Reminiscing with a beauty original

Anne-Marie de Spa at work on a client in the early days of Jouvence. Photo / Supplied.

It’s been a long time coming, writes Janetta Mackay, but Auckland is finally sharing in the wisdom of this country’s first professional beauty institute.

Fifty years ago most New Zealand women washed their faces with soap and water, so European trained Anne-Marie de Spa had her work cut out convincing them to try her fancy new skincare therapies. Still a slip of a teenager, she had returned to set up shop in the family's adopted hometown of Christchurch after two years at beauty college in Belgium, the country of her birth.

The young Miss de Spa initially worked from home and made many of her own products due to the import restrictions of the time. A clinic at Christchurch Airport followed, where the American wives of Deep Freeze crews were receptive clients. She then took a gamble that enough locals were ready to submit to her ministrations, opening the Jouvence Beauty Institute in upmarket Fendalton. The award-winning institute is still going strong in the same gracious villa she moved into in 1973.

Another villa, this time in Grey Lynn, is home to a new Auckland branch of Jouvence and has for some time been the base for Anne-Marie's son, Jean-Michel Tallot. He imports and distributes leading professional French salon skincare lines.

The elegant Anne-Marie is still active in the family business she founded and lives on the outskirts of Christchurch. She remains passionate about beauty industry standards and communicating the message of good skincare, but these days also devotes much of her time to her other love - breeding and racing thoroughbreds.

• If the de Spa name sounds familiar for reasons other than beauty, a family member began de Spa Chocolatier, thus sharing another European-honed skill with New Zealanders.

Where did you train and how did it begin?

The Lise Loriot College in Brussels in 1963-64. I always intended to return to Christchurch, the city where my parents immigrated to when I was 16 [after living in Africa]. Beauty therapy was completely unknown in New Zealand when I returned from my training so it was just as much about educating as it was about promoting this new practise.

What first led you to open Jouvence in Christchurch and why Auckland all these years later?

It became a necessity to open a stand-alone clinic from my parents' games room. I was lucky that I had an increasing and devoted following and I wanted to be independent, so that's when I started Jouvence at 51 Holmwood Rd in 1973, where it still stands and operates today.

The Auckland location was more my son Jean-Michel's desire to carry on the Jouvence legacy. He has lived in Auckland for the last 10 years as the group brand manager representing Sothys Paris and he always wanted to have a Jouvence in Auckland as the sister spa to the original in Christchurch.

What differences do you see in how New Zealand women look after their skin then and now?

The most obvious difference is the willingness of Kiwi women to try new treatments and procedures, which is great. It shows that we are interested and motivated to take care of our skin. Watching trends and fads come and go has made for interesting viewing, but what I have noticed, especially over the last two to three years, is an increasing reversion back to the classical therapies, which involves the therapist's hands.

Where do we still lag European women?

The gap in attitude is closing with every year, but the main disparity is in body care. European women are more willing to embrace body therapies as part of their regular routine. They are very comfortable and confident in experimenting with body treatments and make it a priority as much as skincare.

Kiwi women are very savvy, however, and well educated on what is available. The one constant that hasn't changed is that my clients still tell me there is simply no substitute for the visible and holistic benefits they get from the therapist's touch during facials or body treatments. This is what makes our industry so special and indispensable.

What is your key advice for women wanting to ensure they enjoy a lifetime of good skin?

Undoubtedly it would be limit your time in the sun, and to start early with even a basic skincare regime. Our skin is not just about vanity, it is our first line of defence and that's what our products are all about, preserving the skin and ensuring its health is optimised. If you have that, the beauty will be obvious. Drink plenty of water, sleep and, no surprises, smoking is the worst thing you can do for your skin and body!

What is your personal favourite beauty pick-me-up?

My Hydradvance Nourishing Mask overnight always gives it a boost when my skin gets a little dry and, more recently, my Sothys neck cream.

• The Auckland branch of Jouvence is at 45 Surrey Cres, Grey Lynn, ph (09) 378 6303 or visit jouvence.co.nz.

- VIVA