DNA ANALYSIS
GeneOnyx at The Organic Pharmacy
G
eneOnyx is a digital DNA-based skin analysis tool, created by professor Chris Tamazou of Imperial College London,
which is being piloted by skincare company The Organic Pharmacy in London. The Organic Pharmacy offers it as part of a one- hour £295 (US$452, €345) Anti-Ageing DNA test and consultation at its Kings Road store. The session starts with a lifestyle ques- tionnaire and a saliva sample DNA test which is processed by the cloud-based geneOnyx machine in 30 minutes. The analysis provides a recommended list of skincare ingredients based on the client’s DNA with a focus on how quickly the body breaks down collagen – the faster collagen degrades, the more prone people are to showing the signs of ageing. The software matches these ingredients with exist- ing products from the Organic Pharmacy range for a skincare prescription. The test is deliv- ered by a homeopath so that lifestyle, nutrition and general health advice can be incorporated. Margo Marrone, founder and owner of The Organic Pharmacy says: “Young people can use the genetic information for preventative ageing, while older people can use it for cor- rective measures. It adds value by establishing us as the experts in the market.” In the future, geneOnyx will be looking to partner with other skincare companies to make this technology available to more cus- tomers over the counter.
The geneOnyx machine tests DNA to determine how quickly customers breakdown collagen FIRST-PERSON EXPERIENCE: Kate Corney, product editor, Spa Business O
n arrival at The Organic Pharmacy, I was led to a basic consultation room with a desk, chairs and the geneOnyx machine, which is a white elec-
tronic box. I filled out a health and lifestyle questionnaire on an iPad, connected to the geneOnyx, which covered my existing skincare routine, general health and any concerns. As my saliva sample was analysed by the geneOnyx, the
homeopath talked to me about my skincare routine and a broad range of questions focused on whole body health. The 30 minutes seemed like a long time for a consultation and could have been enhanced with a mini treatment as an added extra. Eventually, my results showed a list of 36 ingredients which the
geneOnyx identified as suitable to my skin and gave eight recom- mended Organic Pharmacy products containing these ingredients – with those featuring the highest number of ingredients listed first.
Spa Business 2 2013 ©Cybertrek 2013
The homeopath whittled this down to four products for my skincare prescription, based on our consultation, but not all of these were the geneOnyx’s top suggestions so I gathered that the in-person consultation was equally as important as the machine-based analysis. The prescription was based on cleansing, hydrating, repairing and moistur- ising products, most of which I felt were appropriately prescribed for my skin when I tried them out back at home. Compared to The Organic Pharmacy’s free non-techni-
cal skin consultations, the DNA testing is certainly expensive, but the cost is in line with its other technical treatments on offer, such as the 125-minute Ultimate Lift & Rejuvenate Facial – an oxygen facial which costs £260 (US$397, €302).
SPA-KIT.NET KEYWORDS:ORGANIC PHARMACY Read Spa Business online
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