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BEAUTY. AESTHETICS. WELLNESS. BUSINESS AND EDUCATION SINCE 1995.

Issue 03 2026

BEAUTY EXPO 2026

Plan your visit to this year’s event

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

When beauty becomes emotional labour

THE DEVICE DISRUPTORS

Top technologies worth the investment

A NEW ERA OF ULTRACEUTICALS DR GEOFFREY HEBER: REINVENTING A NEARLY 30 YEAR LEGACY

ocosmedics.com

@ocosmedics

ocosmedics

@ocosmedics

The original corneotherapy-based skincare system.

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

60,000 years of Indigenous botanical wisdom. Freshly formulated weeks before reaching your clinic. Potent, science-backed ingredients. Wild-harvested Australian botanicals, used on this land for longer than any other medicine on earth. Made in small batches on the Sunshine Coast and on your shelf within weeks; not shipped, warehoused and forgotten for years like the brand you’re stocking now.

Founder’s Formula an international awarded Australian botanical range with products your clients can’t buy anywhere but your clinic.

Ann Donnarumma 042 333 9042 ann@foundersformula.com.au

We’ve seen excellent sellthrough and repeat purchases, with clients returning specifically for the range. Clinic Two One Eight, North Adelaide

Angelina Kettle 0435858121 angelina@foundersformula.com.au

Photography: iStock/Patsperspective

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Professional-only, and it stays that way. Back bar sizes, booster serums and prescription formulas are available through your clinic, not online, not on Adore, not on a discount marketplace. You do the consultation and the education, so you keep the sale.

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Open your account with a small flexible opening orders. No warehouse-sized first order. Take what you need, reorder as your clients come back.

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Founded by Ann Donnarumma, who built Demi International and trained a generation of Australian therapists. You may already know the name.

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49 international awards. 12 Gold. Since 2023.

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Your team trained before the stock lands. Online portal, monthly live sessions, and one-on-one time with our Head Educator; as many hours as you need, not a sales pitch.

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Native actives with a story; Kakadu Plum, Snake Vine, Tasmanian Mountain Pepperberry. Something your therapists can talk about mid-treatment.

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Fast freight, free over $1,000. Stock sitting in a truck isn’t earning you anything.

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Free samples with every order. Let your clients try before they commit.

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No restrictions on owner-operators or home-based salons. No floor space rules, no shopfront requirements, no tiers.

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Small business to small business. We built this the way we’d want it built for us.

Become a stockist.

https://www.foundersformula.com.au/pages/wholesale-enquiry

PB CONTENTS

CONTENTS 12 14 20 24 28

Ed's Letter News Cover Story: Ultraceuticals HOA TAP Report GHK-Cu Peptides

EDUCATION

34 58

34 38 42 44 46 48

Client & Therapist Wellbeing Beauty Expo 2026 TikTok Learning Framing the Conversation ABIC Leadership Skills

BUSINESS 50 54 58 60 62 63 64

Inside PBS & PAS AI in Salon Scaling The Skin Bar Business Niche Financial Advice Expo Exhibitor Checklist 30 Years in Business

BEAUTY

44 102

PUBLISHER BHA MEDIA MANAGING DIRECTOR Simon Grover EDITOR IN CHIEF Hannah Gay hgay@intermedia.com.au NATIONAL ADVERTISING MANAGER Julie Davidson jdavidson@intermedia.com.au ART DIRECTOR Sanja Spuzanic sspuzanic@intermedia.com.au PRODUCTION MANAGER Jacqui Cooper SUBSCRIPTIONS subscriptions@intermedia.com.au 10 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Professional Beauty magazine is published by BHA MEDIA ABN 23142047943 41 Bridge Road, Glebe NSW 2037 Ph: 02 9660 2113 Fax: 02 9660 4419 www.intermedia.com.au AUSTRALIAN SUBSCRIPTION RATES 1yr (4 issues) for $60.00 (inc GST) 2yrs (8 issues) for $110.00 (inc GST) To subscribe and to view other overseas rates visit www.intermedia.com.au or Call: 1800 651 422 Email: subscriptions@intermedia.com.au

66 70 74 75 76 80 82 84 90 94 96 100 102 104 105 106 108 110 115

Must See at Beauty Expo Tried & Tested Skincare & Cosmetic Treatments What is Yeast Beta-Glucan? KNESKO on Packaging Treating Bacne Corneotherapy 101 The High Achievers The Device Disruptors Are We Medicalising Wellness? Brow It Yourself Press-On Nails POC Beauty Lash Serums Lash Products Commercial Case for Waxing Cosmetic Tattoo Add-Ons Out & About End Note with Rosie Andrews

This publication is published by BHA MEDIA, a division of The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”). Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes PEFC Certified all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or Paper from misleading statements that may appear in this publication.

sustainably managed forests and controlled sources

PEFC/21-31-119

pefcaustralia.org.au

Sensory body care powered by Australia’s native actives.

PB EDITOR’S LETTER

EDITOR’S LETTER I

t seems there’s never a dull day working in this industry. Product innovation is rife, new suppliers are entering the chat, and emerging leaders are stopping us in our social scrolls. It feels as though the opportunities for salon success are endless in 2026, and we’re seeing examples of this time and time again. This edition of Professional Beauty is titled ‘The Powerhouse Issue’ - specifically crafted to highlight the exceptional work happening behind the scenes in salons, labs, manufacturing facilities, and desktops of beauty’s brightest. The perfect fit for this issue’s cover is Ultraceuticals, led by the one-and-only Dr Geoffrey Heber. With decades of experience under his belt and several best-selling skincare formulations later, Heber has helped shape the Australian professional beauty industry as we know it today. Discover insights on Ultraceuticals’ new era from page 20.

It goes without saying that this issue is all about Beauty Expo - Australia’s premier beauty trade event. Running this August, industry professionals will convene on Sydney’s International Convention Centre for a weekend of education and connection. Many of the exhibiting brands, speakers (and even an event organiser) are featured throughout this issue. Be sure to plan your visit from page 38. A vital talking point entering the industry zeitgeist this year is around client mental health and the unsung role therapists play in lending an ear for them. Based on findings featured in a report by The University of Melbourne, I spoke with women from four

segments of the industry to discuss what change is needed to see those on the floor better supported. This detailed feature offers personal insights and calls for action the whole industry ought to get behind. Dive in from page 38. Enjoy the issue, beauties - it’s a big one. Hannah Gay Editor in Chief

@pro_beauty_aus

EDITOR’S PICKS

I was recently reminded just how much I love the Ultraceuticals B² Hydrating Mask for its comfortable wear and serious hydrating power. 1800 355 638 12 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

This Gentle Mousse Cleanser by Cible Skin carries chic Parisienne appeal, all while revitalising the skin without stripping. 0457 023 830

ProfessionalBeautyAust

professional-beauty

The Dulesé Natural Deodorant is refillable, smells great, and really works. Consider me converted! hello@dulese.com

Photography: Joseph G Media/Supplied

Sticking to this theme, we spoke with founders re-writing categories, business owners seeing success in-salon, and retail products forging ahead of the game. We question wellness trends, nail services, and treatment efficacy - all in the name of keeping you up-to-speed on where the industry is headed.

NEW

Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ P R O C O N C E N T R AT E Powered by Medik8’s Exclusive PDRN Technology, it features a prismatic PDRN ingredient available only in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, ensuring practitioners and clients access a truly unique, first-to-market innovation

P R I S M AT I C PDRN

T R I P L E E XO S O M E COMPLEX

DUAL M I N I P R OT E I N S™

www.medik8.com.au

@medik8anz

PB NEWS

BEAUTY BITES 2.

PB’s eye to the ground on the Australian beauty industry.

2026 2026

BizCover’s $12,000 grant to support Australia’s trade students

Beauty students undertaking eligible trade qualifications may be able to access BizCover’s new $12,000 Tools of the Trade Grant, which will award a $1,000 gift card each month until March 2027 to help cover the cost of essential equipment. Open to Australian residents aged 18 and over studying a trade course through TAFE or an RTO, the initiative aims to ease financial pressure as students begin their careers. For more information and T+Cs, visit: www.bizcover.com.au/trade-grant/#apply

INSKIN Cosmedics launches O COSMEDICS Clinical Care

Leading cosmedical skincare brand, O COSMEDICS has announced the launch of its Clinical Care collection: a range of nine face and body products designed to support the skin barrier by soothing inflammation, relieving dryness and promoting skin recovery. It offers a professional support system that recognises the individuality of every person’s experience and acknowledges that no two skin journeys are ever quite the same. To learn more on the range, head to page 73.

Ultraderm launches All In One Mineral Powders

The skincare specialists at Ultraderm have invested into complexion correction, announcing the launch of a range of natural powders. The foundation powders come in four shades plus a bronzer, and are designed to produce a semi-matte finish. Breathable yet built with a skin-blurring effect, the powders are paraben--free and contain antioxidant protection for everyday barrier support. For more information, call Ultraderm on 1300 660 297. ➤

14 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Words: Hannah Gay | Photography: iStock/Supplied

Next level cleansing. Extreme results. A HIGH-PERFORMANCE, SOPHISTICATED CREAM CLEANSER. - CREAMY COMFORT - POWERFUL CLEANSING - STIMULATES SKIN RENEWAL

A NEW CATEGORY in CLEANSING This is not another cleanser following an established formula. It is Derma energy setting a new benchmark. It is for those who want their AHA’s in a cream cleanser!

CREAM CLEANSER with AHA’s Cream Clean Extreme transforms cleansing into a true treatment step. Uniting sophisticated cleansing technology with skin-renewing 6% mandelic + 3% lactic hydroxy acids that delivers exceptional performance without treating comfort as an afterthought.

A WORD FROM our CHEMIST “I’ve reached an age where I demand more from my cleanser. I want it creamy, comforting and enriched with AHAs. The industry wasn’t making it - so, I created it myself.” Sean Abel. Founder & Cosmetic Chemist.

THIS IS REAL INNOVATION

PB NEWS

ABM announces Bali RESET retreat for 2027 Industry events authority, Nicole Montgomery is set to take her best-selling Aesthetic Business Masters (ABM) series abroad in 2027, announcing its RESET retreat to take place in Bali. The three-day event, open to just ten applicants, is designed for “business owners in beauty, aesthetics, wellness and medical fields who are ready for a small, highcalibre room rather than a large conference,” ABM states. Attendees will build out their unique content and marketing strategies, all while engaging in activities for personal development. Limited tickets are available at www.events.humanitix.com/resetretreat-2027-aesthetic-business-masters-bali.

Tracy Whitton to share in-person guidance for nervous system reset Tracy Whitton, known as The Vagus Nerve Whisperer, has announced a national live event series designed to immerse attendees in education around the workings of the nervous system. Whitton, who also operates weekly from Gwinganna Retreat & Spa, has received endorsements from nutritional biochemist Dr Libby Weaver and celebrity makeup artist Pati Dubroff. On the series, she says: “At a time when more people than ever are feeling wired, exhausted, and constantly 'on', my methods assist clients to cut through the noise with a powerful message: the body isn’t broken, it’s communicating.” Events will run on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Sydney, and Melbourne from August to October 2026. For details and session times, head to www.tracywhitton.com.

Glovora launches client engagement platform

Glovora has launched as a new client engagement platform for beauty and aesthetic businesses, with a focus on helping clinics manage memberships, loyalty programs and referrals from a single system. Designed for salon and clinic owners, the platform also includes a branded client app, allowing businesses to streamline how they reward repeat visits and encourage ongoing engagement as client retention becomes an increasing priority for the industry. To learn more, contact Glovora on 0418 451 103. 16 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

7. Timely flags the ongoing burden of the no-show According to recent research by Timely involving 264 Australian salon and clinic owners, last-minute cancellations and no-shows are the industry’s most commonly cited operational challenge, identified by 27 per cent of respondents. The issue ranked ahead of managing bookings across multiple channels, administrative workload and staying organised during busy periods. As a result, almost one in three business owners said the ability to reduce cancellations and no-shows is now a key consideration when selecting business management software. ➤

New Aura 3D Imaging System The World’s First High-Intelligence 3D Imaging Platform Meet your digital twin Swiss-made and powered by Hexagon precision technology, Aura is a revolutionary 3D facial imaging system that captures a clinically accurate, photo-realistic digital twin of a patient’s face and neck in just 0.2 seconds. Within 30 seconds, Aura analyses facial structures, skin condition and volumetric changes to generate an immersive 3D model, transforming the consultation process.

Six Powerful Diagnostic Tools in a Single Capture. • Skin Analysis • Before & After Comparison • Facial Measurements • Volume Comparison & Vectors • Drawing & Dynamic Lighting • Advanced Treatment Simulation

13 integrated cameras. 0.1mm clinical accuracy. Swiss precision engineering.

“This imaging system has been the biggest breakthrough in aesthetic medicine over the past few years, more so than any other device for clinicians. The Aura is not an evolution but a revolution in clinical photography”.

Dr Davin Lim, Cutis Clinic

For more information, call 1300 309 233 or email info@hightechmedical.com.au www.hightechmedical.com.au

Distributed by

HIGH TECH MEDICAL

PB NEWS

Want more returning Gen Z clients? Invest in these two services

A recent report released by Guidepoint Qsight* Needle First: How Gen Z is Rewriting the Aesthetic Patient Journey, listed non-invasive laser hair removal and Hydrafacial in the top five aesthetic treatments for Gen Z for visit frequency and dollars spent. For first-time clients, the two services are also some of the most popular. “Most Gen Z patients are spending closer to $USD520 per year, while a smaller segment of high-frequency, high-spend patients is pulling the average upward,” the report revealed.

Skincare and makeup brand, Lust Minerals has tapped into the growing youth division with the launch of Young Face. Former dermal therapist and Lust Minerals founder, Stacey Hollands developed the range as a gentle, age-appropriate skincare system designed specifically for growing skin. Consisting of a soft foaming cleanser and a lightweight moisturiser, products have been formulated with natural ingredients including kakadu plum, marshmallow root and native Australian botanicals, and are free from actives and synthetic fragrance. For more information, email support@lustminerals.com.au.

10.

Win a complete GLOSSY brandworld

OTHERWORLD builds complete, ready-to-use brand identity kits. Its debut offering is GLOSSY, made especially for hair and beauty businesses. You could win a complete GLOSSY brand identity system valued at $405, exclusively with Professional Beauty. To enter, scan the QR code and tell us in 25 words what a complete brand would change for your business. Entries close September 30 2026. Australian residents 18+. T&Cs apply: www.itsotherworld.com/pages/glossy-giveaway. ■

18 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

* Source: Guidepoint Qsight Sales Measurement, 2025. Rankings reflect frequency of first-time treatments among Gen Z patients.

Lust Minerals takes on youth skincare segment

PB NEWS

BRANDS TO WATCH

We provide an update on ACSG and the hero products worth adding to your treatment room.

From established clinic favourites like DMK and Therabody to emerging breakthroughs, Advanced Cosmeceuticals Skin Group’s portfolio spans every stage of the professional skincare market. Here are four brands currently on our radar:

Votary

Makeup artist Arabella Preston created Votary on the belief that great skin is the best foundation. Pairing potent botanical actives with luxurious sensorial formulations, the range delivers smoother, brighter skin and the signature Votary glow. PB’S TOP PICK: Rose Geranium & Apricot Cleansing Oil More than 13 million cleanses later, Votary’s original Cleansing Oil remains the brand’s global bestseller. Rich in nourishing botanical oils, it melts away makeup, SPF and impurities, leaving skin soft, smooth and radiant from the very first step.

People4Ocean

Words: Erin Berryman | Photography: Supplied

Founded by marine biologists, People4Ocean pairs reef-friendly, non-nano zinc SPF with formulations free from endocrine and reproductive disruptors. It’s a premium, values-led sunscreen that supports the most important step in every at-home skincare routine. PB’S TOP PICK: SPF 30 Mineral Bioactive Shield Iridescent Cream Formulated with pink microalgae and beta-carotene, this mineral SPF defends against UV damage and oxidative stress. Waterless, fast-absorbing and with minimal white cast, it removes the usual barriers to daily use.

Par Olive

Created by Olivia Boyd-Smith and developed alongside dermatologists and longevity doctors, Par Olive brings beautyfrom-within to the treatment plan. Its Australian-made formulas use clinically backed actives to extend results while opening up a new retail revenue stream. PB’S TOP PICK: Advanced Skin Multivitamin Developed with leading skin doctors and longevity experts, this new doctor-recommended supplement combines nine clinically dosed antioxidants to support cellular renewal. By targeting oxidative stress and inflammation, it promotes clearer, more resilient and visibly healthier skin.

Medik8

If there’s one brand that has dominated the retinal category, it’s Medik8. Its award-winning Crystal Retinal set the benchmark for vitamin A, while the wider range continues to innovate in skin longevity and regenerative science. PB’S TOP PICK: Exo-PDRN Prismatic+ Pro Concentrate Combining exclusive Prismatic PDRN technology, a Triple Exosome Complex and Dual MiniProteins, this new professional concentrate is designed to complement microneedling, peels, LED and other advanced modalities. It’s been shown to outperform microneedling alone, helping elevate in-clinic results. ■ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 19

PB COVER STORY

A NEW ERA FOR ULTRACEUTICALS

Catrin Thomas, CEO

here’s an undeniable force driving the Ultraceuticals team. They talk the same talk, with a connection and conviction that extends beyond each individual job title. There’s a consistent personal investment in the Australian made and owned brand which, since its inception, has been led by renowned cosmetic physician Dr Geoffrey Heber. Sitting at the helm (and usually behind the scenes), Dr Heber is a quiet overachiever, leading the cosmeceutical movement in Australia and beyond with dignity and constancy. And in 2026, he shows no sign of slowing down. It’s this accessibility, ease and insatiable thirst to find the next horizon in skincare science that draws you to the team and ultimately, to the brand. As a treatmentled brand, Ultraceuticals offers a generous range of treatment protocols and complementary retail products. The extensive Ultraceuticals core range is available via professional channels and D2C while the UltraMD range is sold in aesthetics settings as a partner to aesthetic treatments, and only available through the clinic. In-house PhD chemists and R&D team work locally, with a full laboratory and clinical trial rooms housed within the brand’s head office in Sydney. At the core of the portfolio is professional credibility and trust, having established a reputation for delivering real, visible results over almost 30 years.

Way Back When

Ultraceuticals’ heritage is built on Dr Heber’s own desire to experiment with prescription ingredients back in the 90s, especially tretinoin and hydroquinone. In the midst of the growing AHA movement at the time, he worked with a pharmaceutical chemist to develop the first stabilised 20 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Dr Sally Noushini, Head of R&D and Innovation

vitamin C. This discovery marked the launch of Ultraceuticals’ C10 Serum in 1998. “Product innovation-wise, we’ve always kept to the original philosophy of formulating products that work and giving people the real results they want,” Dr Heber tells Professional Beauty. Active ingredients remain the theme of the entire Ultraceuticals range. The brand’s new and bestselling Ultra C+ Rejuvenating C Chebula Serum utilises the same stabilisation principles used in the brand’s first product, just enhanced. “Chebula enhances the antioxidant effect, is very powerful at preventing glycation, and neutralising a broader range of free radicals from vitamin C. It provides more protection and inhibits the enzymes called MMPs that break down elastin and collagen.” Dr Heber sprouts knowledge of complex ingredient compositions like a second language. “It’s also really lovely to use”.

Ultraceuticals’ New Groove

From August 2026, Ultraceuticals will sport a new look, reaffirming its place as leader in the cosmeceutical space - both at home in Australia and in international markets. Complete with a modernised marketing strategy focused on content and community, this ‘new era’ retains the brand’s professional-first strategy. “Although the marketing model has changed so dramatically over the years, our clinic and salon partners are still the heartbeat of this brand. We are investing more in education and partner support than ever with the aim of helping our partners to also adapt and grow” says CEO Catrin Thomas. Reimagined packaging and further breakthrough product launches such as the recent launch of ExoSignal GF², have been designed to reflect evolving consumer needs. Dr Heber believes that the consumer has been looking away from flash trends and toward science-backed skincare for some time. The goal now is to convey the benefits of the science more clearly. “The consumer is looking for knowledge, and if they are educated, they can make better choices. [But] it’s a real challenge for science-backed brands like Ultraceuticals to explain the complexity of the science ... we are the opposite of the single ingredient brands that have emerged in recent years and there is a lot of confusion out there. Consumers are vulnerable to quasi-science and we want to play a role here,” Dr Heber explains. The spotlight is placed back on trust. “It’s so important for a cosmetic company like ours to be trustworthy - and going through the professional channel helps that. It’s

Photography: Supplied

Dr Geoffrey Heber, Ultraceuticals Founder

Hannah Gay sits down with Ultraceuticals founder, Dr Geoffrey Heber to unpack the company’s 28 year-long skincare philosophy, obsession with education, and roadmap for the future.

PB COVER STORY

more difficult in the digital space although we have to show up there too.” A temptation is there to make stronger claims, he admits, and yet he says the brand stands firm on underpromising and overdelivering. When it comes to consumer and therapist education alike, no one is better equipped than Global Education Ambassador Tracey Beeby, who celebrated 20 years with the brand in 2025. Prior to joining the team, Beeby operated her own salon, stocking Ultraceuticals from its early days. She speaks to the brand’s “no false promises” approach and the value this holds in a crowded skincare marketplace where consumers are not sure what to trust. “[Consumers] are getting a huge amount of information from social channels particularly TikTok and Instagram, which is great as they now understand more about ingredients than ever. However we do find that there is a lot of conflicting and confusing information out there and so we still have a huge role to play in making sure they are going down the right path of knowledge and the professional clinic can play a critical role here.”

Next Gen Innovation

Dr Sally Noushini, Ultraceuticals’ Head of R&D and Innovation helps lead the conversation. “We don’t chase trends simply because they’re popular,” she says. “Instead, we evaluate whether an emerging technology is supported by robust scientific evidence and whether it addresses a genuine unmet consumer need.” Dr Noushini has led the innovation of many groundbreaking technologies and products for Ultraceuticals over many years and feels priviledged to be in her role. “It is so exciting to be part of an Australian, founder led and owned company that continues to invest so deeply in research and breakthrough science.” While Ultraceuticals leads with a complex, sciencefirst approach, its retail ranges are accessible with simple solutions for all skin types. Everything a skin clinician - and their client - could need is available. Several extensive rounds of clinical trials are conducted on every formulation before a product ever hits the market. “[Testing] is something we’ve always done,” Dr Heber says, “we don’t rely on what ingredient suppliers say.” Both backbar and at-home topicals have also been built to support aesthetic modalities performed by way of devices or injectables, in keeping with growing consumer demands for a natural result and healthy looking skin. Dr Heber and his team are active members of the industry, attending international dermatology conferences and subscribing to journals to remain abreast of ingredient innovations. “We ask ourselves how we can improve upon what’s already available, whether through enhanced efficacy, better stability, improved skin tolerability or a superior consumer experience,” Dr Noushini continues. Retaining local operations means close collaboration between the company’s R&D, regulatory, quality and manufacturing teams.

