Skin-care and wellness treatments seem to be evolving by the minute. Which ones are really worth your time? Entrepreneur and mom Kristin Updike has made it her mission to find out: She stays on top of the trends and technology, researching to uncover what’s truly effective and best-in-class in order to bring those modalities to her chic new spa in Old Greenwich.
Suma Life House, which opened last fall, has caught on quickly with regulars booking everything from the red-light Ammortal machine and hyperbaric chamber to facials and microneedling to infusions of NAD (a coenzyme), Niagen (a form of vitamin B3) and more. Kristin’s goal was to bring top treatments to town and to offer “the absolute best, something really unique that it’s hard for people to have access to.” For example, the Ammortal red-light chamber benefits in many ways: improving skin health and condition, helping with cellular function and reducing inflammation—all while the user relaxes and listens to a guided meditation.
This spa was years in the making, Kristin says, from concept to designing the space and hiring the right staff, including an APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse). The result is a peaceful spot for people to find their own path to wellness and vitality.
We caught up with Kristin to find out more her blend of treatments for beauty and health.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND. HAVE YOU ALWAYS WORKED IN WELLNESS?
My professional background is in marketing luxury global brands. I spent decades building brands around experience, trust and long-term loyalty—understanding how people connect emotionally to quality and excellence. Wellness, though, has always been a personal passion. That passion became deeply personal in 2020, when I chose to undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy. That experience fundamentally shifted my mindset from reacting to illness to actively preventing disease and optimizing health. It changed how I thought about longevity, ownership over one’s body and what it really means to live well.
I now approach the space through both lenses: the strategic rigor and brand storytelling of my marketing background, combined with a very real, lived understanding of why preventative, proactive wellness matters. That intersection is what drives my work today.
WHAT LED YOU TO OPEN SUMA LIFE HOUSE?
The idea for Suma Life House was to treat aesthetics and wellness not as separate categories but as part of the same continuum. When people feel good, look good and are supported at a cellular level, everything improves—confidence, energy, performance and quality of life. Suma is designed to meet people wherever they are on that journey, whether they’re optimizing health, recovering, aging proactively or simply investing in themselves.
Ultimately, Suma Life House exists because I believe wellness should be proactive, personalized and aspirational—and it should feel as thoughtful and elevated as any luxury experience, while still being rooted in real medicine and measurable outcomes.
WHERE DO YOU SUGGEST NEW CLIENTS BEGIN WHEN DECIDING ON TREATMENTS?
I always recommend beginning with a personalized consultation. This allows us to understand all your goals and design a plan that’s intelligent, efficient and tailored specifically to you. That said, if you’re looking for an easy, powerful and beneficial place to start, the Ammortal Red Light Chamber is a favorite first experience. It supports cellular repair and regeneration, reduces inflammation, supports immune function and overall resilience. From an aesthetic standpoint, it boosts collagen, improves skin tone and texture and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE MODALITIES YOU’RE OFFERING? WHAT ARE THE SERVICES YOUR CLIENTS RAVE ABOUT MOST?
The Ammortal Red Light Chamber combines multiwave PEMF and PEF (Range 0.5 Hz–50 MHz) covering the frequency range of earthbound electromagnetic fields, full-body red and near-infrared light therapy. Vibro-acoustics are integrated into composed musical journeys. Voice guidance (journey-specific guided breathwork, intention-setting, meditations and integrations) is part of the experience as well as molecular hydrogen, which is breathed through a cannula during your session. All of our clients love it and have transformative experiences.
CAN YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL WELLNESS ROUTINE?
My personal wellness routine is about consistency, movement and using tools that support how I want to feel day-to-day. I try and stay active in ways that feel fluid and fun rather than rigid, including local hikes to Bear Mountain, biking with my kids and long walks with my dogs. I also fully practice what I believe in at Suma Life House. I use the Hyperbaric Chamber and the Ammortal Red-Light chamber about three to four times a week each. It has been transformative for my energy, recovery, and overall resilience. I’m consistent with skin health as well, getting regular facials and monthly microneedling because I view skin as part of whole-body wellness.
From a cellular health standpoint, I recently transitioned from NAD+ infusions to Niagen infusions, and I’ve been really enjoying the physical benefits—sustained energy, mental clarity and how easy it is to integrate into daily life. Overall, my routine isn’t about extremes. It’s about building small, science-backed habits that support longevity, and feeling good in my body now and long-term.
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PLACES IN GREENWICH?
Some of my favorite places are all about being outdoors, resetting and enjoying simple moments. Tod’s Point is my go-to for clearing my head, it’s one of those places that instantly brings perspective and calm. I also love Pinetum Park, especially for hiking with my dogs. It’s peaceful, tucked away and feels like a little escape without leaving town. And when it comes to food, Happy Monkey is a favorite. Great energy, and great food. I highly recommend the Tuna Tartare Lettuce Cups. sumalifehouse.com