If you’re on the lookout for a luxury skin care spa in London, look no further. Omorovicza, the independent brand with a cult-like following, is set to open its first institute outside Budapest later this year. Taking over a former antiques store on South Audley Street in Mayfair, the institute will offer individually targeted treatments for face and body, personalised skin care prescriptions and high-quality samples to take home.
Founded by Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza and her husband, Stephen, in 2006, the brand is centred around the centuries-old, mineral-infused thermal baths of Budapest. The mineral waters of the region are renowned for their curative powers, and the husband-and-wife duo eventually bottled the liquid and took it to the world.
To ensure the minerals penetrated the skin effectively, the brand worked closely with the Nobel Prize-winning Hungarian laboratory of Dermatology and Allergology to develop its proprietary Healing Concentrate. This colourless, odourless liquid is the hero ingredient in all Omorovicza products and helps the skin absorb the beneficial minerals.
The Omorovicza Institute in Budapest has become a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. Building on this success, the couple has long wanted to open an institute in London to get closer to the customer and offer a more personalised experience.
Stephen said: “We want to offer our customers the right therapists, environment and products. The needs of a 28-year-old with dry skin is a million miles from what Margaret needs, or what I need, which is why these prescriptions are so important.”
In London, the institute will feature two treatment rooms and a luxury ground floor area with a lineup of sinks where customers can test products or ask for advice from experts. All of the products are developed using advanced technology and natural ingredients, and the brand is committed to doing its bit for the environment.
Bestselling products include the Cushioning Day Cream, the Thermal Cleansing Balm and Queen Cream, a hybrid day cream and primer that has become a favourite with makeup artists. The brand also offers facials and spa treatments at select hotels and resorts including the Four Seasons and the Grand Hyatt, as well as retailers such as Liberty and Harrods.
The Omorovicza Institute in London has been a long time coming, but Stephen said it was always in the couple’s plans. “We looked at what that little institute in Budapest had done for us over the years — it’s been very successful. A lot of tourists have come from all over the world, and experienced the treatments. That is by far the best way of bringing people into the brand.”
Through remaining independent and entrepreneurial, the couple has been able to continue innovating and developing a loyal customer base. “We are so proud to have customers who have been with us for years,” Margaret said. “But we know that we have them for a lifetime.”
