Playful use of traffic light hues and signals in relation to 2009’s health, beauty, and wellness trends and predictions make this well-researched advertorial for the first issue of the revamped society glossy St. Charles Avenue read like the feature piece it was meant to be. Promotions were subtle, and ties between all three categories emerged clearly even if the true connection was a weak one. The kicker? This assignment was doled out with a two week turnaround request, including the time needed to get in touch with the vendor/sources. With persistence and late nights, I raced the clock and won again.

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See the Light: Where we’re going in 2009 in health, beauty and wellness.

There’s no better time to reflect and observe patterns already in motion than when a new year creeps up on us. It truly is the end of an era as the old phrase “no pain, no gain” finds itself unceremoniously escorted out the door in 2009 with the wane of invasive cosmetic procedures and beauty treatments more trouble than they’re worth. Generation X is beginning to show signs of wear around the edges, as aptly pointed out by Annie Richard of M.D. Claiborne & Associates, as is our environment. Repair and damage prevention, both for our bodies as well as for the planet we live on, are becoming bigger blips on our radars, taking the lead in trends this upcoming year.

seeing the (green) light
It has become extremely important to take care of the Earth that has for so long taken care of us. Eco-friendliness has been edging for a more dominant place in the spotlight – as the public clamors the industry delivers and spas have been starting to cater to the conscientious. Green Spa Therapy offers all natural treatments and The Spa at the Ritz-Carlton has created a special menu with Kniepp products and a “green” room, complete with environmentally correct linens, soaps and even paint. Christy Rantz at The Spa predicts that “there will be a continued focus on eco-friendly treatments as well as ‘green’ merchandise.” Rantz continues, “harsh chemicals are damaging to the environment and contribute to climate changes, which has become top of mind for consumers.” Although we’re moving forward in time and technology, we’re also taking a detour to the past, regressing to embrace milder natural ingredients and materials. Jody Villeco, Quality Standards Coordinator for Whole Foods Market, says that 2008 saw an increased focus on natural body products, leading to the recent launch of the Premium Body Care standard initiative, raising the (soap) bar for what defines quality natural care goods so that consumers can make better choices. Working with chemists to create fair, attainable standards, Whole Foods hopes that these new guidelines will force manufacturers to strive for less processing and the removal of irritating ingredients and artificial fragrances.

Other naturally inclined solutions to wellness woes include treatment services – we’re not just turning to products alone. As people become more stressed, the need to reward oneself increases proportionately, so to maintain a mental and physical balance, it’s back to basics – like Swedish massages. Demand for overall wellness over plain relaxation also continues to grow, as the general public actively seeks prevention as a partner to cure with services like Thai, deep tissue and aromatherapy massages …

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Want to find out what else is in store for this year? Download the article and read on.