After cementing her name in the fitness and nutrition world during her early 20s, Isobella Outtram found her true calling while working as a skin therapist in 2017. Sent on a training expedition to Paris, she delved into the science of skin, falling head over heels for its complexity. The result? Sukha Skin & Wellness, a soothing sanctuary in Brisbane’s Windsor that specialises in holistically caring for the body’s largest organ. Kristie Lau-Adams chats to Isobella about her business goals, unique approach, and soon- to-be-expanding menu of services.
What inspired you to open Sukha Skin and Wellness in 2023?
“I really wanted to create a space where people could disconnect from external noise and busyness. I had just had my second child, and I felt like I was really craving some nurturing. Our purpose, essentially, is to support women to reconnect with themselves while falling in love with their skin.”
Where did the name Sukha stem from?
“When I had my first child, I did a yoga teacher training course, and I fell in love with Sanskrit, an ancient language of India. Sukha is a Sanskrit word that represents happiness, bliss and ease as a long-term, stable feeling. It speaks to our goal of creating happy, healthy skin in hand with a happy, healthy person.”
What were you doing prior to launching your business?
“I began as a fitness trainer when I was 17, but going even further back, I grew up around beauty and wellness. My mum was a beauty therapist, and we would make oat, yoghurt and honey masks together, and we’d get little massages from her. I always loved it. When I was 18, I did a traineeship in beauty therapy, and things evolved from there. I worked for many years in spas, I completed 200 hours of yoga and pregnancy yoga teacher training, and I am also a qualified nutrition coach.”
What drew you to the world of skin?
“Things changed for me while working as a manager and lead skin therapist in 2017, specialising in the French skincare brand Biologique Recherche, who sent me to Paris to train. I then began to really delve into skin, learning that people go through unique skin journeys and understanding how things like self-confidence can impact the skin. I was intrigued by skin in every way.”
How does your background influence your work at Sukha?
“Understanding the emotional support a person requires, which I was able to refine through my work in health coaching, allows us to read people really well. We can tend to specific needs. Additionally, my nutritional training offers a deeper understanding as to what may be triggering skin concerns including acne, rosacea or dermatitis. I believe each unique element of wellness plays a crucial role in healthy synergy.”
Detail the Sukha ethos and what your brand stands for.
“Over the years, the philosophy of Corneotherapy – which supports the skin’s natural processes – began to resonate with me. Sukha adopts this approach. It’s almost a naturopathic way of treating the skin, working with it and addressing root causes rather than focusing on a condition that’s presented. But whilst we want long-lasting results, we also bring an element of relaxation into everything we do. Bright lights and sterile rooms don’t support our nervous systems, no matter how scientific products may be, and our emotional perspective naturally ties into our skin.”
Your business also stocks ingestible wellness products. Can you explain their appeal?
“I have used everything we stock myself, so I have first-hand experience to share with clients. We stock KAILO Nutrition, and I worked for KAILO for four-and-a-half years during which the brand developed that product. It aligns beautifully to Sukha’s skin philosophy. They’re made here in Australia, they’re very clean and they’re very effective, particularly in the way of gut health and skin health. The second brand we stock is SIMKA – aligned to dermaviduals [also used at Sukha] – particularly its Omegas. Omegas are crucial for skin health and dietary conditions, which we see quite a lot.”
What inspired the tranquil Sukha space itself?
“Our intention was to bring peace and calm through a Yin energy of whites and neutrals with touches of deep green and a slight Japandi influence [such as the linen pendant light spied by Professional Beauty in Sukha’s reception]. The goal was to create a soft, calming and nurturing environment. The treatment rooms feature wider-than-usual beds with extended arm rests, which I think makes a really big difference, and a duvet placed beneath the visible exterior. Our beds are also heated in winter.”
What do you hope for the future of Sukha?
“I miss and still practice yoga, and I would love to one day facilitate retreats and daytime workshops to bring everything I’ve experienced together. We also work in conjunction with naturopaths, and I have achieved the equivalent of a diploma in naturopathy, so I hope to one day stock higher grade, naturopathy products. We also launched a new spa menu in April which includes body rituals, focusing on pregnant women and mothers, in addition to more intimate treatments like body waxing and even the introduction of Fig Femme’s Vulva Mask. We love the idea of expanding our holistic support of modern-day women.”
This article originally appeared in the Issue 02 2025 print issue of Professional Beauty magazine. Read it here.
Photography: Supplied
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