My first Waterlily Spa Facial The first time I was introduced to the world of spa, I was almost thirty. For nearly thirty years I had never had a spa treatment in my life, and had never had a massage either. I’m what you could call a late bloomer—I also didn’t know what a day spa was. But that all changed one day when I visited the Waterlily James St concept store, ...

At Waterlily, we collaborate and work alongside leaders in spa and wellness. Last year, I sat down (over Zoom) to talk with the fantastic global tourism leader and Wellness Tourism Summit Founder, Katherine Droga. Katherine has over 20 years of experience working in the tourism sector and has lived a life full of transformative wellness experiences. Katherine is also ...

We’ve put together our Waterlily Gift Guide to help you buy considered, thoughtful and gorgeous gifts for your loved ones this holiday season. Read on for ideas for everyone from your best friend who always smells amazing, your day spa aficionado Mum, and your work bestie who makes Mondays feel more like Friday. Give the gift of luminous skin this holiday season. ...

Vitamin A (or as I like to call it.. Vitamin Yay!) has quickly become the show-stopping red carpet superstar of cosmeceutical actives.  And with good reason!  Also known as retinol, this multi-tasking vitamin dangles the dual promise of treating acne while anti-ageing skin by smoothing wrinkles, brightening tone and refining texture.  You’ve got it, versatile, good ...

What are you doing this weekend? I hope whatever you have planned, it involves time for self-care, love and compassion, whatever that looks like for you.  As for me, I've spent weekends walking, spending cherished time with friends and family (social distancing of course) and listening, reading and thinking about many things. I've curated a list of them below, in case ...

A closer look at our hero active - Niacinamide! Intensity is the secret to any active formulation. A carefully curated selection of nutrient rich botanicals boosted with clinical doses of active cosmeceuticals. No room for fillers or benign synthetics to pad out the product. For me, it’s just value driven hard working ingredients that are compatible with our skin. ...

As we celebrate our 15th birthday, people often ask me the inspiration behind the creation of Waterlily. Like any idea that stands the test of time there is often a perfect storm of reasons. On reflection I believe my main motivation was the opportunity to consciously create a company culture that I was proud of.  One that was inclusive, nurturing and honouring.  One ...

Salute to Summer!  A seasonal approach to skincare is the foundation of the slow skincare movement.  Honouring your skin the way you would any other organ ensures optimum health by harnessing nutrients that align with seasonal demands to nourish, protect and defend from inflammation and ageing indications to age-proof skin for intense results. Summer months are ...

The word is out… There’s a new power couple in town! A stylish duo taking luxury eye treatments by storm.  That’s right, this month celebrates the launch of two brand new innovative eye products by SPACEUTICALS.  The latest in clinical research harnessing cutting edge cosmeceutical actives in nourishing botanical plant nutrients to reverse the signs of ...

Nurturing skin into great health is at the heart of our passion.  No time is there more demand for loving care than when it comes to winter skin. Naturopathic ingredients and omega rich fatty acids that promote barrier function and strengthen skin resilience is what Waterlily does best.  Here we reveal expert help to show you how we work with beauty professionals to ...

Great summer skin demands hard working actives dispensed in clinical concentrations to target pigmentation, dehydration and congestion.  Photo damage from UVA + UVB along with oxidative stress from environmental pollutants speed up the ageing process.  So embrace summer with a blend of potent antioxidants and vitamins essential for cellular protection and repair.  The ...

Summer skin is luminous clear and refined.  The warmer months mean an increase in sebum. Skin is prone to the clashing conditions of both dehydration and excess oil which can lead to congestion and break outs.  Outdoor living is a chance to show off beautiful bare skin, so a healthy, clear glowing complexion is the perfect accessory for every event this holiday season.  ...

Skin works hard.  Putting aesthetics aside for a moment, our health relies on our skin to protect us from our environment, make Vitamin D, regulate body temperature, boost immune function.  It allows us to interact with our environment and senses the world around us.  We expose it to so much stress through lifestyle, sun damage, oxidation and lack of ...

“Small-batch production, with its overtones of freshness, potency and artisanal craftsmanship, has been big news in the food sector for the past five years. Now, the philosophy is being embraced by the beauty industry as the next stage in the evolution of natural and organic.”  THE FUTURE LABORATORY In an age where instant gratification, automation and ...

Embracing a seasonal approach to living is not only kind to the planet, it’s good for our health.  One of the many reasons I love travelling to Rome is that the Italians sure know how to eat.  I’m not talking about the culinary alchemy you see on Master Chef.  I mean the two resolute aspects of any Roman kitchen.  Eating local produce and eating it in season.  ...

