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Your Skin in Spring: Why It's Feeling a Little Unsettled

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:46:47 GMT

Melbourne spring doesn't do gentle transitions. Your skin lives through every one of those shifts.

Melbourne spring doesn't do gentle transitions. One morning you're scraping frost off the windscreen, by lunch you're peeling off layers, and by four o'clock the wind has turned again.

Your skin lives through every one of those shifts. It's the first thing to meet the cold, the sun, the heater and the office air con, and it's working hard to keep up. Most of the year it manages beautifully. In spring, it often lets you know it's had enough.

Sound familiar?

If your skin has started behaving differently over the past few weeks, you're not imagining it. Common spring signs include:

A flush or warmth that seems to linger
Itching, tightness or a feeling that your usual moisturiser isn't doing its job
Watery, irritated eyes alongside a more sensitive complexion
Puffiness and a heavy, run-down feeling that arrives with hay fever
A reaction to a product you've used happily for years

That last one surprises people. The product hasn't changed. Your environment has.

Why now?

As pollen counts rise and the days warm up, the body's immune and histamine responses become more active. Add a skin barrier that's still recovering from winter, hot showers, heated rooms, dry air, and it doesn't take much to tip into reactivity. Stress and broken sleep pour fuel on the same fire.

What not to do

This isn't the moment to start a brand new serum, book the most intensive treatment on the menu, or replace your whole routine because the weather app says spring. Reactive skin needs settling before it needs stimulating.

Settle the body, and the skin follows

Reactive spring skin is rarely just a skin problem. It sits on top of a stressed nervous system, a sluggish lymphatic system and a body still shaking off winter. That's why our spring approach starts with the whole body, not just the face.

Our usual journey runs Red Light LED. therapy, sauna, float, then massage and facial, with compression at the start or the end. In spring, speak to our team of experts in everything wellness and we'll help guide you on the best order to suit you.

Red Light LED Bed: Red and near-infrared light calm inflammation and help the skin barrier repair, with no heat, no scrubbing and no actives. For most clients it leads the journey, it energises your cells at a deep level, so you head into the sauna switched on, and our clients who have it first tend to reach a sweat sooner and enjoy the heat more easily. If your skin is flushed or reactive on the day, we'll move Red Light LED to the end instead, so it calms rather than energises.

Infrared sauna: Regular infrared sessions support circulation, sleep, recovery and lower inflammation across the whole body, and that shows up in your skin over time. If your skin is feeling hot or red, we'll lower the temperature in your session so your body warms gently and you leave feeling settled rather than flushed.

Float: Stress is the biggest hidden trigger for reactive skin, and spring rarely arrives quietly. An hour in our float pool, suspended in magnesium-rich water, lowers the body's stress response and lets your skin stop bracing. After the sauna, it brings everything gently back down. Many of our regular floaters notice calmer skin without changing a single product.

Massage: Relaxation, deep tissue or remedial, each has a place in spring. Tension and poor sleep sit alongside hay fever season, and hands-on work releases what the body has been holding while supporting lymphatic flow.

Facial: With the body settled and the skin calm, this is where the care lands best. For most clients, spring is the ideal time to progress into more advanced treatments and our Transform program. If your skin is reacting, we may spend a visit or two on comfort, hydration and barrier support first. That's deliberate, a settled skin gets far more from the advanced work that follows.

Compression: Hay fever season leaves a lot of people puffy, congested and heavy. Our compression therapy gently moves fluid, supports circulation and helps the body clear what it's holding onto. It works beautifully at the very start of your visit to get everything moving, or at the very end to clear what the journey has released. For sensitive spring skin we'll usually open with it, it's completely passive, deeply relaxing, and a favourite for anyone who feels weighed down by the season.

Move through the journey in one visit or across a couple of weeks, and your skin arrives at your next facial ready to make the most of it.

The small things still matter

Notice what's changed around you. More time outside, more sun, more social events, a recent trip to a very different climate?

All of these show up on your skin.

Support the barrier first. Coming out of winter, your skin may still want a little richness and comfort even as the temperature climbs. Small, considered changes beat dramatic ones.

Let us look before you leap. A proper skin consultation is where the right next step becomes clear. Sometimes it's a treatment. Sometimes it's a small home care tweak. Sometimes it's simply giving your skin a few weeks of calm.

