After a morning spent being run off my feet I couldn’t have been more excited about heading out for some pampering. With my go-to babysitter (my lovely mother-in-law) holidaying overseas, I didn’t think I’d be getting a facial any time soon until I heard about Beauty and the Bubz, who are currently Sydney’s only salon to offer child-minding.
It was a mostly-straight, 17-minute drive from my home in Kirrawee to their Padstow location, so I found it with no problems and was able to park easily on the street.
With a child on both sides I entered the Beauty and Bubz salon. I was struck by the beautiful smell of eucalyptus and lemon and the big smile of Misha, who would be performing my treatment.
She was immediately welcoming and paid particular attention to my three and five-year-old. They go to daycare a couple of days a week and we also take advantage of the creche at the gym, so they’re no strangers to being minded by strangers.
Much like a gym-creche, Beauty and Bubz are not a licensed daycare but a babysitting service. This means it’s your responsibility to ensure babies and younger kids arrive in a clean nappy and with a full stomach as they do not allow food in case of allergies. There is, however, a bathroom right off the kids’ room and a change-table if you should need either.
Caroline, the business owner (and Misha’s older sister) was in charge of the kids’ room and had her boys (three under 4!) with her keeping my two company. The kids again received a friendly welcome and so walked straight in and started looking around at everything they could play with. The room is equipped with a pretend shop full of wooden foods, books, blocks, dolls and cars. There are tables and chairs set up with supplies for colouring-in and a TV that uses Chromecast to play videos from Youtube or Netflix.
Another smaller area containing baby toys and bouncers can be gated off to separate babies from older kids. It’s not a particularly large room but is certainly spacious enough for half a dozen kids, which is about how many they normally allow at one time.
I was then whisked away to a large, bright, airy treatment room to receive my emerginC Signature Radiance facial. The relaxing music was playing at a volume just loud enough so that I could hear what was happening in the kids room and as a first time visitor to the salon I found this comforting but if I were to go back again I’d be happy to have those sounds drowned out so I could relax completely, which is what Misha explained they do for any childless visitors or mums who prefer it.
I made myself comfortable underneath a plush pink blanket and Misha briefly examined my skin before starting with a pomegranate cleanser, hypervitalizer cream and a micro scrub. Misha checked that I was comfortable with her using a steamer and after applying the Triple Threat chemical peel let the steamer work it’s magic so that the extractions I had done afterwards were very bearable.
She explained that the emerginC product range is one she had used personally before getting into the beauty game and that it played a large part in helping her skin recover from acne.
Misha went on to administer a cooling Vitamin C and Retinol mask and I swear I’d have paid full price just for the feeling of having it painted on. So imagine my delight when while it was working I received a luxurious hand, neck, shoulder and decolletage massage.
Though this was my first time taking children along to a salon, I’m a bit of an old-hand at receiving facials (one of life’s greatest pleasures!) I have plenty of experiences to compare this facial to including Shire-based high-end salons and day-spas like Cronulla Day Spa, Beauty and Balance and Endota. The Beauty and Bubz experience was up there with the best. Better still, it didn’t come with the hassle or guilt of having to line-up someone to watch the kids so that I could treat myself to some well-earned self-care.
I never wanted it to end but unfortunately, it had to. At its conclusion, there was no sales pitch and I didn’t have any products pushed on me but left with a sample of a vitamin c serum to keep using at home and an extra glow that I definitely hadn’t walked in with.
My kids also got a little something to take home and happily trotted out the door with a cup of mini choc chip cookies. Treats all ‘round!
I asked them afterwards about their experience in the kids’ room because you can always count on little kids for their honesty! They told me that everybody was very nice and were happy they’d been allowed to pick their favourite show.
They expressed that they’d be happy to go back and I can safely say the same.
If you’re interested in booking in some me-time, you can make a booking online or over the phone. Don’t forget to mention if you’re bringing kids!
Please note: We visited the salon just prior to its COVID closure but have been advised that since their re-opening they have implemented a COVID-safe procedure. Your beauticians will be wearing masks at all times and other safety measures include the provision of hand sanitiser and registration of all client details.
