Creating one major brand in a lifetime is enough to keep most people occupied, but after Liz Warom and her husband Mark were done creating global brand Virgin Vie with Richard Branson, it was time for a new challenge and so their sumptuous, organic range, Temple Spa was born, so Spabreaks.com caught up with Liz to find out just what makes Temple Spa different, and why aubergines are not just for eating!
Where did the idea for the brand come from?
After setting up and running Virgin Vie, we decided to take a much needed sabbatical, during which we travelled throughout all the countries of the Mediterranean. It was while we were there that the diet, lifestyle, culture and landscape gave us the mental and creative basis for the brand.
The brand name is quite unusual - where did it come from?
‘Temple’ is another term for ‘the body’ and ‘spa’ can also refer to ‘your space’. Put the two together and there is a celebration of life that is described best in our philosophy statement: “Your body is a living temple; honour it, enjoy your life and live it to the full.”
Why is the Mediterranean lifestyle so important to Temple Spa?
Mediterranean people have the lowest incidence of chronic illnesses - strokes, coronary heart disease and cancer, which can be attributed to their diet and lifestyle. Ingredients typically found in the daily diet also happen to be fantastic for skin care: you will find tomatoes, olive oil, red peppers, aubergines, red wine, and avocados in our products.
What are the benefits of using natural ingredients?
Nature has given us a plethora of amazing materials and this is always our first port of call when formulating products. There is a great synergy between the stomach and the skin: many ingredients that are good for you on the inside will benefit the outside as well. For example liquorice is a fantastic anti-inflammatory, de-sensitising ingredient which can alleviate stomach disorders whilst also soothing sensitive and upset skin.
Do you have a favourite product?
Oh my gosh, I am always asked this and it’s like being asked to name your favourite child! I love them all and for different reasons. But if I had to absolutely choose my top three (I simply can’t choose just one!!!) they would have to be Skin Truffle - happiness in a jar; In the Beginning - the most phenomenal cleanser on the planet; and Drift Away, my all time best bathing and massage oil.
Travel seems to be a big inspiration behind your products - is there anywhere you particularly want to visit next?
I love the familiarity of returning to places, so I never mind if I’m going back somewhere. But I would love to go to Argentina and Brazil.
Setting up a business can be a stressful affair, what do you do to relax?!
Our home restoration is a labour of love, we enjoy anything to do with food - eating out, cooking and entertaining and we go to a fab church in Brighton (St Peters) where we have lots of friends and a great social life.
What is the strangest thing that has happened to you working in the beauty industry?
Probably deciding to walk away from a business and brand that you’ve created: it was certainly one of the hardest as well as one of the strangest feelings, but had we not created and then left Virgin Vie, we wouldn’t have started Temple Spa and that is unthinkable!
What is the best advice you would give those on the quest for beautiful skin?
There’s nothing like stress for ageing the skin and there’s nothing like relaxation for smoothing it!
Take a look at lots of Temple Spa treats and gift ideas available on the Spabreaks.com website!
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