Passionate about skin health, wellness and living life to the fullest, the irrepressible Kristen Teo is the founder of The Spa Nomad and now, Wellington-based “skin gym”, Numa Skin & Body Club. Offering a wealth of knowledge when it comes to global spa trends and innovations in the beauty sphere, she has spent years travelling to some of the world’s most in-demand destinations researching the next frontier in treatments and tech.

You started The Spa Nomad around six years ago, making the pivot from a career in finance. Was there a life event or move that brought on the change in focus, or was The Spa Nomad something you had always wanted to do?

Since I was little, I knew I wanted to build something of my own. Entrepreneurship runs deep in my family – so that mindset of creating, problem-solving, and leading was always in me. But the real shift happened when I was living in Singapore. My aunt, who has always been a role model to me, worked tirelessly like so many Singaporeans do. People were constantly running from one thing to another, chasing success but rarely stopping to rest or care for themselves. It really struck me wellness should never be a privilege or an afterthought. That moment planted the seed for The Spa Nomad.

I know in the early days of The Spa Nomad you worked closely with your sister, creating the brand in Singapore.

Yes. My sister and I wanted to make wellness accessible, mobile, and personal something that could fit into people’s real lives and busy schedules. We started by bringing qualified therapists directly to homes removing the barriers of time and travel, and meeting people exactly where they are. The Spa Nomad was born as a way to bring the spa experience directly to people’s homes, hotels, and workplaces. It began with a simple belief: that self-care should be part of everyday life, not an occasional indulgence.

You two are clearly very close, so would you recommend mixing family and business?

Working with my sister in those early days was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made but I also know it’s not for everyone! So, it really depends on the personalities involved, as well as having shared values and a shared vision.
I’ve found the key to any working relationship is having clear roles and mutual respect. Knowing who leads what – having that clarity prevents misunderstandings. Of course, arguments and passionate discussions are still bound to happen, but we also make up in five minutes! She’s truly my best friend, and that bond has made the journey even more meaningful, and it allowed us to create something together that reflected our shared values: family, connection, and care.

What was the biggest challenge when you launched here in Aotearoa?

When I launched The Spa Nomad in New Zealand, it was just four months before Covid hit. I had our team of therapists ready, and overnight everything stopped. It was one of the hardest moments of my career that feeling of uncertainty, not knowing what would happen next.
But looking back, that challenge became our greatest teacher. It pushed me to think differently. During lockdown, I started looking at different ways of doing things, and how we could change our operating model and realised that many four and five-star hotels in New Zealand didn’t have their own spa facilities. Many offered incredible design, food, and hospitality but no spa experience. That’s where The Spa Nomad came in.

It took countless cold-reach outs, visits to hotels and chatting with staff and managers, many coffee catch-ups to figure out how we could best meet their needs and create a win-win for both us and the hotel. We effectively pivoted quickly from a purely mobile model to a B2B partnership model, offering hotels exclusive spa services under The Spa Nomad brand. We built a model that allowed hotels to offer a full spa menu without needing a physical spa, with our therapists trained to deliver consistent five-star service standards.
That shift transformed the business. Today, we work with around 20 hotels nationwide. It’s a partnership model built on trust, consistency, and a shared vision of delivering world-class wellness experiences to guests.

How different was your initial offering from what you bring to clients now?

We began very simply as just a mobile spa concept. It was me, a few therapists, and a strong belief that people deserved to feel cared for, even in the middle of their busy lives.
As we grew, our clients started inviting us to their corporate events, weddings, retreats, and wellness weekends. The demand for personalised, flexible experiences inspired us to keep evolving.
Now, The Spa Nomad has become more than a service, it’s a brand that represents modern wellness, luxury, and care. We create everything from in-room treatments at boutique hotels to wellness activations for brands and retreats, all while maintaining the same intention we started with: to help people slow down, reconnect, and feel genuinely restored.

Is it challenging finding new therapists who meet your exacting standards, and do you have any working for you that were there at the beginning?

Absolutely. We take recruitment very seriously. We have a meticulous screening and training process, where every therapist is evaluated not only on skill but also on attitude, warmth, and emotional intelligence. Out of every 20 applicants that we interview we might hire just one. Our clients often say that what sets The Spa Nomad apart is the genuine care our therapists bring into each session and that comes from our culture, not just training.
One of my proudest stories is Isa. She joined The Spa Nomad three years ago as a therapist, and her dedication and talent shone immediately. Today, she’s the Manager and Co-Founder of our sister company and first dedicated physical wellness location in Wellington: Numa Skin & Body Club. Watching her growth has been one of the most fulfilling parts of my journey.

What are your favourite product lines to work with, and how do you select which ones you use on clients?

I’m very intentional about what goes onto our clients’ skin. For me, products must be results-driven, ethically produced, and have a meaningful story behind them.
Some of the brands we love include IS Clinical, Embodyme, Sans ceuticals, Osmosis, Tronque, Abel Fragrance, Raaie Skincare, and soon, O Cosmedics.
Every year, I travel to international wellness and aesthetic conferences – from Korea to the US, Japan, and Europe to stay ahead of innovation and understand what truly works. I’m fascinated by the science of skin health, but also by the philosophy behind each brand.
Supporting New Zealand-made and female-founded brands is also close to my heart. It’s important to me that the products we use align with our values conscious, kind, and effective.

And then earlier this year you launched Numa! How is that going for you and the team?
Launching Numa Skin & Body Club has truly been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
It took over a year to find the right location and space – one that was central to the customers we want to serve in the city but still felt intimate, quiet yet elevated, where people could come to reset, reconnect, and restore. When we finally opened our doors in Wellington, it felt like the start of something special.
Numa is more than a clinic, it’s a wellness club that brings together science, skincare, and holistic rituals. We combine advanced treatments like LED light therapy, far infrared sauna, cold plunge contrast therapy, and our signature specialty face-lift massage Facial workouts  all designed to enhance blood flow, stimulate collagen, and awaken the skin from within.
Our members tell us that Numa feels like a sanctuary, a ‘third space’ outside work and home that reminds them how good it feels to take care of themselves, help them build their skin confidence. That’s exactly what we wanted to create: a modern “gym for your skin” to help create greater consistency for skin health and overall wellbeing.

Lastly, how do you stay centred especially with so much going on?
I’ve learned that staying centred isn’t about doing less, it’s about being more intentional.
I make time for movement, meditation, and moments of stillness. I love spending quiet time with family and my close friends. I’ve built a practice of infrared sauna and cold plunge sessions by myself and with friends – they keep me grounded and present.

My late-grandma (pictured above, with Kristen and her sister) continues to be a huge influence in who I am and why I do what I do. Though she’s no longer here, her warmth, resilience, and kindness have shaped so much of my outlook on life. New Zealand holds so many memories of us together – she taught me the value of slowing down, being grateful, and caring deeply for others. She’s a big part of the heart behind both The Spa Nomad and Numa.

But most importantly, I stay connected to my “why.” Both The Spa Nomad and Numa were born from the desire to help others feel well inside and out. Whenever things get overwhelming, I remind myself that what we’re doing is helping people reconnect with themselves. And that makes every long day and late night worth it.

https://www.numaskinclub.co.nz/

https://thespanomad.nz/