Reconnect. Recharge. Rejuvenate.

Spring skin is about timing. Reconnect with what your skin is telling you, recharge the body that supports it, and then when it's ready, rejuvenate.

If your skin has been feeling unpredictable lately, book a skin consultation with one of our therapists. We'll read where your skin is right now and map out your spring pathway.

Meet your skin's winter ally

Fri, 29 May 2026 01:21:55 GMT

The World’s First Living Microbiome Skincare Is Now Available at Urban Sanctuary Ivanhoe

Most skincare works on the surface. Biojuve works underneath it — inside the skin's microbiome, the invisible ecosystem that governs how your skin heals, hydrates, and ages. When that ecosystem is out of balance (and winter accelerates that), even the best topicals can only do so much.

Biojuve uses patented Xycrobe technology — live, skin-native microbes that produce a continuous stream of proteins, peptides, antioxidants, and fatty acids directly into your skin. It teaches your skin to generate what it needs, rather than supplementing it from the outside.

"Clinical studies show visible improvements in texture, tone, fine lines, and photodamage in as little as one week — and it works without the irritation of traditional actives like retinol."

How to Use the Biojuve Living Microbiome Skincare Regimen

AM + PM

Conditioning Cleanse

A non-foaming cleanser that removes impurities without stripping the microbiome. Preps the skin to receive the live cultures.

MORNING

Biome Support Complex

A daytime serum that tightens, firms, and lightly hydrates while protecting the live microbe technology throughout the day.

Evening

Living Biome Essentials Duo

The centrepiece of the regimen. Live Xycrobe serum activated by the accompanying mist, applied nightly while you sleep.

Not sure which one is right for you? Book a Skin Strategy Session or call us on (03) 9968 9898 and we'll prescribe accordingly.

Introducing Our Expanded Skin Range

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:56:49 GMT

Something New Is Glowing at Urban Sanctuary: Introducing Our Expanded Skin Range

At Urban Sanctuary, our commitment has always been simple: to help you rejuvenate, recharge and reconnect with your body, your inner calm, and your skin. We're incredibly excited to share something we've been working on behind the scenes for a while now. We're expanding our skin range! New facials. New rituals. And a whole new level of care for your skin, available now at both our Ivanhoe and Abbotsford locations.

Why Skin, Why Now?

Skin health and overall wellness are deeply intertwined. The same way float therapy quiets a restless mind, or an infrared sauna session draws out toxins and relaxes the muscles from deep within, the right facial treatment works beneath the surface, too. It restores, rebalances, and gives your skin exactly what it's been asking for.

We've spent time carefully selecting treatments that align with our whole-body approach to wellness. These aren't facials that simply sit on the surface. They're experiences that we have thoughtfully designed to address your skin's real needs, from dehydration and sensitivity to congestion and visible signs of ageing.

What's New: Our Expanded Facial Menu

We're introducing a curated selection of new facial treatments to our skin menu. Whether you're looking for a deeply restorative ritual or a targeted, results-driven treatment, there's something here for every skin type, concern and every season of life.

Bespoke Light Facial

From $219

Personalised LED light therapy tailored to your skin's unique needs. Experience the transformative power of this comprehensive facial that includes cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, massages, and your choice of premium sheet masks complemented by 20 minutes of Dermalux LED therapy. Suitable for all skin types, this customisable treatment addresses a variety of concerns for progressive, radiant results.

Best for: All skin types First-time facial clients Only available in Ivanhoe

Pomegranate Glow Facial

From $249

The Pomegranate Glow Facial is a gentle peel treatment suitable for all skin types, including first-time clients. This innovative service combines cleansing, exfoliation, and a soothing pomegranate peel with specialised Dermalux LED therapy to target specific concerns. Customised sheet masks further address your skin's needs, delivering immediate radiance and progressive results with regular use. This treatment serves as a safe introduction to peel therapy, preparing the skin for more advanced treatments.

Best for: All skin types First-time facial clients Only available in Ivanhoe

Superfruit Illuminate Facial

From $269

The superfruit antioxidants meet professional oxygen therapy for instant radiance and even skin tone. Mangosteen, goji, noni and cranberry enzymes smooth and calm while oxygen infusion brightens pigmentation and defends against environmental stress. Luminous skin sealed with growth factors, ready for all occasions.

