The idea behind any health membership is to provide exclusive benefits, give you a sense of belonging, and, above all, strengthen your commitment to making holistic change. NUMA Skin & Body Club, does just that. New Zealand’s first membership-based beauty destination, created to get you glowing from the inside out, with a range of regular extensive treatments. Here, co-founders Kristen Teo and Isa Varga have honed their skills to create a unique wellness destination in our capital city. Editor Trudi Brewer shares their story.
Founders of Numa Skin & Body Club, Isa Varga and Kristen Teo
Friends and now business partners Kristen Teo and Isa Varga have combined their beauty and wellness experience in a first-of-its-kind membership-based skin and body club. Providing a range of unisex treatments, including an LED light lounge, contrast therapy, lymphatic drainage massage, dermal needling, brow and lash services as well as a world-class skincare collection, O Cosmedics.
For co-founder, Kirsten Teo, her career started with numbers. As a chartered accountant, she had the tools to build a solid, sustainable business, and beauty and wellness was her calling. “After realising how deeply our skin reflects our lives - our stress, our pace, our emotions, and sometimes the parts of ourselves we don’t say out loud, I was drawn to it.” The same goes for Isa Varga. A well regarded skin therapist, she knew a career in beauty was her destiny. “My focus is and always has been caring for people, so stepping into this industry felt like the most natural progression for me.” Together, they have created a stunning destination for anyone who wants a wellness reset. Here, we share what’s on offer at Numa Skin & Body Club and what it brings to those who visit.
What inspired you to open this beauty destination?
Varga: After working across so many areas of the industry, I felt ready for the final step - creating and running something that truly reflected how I wanted to care for people.
Teo: Numa was born from a simple yet powerful intention: to create a space outside of work and home where people could reset and feel genuinely cared for. A destination that nurtures the skin, body, and mind. A place of calm and care where clients feel cared for deeply.
Every detail of Numa, from our membership model to our treatment philosophy, is designed to support long-term wellness, not quick fixes. Numa embodies that wellness is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline.
What does Numa mean, and why did you choose that name?
Varga: Numa comes from the ancient Greek word “pneuma,” meaning “breath of life,” “life force,” and “spirit.” The name reflects everything we wanted this place to offer: A sanctuary. A reset. A place to breathe again. We wanted people to feel relieved when they walked through our doors.
Numa Skin & Body Club has been described as world-class. Why and what do you work on every day to deliver that title?
Teo: When people say Numa feels like something they have see in Europe, the USA, or Seoul, it always touches me deeply because Numa was built from scratch with no blueprint. Just heart, discipline, and a team that believes in excellence. Every day, we focus on staff training, our standards, innovation, and service. World-class isn’t a label you give yourself. It’s not a title we claim; it is a standard we strive to uphold. It’s the standard you earn daily through discipline, innovation, and care - and it’s the feeling we want our clients to have from the moment they walk in the door and carry with them long after they leave.
What is a beauty Membership?
What is a membership-based skin and body clinic?
Teo: It’s a modern way to receive consistent, professional care. Much like a gym, you can’t go once and expect to get six-pack abs. Instead of one-off treatments, members receive curated plans, predictable investment, and ongoing support. It makes long-term skin and body improvements achievable and sustainable. Numa is built around the idea that skin and wellbeing are not a once-a-year treat that is gifted to you - it’s an investment in yourself. Our membership model enables us to help clients with monthly treatments, access to the LED lounge and wellness facilities (including a sauna and cold plunge), community events and workshops, and personalised skin and body plans. It creates a long-term partnership, and the results speak for themselves.
What do Wellingtonians love most about Numa Skin & Body Club?
Teo: Wellingtonians appreciate authenticity. They love that Numa feels intimate, warm, and inclusive. Our members tell us they love the clarity of the membership and the consistency of treatments, with results they can track and feel. Our team, have relationships with our members and help them keep track of their goals and progress. Finally, community – it’s a sense of belonging and feeling of being genuinely cared for. Many members say Numa is “their safe place”. To me, there’s no greater compliment.
What are you most excited about for 2026, and what newness can your members expect?
Teo: 2026 will be a landmark year. We’ve built a strong base and are very excited to serve more of the Wellington community. We’ll be launching new product ranges and exploring how we can add more value and enhance our customer experience through our membership programmes and additional community-based wellness events.
Skincare advice
What lifestyle factors make the most significant impact on our skin?
Isa: Stress, sleep, nutrition, and hormones. Your nervous system and gut health often show up on your face.
What are the most underrated skincare ingredients?
Varga: I don’t think antioxidants get half the love they deserve. They are the masters of protecting against environmental aggressors and should always be used alongside SPF for daily skin defence. These include niacinamide, (vitamin B3), peptides, ceramides, vitamin C, and pre- and probiotics. They are quiet achievers to ensure barrier protection, so skin stays strong from within.
