22 October 2011
BEIRUT: From cosmetics to collagen, cellulite reduction and basically any beauty contraption imaginable, the In Shape health, beauty and fitness fair aims to house everything about beauty under one roof.
The third edition of the In Shape fair, which opened Friday at the Beirut International Exhibition and Leisure center and runs through Monday, has brought together more than 250 “health, fitness, beauty, dietary and well-being companies and experts” to exhibit the latest trends and beauty technologies for general consumers and industry professionals.
“It’s a very good event for companies and visitors to get an idea about how to equip their beauty centers from A-Z,” says Fouad Abi Haidar, physical therapist for Lebanese firm Gannagé, the exclusive Lebanese dealer for LPG products, a leading producer of anti-aging and slimming technologies.
And indeed, beauty equipment “from A-Z” and contraptions you could image in your wildest dreams (or, in some cases, nightmares) are on display at the fair. Stages showcase pod-like capsules for cellulite reduction, as well as hand-held machines for facial treatments that use infrared lights and radio frequencies to help reduce the signs of aging.
At the Gannagé stage, a spokeswoman demonstrates the LPG Cellu M6 Enermolab on a model to show it’s easy to use a wand for reducing cellulite, slimming and reshaping of the body and wrinkle reducing facial treatment.
Demonstrations of similar products and technologies are everywhere you turn. But if you’re ready to leave the space-age pods and body-shaping vacuums, the more familiar makeup, nail and hair products are also on display.
The makeup, nail and hair care booths range from a number of different international companies – such as OPI, Dermologica and K Stars – and lesser known product lines. All offer beauty consultations on cosmetics, skin care and hair styling.
Rosie Cocosian of the Italian professional makeup line K Stars calls the event “very amazing,” as she describes K Star’s professional and daily makeup products.
On the more strictly health side of the spectrum, In Shape also offers a range of displays on dietary supplements, workout machinery, fitness and dieting plans. There is also a stage for live healthy cooking demonstrations.
Numed, a Lebanese company that produces clinical equipment and education tools for nutrition and health, is exhibiting its products geared specifically toward Lebanon and the region.
“We are creating our own tools to target and educate the Lebanese population,” explains Numed’s marketing director, Pascale Abi Nahed.
These tools include “food and nutrition models for our own Mediterranean diet,” Abi Nahed says as she gestures toward the healthy-eating posters hanging around the booth that include information specifically for children, pregnant women and adults.
A poster titled “The Middle East Visual Food Guide” shows pictures of typical Lebanese food products – kaak for instance – and their corresponding food group and calorie content.
In Shape will also feature special events including a daily live hair show called “Beauty Steps 11,” put on by Madi International, a nail artist competition sponsored by OPI, and a “Radical Fitness Mega Event” Sunday of intense physical training led by Radical Fitness.
So whether you’re looking to stock a new spa with the latest laser hair removal and cellulite reducing technologies, start on your personal beauty and fitness makeover, or just walk around to ogle the “beautiful people,” you’ll find it at the In Shape fair.
The In Shape fair is open 3-10 p.m. at BIEL through Oct. 24.
Copyright The Daily Star 2011.
