO device.

Guests made their way to the kelp forest, where a 360-degree camera was set up to get the party started! Gift bags were handed out.

The evening was a huge success; the Thalgo love was in the air, and we are so incredibly proud to be representing such a strong, beautiful, effective and inspiring brand!

Cape Town clinic owners discuss innovation and growth

Skin clinic owners and beauty therapists gathered at Thyme Spa in Cape Town for an inspiring event designed to connect industry professionals and showcase the latest innovations in skincare and aesthetic technology.

Hosted as an introduction to the revolutionary new skincare line, Skindividual, and its sister company, EshteTech, this gathering was a space for qualified therapists to discover high quality products and cutting-edge laser and beauty equipment specifically tailored to their needs.

The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers who offered valuable insights into navigating the ever-evolving beauty industry.

The highlight of the presentation was Helena van der Vyver from 1nespa Consulting, who provided practical advice on maintaining financial and operational health in a competitive market.

Attendees were also captivated by serial entrepreneur and Shark Tank South Africa judge, Dawn Nathan-Jones, who shared her wisdom on “Balancing life and work as female entrepreneurs,” a topic that resonated deeply with many. The day continued with Maryke Kaasjager’s talk on “High return on investment products and devices”, emphasising the importance of selecting the right tools and treatments to enhance a clinic’s success and client satisfaction.

Beyond the valuable information, the event fostered a spirit of collaboration and camaraderie, with attendees exchanging ideas and experiences over a delightful Mimosa social. These connections are vital for clinic owners navigating similar challenges and successes in the beauty industry.

Skindividual and EshteTech will host another clinic owner gettogether in Cape Town in 2025. Keep an eye out for details.

Three key beauty trends from London Fashion Week SS25

London Fashion Week SS25 celebrates 40 years of showcasing the current fashion trends and predictions for the future of fashion. The Fashion Week schedule also makes statements in beauty, with experimental looks that can set the tone for the season ahead.Here are three trends from LFW SS25 that we think will set the tone for the rest of 2024, and beyond.

Model for 16ARLINGTON, picture courtesy of CND

The natural look

Clean girl makeup has maintained its popularity since its inception in 2022, but with the residual influence of ‘Brat Summer’, London Fashion Week has seen a slightly messier natural look take centre stage.

Shows like JW Anderson, Erdem and Ahluwalia all used a hyper-natural makeup, with glowy skin and very minimal colour correction.

Also focusing on a pared-back look, the 16ARLINGTON show, supported by CND, with natural make-up and high-shine, nude toned nails. Standout shades were Sweet Cider, a warm caramel, and pale pink Gala Girl.

As natural makeup maintains its popularity, this embrace of a messier look could be made accessible for everyday and event wear.

Harris Reed SS25 show model. Image courtesy of Dyson

Making it pop

Pops of colour were trending in fashion in the spring/summer, and the trend has made its way to makeup for the runway. Apujan used red accents on the lips, but also graphic red eye looks to elevate the otherwise natural makeup.

This is an easy way to make make-up look interesting, if a red lip feels too safe an option.

Chopova Lowena used bright colours on the lips and eyes to complement its unique take on streetwear, and extra-long individual lashes in red and green.

Harris Reed used a cohesive theming of duck egg blue and orange to complement the avantgarde style of its collection.

Vin + Omi SS25 show model. Image courtesy of VIN + OMI

Smoke and mirrors

A classic smoky eye never goes out of style, and London Fashion Week had a host of looks to prove it. As we move into the winter, a sultry eye will naturally see a rise in interest as evenings get darker and party season picks up.

The Vin + Omi show had a more classic smoky eye look, but there were also fun twists like Jayne Pierson which used an angular blend to add a witchy vibe to the show.

KNWLS also tried something different, with a paler grey to complement the pastel palette of the collection.

A smoky eye is so versatile, and will for sure be the look of the Autumn/ winter season.

Image: Eco Diva

How the science of epigenetics will supercharge skincare

Welcome to the age of epigenetics in skincare—where your skin’s future isn’t just in your genes, but in how you influence those genes through lifestyle and environmental factors. Nicole Sherwin, founder Eco Diva Natural Superfood Skincare, dives into how epigenetics is reshaping skincare as we know it and why your beauty routine is about to go full-on futuristic.

Epigenetics is the study of how genes can be switched on or off based on external influences. You’re born with a certain set of genes, but their expression is fluid—meaning, how those genes behave is largely shaped by factors like your environment, diet, stress levels, and even the products you use on your skin. Think of it as your skin’s “code”—and now, thanks to biohacking, we can influence that code for healthier, more youthful skin.

Where skincare is concerned, epigenetics looks at how lifestyle choices, from sun exposure to stress, contribute to the aging of your skin. These external stressors cause DNA damage that accelerates the skin aging process— resulting in wrinkles, dark spots, and loss of elasticity. But here’s the kicker: you can hack this process and encourage your skin to behave younger by switching certain genes on or off.

Enter epigenetic skincare—a biohacking revolution that allows your skin to respond to targeted treatments in ways that were never possible. The idea is to create products that go beyond surface-level fixes. Instead of just addressing the symptoms of ageing, epigenetic skincare products target the root cause: the DNA damage itself. These products aim to change your skin’s gene expression patterns, essentially reprogramming your cells to act like younger, healthier versions of themselves.

Here’s where the magic happens: beauty brands are now formulating products with ingredients that can activate or suppress certain genes related to ageing. This could mean fewer wrinkles, better skin texture, or even the slowing of pigment production that causes age spots.

This isn’t just a niche innovation—major beauty players are diving into epigenetic skincare, too. Large beauty brands are investing heavily in research that explores how ingredients like peptides, antioxidants, and even plant extracts can influence gene expression and promote youthful skin.

Here’s the truly exciting part: epigenetic skincare isn’t just about reversing signs of aging—it’s about preventing them. Imagine your skincare routine working not just to hydrate or protect but to literally rewire your skin’s future.

As biohacking continues to rise in popularity, we can expect even more breakthroughs in epigenetic skincare. What does this mean for you? In the not-too-distant future, you could have access to products that tweak your skin’s DNA in ways that make it more resilient, healthier, and, yes, even younger. From serums to moisturisers, the possibilities are endless—and incredibly exciting!