Community Conversation: Samantha Appel of The Skin Bar

SA: It's shaped everything. I struggled with severe cystic acne for years and tried just about everything before microneedling finally changed things for me. It was the first treatment that worked with my skin instead of against it. I know first-hand how much your skin can affect your confidence, and how exhausting it is to keep trying things that don't work.

That's why our services are built around real, lasting results rather than quick fixes. It's why we focus on non-invasive treatments that support the skin's natural healing, and why our therapists take the time to understand each client's concerns, whether that's acne scarring, pigmentation, texture or fine lines. Every client is on their own journey, and we want them to feel supported and never judged.

SA: For me, self-care is about small, consistent habits rather than grand gestures, and that's exactly how I approach skin too. The older I get, the more I realise how much our everyday choices show up in our health and our skin. I'm also very aware that we're role models for our kids, and they'll build their habits based on ours.

I'm time poor, so there's no eight-step routine for me. I use one cleanser morning and night, and because I have oily skin, I love a gel cleanser. My favourite is the Dr. Spiller Aloe Sensitive Cleansing Gel. However, the biggest game-changer was creating Bottao with Dr Kelly Thornbury, designed to solve the "too many steps" problem so prevalent throughout the skincare industry. The Bottao Duo Morning and Evening Serums contain all the essential actives in one, including vitamins A, B and C, peptides and ceramides. Then of course, I apply SPF every single day, no exceptions.

In the clinic, I alternate between Skin Needling and RF, and I never skip an appointment. At home, I use LED, and my one tip with LED is to make sure your device includes infrared or near-infrared light to support your skin at a cellular level, helping to soften the look of fine lines, even out skin tone, calm breakouts and give you that glow.

Beyond skin, I focus on building strength as I age, so I lift weights four times a week and sauna three to four times a week. My diet is high in protein and whole foods, and I keep sugar to a minimum because it can really affect skin texture and ageing over time. My day starts with warm lemon water, and I have bone broth for collagen and blueberries for antioxidants. And coffee, always.

Most importantly, I protect time for my family and give myself permission to switch off. Balance is everything, and I love to enjoy myself too!

SA: Skin Needling is our signature treatment and the foundation of everything we do. It creates tiny, controlled micro-channels in the skin, which trigger your body's natural healing response. The result is a boost in collagen of up to 400%, smoother fine lines and texture, firmer and more hydrated skin, and a more even tone with a natural glow. It suits every age and every skin type, with minimal downtime.

What sets us apart is focus. We're Australia's skin needling specialists, so it's not just one item on a long menu for us. It's what we're known for. Our therapists are experts in it, every treatment is tailored to the client's skin, and we build treatment series designed around long-term results rather than a one-off quick fix. For clients wanting more lift and firming, RF Needling combines needling with radiofrequency to take it a step further.

SA: Social media has made it feel normal to treat ageing as a problem to be solved, and to start solving it younger and younger. I understand why. We're all looking at filtered faces all day. But I'd love to see the conversation move away from 'anti' anything and towards skin health. Healthy skin looks different on everyone, at every age, and texture, pores and fine lines are normal.

The messaging I'd like to see is about longevity and confidence: looking after your skin because it's the healthiest thing for it, not because you feel you need to change how you look. We're not here to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do. We believe in giving people choice and good information. But our goal is always for clients to wake up and love what they see in the mirror, not feel pressure to change their appearance to feel confident.

SA: My biggest tip on conversations with kids is to keep the focus on the skin’s health and good habits rather than appearance. Talk about sunscreen, sleep, water and a gentle routine as ways of looking after yourself, the same way you'd talk about eating well or moving your body. It’s also important to be mindful of how you talk about your own skin and face in front of kids, because they pick up on so much. And be curious about what they're seeing online. Ask what they think of what they see rather than lecturing, so they learn to question what's real and what's filtered.

I experienced acne in my teens; it was one of the most challenging times in my life. My confidence was low as a result, and high school is already a challenging time, so it was compounded. Educating teens about acne, how to manage purges and treat the skin for long-term health, being aware of how it can affect their confidence at school, and focusing on treating the acne early on will help with future scarring and give teens more confidence in how to approach their skin health.

SA: James St has always felt like more than a shopping street. It's a neighbourhood with real character, where people take their time and care about how things are made. That's exactly how we think about skin. Our clients aren't looking for a quick fix. They want to understand their skin and invest in it over time. Being surrounded by independent, design-led businesses that share that mindset made James St an easy decision for us, and the welcome from the community since we opened in May has been incredible.

SA: From day one, I knew I didn't want The Skin Bar to feel like a typical clinic. So many skin clinics are stark and clinical: white walls, bright lights, treatment beds front and centre. You can feel like a patient before you've even sat down. I wanted the opposite. I wanted a space that feels warm, calm and a little bit luxurious, where you exhale the moment that you walk through the door.

That's where the emerald green and vintage pieces came from. I love hunting through local antique stores for one-off finds, and we always source locally so each clinic feels connected to its neighbourhood. Every location has its own personality that suits the local vibe, but our signature green ties them all together. You always know you're at The Skin Bar.

Our Double Bay clinic was designed and built in 2021, right in the middle of COVID. It was a tough time to be in business, but during lockdown we were still allowed on construction sites, so my designer and I spent hours on-site perfecting every detail, always with the client experience front of mind. It felt like a risk, but we backed ourselves and dared to be different. When lockdown lifted, our books filled up straight away. Our community fell in love with the space and that instant sense of calm it gives you.

Treatments like skin needling are an investment of both time and trust, and we know clients get better results when they feel safe and comfortable. The space is part of the treatment. It tells you straight away that we do things differently.

SA:

A few come up all the time:

•      Skipping SPF on cloudy days or when you're indoors. Most of the pigmentation we treat comes back to sun exposure, so wear SPF every day, rain or shine.

•      Over-exfoliating. Scrubbing harder or layering too many active products can damage your skin barrier and cause redness and breakouts. Less is often more. Keep your routine gentle and consistent.

•      Picking and squeezing. It's so tempting, but it can leave scarring and pigmentation that lasts far longer than the breakout. Leave it to a professional.

•      Switching products constantly. Skin needs time to respond. Give a routine a few weeks before deciding whether it's working.

•      Leaving it to the last minute before a big event. Collagen takes time to build, so start treatments well ahead of a wedding or special occasion, not the week before.

SA: 

•      "It's really painful." Most clients are surprised by how comfortable it is and describe it as a light vibrating or prickling sensation. There’s no need for numbing cream. 

•      "There's a lot of downtime." Downtime is minimal after Skin Needling. Skin can look a little pink, like mild sunburn, for a day or so, and most people are back to normal life almost straight away.

•      "It's only for acne scarring." Scarring is where it started for me, but skin needling suits every age and every skin type. It helps with fine lines, texture, pigmentation, large pores and overall skin health.

•      "An at-home roller does the same thing." Professional skin needling is performed by trained therapists with medical-grade devices, controlled depths and strict hygiene. At-home tools can't give the same results and can do more harm than good.

•      "One treatment is enough." You'll see a glow after one, but the best results come from a course of treatments, because collagen builds over time.