What does this mean for you, as a guest?

Ease, relaxation, and peace of mind that you’re being held in a space that was made for you and is also good for the planet too. 

When we thought about the design of the Botnia Atelier in Sausalito, CA, we wanted the beauty of the space to shine through while bringing in the healing elements of mother earth into our treatment room. Using natural elements like maple wood (Maple trees are the Vermont state tree, where our founder Justine is from) to be built into our peg board back bar. Finding cozy wool rugs and sustainable linens from the Alameda Flea Market. The big windows and natural light allow the space to feel like you’re floating on a houseboat over the ocean. 

Holistically caring for guests includes curating the surrounding environment and we’re inspired to share our tips for creating an earth conscious esthetics treatment room.

Vibe check

When you walk through the doors of a spa, does it feel like a warm hug? Our spa partners love to make their guests feel cozy and welcomed right when they arrive. For some, that includes freshly brewed tea to greet you, or maybe a soft silk or bamboo robe and slippers to prepare for your facial. The scents, sights, sounds, and ambiance of the space set the mood for relaxation. Every spa will have its own individual style personalized to the esthetician, their personality, and taste. No two spas are ever alike.

“How am I creating the space around me so that I feel calm, so that my feet feel grounded, so that I’m breathing a little more deeply. I create intentional spaces so that my guests can feel their best, so that they feel beautiful. The moment that begins for them is the moment they walk into my space.

I also want to think about my experience in the space. Because this is where I’m spending my days. This is where I’m giving a lot of energy to the people coming in. Having a peaceful space that lets my guests calm down helps keep me grounded. I want the space that I create to evoke a sense of peace, calm well-being, and respite for everyone who will enjoy it.” - Danica Winters, Interior designer and founder of The Plum, Sacramento, CA

Reducing single-use plastics

“Seeing how much waste we, as estheticians, go through at the end of the day, particularly with single-use items, can really add up. We decided we wanted to do things a little differently and find ways to still do our job without feeling guilty about adding more waste to the environment.” - Christie and Natalie, Lace Skin Studio, New York, NY

Single-use items are one of the biggest offenders of waste in the skincare industry. For necessary tools that need to be used for sanitation reasons, there are recyclable, or better yet, compostable products that reduce the waste we throw away every day. Reusable four-by-fours and head wraps, wooden stir sticks for applying products, and using as few plastic as possible in the back bar.

Offering reusable tools to use for at-home care like reusable face clothes and makeup wipes, natural brushes, and sponges for applying products, and choosing organic materials for linens such as bamboo or cotton towels. We love all the sustainable tools and personal care products from Leia at Flower Power Skin Studio in Lakewood, OH.

Sustainable offerings and programs

Some spas are leading the way to a cleaner future, like our friends Christie and Natalie, founders of Lace Skin Studio in New York, NY, a certified sustainable, no-waste studio. They have partnered with Green Circle and Terracycle to help keep waste out of landfills and waterways, one facial at a time. By offering recycling and PPE waste programs, they’re making it easier for their guests to be more sustainable.

“It's really gotten clients excited and created a nice atmosphere for them to help the environment without even thinking about it. We've also had a lot of clients who have chosen to get facials at Lace based simply on knowing they can drop off empty beauty products, recycle PPE, and refill some products. It really shows just how easy it can be to create good habits and change old ones.” - Lace Skin Studio

Refills offerings are another great way to reduce waste. There are many types of refill systems available including bulk refills and bringing in your own refillable containers to fill up. At Botnia, we offer aluminum refills for some of our products and can’t wait to share more about our sustainable packaging debuting soon!

Ditch the big box stores - shop small and local

We have so much talent in our skincare community and we love to support other small businesses that have a passion for their craft like we do!

Our friends over at Shop Good have an amazing selection of makeup, hair care, and other tools for all your holistic wellness needs. 

We love our mask mixing bowls from Nikkie Stutts, but you can search for other amazing ceramicists or find small bowls in secondhand stores.

The more we support our friends, small business, and local communities, the less time and energy is spent on cheap goods created and imported from overseas. Many small businesses are also dedicated to reducing their environmental impact, so by supporting them, you’re also supporting their efforts to care for the earth.

Don’t forget about these small habits

Go paperless. Client intake forms, consent forms, invoices, and receipts can all be digital to reduce paper waste.

Beverages can be served in reusable glasses and mugs instead of disposable ones. Loose leaf teas are also more eco-friendly than bagged tea. Have a beautiful carafe for water or use a water filter system (we like Berkey Filters).

Instead of offering samples, using testers or travel sizes can help minimize the need for single-use samples.

Finding pre-loved or natural or recycled materials for furniture and decor to decorate the space.

Supporting local flower shops, or finding flowers and plants in your own garden to bring real elements of nature inside.

Using less water or finding ways to reuse gray water. Here are tips for using graywater safely.

Try out LED light bulbs instead of fluorescent ones to help save on energy.

Use eco-friendly, non-toxic cleaning products with minimal use of the harsh chemicals while keeping up to code with sanitation practices. Consider making your own cleaning solutions at home with simple ingredients like vinegar and baking soda.

A holistic lifestyle starts with one conscious habit and by improving our lives little by little, we can create practices that help to care for ourselves, our guests, and the world. There’s no greater feeling than leaving the spa after a treatment, especially if we’re mindful of protecting the earth too!

Xo, Botnia