Hero Offerings

The Ultraceuticals Ultra A-Zyme Power Peel is its flagship in-clinic treatment. Powered by Retinol and Bromelain, Dr Heber says at one point no other product on the market achieved this pairing. “A strength that truly differentiates Ultraceuticals is that we don’t simply select ingredients,” Dr Noushini says. “We work with proprietary technologies, combining them in complex ways that maximise their performance and

deliver the real results our consumers have come to expect.” Other best-sellers reflect the brand’s commitment to elevating ingredients A, B and C. On the brand’s retinol range, Dr Heber explains “Our technology wraps the retinol in wax microparticles with antioxidants that stabilise it. The particles get into the skin highly effectively, and they release the retinol gradually, not with a peak burst. So they contain a high payload of retinol... they address the stability… and there’s very little irritation.” The first product to be released in the updated packaging is the highly coveted Youth Boost ExoSignal GF² Facial Serum - containing 30 billion plant-derived exosomes per bottle, extracted from a specialised Centella Asiatica extract. Such exosomes, Dr Heber states, are backed by published scientific papers and combined with growth factors “to support skin communication pathways involved in the surface renewal system,” Dr Noushini adds. “It’s an exciting area of skincare science that reflects our commitment to exploring emerging technologies backed by credible research. We have also done extensive testing with ExoSignal GF² using devices such as microneedling, giving clinics another tool to support claim-driven results for their clients” As Dr Noushini puts it, this new era extends to the brand’s innovation too, as Ultraceuticals builds on its scientific foundations pushing further into emerging areas of skin biology, with a sharp focus on longevity, regeneration, barrier health and overall skin health.

Education First

Ultraceuticals has long set the gold standard in industry training and continues to invest heavily in raising the bar on education. The education team deliver their incredible knowledge and support for clinic partners through in person training, training events, regular webinars and through a constantly updated online platform - the UltraHub. Knowing that there is no substitute for in-person learning there is still a major emphasis on training therapists in real life. All new accounts receive monthly training sessions for 12 months from opening, with tailormade clinic training to follow. “[We also host] advanced webinars talking through the melanogenesis process, ageing, what’s happening in the skin, why you need particular ingredients… we aim to give the therapist all the information and tools they need,” Beeby explains. “Education is everything for us and for our partners, and it has been shown - we can track it - that when a clinic takes part in education, their figures improve dramatically.” She argues the difference in educating a client over selling to a client, delivering strategies to therapists that takes away the fear of selling. “The client will then know what a treatment or a product (or the combination) is going to do for them, and once they know this, this is where trust is built. If the client understands the ‘why’ behind a product it makes it so much easier for the therapist to truly transform their skin.” ➤ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 21

PB COVER STORY

Beeby echoes Dr Heber’s enthusiasm for speaking to the ingredient-savvy consumer. Visual cues are used to teach the therapist, to teach the client. She mimics the conversation: ‘This is a picture of your skin, this is your melanocyte cell, this is what’s happening and this is why you need particular ingredients’.” Dr Heber advocates for the need to set realistic expectations as part of professional guidance - a concrete way clinics add authority that content creators can’t. This language forms the “Ultra consultation process, which was modelled on how Geoffrey used to have us all consulting with his patients.” Beeby explains the ULTRA acronym: Understand, Look, Translate, Recommend and Aftercare.”

Lessons in Loyalty

Dr Heber describes Ultraceuticals as “a relationship business” rather than a transactional one. “I want people to have access to their best possible skin. Because of the complex, active ingredients in our formulations, they benefit greatly from professional consultation and personalised advice. Our foundation has always been the professional channel, and we remain committed to supporting the future our professional partners’ businesses.” Dr Noushini adds, “We spend a great deal of time with our network of clinical skin professionals who provide invaluable insights into the concerns they see every day in the treatment room.” Opening orders are customisable, making for easy integration into any new or established skin clinic. Dr Heber acknowledges that since the brand was founded - and even as recently as the last few years - the digital world has transformed the way that consumers are researching skincare and discovering brands. To attract a new consumer, brands need to be part of this online conversation. So, alongside the restage of Ultraceuticals and UltraMD and the introduction of the Ultra Professional Back Bar range, much work is underway to transform the way the brand shows up in the world. A totally new look and feel and modern approaches to content creation are a key part of the marketing focus. Online selling has a role to play also, particularly in 22 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

getting new consumers into the brand. “Like many brands in the sector, we have been learning as we go in this digital world. It is a delicate balance and we won’t get everything right first time. However, we are committed to learning fast and adapting quickly. Our main aim is to ensure that the next step a new consumer takes having discovered the brand online, is to head towards a clinic for professional advice and treatments” says Thomas. “So we are very focused on finding new ways to deeply integrate the clinic and treatments into our online experience. Heber is quick to underscore that the top priority is to support and enable Ultraceuticals’ professional partners to also sell online directly to their customers if they wish - an initiative he and his team currently have in the works. Such an initiative is designed to meet the needs of a new breed of digitally-savvy consumers and the millennial clinic owners that support them. “The world has changed, and so much is happening online. We need to make it possible for clinics who want to sell direct to their customers online to be able to do so. We will not force clinics into doing this - some really want to take this step, others really do not - but we want to support clinics, in ways that are right for them, to adapt so they can thrive into the future.” The Ultraceuticals team is passionate about skin and reflects key brand values including trust, curiosity and connection. In an interview with this publication back in 2018, Dr Heber shared that one of the biggest lessons he’s learnt since founding the brand was to “hire the best possible people and treat them well.” This includes those both in head office and in the clinic. “We have those people, but they’re not all that easy to find.” For Beeby, loyal to the brand for more than two decades, it comes down to authenticity, ethics and values “and of course, the fact that there’s no other skincare like it on the market.” Ultimately, one of the biggest signifiers of success for the business is both clinic and client loyalty. “Word of mouth is the strongest marketing. We have these ecosystems of mum-daughter-aunty-sister,” Dr Herber explains. “And our customers keep coming back, and back, and back.” Ultraceuticals’ repeat purchase rate is 40+ per cent – a rare thing in skincare or beauty more generally. Beeby credits such loyalty to the brand’s performance and consistency. “[People trust that we have amazing products and that we really care about their results – we have their best interests at heart and they know it,” Dr Heber adds.

The Future is Bright

What’s driving the brand forward is innovation. “And it comes back to transforming the skin,” Dr Heber says. “Our goal is to continue pushing the boundaries of evidence-based skincare,” Dr Noushini adds, “staying true to the principles that have always defined Ultraceuticals: transforming skin through science, innovation and delivering real, visible results.” “I think we’re always evolving... we’re improving all the time,” Beeby concludes. “The education that we’re providing is at a different level from where it was – from what it has ever been before. We are a service industry. We have to provide that service and I think we are doing that better than we’ve ever done before.” She draws on an increase in hands-on education and one-on-one connection with partners. Ultraceuticals is doing the work and has always done the work. It’s only now that the consumer is catching up. While the brand remains ahead of its time, this luxe, modern reimagining seeks to reflect the exceptional people and research that backs every one of its touchpoints. In an era of hype and hope, Dr Heber set a different standard - one built on evidence, integrity, and an uncompromising commitment to formulations that work. ■

PB COVER STORY

Ultraceuticals Partner Testimonials With Debbie McGregor, Founder/Director of Total Body Concept – a leading Ultraceuticals’ account out of Christchurch, New Zealand:

Describe the ethos of your skin clinic.

“Luxury is not defined by extravagance, but by expertise, personalised care, and results you can both see & feel. Our clinic has spent decades building trust through consultation, education and exceptional outcomes.”

For how long have you been a stockist of Ultraceuticals?

“25 years.”

What drew you to Ultraceuticals?

“Something surprisingly simple: the Sheer Tinted SPF! From my very first experience, I was impressed by its elegant texture, superior performance, and the results it delivered. That single product sparked the beginning of what has become a trusted and enduring partnership. Over the years, my confidence in Ultraceuticals has only continued to grow. The unwavering commitment to clinical research, product innovation, and evidence-based formulations consistently delivers the results they promise. Knowing that the brand was founded by Dr Geoffrey Heber, who remains actively involved and connected with clinics, reinforces the integrity and vision behind every product. Beyond the products themselves, Ultraceuticals has provided exceptional professional support. Their knowledgeable team, experienced educators, comprehensive online training, and commitment to continuous education ensure we remain at the forefront of skin science and treatment innovation. Combined with outstanding marketing support and genuine partnership approach, Ultraceuticals has become far more than a skincare brand - it is an integral part of how we deliver exceptional outcomes and confidence to our clients every day.”

Describe the nature of the training you and your team have received from Ultraceuticals. “Our training is highly personalised which our team loves; the highlight of our training being with Tracey Beeby both in clinic and online. Tracey is supported by her own specialised educational team, and our NZ Regional Manager and BDM. We also have a comprehensive online training hub which is detailed and professional.”

Discuss the hero Ultraceuticals skin treatments you offer at your business, and how versatile they are.

“Our hero treatment is the LumiBright facial treatment. We love that this treatment can target a range of different concerns for our clients, from pigmentation to uneven skin tone. The results are instant.”

Which Ultraceuticals fly off your retail shelves?

“Our top three best-selling Ultraceuticals products that fly off the shelves include: Ultraceuticals B² Hydrating HA 360 Facial Serum, Ultra Balancing Gel Cleanser, and Ultra UV Protective Daily SPF50 Hydrating. These products are in almost all of our clients’ homecare routines. They are for every skin type at every age.”

How important is it to you that Ultraceuticals is an Australian owned business with all communications and product development happening locally?

“Having product development, education, marketing and customer support based locally means communication is timely, responsive and highly relevant to our market. It also allows the brand to continually innovate, refine formulations and respond quickly to advances in skin science, ensuring we always have access to the latest evidencebased technologies, education and professional support. This close connection gives us confidence that we are offering our clients skincare developed specifically for our region, backed by a team that is accessible, knowledgeable and genuinely invested in our success.”

With Leanne Jones, Founder/Director at Utopia Skin Solutions – a dedicated account for over a decade – located in Melbourne:

Describe the ethos of your skin clinic.

“At the heart of Utopia’s ethos are three guiding pillars: honesty, education and results. We are committed to providing honest, personalised advice and treatments built on integrity, transparency and a deep understanding of skin health."

For how long have you been a stockist of Ultraceuticals? “Since May 2012.”

What drew you to Ultraceuticals?

“Ultraceuticals has been an incredible partner. They provide outstanding support for our clinic, from educational opportunities to client events that help us engage with our community. Their regular promotions offer genuine value to our clients while introducing them to products they may not have considered before, making it easier for them to discover new favourites and achieve even better skin outcomes.”

Describe the nature of the training you and your team have received from Ultraceuticals.

“We’re fortunate to have our dedicated Ultraceuticals Educator, Nikki, who provides personalised in-clinic education and ongoing support. Her guidance ensures our team stays confident, knowledgeable, and equipped with the latest product and treatment expertise, so we can continue delivering exceptional results for our clients. Ultraceuticals also offers an excellent online education portal, which is available 24/7. It allows us to revisit training, refresh our knowledge, and stay up to date whenever we need to."

Discuss the hero Ultraceuticals Skin treatments you offer at your business and how versatile they are. "Our hero Ultraceuticals treatment is the A-Zyme because it’s incredibly versatile, addressing a wide range of skin concerns - from dullness and congestion to signs of aging and uneven skin tone. It consistently leaves clients impressed with their skin, which is why they come back for it time and time again.”

Which Ultraceuticals fly off your retail shelves?

“Ultra UV Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF 50 in both the Hydrating and Mattifying formulas, B² Hydrating HA 360 Facial Serum, and Ultra Protective Antioxidant Complex."

How important is it to you that Ultraceuticals is an Australian owned business with all communications and product development happening locally?

“Knowing that Ultraceuticals develops its products here gives us great confidence in the brand. Their formulations are created with a deep understanding of our climate, lifestyle, and the skin concerns commonly experienced by Australians. Having local product development and communication also means the brand is responsive, accessible, and in tune with the needs of clinics like ours. We value the strong relationships we’ve built with the Ultraceuticals team and appreciate the ongoing support, education, and collaboration they provide. It truly feels like a partnership, and that’s something we value just as much as the exceptional products themselves.”

PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 23

Better

TOGETHER A recent survey investigating industry culture revealed some hard truths. According to Home of Aesthetics’ founders Jessica Goldenberg and Sophie Lucas, connection may be all that’s missing.

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IN EARLY 2026, Home of Aesthetics (HOA) launched The Therapist Advocate Program (TAP), bringing together practitioners, educators, and business owners to share perspectives on the issues shaping the beauty and aesthetic industry. The findings reflect individual experiences across different roles, locations, and practice settings, providing a snapshot of how industry professionals perceive the culture of the sector today. The TAP Founding Cohort was invited to respond to one question: From your individual experiences, how would you describe the culture that exists today in the Australian Beauty and Aesthetic Industry?

Words: Jessica Goldenberg and Sophie Lucas | Photography: Pexels/Yaroslav Shuraev/ iStock/YakobchukOlena/LightFieldStudios

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“SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL FORCES SHAPING INDUSTRY CULTURE.” There is a clear opportunity for greater respect, understanding, and alignment across disciplines.

The Influence of Social Media: Visibility v Reality

What emerged was not a single narrative, but a layered one. An industry that is progressing but not yet aligned. An industry that is connected but still fragmented. An industry that is thriving, but also under pressure. Several key themes consistently emerged across the responses.

Progress Without Full Alignment

Despite significant growth, the industry remains fragmented. Differences in education pathways, professional titles, and scope of practice continue to create division between beauty therapists, dermal clinicians, nurses, and doctors. At times, these roles are positioned in opposition rather than as complementary parts of a broader ecosystem. “It often feels like everyone is working against each other instead of together,” a respondent shared.

Social media has become one of the most powerful forces shaping industry culture. It has created opportunities for visibility, connection, and education, but has also introduced significant challenges. Misinformation, unrealistic expectations, and comparison culture are now part of the practitioner experience. “Platforms… have become breeding grounds for misinformation.” Many practitioners reported spending increasing amounts of time educating clients and managing expectations before treatment can even begin.

The Shift from Practice to Performance

“We’ve shifted… from practice to performance. From depth to visibility.” A defining theme emerging from the cohort is the subtle shift in how success is perceived within the industry. In an environment driven by visibility and digital presence, there is increasing tension between clinical depth and perceived success. This raises important questions: How is experience measured? How do we maintain standards in an environment that rewards what is new and fast? What defines credibility?

An Industry Under Pressure

The culture of the industry cannot be understood without recognising the pressure that exists within it. Pressure to perform Pressure to be visible Pressure to meet client expectations shaped by social media “I don’t think it’s simply competitive… I think it’s an industry under pressure.” This pressure is influencing decision-making, behaviour, and how practitioners show up in their work. ➤ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 25

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With thanks to contributors of this report: Jess Saunders Diploma Beauty Therapy, Training and Assessing Melissa Magliolo, Dermal Clinician Diploma of Beauty Therapy, Bachelor of Health Science (Dermal Therapies), Professional Certificate of Dermoscopy Jade Murray Diploma qualified Beauty Therapist Eley Hooper CIDESCO & CIBTAC

“DESPITE THE CHALLENGES, ONE OF THE STRONGEST THEMES ACROSS ALL RESPONSES WAS A GENUINE DESIRE FOR A MORE CONNECTED AND COLLABORATIVE INDUSTRY.” A Shared Desire for Collaboration and Better Culture

Despite the challenges, one of the strongest themes across all responses was a genuine desire for a more connected and collaborative industry. There are already pockets of this, where practitioners support one another, share knowledge, and work together effectively. “The opportunity is in choosing collaboration over competition.” The opportunity now is to expand this mindset across the industry.

Looking Ahead

Across the cohort, practitioners described challenges around visibility, professional identity, misinformation, and increasing pressure. Yet despite these challenges, there was also a consistent sense of optimism about what the industry could become. The Therapist Advocate Program was created to facilitate these conversations, bringing together diverse perspectives and creating space for more connected industry dialogue. This report is not intended to provide all the answers. Rather, it serves as an invitation to continue asking better questions, listening more openly, and working more collaboratively. Because ultimately, the future of this industry will not be defined by how much it grows, but by how well it chooses to grow together. Jessica Goldenberg’s final thoughts: “What surprised me most was the genuine feeling of disconnect shared across the entire founding cohort. I expected this to be something experienced by some individuals, but I didn’t anticipate how consistently it would emerge across practitioners with different qualifications, roles, business models, and levels of experience. What makes that finding so significant is that it isn’t isolated to one profession, sector, or stage of career. Despite the differences between participants, there was a shared desire for greater 26 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Hanna Galpin, Dermal Nurse Diploma qualified Beauty Therapist, Bachelor qualified Dermal Clinician, Masters qualified Registered Nurse Kristina Mazzone, Dermal Clinician/Educator Bachelor of Health Science Sarah Pollard, Cosmetic RN Bachelor of Nursing

connection, understanding, and collaboration across the industry. What gives me hope is that awareness is always the first step towards change. By bringing these conversations into the open, we begin to realise that many of the challenges we face are shared; that understanding creates an opportunity to build a more connected, supportive, and united industry together.” Sophie Lucas’ final thoughts: “What I find most striking in this report is that the themes our cohort have named are not new; many of us have felt them for years. What is new is that we are finally saying them out loud, together. An industry where expertise isn’t always recognised in the right places, and where so many valuable voices go unheard, cannot reach its full potential. But the opportunity here is real. When we shift from competition to collaboration, and commit to growing together rather than apart, this industry becomes something truly extraordinary.” ■ To read the 20-page report in full, visit www.tinyurl.com/2wup8fmt. Home of Aesthetics (HOA) is Australia’s dedicated B2B marketplace and professional community for the beauty and aesthetic industry.

GHK-Cu: BEYOND THE BUZZWORD

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As hype grows and regulatory scrutiny mounts, Erin Berryman speaks to the experts helping beauty professionals navigate peptide questions with confidence. ➤

Photography: iStock/PeopleImages/Julia Isaeva

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“IT HANDS THEM AN INSTRUCTION, BASICALLY ‘START REBUILDING, MAKE MORE COLLAGEN, MORE ELASTIN, CLEAN UP THE DAMAGED STUFF’,”

FEW WORDS have entered the mainstream lexicon as quickly as “peptides”. Fewer still have generated as much hype with so little understanding. Driven by the rise of GLP-1 weight loss medications and a growing fascination with longevity, conversations about peptides now span medicine, wellness and aesthetics. In the treatment room, GHK-Cu has become the poster child of the peptide boom. A copper tripeptide that occurs naturally in the body, it has attracted attention for its potential role in skin rejuvenation, hair growth and inflammation reduction.

The Evidence

Early research published in 1999, one of the few human trials to date, found topical GHK-Cu produced greater improvements in collagen markers than the comparator actives used in that study. Subsequent studies also documented improvements in firmness, elasticity and skin density. GHK-Cu has decades of research behind it. Yet what most consumers don’t realise is that the bulk of that human clinical evidence relates to topical application, not injectables. “Most people assume that if an ingredient works topically, injecting it would work even better,” says Kiki Abouchakra, founder of Sydney’s Chakra Intelligent Skin, who incorporates topical GHK-Cu into her longevity skincare practice. “But with GHK-Cu, the human clinical evidence actually runs in the opposite direction.” Online, however, the conversation has shifted firmly towards injectables. A quick scroll through Reddit reveals communities discussing peptide protocols that extend well beyond the current evidence base. “Consumers are constantly being bombarded with different information from different sources,” Abouchakra says. “Unfortunately, much of it comes from people who aren’t accredited to give the advice.”

Regulation

In June, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) announced that unapproved peptides would become a “priority focus area”, dedicating more resources to consumer education, monitoring imports, seizing 30 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

products and issuing penalties. The announcement followed news of a joint Australian Border Force and Victoria Police operation that resulted in the seizure of around $2 million worth of steroids and peptides. For a category that had spent years simmering in wellness forums, it was a signal that the peptide conversation had well and truly gone mainstream.

Explaining Peptides to Clients

Abouchakra compares the skin to a busy construction site. As we age, she explains, the workers are still there but receive fewer instructions to build and repair. GHK-Cu acts as the signal, telling cells to begin the repair process. “It hands them an instruction, basically ‘start rebuilding, make more collagen, more elastin, clean up the damaged stuff’,” she says. Maria Enna-Cocciolone, founder of INSKIN COSMEDICS, offers a similar analogy. “Peptides are like text messages for your skin cells,” she explains. “When skin is tired, stressed, inflamed or simply not functioning the way it should, peptides help deliver instructions that encourage the skin to function at its best.” ➤

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“THE SKINCARE INDUSTRY HAS ALWAYS LOVED A HERO INGREDIENT, BUT GREAT SKIN OUTCOMES AND PRODUCTS ARE ABOUT THE WHOLE FORMULATION AND RARELY THE RESULT OF ONE INGREDIENT ALONE.” Setting Expectations

Abouchakra is transparent with clients about what they should realistically expect from topical GHK-Cu. “It isn’t going to erase lines and wrinkles, but what it is going to do is strengthen the foundation of your skin, making it more supple, less inflamed and more hydrated. It is a great peptide and one I would recommend, but I don’t believe it will replace Botox per se.” The clinic’s role, she believes, is to simplify the noise rather than amplify it. It speaks to a broader pattern: consumers conflating one ingredient with a complete solution. “Rather than thinking of peptides as one ingredient, it’s more accurate to think of them as a family of ingredients that communicate with the skin in different ways,” says Daniel Isaacs, Chief Product Officer and Founding Partner at Medik8. Enna-Cocciolone has seen this play out every time a new hero ingredient captures attention. “The skincare industry has always loved a hero ingredient,” says Maria, “but great skin outcomes and products are about the whole formulation and rarely the result of one ingredient alone.” All three experts agree that peptides are not a replacement for the fundamentals. Barrier function, daily SPF, antioxidants, vitamin A and consistency remain the foundation on which everything else is built. Their value, Isaacs reiterates, lies in working alongside those proven actives rather than competing with them. 32 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Separating Hype from Innovation

“Not every peptide product is created equal,” says Isaacs. “The concentration, stability, formulation and delivery system all influence whether you’ll actually see meaningful results. Evidence-led formulation and clinical testing are what ultimately separate genuine advances from marketing claims.” It’s a point echoed by EnnaCocciolone, whose O COSMEDICS range features a proprietary V8 Peptide Complex. “A peptide on an ingredient list doesn’t automatically make a product innovative,” she says. “Ask what the peptide is designed to do, how it’s being delivered and whether there’s science to support the claims being made.” The TGA crackdown is prompting a more evidence-led conversation around peptides. “It has created more discussion around what peptides are, how they’re used and the importance of safety and regulation,” says Enna-Cocciolone. “For the professional skincare industry, it presents an opportunity to educate.” As peptide science continues to evolve — with exosomes, microbiome research and cellular communication science converging on similar territory — the real opportunity for clinics lies not in chasing every new peptide, but in helping clients understand what the science actually supports. ■

EDUCATION

Photography: iStock/shockshots korea

Professional Beauty

Managing client wellbeing, in-salon communication strategies, and getting the most out of Beauty Expo 2026

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DIVING HEAD FIRST

IT’S A scenario many beauty therapists have faced before: they arrive for their shift, are presented with a client, and the conversation quickly sways from predictable pleasantries to something unsettling. There’s a shift in tone, and the client begins to open up, filling the silence with heavy words surrounding their personal life. When news for those clients is too difficult to bear, the weight is better shared than carried alone. Beauty therapists are there to hold space for such clients in need; to lend an impartial and unjudgmental ear. But such a helping hand doesn’t come with the job description. It’s not taught in schools or asked about in interviews. It’s neither encouraged nor deterred, good nor bad, ‘normal’ or not. Supporting the physical health of beauty clients is - in a round-about way - part of the job. Whether attending to their skin, nails, scalps, bodies, or breathing, beauty therapists have long been regarded for their ability to connect with and aid other humans by way of touch. So what happens when that expectation turns from touch to conversation? When clients ask their beauty therapists to act as a sounding board, or even a support system, in their time of need? It’s a question that’s been raised in a recent report out of The University of Melbourne. Titled Addressing Care 34 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

and Wellbeing in the Australian Hair and Beauty Industry: Caring Beyond Skin Deep, the report reveals home truths surrounding the unsung role beauty workers play in the management of clients’ mental health, identities and overall wellbeing.

