Jenny Needham visits a beauty salon with a Mediterranean touch - decor with Grecian influences and an exclusive range of products from sunny Spain.

SHARON Payne believes there are three vital ingredients in a successful beauty business. And Sharon should know - she's been in the business for more than 20 years.

Firstly, she says, there are the surroundings. Her own salon, The Beauty Room, in Woodland Road, Darlington, has a Grecian theme with faux marble busts and friezes, squishy sofas in the reception area and classic green and gold on the walls. "Beauty is a luxury so people like to try to use their money wisely," says Sharon. "I wanted a number of treatment rooms and a relaxation room so clients don't feel they have to rush off - in some places you have a pedicure done, stick your shoes on and you're back out on the street before you know it. We like people to chill out and take their time."

Secondly, says Sharon, you must have the right products. "I've come across just about every product range known in my years in the business," she says. "I'm only interested in the Rolls-Royce of treatments, ones that show scientific results."

Thirdly, she says, a successful beauty business needs well-trained therapists.

Sharon chose Skeyndor skincare and treatment products and will be the only salon in the area to offer the Spanish company's range for at least the next two years. "I wanted exclusivity," she says, " and something that shouted results."

As it's summer, the season we tentatively venture into shorts, I opted for a Skeyndor anti-cellulite treatment. First, the thigh area was cleansed using energising foaming bath with sandalwood essential oil, then exfoliated using a micro-activating gel and enzyme body peel, which simply melts away the dead skin cells. A special cream is then applied and massaged towards the lymphatic glands to help drain the body of toxins. Finally, a cool firming gel is applied, which makes the skin tingle.

A course of treatments is recommended but after just one Skeyndor treatment I had lost half an inch off each thigh and the skin of my upper leg area felt much firmer and beautifully smooth. As a bonus, the massage was deeply soothing.

Make-up artist to the stars Carl Ryan, a long-time friend of Sharon's who visits the salon every couple of months to offer clients advice on skincare and make-up, is a Skeyndor fan. "Carl has worked on some of the most famous names in beauty, including Naomi Campbell," says Sharon, "and when he's freelancing, he won't use anything but Skeyndor products."

At present The Beauty Room has two trained therapists - Roberta King who says she wanted to be a masseur from the age of five, and Vikki Bramley, who trained at Darlington College and has moved back to the North-East from a job at the exclusive Stobo Castle in Scotland.

Sharon has just opened a second salon in Darlington's Hall Garth Hotel and is eager to recruit more staff.

The mother of three moved up from Birmingham to Darlington four years ago when her husband moved jobs to the North-East, and she brought her expertise with her.

She opened The Beauty Room on Woodland Road, Darlington, and just two week ago - amazingly, for someone with an 18-week-old baby - she opened a new outlet at the Hall Garth Golf and Country Club Hotel on the outskirts of the town.

* The Beauty Room, 6-8 Woodland Road, Darlington (01325) 484858; The Hall Garth Golf and Country Club Hotel, Coatham Mundeville, Darlington (01325) 307999.