The Modern Luxury Austin Way editors share the best products in beauty and self-care that are well worth the investment.

PHOTO BY ANTONIO TERRON/TRUNK ARCHIVE

THE GATEWAY TO GORGEOUS

Mokara Spa at the Omni Barton Creek

Walk in a stress mess, walk out with primped perfection from head to toe. Mokara’s list of spa services is arguably one of the best around, plus each treatment includes the use of a steam room, sauna, hot tub and even a private pool exclusively for spa guests. The only thing better than spending a day here is knowing you can depart with cut and blow-dried hair, manicured nails and a tan. omnihotels.com

THE PLACE FOR GOOD FACE

House of Preservation

Founders Brittany Ricketts and Rylie Bland opened their first HOP in Dallas five years ago and came to Austin in March 2023 with the promise of next-level facials, injectables and laser treatments. These gals delivered: All of HOP’s facials include LED light therapy, lymphatic drainage massage and chemical exfoliation, and clients can also partake in next-level add-ons, ranging from plumping oxygen infusions to skin-lightening Korean peels. Talk about putting your best face forward. houseofpreservation.com

PHOTO BY: BLUE CINEMA/GETTY IMAGES

THE WRINKLE WIZARD

Saving Face

Registered nurse Brooke Nichol founded Saving Face a decade ago, and she became so good at performing injections that The Best Aesthetic Injectors in America named her in its top 100 list. Through the years, she has expanded her business to include cutting-edge lasers and regenerative medicine. With fewer fine lines and wrinkles and less lost volume, facing the future seems more manageable for her clients. savingfaceaustin.com

PHOTO BY: DIDESIGN021/GETTY IMAGES

THE SKIN SAVIORS

Austin Skin

Board-certified dermatologists Kristina Collins, Sarah Gee and Meagan Keefe do a top-notch job with injectables, fillers and laser treatments for the areas of concern we typically see in the mirror. But when ugly stuff hides below the surface, their clients are thankful to have these pedigreed docs to provide full skin exams, remove any growths and treat instances of skin cancer. austinskinphysicians.com

THE TRANSCENDENT FACIAL

Vetiver Skin Studio

Walk in with hyperpigmentation, acne or dull skin and walk out with a glow that can be seen from the top of Mount Bonnell. Veltiver’s 90-minute, customized facial incorporates an application of top-notch products from either Botnia or LilFox, both of which are loaded with antioxidants, plant lipids, vitamins and minerals, along with treatments for the lips, eyes, scalp and hands. vetiverskinstudio.com

THE ONLINE GURU

Kathleen Jennings

Austin-based beauty influencer Kathleen Jennings always puts on a good face for her followers—quite literally—even if it requires lasers, needles, chin straps, strange-looking LED masks and under-eye patches to get there. While she regularly extols the virtues of tried-and-true luxury products, Jennings is quick to give honest reviews or recommend dupes whenever possible. Her growing list of followers takes her word as gospel. @kathleenjenningsbeauty

THE CLEAN LOCAL LINE

Esker Beauty

Esker founder Shannon Davenport now calls Austin home, so we can claim her natural, plant-based and Leaping Bunny-certified (vegan and cruelty-free) product line as a provincial treasure. High-quality essential oils make her bath and beauty products smell and feel sublime. Since Davenport ensures they are packaged exclusively in curbside recyclable or compostable materials, every customer can also enjoy a clear conscience. eskerbeauty.com

THE MANI/PEDI PALACE

Lacquer

What this concept lacks— namely chemical fumes, filthy instruments, employees complaining they work like dogs to pay their bills, sounds from drills, fiery hot water baths and gloopy polishes—is what makes it extraordinary. This luxury nail studio is all about the good stuff, from its soak-less treatments and sanitized yet chic environs to its professional staff and products designed to cause zero damage. Lacquer nailed it. ilovelacquer.com

THE LONG STORY

The Collective ATX

It is no secret Austinites love some lengthy locks. However, finding the right extensions and applying them correctly can be challenging. Thankfully, the talented hair virtuosos at The Collective ATX have all the products inhouse and loads of expertise. After a complimentary consultation, these pros artfully attach natural, lightweight extensions. They can even provide a cut and color if that is what it takes to turn someone’s mane into a main attraction. thecollectiveatx.com