What the Report Found

The report drew findings from surveys involving more than 600 workers and clients across multiple studies, including 61 in-depth interviews with salon workers and clients. Data was also sourced from industry engagement and media analysis conducted between 2017 and 2026. It recommended that industry-wide wellbeing training be introduced that is specifically tailored to the personal services sector.

Source: Addressing Care and Wellbeing in the Australian Hair and Beauty Industry: Caring Beyond Skin Deep, Dr Hannah McCann, The University of Melbourne (2026). | Photography: iStock/Delmaine, Supplied

Salon professionals are often confidants as much as clinicians, yet few are trained for the emotional demands of the role. Hannah Gay unpacks the research exposing the industry’s invisible care work and what’s needed to protect those providing it.

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The research also highlights the physical demands of salon work, including the risks of injury, harassment and emotional burnout, while arguing that the industry’s predominantly female workforce has historically had its care work undervalued. The findings echo a common cry from within the industry, drawn from the report’s own interviews: “You become a counsellor without the qualification.” “People tell us about divorce, cancer, domestic violence, addiction, grief… everything.” “Nobody teaches you how to deal with these conversations.” “We need tools to protect ourselves while still caring for our clients.”

The Therapist’s Experience

For Melissa Young, founder of Melissa Young Beauty in Sydney’s Inner West, the report marks an important moment, bringing long-overdue attention to the emotional demands of salon work. “I don’t think it should be assumed that beauty therapists can carry that weight,” she tells Professional Beauty. “You feel that emotion when you’ve got a client breaking down in the room with you.” She shares the story of a client who fled her home after experiencing domestic violence. “They stay with you. I still think about her. I hope she’s living a beautiful life.” Young describes building strong rapport with clients over time. “You’re not family, you’re not a friend, you’re not going to judge them. 99 per cent of the time, it’s the client that’s initiating the conversation.” She doesn’t see the openness itself as the problem - what’s missing, she says, is knowing what to do in response. “You want to make sure you’re responding in the best way possible; not saying the wrong thing. It’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself.” That pressure often followed her home. “I would leave work in complete silence. I’ll get home, have a shower, and it’s almost like you’re trying to rinse the day away.”

“WHEN WE ASK THIS WORKFORCE TO ABSORB TRAUMA, DISTRESS AND VULNERABILITY WITHOUT TRAINING OR SUPPORT, WE ARE NOT EMPOWERING THEM.” - Stefanie Milla An Industry-Wide Pattern

“YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE RESPONDING IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE; NOT SAYING THE WRONG THING. IT’S A LOT OF PRESSURE TO PUT ON YOURSELF.” - Melissa Young

Stefanie Milla, CEO and Founding Director of The Aesthetic & Beauty Industry Council (ABIC), believes the findings are both validating and confronting. “The question for me isn’t, ‘Should beauty therapists support client wellbeing?’ because in many ways they already do. The better question is ‘What kind of wellbeing support is appropriate within scope, and how do we ensure therapists are trained, protected and not overburdened?’” Milla sees this as reflecting a broader issue around the undervaluing of women’s care work. Jobs and Skills Australia data cited by Milla lists beauty therapists as a 98 per cent female workforce, with 53 per cent working part-time and an average age of 33. “When we ask this workforce to absorb trauma, distress and vulnerability without training or support, we are not empowering them.”

Training the Trainers

Former multi-clinic owner and beauty trainer Melissa Jane Di Mieri - who holds a Bachelor of Psychology and is currently completing a ➤ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 35

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Master’s in Psychotherapy and Counselling - describes the conversation as multipronged, with instances of poor mental health needing to be addressed at both the client level and the therapist level. She now delivers Mental Health First Aid training tailored to the hair and beauty industry. “There’s been a lot of the same pattern of people not knowing how to support their team, and then how to get their team to support their clients.” Di Mieri has witnessed staff facing their own undiagnosed mental health issues while simultaneously absorbing their clients’ struggles, unsure how to process either. She believes the industry is losing talent as a result. “It can be a really daunting thing for them.” “I know for a fact, with lived experience, that that client will go into a skin clinic or a hair salon before they actually walk into a GP,” Di Mieri adds. “A lot of the clients would jump on those beds and just use the therapist as a psychologist... nobody was equipped to answer the right questions... no one’s trained in that in our space yet.” She flags burnout and loneliness as rife in the industry, and major contributors to poor therapist mental health. She also points to rising rates of ADHD diagnoses among women in the workforce, calling for a more considered approach to support and communication, and asks that salon leaders quash assumptions of laziness or indifference - guilt and shame, she says, are common feelings among this group. “Beauty therapists don’t earn enough that they can pay $1,600 to be diagnosed, or $200-$250 to see a psychologist or counsellor. Mental health is no longer taboo… the more people that speak about it, the more they can handle it themselves, personally and professionally.”

“MENTAL HEALTH IS NO LONGER TABOO… THE MORE PEOPLE THAT SPEAK ABOUT IT, THE MORE THEY CAN HANDLE IT THEMSELVES, PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.” - Melissa Jane Di Mieri

A Gap in the Curriculum

Mental health and wellbeing training is not a mandatory component of beauty therapy qualifications. Holistic skin therapist and salon owner Jacinta Curnow is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) at Endeavour College. She says many of her units prepare students for clinic practice, including communication skills, counselling concepts, mindfulness, trauma awareness, diversity, and culturally safe practice. Unlike beauty, she sees that health science courses “are preparing students to work more holistically with real clients… understanding how to safely support people beyond just physical symptoms.” Curnow cites the concept of ‘accidental’ or ‘embedded’ counselling - the idea that treatment rooms naturally become emotionally safe spaces for clients. “While practitioners are not counsellors, we do need awareness around communication, professional boundaries, scope of practice, and referral pathways when needed. I now focus more heavily on active listening, creating emotionally safe consultations, avoiding shame-based language around skin, and recognising that skin concerns are often closely tied to confidence and emotional wellbeing.” Young would like to see wellness or mental health training built into standard beauty courses, hoping for “some sort of direction” on where to go or who to contact when client or staff concerns arise. Curnow agrees there’s room for stronger education across beauty qualifications in consultation skills, communication, cultural competence, emotional wellbeing and professional boundaries. “As therapists, we often spend hours with clients during vulnerable periods of their lives. While it’s important we stay within our professional scope, I believe developing stronger communication and wellbeing awareness ultimately leads to safer, more supportive and more holistic client care.” To help bridge the gap, Di Mieri runs in-person and online workshops that set teams up with an action plan to follow when a client or team member presents with psychological distress - equipping participants to raise concerns without fear of losing a job, facing judgment, or becoming the centre of gossip. “Also, identifying the difference between having an anxiety moment and having a medical episode. From breath work to somatic work, it’s all about our nervous system holding and storing that trauma… how to get it out of the body and get through the day without feeling like you have to call in sick or are too ashamed to ask for support.”

What Comes Next

ABIC is working with Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA) to reimagine beauty course guidelines. For Milla, the question isn’t whether wellbeing exists somewhere in the training package, but whether the existing content is “contemporary enough, consistently 36 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

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Three resources to share with your clients and teams today: The Resilience Project Practical wellbeing education to build resilience, gratitude, empathy, and mindfulness. 03 9113 9302 www.theresilienceproject.com.au Beyond Blue 24/7 support for anxiety, depression and general mental wellbeing concerns. 1300 224 636 www.beyondblue.org.au Lifeline 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention by phone, text and online chat. Call: 13 11 14 Text: 0477 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org If there is an immediate safety risk, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

delivered, understood, properly assessed, and positioned across the right qualifications.” She’s calling on educators, RTOs, employers, practitioners, salon and clinic owners, students, mental health experts, domestic and family violence specialists, and psychosocial safety experts to contribute to the redesign. “This would not mean turning beauty qualifications into counselling qualifications. It should mean preparing graduates for the actual conditions of beauty practice. A Certificate III graduate may need foundational training in respectful communication, consent, confidentiality, personal boundaries and knowing when to seek help. A Diploma graduate may need deeper capability in consultation, client suitability, complex disclosures, ethical recommendations, referral pathways, treatment refusal and professional judgement. Business owners and managers need to understand psychosocial safety, debriefing structures, staff fatigue, client aggression, bullying, workload, role clarity and burnout prevention.” The University of Melbourne report concludes there is an urgent need for industry change to better train and support workers undertaking this care work. Milla puts it plainly: “The worst outcome would be a tick box wellbeing unit that sounds good on paper but doesn’t change the lived experience of graduates or workplaces. The best outcome would be a practical, evidenceinformed framework that helps beauty professionals recognise, respond, refer and recover. That is the model I believe our industry needs.”

“WHILE PRACTITIONERS ARE NOT COUNSELLORS, WE DO NEED AWARENESS AROUND COMMUNICATION, PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES, SCOPE OF PRACTICE, AND REFERRAL PATHWAYS WHEN NEEDED.” - Jacinta Curnow

“My broader view is that this conversation is really about professional maturity. For many years, the industry has been asked to deliver high technical standards, strong commercial outcomes, client transformation, emotional connection, safety, hygiene, retail, rebooking and customer service, often all at once - but the emotional and psychosocial dimensions of that work have remained largely invisible.” Meaningful change, industry voices suggest, ought to come from within. It’s a conversation that has often stayed behind closed doors, but one this survey indicates is better held in the open. For the client. And for the therapist. PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 37

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WHY BEAUTY EXPO AUSTRALIA 2026 IS THE NOT-TO-BEMISSED INDUSTRY EVENT OF THE YEAR

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There’s no industry event quite like Beauty Expo Australia. It’s the only national event that combines expertled talks with inspiring brand activations, competitions, and one-on-one business advice. Professional Beauty will be on the ground once again to capture all the BTS moments. And with so much to discover, it’s no wonder Beauty Expo 2026 is the annual industry event worth saving the date for.

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WELLNESS CONTINUES to transform the beauty industry, with salons, spas and clinics embracing a more holistic approach to client care. Beauty Expo Australia’s 2026 Wellness Edit is where wellness experts, innovative brands, products and practices come together to explore the future of beauty and wellbeing. Discover clean beauty breakthroughs, advanced health technologies, mindful living tools and sustainable self-care solutions in a specially curated, immersive experience. This is where professionals deepen their understanding of wellness-led treatments and where the industry connects around a shared focus on care, restoration and results that extend far beyond the treatment room.

Beauty Expo’s jam-packed Business of Beauty and Art of Aesthetics conference streams return, delivering a wealth of education across the weekend. With more than 70 sessions spanning beauty, wellness and aesthetics, the program offers countless opportunities to learn, connect and grow. From keynote presentations and real-world case studies to expert-led business panels, this is where insight meets inspiration. Designed to spark new ideas and shift the way we work, the conference is a destination for upskilling, fresh thinking and those pivotal lightbulb moments that shape the future of professional practice. The Face2Face Makeup Awards continues to set the benchmark for creative excellence, and 2026 is shaping up to be another standout year. Once again guided by internationally acclaimed, multi award-winning makeup artist Isabelle De Vries - renowned for pushing creative boundaries and redefining beauty standards - the competition will spotlight exceptional artistry at every level. We’re excited to see the bold looks, innovative techniques and imaginative direction that will emerge, as artists compete to redefine what’s possible in makeup artistry for the year ahead. This year’s categories include: • Bridal Makeup: The Signature Bride • Fashion Editorial: Runway Ready • Beauty Editorial: Colour Alchemy (Photographic) • Creative Makeup: Haute Entomology The expansive expo floor returns in 2026 with over 200 professional beauty brands to explore. From discovering new tools and testing the latest product launches to reconnecting with trusted favourites like Professional Beauty Solutions, Lycon Cosmetics and Hydrafacial, this is where the industry comes to life. PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 39

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Whether you’re a brow artist, skin therapist or lash tech, it’s the go-to destination to find your next essential product innovation. Beauty Expo’s commitment to real, practical support continues in 2026 with The Business Couch. Book a complimentary 30-minute one-on-one consultation and gain tailored advice from industry experts across salon management, marketing, education and business growth. It’s a unique opportunity to refine your strategy, solve challenges and take your beauty business to the next level. Back on the show floor, Beauty Live remains a must-visit destination for hands-on inspiration. Watch leading professionals demonstrate real-time techniques across brows, skincare, lashes and makeup, giving you front-row access to emerging trends and expert methods. It’s an interactive space to learn, ask questions and see artistry unfold live. Whether you’re an established professional or an emerging beauty entrepreneur, Beauty Expo 2026 is the ultimate weekend to connect, learn and be inspired. Professional Beauty will be on the ground capturing it all, so stay tuned for our full event wrap-up online! ■ 40 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

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By Mandi Vance

IN AN industry obsessed with innovation, our approach to training may be one of the last things due for a makeover. Walk into most beauty brand trainings and you know what to expect: a trainer delivering hours of theory, attendees taking notes, then practising hands-on technique. It’s a model that has served the industry well for decades. But over the last ten years, the way people learn has shifted. A generation of clients (and emerging therapists) have grown up watching 60 second tutorials, absorbing trends in real time, and self-diagnosing skin concerns. TikTok didn’t just change entertainment, it rewired how people expect to receive information: fast, visual, on-demand, hyper engaging. Whether digital or in person, the delivery of beauty education needs to be geared to maintain attention and retain key information and language. To be clear, this isn’t a call to ditch long-form training, or a sign that brand trainers are getting it wrong. The value of great beauty education hasn’t changed, the conditions for absorbing it have. Attention isn’t what it used to be. Not because therapists are less dedicated, but because every screen in their life has trained their brain to process information in shorter, sharper bursts. Glazed eyes and stifled yawns aren’t a sign the content lacks value, it’s the brain waiting for a pattern interrupt that never comes. So, what’s the opportunity? For educators, it’s thinking less about delivering information, more about engineering retention. This requires two things: 1) drilling down your content to key concepts and language to guide focus, and 2) building frequent, interactive stops that reinforce them. 42 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

A framework to help refine your content is what I call the “Sticky Stack”, my (fun-to-say) name for a pyramid with four layers, each serving a distinct purpose in how a therapist uses what you’re teaching. At the foundation is your core message: if they walk away with one thing, what would it be? Above that is language, the exact words that translate your brand’s expertise into client conversations. Next is application, how that knowledge shows up in clinic. And at the peak is differentiation, the nuances that set your brand apart in a saturated marketplace. For salon owners, use the Sticky Stack to focus what your therapist retains from training. Check they can speak about the topics clearly and confidently with clients. It’s an investment to send staff to training, this helps ensure an ROI. None of this means dumbing down what’s taught. Knowledge and innovation is the cornerstone of our industry! It’s a prompt to get creative with delivery: build in interactive moments that light up the brain, ensuring it all ties back to key tenets to reinforce retention. Information has a lifecycle: it starts with the educator, moves through the therapist, and ends with the client in the treatment room. Guide the language and make it as memorable as a scrollstopping video. Follow @mandivancedotcom on Instagram for more on beauty retail psychology and selling authentically. Brands can work with Mandi at www.mandivance.com.

Photography: iStock/Alberto van Herckenrode

TIKTOK HAS CHANGED LEARNING. HAS BEAUTY EDUCATION KEPT UP?

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FRAMING: THE BUSINESS SKILL HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT By Emelly Simons

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because you’ve already explained that’s how the appointment works. Framing doesn’t stop there, it continues at every appointment, reviewing progress and setting up the next steps. This tells your client they’re following a plan, not just booking another appointment. After more than 20 years working with clinics, here’s what I know: businesses don’t grow because they have better treatments, they grow because they create better client behaviours. Clients who understand the plan are more likely to follow it, accept recommendations, use their homecare, rebook and stay committed because you’ve made the next step obvious. Listen to the conversations happening in your business this week. Every one of them is shaping your client’s next decision. Change your Framing, and you’ll change your outcomes. Emelly Simons is a Skin Clinic Behavioural Strategist. She helps clinics build the behaviours behind highperforming, profitable businesses. Download your free Framing Cheat Sheet at www.thecosmeticindustrycoach.com.au.

Photography: ISvyatkovsky

EVER WONDERED why two people with the same qualifications can provide the same service, make the same recommendation and walk away with completely different outcomes? It isn’t because one is smarter or has a better product range. It’s usually because one knows how to set themselves, and their client, up before the appointment even begins. I call it Framing, and once you understand it, you’ll never unsee it. Framing is the conversation that comes before the consult, treatment, recommendation, check-in or rebooking. It tells your client what is about to happen, why it matters and what their role is in achieving the result they want. Think of it as the Google Maps voice for the client journey. Before you start driving, you know where you’re going, how you’ll get there and what to expect along the way. Framing does the same thing for your clients. Clients don’t usually walk into our clinics knowing what to expect. They’re often unsure, overwhelmed or carrying emotion about their skin or appearance. On top of this, their brain is already asking questions. What are they going to ask me? Will this hurt? How much is this going to cost? Are they about to sell me something? So, if you don’t answer those questions first, they’ll answer them themselves and I can almost guarantee it won’t be with the information you want them to have. Framing removes uncertainty before it becomes resistance. It can sound as simple as: “Today I’ll ask a few questions, take some images, explain what’s happening in your skin and then create a treatment and homecare plan to achieve your goals. How does that sound?” That last question? That’s your magic sentence. “How does that sound?” is where you earn the right to lead. Your client now expects you to recommend the treatments, homecare and maintenance needed to achieve their result

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FROM ADVOCACY TO REFORM: BEAUTY’S FUTURE IS NOW IN

motion

By Stefanie Milla, Director & CEO at Aesthetic & Beauty Industry Council (ABIC)

After years of submissions, meetings with government and consultation with Service and Creative Skills Australia (SaCSA), the qualifications that hold up our entire profession are open for reform. This is the moment we asked for, argued for and waited for, and it has arrived. It is also a beginning. What happens over the next 18 months will shape how our industry trains its people, how employers hire them, and how our profession is recognised and respected for the decade that follows. ABIC’s role in this is simple to say and demanding to do. We carry the voice of industry into the rooms where decisions are made. We turn frustration into evidence, experience into policy, and a thousand separate concerns into one industry position that government can act on. The review, led by SaCSA in collaboration with ABIC and industry, covers five qualifications: Certificate III in Beauty Services, Certificate III in Make-Up, Certificate III in Nail Technology, Certificate IV in Beauty Therapy, and the Diploma of Beauty Therapy. Dermal sits outside this review, and I will come back to why that still matters.

Why Timing Matters

For too long, our qualifications have lagged behind the profession they are meant to describe. Treatments have advanced. Technology has advanced. Client expectations have advanced. The training, in too many areas, has not kept pace. Today’s beauty professionals need more than technical skill. They need consultation ability, digital literacy, ethical selling, hygiene and safety, communication and genuine commercial capability. Industry has filled these gaps where it could. But supplier led courses and in-house training, however good, can never do the work of a national qualification that every employer, every graduate and every client is entitled to trust.

From Promise to Process

Reform of a national qualification is a formal, staged process, and we are already inside it. Each stage is a door that opens once, and industry input either walks through it or is lost. The initial development phase began in May 2026. A national survey closed in late June, gathering the evidence of where the current qualifications fall short. An information session followed, and in July the first consultation workshops were held, organised by qualification and by audience. More than 60 industry voices joined the beauty therapy session alone. What I saw was our industry at its best: honest, specific and generous.

From Here the Process Runs on a Clear Path:

Second half of 2026, SaCSA translates the survey results, workforce evidence and workshop feedback into draft qualification structures, units and assessment requirements. 46 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

February 2027, public and government consultation opens. This is the stage that matters most to you, the moment to ask whether the draft reflects real practice, prepares graduates properly and creates clearer pathways. April 2027, feedback continues to be incorporated. August 2027, senior government officials review the work. November 2027, ministerial endorsement is anticipated. 2028, the revised qualifications are published and implementation begins. That may read as procedure. It is anything but. A training package decides what is taught, what is assessed, what is expected and what is trusted, in every clinic, salon and college in the country.

What Industry Said When it Finally Had the Floor

The workshops surfaced the very frustrations so many of you have carried for years. The gap between graduation and the salon floor. Prerequisites that no longer make sense. Duplication across qualifications. Supplier training standing in for accredited education. A recognition of prior learning system so slow and costly that it is not easily accessible to experienced practitioners. Scope of practice needs honesty too. In some settings a therapist may legally perform treatments their qualification never meaningfully taught them, because what is permitted has drifted away from what is taught, assessed and demonstrated. That gap breeds confusion, inconsistency and risk, and a modern framework has to close it, with continuing professional development built into its structure rather than added as an afterthought.

Silence is Not Neutral

Here is the truth: if industry shows up in strength, the outcome will look like modern beauty. If industry stays quiet, the outcome will reflect only the voices organised enough to be heard. There is no neutral option. A qualification is written by the

Photography: iStock/ dikushin

There are Moments When Years of Quiet Work Become Visible all at Once

2026

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people who turn up to write it, and the quality of what emerges in 2027 will be a direct reflection of the quality and volume of what industry puts in now. ABIC is not here to decide the future of beauty on behalf of beauty. We are here to make certain beauty is heard, with clarity, evidence and strength. Our Education Committee is recommencing now that reform has begun, and it is the mechanism through which your feedback is gathered, tested and carried into formal submissions, so that what reaches SaCSA arrives with the weight of an industry behind it, not a single voice. We have seen the value of this before. When proposed entry requirements for the Diploma of Salon Management threatened to shut out capable managers, industry pushed back through the right channels, and it was heard. That is advocacy at its best: informed, coordinated and evidence-based.