This season welcomes the launch of a luxurious new body care collection formulated exclusively for Spa and Wellness. A wellness edit of deeply nourishing home care entwining exotic Lime Caviar with skin conditioning botanicals, pure essential oils, omega rich serums and anti-ageing vitamins.  The result is a body care solution to visibly replenish, revitalise, ...

Anyone who follows me personally on Instagram (@michelle.reeve) may have watched my Christmas holiday DIY attempt at “Renovation Rescue”.  It's been over ten years since we moved into Waterlily Headquarters, our Brisbane office and manufacturing laboratory, and it was clearly more than time to make-over some of the key spaces that the frenetic pace of the last decade ...

Ciao da Italia Ragazzi! I’m here at Cosmoprof Bologna, the world’s leading international professional beauty exhibition. This year celebrates the 50th anniversary and has grown to house over 2,500 exhibitors from 69 different countries attracting melting pot of over a quarter of a million international visitors in just three days. The global showcase highlights ...

When we think about skincare we often compare active against natural, right? Let's consider for a moment that the skin is your largest and most visible organ. It responds in exactly the same manner as every other part of your body to nutrients, toxins, care and nurturing. Yet it’s interesting that you are more likely to subject it first to the criteria of aesthetics ...

People interact with the world differently.  Some people are auditory.  Some of us need visual cues to connect with concepts and ideas.  Others are kinetic, relying on tactile sensations to learn and communicate.  Most of us are a mix. For me, I see the world through aroma.  A keen and enthusiastic sense of smell. Every aromatic scent I inhale is steeped in ...

If I invited you to apply the following chemical cocktail to your skin, would you? Could I possibly tempt you to consider eating it? WATER (75%), SUGARS (12%) GLUCOSE (48%), FRUCTOSE (40%), SUCROSE (2%), MALTOSE (<1%), STARCH (5%), FIBRE (3%), (E460, E461, E452, E464, E456, E467) AMINO ACIDS (GLUTAMIC ACID (19%), ASPARTIC ACID (15%),  HISTONE (11%), LEUCINE ...

There’s a riddle. It goes like this.... A father is driving with his son. There is a terrible car accident. The father dies at the scene, but someone stops in time to save the son and takes him to the nearest hospital. The attending emergency doctor on duty rushes out to meet the boy as he’s wheeled into the operating theatre, but on seeing him recognizes the boy, and ...

When the internet isn't working, the postal system has gone rogue and a metro strike has brought the city to a grinding halt, the only thing to do is what any good Roman does to recharge; escape the city and surrender to the healing waters of Viterbo. Viterbo is a small medieval village on the road to Tuscany only a couple of hours outside of Rome. Picturesque in its own ...

I’m intrigued by the lifestyles of the centenarians. What are the secret gifts that enable our fellow mortals to live past the oh-so–ripe age of 100? What is the holy grail of youth? The elixir of life? What I do find super impressive is the quality of life these vintage rock stars enjoy. At 100 they are still tending their work, chopping wood, swimming laps, ...

I have an aunt. She is a national treasure. Unfortunately, she has been suffering terribly from rheumatoid arthritis and is navigating her way through treatment options to limit the damage and pain. In our last email exchange, she mentioned the most interesting thing “I’m not feeling too bad, but when I’m around negative people my joints hurt ...

Every year one strong underlying theme prevails in our list of New Year resolutions... the enduring quest to lose weight.  I agree that it is great to be healthier, but what I notice happens in our attempt to shed kilos is that our poor friend "Fat" becomes tarnished Enemy Number One. In the pursuit of good health, it appears we have condemned the wrong culprit. For it's ...

I am spending Christmas in Rome this year, and when I’m not complaining about the cold (while still eating gelato!) I spend my spare time walking through the gardens of Villa Borghese, the ‘Central Park’ of Rome. These gardens are a haven in the middle of a bustling city. Apart from the sheer size and beauty of the landscape, Borghese is laden with an allegory ...

I've just left Hong Kong, and one of the leading trends to come out of this year's Cosmoprof Asia Spa Conference was the concept of mindfulness and how it directly impacts on Wellness. Mindfulness... it really is a head on tackle as to how we approach our own health. Doctors are great at curtailing death and acute trauma.  I mean, if you were hit by a bus I'm not ...

I’m going to give you an insight into the intricate process behind the Waterlily formulations, a back of house sneak-peak into the mysterious world of artisan blending. Follow me… shhhhhh I’m hoping by now your appreciation for Aromatherapy has grown. As essential oil aficionados, you know that these precious plant concentrates are valued because they are ...

Australians are sturdy. And lucky for that! Harsh climatic conditions are the theme of an Australian lifestyle. Our ongoing challenge with bush fires and floods show us how confronting the intensity of our environment continues to be. As climate change merges with our outdoor lifestyle the quest to maintain good skin health intensifies. The annual rise of melanoma ...