Gina Baksa meets Dr Mariano Spiezia, the founder of Inlight Beauty, medical doctor, herbalist and renowned skin expert.
Dubbed a 21st-century Nicholas Culpepper and considered the Godfather of the organic beauty movement in the UK, his love of science, alchemy and wellness led him to create the Inlight Beauty range of skin products – all of which are 100% organic.
Based in Cornwall, Dr Spiezia currently practices at The Walsingham Natural Health Centre in Truro and is a regular contributor to discussions and research in the scientific and beauty sectors in the UK and Italy.
Luxurious Magazine: How did you get started in the wellness and beauty business?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: In my 30s, I was one of the founding doctors of a pioneering detox centre in Italy. It was fascinating and inspiring to witness how science guided by unaltered nature can help re-balance the system.
During the detox process, the skin revealed itself with its major role as a ‘mirror’ of what was happening inside the body, confirming that the vital energy within the body works from the inside to the outside to clear inner toxicity.
This was the trigger for me to study and experiment with products that would work not only on the skin but with it. It was clear that healthy skin is what expresses beauty and radiance.
LM: You’ve said that all matter is surrounded by its own vibrational energy? What do you mean by this?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: Everything in the universe is made by energy as an expression of atoms, subatomic particles and electromagnetic waves.
All of these are associated with electromagnetic fields that interact with us and with our surroundings. Our five senses are very limited (for example, we can only see the light spectrum from red to violet, and we can only hear within a limited range of sound waves), but we are immersed in an ocean of energy (UVA, UVB and cosmic rays etc) that constantly interferes with our life.
It’s now finally a fact that we can modify what is around us with our own energy.
LM: What attracted you to establishing Inlight in Cornwall?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: I moved with my family to this magic and vibrant British county, as it’s the ideal place to bring up children close to nature and away from the buzz of major cities.
My wife Loredana and I were determined to help them be grounded and appreciate the outdoors before flying the nest.
After my holistic experience at the detox centre, I refused to use commercial products. I knew well at that point how chemicals could damage health rather than help it, so when I moved to Cornwall with my family during my sabbatical year, I started making a few pomades and lotions – initially for my family and friends, then later for acquaintances in the village, and then the rest is history as they say.
LM: The Inlight range includes products for the hair, body and face. How do you make them?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: My formulations stem from the synergy of chemistry, herbology, the human physiology and the interconnection between them all.
I have been able to observe over many years of practice the functions of the human body from different angles and I have no doubt in saying that science and nature’s alchemy work wonders together.
The Inlight range is very comprehensive. Every product is made by hand in our lab with the utmost care at every step.
We practice ‘slow beauty’. All the ingredients are distilled in vegetable oils for over a month and exposed to the natural light from sun and moon, which add the best ingredient…their potent energy.
With this slow process, we give nature time to release all the liposoluble properties of the herbs and flowers. We use this extraction as a base for all Inlight products. A real concentration of vital and active ingredients that brings real beauty to life!
LM: Where do your ingredients come from?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: We try and buy as locally as possible to respect the environment and support local businesses. Most of our ingredients come from a long-standing supplier in Somerset.
However, sourcing 100% organic ingredients can be at times challenging, so we have to look further afield to find the best crops and variety. For example, we buy our arnica flowers from Italy as they grow better in a specific altitude and, of course, in the sun.
LM: What do you most love about your work?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: I work as the medical herbalist at the Walsingham Clinic in Truro and at Inlight HQ as the formulator and scientific director. Quite a busy and intense life; however, I enjoy every second of what I do.
I love to help my patients and listen with empathy to their stories (often, it’s them who inspire me…), and I love to help them reconnect and find their balance and health.
I also love to research and discover the benefits of new ingredients and invent new formulas that develop into pure products that really work. I like to be constantly in tune with nature and with people in order to manifest beauty in its splendour.
LM: You’ve even produced organic herbal tea infusions. How did that come about?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: Working as a medical herbalist for more than 30 years, herbal blends have been always part of the treatment I suggest to my patients.
I have become well aware of the benefit of herbs/flowers for both body and mind, so it has been consequential to offer something so beneficial and tasty to complement my skincare range.
LM: I’ve been using your fabulous new Inlight Beauty Lip Serum, which has a lovely citrus and rose scent. Tell us more about the active ingredients.
Dr Mariano Spiezia: Lips have no protective keratin or sebaceous glands, so they are very vulnerable as they are constantly exposed to the elements.
Lip Serum is one of my latest formulas, and the idea behind it was to create a treatment to nourish and protect lips rather than just a barrier against the elements.
I have, in fact, chosen some of the best nourishers for this product, such as sea buckthorn oil, baobab oil, and rosehip oil, all rich in Vitamin E and EFA (Essential Fatty Acids); carrot oil, rich in antioxidant Beta-carotene; rose, lavender and calendula botanical extracts for their ability to speed up the epidermis cell renewal.
A gentle touch of mandarin and aniseed adds a warm yet fresh ‘taste’. Lip Serum is in a small bottle with a glass roll to be dispensed very gently. As they say, ‘good things come in small packages’.
LM: As a frequent traveller, I love your Travel Light Set. What’s the inspiration behind this? What products are included in the Set?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: This was prompted by my wife, Loredana, who is often ‘on the move’ herself and saw the importance of having essential beauty products in a travel-friendly size. Our Cornish location also gave us the opportunity to upcycle lots of well-travelled spinnakers that would have gone to waste.
What is a better eco-way to use them to line a beauty bag? And the Travel Set came to life with its sail unfurled! In the bag, we have our coveted dual-action face cleanser with floral tonic, face oil to keep skin well moisturised, superfood and chocolate face mask sachets to pamper, some useful cotton pads and our lovely rosewood spatula.
LM: I find my eyelids take a battering in winter weather – do you have products that protect and nourish this delicate area?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: Inlight Supreme Eye Serum is the answer. This is an extraordinary product developed after years of trials and research, and it’s a super skin food that deeply nourishes the delicate area around the eyes.
It is a fountain of youth for the skin with precious, powerful oils, such as argan and prickly pear, both anti-ageing and powerful antioxidants. I have added three gemstones inside to this Serum to empower the product with their energy and subliminal message. A beautiful, effective product!
LM: Are you planning to launch new Inlight beauty products in 2020?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: Later this year, we are aiming to add a new revolutionary product to the Supreme Range: Supreme Face Serum. It will be a super-regenerative four-week treatment. Watch this space!
LM: Detoxing has become mainstream now. What results can we expect from Inlight’s four-week Detox and Revive programme?
Dr Mariano Spiezia: For years, I have helped many of my patients/clients detox as an important step to maintain both the body and the skin in good balance.
I designed this gentle but effective detox programme to get rid of toxins and periodically cleanse the system. This is especially important after excess during holidays or at the change of seasons when the body starts a new metabolic pace.
Inlight Beauty & Wellness – Where and How?
All Inlight beauty products are 100% organic certified and are free from SLS, Parabens, Phthalate and alcohol. For more information, call 01326 281114 or e-mail www.inlightbeauty.co.uk.
Read more interviews conducted by Luxurious Magazine in our dedicated section here.
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