London Grilling with Nia Thomas from LLIO, Beauty and Wellness

Welcome Nia, we’re excited to speak to you! Your business infuses beauty, wellness and spirituality, what inspired you to create this unique idea? 

LLIO is a darkness to light story.  The brand was started in memory of my mother who passed away very suddenly.  I was motivated to create a beauty brand to encourage people to really look after themselves through hard-times. 

My mother was a beauty therapist, who attended beauty school at the age of 16 and regularly blended oils in the family home, so a history of beauty and essential oils in the family inspired the brand. I studied Aromatherapy at Regents collage after my mother suddenly passed away.  I also travelled around the country and to beauty trade shows to learn about essential oils and I met with a lot of other aromatherapy enthusiasts to create blends.  After she passed away, I did every therapy under the sun to get better, I loved crystal therapies.  I wanted to create a luxury crystal product that say the banker who likes crystals uses.  We have loads of super high end clients so the idea has worked! 

Can you describe some of your products and their benefits? 

My products are infused with gemstone crystals to create Crystoil elixirs.  Crystals carry energy and vibrations of their own and power at a higher vibrational frequency. LLIO crystoils aim to raise vibrations.  The LOVE YOURSELF BATH & BODY CRYSTOIL is a blend of rose geranium, orange, lavender and palmarosa. Crystoil infused with rosehip, passionflower and rose quartz crystals, a gemstone to attract unconditional love. BEAUTY SLEEP BATH & BODY CRYSTOIL is a blend of lavender, rosewood and geranium charged with amethyst crystals to relax and renew, releasing stress and negative energy.  HIGHER SELF BATH & BODY CRYSTOIL, a blend of citrus lemon, black pepper, and eucalyptus infused with rosehip, passionflower and Citrine crystals, a high-vibration stone to cleanse negative energies and attract abundance.  MAGIC CENTRE BATH & BODY OIL is a blend to ground and balance, with a fusion of vetiver, grapefruit, geranium and vanilla essential oils infused with Obsidian crystals. 

LLIO oils can be used as a body oil or for ritual baths, the perfect way to relax, reconnect to your magic and crystal charge yourself.  LLIO crystoils fuse together the finest ethically sourced crystals from Brazil with the highest grade essential and base oils. All the packaging is created in the UK, the boxes hand-cut by UK artisans and tie-dye inspired ribbon (a nod to the hippies) designed by artist Poppy Waddilove. LLIO is the haute couture of crystal healing, on a mission to encourage more self-love in the world, love yourself first with plenty of self-care.

We also have a beautiful sleep pillow spray called Sweet Dreams with Lavender True and Rosewood in which you can spritz on the pillow to help you sleep!  Also a range of anti-bacterial Crystal Clear anti-bacterial sprays.

Tell us some of the feedback you have received from your customers. 

We have some lovely messages from our clients, the reason the brand was created was to help people through hard times, and we will receive emails to say the product has helped someone relax.  The Sweet Dreams Sleep spray is a winner, we receive so many emails to say this product helps people to sleep.

https://www.llio.love/shop/sweet-dreams-amethyst-sleep-spray-box-included

What is your go-to product from your range and why? 

https://www.llio.love/shop/higher-self-citrine-bath-body-crystoil

I love the Higher Self Bath & Body oil, the base oil is apricot, rosehip and passionflower.  It’s a citrus scent of lemon, sweet orange and black spruce to really wake up you’re senses.  I LOVE to use my Bath & Body oil range because I have super dry skin.  If you sprinkle a few droplets of the bath oils in the bath-tub you can step out and you don’t need to put moisturiser on and you’re skin feels super soft!

What’s up next for your brand? 

At the moment, we’re trying to launch the brand in the US more!  We did trade shows in New York, Vegas and Florida last year and will go at it again this year!  We’re trying to get the word out about LLIO in the States by doing smaller “sip and shop” showcases with fitness studios!

Where is your favourite spot in London to relax? 

If I ever needed time out I loved treatment myself to a spa day at the Bvlgari Hotel - I love the luxury white lounge beds, you can zone out there for the whole day!  The ESPA massages are the BEST!  If I ever treated myself to a day spa there I would be there for hours!

Do you have any favourite cafes/restaurants in London? 

My favourite restaurant in London will always be Scott’s because it’s classic, understated, an institution and I love eating healthy fish!  For café’s I love The Connaught Patisserie, mainly because I’m a big dog it’s chocolate and hazelnut!

You have offered a generous 30% discount to our readers that runs until the end of the month (code THANKYOU30), What would be a good product from your range to start with? 

I would say the Sweet Dreams sleep spray is always a winner!  Our clients genuinely LOVE this product and they buy it over and over for themselves and friends!  Clients can spritzLlio’s Sweet Dreams blend of soothing lavender true, geranium, deep vetiver and rosewood onto a pillow. Lavender True is a natural sleep aid that soothes the soul, helping you to relax and unwind. Contains lavender, a natural sleep aid, to promote a healthy sleep cycle and sleep hygiene as the user gets into a sleep routine by spritzing the pillow ahead of sleep. Helps users relax thereby helping with anxiety.

https://www.llio.love/shop/sweet-dreams-amethyst-sleep-spray-box-included