THE CUT ABOVE

Whitney Schaaf

The neon sign greeting clients inside at Saturdays & Co. promises: “This is where the magic happens.” Believe it. Schaff, one of the salon’s co-owners, learned to style hair under the legendary Sally Hershberger and has tamed the tresses of Kelly Ripa and Keri Russell. Be prepared to stand before her as she works her wizardry—and do not feel ashamed to bow when you see the finished result. saturdayshairco.com

PHOTO BY FRANCESCO RIDOLFI/GETTY IMAGES

THE ANATOMY GENIE

Chuma Chike-Obi, MD

His social media pages are filled with words of praise, labeling him “an excellent plastic surgeon” and a “phenomenal doctor” with “excellent bedside manner,” which is exactly what someone wants to see when considering whom to hire for a breast augmentation, surgical body sculpting and facial rejuvenation. (Dr. Chike-Obi’s board certification, ivy-league education and proficiency in multiple languages certainly provide assurance, also.) Now that he has a new practice, 360 Plastic Surgery, we expect more accolades. 360plasticsurgery.com

THE ULTIMATE GLOW-UP

Sugared + Bronzed

Sometimes, the fresh look we desire is best achieved by adding a tan and removing unsightly hair, though previously that meant painful wax jobs and claustrophobic experiences in harmful UV-ray- producing sun beds. At this fabulous salon, clients are treated with eco-friendly sugaring, which is applied at room temperature but still gets hair out at the root, along with airbrush tanning via a proprietary blend incorporating six hydrating oils. There is no better place to get swimsuit ready in a flash. sugaredandbronzed.com

THE MOST MARVELOUS MEDSPA

Austin Plastic Surgeon

Medspas are a dime a dozen in ATX, but Austin Plastic Surgeon is one of the best. Here, a supervising, board-certified physician is always around, and the products and services the practice offers are cutting-edge. (Ask about Renuva, which repurposes the client’s tissue to restore volume). But we most adore the annual membership programs, offering skin and tightening treatments on the regular— arguably the best way to get results. austinplasticsurgeon.com

THE MOMMY WHISPERERS

Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery

If anyone appreciates what a woman’s body endures after pregnancy and breastfeeding, it is another woman. And here, the provider team, led by board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Christine Fisher, Dr. Tosan Ehanire, Dr. Danielle Dumestre, and Dr. Haley Bunting, is made entirely of women with years of expertise and an appreciation for natural-looking results. Whether clients seek a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, breast lift, liposuction, vaginal rejuvenation or any combination of the aforementioned, this is the place to go. austinplasticandreconstructivesurgery.com

THE LOCKS TO LOVE

Platelet-Rich Fibrin Hair Restoration

Not all of us are blessed with abundant hair, so thankfully, there is a new Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) treatment at Renu Well Aesthetics and Wellness promising results for both females and males facing hair thinning, loss and baldness. Here’s how it works: Renu Well’s registered nurses or nurse practitioners draw the client’s blood, remove the extract and inject it into the scalp. Voila! Strands emerge over time. Little pain, so much to gain. renuwellaustin.com

THE MOST MAGICAL MACHINES

The Med Spa

It used to be the stuff of sci-fi fantasy, but nowadays, lasers can do almost anything. Today, they are marvelous transformation tools in the hands of board-certified plastic surgeon Jennifer Walden and her highly trained staff, helping patients with skin resurfacing, acne treatments, hair removal, tattoo removal and tattoo lightening. The Med Spa even has lasers that perform vaginal rejuvenation, so it is extra comforting for the ladies to know Dr. Walden has an all-female team. themedspaaustin.com

THE PEERLESS WINK

The Lash Lounge

No, it is not some high-tech mascara giving our locals such lovely lookers. If someone’s lashes look natural, long and beautiful, they are likely the work of some pro at The Lash Lounge. For two decades, its stylists have been carefully affixing custom lash extensions, performing fills and lash lifts, and even applying eyelash tinting. Most of us are none the wiser (wink, wink). thelashlounge.com

