The best facials in Sydney

Hiding up a set of warmly-lit stairs, seconds from the buzz of Oxford Street, Riya Studios takes a holistic approach to crafting glowing complexions – combining bespoke facials with acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, super hi-fi new techniques and the most wildly divine facial massage you’ll ever experience. It’s on the more expensive end of the scale, but this is a genuinely exceptional treatment with a perfect curation of products. If you’ve got the cash to splash on a facial, splash it here – your face will thank you.

If there’s one person in Sydney that I’d trust wholeheartedly with my skin/lashes/brows/aura upgrade, it would be Vaia – the one-woman powerhouse behind this under-the-radar Surry Hills sanctuary. You’ll find the salon on the fourth floor of an unassuming building just steps away from the buzz of Central Station, and from the moment you step across the threshold, you’ll be enveloped in Vaia’s Gaia-like energy: sunlight floods in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, crystals line the shelves and the air is a comforting blend of rose and palo santo. In the centre of the room is an absurdly comfortable treatment bed, and it’s here that Vaia will work her magic on your skin. The new 'Pro2Lift Geneo Facial’ is one of her signature treatments, and uses radio frequency technology to stimulate collagen production and boost your natural glow, infusing the skin with powerful natural ingredients including vitamin C, peptides and hydrating red algae. Before I drifted off mid-treatment, Vaia described it to me as “as if crystals are hypnotising your skin”, and though the treatment experience is super relaxing (with an LED mask at the end for an additional mood boost), the results are genuinely pretty profound – with no downtime, making this the perfect pre-event glow-up.

If you're looking for a long-term, consistent glow, Fayshell has got you – it's a place I keep on returning to, and notice the difference every time I leave. Inspired by the belief that facials should (in an ideal world) be a regular part of our wellness routine, Fayshell offers a surprisingly affordable membership model that will help keep your skin in tip-top condition. The monthly membership will score you one bespoke facial treatment every month, plus unlimited access to the LED skin lounge and discounts on add-ons and skincare products. Instead of choosing from a treatment menu, your skincare consultant will customise a treatment that’s perfect for you, with a range of extras to choose from. After the success of their Bondi Junction space, Fayshell opened a second location in Neutral Bay – so you can get your glow on from either side of the bridge. Bonus points go to the playful decor of the space and the range of products they have on offer, which the resident skincare experts will recommend to you after your treatment based on your specific needs.

A treatment at Venustus is the closest thing you’ll find to a spiritual experience on Oxford Street during daylight hours. The spectacular space is home to several egg-shaped treatment rooms, a shape chosen by founder Jeannie Bourke based on what they represent: a space to grow and be reborn. And with their combination of expert techniques (many of the therapists have been here for decades), divine organic products and focus on channelling energy to achieve spiritual healing, it’s hard to deny that facials at Venustus do feel like a rebirth of sorts. Treatments here last for an hour or more, and incorporate cleansing, a facial brush machine, steam vapour, exfoliants, peels, a tailored facial massage and a hot heavy mask that will transport you to another realm. With decades of experience and an otherworldly energy, Jeannie is a modern day magician whose passion for helping people step into the higher version of themselves shines through in everything she does. Come for the facial (you’re in good company – Venustus is a favourite spot for Sydney-based celebrities) but return for the ethereal experience. The Third Eye facial incorporates energetic cranial and third eye activation with a massage that releases tension across the scalp, jaw and brow – helping you tap into your intuition and creative potential.

Time Out tip: If you’re looking to book a facial as a gift, this is the one – gift vouchers are presented in a beautiful baby blue prism box, making the unwrapping experience extra special.

This beautiful, light-filled salon in Annandale is an all-in-one self-care sanctuary, combining cosmetic treatments, advanced science-backed beauty therapies and wellness rituals – inviting Sydeysiders to slow down and reset in one warm, delightfully unintimidating place. The hydrofacials here are like a car-wash for your skin – an expert deep cleanse followed by an exfoliation and hydration treatment that leaves skin plump and glowy. Led by founder  Meghann Nikola, the expert team at Rêve treat every guest like a friend – you’ll leave with glowing skin (and a mani-pedi, if you feel like it) and a deep understanding of which products will work best to keep you looking and feeling like the best version of yourself.

UK-born Lisa Rush is a registered nurse in aesthetic medicine, with more than 15 years of experience helping people look and feel their best. In 2016, she opened her first practice in Woollahra, and her patients followed her when she moved to a Victorian terrace right by Paddington’s Five Ways. That’s because Lisa's philosophy is simple: she focuses on the overall health and tone of the skin to achieve natural-looking results. With a fresh white exterior and black lace balcony, the Glenmore Road spot resembles the high-end fashion boutiques dotted throughout Paddington’s tree-lined streets. Inside is just as nice, with minimal chic interiors, florals and incredible artworks (that’s you, original Slim Aarons). Lisa offers a range of non-surgical aesthetic treatments to minimise the signs of ageing and enhance your skin health, from facials to microneedling, skin firming and consultations on reducing wrinkles. After my hydrafacial, I left with glowing skin – even my date said so – but more than that, I felt good. No wonder her patients followed her.