The Bigger Picture, and the Pathway We are Still Owed

There will be different views in this process. There should be. Beauty is broad, skilled and diverse, and difference is not the same as division. The strongest contributions will be the ones generous enough to consider the whole profession, not one corner of it. It is also an opportunity for us to imagine what could be possible. Beauty into advanced skin. Advanced skin into dermal. Dermal into aesthetics. Now at every step, practitioners repeat what they have already learned, because recognition does not travel with them. A well built beauty framework will not solve that alone, but it can lay the first stone of a true career pathway, one where prior learning follows you upward instead of sending you back to the start. Beauty deserves to be a career with somewhere to go, and this is where that pathway begins.

How to get involved

If you want a formal role in shaping what goes forward, applications for the ABIC Education Committee are open at www.theabic.org.au/abic-education-committee. And at Beauty Expo Australia, ABIC and SaCSA are bringing this consultation together in person. The Future of the Beauty Industry Breakfast and Consultation, at ICC Sydney on Saturday 15 August from 7am to 10am, is a landmark session pairing a consultation workshop with a fireside conversation between myself and SaCSA CEO Natalie Turmine, a rare chance to put your view directly to the people writing these qualifications. It is exclusive to ABIC members who also hold a Beauty Expo ticket, and places are strictly limited. Register at www.events. humanitix.com/future-of-beauty-industrybreakfast-and-consultation-or-onsite-workshopor-sydney. We asked for this door to open. It has. What comes through it is not ABIC’s to decide, and not SaCSA’s. ABIC will carry your voice. SaCSA will steward the process. But the future of beauty must be written by beauty itself.

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LEARNING TO LEAD Industry coach Estelle Carroll shares the communication and leadership skills required to grow your team beyond being great technicians.

Clarity

If your team isn’t getting the message, it doesn’t automatically mean they aren’t listening. It may mean your communication isn’t clear. Great leaders create a clear vision, use fewer words, and make every conversation easy to understand. As we say in the speaking world, “make every word pay its rent”.

Teach the Way They Learn

We naturally teach the way we learn, but not everyone processes information the same way. Some people need to see it, some need to hear it, and others need to do it. The better you adapt your teaching style, the faster your team will grow.

Accountability

Leadership isn’t about being liked, it’s about creating clarity and consistency. When you hold people accountable, you’re not criticising them; you’re honouring the standards you’ve both agreed to. That’s where trust is built. 48 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

“THE SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU EXCEPTIONAL ON THE FLOOR AREN’T THE SAME SKILLS THAT GROW A BUSINESS.”

Consistency

Your team needs to know which version of you is walking through the door each day. As the leader, you’re the metronome that sets the pace and the lighthouse that guides the way. Consistency creates confidence.

Know Your Numbers

Great leaders measure. Track the numbers that matter: client traffic, retail, total sales and rebooking rates. Your scoreboard tells you where to coach your team next. The truth is, you’re probably already overqualified in your craft. The next stage of growth is about becoming the leader your team has been waiting for. Here is one communication technique you can use today: the next time you explain something to your team, don’t say “does that make sense?” as most will automatically answer yes. Instead say: “can you all talk me through what you’ll do next?” If they can’t, your message wasn’t clear. Refine your message by asking yourself: Was their clarity about what you wanted them to do? Could you simplify the information? Can you show them what success looks like? So before your next meeting, remember to say: “can you show me or tell me what you’ll do next?” When you grow your skills in communication and leadership, your team grows. And when your team grows, so does your business. Estelle Carroll is the founder of BOSS Coaching, helping salon owners build high-performing teams, stronger leaders and more profitable businesses. Email estelle@bosscoaching.com.au for upcoming event dates, or follow @estelle_bosscoaching on Instagram.

Photography: istock/Thai Liang Lim

WHEN WE enter this industry, we’re confident we have great communication skills. We love people. We love to chat. We spend all day talking to clients. So why do some clinic owners build thriving businesses while others stay stuck as the busiest technician? Because the skills that make you exceptional on the floor aren’t the same skills that grow a business. Like many owners, you’ve probably invested thousands in technical education. Another seminar. Another certification. Another PDF to share with the team. Yet somehow… nothing really changes. That’s because leadership is a completely different skill set, and one most of us were never taught. Here are the communication and leadership skills that create real growth:

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Beyond

THE BOOKING Healthy skin may be the destination, but it’s just as much about the journey, discovers Erin Berryman.

OVER TWO decades, Professional Beauty Solutions (PBS) co-founders Matt and Lisa Williams have developed a clear sense of what separates a clinic that endures from one that doesn’t. Those pulling ahead aren’t necessarily moving the fastest. They’re moving most deliberately, building client relationships with structure and intention rather than filling a calendar with one-off appointments and hoping loyalty follows. “The clinics that are growing are constantly revisiting the same question: how do I do things better than the salon down the road or the large clinic chain?” says Matt. Those standing still, he says, are doing what they’ve always done.

The Skin Journey Model

That philosophy has shaped PBS’ work with more than 2,000 salon, spa and clinic partners. Increasingly, the distinction isn’t between clinics offering advanced technology and those that aren’t. It’s between those still selling treatments and those building skin journeys. “Imagine if you walked into a gym, did one personal training session and then decided you might come back in three months,” says Matt. “Gyms have been doing the journey well for years, but clinics are still struggling with making that transition.” 50 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

2026

How That Looks in Practice

In PBS’ view, a skin journey moves through three phases. Correction addresses the concern that brought the client through the door. Maintenance protects that result between visits, positioning professional homecare as an extension of the treatment plan rather than an afterthought at the till. Enhancement builds on those foundations, layering advanced technologies with professional skincare to achieve outcomes that no single treatment could deliver alone. When stages are planned intentionally and communicated clearly, rebooking stops feeling like a sales push and becomes the obvious next step. “If it’s done right, the client will feel grateful that they found you,” says Matt. What’s more, clinics that build structured skin journeys rarely compete on price. They’re no longer selling individual treatments. They’re selling expertise, outcomes and long-term care, which justifies premium pricing. For

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“IF IT’S DONE RIGHT, THE CLIENT WILL FEEL GRATEFUL THAT THEY FOUND YOU.” - PBS Co-Founder, Matt Williams

PBS’ clinic partners, that shift translates directly into results. Sammi Barton, owner of Blush Boutique Skin Clinic in Canberra, is seeing that first-hand. “Instead of viewing treatments as standalone services, we now look at how technologies and professional skincare work together to produce the best possible outcome,” she says. She draws on Dermalux LED layered with skin needling or Lynton IPL, alongside Image Skincare protocols, as examples of how she now layers modalities. “Our treatment menu has become much simpler because we removed the guesswork. We prescribe what is clinically appropriate and layer technologies based on their goals, concerns and skin condition.”

The Right Fit

Determining which technology belongs in a clinic is where PBS’ specialist expertise comes into its own. The starting point is never the device itself. It’s the clinic’s identity: what it wants to be known for, who its clients are and whether demand exists to warrant the investment. A device suited to a busy metropolitan clinic may be entirely wrong for a smaller regional practice with a loyal but more specialised clientele. Mat Green, director of aesthetic technology at PBS’ new division, Pro Aesthetic Solutions (PAS), brings decades of experience helping clinics answer exactly those questions. “Start with your patient, not the brochure in front of you,” he says. “The clinics I admire most have an incredibly clear sense of who they’re serving and what those patients need — and every technology decision f lows from that. When you’ve got that clarity, the noise drops away pretty quickly.” That filter extends to innovation itself. “I’ve watched a lot of devices arrive with enormous fanfare and disappear just as quickly,” he says. PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 51

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FormaTK Alpha

One platform, 20+ clinical indications. Combines an 808nm diode laser for permanent hair reduction with proprietary 3D IPL covering pigmentation, vascular concerns, acne and skin rejuvenation, closing the door on client leakage. Built-in MILO provides accurate real-time skin type readings for every treatment, while PowerMotion™ technology delivers up to 3x faster results across all body areas.

Pollogen Divine Pro

A multi-technology platform combining skin needling, radio frequency and TriFractional Skin Resurfacing to deliver fractional laser-like facial remodelling results, without the associated risks, recovery time or capital outlay. The foundation of the Divine Pyramid Facelift, widely regarded as the leading non-invasive facelift protocol available today. “The technologies that endure tend to share a few things: genuinely reproducible results across diverse skin tones, independent clinical evidence that holds up beyond the launch press release, and a workflow that actually makes sense in a busy clinic.” Above all, Green believes the technologies that truly last have something less tangible in common. “I keep coming back to the human story behind the outcome. If a technology is genuinely changing how patients feel about themselves, that tends to be pretty obvious when you talk to the clinicians using it. The excitement is real, not manufactured.” That emphasis on people rather than products shapes every decision the distributor makes, from the advice it gives clinic partners to the technologies it chooses to represent. Clinical performance is only part of the equation. Before and afters must be consistent over time, not just compelling at launch. Safety profile, clinical support, ongoing research and the calibre of the people behind the technology are all considered, as is the breadth of the candidate pool it can serve. 52 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Pollogen Geneo X

Five technologies in one platform: OxyGeneo simultaneous exfoliation and oxygenation, TriPollar Radio Frequency, Electrical Skin Activation, Ultrasound and Lymphatic Massage. Each can be used independently or combined for the signature Pro2Lift, delivering immediate and long-lasting skin transformation for every age, skin type and season.

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PBS won’t partner with manufacturers without a dedicated clinical team of doctors or key opinion leaders who can demonstrate what the technology is genuinely capable of. “I will never go and buy a cheap device where there is zero aftercare or training or support,” says Lisa. “The relationship matters as much as the device itself.” The PBS portfolio is built around companies responsible for many of the technologies the industry now considers the gold standard. The Pollogen team invented TriPollar RF. The innovator behind Acclaro AuraLux created the Pico laser before developing the world’s first cold fibre laser for aesthetic use. Behind the FormaTK Alpha is a team that, in Matt’s words, created half the industry, while Dermalux has helped define the modern standard for LED phototherapy. “Across the board — from devices starting at around $4,000 to well into the hundreds of thousands — we only offer technology where there are people at the helm who are real industry innovators and who can write the textbooks on this technology. That’s what and who we want to deal with.”

Proof of Success

The clearest indicator that a clinic has genuinely built a skin journey model is felt before it is measured. “You can feel it the moment you walk in,” says Lisa. “Every client has a skin plan. The team

talks about where the client is on their journey, not just what they’re booked in for today. The next appointment is booked before they leave and homecare is part of the conversation.” Christine Ewart of The Beauty Spot Swan Hill has seen the benefits play out in a regional setting, and the results show in her bookings. “Clients no longer come in asking for ‘a facial’ — they are wanting a plan,” she says. “Client retention has significantly increased because we’re giving people a roadmap rather than selling individual treatments. When clients understand the ‘why’ behind every recommendation, they commit to the process.” Sammi has also observed improved retention. “People understand where they are heading and what each treatment is achieving. They are no longer making isolated purchasing decisions. They are committing to a treatment pathway with clear milestones and measurable outcomes.” “Conversations are now centred around skin longevity rather than quick fixes,” adds Christine. “Clients are staying with us for years instead of months. That approach has helped create more predictable revenue while, more importantly, delivering far better client outcomes.”

“WE’VE SEEN CLIENTS WHO WERE INITIALLY NERVOUS ABOUT ADVANCED TREATMENTS BECOME SOME OF OUR BIGGEST ADVOCATES.” — Christine Ewart, The Beauty Spot Swan Hill Staying Ahead

The industry’s next competitive advantage may not come from owning the newest technology. It may come from understanding how every consultation, every treatment and every device fits into a longer story — and building the model that holds it all together. “If we had to name one thing to invest in now, it isn’t necessarily a device,” says Matt. “It’s the operating model, the systems, the team and the client journey that let you sell more to more people more often for more value. Get that right and you’ll have the edge regardless of whatever new technology shows up next.” PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 53

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Salons are making the most of AI to level up their best therapists, writes Rachel Medlock.

MOST SALONS use AI to handle routine tasks faster, but a more interesting approach is using AI to improve the human connection at the heart of the service, not just the tasks around it. Two players in the Australian market are building for exactly that. Think about what makes your best therapist stand out. They come to the consultation already familiar with the client’s history. They understand the client’s needs, recommend the right treatment, and finish the appointment smoothly. This isn’t luck; it’s a mix of preparation and instinct, practised until it feels natural. For owners, the challenge is that only a few therapists work this way, while most just improvise. Clinara and Phorest both promise to help your whole team perform like your best therapist, but they do it in different ways. Phorest focuses on giving therapists the right information. Its Cheat Sheet AI provides a short summary before each appointment, including the client’s history, preferences, last purchase, and the reason for the visit. Patrick Monaghan, Chief Product Officer, says this helps close the gap between team members. 54 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

“When every team member has the same level of client insight before an appointment, the gap between average and top performance begins to close,” he says. Phorest’s own beta puts product sales 72% higher in appointments where the tool was used. Clinara focuses on building skills. Neil Osborne’s platform listens to consultations and scores therapists across the five protocols from his Spendsuasion® method, which he has taught to over 3,500 practitioners. “A score of 8.7 tells a therapist they are consistently executing across most milestones,” Osborne says. “A 6.2 suggests there’s room for improvement.” The number matters less than what sits beneath it. The feedback shows the

Photography: iStock/Unaihuiziphotography / anatoliycherkas / Supplied

TURNING TO TECH

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“WHEN EVERY TEAM MEMBER HAS THE SAME LEVEL OF CLIENT INSIGHT BEFORE AN APPOINTMENT, THE GAP BETWEEN AVERAGE AND TOP PERFORMANCE BEGINS TO CLOSE.” therapist which part of the consultation fell short so that they can work on it before the next client. This is where worries about AI taking jobs seem off the mark. Neither tool replaces therapists. Instead, both help train them. The software acts like a mentor, giving feedback after every consultation. Something most clinics can’t do for everyone. Weekly team meetings already discuss rebooking, retail, and revenue for each therapist, but those numbers don’t show what happens during the consultation, so managers rely on memory to judge how the team sells. Clinara gives you clearer data. You can see where the team does well and where they struggle. For example, if therapists are good at recommending treatments but not closing sales, that becomes the focus for coaching. This approach also works for individuals. Each therapist’s feedback is private, but you can base your one-on-one meetings on real data from their consultations. After a few weeks, patterns

become clear. If several therapists lose clients at the same stage, you know where to focus training. Professional development becomes a targeted investment, not just a hopeful expense. Clinara understands that how you present feedback is as important as the data itself. The platform lets clinics use softer labels like Strong or Developing instead of showing a score, which can feel discouraging. When used well, this gives owners the clearest view of performance they’ve ever had, almost like having a mentor for every therapist. ➤ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 55

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“WHILE THE BIG NUMBER STANDS OUT, IT’S THE EXTRA HOUR AT HOME THAT THERAPISTS WILL REALLY NOTICE.” The same thinking applies to client retention. It’s much cheaper to keep a client than to find a new one, so losing a regular who stops booking is costly. Phorest’s Client Reconnect helps with this. Most win-back lists get the timing wrong. A waxing client who comes every four weeks and a facial client who visits every eight weeks have different schedules, so a standard ninety-day rule either misses one or annoys the other. This tool tracks each client’s habits and only sends reminders when they’re truly overdue. Monaghan says owners have lots of data but little time, and this tool helps turn booking history into well-timed messages that remind clients without bothering them. What all of it hands back, underneath the features, is time. I put the obvious worry to Monaghan: what happens to the front-desk person who’s been there for five years and knows every client by name once AI starts handling the parts of her job that used to require a person? He answered that her value was never in confirming appointments or fielding the same booking question forty times a day. Route that to software, and she spends her hours on the relationships that earned her that standing in the first place. Osborne saw similar time savings in a less obvious place. At one laser clinic, therapists were spending an hour each day typing notes, often after hours at home. The clinic owner calculated that this equated to $50,000 in incremental revenue per team member annually. While the big number stands out, it’s the extra hour at home that therapists will really notice. AI writing your social media captions was never going to change your business, but AI that helps your average therapist perform like your best one just might. Now, the technology is focused on what matters most – the conversation with the client. What it does there is still up to the people having it. ■ 56 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

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THE EMPTY CHAIR: WHAT A NO-SHOW REALLY COSTS YOUR

business Two salons in the same suburb, same clients, same services. One runs nearly double the no-show rate of the other. The only real difference is whether a deposit was taken at the time of booking. Brought to you by Timely

THIS ISN’T a fringe frustration. In Timely’s recent research across 264 Australian salon and clinic owners, last-minute cancellations and no-shows were the single most commonly cited pain point, named by 27% of owners, ahead of juggling bookings across channels, admin overload and staying organised when things get busy. Almost one-in-three said reducing cancellations and no-shows is now an important factor when they choose their business software. The empty chair has shifted from a daily annoyance to something owners actively shop to fix. And the businesses that act on it see a clear difference. Timely’s platform data shows those that don’t take a deposit sit at a no-show rate of 9.7%. For those who do, it drops to 5.7%, a reduction of 41%. The cost of that gap isn’t abstract. Timely’s figures put no-shows at around $10,000 a year for the average salon, and the maths is more personal than that headline suggests. Put your own average service price against two empty slots in a busy week, every week, across a year. The total is usually sobering, whatever your price point, set against the fixed costs of rent, product and time that can’t be sold twice. That matters more this year than last. From 1 October 2026, under reforms confirmed by the Reserve Bank of Australia, businesses can no longer add a surcharge to recover card processing costs on eftpos, Mastercard or Visa. Whatever owners think of the change, the practical effect is the same: one lever

for protecting margin is being removed, which puts more weight on the levers that remain. Deposits and cancellation fees aren’t surcharges and aren’t affected. They’re about protecting the booking itself, not the card fee, and they’re the most direct tool a salon has to defend its book. The most common worry owners raise is that asking for money upfront will scare clients off. The same data doesn’t bear that out: businesses that switch on deposits typically see no meaningful drop in bookings over the first six weeks. If anything, a client who has paid something towards their visit is more invested in turning up. There’s a quieter benefit owners tend to undervalue: clarity. When a client books and pays a deposit online, they have already committed to the appointment and have a clear sense of what they’re booking and the investment involved, before they walk in. That doesn’t replace the consult. A conversation at booking or in person is still where you confirm what’s realistic, manage expectations and account for the things that move a price, like the length and texture of someone’s hair or the scope of a treatment. If anything, a client who has booked and read the service detail upfront arrives better informed, which makes that conversation easier. What the deposit changes is the starting point: the client arrives already invested, the awkward “what’s this going to cost” moment is softened, and they could be more open to the add-on or take-home product they were already considering. There’s a cashflow upside too that’s easy to miss. A deposit doesn’t have to be large to be useful. Even a modest amount taken at booking brings revenue forward, smoothing the lumpy weeks and giving owners a clearer picture of what’s actually coming in, rather than hoping the book holds. There’s a reason no-shows are so stubborn: they sit at the intersection of three everyday workflows. In the same research, 78% of owners said taking payments, including deposits, is part of running their business, 77% pointed to scheduling and calendar management, and 72% to client communication like confirmations, reminders and follow-ups. Most are already doing all three. The opportunity is connecting them, so a reminder, a deposit and a booking work together as one prevention loop rather than three separate admin jobs. None of this requires a complicated setup. The salons getting it right tend to start small: a deposit on longer or higher-value services first, a clear cancellation window communicated up front, and consistency so clients know what to expect. Heading into the spring and summer rush, when books are fullest and a single no-show stings most, it’s the simplest piece of revenue protection most salons aren’t yet using. The empty chair will always happen occasionally. The point is to make sure it costs you a phone call, not a paycheck. Timely recently hosted a free industry session on protecting revenue through deposits and payments. Watch recording here: https://bit.ly/timely-webinar PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 57

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Scaling

THE SKIN BAR Hannah Gay sat down with brains behind The Skin Bar, Samantha Appel to reflect on the skin clinic’s meteoric rise. THE SKIN BAR is a success story that’s hard to miss. Its distinctive emerald green fit-outs, 54,000 follower-strong Instagram account, and updates of yet another clinic opening - Founder Samantha Appel has certainly made her mark. On the surface, The Skin Bar and its fleet of 12 clinics reads like an overnight success story, growing at lightning speed out of the pandemic. But whether or not Appel will ever feel like she’s “made it” remains unclear. “I wouldn’t say I’m a perfectionist, I’d say that I have a very strong drive, I have a big vision,” she admits. I sat down with Appel over Zoom a week after news broke of The Skin Bar’s landmark Myer partnership — the brand will become the department store’s dedicated skin clinic within its redeveloped Sydney flagship later this year. This is set to mark its 13th clinic, averaging two to three bricks-and-mortar spaces annually since 2020. In a “pinch me” moment, Appel says Myer approached her to build a standalone The Skin Bar clinic consisting of two treatment rooms, with operations, staffing, retail, training, and systems all falling under her guidance. “What you will experience is exactly what you experience in any other [The Skin Bar] clinic. I’m truly so excited, and I’m still pinching myself. I can’t believe it.” Appel anticipates Pitt St will be the first space within multiple Myer locations. The Skin Bar didn’t begin with a heaving business bank balance or slew of investor backers. Instead, Appel’s story begins as a young therapist who went from working in skin clinics to working on the road, driving to the homes of mothers who enjoyed a relaxing facial from the comfort of homes; she’d spotted a gap in the market. At the time, she relied on a database of iPhone contacts and a digital calendar. With no website assigned to the business, she instead directed her energy into Instagram, using the social media platform as her primary source of marketing. She would travel along the East Coast - from Bathurst to Newcastle, out to Canberra, attending to her clients. Appel recalls working Monday to Sunday, sometimes beginning her shift at 6am and finishing at midnight. “I just 58 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

don’t think I have the personality type to say ‘no’.” She eventually saved enough money to rent out a small space within a hairdressing salon. Word travelled, securing her 10,000 names ahead of opening her first shopfront in Sydney’s Cronulla. “I signed the lease in 2020, and then about to commence renovation, went into lockdown.” Appel considers this “a blessing in disguise”, giving her the time she needed to learn more about commercial leasing, “I wasn’t rushed into anything”. Like many clinic owners at the time, she began consulting virtually, and used her apartment as a warehouse to ship out products. As renovations continued, she focused on growing her waitlist, building a website, and shifting appointments into her first booking system with Timely.

