Six spa and wellness trends to look out for in 2020

Psychedelic assisted therapy, psychobiotics and smart clothes are among the latest spa and wellness trends to look out for, according to Spa Executive & Book4Time.

Other trends predicted to prevail in 2020 are energy healing, next generation aromatherapy and elevated ethical standards.

In its new report, Spa Executive & Book4Time notes that over the past few years cannabidiol (CBD) took over spa, wellness, skincare and more. The report reads: “Now we’re seeing an uptick in attention around hallucinogenic substances like psilocybin, the psychedelic compound found in more than 200 species of mushrooms, and DMT (N,N-Dimethyltryptamine), the chemical substance known as the ‘spirit molecule’, often used in ayahuasca, a South American entheogenic plant brew made with the Banisteriopsis caapi vine. There’s evidence that both have been used as spiritual medicines for thousands of years, and both have recently been the subject of increased interest from the public, and from researchers looking into their potential applications as treatments for mental health conditions, including depression, schizophrenia, and dementia.”

The report notes that energy healing such as sound baths, reiki, crystal healing and shamanic sessions are seeing an increase in spas and wellness retreats, with even hair salons offering such services.

Prebiotics and probiotics in skincare and wellness have been around for some time and now there is psychobiotics. According to Spa Executive & Book4Time, pscychobiotics are bacteria that may have a mental health benefi­t when ingested. They are likely to be regarded not just as a treatment for existing conditions, but as a preventative measure, and are being integrated into the diets of early adopters.

In talking about ‘next generation aromatherapy’, the Spa Executive & Book4Time report references the Global Wellness Institute’s recently named ‘Aromatherapy 2.0: Scent as Medicine’ as a trend to watch, citing many examples of how aromatherapy is moving into a new era, thanks to technological advancement and neuroscience studies. For instance, one company is already formulating ‘armotherapeutics’ to treat symptoms like pain, nausea, and anxiety.

The report predicts that elevated ethical standards in 2020 will see more municipalities states, and countries implement bans to reduce plastic pollution, with consumers increasingly becoming aware of greener packaging alternatives.

Finally, smart clothes (or smart fashion) is clothing made from smart materials that may speed healing, improve sleep and wellbeing, clean itself, reduce body odour, moisturise skin, and more.

To access the Spa Executive & Book4Time report click here.