International award for lifelong passion
Mandeville’s Caryn Hardy has found international success in her lifelong passion, crowned inaugural Top International Skin Therapist of 2017.
Forty-seven skin therapists from 16 countries were invited to the five day February conference and award ceremony hosted by Nimue International in Johannesburg, South Africa.
‘‘Having my skin knowledge, be acknowledged was amazing. I was just shocked, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to process that,’’ Hardy said. As well as becoming top therapist in the world, Hardy also won the best case study award, after presenting a four month study on one of her clients.
Nimue International education manager Heidi Cerfontyne said Hardy had proved to be an exceptional therapist when meeting the criteria of the award.
‘‘Her understanding of the skin and truly satisfying the needs of her clients was so inspiring,’’ Cerfontyne said.
Originally from Durban, South Africa, Hardy studied in beauty therapy for three years – two-anda half-years more in-depth study than what is offered in New Zealand – before leaving her homeland to travel, arriving in New Zealand in 1998.
Having won the award, Hardy said it gave her the confidence to focus on her passion – skin health.
‘‘The skin just amazes me. We do take our skin for granted. We don’t give it a second thought until it doesn’t look the way it should.’’ Her passion was to educate others in what affected their skin’s health and help them change things they were not happy about, without ‘‘going under the knife’’.
‘‘It’s like being a skin detective. Skin functions the same in everybody, but it’s the external factors that need to be considered.
‘‘There might be something that really bothers you, but your work affects it. There’s some things that can’t be changed, but there’s things that can be changed. It’s quite a holistic approach.’’
Hardy practised from her salon Pamper Pod on Tram Rd. Her first salon was in Brooklands, but when she moved she took the opportunity to re-brand and refresh the business.
‘‘It’s always been my dream to have a place like this.
‘‘It’s a huge privilege to work in an industry that I love so much.’’