Combining professional advice, advanced skin treatments and products utilising the best technology, and a holistic view on skin health and wellbeing, Skintopia, now open in Wellington’s Old Bank Arcade, promises “a new concept challenging the status quo of ‘beauty’.”

Owned and run by the team at S.H.E (Skin Health Experts), distributors of Dermalogica in New Zealand, Skintopia replaces Spa Express in the historic retail location on Lambton Quay, and was designed in collaboration with award-winning interior design agency Material Creative.

“The industry is too often focused on ‘anti-ageing’, ‘beauty’ and ‘pampering’,” says Skintopia founder and director Natasha Bourke. “We feel that skin health is part of the wellness industry, and great skin comes from a lot more than what you put on – it is also about how you nourish yourself from the inside, and how you manage your stress.

“Ultimately, we feel that skin health is about self-care, and we wanted to create a destination where clients can focus on achieving their best skin (at any age!), without the guilt trip of ‘oh what a treat or indulgence’. Taking great care of your skin is up there on our priority list with the importance of seeing a dentist!”

Skintopia offers New Zealand’s first Skin Lounge – an open, social space for express treatments (under an hour) and education. Three reclining, ergonomic leather chairs offer comfort and style while the experts utilise modalities and professional products as part of the customised skin treatments.

A Wellness Bar offers customers a designated space to discuss and learn more about their skin.

Three therapy rooms offer privacy for the Dermalogica ProSkin60, a 60-minute skin treatment, plus other services such as grooming and IPL massage.

Every Skintopia skin treatment utilises DermalogicaPRO products, and a range of technology enhancements to ‘Power-Up’ or ‘Super-Charge’ the results for each service is available – with every treatment being full customised to the individual client.

Electrical modalities include microcurrent, LED light, hydrodermabrasion, oxygen therapy, collagen therapy, IPL and active peels are available. Plus more traditional services such as massage and grooming services are also available.

Design-wise, Skintopia is intentionally ‘pink free’ to be more gender-neutral and downplay the ‘pamper’ aspect to highlight its more serious approach to skin.

Featuring large scale artworks by local artist Studio Bon, the space takes inspiration from the skin, using materials and colours to represent the skin’s layers, texture and structure.

The Wellington location is the first in a series of Skintopia centres that will roll out across New Zealand over the coming years.

For more information go to skintopia.co.nz.

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