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ila spa
Who and what are ila?
Ila is a range of organic skincare, founded by yoga teacher, nurse and aromatherapist Denise Leicester. Ila products are hand blended in a production facility in the Cotswolds, based in barns "chosen for their positive healing qualities" according to Vaastu Shastra, the ancient Indian science of architecture. "The premises have been blessed in harmony with the earth's energies." Only small batches of products are produced at one time.
Energy and harmony are important parts of ila's product philosophy. They call their products "artisan skincare". The hand-blended production process is inspired by Ayurvedic traditions, and "sacred geometry (yantras) and chanting (sound being the purest form of energy)" are used "to instil positive energy when making our products by hand".
Ila trivia no 1: ila is the Sanskrit word for "earth". It's also the name of the Hindu goddess associated with earth, flow, refreshment, and the source of well-being.
They Say:
"ila's philosophy is encapsulated in our maxim: Beyond Organic. ila's skincare range is completely free from synthetic chemicals and contains a rare level of organic purity which is achieved by sourcing the finest ingredients directly from local producers who cultivate and harvest the raw ingredients in harmony with nature. ila's artisan skincare products are hand blended in a consciously created environment of peace and purity in the heart of the English countryside, to ensure that the finished holistic products contain all the exquisitely pure energy from nature. In these ways, our products are truly Beyond Organic."
We Say:
"A very special brand. If you're looking for simplicity, purity, and the natural power of plant based products then don't miss ila. High quality organic skincare. We've noticed this brand popping up on the spa menus of some of the best spas in Britain this year -- it's one to watch."
ila products - What have we tried?
ila Energy Spray for an aura of confidence 30ml, RRP £15.00
Not just any old Energy Spray, either, but an Energy Spray "for an aura of confidence", no less. If any product sums up the ila ethos of organic products with a new age twist, it's this one. This blend of rose water, Himalayan salt and essential oils is "designed for occasions when you need a clear and concentrated mind".
You are encouraged to spray it around your head and body before meetings, long journeys and times when you need to focus. The Energy Spray aims to "create a 'sole' of fluid light energy. This has profoundly healing vibrations for mind and body". "Sole" in this instance is a solution of salt and water, not the popular flat fish of the same name.
I enjoyed spritzing the Energy Spray and breathing in the rosewater and orange blossom-scented loveliness. I would have liked the scent to linger longer, however. I could only smell it for a few seconds after spritzing. Did I feel more confident after a few months of spritzing? So hard to say. One thing I am confident of however -- if you're looking for a cooling, relaxing spritz to refresh you on long journeys, you will love this.
We say: Pretty, lightly-scented spritz. Shame the scent didn't last. Maybe it wandered off to work its magic on our Spy's subtle energy fields after ten seconds.
ila Body Oil for Vital Energy 100ml, RRP £34.00
Swedish Spy:
This lovely product whispers delicate sounds of seduction as you slide it out of its box. Contemporary, bright yet understated packaging holds a nicely weighted glass bottle which you immediately want to rush to the bathroom and open.
Surprise, surprise! It's not some hyped-up exotica in there, but a really pure, natural blend of juniper berry and rose geranium essential oils with rosehip seed oil. This body oil also happens to be organic, wild-crafted and hand-blended.
As someone who has more than dabbled with essential oils, I can assure you it is not easy to come up with an entirely natural and not over-complicated blend that smells this delicious.
Ila body oil is relatively light but rosehip seed oil is one of those wonderful plant oils that is deeply nourishing and healing, but feels really easy-going. It absorbs well, too. For the best absorption, apply this oil over slightly damp skin from a recent shower or bath. Twenty minutes later, you won't know you've covered yourself in oil.
Like the cynic I am, I'm astonished to say that I feel my spirits lifted by this beautiful oil in a way that almost makes me suspect that my "vital energy" has just had a boost. Well done ila, for bringing skill and exquisite quality to a somewhat tired concept. If you can spare the cash in these times, go get -- and be vitalised.
We say: A genuine "aaaaah..!" experience that instantly puts a beatific smile on your face.
ila Night Cream for Rejuvenating Skin Cells 50g, RRP £55.00
Salubrious Spy:
I was handed a midnight blue box with gold lettering containing a reassuringly heavy white jar, also with gilt writing. Looks expensive.
The product description was quite "sciency" -- night cream for rejuvenating skin cells with wild-grown argan oil, royal jelly and orange blossom. I wan't familiar with all the ingredients -- argan oil sounded like something used by Dr Who. However, my skin could do with a bit of rejuvenating so I was intrigued as to whether I would notice any difference. Especially as my skin had just gone into "winter mode" and was feeling quite dry and taut.
I unscrewed the jar to reveal a thick white cream, which felts cool and almost waxy. Ila night cream has a heavy, natural-smelling scent which was quite woody with a hint of citrus. It was slightly too overpowering for my liking, at least initially.
