Take your pick from this comprehensive guide to the best spas and salons on the East Coast and get busy relaxing.
DOUGLAS PEREIRA CLINICAL SKIN THERAPY
Suite 604, 60 Park St, Sydney NSW, 0407 443 350, Clinicalskintherapy.com
Situated in the hectic heart of Sydney’s CBD, stepping inside this sixth-floor sanctuary feels exactly like I’d imagine resting on a fluffy white cloud high in the sky would. The single white room with a view over the lush and leafy Hyde Park, invokes a sense of calm and tranquillity from the moment you recline on the treatment lounge. Being one room only, you know that the space and the time you fill it with belongs only to you and your needs. Whether you require hand therapy or décolletage rejuvenation, sensitive skin solutions or firming and anti-ageing facials, Douglas uses his 20-plus years of knowledge, skills and experience in the medi-spa business to create bespoke treatments that deliver the very best results, every time. Together with some of the most state-of-the-art cosmetic machinery available, Douglas uses his own collection of cosmeceutical skin care, developed with Australia’s leading chemists, which is a unique blend of scientific ingredients and the purest organic essential oils. So, not only do these products and treatments work, they’re a truly beautiful and holistically sensory experience.
VENUSTUS
381 Oxford St, Paddington, Sydney NSW, (02) 9361 4014, Venustus.com.au
After almost 30 years of treating the skin of Sydney-siders, local and visiting celebrities, top-tier beauty editors and leading influencers, Venustus salon just keeps getting better and better. Example? The newly developed Six Hand Massage, where three therapists work in exact unison to unsure every knot, crick or niggle in your tense body is eased into submission and relaxation. Or there’s the OM massage, where you’re transported to a blissful state of relaxation for 90 minutes, beginning with a ritual palo anto (a sacred shamanic wood) burning, Tibetan chanting and singing bowl and various energy therapies, including reiki, shiatsu, crystal and hot rocks massage, as well as reflexology. Never one to rest on her laurels, owner and creator of the Venustus organic skin and body care line, Jeannie Bourke is constantly developing and trialling new rituals, treatments and products, which is the reason the likes of Nicole Kidman have been coming back there since the dawn of time, well, at least since 1998 when its doors first opened.
JOCELYN PETRONI
Level One, 80 Queen St, Woollahra NSW, (02) 9363 3662, 0416 320 986, Jocelynpetroni.com
Lauded by the likes of Miranda Kerr, Megan Gale, Jessica Gomes, Rachel Finch, Michelle Bridges, Eleanor Pendleton and Georgie Gardner, Petroni is undoubtedly Sydney’s go-to girl for glowing skin, obscenely ridiculous pampering and the ultimately perfect pedicure and manicure (she’s the official nail expert for Chanel in Australia, by the way). Jocelyn follows a holistic approach to health and beauty, incorporating disciplines such as reiki and meditation into her treatments. I’ve been lucky enough to have several treatments with this divine lady. I’d love to tell you about them, but I fell into a blissful coma-like sleep the second her hands touched my face – every single time. All I know is that my skin glows like it’s been lit from within for weeks after each treatment, and the compliments come pouring in.
THE DARLING SPA
80 Pyrmont St, Pyrmont, Sydney NSW, 1800 800 830, Star.com.au
Situated in the Darling hotel of Sydney’s The Star Casino, this luxe spa features 11 treatment rooms, two exclusive couples suites, a Moroccan Hamman chamber, steam room and jacuzzi. Don’t miss The Platinum Essential Facial, which is exclusive to the Darling Spa. The 60-minute treatment is a top-to-toe indulgence using la prairie Platinum Rare Collection. It’s ideal for all skin types, but especially perfect for brides, pre-party events, or anyone who’s after firmer, more youthful-looking, radiant skin.
RAW HAIR
100 Commonwealth St, Surry Hills, Sydney NSW, (02) 9211 4444, Rawhair.com.au
Owned and run by not only the best in the hair business but the loveliest man on earth, Anthony Nader, Raw is a deconstructed space where some serious artisans of hair work their magic. At the helm is Nader, whose client list includes most of Australia’s leading beauty editors and bloggers and both international and local celebrities.