A Natural Growth

By 2021, Appel had secured her second space, this time in Double Bay. “Then I felt like I really opened a business, because building something from the ground up, it was my vision come to life, and that was my first feeling of a proud moment,” she shares. This vision was distinctively green and what was to become the

Photography: Supplied

The Origin Story

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“THE LAST THING I WANT IS FOR OUR CUSTOMER TO FEEL LIKE THEIR EXPERIENCE IS A FRANCHISED EXPERIENCE, WHERE THEY’RE JUST NUMBER.” signature for all Skin Bar locations. “I was walking in a Westfield and noticed this green velvet concept in a store. I thought, ‘oh, that green - it’s there for me. I’ve got it for Double Bay, everything needs to be green - floor to ceiling, walls, reception, joinery… every single thing green, no white’.” A colour she considered a risk, but lent on for its relaxing and cosy feel, less sterile. “You’ve got to make it green to be seen!” Moving from a $30,000 renovation budget in Cronulla, Double Bay consisted of a much more complex and detailed fit-out. “That’s really when I’d say we started to make a little bit more noise… it was a huge success.” Money was bankrolled from one clinic to the next to avoid going into debt. “I don’t think that over-capitalising or investing in something that I haven’t tested is something that I would feel comfortable with.” Another 12 months on, and clinics in Narrabeen, Bondi, and Roselle were rolled out, all around the time Appel welcomed her second child. Remarkably, she’s never sought out a business coach or received a hand-out, instead ensuring she always lived within her means. “I always find that I come back to my instinct; I find that that’s always the right decision.”

Lean into Needling

The Skin Bar’s key point of difference is its focus on skin needling: a treatment that has boomed in consumer demand over the last five years, seemingly led in this country by The Skin Bar. Having tried - and been let down by - injectables and fillers in managing her own skin concerns, she found needling was the treatment to deliver results she could trust, could do each month, didn’t break the bank, and was “natural”. She explains, “It’s one of those treatments that has minimal risk in regards to not using heat with harsh lasers. I felt like [needling] didn’t have a big enough platform... nobody was giving it a platform, and I thought, ‘this is the treatment that I’m going to run with’.” She saw the benefits of investing in a smaller business model, as opposed to seeking profit across various device treatments. The Skin Bar currently works with the 1Need Pro Pen (distributed by Professional Beauty Solutions) and Sylfirm X (distributed by LaserAid). Today, The Skin Bar’s treatment menu also includes peels, an enzyme facial, a spicule treatment, and LED light therapy. Partnering brands include Dr Spiller, O Cosmedics, Medik8, mesoestetic, Vida Glow and Appel’s own, Bottao.

Feet Firm on the Clinic Floor

The skin therapist in Appel remains eager to treat, choosing to work with a select client list out of Double Bay one day per week, and whenever a team member calls in sick. It’s her way of keeping the business honest. “Unless you’re down there in the business, and you know your product, then it just becomes about numbers and scaling, and that’s not what I want this to be about. The last thing I want is for our customer to feel like their experience is a franchised experience, where they’re just a number and they don’t feel like it’s the same service in one location to another.” She shares the value she places on remaining on the front line and keeping her teams small. To Appel, joy comes from building communities around each new Skin Bar location. “I don’t want that feeling to stop.” It all boils down to working with people on their skin confidence journeys. “We’re focusing on skin health, on skin longevity. If I can be a part of that, that’s something that I feel like I want to do.”

A Bright Future

Appel says future business funds are set to be invested into training and education, with dreams of building a dedicated academy of therapists. “If you put education and training first as the priority, then everything else will follow. If I don’t invest into that, then I feel like quality will only decline over time, because I can’t be everywhere at once.” Despite The Skin Bar’s myriad of successes, she speaks most highly of her two daughters. “I’m proud of the growth. I’m proud of not depending on anyone for anything. And I’m proud that I didn’t have a handout, because I do appreciate everything so much more.” She notes that building a business has been far less glamorous than meets the eye, having discovered a resilience in herself that keeps her going. “I’m proud that I have other women now looking up to me, that’s what makes me emotional.” As The Skin Bar empire continues to grow, it’s clear it will be on Samantha Appel’s terms - a sign of great things to come. ■ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 59

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HOW TO FIND (AND SUCCEED IN) YOUR BEAUTY NICHE By Nicolette Kocsi Goldberg, Founder of multi-award-winning skin clinic, Luminary Melbourne.

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“OUR NICHE WASN’T CREATED THROUGH EXTENSIVE MARKET RESEARCH OR BY IDENTIFYING THE LATEST TREND. IT WAS CREATED THROUGH LISTENING.” rarely one defining moment. More often, it’s the result of showing up every day, remaining committed to your values, and continuing to improve long after the excitement of a new idea has worn off. Today, Luminary Melbourne has grown into a multi-award-winning clinic with client retention rates exceeding 90 per cent. But the philosophy remains the same as it was on day one: create meaningful experiences, prioritise genuine connection and community, and deliver exceptional results without losing the human element. For beauty business owners searching for their own niche, my advice is simple. Don’t ask yourself what is trending. Ask yourself what you want to be known for. Pay attention to what your clients consistently value, identify the gaps you see within the industry, and have the courage to build something that reflects your beliefs. The strongest niches are not created by following the market. They are created by understanding your clients, staying true to your values, and being willing to do things differently. That is exactly how Luminary found its niche.

Photography: Supplied

WHEN I opened Luminary Melbourne in November 2020, I wasn’t trying to create the biggest clinic, offer the most treatments, or chase every trend entering the beauty industry. I was trying to create the kind of clinic I felt was missing. At the time, Melbourne was emerging from COVID lockdowns, and many businesses were understandably focused on recovery. But what stood out to me was how disconnected people had become. Clients weren’t just looking for skin results, they were looking for human connection, care, and a space where they could truly switch off. That observation shaped every decision I made when building Luminary. From the beginning, I wanted to create more time in the treatment room, not less. I noticed that many treatments across the industry were becoming increasingly transactional, with shorter appointment times and a greater focus on efficiency. While there is absolutely a place for innovation and advanced technology, I felt there was an opportunity to bring something different to the client experience. I wanted our clients to leave feeling better than when they arrived, not only because their skin looked healthier, but because they felt genuinely cared for. That led us to build what has become Luminary’s touch-first philosophy. We incorporated elements such as facial massage, arm and hand massage, scalp massage, hot towels, and personalised treatment rituals into our services. These weren’t added as luxury extras; they became a core part of the experience and a reflection of our values as a business. The interesting thing is that our niche wasn’t created through extensive market research or by identifying the latest trend. It was created through listening. Over years of working with clients, I noticed that the treatments people remembered most weren’t always the most advanced. They were the treatments that made them feel seen, understood, and cared for. As our business grew, that insight continued to guide us. While we invest heavily in education, evidence-based skincare, and advanced technologies, every decision is still filtered through the same question: does this improve the client experience? One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that confidence doesn’t come before making decisions - it comes after. Opening a clinic during a pandemic, investing in growth, expanding a team, and continuing to evolve our offering all required a level of trust in myself and my vision. There were many moments where certainty didn’t exist, but waiting for certainty would have meant never moving forward at all. People often ask how much luck has contributed to Luminary’s success. While I’ve certainly been fortunate to work alongside incredible clients, mentors, and team members, I believe consistency has played a far greater role than luck. Success is

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DRIVING GLOBAL BEAUTY FORWARD: COSMOPROF ASIA 2026 PREPARES TO WELCOME 70,000+ INDUSTRY LEADERS TO HONG KONG Special Areas

A special focus will put a spotlight on fragrances, one of the fastest-growing segments in the region. While fragrances have been part of the show before, this year they will take center stage through a dedicated zone featuring two distinct areas: Fragrance Avenue, targeting mass-market brands, and Explorers by Esxence, an exclusive space organized in collaboration with Esxence, the leading international event for artistic perfumery.

Beyond the Exhibition Floor

GREAT EXPECTATIONS for Cosmoprof Asia 2026, the B2B reference event representing the best in beauty in the Asia-Pacific region. Celebrating its 29th edition, the exhibition—scheduled from November 10 to 13, 2026 in Hong Kong—is recognized as a prime destination for international companies, with 89% of exhibitors and 74% of visitors coming from outside Hong Kong in recent editions. The event boasts strong global appeal, with exhibitors and visitors from Europe, the Americas, MENA, and beyond. Expecting over 78,000 attendees, the event stands as the definitive showcase for cosmetics innovation, bringing the most anticipated launches to the APAC market. Bringing together approximately 2,900 exhibitors from around the world and 16 international country and group pavilions, Cosmoprof Asia presents cutting-edge products and services across two premier exhibition venues. The event spans every sector of the beauty value chain, from raw materials to finished branded goods. Far from simply growing, the APAC beauty market is driving global industry expansion. Boasting a 6.7% CAGR from 2023 to 2027 (Euromonitor International), it outpaces both North America (5.7%) and Europe (4.3%). As the global center for innovation, digital transformation, and trendsetting marketing, Asia shapes the future of beauty—powered by market leaders China, Korea, and Japan, with Singapore, China, and Korea acting as vital export hubs. Meanwhile, Hong Kong reinforces its position as the region’s strategic business gateway, ranking 7th globally for beauty imports in 2024. For industry players looking to capture market growth, uncover groundbreaking trends, and build vital commercial connections, Cosmoprof Asia remains the essential B2B platform.

Connecting Manufacturing with Market Innovation

Every beauty product begins with contributions from ingredient suppliers, formulation laboratories, contract manufacturers, packaging companies, machinery developers and brand teams. Cosmoprof Asia brings these participants into one coordinated trade event. Manufacturers can identify ingredients and production partners, brands can explore product development expertise, and distributors or retailers can compare established companies with emerging suppliers. The result is a business-focused exhibition that extends beyond product launches to cover the commercial and technical infrastructure behind the beauty market.

Cosmoprof Asia 2026 in Numbers

For the 2026 edition, the organisers expect more than 2,900 exhibitors, over 78,000 visitors and 16 country and group pavilions. Participating companies span cosmetic manufacturing, skincare, fragrance, makeup, nail care, haircare, salon equipment, packaging, machinery, ingredients and private-label production. This range allows visitors to compare suppliers, technologies and market opportunities across multiple beauty categories.

Alongside the exhibition, Cosmoprof Asia features educational programmes and initiatives recognising innovation presented by exhibitors. CosmoTalks, the event’s education programme, provides a platform for discussions on beauty-market trends, industry strategy and developments shaping the sector. Meanwhile, Cosmo Onstage will offer live demos and presentations by key industry influencers. To uncover the latest trends emerging directly from the show floor, the CosmoTrends Asia report, curated by BEAUTYSTREAMS, remains the go-to guide for trend scouts, buyers, media, and content creators. The Cosmoprof and Cosmopack Asia Awards highlight products and solutions presented by exhibitors, recognising achievements in areas such as innovation, formulation, packaging and design. Great attention will also be given to sustainability with the second edition of Be Sustainable with Beauty. The initiative will spotlight suppliers committed to sustainable practices. A curated selection of best-case histories, innovative solutions, and eco-friendly products from Cosmopack Asia exhibitors will be shortlisted, with the goal of inspiring industry-wide progress and encouraging more conscious consumer behavior.

International Business and Professional Networking

The exhibition connects manufacturers with distributors, buyers with brands, and product developers with packaging and technology suppliers. Such connections are particularly relevant in an industry where ingredients, manufacturing, packaging and distribution may involve companies based in several different countries. Face-to-face meetings allow businesses to discuss partnerships, assess regional market differences and identify developments that may affect future product and distribution strategies. The fair is open for pre-registration now. Visitors can register via the QR code to save HKD420 registration onsite. To discover what to expect from Cosmoprof Asia 2026, visit www.cosmoprof-asia.com

PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 61

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GLOW UP YOUR BUSINESS THIS NEW FINANCIAL YEAR The Australian Taxation Office shares its top tips.

Start Strong with Good Record Keeping From Day One

In a busy salon or beauty business, small transactions quickly add up. Treatments, retail sales, supplier purchases and booking deposits all play a part. Keeping accurate and complete records of all income and expenses is essential. Digital tools can make this easier. Point-of-sale systems and accounting software can automatically track sales, store invoices and link directly to your bank account. Make it a regular habit to record cash and electronic payments properly and keep receipts for the small consumables you use every day. Remember, you generally need to keep business records for at least five years.

Keep Business and Personal Finances Separate

If you’re managing your business yourself, keeping your business and personal finances separate is critical. A dedicated business bank account ensures payments and expenses are clearly recorded and not mixed in with your personal expenses. This makes it much easier to reconcile your accounts, manage cash flow and support your claims at tax time.

Know Your Obligations Early

Beauty businesses often have a mix of income streams and employment arrangements. Start the year by understanding your obligations, including GST (if registered), PAYG withholding and super guarantee contributions (if you employ staff). If you employ therapists or rent chairs to others, it’s important to determine whether they’re considered employees or independent contractors, as this affects your tax and super obligations.

Build Strong Habits Into Your Routine

Simple, consistent habits can make a big difference in a fast-paced beauty environment: • Always ensure staff are paid correctly and on time, including super – which must be paid on payday. • Keep track of what you spend and update your records regularly. Check your receipts and records match your bank accounts. • Set aside a portion of income so you have funds available to meet your tax and super obligations. 62 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

• Remember to lodge and pay your tax in full and on time. You will owe more money the longer you take to pay. • Ask for help if you need it. You can talk to the ATO, a registered tax or BAS agent, or a business advisor. These habits help you stay in control, even during peak periods.

Plan for Growth and Seasonal Trends

The beauty industry often experiences seasonal highs and quieter periods. Planning ahead at the start of the financial year allows you to budget for slower months, invest in new equipment and manage your inventory effectively. If you’re considering making upgrades to your business by purchasing new business assets, you may be eligible for an immediate deduction under the instant asset write-off. You can kind find out more at www.ato.gov.au/IAWO.

Review Your Systems and Processes

Take the opportunity to check what’s working. Are your booking systems efficient? Is your record keeping up to date? Small improvements which save you a small amount of time can add up in the long run.

A Confident Start for the Year Ahead

By starting the financial year with clear systems, organised records and consistent habits, you set your business up for success. When your finances and processes are in order, you can focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional service to your clients, growing your business while glowing in the year ahead. Get your tax obligations looking their best with the ATO’s Tax Time toolkit for small business. Check out their helpful guides and fact sheets for small businesses at www.ato.gov.au/SBTaxTimeToolkit.

Photography: iStock/milorad kravic

THE START of a new financial year is the perfect time for salons or beauty businesses to reset, refocus and build strong business habits that set you up for success. The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has guidance to help you layer the right foundation so you can stay organised, meet your obligations with confidence and focus on what you do best – helping your clients look and feel their best.

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IS YOUR BRAND READY TO EXHIBIT AT

BEAUTY EXPO? Photography: Supplied

According to Rosie Mitchell, Sales Manager for Beauty Expo Australia. BEAUTY EXPO is the biggest professional beauty gathering of the year. Over two days, the industry comes to you and expects to do business. Thousands of salon owners walk the floor looking for their next supplier and the products to earn a place on their shelves. Hundreds of buyers in one spot, already in the mood to find something new – a haven for suppliers. But the room only pays off for the brands that turn up ready. There are two types of brands we spot: one type leaves with a pipeline of stockists, a spike in sales, and a reason to come back. The other leaves deflated, convinced expos ‘don’t work for them’.

The key is in the preparation, and here are a few ways you can make sure that your brand is successful: You know exactly why you’re there. ‘Everyone’s there’ is not a goal. Wholesale leads, retail sales on the day, salon partnerships, a launch moment - pick the one that matters most and build the stand around it. You put your best foot forward. This is an industry of touch, smell, see and feel, and a salon owner isn’t going to invest in a huge opening order without trying your products for themselves. Bring samples, perform demonstrations, and show your customers how your product will look and perform in their salon. You can handle what you start. Say the show goes well… 200 salon owners want a sample pack, or you sell out by Saturday lunch. Can you fulfil those wins? Readiness is in your back-end, not your stand. The order you can’t ship is worse than the order you never got. 30 per cent of Beauty Expo attendees travel from interstate and might not want to carry their products with them. Arrange to have their products express-shipped directly to their salon. In some instances, their products may arrive at the salon before they do! Work out your ideal customer and get comfortable with speaking to strangers. A beautiful stand with no one who can hold a conversation is an expensive backdrop. To a company selling laser machinery, a nail technician is as good as a consumer as a VIP to nail brand. Take interest in every person, but work out quickly whether the person you’re speaking to is a potential lead or the wrong fit. Your follow-up is built before the doors open. This is where the show is won or lost. The money isn’t made on the floor. It’s made in the fortnight after, while you’re still fresh in their mind. Every exhibitor gets access to our Beauty Expo 2026 lead scanning app, so capturing a contact takes a second and nothing slips through. But a scan is just a name on a list until you do something with it. Are you a brand that sends an email by Monday close? Or a brand that gets to it next week? The numbers add up. Stand, travel, stock, staff, and accommodation - add them up and then work out what pays it back. How many orders did you take? And at what value? If you can’t answer that, you’re not ready to spend the money yet. The brands that do well at Beauty Expo aren’t the biggest or the best-looking. They’re the ones who planned the follow-up before they planned the stand. PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 63

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Thirty

AND THRIVING

FEW AUSTRALIAN aestheticians can boast the credentials of Douglas Pereira. His work spans 30 years, spent predominantly on the treatment room floor, but also in the lab and on the road educating. From humble beginnings as a beauty therapistturned makeup artist, and specialist in both clinical and remedial aromatherapies, the DP name now hangs above his own clinic door and sits on the bottles of his namesake skincare line. Pereira has grown alongside the beauty industry here, working with leading brands to refine his own philosophies around treating the skin. It’s from this experience that he’s built a trusting, loyal clientele other business owners can only dream of. During the late 90s, he operated as a spa therapist across Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, before pivoting into education roles by the early 2000s. By 2004, sensing where the industry was heading, he began dermal therapy studies, positioning himself at the front edge of what would become a defining shift: the rise of the modern dermal therapist and medi-spa. This marked the start of a seven-year run consulting for day spas, salons and medical aesthetic practices as they navigated a rapidly changing market. Specialising in what he calls “greenfield” work, he found his real passion in “conceptualising, building and launching entirely new business concepts” from scratch.

“YOUR KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND PHILOSOPHY CAN LIVE ON THROUGH THE PRODUCTS YOU CREATE.” In 2008, after years of helping other businesses grow, Pereira opened his own skin clinic within the practice of a leading Sydney plastic surgeon — a decision driven, he says, by the desire to treat skin again. What began with a handful of devices and the Rationale skincare range built into a six-day-a-week practice, and by 2014, expanded into a flagship clinic overlooking Sydney’s Hyde Park, rebranded as Douglas Pereira Cosmeceuticals. “One of the things I’m most proud of today is that many of the clients who first walked through my doors in 2008 are still with me,” he tells Professional Beauty. “They continue to visit every three to four weeks for their treatments, and many have been using my skincare products since the very beginning. I think that longevity says a great deal about the relationships we’ve built over the years.” In building his skincare line, Pereira was shaped by two mentors: Mandy Gray, founder of True Solutions International, who “taught me the importance of education, leadership and investing in people”; and Richard Parker, founder of Rationale, who “reinforced my belief in science-led skincare and the value of creating products with purpose” — and introduced him to the formulator he still works with today. Today, Douglas Pereira Cosmeceuticals spans three collections and nearly 50 SKUs, sold through a thriving ecommerce business, his clinic space and a loyal clinic community. “As our understanding of skin biology has advanced, so too has the 64 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

philosophy behind cosmeceutical skincare,” he explains. “The conversation has shifted beyond simply treating the visible signs of ageing to focusing on skin function, barrier health, inflammation and prevention. Today’s formulations are built on stronger scientific evidence, more sophisticated ingredient technologies, and a deeper appreciation of how healthy skin performs over time.” Over 90 per cent of his range stems from his own formulations. “The benefit is control. I can be involved in the direction of the formula, the ingredient choices, the texture, the strength, the purpose of the product and the way it fits into a complete skin health routine,” he says. “That is incredibly important to me because I have always believed skincare should be purposeful. Every product needs to earn its place in the range. It needs to support the skin, improve function and deliver a result — not just look good on a shelf.” It’s this retail arm that’s kept the business moving while a back injury and other health issues have pulled Pereira away from hands-on treating — three decades of physical work finally catching up with him. Stepping back from the clinic floor after so many years on it wasn’t just a logistical shift; it forced him to rethink how a business he’d built around his own two hands could keep running without them. What could have been a setback became, in his words, “one of the best business decisions I ever made” — proof that the range wasn’t just a side income, but the thing that let his relationships with clients, and the business itself, keep growing while he recovered. “Health challenges have a way of reminding you that life can change unexpectedly, and as business owners we need to think beyond today.” For Pereira, the philosophy that first led him to build his own businesses remains intact: that people don’t come into a clinic to buy a product, they come looking for someone to trust. In an industry now saturated with information, trends and conflicting claims, he believes the businesses that will endure and thrive are the ones built on relationships rather than transactions. Thirty years in, that’s still the foundation everything else stands on.

Words: Hannah Gay | Photography: Supplied

Skin therapist, clinic owner and product formulator Douglas Pereira wears many hats. Three decades of industry experience will do that.

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Photography: iStock/Rabizo

Professional Beauty

Makeup diversity, the best in tech, and skin treatments worth talking about

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Murad Biome-Balancing Clear & Prevent Blemish Treatment Serum Murad Australia 1800 687 237

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TRIED & TESTED

PB’s Editor in Chief, Hannah Gay lets her skin do the talking

AVEDA Holistic Renewal Facial My first facial stint post-maternity leave ticked every box I knew I’d been missing. AVEDA invited me to experience their Holistic Renewal Facial - launched earlier this year to promote the brand’s Advanced Botanical Kinetics skincare range. Haus of Aveda’s resident skin therapist Kristy was markedly educated and - it turns out - a brilliant masseuse. The massage component of this, and I’m told every AVEDA skin treatment, is paramount. The intent is to provide a nervous system rebalance via intentional touch points and a curated sensorial journey. My inroom experience commenced with a foot bath - a creative means to ground me and prepare me for the scents and textures I would come to experience on my face. Mid-treatment, Kristy ran a hairbrush through my hair, marking another unique relaxation moment. The brand’s five-SKU Advanced Botanical Kinetics collection is built around three proprietary technologies designed to address hydration, firmness and visible skin ageing through plant-powered science: Phytotech Vegan Collagen, Vegan Peptide Complex, and Kinetic Energy Infusion. Together, these technologies work to boost skin vitality, reinforce hydration and enhance radiance, all within formulas that are more than 96 per cent naturally derived, vegan and suitable for sensitive skin. Treatment of the skin lends itself to a corneotherapeutic (barrier-first) approach. My experience with AVEDA was unlike what I expected. The brand takes from its learnings in the hair world, long conducting scalp analyses and educating on the value of deep tissue massage and lymphatic drainage. I’m told that not only are AVEDA’s products clinically-proven, but so too are their protocols. There was depth to the brand, its understanding of plant-based ingredients, and clearly considered treatments. It’s clear AVEDA is tapping into a broad consumer market, developing protocols that perfectly bridge rigorous testing with restorative service. Immediately post-facial, the glow to my skin was palpable. The muscles in my face relaxed, giving me a noticeably lifted look. Hannah’s verdict: A great example of a results-driven facial that will leave you floating on air.