Founded by cosmetic doctor Dr Rafael Mejian, Face Doctors is hands down one of the city’s most beautiful skincare clinics – and just on the edge of the CBD and Sydney’s Hyde Park, it’s super accessible if you’re looking for a post-work glow. As the name suggests, the focus here is on more intense cosmetic procedures, but the same level of care and attention is paid during the clinic’s signature ‘Luxe Facial’. The gorgeous, indulgent treatment involves a double cleanse, steam therapy, a clarifying clay mask , an AHA peel, a cooling lymphatic massage and LED light therapy that will leave you feeling glowing from within. You can add on a hand and foot massage while your mask is working its magic, and I’d strongly suggest doing so.

I've never felt as serene after a facial as I did following my treatment at Ella Baché, and considering the salon is located within the bustling walls of Westfield, that’s an almighty feat. After a brief consultation, my treatment began with what my therapist called “a welcome massage” – deeply relaxing and performed with expert care – which set the tone for the next hour. Using a series of nourishing cleaning techniques, gentle exfoliation, masks and massage, my therapist tended meticulously to my skin whilst guiding me through the best approach to naturally and un-intrusively care for my complexion. While the final mask was working its magic, my hands and arms were scrubbed and massaged – left feeling almost as indulged as my newly glowing cheeks. The mission statement across all Ella Baché outposts (you’ll find salons across Sydney, from Penrith to Coogee) is to help people “unwind, relax and escape from the everyday hustle and bustle”. Walking through the busy Bondi Junction mall after my treatment, I can confirm: mission accomplished.

This sparkly Darlinghurst salon is a one-stop-shop for all things beauty, offering everything from eyelash lifts to blow drys – all from a very beautiful, very central location. Their signature facial (the Radiance Glow Facial) is a guest favourite: a powerful enzyme peel designed to increase collagen production, reduce breakouts and nourish skin with little downtime, meaning you can head straight out onto Oxford Street to show off your new-found glow without worrying about post-treatment breakouts.

For arguably the best facial massage in Sydney, head to Glow Medispa – an unassuming space tucked within a historic building in Pyrmont. The intimate studio is the passion project of Elisa Osmo: a distinguished practitioner who gained a loyal following after spending over eight years working in some of the city’s leading skincare clinics. Setting out on her own, Osmo’s aim was to create highly targeted bespoke facial treatments using a careful curation of techniques and products. After a 30-minute skincare consultation, you’ll experience a series of treatments ranging from herbal peels to LED treatments to dermaplane exfoliation treatments. While you’re waiting for a mask to work its magic, you’ll be offered a scalp or neck and shoulder massage which you absolutely cannot refuse, and an hour or so later you’ll leave armed with customised skincare advice and a newfound glow. 

For an on-point, super indulgent facial on the Northern Beaches, head to Beaches Lash Co: a gloriously hyper-feminine space just a short walk from Manly Corso. The studio itself is enough to make you feel like you’ve had a spa day: all whitewashed floorboards and baby pink treatment chairs, but it's the treatment approach that makes this place unique. Relaxing rituals (including incredible hand massages, a scalp and decolletage massage and essential oil aromatherapy) are used throughout their signature facial, so you’ll leave the 90-minute session feeling head-to-toe indulged. If you’re keen to complement your new glow with an eyelash lift or brow transformation, this is your place: and you can score another dreamy hand massage while you’re at it. Beaches Lash Co has two locations, with salons in Newport and Manly.

If you’re located further West, we’d suggest heading to La Belle Cosmetics – a new beauty clinic in the heart of Bella Vista. While the focus here is on cosmetic procedures, they also specialise in “revitalising facials” – expertly-performed, non-cosmetic treatments which combine cleansing, massage and super high-end products to leave skin glowing, and guests feeling connected to what the team describe as “ inner and outer radiance”. Careful attention has been paid to every element – from the signature scent to the marble trimmed lobby.

The founder of this beloved Waverley salon has been helping Sydneysiders feel good in their skin for over two decades, so it's safe to say she knows how to look after you. I tried the Hydrafacial HydraFillic with Pep9™ Booster, and left (less than an hour later – it's a super efficient option if you're short on time) with a noticeable glow. Hydrafacial treatments are available at salons across the city, but the Elysium team level up the experience with dreamy hand and head massages and expert advice on how to keep your skin looking its best.