Spas and professional skin and body treatments are high touch by their very nature. In a pre-COVID world, the therapeutic and healing benefits of touch were ingrained in the very DNA of the spa industry. Much of the professional beauty world is still partially in lockdown and some treatments remain off-limits.

The professional channel was hit as COVID-19 forced the shutdown of spas and salons. In the UK, Boris Johnson imposed a nationwide lockdown on March 23, and it wasn’t until July 13 that beauty salons were permitted to partially reopen. However, “close contact” beauty services such as facials, eyebrow threading, eyelash treatments, makeup application, and microblading remained banned until August 15.

While there is nothing more relaxing than the magic hands of an expertly trained therapist, spas and brands are innovating against our current socially distanced, contactless reality. The UK-based brand Elemis and its co-founders Sean Harrington, Noella Gabriel, and Oriele Frank have been innovating in the luxury spa space since 1990.

Elemis, known for its Touch Facials, which are hands-on therapies that combine ancient and modern massage techniques for the application of product, has just announced the launch of a No-Touch Facial Powered by BIOTEC at Mayfair Spa. The goal of the treatment is to deliver transformative results to the skin while providing peace of mind that the facial is being delivered with the utmost consideration for hygiene and safety standards.

The Safe Touch Tools, which include spatulas, face mitts, and Shape & Scalp wands, minimize touch without compromising the experience or results and are easily sanitized. The treatment also incorporates the Elemis 7 in 1 Light Energy Face Mask, which utilizes seven light therapies intensified by infrared to boost skin activity.

Elemis co-founder & President Noella Gabriel said, “At a time where skin health has suffered, we’re delighted to launch this hands-free treatment option with new and exclusive cutting-edge technology to our London flagship, The House of Elemis.”

Just as touch has been integral to spas, by their very nature spas have been extremely strict about hygiene protocols—it is ingrained in how they work.