The ultimate seasonal skin reset, Ella Bache’s Winter Warming Facial Treatment begins with a professional skin diagnosis before a thorough double cleanse and gentle exfoliation is conducted. A highlight is the warm Botanical Skin Treatment Oil applied with a Gua Sha massage - the pressure-point people-pleaser. A nourishing mask and soothing hand treatment completes the ritual, leaving the skin in a hydrated, luminous, and more comfortable state. As Ella Baché’s National Training Manager Gina Cook explains, “Cold air, winds, air-conditioning and more leave the skin vulnerable and compromised,” making barrier support especially important during winter. She says the treatment “restores the skin pH” while reinforcing the skin barrier and describes the Gua Sha infusion as “a kick start and wake-up call to the skin”. Hold the coffee - Ella Baché has me covered. 70 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Photography: Supplied

Ella Bache Winter Warming Facial Treatment

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Ultraceuticals Lumi-Bright Power Glow Peel When I received the call from Ultraceuticals to undergo a treatment at their Sydney HQ, I was quick to secure an appointment. Global Education Ambassador & Technical Training Manager, Tracey Beeby welcomed me in with a thorough skin diagnosis using the VISIA Skin Analysis Camera. Images showed a veil of melasma along my forehead and given I’m currently breastfeeding, Tracey advised the brand’s Lumi-Bright protocol would suit me best. Before directing me to the treatment bed, Tracey flicked through a visual guide of before-and-afters, protocol details and skin science. It was this extra touch of education that really caught and held my attention. I learned that the power-packed Lumi-Bright is an AHA + BHA brightening peel that features a cocktail of glycolic, citric, and salicylic acids, accompanied by tranexamic acid - a melasma sufferer’s best friend. After conducting the usual preparations, Tracey massaged the peel solution into my skin for five minutes before removing. The treatment was comfortable, despite a weakened winter barrier. A personal favourite - the Ultra B² Hydrating Hydrogel Serum Mask - was applied to soothe the skin. 24-hours later and still pink, the promised glow had revealed itself and lingered for days following treatment. A follow-up was booked at Salon Lane in Bondi, where the Ultraceuticals team hosts a dedicated treatment room for media visits. My skin therapist Sam conducted a secondary set of images to measure any skin changes. It was clear my forehead melasma had decreased in intensity, to which I owe my peel three weeks prior. To spice things up, Sam applied two layers for a second hit of actives. Following each treatment, I’d successfully managed to avoid the expected ‘big shed’, instead sporting a plump, luminous complexion that appeared to UV Absorption measured using the VISIA [left] Before Lumi-Bright, [right] have pulled my skin out from its seasonal slumber. To keep up the momentum, Three weeks after one treatment of Lumi-Bright I diligently applied Ultraceuticals’ best-selling Ultra B² Hydrating Serum morning and night to enhance hydration, followed by the Sensitive Skin Facial Moisturiser to seal. Within seven days, I was back on the actives by slowly introducing the Ultra C+ Rejuvenating C Chebula Serum containing 15% L-ascorbic acid to support skin regeneration and back-up the hard work of the Lumi-Bright. Lumi-Bright has given my skin a good kick into gear. The treatment worked to keep overactive melanocytes at bay, appearing to reverse stubborn pockets of hyperpigmentation. My first words post-treatment? “I look ten years younger!” Reviewing the before-and-after VISIA images, I couldn't be more impressed with just how much my melasma had faded after a single treatment! Hannah’s Verdict: A magic solution suitable for beginner or seasoned facialgoers alike after skin education with a generous side of radiance and repair.

20 hours after one treatment

Five days after one treatment

Laser Genesis

2026

Immediately after one treatment

18 hours after one treatment

I underwent my first ever laser experience at Melissa Young Beauty in Sydney’s Inner West - long-overdue for an otherwise seasoned beauty journalist. The treatment came under recommendation of salon owner Melissa Young, who advised Laser Genesis by Cutera to stimulate collagen production and improve overall tone and texture, without damaging the surface of the skin. “There’s no real downtime, but the trade-off is that results build gradually rather than dramatically overnight,” she explained. Laser Genesis would make for a suitable alternative to needling in my case, given my skin barrier had been recently compromised. I was pleasantly surprised by how little pain I endured during the treatment; a mere one-out-of-ten on the pain scale. Some heat came with the otherwise gentle laser, which meant I was able to comfortably relax into the treatment. Young paired the laser with Ultraceuticals topicals, soothing Pladerm mask and LED session. Melissa outlined the real changes beneath the surface I could expect within the month: “collagen remodelling, improved texture, smaller-looking pores, and calmer, more resilient skin overall.” Within the hour post-treatment, all redness had dissipated and my skin appeared clear, healthy and hydrated. And by the following morning, my makeup went on seamlessly. Having been provided an extensive consultation pre- and post-treatment, I knew I’d made the right choice in trusting Young with my treatment, and look forward to experiencing Laser Genesis again. ➤ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 71

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Merindah Botanicals Pilates Facial According to Mel Driver, Founder of Merindah Botanicals, the Pilates Facial Protocol was requested by over 250 professionals within days of sharing amongst beauty therapist communities and it’s not hard to see why. Intentional over indulgent, it's a wellness-inspired treatment promises results. It’s a matter of movement comes first, with technique at its core. The Pilates Facial was built around controlled facial movements: 30 minutes of facial cupping, Gua Sha and targeted massage with a botanical skincare ritual designed to visibly lift, brighten and refresh the complexion. Each movement builds on the last to stimulate circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage. Its goal is to produce skin that appears more sculpted, energised and luminous without relying on devices or aggressive actives. Your clients won’t want to skip this workout!

Skeyndor Aquatherm Spanish skincare brand Skenydor celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and so I felt it timely to experience a protocol for myself. I was recommended the brand’s latest Aquatherm treatment, hosted by National Trainer Julie Fitzhenry at the luxurious SpaQ in Sydney’s CBD. I quickly noted that Aquatherm isn’t just a hydrating facial, but a complete system utilising some of the most uniquely sourced ingredients I’d come across, down to the water. The reformulated Aquatherm range consists of five clinically-backed products and a four-step cabin treatment. The aim of the Aquatherm game is to repair and recover the skin; an ideal solution for sensitive skin sufferers. According to the brand, active ingredients in Aquatherm are designed to address four manifestations of sensitive skin and break the vicious cycle. First - altered epidermal barrier function - minimised via the inclusion of a uniquely devised marine mineral-thermal complex. “Water is the fundamental medium for cells to develop their function,” the brand shares. “Not all moisturising ingredients hydrate in the same way nor are suitable for any tissue or need.” This is combined with skin-loving ceramides, natural moisturising factors, prebiotic dermosaccharide, and betaine. In addition, pre- and probiotics feed the skin flora, neurosensorial hyperactivity is reduced and inflammation is kept at bay via a cocktail of efficacious ingredients designed to inhibit reactions such as stinging, burning, and tightening. On the bed, the treatment began with a cooling Mineralizing Jelly to hydrate, replenish minerals and refresh sensitive skin. A Calming Concentrate followed to soothe irritation and help even skin tone, before a Relieving Peel-off Mask was applied to reduce discomfort and deliver an instant cooling sensation. The ritual concluded with a Barrier Care Cream, enriched with ceramides and prebiotics, to strengthen the skin barrier, lock in moisture and help defend against environmental stressors. Chilled massage globes were traced gently across the face for a fresh finale. Matching retail products allowed me to continue the Aquatherm ritual at home, prolonging its barrier-protection benefits. Hannah’s verdict: For clients whose skin has had enough of aggressive actives, Aquatherm delivers exactly what’s needed: calm, resilient skin with a healthy, bouncy glow.

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O COSMEDICS LAUNCHES CLINICAL CARE

Therapeutic Skincare Created to Care

LEADING COSMEDICAL skincare brand, O COSMEDICS announces the launch of its Clinical Care collection: a range of nine face and body products designed to support the skin barrier by soothing inflammation, relieving dryness and promoting skin recovery. It offers a professional support system that recognises the individuality of every person’s experience and acknowledges that no two skin journeys are ever quite the same. 2026 For those living with mild eczema, psoriasis or dermatitis, caring for the skin is rarely as simple as finding the right cream or introducing a new product into a routine. It is often a journey marked by uncertainty, frustration and countless attempts to find something that feels right. Many people spend years moving between countless products, recommendations and well-intentioned advice from family and friends, trying to understand not only what works best to support their skin, but who they can trust to help them navigate it. Available through professional skin clinics, O COSMEDICS Clinical Care brings together therapeutic skincare and skin expert guidance to provide a more considered approach to caring for compromised skin. Rather than asking people to navigate their condition alone, O Clinical Care creates an opportunity for those affected to work alongside a qualified skin therapist who understands the challenges of caring for these conditions and can provide ongoing support as skin changes and evolves over time.

Addressing a Growing Health Need

The reality is that these conditions affect far more than what is visible on the surface. With an estimated 2.8 million Australians living with eczema alone, the impact of these skin conditions extends well beyond the skin itself. They can influence confidence, comfort, sleep, daily routines, emotional wellbeing and overall quality of life in ways that are difficult for others to fully understand. For many people, there is often a gap between receiving treatment advice and knowing how to apply it in everyday life and ultimately between managing symptoms and feeling genuinely supported.

Clinic Impact:

For clinics, this represents a meaningful expansion of what professional skin care can offer. Mild eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis are no longer sitting outside the skin treatment conversation. They are already walking through clinic doors, often carried by clients who are seeking more than cosmetic improvement and who are looking for someone they can trust to help them make sense of their skin. O Clinical Care gives clinics a way to meet that need with confidence, care and credibility. This is not about replacing a broader management plan. It is about supporting the space where people need guidance, consistency and a routine they can confidently use day to day. It allows the professional skin clinic to become part of a richer support system, helping clients feel held between appointments, throughout flare-ups and across the longer journey of managing skin that can be unpredictable, reactive and deeply personal. “O COSMEDICS has recognised the need for skin support since conception; we have transformed the most sensitive and compromised skins for

15 years” says Founder & CEO Maria Enna-Cocciolone. “Globally we are seeing an increase in these skin conditions that stem from compromised and impaired barriers and disrupted inflammatory pathways which include mild eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis that until now have been underserved”.

Skin Therapist Impact:

For skin therapists, Clinical Care offers something even more important. It gives them the tools and language to support clients who may have previously felt outside their scope, while still working responsibly within the professional skin space. It allows the therapist to have deeper, more considered conversations with people whose skin concerns are often layered with frustration and fatigue. It helps them move beyond product recommendation and into guided support, where their knowledge, empathy and consistency can make a genuine difference to how a client experiences their skin and, in some cases, even their day. Every formulation within the range has been developed with a clear purpose, taking a thoughtful approach that prioritises skin compatibility, comfort and daily use. Dermatologically tested and developed to meet strict regulatory requirements, the collection has been specifically designed for inflamed skin and can be incorporated into a broader management plan. What makes O Clinical Care different is not found in a single ingredient, formulation technology or product claim. It’s found in the experience of being understood. In the reassurance that comes from having someone guide you through the challenges of managing these conditions. In the confidence that develops when skin is supported consistently, thoughtfully and with care. For the clinic, that understanding becomes a powerful point of connection. For the therapist, it becomes a reason to feel proud of the work they do. For the client, it becomes the difference between feeling like they are managing alone and feeling like someone is truly walking beside them. PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 73

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COSMETIC TREATMENTS ARE YOUR CRAFT. SKINCARE IS YOUR INSURANCE POLICY. By Samara Searle, Registered Cosmetic Nurse & Founder of Beauty Boost

The Treatment-Skincare Partnership In-clinic treatments are structurally powerful. Peels resurface. Microneedling triggers a wound-healing cascade. LED modulates inflammation and accelerates cellular repair. These are real, measurable, dermis-level changes - and they're the reason clients keep coming back to us. But they mean nothing if not complimented by a daily dose of quality ingredients over quantity, consistent barrier support, and defence against UV damage. That's a home job. Without it, we're essentially renovating a house and leaving the windows open. The results erode faster, clients plateau sooner, and they wonder why they're not seeing the outcomes they expected. When homecare and in-clinic treatments work in tandem, clients reach their goals faster and results hold for longer.

LED Therapy LED treatments pair well with antioxidant-rich and calming formulations. Ingredients such as resveratrol, vitamin C, and vitamin E can complement the repair processes initiated in-clinic while supporting the skin's natural anti-inflammatory response. The result is enhanced recovery, improved resilience, and ongoing protection against oxidative stress. The Takeaway Homecare should never be an afterthought. When treatment plans and topical prescriptions are aligned, outcomes improve, recovery is optimised, and patients are more likely to achieve lasting results.

The Conversation That Changes Client Behaviour

Resurfacing Peels Following a peel, the skin barrier is temporarily compromised, so the prescription is simple: a gentle, non-foaming cleanser, a ceramide-rich moisturiser, and daily SPF 50+ protection. Avoid active ingredients until the skin has fully recovered. Once the barrier has normalised, introduce a low-strength retinoid to help maintain and extend the resurfacing benefits.

When speaking with clients, forget the hard sell - rather than prescribing a ten-step routine, I work backwards from their treatment goals and reframe homecare as protecting their investment in your work. When a client has spent a couple hundred dollars on microneedling, they want to know that an $80 serum is going to make their money work harder and last longer. Keep the prescription simple and specific: one active, one barrier support product, one SPF. Complexity leads to non-compliance, and compliance leads to results. By positioning yourself as the expert who simplifies, not sells, clients will trust you tenfold for it.

Microneedling & Collagen Induction Therapy During the healing phase, growth factors, peptides, and vitamin B (niacinamide) can support recovery and optimise results. Once the skin has settled, this becomes an ideal opportunity to introduce a well-tolerated retinoid. The regenerative processes stimulated by microneedling can enhance the skin's responsiveness to active ingredients, helping to maximise long-term collagen remodelling.

The Bottom Line The most impressive skin transformations I've seen don't come from treatments alone. They come from clients who've committed to both sides of the equation. Cosmetic treatments are a powerful complement to great skincare - not a replacement for it. Both have a role, and together, they're where the real results live. ■

Prescribing Smarter: Treatment-Matched Homecare

Different treatments call for different topical support, and getting specific with your recommendations is often what separates a good result from a great one.

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Photography: iStock/ruizluquepaz

IN THE age of skin cycling, Ozempic face debates, and the ever-growing menu of in-clinic treatments, there's a conversation I find myself having more and more: "Do I still need to do the whole skincare thing if I'm coming in for treatments regularly?" The short answer is of course! Here's why.

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INGREDIENT SPOTLIGHT:

YEAST BETA-GLUCAN

This quiet achiever ingredient serves as the voice behind skincare brands like LYCON Skin. Founder Lydia Jordane explains why it’s worth the hype.

Interview: Hannah Gay | Photography: iStock/videofe

In your own words – what is Yeast Beta-Glucan? “Think of Yeast Beta-Glucan as a deeply comforting, multi-tasking molecule for the skin. Scientifically, it’s a natural polysaccharide: essentially a complex sugar molecule linked in long chains, extracted from the cell walls of baker’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). In my own words, it is a ‘cellular coach’. It doesn’t just sit on the skin; it communicates with it, encouraging and directing it to protect, repair, and renew itself more efficiently.”

in cellular defence is a major driver behind the visible signs of ageing, slow healing, and structural breakdown. This is exactly where Yeast Beta-Glucan becomes a gamechanger. It actively stimulates and supports Langerhans cells, encouraging them to function and behave like they do in younger skin. By boosting this innate protective system, it helps maintain a healthy skin equilibrium and a more youthful appearance.”

What’s the difference between Yeast BetaTrue or false: Yeast Beta-Glucan is a key Glucan, and other Beta-Glucans (if anything)? ingredient for use in treating inflamed or “Beta-glucans can be sourced from various damaged skin. Explain. “IT ACTIVELY natural origins, including mushrooms, “True. Yeast Beta-Glucan exerts a powerful STIMULATES AND oats, barley, and yeast, however they soothing action by actively modulating SUPPORTS LANGERHANS are absolutely not created equal. Their inflammatory pathways and reinforcing molecular structure varies depending the skin’s barrier function against daily CELLS, ENCOURAGING on the source, which changes how they environmental stressors. Rather than THEM TO FUNCTION AND interact with the skin: just masking symptoms, it works at a Oats & Barley: These have a linear cellular level to accelerate tissue repair BEHAVE LIKE THEY DO structure (1,3/1,4 linkages) and are excellent and wound healing. By activating the skin’s IN YOUNGER SKIN.” for surface hydration and soothing. natural defence mechanisms, the ingredient Mushrooms & Yeast: These possess a highly dramatically lowers skin sensitivity, reduces branched, complex structure (1,3/1,6 linkages). redness, and restores equilibrium. This makes it an Yeast beta-glucans have a β(1,3) backbone with long, invaluable, non-irritating hero ingredient for sensitive frequent β(1,6) side branches, whereas mushroom betaand reactive skin, as well as for pre- and post-procedural glucans typically have shorter, less frequent β(1,6) side branches. skincare protocols.” The specific branching found in Yeast Beta-Glucan excels at binding to immune receptors in the skin. After extensive testing, What makes investment in this ingredient so valuable to Lycon Skin uses Yeast Beta-Glucan because its unique structure modern skin therapists? offers superior immune support, deeper repair, and advanced anti“In addition to the ingredient’s multi-potent boosting of the skin’s ageing benefits that other beta-glucans simply cannot match.” own protective and reparative functions, one of its most unique, standout benefits is its ability to enhance the uptake and efficacy What impact on the skin does Yeast Beta-Glucan have that of all other active ingredients within the formula. It does this skin therapists would be readily familiar with? through a general ‘hydration transporter effect’ and also through “A critical factor in skin ageing that is often overlooked is specific synergies with other ingredients such as antioxidants the decline of the skin’s own specialised immune system. and peptides. Essentially, Yeast Beta-Glucan elevates the entire As we age, our Langerhans cells (the skin’s resident immune skincare routine, making every subsequent ingredient work harder sentinels) decline in both number and performance. This drop and penetrate more effectively.” ■ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 75

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Science AND THE STONE

Rachel Medlock takes us inside KNESKO.

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LEJLA CAS spent her career telling stressed clients to slow down, until the depletion they described sounded identical to her own life. She started taking her own advice and began to mask and meditate, using Reiki and crystals. Within weeks, she could see the change in her skin and spirit. That became the heart of KNESKO: a person’s energy and the chemistry of their skin aren’t two systems to treat separately, however hard the industry tries to keep them apart.

Photography: Supplied

THE

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What she saw in the mirror is now built into the formulas of her products. Crushed gemstones and minerals work on two levels simultaneously, rejuvenating the skin while raising vibrations. Cas, a Reiki master, personally charges every product with intention. Take the Gold Repair range. Gold aligns with the third eye, the chakra of intuition, and the mask carries the mantra “I honour my intuition.” That same 24K colloidal gold is the hero ingredient for boosting circulation and lifting the skin. Enter: Gemclinical® Technology. Created by KNESKO, Gemclinical features gemstone particles infused into its formulations, which stabilise active ingredients and carry them deeper into the skin. So the stone you’d file under spiritual and the stone doing the chemistry are not two things sharing a mask. They’re the same particle. The mask itself is a

“CRUSHED GEMSTONES AND MINERALS WORK ON TWO LEVELS SIMULTANEOUSLY, REJUVENATING THE SKIN WHILE RAISING VIBRATIONS”

collagen hydrogel, which KNESKO uses in place of cotton or paper because it holds more serum and sits like a second skin, allowing the ingredients to penetrate more deeply. The harder part is the conversation. A therapist still has to bring this to a client who might want the science, might want the energy, might want neither. Suzie Baxter-Green, KNESKO Australia’s National Business Development Director, says there’s no fixed order. “We ask about their clients’ skin concerns, adjust the intake accordingly, and then introduce the product that addresses those concerns, along with the energy it correlates to. Sometimes you start with intention. Sometimes you start with the fact that amethyst is someone’s favourite gemstone, and that becomes the door in.” A client comes off the bed having felt the mask and the intention behind it. KNESKO’s packaging is what lets a therapist hand that feeling over to keep. Each product carries its chakra, affirmation and ingredient list, boxed in the tone of the gemstone it represents, so it reads as the same ritual they just experienced, not a product they’re being sold. It keeps working once they’re home. Face and eye masks come with a QR code that opens a meditation voiced by Cas, the audio layered with binaural beats and the 528 Hz tone she calls “The Love Frequency”. Then the mask itself gets a third life: the hydrogel is biodegradable, so KNESKO encourages users to dissolve their used mask in a hot bath and soak in the marine collagen and leftover serum. Each of those uses not only reframes a retail upsell into a post-treatment ritual but also gives your client multiple reasons to repurchase. KNESKO’s whole case is that the science and the stone are one and the same. Your clients made the same call a while ago. They want proof their skin changed, and they want to have felt something while it did, from a brand that isn’t costing the earth. That client isn’t in a trend report. They’re in your treatment room. So the real question isn’t whether you believe in chakras. It’s whether you’re still running results and ritual as two separate things, in the room and on the shelf, when the client stopped seeing them that way a long time ago. ■ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 77

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FIRST THINGS FIRST What if the most important treatment on your menu wasn’t your most advanced, but your first?

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“46% OF CONSUMERS GLOBALLY SAY 'LOOKING HEALTHY' IS ONE OF THEIR TOP BEAUTY PRIORITIES.” laser resurfacing. Restoring hydration after injectables. Or addressing skin quality changes associated with GLP-1 medications. Powered by patented Vortex-Fusion™ technology, it combines cleansing, exfoliation, painless extraction and targeted serum infusion in a single, customisable treatment that adapts to the skin in front of the practitioner, rather than asking every patient to fit the same protocol. Just as importantly, it delivers on both sides of today’s patient expectation: immediate gratification and long-term skin health. The post-treatment glow may bring patients through the door. Healthier, more resilient skin is what keeps them coming back. For clinics, Hydrafacial might arguably be the most valuable treatment in their offering. Because every treatment that follows performs better when skin does too.

Source: Euromonitor International, Voice of the Consumer: Beauty Survey, May 2025; Hydrafacial Skintuition Report Volume 3.

