Step inside VISO Facial Bar in Heaton, Newcastle, a holistic facial massage studio tucked just off one of the city's busiest high streets, offering a moment of calm in the chaos of Chillingham Road.
In this episode of Tyne for Business, host Ashleigh King meets Zara, the founder behind VISO, to explore holistic facial massage, the emotional side of skincare, and how a small independent studio has become a space of genuine sanctuary for its community.
From building a business through lockdown to \"resetting the mask\" and holding space for tears, laughter and everything in between, this is a story about slowing down, reconnecting with yourself, and the woman creating that space for others.
🎧 What You'll Hear 🎧
💛 How Zara built VISO from a maternity-leave idea into seven years in business
💛 The difference between a typical facial and holistic facial massage
💛 Why community and connection sit at the heart of VISO's identity
💛 How lifestyle, stress and emotion show up in the skin and face
💛 The tools and techniques behind Zara's treatments, including Gua Sha
💛 Zara's approach to skincare, sustainable products and \"less is more\"
💛 Why she believes people don't need to be fixed, just held
Skip to chapters:
(00:00) Welcome to Tyne for Business
(00:29) Arriving on Chillingham Road, Heaton
(01:11) Meeting Zara and the story of VISO Facial Bar
(01:50) From maternity leave to facial therapist
(02:24) Finding the shop and building the dream
(03:21) Creating a calming, plant-filled space
(04:17) A space filled by the community
(05:48) Skincare, lifestyle and honest conversations
(06:55) What community means to Zara
(07:31) Raising a daughter in a filtered world
(08:33) Holding space for emotion
(09:08) A treatment in action
(10:49) Stillness, tools and technique
(11:32) Do people cry during treatments?
(12:20) Feeling seen: \"resetting the mask\"
(13:45) Products, skincare and sustainable choices
(15:39) Being a good human, healing from within
(16:05) Ending a treatment with grounding breaths
(16:37) Rebecca's reaction after treatment
(17:02) Final reflections from VISO Facial Bar
Special Thanks to VISO Facial Bar
A huge thank you to Zara at VISO Facial Bar for welcoming us into their space and sharing their stories.
VISO Facial Bar is a brilliant example of the independent businesses helping to shape wellness, self-care and community on Newcastle's Chillingham Road.
Thank you to:
About Tyne for Business
Tyne for Business is a documentary-style podcast and video series from Flamingo Heights Podcast Studio, celebrating the independent businesses, communities and people shaping the North East of England.
Through conversations and place-based storytelling, we explore the stories behind the businesses that make our region unique.
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