natural ingredients we love to use...

At Melis, we're proud to incorporate only the crème de la crème of delicious skin care ingredients in our spa treats, and we search high and low to source only the best for you. The following are just a few of the decadent ingredients that we use:

Cocoa Butter (Fair-Trade): The cocoa tree is cultivated in most tropical countries as well as Africa and is native to South America. A positively gorgeous and fair-trade certified ingredient we use that helps prevent trans-epidermal water loss while delivering vital nutrients and antioxidants to the skin, it is highly emollient and leaves skin sublimely supple and soft.

Coconut Milk: Highly aromatic, with the divine scent of fresh coconuts, coconut milk is highly moisturizing and beneficial to the skin, which is why we use it (in powder format) in many of our facial masques. Coconut milk contains a certain amount of coconut oil, which in turn contains monolaurins, which have been scientifically found to be very powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal agents. The coconut fruit itself is most interesting as in addition to its antibacterial abilities, it has degreasing and cleansing properties, which is the reason why detergent cleansing agents are so frequently derived from coconut oil.

French Argiletz Clays: We use these sun-dried clays from France for their extraordinary properties – superfine, mineral-rich and absolutely beautiful in colour, they are a delightful addition to our facial masques. Pink, gently cleansing and suitable for even the most sensitive of skin types, can be found in our Berries & Cream Facial Masque and Pomegranate Martini Facial Masque. Gorgeous green and its highly detoxifying, drawing qualities can be found in our Seaweed Spa facial treatment…while yellow lends its gentle balancing act to our Fresh Fruit Smoothie tropical facial and our Pumpkin Enzyme Peel facial.

French Cocoa Absolute (Organic):  An alluringly sensual and utterly decadent aphrodisiac, our French cocoa absolute delivers a true heavenly chocolate aroma like nothing else on earth. One mere inhalation of this rich, 100% natural and organic chocolate scent will send you positively swooning. A completely ethereal chocolate spa indulgence.

Guava Fruit: Often referred to as the “apple of the tropics”, guava is chock full of vitamins A and B and has been found in scientific studies to have at least 3 times the amount of vitamin C as an orange. It is revered for both its vitamin content as well as its reputed anti-aging and anti-oxidant properties.

Honey: Honey has been used to treat and pamper the skin since the days of Cleopatra and before, as it is a powerful humectant with significant antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, not to mention a serious skin smoother with intensely effective hydrating properties. Besides - who doesn’t love honey?

Mango Butter: This divine and creamy fruit butter is obtained from the exotic tropical mango tree native to India, and it possesses emollient properties very similar to shea butter. If you love shea butter, you will positively adore mango butter! A natural skin moisturizer rich in fatty acids, mango butter is a regenerative and reputably anti-aging ingredient that effectively treats dry skin and prevents wrinkles while restoring elasticity and reducing degeneration of skin cells.

Moroccan Rhassoul Clay: Mined from the Atlas mountains of Morocco, this exceptional rejuvenating and detoxifying clay delivers an extremely sexy and silky performance in terms of a “velvety” afterfeel. Scientific studies have found that not only does it reduce dryness and flakiness, but it improves skin clarity and elasticity as well. Rich in magnesium, silica, potassium and calcium, there’s good reason the people of South Africa, Europe and the Middle East have been using it for centuries. Beware - you may find yourself tempted to touch your skin repeatedly after using our Cocoa Rhassoul Facial Masque! Yes, it truly is that decadent.

Papaya Fruit: Ahhh, papaya. There is something so utterly heavenly and dreamy about papaya (not to mention, especially mixed with honey!) In more clinical and scientific terms, papaya is excellent for stabilizing oily skin and is often used in skin care products for the purpose of a natural lift and rejuvenation of the skin. In addition to many enzymes, the tropical papaya contains Vitamin A, which benefits skin repair by increasing the rate of new cell formation, and antioxidant Vitamin C, well-known as being richly abundant in skin benefits for smoother, softer skin.

Pumpkin Seed Oil (Organic, Cold-Pressed): With its faintly nutty aroma and luminous orange-golden hue, this nourishing oil provides a stellar assortment of vitamins (A, B, D and E), minerals, proteins and essential fatty acids, including omega 3’s and 6’s. This nutrient-rich “liquid gold” is especially effective for combating fine lines and preventing moisture loss, and is suitable for all skin types. It’s fair to say we have a huge crush on this oil here at Melis...

Shea Butter (Organic and Fair-Trade): Richly emollient, moisturizing and protective, our organic and fair trade African shea butter from Ghana is a most beautiful and decadent ingredient in our skin care line. Extracted from the karité nut, it is a natural skin soother (in its raw, natural form it melts readily on contact with the skin, lending a smooth, sensuous feel). Possessing vitamins A and E, shea butter is also widely renowned for its skin softening and moisture retaining ability.

Strawberry Fruit: Mmmm, strawberries! Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, our pure, natural strawberry fruit powder lends a genuine sweet aroma as well as a rich pinky-red colour to our mouth-watering berry products. Mildly astringent and clarifying, not only is it a beautiful fruit but beautiful in its benefits for mind and body as well. Possessing natural fruit acids, strawberries encourage a radiant complexion and deliver magical skin-brightening results to your skin - rather immediately!

Virgin Oil de Coco Crème (Organic): A premium, certified organic and biologically pure coconut oil like no other. Make no mistake, all coconut oil is not created equal, and neither is all “virgin” coconut oil/crème! We use only the absolute finest virgin coconut oil available, which undergoes a superior “wet-milling” process. Be wary of other “virgin coconut crème” oils - most commercial coconut oils are refined, bleached, and deodorized, and some are even hydrogenated. Others called “cold-pressed” are still fermented or heated, losing the natural vitamin E and tocopherols needed for stability and protection against rancidity. In contrast, our Virgin Oil de Coco Crème is rich in antioxidant vitamin E and squalene, as well as possessing antibacterial, anti-microbial, anti-fungal and even anti-protozoal properties according to scientific studies. This is truly the superior coconut oil of choice for discerning skin care connoisseurs. And did we mention that it leaves the most incredible silky after-feel? Yes - there’s definitely many a good reason that you’ll find scandalously high amounts of this luscious coconut oil in so many of our skin care products!