ONCE VIEWED as add-ons within treatment plans, skin health treatments are increasingly becoming the starting point for almost everything: before lasers, before injectables, throughout recovery and between more advanced procedures. The role has changed. It’s no longer the supporting act. It’s the foundation, and Hydrafacial has become one of the defining treatments behind that shift. That shift isn’t just about where a treatment sits on the menu. It’s a response to what patients are chasing now: not a single corrective result, but skin that holds up over time. According to Euromonitor’s Voice of the Consumer survey, 46% of consumers globally say “looking healthy” is one of their top beauty priorities. Hydrafacial’s own Skintuition Report ref lects the same mindset, with 75% of consumers saying their focus has shifted from adding volume or pursuing corrective treatments towards improving overall skin quality. It’s a longevity mindset, where the goal isn’t simply better results. It’s better skin. The kind of skin-first thinking Hydrafacial was designed to support. But ‘better’ isn’t one-size-fits-all. It might mean strengthening barrier function before

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High Tech Medical is the authorised distributor for Hydrafacial in Australia and New Zealand Call: 1300 309 233 (AU) - 0800 888 135 (NZ) or Email: info@hightechmedical.com.au hydrafacial.com.au | @hydrafacial_anz | #hydrafacialanz

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About

BACNE Hannah Gay caught up with holistic skin therapist, Lucy Salerno of SKIN by Lucy to better understand the often overlooked condition.

Discuss the different types of acne that can appear on the back. “Back acne can present in several different forms and can vary significantly in severity. Some individuals experience mild congestion, blackheads or small flesh-coloured bumps caused by blocked follicles. Others may develop inflamed papules and pustules that appear red, irritated and reactive. In more severe cases, nodular or cystic acne may develop, increasing the likelihood of postinflammatory pigmentation and scarring. Understanding the type and severity of acne is important because treatment goals may differ depending on the presentation. While one client may be focused on reducing active breakouts, another may require support with inflammation, pigmentation or skin recovery following previous lesions.” 80 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

“ONE OF THE BIGGEST MISTAKES THERAPISTS CAN MAKE IS ASSUMING ALL BACNE SHOULD BE TREATED IN THE SAME WAY.” True or false: excess sweat and larger pores on the back create a bacteria breeding ground, impacting the skin? Explain. “There is some truth to this statement, however it is a little more nuanced than simply blaming sweat. Sweat itself is not the cause of acne. However, when combined with heat, friction and prolonged occlusion, it can create conditions that may contribute to congestion and inflammation in acne-prone skin. This is particularly relevant given the lifestyles many people lead today. We are exercising more, spending longer periods in activewear and often remaining in sweaty clothing well after a workout has finished. Tight-fitting garments, sports equipment, backpacks and repeated friction against the skin may all contribute to aggravating existing breakouts. Rather than focusing on sweat alone, I encourage therapists to consider the broader picture and the environmental factors that may be influencing skin behaviour.”

Photography: iStock/cokacoka & Supplied

What is bacne and why does it occur? “Bacne, or back acne, is a form of acne that develops when hair follicles become congested with excess oil, dead skin cells and debris, leading to inflammation and breakouts. While the underlying mechanisms are similar to facial acne, the back presents some unique challenges. The skin in this area is thicker and contains a high concentration of sebaceous glands, making it particularly susceptible to congestion in acne-prone individuals. Hormonal influences, genetics, increased oil production and lifestyle factors can all contribute to the development of bacne. In many cases, it isn’t a single trigger but rather a combination of internal and external influences that create an environment where breakouts can occur.”

PB SKIN

Is there a specific demographic that comes to you with instances of bacne? “Bacne is commonly associated with adolescence due to hormonal changes, however it certainly isn’t limited to teenagers. Many of the clients I see with concerns on the back are active adults who exercise regularly, participate in sport or spend significant amounts of time in activewear. I also see concerns arise during periods of hormonal change where fluctuations in oil production may influence skin behaviour. One interesting observation is that many people are incredibly diligent when it comes to caring for the skin on their face, yet give very little consideration to the skin on their body. The back is difficult to see, difficult to reach and often overlooked until the concern becomes more persistent or noticeable.”

“THE SKIN IN THIS AREA IS THICKER AND CONTAINS A HIGH CONCENTRATION OF SEBACEOUS GLANDS, MAKING IT PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO CONGESTION IN ACNE-PRONE INDIVIDUALS.” How does the skin on our back differ to the skin on our face? “The skin on the back differs from facial skin in several important ways. It is generally thicker, contains a greater concentration of sebaceous glands and can produce more oil than many facial areas. The back is also subjected to unique mechanical stressors including clothing, activewear, sports equipment and daily friction. Another significant difference is accessibility. Most people can easily observe changes occurring on their face and respond quickly. The back, however, is an area that many people rarely see, making it easier for congestion and inflammation to progress unnoticed. This is one of the reasons back acne is often under-recognised and can become more established before treatment is sought.” In what ways should therapists seek to treat the condition? “One of the biggest mistakes therapists can make is assuming all bacne should be treated in the same way. While two clients may present with similar-looking breakouts, the factors contributing to those breakouts can be completely different. This is why I believe a thorough consultation and skin assessment is the most important place to start. For one client, prolonged time in activewear, friction and occlusion may be significant contributors. For another, hormonal influences may be playing a larger role. Some clients present with highly inflamed skin requiring a calming and supportive approach, while others are primarily concerned with residual pigmentation or scarring. In clinic, I focus on supporting healthy skin function while working to reduce congestion and inflammation. Many of the same principles we apply to facial skin can be adapted to the back, including professional skin treatments, LED therapy, enzymatic exfoliation with the addition of steam and extractions, as well as personalised treatment plans based on the individual’s presentation and goals. At home, I encourage clients to focus on simple, consistent habits. Cleansing the skin after exercise, changing out of sweaty clothing promptly and considering whether haircare products may be transferring onto the back can all be valuable considerations. Small daily habits often have a greater impact than people realise.

Lucy’s top pick bacne treatment products:

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Trudermal Glow LED Neck & Décolletage Mask (can be used over large surface areas like the back) A gentle cleanser containing salicylic or lactic acid, such as the Environ Sebu-Wash Gel Cleanser Nordic Naturals Omega-3 for its anti-inflammatory properties.

I also believe it is important to consider internal influences. Stress, nutrition, hormonal fluctuations and systemic inflammation can all affect skin health. Where appropriate, I may discuss lifestyle factors and supportive supplementation as part of a broader treatment plan. One supplement I frequently recommend is a high-quality omega-3. Omega-3 fatty acids are well recognised for their anti-inflammatory benefits and may support overall skin health while also influencing sebum quality. While supplementation is not a standalone solution, I have found it can be a valuable addition to a holistic skin management plan. Ultimately, my approach is always to understand what may be contributing to the skin concern rather than simply focusing on the breakout itself. By identifying and addressing those contributing factors, we can work towards healthier, more resilient skin and more sustainable long-term outcomes.” ■ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 81

PB SKIN

CORNEOTHERAPY

101

Why one of aesthetics’ longest-standing treatment philosophies still underpins modern clinical practice.

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‘“RATHER THAN TREATING SYMPTOMS IN ISOLATION, A CORNEOTHERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOCUSES ON UNDERSTANDING WHY THE SKIN HAS BECOME DYSFUNCTIONAL IN THE FIRST PLACE.” inflammation, treatment history and lifestyle all help determine whether skin is ready for correction or first needs recovery. “ Two clients may present with similar concerns, yet the biological reasons, along with environmental triggers behind those conditions, may be entirely different,” says Lisa. Barrier dysfunction often presents as tightness, sensitivity or skin that feels simultaneously oily and dry. The cause is frequently cumulative irritation from over-cleansing, excessive exfoliation, layered actives or corrective treatments introduced faster than the skin can recover. “Sometimes the fastest path to long-term improvement is temporarily reducing treatment intensity to allow normal barrier function to be restored,” she says. Once resilience returns, active ingredients perform more predictably, tolerance improves and clinical outcomes often follow more efficiently. Corneotherapy isn’t anti-active. It’s about creating the conditions that allow every treatment to perform at its best. ■

Words: Erin Berryman | Photography: Supplied

WHEN A house has structural damage, you don’t start by repainting the walls. You fix the foundation first. Corneotherapy applies the same philosophy to skin, arguing that lasting results begin with restoring barrier function before correcting visible concerns. While corneotherapy has guided clinical practice for decades, its principles have become increasingly relevant as stronger treatments and intensive homecare routines have left more clients presenting with compromised barrier function. For Lisa Paone, Head of Education at Derma Aesthetics, distributors of dermaviduals, the philosophy is about looking beyond symptoms. “Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, a corneotherapeutic approach focuses on understanding why the skin has become dysfunctional in the first place.” Every recommendation, she explains, is designed to support the skin’s natural physiology rather than override it. For years, skincare innovation has focused on how deeply ingredients penetrate the skin. Corneotherapy flips that thinking, recognising the stratum corneum not as a barrier to bypass but as a biologically active structure that regulates hydration, immune function, microbial balance and cellular communication. When barrier function is compromised, inflammation increases, repair slows and ingredient penetration becomes less predictable. Even the most advanced active ingredients perform less effectively. In practice, a barrier-first treatment plan begins with assessing skin function before any treatment plan is developed. Hydration, lipid balance,

PB PRODUCTS

THE HIGH ACHIEVERS FOR THE BEST RESULTS, STRONGEST SELLERS, AND INNOVATION STAND-OUTS - LOOK NO FURTHER.

Words & Styling: Hannah Gay | Photography: Brandee Meier

Ultraderm Active Regenerating Cream Ultraderm 1300 660 297 Cosmedix Bakuchiol Complete Advanced Skin Technology 1800 648 851 Kylie’s Professional Mineral Goddess Pressed Eyeshadow Trio Palette Kylie’s Professional 0413 351 717 Bare Roots Clarity Serum Bare Roots info@bareroots.com.au Vanessa Megan N.E.O [Nature’s Elixir Oil] Vanessa Megan Skincare hello@vanessamegan.com The Skincare Company InnerGlow Elixir The Skincare Company 0404 427 593 Wellness Atmosphere Sea Moss Cooling Gel Cream Wellness Atmosphere 0417 733 467

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PB PRODUCTS

people4ocean Mineral Bioactive Shield SPF 30 Advanced Cosmeceuticals Skin Group 1800 242 011 Intraceuticals Retinol+6 Booster Intraceuticals sales.au@intraceuticals.com dermaviduals Hyaluronan NAG Liposomes Derma Aesthetics 1300 420 223 Derma Energy Pi Super Serum Derma Energy 1300 799 709 HydroPeptide Power Luxe Hydra-Rich Infusion Cream Professional Beauty Solutions 1800 625 387 Votary Super Seed Facial Oil Advanced Cosmeceuticals Skin Group 1800 242 011 SIMKA Day Cream SPF 15 Derma Aesthetics 1300 420 223

PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 85

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asap C+ Super Complex asap 1300 131 970 EPICUTIS Hydrobiome Mist EPICUTIS ANZ 0428 986 681 DMK Herb & Mineral Moisture Spray Advanced Cosmeceuticals Skin Group 1800 242 011 Aspect Restorative 8 Night Cream Advanced Skin Technology 1800 648 851 ENRICH 8% Glycolic Skin Solution ENRICH Skincare emily@enrichskincare.com.au PCA Skin Pro-Max Age Renewal Advanced Skin Technology 1800 648 851 drNC Mineral Sunscreen Invisible Zinc SPF 50 drNC 1800 814 669 Skin functional Exfoliating Glow Tonic Skin functional 0455 674 091

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PB PRODUCTS

Image Skincare Ageless+ Retinol Professional Beauty Solutions 1800 625 387 Ultraceuticals ExoSignal GF2 Facial Serum Ultraceuticals 1800 355 638 iS Clinical Genexc Firming Eye Gel High Tech Medical 1300 309 233 Medik8 Exo-PDRM Prismatic+ Advanced Cosmeceuticals Skin Group 1800 242 011 Par Olive Advanced Skin Multivitamin Advanced Cosmeceuticals Skin Group 1800 242 011 ZO SKIN HEALTH Neck Complex Anti-Aging + Brightening Serum ZO SKIN HEALTH 1300 503 679 Natural Look Pore Refining Toner Artav Australia 1800 805 276

PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 87

PB PARTNERSHIP

WHAT IT TAKES TO TRULY KNOW YOUR CLINIC

partners

By Terri Vinson Jones, Founder & Formulator of Synergie Skin

TWENTY-THREE years ago, I sat at the window bench of my fledgling Melbourne aesthetics clinic, waiting for someone... anyone, to walk through the door. I’d spent all my savings ($42,000, a figure etched in my brain) on refurbishing a tiny space, finding a talented therapist and leasing a laser that was cutting edge at the time. I had no skin therapy qualifications, but what I did have was tenacity, an innate belief that validated science could change how someone felt in their own skin, and a genuine love of people. So, a nerdy skin scientist and cosmetic chemist set about to make a difference. And that’s where it all began. That memory is why, when I walk into a clinic today, I don’t feel like a brand doing the rounds. I know who my clinic partners are, and I feel like I’m walking back into my own shoes, with my people. A good number of my formulations didn’t start in my lab. They started with real in-clinic conversations. Two years ago, I had a day visiting my Brisbane clinics. A common theme struck me like a lightning bolt. Three clinics in one day, all asked me what I thought of topical exosomes. That night I obsessively began formulating my exosome serum. You just can’t ignore messages like that and it often comes from the real clinics, not the research papers. My business development managers, in clinics every day, also bring me gold nuggets of constantly. Honestly, this type of connection is my best research and inspiration!

2026

Our clinics sit at the coalface of this industry, translating science into a client’s actual skin outcomes, in real time, and often with their reputation on the line. There’s a difference between a clinic that stocks us and one that truly believes in us. You feel it the moment you walk through their doors. It’s in how the dedicated therapist explains a formulation and what it will do for her client, because she cares, not because she’s selling a bottle with a sales target. The clients I connect with most are customer centric and always curious to know more. When a clinic builds their protocols and treatment plans around my formulas, they’re trusting their professional reputation to my chemistry. That’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly. When I sit with a clinic team swapping stories and experiences, or meet a client whose skin has visibly changed through my products, I’m filled with gratitude that I get to be part of an industry that truly builds self-confidence. Our industry is anything but superficial! Over two decades of developing relationships with my clinics has taught me that loyalty is about so much more than the products. It’s about whether the person behind them showed up, listened, learnt and kept showing up with commitment and collaboration. I’ve walked in the shoes of my clients and I plan to keep doing it for a long time yet. ■ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 89

PB TECHNOLOGY

DEVICE DISRUPTORS Which technology is the best fit for your clinic?

MORE THAN 40,000 businesses are now competing across Australia’s hair and beauty sector, growing at almost 6 per cent a year since 2020. Standing out now requires a clear point of difference. Innovation isn’t slowing either. Every year brings another wave of devices promising better outcomes, faster treatments and stronger returns. The challenge is identifying the technologies that will give your clinic a competitive advantage. Investing in a device is about far more than adding another treatment to the menu. It’s a strategic business decision that can influence client demographics, treatment pathways, pricing, and your reputation in the market for years to come. Here, PB rounds up the technologies making the strongest business case for investment:

AURALUX At a glance: A cold fibre laser delivering CO₂-level resurfacing with significantly less pain, downtime and infection risk than traditional ablative lasers. The business case: CO₂ lasers have long been the gold standard for skin resurfacing, but the associated pain, downtime and infection risk have limited their appeal. AuraLux changes that, delivering CO₂-comparable results with significantly less discomfort across all Fitzpatrick skin types (I-VI), with no numbing cream required in most cases. Its proprietary CoolPulse™ technology directs 95 per cent of energy into tissue ablation and just 5 per cent into residual heat, while four treatment modes range from 10 to 15-minute prejuvenation through to deep scar revision. The result is one compact platform capable of treating multiple indications through an intuitive interface suited to both experienced practitioners and first-time laser users. “The CoolPulse technology fundamentally changes what’s possible,” says Mat Green, Director of Aesthetic Technology at Pro Aesthetic Solutions. “This isn’t a device upgrade. It’s a new category of treatment altogether.” Ideal for: Clinics introducing ablative resurfacing or expanding treatment options across all skin types. Distributor: Pro Aesthetic Solutions, 1800 625 387

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GLACĒ At a glance: A professional facial platform combining microdermabrasion, serum infusion, cupping massage and LED therapy into one no-downtime treatment. The business case: The pursuit of glass skin shows no signs of slowing. Glacē combines precision microdermabrasion, dual-serum infusion, cupping massage, thermal therapies and LED into a single treatment designed to improve hydration, brightness and skin quality without recovery time. Individually packaged serums simplify inventory and protect margins, while protocols are easily delegated across clinic teams. Recommended every two to four weeks, it drives repeat bookings while complementing laser, RF microneedling and injectable treatments. Ideal for: Clinics wanting a repeat-visit maintenance treatment that drives retention and complements existing advanced procedures. Distributor: Candela Medical, 1300 226 335

Source: IBISWorld, Hairdressing & Beauty Services in Australia, 2026. Words: Erin Berryman | Photography: Supplied

THE

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ENDYMED PRO MAX At a glance: A modular RF platform combining skin tightening, fractional resurfacing, RF microneedling and body contouring in one console. The business case: Consolidation is becoming one of the smartest investments clinics can make. EndyMed PRO MAX combines skin tightening, fractional resurfacing, RF microneedling and body contouring within one modular system, allowing clinics to build and expand their treatment menu over time. A built-in thermal imaging camera provides real-time temperature mapping to support treatment confidence, while practitioners typically become proficient within one to two days. For clinics, the platform reduces equipment footprint and capital outlay, while its interface, available in 10 languages including Mandarin, makes it particularly well suited to multilingual teams and diverse patient communities. Ideal for: Growing clinics wanting to build an RF treatment portfolio without investing in multiple standalone devices, particularly those with limited space or multilingual teams. Distributor: High Tech Medical, 1300 309 233

AURA

GLACIAL SKIN At a glance: A precision cooling platform using patented technology to address signs of premature skin ageing caused by inflammation, help accelerate recovery and enhance treatment outcomes. The business case: Every advanced treatment creates compromised skin. Glacial Skin helps to manage it. Billed as the world’s first CryoAesthetics® platform, its patented Cryomodulation™ technology reduces redness, provides soothing relief and improves skin brightness while supporting recovery following laser, RF microneedling, injectables and other energy-based procedures. Four modes let clinics apply it across rejuvenation, post-procedure recovery, lymphatic support and lesion removal. Ideal for: Clinics looking to accelerate post-procedure recovery while expanding treatment options.

At a glance: A 3D facial imaging system that creates a digital twin to analyse skin, facial structure and treatment outcomes. The business case: ‘Seeing is believing’ has never rung truer. Aura helps patients visualise concerns they may not have noticed, from subtle volume loss to pigmentation and skin quality changes, creating more informed conversations and greater confidence in recommendations. A single scan that takes just 0.2 seconds captures facial structure, skin condition and volumetric change, with before-and-after documentation and shareable reports tracking progress. The result is stronger consultation-to-treatment conversion and more long-term pathways. Ideal for: Clinics looking to speed up treatment conversion with imaging accuracy, particularly multi-practitioner or multi-site practices needing a portable system.

Distributor: High Tech Medical, 1300 309 233

EXCEED At a glance: A medical microneedling device clinically proven to reduce acne scars and wrinkles. The business case: Not all microneedling devices are created equal. EXCEED is a German-engineered, medically certified system clinically proven to reduce acne scars and wrinkles while supporting collagen formation and skin texture. Its patented cartridges use a tilting needle plate that adapts to the skin’s contours, creating up to 900 microchannels per second with minimal trauma, an evidence-based point of difference beyond cosmetic needling. Ideal for: Clinics introducing microneedling or treating high volumes of acne scarring. Distributor: Derma Aesthetics, 1300 420 223 PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 91

PB TECHNOLOGY

Investment Cheat Sheet

ZHAV DYNAMIC LIFT + MOISTURE TESTING

Device

Point of difference

AuraLux

Low-downtime ablative resurfacing

Glacē

Repeat-visit maintenance

EndyMed PRO MAX

Treatment menu consolidation

Aura

Higher treatment conversion

Glacial Skin

Post-procedure recovery & upsell

EXCEED

Medical-grade acne scar revision

Density Noir

Multi-concern rejuvenation

ZHAV

Hands-free mode

Alma PrimeX

Two energies, one platform

At a glance: An Australian-designed facial toning system combining microcurrent, LED therapy and hydration diagnostics. The business case: Facial fitness is becoming its own treatment category. ZHAV Dynamic Lift combines microcurrent and faradic technology for a “gym workout” for facial muscles in around 15 minutes, with no pain or downtime. Built-in LED therapy expands the treatment offering, while hydration diagnostics create additional retail opportunities. Its hands-free mode allows therapists to perform other services concurrently, consolidating multiple facial technologies into one compact system. Ideal for: Clinics consolidating facial toning and LED modalities into one hands-free device. Distributor: ZHAV International, 08 8362 0222

ALMA PRIMEX At a glance: A multi-modal platform combining guided ultrasound and RF for non-invasive fat reduction and skin tightening. The business case: Rather than relying on a single energy source, Alma PrimeX combines guided ultrasound and unipolar RF to reduce fat, tighten skin and stimulate collagen in one treatment platform. ReACCT technology automatically adjusts energy delivery to tissue impedance, personalising treatments across face and body indications. Its signature Alma X-Lift protocol also addresses age-related and post-weight-loss facial changes, including ‘Ozempic Face’, without ongoing consumable costs. Ideal for: Clinics expanding into non-invasive face and body contouring, particularly those treating skin laxity and post-weight-loss changes. Distributor: Alma Lasers, 1300 511 862

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DENSITY NOIR At a glance: A patented RF platform combining sequential monopolar and bipolar energy in a single pulse. The business case: Patients rarely present with just one concern. Density Noir’s patented sequential RF delivers monopolar and bipolar energy within milliseconds, targeting structural support and skin quality in one treatment, spanning presentations from preventative care to age- or GLP-1-related laxity. Ideal for: Clinics offering consultative, treatment-led approaches to skin health and ageing, especially those already using energy-based devices. Distributor: Advanced Skin Technology, 1800 648 851

2026

Innovation

WITH INTEGRITY

Award-winning technology is only part of the equation. For Yaffa Zhav, trust and education are the real differentiators. YAFFA ZHAV has built her career on challenging the status quo, spending decades asking one simple question: How can treatments better address the real-world challenges faced by therapists and their clients? That commitment has earned ZHAV International national recognition, with the ZHAV Dynamic Lift™ + Moisture Testing named WINNER for the Best Beauty Product/Innovation at the 2026 Australian Small Business Champion Awards. The recognition reflects more than three decades of research, clinical experience, and a commitment to developing technology that delivers measurable outcomes for both therapists and their clients. “This award represents everything I have worked towards throughout my career—innovation with purpose, technology with integrity, and results that genuinely make a difference.” More than a treatment device, the ZHAV Dynamic Lift™ + Moisture Testing is an intelligent treatment platform designed to deliver exceptional client outcomes while supporting long-term clinic growth.