I loved the fact it's organic (well, 91.2% organic to be precise) and it's "hand blended in the Cotswolds", so not too many spa miles either. Another plus.
The results were good, too. Having used the ila night cream every night for a couple of weeks my skin seemed to be more supple, despite the winter elements. And the aroma's growing on me.
We say: A good, thick winter night cream in suitably luxurious packaging.
ila Hydrolat Toner for hydrating the skin 200ml, RRP £28.00
Sedate Spy:
I have been using this ila Hydrolat Toner for three weeks now. It is an absolute pleasure to have added it to my daily skincare routine. Without sounding too fanciful, this ila toner feels like you are wiping damp rose petals onto your skin. The toner is slightly thicker than water and has an almost oily feeling on application -- although it has absolutely no oily residue.
Unlike some other rose water products that I have used in the past this ila toner has a rich, heady scent. The scent lingers on the skin for about five minutes, too, rather than disappearing immediately as a cheaper blend would. The smell of this alone makes ila Hydrolat toner a worthwhile purchase. It seemed to having a soothing effect on my nerves at the end of a frantic day!
All in all a great product that I would wholeheartedly recommend.
We say: The perfect pick-me-up for dry skin. Beat the blast of central heating -- decant a little into a handbag-sized bottle and spritz away.
ila Face Oil for glowing skin 30ml, RRP £55.00
Sensitive Spy:
I'm a big fan of face oils. I've tried many during my 39 years on Earth, and I'm happy to announce that this ila Face Oil is the best. Hands down, no contest. The two base oils are argan and rosehip oil. These are scented with an exquisite blend of sandalwood and rose otto oils. There's a dab of Vitamin E, and that's it.
The face oil is beautifully presented in a bright pink box, with a gold card inner. The oil comes in a heavy white bottle with a brilliant dropper dispenser. Push the top of the lid and a few drops of oil are sucked into a large glass dropper. Easy to apply and you don't lose a single drop. And when you're using a product as rare and expensive as this, trust me, you don't want to waste it. I found two or three drops ample, maybe a drop more at night.
You are warned in the instructions to use "no more than 5 drops". Why? Because you'd probably ascend to a higher plane riding on a cloud of rose otto if you tried it. This oil left my skin looking radiant, happy and blemish free. I usually spend no more than £15 on moisturisers but I will be buying this again. It's my product of the year.
We say: More expensive than unicorn tears but worth every penny. Face oil perfection.
ila Face Mask for Revitalising Skin 250g, RRP £45.00
Sassy Spy:
I tested ila's Face Mask for Revitalising Skin which contains Damascena rose otto, wild grown argan oil and mineral rich clay; all found in remote and exotic parts of the world, no less.
Ila's packaging is immediately intriguing and anonymous, tinged with a traditional and classy edge. The contemporary logo, and the weight of pot were instantly attractive.
The face pack itself was very smooth and surprisingly cold to the touch. It was a deep khaki green in colour, and it seemd to ooze goodness. Straight away my nose was tickled with what smelled like candied incense and very sweet rose otto essential oil. The scent was strong with a distinct organic twang. It was floral and vegetable all in one go, although this became more subtle after I applied it to my face.
My tired, sleep-deprived face experienced a healthy tightening as the dense, creamy face mask slowly hardened. There was no pain or dragging of my face like some face packs can do. I really felt that it was drawing out impurities, and I enjoyed the product a little more every time I used it.
There was something very satisfying, when the mask had been on for the allocated time, in cracking the clay by having a really big smile then an exaggerated grimace back to a hearty smile again... Ah, simple things...
My skin can be sensitive but happily didn't react to the face mask. My revitalised skin remained soft and luxuriously velvety for the rest of the evening and well into the following day.
This ila face mask got a 50/50 reaction from my friends. Some declared instant love, but others found the scent too overpowering. If you love strong, naturally scented products then you would do very well to buy yourself a pot.
We say: A gentle, firming mask -- satisfying to apply as well as remove. It gave our Spy a beaming glow and velvety skin.
Ila Body Balm for feeding skin and senses 200g, RRP £39.00
Sybaritic Spy:
This certainly feeds my sense of smell. It's divine. Ila Body Balm contains Damascena Rose Otto -- sometimes called the Queen of essential oils. Rose Otto is supposed to help with sadness and the balm certainly smells uplifting... as if you are sitting among rose bushes on a warm summer's day.
The texture of this balm is very firm. I had to dig my fingers in the pot to get some out. It felt slightly greasy on my skin and it took a while to sink in. All of which makes ila Body Balm only suitable for use after a bath, when you know that you are not going to be doing anything for a while. I would so like a lighter, more easily absorbed version of this. In its current form, I wouldn't use it very often.
We say: Divinely scented and uplifting. If only it would come out of the jar...
Where can I try ila products?
Where can I buy ila products?
See also:
* Spa Spy Review of Chewton Glen
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