Hey, I'm Michelle!
I’m the face behind McQuarrie Skin & Beauty, based in beautiful Hawke’s Bay.
Beauty is my thing! I studied straight out of school, graduating in 2005, and spent years working in high-end salons around Auckland. I was lucky enough to learn from some seriously talented people along the way, which gave me a pretty solid foundation across all things beauty.
As my career evolved, I found myself becoming more and more fascinated by skin and how it works. Why it behaves the way it does, and how we can actually help it function correctly, address the root cause of concerns and achieve long-term skin health. These days, skin health and advanced skin treatments are a huge part of what I love doing.
But skin isn’t the only thing I love about what I do. I’m just as happy doing a relaxing facial or massage, or taking care of those regular beauty treatments that make you feel like you’ve got it all together. I love the mix of it all and the fact that no two clients or days are ever quite the same.
Everyone has different goals and budgets, which is why I take a personalised approach with every one of my clients. Whether you’re wanting to work on your skin, have a little pampering, or just need an hour where nobody needs anything from you.
I want my clients to feel comfortable asking questions, talking through their concerns and knowing they’re never going to be pushed into a treatment or product they don’t need. For me, it’s about building trust, getting to know your skin and finding an approach that works for you.
I’m also really particular about the products and brands I work with. I’ve carefully chosen every range in my clinic based on the quality of the ingredients, the results they can achieve and, importantly, how they support the long-term health of your skin. No fad products here! I want to know that when I recommend something, there’s a genuine reason behind it.
When I’m not at the clinic, you’ll find me with my family, hanging out with our dog, or listening to music — and probably not the relaxing spa playlist you’d expect! I’m a big rock music fan, love to laugh and am always learning something new, especially when it comes to skin and wellness.
McQuarrie Skin & Beauty is a little bit of everything I love about this industry, and I’m so excited to have created a space where I can bring all of that experience together.
Why McQuarrie?
McQuarrie is my middle name, and it’s a name that has been passed down through my family. It was my great-grandfather’s, my grandma’s and my great uncles’ middle name too. With family roots in Dunoon, Scotland, it felt like the perfect way to honour where we’ve come from while creating something that’s completely my own.
So while McQuarrie Skin & Beauty is very much about my passion, experience and approach to beauty and skin health, the name itself has a little piece of my family woven into it too.