PHOTO BY DUXX/GETTY IMAGES

THE CLEANEST SCENE

Fine Line

It is a treat to know all the makeup, skincare and bath products available through this primarily online boutique are completely free of toxic ingredients. Among the exceptional brands Fine Line offers are some made overseas and even some from right here in Austin. Look no further: This is where clean beauty enthusiasts go for everything from natural deodorant to retinol alternatives and gua sha stones to lipgloss. visitfineline.com

THE DREAM CREAMS

Clarins Multi-Active Day and Night

Leave it to this beloved French brand to come up with an innovative one-two punch designed to preserve youthfulness, smooth fine lines, and restore luminosity on faces that experience stress and fatigue. (In other words, just about every adult face around.) The star ingredients in the Multi-Active Jour and Multi-Active Nuit, niacinamide (also known as Vitamin B3) and sea holly extract, will ensure less stress is just a slather away. clarinsusa.com

THE WHOLESOME APPROACH

Neu Skin

Licensed esthetician Elizabeth Bentley is a certified health coach and practices with a natural skincare approach, so arrive prepared for an entirely holistic experience. Sessions start with an in-depth chat. Then, clients can choose from a list of treatments, including therapeutic organic facials, lymphatic drainage, gua sha, sculptural facelifting massage, Celluma light therapy and more. Neu Skin also has natural wellness resources and all-natural skincare products for sale to ensure clients maintain the benefits. neuskinaustin.com

THE LOOK ON DEMAND

Makeup by Adrienn and Team

Though we always try to look our best, some occasions require a dream team to get the job done better. Thankfully, Adrienn Ihasz and her crew of hair and makeup pros can be at any local destination lickety-split, ready with professional-grade, high-quality products that will last through photoshoots, weddings and even fashion shows. Gents are invited to get in on the glam action, too. makeupbyadrienn.com

THE MAKEUP MAVEN

Erin Lee Smith

When professional photographers and celebrities interface, Erin Lee Smith is the MUA on call. Her work has appeared in Austin Way but also in Vogue, GQ and other top publications domestically and abroad, where she has refined the faces of musicians, actors and models we all know by name. Nowadays, she also serves as ByGeorge’s beauty director and in-house artist, so even mere mortals can watch her in action. erinleesmith.com

THE MANLY MAKEOVER

18|8 at the Domain

Since most men aren’t comfortable getting so much as a haircut in a place strewn with women’s magazines and mimosas, they come here when they want the works. Inside semi-private grooming stations and at the hands of trained pros, gents can be entirely transformed, starting with a haircut and color, straight-razor shave, manicure and even a facial. This location also offers arm and back waxes for anyone determined to emerge truly changed. 188mensalontx.com

THE MEN’S HAIR APPARENT

Scissors & Scotch

Getting a haircut and shave is no longer a chore at this unpretentious barbershop-meets- spa. Sure, guys come in for a fresh look—and members can stop by unannounced for a neckline and hairline razor cleanup— but this brown-leather-and-wood-wrapped palace also offers eyebrow and nose hair waxes, color blending, bald shaves, and even scalp massages. All services include a drink from the full bar, so everyone can toast to a new ‘do. scissorsscotch.com

THE SCENT OF INDIVIDUALITY

Roux St. James

In the modern world, where gender-neutral everything reigns supreme and bespoke is boss, this local perfume-maker offers a range of universally appealing scents reminiscent of familiar aromas like cut grass, leather and ginger, and the opportunity for clients to make custom blends. Each product is made from all-natural ingredients and crafted and packaged here in Austin. Smells like a winner. rouxstjames.com

THE GREAT ESCAPE

Miraval Austin Resort & Spa

Year after year, locals and visitors escape into Hill Country for this unparalleled, upscale resort dedicated to the wellness of its guests. The meals are made from locally sourced ingredients, the spa treatments are sublime, and the endless array of fitness classes and activities make for a transformative experience. Sure, day passes are typically available, but the longer guests stay, the more they appreciate all this alluring getaway has to offer. miravalresorts/austin.com