PB EDUCATION: A PASSIONATE PIVOT

A PASSIONATE PIVOT

Considering a career move into beauty? Former carpenter, Sean Graves alongside his partner in both business and life, former journalist, Samara McRae did exactly that, training in beauty before opening That Skin Clinic on QLD’s Sunshine Coast. The pair shared their learnings with Hannah Gay.

Sean and Samara, you officially opened That Skin Clinic in April 2025. For how long was this business in the works, from the initial idea to completion?

Samara: “It had been brewing for years, we just didn’t know it. We’ve known each other for seven years, and even back then we were bonding over skin treatments and business ideas.”

Sean: “We weren’t even a couple at the time, but once we got together in 2023, it clicked both personally and professionally. We knew we wanted to build something real.”

Samara: “From that point, we were all in. We spent over seven months researching, training, and physically building the clinic ourselves. Every inch of That Skin Clinic has our DNA on it - literally.”

I understand you built the clinic from scratch. For others in the industry looking to do the same, what did you learn from this experience that you feel they ought to be aware of?

Sean: “That passion and qualifications only get you so far. You need to think like a business owner from day one, or get chewed up by the reality of it all.”

Samara: “You’ll be broke, overwhelmed, and exhausted at times. But if you’re clear on your ‘why’ and your values, and are ready to wear every damn hat from cleaner to marketer, bookkeeper to clinician… you’ll make it.”

Sean: “Oh, and everything takes twice as long and costs double. So, plan for chaos, then push through it anyway.”

What came first: the idea for the clinic? Or the education you each undertook to conduct beauty services?

Sean: “The passion, hands down. I’ve always been obsessed with skin anatomy and treatments, but it was my dirty little secret. I never really spoke about it except to Simmy (Samara). She was the only one who knew how deep my interest ran. Building the clinic gave me the chance to finally own that part of myself and turn it into something that actually helps people.”

MY HEART JUST WOULDN’T LET ME CONTINUE A PATH THAT WASN’T ALIGNED WITH MY CREATIVITY. THIS INDUSTRY GIVES ME THE FREEDOM TO DO JUST THAT - CREATE.

Samara: “I studied beauty therapy straight after school in 2007. After a few years, I went into media and marketing, which weirdly helped me build the business side of the clinic later. The idea for That Skin Clinic came from merging our skills, which has allowed us to bring two concepts together under the one umbrella - cosmetic tattooing and advanced skin treatments.”

What prompted your initial desires to enter the beauty industry?

Samara: “I had acne as a teen and still break out now and then, so I understand the confidence great skin can provide. I’m also a nurturer; I genuinely love helping people feel good in their skin and giving them answers when nothing else has worked.”

Sean: “Coming from the trades and a stint in the corporate world, [those industries] weren’t for me; I was far too creative for that. My heart just wouldn’t let me continue a path that wasn’t aligned with my creativity. This industry gives me the freedom to do just that - create.”

Sean, run us through the further education you’ve undertaken in order to perform cosmetic tattoo treatments.

“I’m certified in cosmetic tattooing brows, eyeliner, and lips. I’ve attained a personal service appearance licence, plus infection prevention and skin needling qualifications. I’ve done advanced brow design and colour correction training, too.”

And Samara, for you to perform beauty and laser treatments.

“I hold certifications in beauty therapy, microneedling, bio-microneedling, laser safety, and hold my Class IV laser licence. I’ve completed product and skin physiology education with O COSMEDICS and Dr. Spiller, and I’m currently studying dermal science at the Australasian Academy of Cosmetic Dermal Science (AACDS).”

What skills have you sourced from each of your former roles (as a carpenter and a journalist) to implement into the development and operation of this business, and your individual roles as cosmetic tattooist and laser technician?

Sean: “Carpentry taught me precision, process, and patience, which is exactly what you need in cosmetic tattooing. I also physically built this clinic with my own two hands, so there’s a deeper connection to it.”

Samara: “Journalism taught me how to listen, communicate, and cut through the BS - and that shows up in how I educate clients, lead the brand, and run the business. It also gave me a strong sense of integrity; I’ll never overpromise or treat someone like a number.”

What degree of importance do you each place on ongoing education for yourselves and your staff?

Samara: “It’s everything. If you’re not learning in this industry, you’re already behind.”

Sean: “We don’t just train to tick boxes; we train to get better - for our clients, for each other, and ourselves.”

What’s your approach when it comes to educating clients on their skin health and treatment expectations?

Samara: “Transparent, honest, and science-led. We break down what’s happening in the skin, what treatments will actually help, and what the process looks like. No quick fixes. No TikTok trends. We’re here to educate clients on long-term, regenerative skin health and how to strengthen the skin barrier.”

Sean: “We use imaging, which I call: the egg of youth.”

Samara: “It’s the Spectrum ONE Skin Analysis technology…”

Sean: “... then we track progress so clients can see their skin changing. When they understand what’s happening, they trust the process. And when they trust it, they stick to it. That’s when results happen.”

What skills are you each hoping to master next?

Samara: “Clinically, I’m diving deeper into skin disorders and corrective laser. From a business perspective, I’m refining systems, and preparing for sustainable team growth. I want to build a team culture that’s aligned, educated, and genuinely client-first.”

Sean: “I’m focused on advanced tattoo correction techniques and developing more targeted treatment pathways for men. That space is massively under-served, probably because they’re all holding the same dirty secret I was. I want to help bridge that gap, and to have men feel comfortable talking about it.”