What in-clinic treatment do you recommend For Ageing skin?
Teo: All our facials go beyond the surface. We combine advanced skincare with our signature facial sculpting and lymphatic drainage techniques to target the muscular structure and the systems that support your skin. This is what helps create actual, long-lasting lift and glow. We also offer skin needling to stimulate collagen and accelerate skin regeneration - a key treatment for age-related skin concerns.
The LED light lounge is available exclusively with all Numa memberships and harnesses specific wavelengths of light to rejuvenate the skin naturally. Red light stimulates collagen production, helping reduce fine lines and improve skin elasticity. In contrast, near-infrared (NIR)with wavelengths longer than visible red light penetrates deeper to promote tissue repair and reduce inflammation, acne, rosacea, and overall skin health. While it looks relaxing (and it is), LED light therapy is scientifically proven to improve the skin’s tone, texture, and radiance, while helping with relaxation and reducing stress.
The LED Light Lounge at Numa Skin & Body Club
Which skincare step should we never skip?
Isa: It sounds boring, but SPF is everything. Without it, the rest of your routine might as well go out the window. Literally.
What is your beauty golden rule?
Varga:: Health is beauty. When you care for your body on the inside as much as you care for the outside, both will look after you for life. Beautiful skin begins from within - it’s an inside-out journey.
What is the at-home tool that will make a difference to your skin?
Varga:: Your hands alone can make a huge difference - adding movement to your routine boosts circulation and supports daily lymphatic drainage. You can also use home tools, such as facial rollers or Gua Sha, to enhance this between your regular facials.
What skin myth should we ignore?
Teo: You need harsh exfoliation to see results. Over-exfoliating damages the skin barrier and accelerates ageing.
Why did you recommend O Cosmedics skincare for your clients?
Varga: We were drawn to the range for its Pro Dermal Planning treatments, particularly the enzyme peels. These allow us to gently and effectively stimulate the skin’s cellular renewal process without causing damage.
What sets it apart from other professional skincare brands?
Varga: O Cosmedics is founded on the principles of Corneotherapy - working with the skin, not against it. Its philosophy of helping you achieve the healthiest skin possible aligns deeply with Numa’s values. O Cosmedics professional skincare focuses on strength, health, and long-term skin integrity, which is what sets it apart from other brands.
What is your ride or die product in the collection?
Varga: O Cosmedics Youth Activating Oil-Balm. Teo: O Cosmedics O-Biotics Retinoic Oil.
O Cosmedics Youth Activating Oil-Balm, $145
A rich serum-like skin balm that is stacked with a youth botanical protein derived from tree resin known as Lakesis. Ideal for dehydrated and ageing skin, it helps boost collagen production to firm the skin. While the blend of skin-loving oils, including Tsubaki, rosehip, grapeseed, and rosemary, as well as seabuckthorn extract, further nourish.
To use: A small amount, warmed in your fingers, makes for a potent skin hydrator.
O COSMEDICS O-Biotics Retinoic Oil, $185
A next-generation retinoid derived from vitamin A, this is your daily, non-irritating skin treatment that boosts skin rejuvenation by addressing all those signs of ageing. Along with nourishing squalane, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory ingredients, it’s a heavy hitter in the war on wrinkles, while soothing skin at the same time.
To use: Apply half a pump, to clean, dry skin, at night.
What is your best skincare tip?
Varga: Be as consistent as possible. A good routine makes a long-term difference.
Teo: Invest in your skin’s barrier, a strong skin barrier (the is the foundation for healthy skin.
Body advice
What are you most surprised by in people’s body care routines?
Varga: I’m always surprised by how little body care New Zealand women actually practice. How generous they are with others and how little time they give themselves. Many of us take supplements and prioritise internal health, yet we don’t nurture or protect our skin with the same consistency. The face gets all the love, while the body is often forgotten - even though it deserves just as much care.
What body treatments do you rate?
Varga: Lymphatic drainage massage and infrared saunas. These treatments support circulation, recovery, immunity, and energy.
What’s the one body product we should all use daily?
Varga: Sunscreen, always. It’s the most essential daily skin product because UV exposure is the leading cause of premature ageing. I also recommend a deeply hydrating moisturiser containing ceramides or lipids to maintain the skin barrier's strength and suppleness. Protection and hydration is key for keeping the skin youthful.
What body care advice do you find yourself sharing all the time?
Varga: Move daily and stretch your body. Even a simple 15-minute YouTube yoga session before bed can make a remarkable difference in easing soreness, releasing tension, and helping your body reset.
The Numa Skin & Body, Begin membership starts at $37.27 per week.
Meet the duo behind a skin membership destination in our capital city.