Founder of US skincare brand Naturopathica, Barbara Close, has recently revealed her new holistic health centre and spa – Madison Avenue Health Centre – in New York City.

Launched in 1995, Naturopathica is claimed to be America’s first clean skincare brand and has three branded properties in the US.

However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, all Naturopathica stores are currently closed.

The company draws on holistic healing practices to create cruelty-free herbal skincare, restorative spa treatments and curative tinctures. It is founded on the belief that herbalism, naturopathic medicine and holistic wellness should be coupled with science to offer deeper beauty to all.

“Naturopathica is at an exciting inflection point in our history,” said Close, “we’re ready to assume leadership in the category we originated 25 years ago.”

The centre is spread over two floors and has a retail area featuring 25ft walls shelved with a plethora of herbs used in the brand’s range and cathedral-like windows which flood the interior with natural lights.

Visitors to the wellness centre can browse the brand’s professional strength skincare products which are organised by practice: Clear, Nourish, Defy and Chill or work with the brand’s wellness concierge to design bespoke, multi-step programmes.

Known as practices, these combinations of therapies, ingestibles, topicals and classes are tailored to the specific needs and lifestyles of the individual guest.

“As a practising herbalist, my goal is to bring time-tested, healing rituals back to the forefront and empower people to take control of their own healing journey,” said Close.

On the lower floor, there is a multi-function sanctuary of meditative quiet featuring a central waiting area and four treatment rooms in which clients may receive a massage, facial or IV drip, amongst other holistic and alternative therapies, ranging from acupuncture to crystal healing.

The treatment rooms and waiting area can be transformed into a single large space for meditation classes or lectures.

“Efficacy and sustainability go into every choice we make,” said Tim Simmons, SVP of creative services at Naturopathica. “Productivity wasn’t the only goal; we were determined to minimise our actual footprint and environmental impact,” he said.

With a philosophy focused on sustainability, Naturopathica manufactures products with sustainable ingredients and uses recyclable materials wherever possible in the production process.

Close’s creation of Naturopathica was inspired by childhood visits to apothecaries with her aunt in France, which spurred her on to embark on an exploration of natural healing at an early age.

She holds a Masters degree in therapeutic herbalism and credentials in esthetics, advanced massage and aromatherapy, and has also authored three books on holistic health and wellness.

In 1995, Close opened Naturopathic Healing Arts Centre and Spa in East Hampton, which expanded into the Naturopathic Holistic Health group featuring a collection of skin and wellbeing products and the spas in Manhattan and East Hampton

Naturopathica also grew to supply treatments for a collection of spa partners across the US, including Miraval, The Lake Austin Spa Resort, The Spa at Terranea and heyday Spas.