This month at Ecobuild and ISH, Methven – the New Zealand designer and manufacturer of premium showers and tapware – unveiled the world’s first beauty shower, the Maia Skincare Shower™. The Maia Skincare Shower features an integral vitamin C cartridge to reduce the chlorine in water and the award-winning Satinjet® technology, which saves water and energy without compromising performance.
Already a hit with homeowners, spas, beauty salons and hotels in New Zealand, Australia, the US and the Far East, the Maia Skincare Shower with its distinctive New Zealand design delivers a truly holistic, life-enhancing showering experience.
The integral vitamin C cartridge sits inside the handset and releases vitamin C into the water stream, helping to purify the water by reducing the chlorine and thereby combating the drying effect of chlorine on the skin and hair.
Chlorine, which is absorbed through the skin, can have harmful effects on the body as it strips the skin of its natural protective barrier and dehydrates hair. Regular use of the Maia Skincare Shower may leave hair cleaner, silkier and more manageable and skin may become softer. A formal study has shown that reducing the chlorine in water can also benefit eczema suffers.
The Maia Skincare Shower also features a height-adjustable rail shower; a four-function handset offering three types of spray; and, a contemporary, smooth-style hose for easy cleaning, which is fitted with a swivel end to minimise twisting.
Maia with Satinjet technology delivers a full body shower that cares for the skin by stimulating circulation. Unlike conventional shower sprays using single jets of water that can produce a narrow, needle-like spray, Maia with its clever twin-jet design, produces thousands of tiny droplets that feel soft enough for the face, yet invigorating enough for the entire body.
The stylish, rotating showerhead offers four settings for the face and body. By simply twisting the showerhead, the spray can be changed from either the standard Satinjet spray or the massage spray, to the facial massage option, allowing the user to choose the sensory experience. When in facial massage mode, water passes through the outer jets only, creating a "breathing zone", which lets the user enjoy a longer face-washing session. This gentle spray allows the end-user to fully immerse their face without fear of broken capillaries. In body mode, water cascades over the skin rather than bouncing off - ensuring better coverage.
In addition to its ability to deliver a real life-enhancing shower that can benefit the skin and hair, the Maia Skincare Shower™ uses Satinjet® technology and can save on water and energy. Satinjet technology utilises twin-jets of water that collide – designed to produce thousands of tiny droplets that feel soft enough for the face, yet invigorating enough for the entire body. Satinjet technology uses just 9 litres of water per minute, saving up to 55% on water and energy consumption* while still providing a wonderful sensory experience.
Methven UK marketing manager Claire Stokes comments: “There were several key trends that guided us in developing Maia. From listening to our customers around the world we know that they want their bathroom to be a personal sanctuary where they can take some ‘me time’ to relax and pamper. We also know that they are increasingly concerned about water quality and want to take better care of their skin and hair. In addition, whilst there has been phenomenal growth in the spa market with a focus on wellness, our customers want to have the benefits of a spa at home. Another consideration is that people want their luxury showers to not just be good to them, but to be kinder to the environment too.
“The Maia Skincare Shower can achieve all this with a stunning, distinctive New Zealand design. Maia transforms the bathroom into a true spa experience and is designed to improve the user’s life with every shower, everyday. This is why Methven showers are showers for life.”
Product summary for the Maia Skincare Shower:
- Rail shower: Height-adjustable, four-function handset, offering three types of spray – Satinjet® body shower, body massage and facial massage.
- Cleansing Facial Massage Function
- Designed to gently massage and stimulate the skin
- Water is delivered from outer jets only, leaving a breathing zone around nose and mouth
- Body Massage Function
- Powerful jets of water to massage your entire body
- Stimulates blood flow
- Relaxes tight sore muscles
- Can also be used as a scalp massage
- Full Body Shower
- Twist the head to the vertical position to give a narrow shower spray
- Ideal for small showers or over the bath
- Full Body Shower
- Twist the head to the horizontal position to give a wide shower spray
- Ideal for spacious showers
- Spray control: Change the spray pattern by rotating the head.
- Rail: Durable brass.
- Hose: Contemporary, smooth-style hose for easy cleaning. Fitted with a swivel end to minimise twisting.
- Suitable for mains pressure only (1.5 bar min).
- Flow rate – 9 L/min.
- Operating Temperature Maximum 70 ºC.
- Lifetime parts guarantee.
- Launched in the UK and Europe March 2011.
*The example above illustrates savings that can be achieved with a Methven Satinjet® 9 litre per minute flow rate when compared to a 20 litre per minute flow rate shower. Water flows vary across the UK. Not all homes are on high pressure with many being on low pressure which will produce lower flow rates. The savings indicated apply only to the example given of a shower flowing at 20 litres per minute on high pressure and are for the water heating portion of the power usage only. Savings related to water consumption are subject to the water supply being metered.
To find out more, please go to www.methven.com or call freephone 0800 195 1602.
