Melanie Grant on winter skincare tips as she expands Australian beauty empire to London

Melanie Grant, the Australian facialist behind Victoria Beckham and Lara Worthington’s flawless skin, reveals her beauty advice, ahead of her latest international expansion.

Melanie Grant, right, and her clients Zoe Foster Blake (far left) and Lara Worthington, centre. Pictures: Instagram

She is the A-list facialist behind the flawless complexions of some of the world’s most glamorous stars – from Victoria Beckham, Cate Blanchett and Lara Worthington, to Georgia Fowler and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Now, Australian esthetician – or licenced skincare specialist – Melanie Grant is expanding her beauty empire to London.

Ms Grant, whose eponymous facial services are located in Sydney’s Double Bay and Melbourne’s Armadale, said her expansion into the competitive British beauty market had been underway “for a really long time”.

“We’re planning to open in south west London towards the end of the year,” Ms Grant said, speaking from Paris.

Melanie Grant is expanding her Australian-born skincare empire to London. Picture: Supplied

Her latest business move abroad follows her already-successful international presence in Los Angeles – where she has a studio on Melrose Ave in West Hollywood, where Kim Kardashian had a treatment – and Paris, where she is an official skin expert for Chanel.

“London is the epicentre of innovation and here, we have all the spoils of Europe at our fingertips,” Ms Grant said, of why London is her next location.
“The London woman is discerning, well versed in great skincare and prefers a ‘high performance’ approach. Australians have this in common too.

“Both lifestyles benefit … from a ‘less but better’ approach as it means we can all trust that our treatments and our home care is working hard.”

Zoe Foster Blake at Melanie Grant. Picture: Instagram

Lara Worthington is a long-time client of Melanie Grant. Picture: Instagram

One of Ms Grant’s celebrity clients is Victoria Beckham, for whom Ms Grant was the facialist tending to models at the Victoria Beckham runway show during London Fashion Week.

It is fitting that Beckham wrote the foreword for Ms Grant’s new book, The Modern Guide to Skin Health, released this week.

“I first met Victoria years ago in my Sydney studio and we hit it off,” Ms Grant said, adding Beckham had “an incredible knowledge of skincare”.

“She’s a true authority in beauty.”

Speaking of authority, Ms Grant had some skincare words of advice for Australians whose skin is feeling the effects of the winter season, suggesting this season was a time to “reassess” our beauty routines.

“In winter, the first thing most of us notice is dryness, dehydration and dullness,” she said.
“This is only exacerbated by central heating and the shock factor of alternating between this and the cold, harsh wind outside.

“The easiest way to support your skin through colder weather is to incorporate a couple of swaps and a couple of supports.”

So what to do about it? Ms Grant suggests refrigerating summer serums to limit waste so they will “last a few months until you can reintroduce them come spring”.

“Reach for nourishing, more hydrating formulas with ingredients like squalene, hyaluronic acid and peptides,” she advised.

“Keeping a hydrating mist on your desk and topping up as needed is another great way to offset the drying effects of airconditioning and keep your skin quenched and plump throughout the day.

“Incorporating a face oil, rich in essential fatty acids, is a great way to support barrier function and keep your summer face cream working throughout winter by boosting its nutrient density and moisturising properties.”

Treatment-wise, Ms Grant said now was the time to invest in LED Light Therapy (“to promote collagen and reduce inflammation” and gentle peels (to remove dry skin and help products absorb better).

“Winter is also a great time to schedule courses of corrective treatments like Picoway, SRA (Skin Rejuvenation Advance) to address pigment from the summer, and re-texturising treatments like Sublative and Collagen Induction, where you can afford the social downtime indoors,” she said.

The Modern Guide to Skin Health is out now.

Originally published as Melanie Grant on winter skincare tips as she expands Australian beauty empire to London