Clare Anderson started the independent family beauty business Shared Beauty Secrets in 2009.
The company is best known for its self-heating washing shells which allow therapists to provide a continuous, seamless heated body massage.
Clare said: “We have successfully trained over 10,000 therapists in the treatments available at over 2,000 spa salons in the UK and Ireland.”
But Clare’s award-winning business has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. With salons and spas closed, she had to make some very difficult decisions to keep the business going during the pandemic, including downsizing.
She said: “When Covid hit the spas and salons closed instantly, no one was getting treatments, so we had no source of income but very large overheads and bills to pay. next day I had to review my business model as we were primarily a commerce supplier. Unless I find a solution quickly, we would not survive the Covid shutdown. “
The pandemic prompted her to start a new business called Sensory Retreats.
With over 25 years of experience in the luxury spa and skin care industry, Clare recognized a gap in the market to develop new sense-based massage treatments and retail products, allowing extend the spa experience to the customer’s home.
Clare added, “To continue our self-heating theme and offer a product for home use, I decided to make a self-heating eye mask. We launched it in September 2020, and it just took off.
“It helps your mind relax, which can lead to a better night’s sleep. Soothing heat has been said to help relieve headaches, and the good news is that anyone can use it. Our masks are safe for children and adults alike. To learn more about why they took off and the hundreds of 5 star reviews visit www.sensoryretreats.con
“It allows people to restore their senses. Our masks encourage users to stop and reset to take 25 (minutes), to relax and come back to life. We want you to give yourself permission to turn off.”
Clare has developed five heated eye masks, each with their own unique look and scent, including rose, lavender, jasmine and chamomile.
Not only were these products a lifeline for Clare and her business, but also her clients, salons and spas, who were unable to open for many months in 2020, were able to offer the eye masks to their customers who were missing their spa. experiences. Spas now include eye masks in their treatments to improve the experience as well as the retail to their customers.
Each eye mask comes with a QR code with unique meditation and sound healing track
After surviving the pandemic and finding success with the new self-heating eye masks, she started a restitution program on World Kindness Day last month.
Clare added, “We’ve added a free eye mask with every order for World Kindness Day.
“What I love to do is make people feel good, if I can. For me, the joy of it all comes from being able to help others.
“We are proud to be a Banbury based company and would like to support and collaborate more with local small businesses.
“Our eye masks are perfect for a little ‘me’ moment. They also make great Christmas gifts, stocking stuffer, or staff wellness.
“If you are a small business, please contact us from now until December 20, 2021. [email protected]”
Following the success of eye masks, last month, Sensory Retreats recently released a first Divine Glow self-heating face mask. Each golden fabric mask heats up when unwrapped and placed on the face using specialized heat therapy technology.
The new Divine Glow face mask has just won a Get the Gloss Beauty Award 2021.
Clare added: “We are now proud to be present at some of the UK’s most prestigious salons and spas including The Soho House Group, Champneys, Spa Illuminata at Danesfield House, Carbis Bay Hotel & Spa and the Urban Retreat in Knightsbridge.
She was also featured in Vanity Fair magazine earlier this year in August, which can be read here: https://www.vanityfair.com/london/2021/09/women-at-work-clare-andersonSensory Retreats a also made the 2022 Beauty Awards shortlist with ASOS. Luna Self-Heating Eye Mask product was shortlisted in the Essential Wellness category.
Voting is open to the public and anyone can vote using the following web link: https://www.asos.com/discover/beauty-awards/#/vote/body-soul. fill in their details after voting – from two tickets to the Beauty Awards 2022, a £ 500 voucher to spend on ASOS Face + Body products and five well-wrapped beauty bags to be won. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony and gala on February 22, 2022 in London.
Clare also ran her own contest, which says if someone voted for her to send Asos’ confirmation email to [email protected] and they will also be entered into a raffle to win one year of Luna Eye masks.
Clare and her team at Shared Beauty Secrets and Sensory Retreats have amassed a huge number of celebrities.
She said: “We have been fortunate to meet many celebrities over the years, especially through our work behind the scenes at events such as the NTAs, the MTV music awards and we have supported Capital FM Jingle Bell and Summer time Balls for many years where we are very proud and lucky to be the Lava Shell massage partner for all the performers and their backstage teams.
“We have been selected to provide this service for many years now and have developed strong personal bonds with many celebrities we have met in this capacity, with our team of Lava Angels invited to the celebrity homes to treat them personally. It is such a privilege. We have become known as the company that offers luxurious and relaxing massage experiences.
“Not only have we been on tour with Rita Ora, we have also been regularly invited to Perrie Edwards’ house to care for her with her family and friends.”
The success her business enjoyed on coming out of lockdown left Clare stunned and overwhelmed.
She said: “The past few weeks have been some of the most rewarding of my career, which have included the ASOS nomination, another Get The Gloss nomination, and our Lava Shell massage has just been accepted by the Soho House chain.
“I am so grateful for all the support I have received along the way. Not just my business clients but also my friends, family and my small but incredibly loyal team who have helped me give live my vision.
“Looking back and reflecting on the past year, I feel immensely proud and grateful. Behind the scenes there were a lot of dark and difficult times and a lot of hard transplants.
“But eventually I started to see a light at the end of the tunnel, and I feel like opportunities are opening up. Just 12 months ago, I thought I was going to lose my business, and Here I am today, telling you the story of our latest eye mask appointments and incredible collaborations for Lava Shells like the Soho House Group.
“It has been a roller coaster for a few years and I pray that we can stay on top and we no longer see a drop in spa treatments and sales due to the latest government restrictions.
“Whatever the next few months bring me, I know that I will try to stay motivated, focused and positive because whatever happens, I know in my heart that to share our wellness gifts and to give people our products to helping them relax, unwind and sleep makes me very happy. ”
