venustus

I'll be honest with you, anything remotely related to getting rid of cellulite and I'm onto it. I'll use the creams, I'll do the leg massages, and I'll even get wrapped in tin foil to resemble a chicken, primed for roasting. Which, as it happens, was exactly what I did at Venustus day spa in Paddington, Sydney, last week. Their Slim & Tone Detox Body Wrap ($154) is an intensive anti-cellulite treatment using ingredients known for their ability to dramatically increase blood flow, strengthen, firm and reduce fluid retention. Ah, yes please. It included a body salt exfolation using their very amazing Cellulite Eliminator Body Polish ($19) — I now use this nightly at home — and an application of Cellutrim Gel and the Cellulite Elliminator Serum ($49). They then place a "space blanket" over your entire body (roast chicken stage) to help infuse the ingredients. The whole process is by no means relaxing because it feels so hot, but it is effective. After my treatment, I spoke to Venustus owner Jeannie to quiz her on all things cellulite reduction — keep reading.

So far, so good with the office makeovers. We're on a 75 percent success rate, with one spray tan convert, one guy putting the Groom into grooming and, even if we didn't manage to convince our IT guy that $75 for a good haircut was worth it, he's since reconsidered his $10 spend. So what's next? Well probably one of our easier challenges because Liam, our sales guy, actually asked us to get his brows sorted for him. His only request . . . it mustn't hurt too much. Would we succeed? Read on to find out and check out Liam's wow brows after the jump!

"I’ve been tiding my eyebrows up on and off over the past couple of years and I can finally say I’ve found a place that ticks all the boxes. Walking into a beauty salon can be slightly intimidating for me so when I walked into Venustus I was greeted by friendly staff and kindly ushered through to a treatment room which made me feel immediately comfortable. I suppose like a lot of guys out there, I want my eyebrows reshaped and tidied, but I don’t want them looking too manicured or feminine. So the therapist advised me how she was going to do this and if I was comfortable with that, which I was. The waxing was relatively painless, I’d say a 3 out of 10 on the pain scale and I received a complementary hand massage during it, which was a really nice touch. There was little redness or sensitivity following the waxing and overall I was extremely happy with the outcome as my eyebrows looked tidy but importantly not feminine, I’ll definitely be heading back in the coming weeks."

Check out the before and after photos now!

Pop, Fab and I are bringing you the best of the best in food, fashion and beauty that each of our capital cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide — has to offer. First up: Sydney!

HAIR: Wild Life Hair

Putting the Wild into Wild Life is Jayne Wilde, the much-loved and multi-award winning owner of the salon. A regular backstage at Fashion Week, Jayne has amassed over 27 years experience iand has won the prestigious Hair Expo Australian Hairdresser of the Year award in 2011, 2008 and 2004.

Wild Life Hair, 1/20 Alfred St Milson's Point. Ph: 02 9955 4990.

More Sydney hotspots . . .

Sydneysiders, this one's for you. Thought you'd have to head Stateside to try get a Sephora by OPI polish on your hands, didn't you? But nah uh. I was at one of my favourite Sydney salons over the weekend — Venustus (Nicole Kidman raves about it, too) — and the girls told me that they wanted to offer clients something that bit extra special so they got some Sephora by OPI nail polishes to make their manis and pedis a little different. They're already mega deluxe treatments (think: you lying down; heat packs applied to stressed-out areas of your body; exfoliating treatment and hot rock massage) so they don't come cheap. But for a special occasion or a treat, it makes for a mani with a difference. LOVE. Would you try it?

Venustus Intensive Manicure and Pedicure is $165. Located at 381 Oxford Street, Paddington, NSW 2021. Phone: 02 9361 4014 for more information or to make a booking.

As you know, we're having tribute to Australia this month to coincide with Australia Day, but also just to give kudos to this ah-mazing country we live in. Agree? Good. While we're on the topic of everything Australian, I feel it's time I introduce you to one of my favourite places to visit in Sydney, the Australian-owned Venustus Beauty & Body Lab. With almost all of the products created and designed here in Oz, it is THE destination for when you need a little pampering or a beauty treatment or ten. If you need just a tad more convincing, Delta Goodrem, Nicole Kidman and Jada Pinkett-Smith are just a few of their celeb fans. And it seems the crew over at Venustus are also on the Australian bandwagon, offering some divine Australia-themed treatments for the month of January. How's about a Green & Gold Foot and Leg Massage, using refreshing Lime & Lemon body polish or a divine Aussie-Made Facial? Maybe a Bondi Beach Babe full body massage? We suggest you book in STAT. See you there. Or be square.

For more information or to make a booking, please phone 02 9361 4014.