The 16 Best Facials and Aestheticians in Melbourne

Overview

After doing the heavy lifting (and the deep-cleansing) to shortlist the city's best skin specialists, one thing is clear: the best facials in Melbourne offer more than just a hydrating masque in a beautiful space.

A truly great facial inspires you to skip foundation and head straight to brunch. That's made possible by sensory resets around town, including cortisol-clearing treatments in a Collingwood sanctuary and a pollution-free lab by a skincare brand. For those navigating more complex journeys, chronic conditions are a hallmark of holistic specialists like a dermatologist with a background in genetics and a Parkville clinic famous for crafting bridal complexions.

Some practices walk the talk by innovating ground-breaking serums and creams for your home vanity, while others let you redeem post-treatment essentials. Whether you're chasing the coveted glow of a high-performance chemical peel, soothing a stressed complexion, or finally tackling a stubborn concern, these facials and aestheticians in Melbourne are worth the investment.

Mecca, CBD

We waited with bated breath for Mecca's Bourke Street flagship last year. The behemoth store houses a sprawling retail space, but its best-kept secrets lie deeper within. Mecca Skin Space offers a signature $120 "instantly gratifying" facial tailored to an initial skin consultation. It's fully redeemable on products, so grab some supplementary skincare after the professional skin reset. If you were due for a big restock, your facial is essentially a gift with purchase – a win for your skin and your wallet.

Other non-redeemable facials include routines built around cult brands like Augustinus Bader and Dr Barbara Sturm; futuristic technologies like nano-infusions meso skin needling; and even guasha lessons.

The Dream Skin Clinic, Parkville

You can sign up for a single treatment at Dream Skin, but most clients make a long-term commitment to their skin health here. Known for helping brides-to-be achieve the ultimate complexion for the big day, the Parkville sanctuary targets skin concerns with intensive treatments over 9 months to a year. The holistic regime can also be paired with lifestyle-aligning naturopath sessions. The clinic specialises in ethnic skin, and Dream's Instagram proves that its methodology works.

Melanie Grant, Armadale

Celebrity facialist Melanie Grant has treated the likes of Nicole Kidman, Victoria Beckham and Hailey Bieber. You can get the same A-list glow in Armadale, or at any one of her studios in Los Angeles, London and New York.

No expense is spared for a Melanie Grant facial — one of the steps in a not-so-simple hydrating facial involves a "potent" ultrasound infusion — and advanced modalities that swiftly target tightening, texture and a range of skin concerns. Alternatively, get an organic facial that leans on all-natural ingredients.

April Brodie, East Melbourne

Another heavyweight in the beauty business, April Brodie brings over 40 years of industry experience and a perpetual waitlist. She offers a tight trio of treatments: a sculpting buccal facial paired with gua sha; an exclusive bee venom facial at the forefront of skin rejuvenation (limited to just 500 annually); and a Korean-style golki facial massage, topped with a patented "little black dress" skin cocktail developed by Rihanna's aesthetician Sophie Carbonari.

Rationale, Various locations

It's easy to mistake Rationale for a high-end atelier – it kind of is. Its glossy shopfronts in Emporium and Toorak stock luxury, science-led skincare formulas, while the David Jones outpost headlines an installation wall of colourful serums.

Rationale's stores also double as skin clinics, with a menu full of quick fixes for stressed skin. The signature EpiNova facial promises to revitalise tired skin, while a PhotoGenic ritual will visibly uplift your appearance. Diagnostic imaging, genetic analysis and a 30-minute facial are all part of the consultation process — very clinical — but you can also opt for a fuss-free virtual consultation too.

Luminary Skin Clinic, Bentleigh East

Having defended their ANZ Beauty Industry Awards' 'Clinic of the Year' for three years running, the Luminary team clearly know their stuff. Try the 24K Micro Magnet Facial, an energy-based treatment utilising Gold Coast-born Qi beauty technology.

The facial draws on traditional Chinese medicine, where gold-plated magnets are placed on facial meridians and problem areas. They form controlled magnetic gradients that supercharge blood, oxygen and lymphatic flow, cellular repair and skin barrier strength. Luminary's expert sculpting techniques follow, resulting in a snatched and luminous complexion.

Method Aesthetics, Collingwood

The duo behind this industrial chic space – Dr Stephen Whelan, a cosmetic specialist, and general practitioner Dr Amanda Van Den Broek – is committed to honest assessments informed by a "deep appreciation for the science and art of natural beauty". This ethos extends to all injectable treatments, including penile enhancements.

Ode Dermatology, Fitzroy

Founder Dr. Shammi Theesan's holistic approach to aging, acne, and pigmentation is rooted in the belief that beauty isn't skin-deep. She studied genetics at Harvard, trained at prestigious institutions across Melbourne and London, and now creates highly specific solutions – no trial and error here – that fulfil the promise of "transformative dermatology".

Skindepth, Various locations

Dr Alice Rudd is a household name for those familiar with the local dermatology scene. She heads up a team of cosmetics professionals in a refurbished 1900s building in Balaclava that greets you with its vintage checkerboard-tiled verandah, while her dermatology-dedicated St Kilda outpost covers psoriasis treatments, gynecology care, and skin checks by cancer specialists.

Hüd, Northcote and St Kilda

Founded by Norwegian aesthetician Gry Tømte, Hüd is a skin clinic with the relaxed sophistication of a boutique cafe. Its Northcote location has exclusive dibs on Aerolase Neo Elite, a laser treatment compatible with all skin tones.

The device has been cleared by the FDA to treat 32 conditions, ranging from psoriasis, eczema and rosacea to acne, fine lines and melasma. There's zero downtime, thanks to a 650-microsecond pulse duration that moves faster than the skin's surface can register.

Liberty Belle, Toorak

Following 27 years in plastic surgery and a sold-out skincare line, Liberty Belle's luxurious facility is the cherry on top of Dr Chris Moss' cake. The beauty sanctuary takes an all-encompassing approach to beauty, from facial enhancements and body contouring to an extensive repertoire of facials. The Dermasweep – a microdermabrasion tool that polishes and removes debris from the skin's surface – is an oldie but goodie for a radiant glow.

The Skin Bar, Armadale and South Yarra

Skin needling is available at most skin clinics, but it's the single obsession within the verdant green walls at The Skin Bar. For the needle-averse, the K-beauty Spicule Treatment is a gentler alternative to traditional and RF needling. The same resurfacing glow is achieved through natural "microscopic, needle-like structures derived from freshwater sponge", delivered via a luxurious cream. Seize the prime absorption window post-treatment, and top the session off with an enzyme facial.

Grown Alchemist Lab, Carlton

With its pastel cream tubes and minimalist wash bottles gracing boutique shelves in over 40 countries and flagship stores in Melbourne, London and Hong Kong, Aussie label Grown Alchemist's empire is far-reaching. Perhaps all that travel inspired its hydrating and soothing post-flight facials, which are on the treatment menu at the Faraday Street location. The space also boasts a toxin-free Cleanroom, creating the perfect environment for some skin pampering.

Comma, Cremorne