Have you tried LED light therapy or DMK enzyme therapy? Join us as we road test both

Sharing an intimate moment with a complete stranger can be intimidating, no matter the situation. The most intimate encounters we have with strangers are often sought out when we need some extra loving — such as a healing massage or facial. Allowing someone you don’t know to care for you like a friend, caress your face and massage your body, all the while ensuring you’re comfortable, is a skill only few have mastered.

The two therapists you’re about to meet balance the delicate nature of intimacy and care like true professionals. Not only do they leave a lasting impression on your skin’s health; they reconnect you to yourself. Acting as conduits of consciousness, they guide you towards new depths of relaxation, presence and wellness using just the tips of their fingers. A good therapist is a teacher: through them, we give ourselves permission to be pampered and cared for — something we all need to do more of.

Little Company

As I walk into Little Company, a mindfully curated space in Byron Bay, the first thing I notice is the intention lingering in every nook and cranny. The white open space is contrasted with neutral tones, soft lighting and unique textures. As I take a seat and enjoy a herbal tea, I can smell one of my favourite scents: sacred palo santo smoke.

Little Company first put its roots down in Melbourne before Stacey Burt, the founder, made the move to Byron Bay to open a sister company. Stacey walks me into a spacious, warmly lit treatment room. My eyes catch the flickering golden light in the corner as she talks me through the seasonal facial I’ll be having.

I close my eyes and feel my back body melt deeper into the massage table. With intention, she places a warm rock over my heart and one on my sternum. She asks me to take three deep breaths. I do so, feeling presence for the first time that day. Guided by Stacey’s soothing voice, I feel my outer edges, the outline of my body, begin to dissolve as I relax deeper and deeper with each breath.

First, my face is cleansed and exfoliated, leaving sweet natural scents swirling all around me. As Stacey takes me through the facial steps, I enjoy the differing temperatures of the creams: cold and soothing, sometimes warm and tingling.

Using a feathery soft brush and long, deliberate strokes, she puts a mask on my face. As I drop deeper into our shared tenderness, I feel immense gratitude for the intimacy of the moment. I think about how a closeness like this isn’t usually shared with those outside of our inner circle.

I’m gently nudged from my thoughts as Stacey begins covering my face with a thick, sticky goo. It’s cooling and I guess that it’s aloe vera. She spreads it over my cheeks, forehead, chin and across my mouth, sealing it shut before scooping it over my eyes. This, at first, catches me by surprise. But, with our trust established so early on, I know I’m in safe hands. Thankfully, my nose is spared so I can breathe. While this pharmaceutical-grade aloe vera mask is left to set, Stacey massages my feet, legs, arms neck and shoulders.

Now it’s time for LED light therapy. Covering my eyes, Stacey explains that, just like plants, our skin and tissues have the ability to absorb light and convert it into energy. LED emits UV-free light rays that energise cells and stimulate the body’s natural process to build new proteins, boost collagen synthesis, stimulate wound healing and help with skin health. Suitable for all skin types and conditions, LED provides a non-invasive, safe treatment.

She turns the LED on; I’m instantly blinded by the piercing brightness. After a few minutes, I settle in. My face warms up and I feel my mind slip into a meditative state. I could stay here all day but, before the warmth gets too addictive, Stacey’s soothing voice brings me back.

Skin Divinity

I push open the doors to Skin Divinity, a skin, beauty and laser clinic based in Byron Bay. Founder Heidi Salfield and her team warmly welcome me inside, handing me a delicious probiotic-rich drink. I admire the décor: pale pink and white trimmings, tall ceilings and spacious windows. Heidi says she opened the clinic in 2014.

Walking me into the treatment room, Heidi tells me I’ll be experiencing a two-hour DMK enzyme therapy treatment. She explains that DMK is a natural, pure botanical paramedical-grade treatment that uses 80-90 per cent active ingredients. “Humans have the same genetic blueprint as plants, so we respond positivity to the chemistry we recognise,” she says.

Heidi explains that DMK enzyme therapy creates a “reverse osmosis” action that forces fluids through the membranes around the cells and flushes out impurities. By utilising transfer messenger enzymes (the cells that communicate with each other), DMK therapy works on the deep cellular level to increase circulation and deliver fresh oxygenated blood to the skin. It can help treat acne, rosacea, dehydrated skin, pigmentation and enlarged pours. I listen intently, intrigued to give this superhuman skin treatment a go.

My therapist, Sarah, begins cleansing and exfoliating my face in preparation for the DMK mask. Because I’m new to DMK enzyme therapy, I’m a little nervous. Sarah checks if I get claustrophobic, which thankfully I don’t. Using the soft tips of her fingers on my face, she draws me into a state of relaxation and stillness. With it comes trust — an important step before the mask is applied.

Sarah begins applying the DMK mask with a soft brush, covering my face, neck and décolletage. At first, the mask is cold but then it starts to tingle. Sarah tells me to relax for the next 45 minutes as it sets on my face.

After 20 minutes, I feel the mask begin to harden. Eventually, it feels like rock-hard cement. It’s so tight that I can’t move my lips, nose, eyes or cheeks and this sensation takes me by surprise. Thankfully, Sarah appears and begins to massage my feet, arms, hands and head. It’s pure bliss and just the distraction I need.

Using water, she removes the mask, and, with each scrub, I begin to feel my face return from its mummified state. I look down and notice new visible red veins on my chest. Sarah explains that this is called “plasmatic effect” and will fade. It means that during the treatment, my skin achieved perfect balance or homeostasis.

As I leave, I catch my reflection in the mirror. I look closer at the bright, hydrated and glowing face shining back. I admire the skin at the corners of my eyes, where crow’s feet have started to appear as I reach my 30s. They’re smooth and even and I smile at the natural lift around my eyes.