JONNY + JUNE
104 Glenmore Rd, Paddington NSW, Jonnyjunehair.com
An alumni of Anthony Nader and Raw Hair, Simon Bright, creative director at this lush Eastern Suburbs salon, describes his approach to hairdressing as “holistic”. His belief in this is so strong that he’s even developed his own range of organic, vegan, botanical-based hair products.
Many modern salons today are uber cool, have clunky acoustics and thumping beats, and see you leaving with great hair, but an even greater headache. There’s none of that here. With its ivy-lined walls, twin Persian cats gracefully idling around, a natural citrus scent permeating the space and serene ambience that immediately grounds and centres your soul, this is a refreshing and welcome step away into serenity plus total tress success.
SPA ELYSIA
Golden Door, Hunter Valley NSW, (02) 4085 2845, Goldendoor.com.au
As part of the health and wellness retreat, The Golden Door, this spa excels in all it does. There’s a host of healing relaxing and rejuvenating body treatments, but if you really want to leave with your ultimate glowing skin, devour the facials menu.
Using the certified organic, Australian-made skin care Divine Woman/Man, these treatments here are not to be missed.
BATHHOUSE NEWRYBAR VILLA AND
WELLNESS CENTRE +AGELESS NAD+ CLINIC
21 Old Pacific Highway, Newrybar NSW, 0410 341 131, Bathhousenewrybar.com, Agelessnad.com.au
Possibly the newest and the most high-tech wellness centre in the Northern Rivers region, this is a sanctuary not to be missed. Book in to the luxury villa and bliss out for a few days while you enjoy endless treatments, or simply check in as a day guest and make use of the 25m pool, Mosaic Hamman steam room, 12-jet Vichy shower, aqua lumbar massage spa and milanese sauna, after you’ve indulged in a facial, massage or one of leading anti-ageing and wellness expert, Dr Jeremy Cumpston’s healing and rejuvenating treatments.
Cumpston is the first doctor in Australia to be administering the revolutionary NAD+ Co-Enzyme infusion and it’s available by appointment at Newrybar Bathhouse, as well as his other Ageless NAD+ clinics based around Sydney CBD and Eastern suburbs.
“NAD+ is a metabolic co-enzyme that is an essential component of energy production (mitochondrial function),” he explains. “It is also heavily involved in DNA and cell repair; and is essential for maintaining neurotransmitter levels for the proper functioning of the brain. NAD+ is also a great support for liver health, which is imperative for immune function, detoxification and of course, glowing skin.”
Also ask about Dr Cumpston’s new beauty boost treatment, which infuses hyaluronic acid, vital nutrients and vitamins via
hypodermic micro injections using a hand-held device called the beauty boost gun. “The aim is to rejuvenate dry, fatigued and lined skin,” explains Cumpston.
HALCYON HOUSE SPA
21 Cypress Crescent, Cabarita Beach NSW, (02) 6676 1444, Halcyonhouse.com.au
Your inner being is equally as important as the way your skin looks when you visit this new, luxurious sanctuary. It employs a holistic approach to uplifting the body, mind and spirit using soul-soothing body rituals to restorative facial treatments, all set amongst a sea-side environment (what better way to relax that with the sounds of the waves crashing just metres from your spa bed?).
MX FACIAL ROOM BY MARIONNE DI CANDIA
Level 2, 103 Nerang St, Southport QLD, (07) 5591 3365, Mxskincaare.com
Renowned for having the most magic touch in the beauty business, specialist sin care expert and spa consultant Marionne de Candia, has partnered with top Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Luke Stradwick to open the first of her Mx Facial Rooms at his Gold Coast surgery.
The medi-salon will provide Marionne’s acclaimed non-surgical day treatments, using her own clinically developed cosmeceutical Mx Skincare range, as well as pre and post-surgery and medi-treatment care.
The signature Mx Facial is a bespoke service and paramedical procedure, which encompasses relaxing massage, lymphatic
drainage, acupressure and reiki. It is finished with a hyaluronic mask to give instant results.
Words by Shonagh Walker for Northern River Style April Issue