Beauty destination: the truly wonderful Room Nine

Room Nine’s Amelia Story calls herself a “Progressive Skin Specialist”, and her approach to keeping skin looking its optimum best is one of the most enthusiastic I’ve ever come across. This woman truly lights up when she talks about skincare and its possibilities to transform and heal, and her current area of specification demonstrates her warmth and compassion beyond belief.

That area is caring for the skin of women preparing for, going through or recovering from a cancer battle, and as a cancer survivor myself I find her passion and commitment so inspiring. She recently began following the work of Mórag Currin, the author of “Oncology Esthetics: A Practitioner’s Guide” and veteran of 17 years of aesthetic, product development and training experience.  She has been educating aestheticians on clinical Oncology Esthetics throughout North America since 2008, and is a sought-after speaker, both nationally and internationally. Oncology Esthetics focuses on the individual who needs a gentle, safe, light touch and approach to skin care treatments that assists in easing the discomfort that the body - including the skin - endures due to cancer therapy. Health challenges, medications and the side effects of cancer therapy as well as our environment can cause irritation, dryness, and fragility of the skin, and it’s all about bespoke treatments to help soothe, hydrate balance and calm the skin. Balanced happy skin, deep relaxation, tension and stress that melts away... a much-needed escape at a much-needed time during an individual's journey and recovery.

Amelia was hoping to organise a trip for Mórag to New Zealand to train therapists here in her way, but that isn’t looking like happening so she herself will be travelling to Australia to attend a course there. “It will involve a lot of work as it’s targeted almost at a nurse’s level as opposed to a therapist’s,” says the petite blonde, “and there will be a lot to take in. I’ll be getting a lot of theory to go through ahead of the trip though, so I’ll be ready!”

Her interest came about after seeing clients battling cancer, and wanting to know more about the way to treat their skin  - and their spirit - with knowledge and compassion. “In the last three years I’ve see five clients go through cancer,” she says, “and I saw how important it was to keep them feeling comfortable and good about themselves. Because I really specialise in skin I wanted to make that type of treatment a real part of what I do.”

It also lead to her changing her skincare option to Osmosis, “because it really gives me the support I need when dealing with skin going through all manner of changes. It is great for anti-ageing and keeping your skin looking it’s best, but is also brilliant for customising and supporting troubled skin.” After twelve years experience in the beauty industry in New Zealand and internationally she’s tried a lot of brands, but in her Grey Lynn clinic she can’t get enough of what the US-based skincare range has to offer.

One of my personal favourite skin saviours is a regular Osmosis Facial Infusion - which along with their amazing at home regime has totally transformed my skin. It’s one of Amelia’s most popular treatments, and has seen her take a whole new approach to ageing solutions for the skin. The Osmosis Facial Infusion has been called a “revolutionary facial treatment” by both professional therapist and the press, and it will most definitely have you rethinking the peel and its place in your skin’s life. I have sworn off the likes of microdermabrasion, peels and lasers for life and Amelia is the same, saying, “I just treat the skin so differently now and my clients trust what I’m doing. I’m all about transformation - in all areas.”

After experiencing time  - and an infusion - with Amelia I can honestly say that Room Nine has shot straight into my list of beauty destinations that come (extremely!) highly recommended. If you’re in need visit www.roomnine.co.nz and make an appointment - I promise you won’t be disappointed.