Spelt makes the personal care mark

In line with the growing trend for natural cosmetics, spelt grain is appearing in an increasing number of skin and hair care ranges being launched across Europe.

As a hybrid of emmer and wheat grass, spelt has been used in foods since about 8000BC, more recently gaining in popularity thanks to its high nutritional value and the growing number of people seeking wheat-free alternatives.

And it is for these very reasons that consumers are also increasingly incorporating the grain into their beauty regimes.

Spelt's rise in popularity​

According to Mintel, the number of new food product launches across Europe containing spelt stood at 157 this year, compared to 68 three years ago.

Although the number of beauty products being launched with the ingredient is still tiny, experts believe that the trend already seen in the food category could be mirrored in the beauty category.

Spelt has also been increasingly embraced by the organic sector, as it lends itself well to organic production. One of the greatest benefits for organic producers is that unlike wheat, which has easily-threshed loosely held grains, spelt’s husks hold on strongly to the grain, making it more resistant to insects and disease, and therefore ideal for chemical-free production.

Moving beyond bakery​

The grain’s popularity has reached such heights that people are even slathering spelt germ oil on their skin and hair. One enterprising UK spa has taken things a step further, basing a whole treatment therapy on it.

Monty’s spa in Somerset, England, has developed a full treatment regime dedicated to spelt in an attempt to tap into the increased demand for wheat-free products. The treatment has been marketed as an ‘inside-out’ approach to beauty, starting with herbal tea and spelt biscuits, made from the spa’s own home-grown organic spelt, before a massage session using spelt germ oil.

Marketing manager for Monty’s Karen Comer credits the popularity of the treatments to an increasing number of people seeking wheat-free diets – and extending that to their beauty regimes.

Comer told CometicsDesign.com: “We use the spelt oil in all our treatments. It is very popular and I think that is still increasing. There is a huge demand for it, as well as our granola range.”​

She also claims that the grain’s high vitamin E content means that it is good for the skin.

Spotting a gap in the market​

“The owners saw a gap in the market for spelt with so many people wanting a wheat-free diet,” ​she added. “…I think its popularity will last a while with more and more people needing wheat-free diets.”​

The treatment does not come cheap, however, at £150 for a two-hour session, and bottles of the spelt germ oil retailing at £500 a bottle.

The spa is owned by Monty and Roger Saul, who also run Sharpham Park Farm, where they grow the grain commercially and extract the germ oil.

Other ancient grains to have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years include quinoa, chia, kamut and amaranth.