Dr Mariano Spiezia graduated in Medicine and Surgery in Italy in the early 1980s, and has since worked on combining orthodox medicine with the extraordinary power of nature. Medical herbalist and skin expert at The Walsingham Natural Health Centre in Truro, Mariano has been considered the father of the organic beauty movement in Britain and was voted one of the top 25 ‘Who’s who in natural beauty’ in 2012 and 2013 and again in 2015. Sublime talks to Mariano about beauty, the power of nature and his endless enthusiasm for life.
Sublime: What inspired you to create Inlight products/brand?
Mariano Spiezia: I am an observer, constantly curious and intrigued by everything happening around me. When I developed INLIGHT skincare I tried to capture the innate power of nature, the dynamism of life, the manifestation of beauty within ourselves and the world we live in. Inlight means ‘light within’.
S: What is your ethos and how does it compare to that of other beauty companies on the market?
MS: Our ethos is unique and we don’t like to compare it with other companies present on the market. Coming from a medical world and a holistic vision of life my ethos has been and still is to unveil and manifest the beauty in all its forms, respecting each individual evolution. Our customers start a journey with us towards the discovery of a new form and concept of beauty.
S: What challenges did you face during the initial set-up and development of your company?
MS: The biggest challenge was to define in our hearts the company’s vision and mission: only when these are clear it is possible to pass them on to our customers through the products they buy. After long conversations, the answer came clear: linking science and tradition, research and alchemy, nature with our inner nature. Ultimately, what is beauty if nothing but harmony amongst different elements?
S: Did you choose Cornwall or did Cornwall choose you?
MS: To be honest, I was chosen. It was love at first sight – a sort of ancient recall. I still remember walking with Lore, my wife, for the first time in a beautiful Cornish estate and feeling at home, with goose bumps all over us. Past life memory perhaps? What I know is the feeling of belonging to a very special, magic, unspoiled County which is still very strong after 17 years.
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S: In what way does your products formula benefit people’s well-being?
MS: Inlight products are based on my unique formulations where there is a perfect synergy between our own botanical extracts – very rich in anti-oxidants – and the precious cold pressed oils, chosen for their high affinity to the skin sebum. In all my studies and research what is evident is that what we apply on the skin is partially absorbed in our system. Inlight formulas bring lots of nutrients/anti-oxidants to the skin and through the skin to the body. Every time we chose to apply something on the skin we must be aware of its consequences on both our system and the environment. My formulations focus on the skin biochemistry, the power of Nature and the link between the two. Health is beauty and beauty is heath, isn’t it?
S: Tell us about how you craft this unique beauty products?
MS: Inlight products are hand-crafted in small batches following special rhythms and procedures: we make our own base in house infusing herbs and flowers in organic cold pressed oils. These are then brewed in glass demijohns exposed to the sun and moon light for several weeks. During this time, we apply different techniques to enhance the energy of the oils and to encode them with unique energetic ‘messages’. The result is the Inlight Bio-lipophilic Matrix – our patented powerful concentrate of oils, medicinal herbs extracts and subliminal messages that ‘communicate’ with the skin at both chemical and subtle level.
S: What are the changes you would like to see in your industry?
MS: Customers are becoming more and more aware of the impact of ‘man-made chemicals’ on their health and on the planet. A new health and beauty consciousness is emerging and the cosmetic industry must respond with honesty and foresight to this push, developing a greener chemistry.
S: What do you care about the most?
MS: Life in all its forms.
S: What are your plans for the near future? Any new products or brand expansion?
MS: We are in a constant evolution: it is part of life. The more we grow in ourselves the better we feed what we do with new energy and enthusiasm, therefore the first ‘expansion’ and development is the personal one mirrored in the Inlight Team. We are also developing a new hair range, and a men’s range. A range of Beauty Teas is also in the pipeline. Our brand is expanding globally, positioning Inlight skincare in the luxury market for its uniqueness and effectiveness while remaining artisan in its production.
Read more articles from Dr. Mariano Spiezia: Skin Intelligentsia, Keep Young & Save the Shark, Sun & Skin, The Perfect Cycle