What to Expect at Your Appointment

We want your skin appointment to feel like every other experience at Urban Sanctuary, considered, unhurried, and genuinely restorative.

Here's what you can expect:

Before you arrive: When you book, you'll have the option to share a little about your current skin concerns. Our therapists love knowing what you're working with before you walk in the door.

On arrival: You'll be welcomed into our calm treatment space and given time to settle in.

During your treatment: Your therapist will begin with a thorough skin analysis and talk you through what they're seeing and what they recommend. From there, every step is tailored to you.

After your treatment: You'll leave with personalised homecare advice and product recommendations to extend the results of your treatment between visits.

Our Approach to Skin

Everything we do at Urban Sanctuary is guided by a single belief: that genuine wellbeing looks different for every person. Skin health is no different. We don't believe in one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, our trained therapists take time to truly understand your skin, its history and its concerns before recommending any treatment. This means your results are made for long-term, not just temporary. We've also taken care to select professional-grade products that complement the broader wellness services we offer. Your skin treatment pairs beautifully following an LED Light Therapy, Float Therapy or Infrared Sauna for a true full-body reset.

Book Your Skin Treatment

Our new facials are available at Ivanhoe (19 Bell St) and Abbotsford (140 Gipps St).

To book: Call Abbotsford: (03) 9997 8008 or Ivanhoe: (03) 9968 9898

Visit: www.urbansanctuary.com.au/skin-treatments

Have questions before you book?

Reach out to us, we'd love to help you find the right treatment for where your skin is right now. Rejuvenate · Recharge · Reconnect

A New Era of Wellness

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 01:11:47 GMT

Something new is coming to Urban Sanctuary

Two of Melbourne’s wellness leaders unite to bring you an elevated experience in holistic wellness and self-care.

Growing and Evolving Together

We are thrilled to share that we, Urban Sanctuary and Olivia Catherine are joining forces to create something truly special. This partnership represents more than a collaboration, it's the beginning of a new chapter in Melbourne’s wellness landscape.

By bringing together Urban Sanctuary's holistic spa therapies with Olivia Catherine's award-winning expertise in bespoke skincare, we're creating a unified destination where relaxation meets results, and where every visit nurtures your mind, body, and skin.

This is a positive step forward for both businesses, combining our shared values, expertise, and passion for helping you look and feel your absolute best.

Expanded Services: Access to an enhanced menu of treatments combining the best of both words

Holistic Approach: A truly integrated wellness experience for your complete wellbeing

Shared Vision : United by our commitment to exceptional care and transformative results.

"This partnership represents everything we believe in at Urban Sanctuary, growth, evolution, and an unwavering commitment to helping our clients feel their absolute best," said the Urban Sanctuary team. "By joining forces with Olivia Catherine, we're able to offer a truly integrated wellness experience that goes beyond what either of us could achieve alone. This is a positive step forward for both businesses, and most importantly, for the communities we serve.”

The Same Care, Just Elevated

Rest assured, everything you love about both Urban Sanctuary and Olivia Catherine remains. You'll still experience the same welcoming atmosphere, the same dedicated practitioners, and the same commitment to excellence that brought you to us in the first place.

What's changing? More options. More expertise. More ways for us to support your wellness journey. We're evolving to serve you better, combining our strengths to offer you an even more comprehensive approach to self-care.

About Urban Sanctuary

Urban Sanctuary is a wellness spa dedicated to nurturing the body and skin. With locations in Ivanhoe (19 Bell St) and Abbotsford (140 Gipps St), Urban Sanctuary offers a comprehensive range of therapies including float therapy, infrared sauna, cold contrast therapy, massage, skin treatments, compression therapy, and LED light therapy. The spa is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all.

Website: www.urbansanctuary.com.au

About Olivia Catherine

Olivia Catherine is an award-winning facialist and Victoria's #1 Skin & Beauty Specialist (Herald Sun, 2023). Known for her holistic, results-driven approach to skincare, Olivia offers bespoke treatments including signature facials, advanced light therapy, and personalised at-home skin routines. Her philosophy centres on creating experiences that are clean, clinical, and luxurious, designed to help clients achieve their best skin while feeling genuinely cared for.

Website: www.oliviacatherine.com.au

For Media Enquiries: Urban Sanctuary Marketing Team

Email: hello@urbansanctuary.com.au

Website: www.urbansanctuary.com.au