Beauty Diary: Meet Sam Appel, creator of Sydney’s The Skin Bar
Samantha Appel has amassed a cult following with her signature treatment – and her “game changing” Sydney business is expanding.
You might not know her name, but Samantha Appel is the woman behind some of Australia’s best skin.
The 35-year-old has just opened a fifth branch of The Skin Bar in Sydney’s Rozelle. The other clinics are dotted around the city, located in Bondi Beach, Double Bay, Cronulla and Narrabeen.
But unlike other beauty clinics, The Skin Bar is dedicated entirely to skin needling, a popular treatment that involves pricking the skin with a series of very fine needles, resulting in rapid healing and regeneration to the area.
Appel described skin needling as her “go-to” after suffering with cystic acne for more than ten years since the age of 16, explaining it can help with a number of different skin issues.
“Skin needling is my all time favourite treatment, it is so effective as it not only promotes new collagen and elastin, but it also improves skin texture and tone,” she told news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary.
“It is a natural alternative to injectables and fillers as it causes your body to regenerate by using your body’s own receptors to stimulate new collagen and elastin in the skin.
“Skin needling also will clear congestion, and remove acne scarring. This treatment really does it all – and with minimal downtime.”
It’s also non-toxic and non-invasive, which Appel said was one of the reasons she fell in love with it after quitting her corporate career to study beauty therapy at age 25.
Appel said when creating her clinics, she didn’t want to contribute to “unobtainable” beauty standards, instead offering treatments that “focus on our inner confidence and self love”.
She also deliberately pivoted away from the standard white walls we’ve come to know of beauty clinics, opting for a striking forest green.
Since opening The Skin Bar’s first clinic in 2020, Appel – a fully qualified esthetician – has built a loyal client base who rave about their “incredible” results.
A quick scroll through the comments section on the brand’s Instagram page reveals endless glowing reviews, including this one from a leading plastic surgeon in Sydney’s Double Bay: “I have been referring my patients to Sam for some time,” Dr Kelly Thornbury wrote.
“Her results speak for themselves. Her knowledge and understanding of the skin, medical grade skincare and her ability to customise this is very impressive.
“I would not trust anyone else with my patients or my own face!!”
Clients also have equally as impressive things to say, with some declaring the $220 treatment a “game changer”.
“Pretty stoked with how fresh my skin feels, not sure why I haven’t done this sooner,” one happy customer declared.
“I’ve been blown away by the results,” another added.
As another praised: “This treatment is nothing short of incredible.”
The Skin Bar also has a string of famous clients who are equally as delighted with their results, including Jesinta Franklin, Abbie Chatfield and Simone Holtznagel.
Some do stress the treatment is a little uncomfortable, but Appel said she can apply a numbing cream beforehand for those who struggle with pain.
“It can be a little ‘scratchy’ in certain areas on the face,” she said.
“The treatment only takes 10 minutes to complete a full face, so to me it is completely bearable as it is all over so quick.
“You have to have the right mindset too, a little bit of discomfort for a noticeable result. This isn’t a fluffy facial where you are left wondering if you have seen a result.”
Even those who have a lower pain threshold though have declared the discomfort was “worth it”.
Despite The Skin Bar’s rapid expansion, Appel said she’s “only just getting started”, but admitted it hasn’t always been plain sailing.
“I was a single mother when I opened my first clinic,” she explained.
“I had to figure out parenting while juggling a new business. It’s never easy working full time and parenting.
“But I can now provide a life for myself and my daughter which I hope is the biggest motivation to women out there.”
If you have a question about a beauty product or an item you’d like to see road-tested in The Beauty Diary, jump into our official Facebook group where you can join like-minded beauty junkies. You can also catch me on Instagram