Why the Zhav DynamicLift TM + Moisture Testing is the World Leader in Anti-ageing Non-Surgical Facelifting:

• World’s first intelligent treatment platform to combine Faradic + Microcurrent with a unique automatic rotator program. • Harnessing scientifically proven technology is the first device that can target both surface and deeper muscles delivering the ultimate skin fitness workout • First machine to operate at an industry-leading highest intensity of 500–800μA • Smart alternative to competitors heat-based treatments as the Zhav Dynamic Lift TM + Moisture Testing targets and activates muscles to restore muscle memory providing visible results from the very first treatment and longer lasting visible results. In a rare commitment to Australian innovation, the technology has been designed and manufactured in South Australia. Local manufacturing provides clinics with faster servicing, seamless upgrades, minimal downtime, and direct access to the team behind the technology. It also strengthens consumer confidence, with today’s clients

increasingly valuing transparency, quality and Australian innovation. Developing and manufacturing the machine in South Australia was a deliberate decision,” says Yaffa. “We wanted to create an Australian-designed solution backed by local expertise, training and ongoing support.” “For us, it’s more than being Australian made” Yaffa says. “It’s about accountability, responsiveness and building lasting partnerships that help clinics succeed.” Education has remained central to ZHAV’s philosophy, with Yaffa believing the success of any technology ultimately depends on the confidence and expertise of the therapist using it.

Alongside comprehensive product training, clinics receive complimentary access to the Therapist’s Hub—an online education platform covering treatment protocols, consultation techniques, marketing resources and business development tools. “At Zhav International, we understand that business growth goes beyond innovation—it requires ongoing support and accessibility. Investing in equipment should be time-efficient, cost-effective, deliver exceptional results and provide a strong return on investment,” says Yaffa. “A machine alone doesn’t create exceptional results. It’s the therapist’s understanding, confidence, and ability to connect with clients that brings every treatment to life.” Now clinics everywhere can now introduce this world-first award-winning treatment platform. With the NEW Rent-to-Buy offer from just $185 + GST per week (conditions apply), revenue from as little as one treatment a week covers the rental cost. Zhav International’s holistic philosophy extends to YZ Derma Skincare, a professional, chemicalfree, vegan and cruelty-free range combining advanced science with nature’s most effective active ingredients. Featuring five targeted collections—24K Gold, Hyaluronic Acid, Anti-Aging, Collagen and Retinol— the ranges allow clinics to customise their retail offering with opening orders from just $500 + GST. Clinics looking to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive market are invited to visit Zhav International at Stand F113 during this year’s Beauty Expo. Meet Yaffa Zhav, experience the awardwinning ZHAV Dynamic Lift™ firsthand and discover how the platform is transforming clinics by growing profitability, client retention and treatment results. More than 35 years on, Yaffa’s mission remains unchanged: empowering clinics with innovative technology, education and ongoing support that drives exceptional client outcomes and long-term business success. PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 93

PB WELLNESS

ARE WE MEDICALISING

Wellness?

SHE ARRIVES with a folder. Inside: cortisol test results, a biological age score, six weeks of wearable data and a question about what any of it means for her skin. She thinks it might be why she’s breaking out. This client is no longer unusual. Across Australia’s beauty and wellness clinics, a new kind of appointment is emerging. Beauty has always promised prevention. What’s changed is the language. Where conversations once centred on hydration and UV damage, they are now shaped by numbers, panels and protocols borrowed from preventive medicine. 94 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

How Longevity Went Mainstream

The shift has been building for years. “Traditionally, healthcare focused on diagnosing and treating disease,” says Dr Olivia Lesslar, Director of Functional and Longevity Medicine at Sydney-based Cingulum Health. “Today’s consumers are asking a different question: how do I stay well for longer?” Wearable technology has put health data at people’s fingertips, at-home testing has removed the GP as gatekeeper and social media has done the rest. “We now have far more direct-to-consumer testing available, and increased marketing of tests that previously would have sat more firmly within a traditional medical pathway,” says Dr Michaelia Verbeek, a GP specialising in chronic invisible illness. “Social media has also played a major role, creating a growing appetite for data and a desire to optimise the body.” For Dr Dominik Schaffner, founder, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Biogenix, the change reflects something more fundamental. “For the first time in modern history, people are engaging proactively with their own biology rather than waiting for disease to declare itself,” he says. “People don’t just want more years. They want better years.”

The Case For Measurement

Used thoughtfully, diagnostics can be powerful. Dr Verbeek has seen wearables help patients recognise patterns they would otherwise have

Photography: iStock/shockshots korea

As clients arrive armed with data and self-diagnoses, Erin Berryman asks, where does empowerment end and anxiety begin?

PB WELLNESS

missed. “Sometimes it’s not until we’re confronted with the data that we realise something needs to change,” she says. Dr Lesslar points to interoception, the ability to sense and interpret internal body signals, as the key variable. For people who struggle to read their own bodies, data offers a feedback loop that can genuinely support behaviour change. The risk, says Dr Schaffner, lies not in testing but in interpretation. “A biomarker is a piece of information, not a diagnosis. A cortisol reading without context, an inflammatory marker without a clinical history, or a biological age score without trend data can lead patients in entirely the wrong direction. The danger is not that people are testing too much. It’s that the testing is increasingly happening in settings without the clinical infrastructure to interpret it responsibly or to follow it up appropriately.”

When Optimisation Becomes Obsession

There is a tipping point. There’s even been a term coined for it: longevity fixation syndrome. “What I often see is patients confusing fluctuation with dysfunction. A slightly elevated marker becomes evidence of disease,” says Dr Schaffner. Human biology is dynamic. Cortisol rises and falls across the day, and a single reading often tells you more about the moment than the system. “The patient becomes more focused on the numbers than on how they actually feel. The pursuit of health, which is meant to expand life, begins to contract it.” Dr Verbeek draws a parallel with financial anxiety: “There is always more that could be earned, saved, invested or protected. In the same way, there can always be another biomarker to improve, another score to track or another intervention to try.” The goal, she argues, should not be endless optimisation but better function, quality of life and confidence in daily living. Dr Lesslar agrees. “Modern life is demanding. Most adults will experience periods of stress, poor sleep, fatigue, emotional strain and fluctuating biomarkers. That doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong.” “Diagnostics should create clarity, not anxiety,” says Dr Schaffner. “The moment a patient leaves more worried than when they arrived, we have failed them. A patient with perfect biomarkers who is anxious, rigid and joyless is not winning at longevity. They are losing at life.”

“A PATIENT WITH PERFECT BIOMARKERS WHO IS ANXIOUS, RIGID AND JOYLESS IS NOT WINNING AT LONGEVITY. THEY ARE LOSING AT LIFE.”

The New Consultation

Back to the client with the folder. Elisa Osmo, an advanced dermal therapist with almost a decade of experience across spa and clinical-adjacent settings, knows this consultation well. Clients are arriving far more informed than they were five years ago, but they’re also asking different questions. “Instead of asking, ‘How can I keep my skin healthy?’ they’re asking, ‘How can I stop myself from ageing?’” says Osmo. Often, the information they bring isn’t evidence-based or relevant to their individual situation either. “It’s not uncommon for someone to link every breakout to a cortisol spike, gut health or inflammation before we’ve even assessed their skin.” Samara Searle, founder of Beauty Boost clinic, sees it too. “Clients are understanding skin at a cellular level more than ever,” she says. “But we have to remember that skin is our largest organ which fluctuates with stress, hormones and life. It cannot be perfect 100 per cent of the time, and trying to force it to be can actually cause harm and a compromised barrier.” Both Osmo and Searle take a similar approach when they sense something is off: refocusing the consultation on skin barrier health and education, referring clients to medical professionals where appropriate, or suggesting a break from treatments altogether. “The best outcomes usually come from collaboration rather than trying to manage everything within one discipline,” says Osmo.

From Measurement to Meaning

None of the practitioners interviewed are anti-data. They’re anti-data without context. “Consumer diagnostics can be a valuable complement to traditional

healthcare,” says Dr Verbeek, “but the balance lies in interpretation. Data becomes most useful when it is personalised and translated into realistic, sustainable steps.” But context can be difficult for clients to find. “There’s a massive influx of marketing masquerading as medicine in the wellness space right now,” says Searle. For Dr Schaffner, the problem is when the focus shifts away from the fundamentals. “The honest truth is that the largest, most reliable longevity gains still come from the fundamentals: sleep, nutrition, resistance training, cardiovascular fitness, stress regulation, social connection and a sense of purpose. These are not glamorous, they do not sell well, and they cannot be branded.” Any clinician charging for diagnostics without rigorously addressing those foundations first, he says, is not practising longevity medicine. “They are selling a product.” For Dr Lesslar, that’s where beauty professionals can make their greatest contribution. “Beauty and wellness practitioners play an important role because they often spend more time with clients than medical professionals do,” she says. “The most effective longevity ecosystems are multidisciplinary. Everyone has a role, but understanding professional boundaries protects both clients and practitioners.” Perhaps that’s the real opportunity. In an era of endless information, the space between empowerment and anxiety might just be perspective. As Dr Schaffner puts it: “Not how do we live longer, but how do we live better, for longer?” Sometimes the most valuable thing beauty and wellness professionals can offer isn’t another answer, but a reminder that longevity isn’t about chasing numbers. ■ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 95

PB BROWS

Brows OUT OF TOWN

For remote clients, there’s a case for DIY after all, writes Rachel Medlock.

“THE PEOPLE WHO DIY HAVE LIKELY NEVER STEPPED FOOT IN A SALON.”

won’t rebook. But Armstrong argues that the at-home beauty market is already there, whether salons get involved or not. The people buying these kits usually weren’t salon clients in the first place. “The people who DIY have likely never stepped foot in a salon,” she adds. So, offering a kit doesn’t take away bookings. Instead, it expands your retail base. A skin-only clinic could shelve it the way it already sells makeup, a retail margin that needs no extra room, time, or training, but still solves a problem. Good retail is about support as much as sales. For rural or remote clients, anyone can buy wax. What they can’t get from a store is the next best thing to an appointment: a therapist’s method matched to the exact product they’re using. That’s what helps your standards reach beyond the salon walls. ■ 96 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Photography: Supplied

RURAL AND remote clients don’t quit their brows by choice. They quit because the drive is five hours for a 15 minute appointment, and the maths stops mathing. So they find their own solutions, and every therapist has seen the results: supermarket strip wax that leaves skin (and often brows) in worse shape. Brow It Yourself is Bree Armstrong’s solution. She started her career doing brows in Wodonga, then moved to Rockhampton, where clients kept telling her, “I only get to come to town three or four times a year.” Some were already waxing at home, with no good guidance to help them. Armstrong shared her idea on TikTok, and it quickly went viral. Soon, her business took off with a waxing kit that includes therapist-led tutorials, a wax heater, hard wax, mapping tools, and enough disposables for up to ten uses. There are also tinting and hybrid dye options, all available via the Brow It Yourself website and via wholesale application. Most salon owners have the same first thought: if you offer a DIY kit, you might lose clients who

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2026

The collection has been formulated to complement professional skincare and spray tanning services, helping clients maintain smoother, healthier-looking skin between salon visits. As consumers continue to invest in preventative skincare and wellness, body care is becoming an increasingly valuable category for salons.

As the beauty industry continues to evolve, consumers are looking beyond traditional skincare routines in favour of more holistic approaches that prioritise total skin health. Once considered an afterthought, body care is rapidly emerging as one of the industry's fastest-growing categories, with professional treatments and retail solutions increasingly centered on long-term skin wellness rather than simply aesthetics. Responding to this shift is Sunless Australia, with the launch of WELLFIT HOME, an innovative full-body skincare range designed to bridge the gap between professional treatments and everyday self-care.

WELLFIT HOME offers beauty professionals an opportunity to extend client care beyond the treatment room while creating meaningful retail conversations that reinforce treatment outcomes and encourage long-term client loyalty. The launch of WELLFIT HOME also reflects a broader evolution within Sunless Australia. For more than two decades, the company has been recognised as a leader in professional spray tanning, partnering with beauty businesses across Australia and New Zealand through premium equipment, education and salon support. Today, that expertise is expanding into the wider world of skin wellness, delivering complete treatment solutions that combine advanced technology with professional homecare.

For decades, facial skincare has dominated consumer attention, while the skin on the rest of the body has received comparatively little focus. Yet it is exposed to the same environmental stressors, dehydration and signs of ageing. WELLFIT HOME has been developed with the belief that healthy skin shouldn't stop at the jawline, introducing a simple yet effective daily ritual that supports the skin from head to toe.

Central to this philosophy is the VersaSpa Pro Automated Wellness Booth. More than an automated spray tanning booth, the VersaSpa Pro represents the next generation of wellness technology, combining customised spray tanning with advanced full body skin care treatments in a luxurious, touch-free experience.

Built around a professional-inspired three-step system, WELLFIT HOME features a cleanser, toner and serum that work together to cleanse, hydrate and nourish the skin while supporting a healthy skin barrier.

When paired with WELLFIT HOME, salons can offer clients a complete skin wellness journey—from professional in-salon treatments to an easy-to-follow homecare routine that supports hydration, skin health and longer-lasting treatment results.

98 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

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Body skincare has often been overlooked, yet it's an important part of overall skin health. As an industry, we're beginning to give it the attention it deserves, and I think that's a really exciting step forward."

official launch of WELLFIT HOME will be celebrated alongside live product demonstrations, professional education and complimentary experiences in the latest VersaSpa Pro Automated Wellness Booths. Throughout the exhibition, attendees will be invited to enjoy complimentary spray tans and skin wellness treatments, experience the newest technologies, and discover how WELLFIT HOME integrates seamlessly into both professional services and everyday skincare routines. Continuing its long-standing commitment to industry education, Sunless Australia will also return to the Beauty Expo Main Stage for the third consecutive year. The team will present on Sunday 16 August at 11:20am, exploring the future of skin wellness, emerging opportunities in professional body care, and how salons can diversify their treatment and retail offerings to meet changing consumer expectations. Alongside its automated wellness technology, Sunless Australia continues to offer one of Australia's most comprehensive portfolios of professional handheld spray tanning systems and premium tanning solutions. Designed for salons of every size, the range provides beauty professionals with flexible treatment options, high-performance equipment and formulations trusted throughout the industry to deliver flawless, natural-looking results. The client experience extends beyond the treatment room through Sunless Australia's expanding retail offering, including an esteemed self-tanning collection. Together with WELLFIT HOME, these products allow salons to build a complete homecare solution that supports treatment longevity, enhances client satisfaction and creates valuable retail opportunities. Beauty professionals will have the opportunity to experience the latest innovations firsthand when Sunless Australia returns to Beauty Expo Australia, taking place in Sydney on 15–16 August. Visitors can find the team at Stand H103, where the

As the boundaries between skincare, wellness and beauty continue to blur, the demand for complete treatment ecosystems will only continue to grow. Through the launch of WELLFIT HOME, ongoing investment in VersaSpa Pro technology, industry-leading professional spray tanning solutions and comprehensive retail collections, Sunless Australia is helping shape the future of fullbody skincare.

Visit Sunless Australia at Stand H103 during Beauty Expo Australia on 15–16 August, and discover how WELLFIT HOME is redefining the future of full-body skincare. Don't miss the Main Stage presentation on Sunday 16 August at 11:20am for insights into the latest innovations driving the industry forward.

PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 99

PB NAILS

EFFICIENCY BY Rachel Medlock explores how salons can turn press-ons into profit.

THE INDUSTRY’S fastest-growing nail looks aren’t done in salons. They’re being shipped to kitchen tables, a global market on track for almost $1.08 billion by 2030, nearly all of it direct-to-consumer. So why would a salon offer a product that competes with its own services? BLISSIBOX sees a chance to fill this gap. “The professional salon channel is the most underserved part of the category, and that’s exactly where the opportunity lies,” says cofounder trinity bb. Nail design has become an art form, and some detailed sets can take hours to finish. “Salons

that don’t have the capacity or skillset to fulfil complex creative requests can now say yes to them,” she says. All the design work is done beforehand. BLISSIBOX nails are hand-painted by professional artists and look completely different from the chemist press-ons you might remember. For example, their MATRIX #67 design includes almond-shaped nails in mirrored silver and gunmetal, one in glossy black, another with a painted eye, one with a 3D heart, and another with a silver charm. 100 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Normally, a custom art set ties up a senior tech for an afternoon at a single price. A press-on service turns the same chair over several times a day, at a margin that doesn’t ride on who’s rostered on. The application becomes its own line on the menu for the client who would rather have their nails professionally prepped and finished in the salon. The loop closes at removal. She comes back for a professional manicure that keeps her nails healthy, picks her next design while she’s there, and the cycle starts again. This lets the salon earn at every step. Press-ons don’t replace traditional nail services, but for busy clients who want a bold look without spending hours at the salon, there’s a new opportunity for salons to boost both productivity and profits. ■

Photography: Supplied

“THE PROFESSIONAL SALON CHANNEL IS THE MOST UNDERSERVED PART OF THE CATEGORY, AND THAT’S EXACTLY WHERE THE OPPORTUNITY LIES.”

For more information visit sunlessaustralia.com.au

PB MAKEUP

Rewriting THE RULES

ONE OF Deepa Mani’s earliest memories is watching her mother pair vibrant tangerine lipstick with an orange sari. Her mother, a doctor who would later become one of the biggest inspirations behind POC Beauty, also instilled something equally important: confidence in the skin she was born with. “I grew up in India, where beauty was rich, layered and culturally specific,” she says. There was turmeric before a celebration. Coconut oil hair massages as an act of love, not a trend. Rituals passed down through generations of women rather than purchased off a shelf. “Beauty was never something we chased. It was something we inhabited.” 102 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

“I GREW UP IN INDIA, WHERE BEAUTY WAS RICH, LAYERED AND CULTURALLY SPECIFIC.” That perspective stayed with her for the next 25 years. It travelled with her through transformation consulting across Australia and the United States, decades as a Bharatanatyam dancer and later as Founder and Artistic Director of Chandralaya School of Dance. It also shaped how she navigated life as an Indian-born woman in Western countries that were never quite built with her in mind. That contrast became impossible to ignore after moving to the United States in the early 2000s. “The ‘nude’ lipstick was never nude on me. The foundation either disappeared on my skin or sat on top of it like a mask. The concealers

Interview: Hannah Gay | Words: Erin Berryman | Photography: Supplied

Deepa Mani, Founder of POC Beauty, grew up believing beauty looked like her. Moving to the United States then Australia revealed a different story, one she wasn’t part of.

PB MAKEUP

pulled grey and the highlighters looked chalky,” she recalls. The message, whether intended or not, was clear: her skin was a variation from a norm set without her input. Boardrooms only reinforced that message. Frequently one of the few women of colour in the room, Mani became increasingly aware of how ideas of looking ‘professional’ or ‘polished’ often centred around a particular image. Performing, however, exposed the industry’s shortcomings most clearly. Years under bright stage lights meant constantly mixing and adapting products to achieve the pigment and finish her skin needed. Leading transformation programs across education, healthcare and finance also shaped the way Mani approached the problem. She had spent her career examining broken systems and asking who was being left out, and why. When she turned that same question towards the beauty industry, it became POC Beauty. Together, those experiences became the blueprint for the brand. Not one that folds

darker skin tones into an existing formula, but one that starts there. “I didn’t want to create a brand that ‘also includes’ darker skin tones,” Mani says. “I wanted to build a brand where melanin-rich skin is the starting point, the design brief, the entire frame of reference.” That philosophy is best illustrated by the award-winning Lip and Cheek Tints, which spent 14 months in development and were formulated specifically around the needs of melaninrich skin. “Most tints are built around pigment,” Mani says. “Ours is built around skin.” The base combines shea butter, mango seed butter, jojoba, camellia, meadowfoam and olive oil, selected specifically for melanin-rich skin,

“I WANTED TO BUILD A BRAND WHERE MELANIN-RICH SKIN IS THE STARTING POINT, THE DESIGN BRIEF, THE ENTIRE FRAME OF REFERENCE.”

which is more prone to moisture loss and hyperpigmentation. The wider lip care category has grown around the same principle, from the Lip Scrub and Lip Mask to the Radiance Ritual Set, each designed to prep, treat and enhance rather than simply mask. The approach has since earned POC Beauty significant industry recognition, including Best Inclusive Makeup Brand and Best Inclusive Makeup Product at the 2026 Beauty Shortlist Awards. For Mani, the wins are bigger than accolades. “It was a profound validation, not just for POC Beauty, but for every person of colour who has stood in a beauty aisle and felt invisible.” While consumers are central to POC Beauty’s mission, Mani believes makeup artists also have an important role to play in raising industry standards around inclusive beauty. Rather than treating melanin-rich skin as a correction to be made, she says it should be understood on its own terms, with its own undertones, relationship with pigment and formulation needs. “If your kit is not built for it, that is a gap in your training, not a limitation of the skin.” ■ PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 103

PB LASHES

THE LASH SERUM SHELF IS FULL.

NOW WHAT?

“Clients are far more ingredient literate,” she says. “Salons can’t just stock what looks good on the counter or a viral brand. They need products that hold up to questions.” Catherine Hon built Bored Brows around something the category had largely ignored: nobody wants another step. Her Black Lash Serum combines nourishing ingredients with a carbon tint, so it enhances lashes while also treating them. “Clients are not choosing between wearing mascara and treating their lashes; they can do both at the same time,” Hon says. “For stockists, the conversation is very much about modern consumer behaviour. Customers today want 104 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

multi-functional products that save time while still delivering results.” Hon explains what this means for salons: “Clients aren’t just buying a lash treatment; they’re buying a product that fits seamlessly into their lifestyle.” Pallot sees the commercial side in a similar way. “The way to build consistent revenue isn’t volume of repeat sales from one client,” she says. “It’s the referral and trust loop. A client who gets real results becomes the salon’s best marketing.” Choosing which lash serum to stock comes back to the kind of client relationship a salon wants to create. Products that can answer clients’ questions, fit into their routines, and encourage referrals will always outlast those that just look good in marketing. ■

Words: Rachel Medlock | Photography: Supplied

THE LASH serum market is loud. Every brand promises longer, thicker, stronger lashes, and most clients have already half-decided before they arrive based on what their algorithm served them. The real question isn’t which serum is effective. It’s which one a therapist can actually sell. Lucy Pallot worked as a lash and brow specialist for a decade before founding Lash Rescue. From the beginning, she focused on ingredient transparency, avoiding prostaglandins and hormone-based ingredients, and clearly listing active ingredients on the label.

PB LASHES

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PB WAXING

Is waxing on its way out? The industry keeps implying as much. Janeen Taylor’s booking data says otherwise.

JANEEN TAYLOR, who founded Masquerade Beauty in Bateau Bay in 2011, still finds waxing is her top service. Many of her clients have always preferred waxing over other options. “Our demographic leans towards mature clients who have never wanted to explore the laser path,” Taylor explains. Taylor also pays attention to the experience itself. At Masquerade, a brow wax comes with low lighting, a cool compress, and a room-mist ritual. “Most clients say how relaxing our brow waxing is,” she says. These details matter. Waxing is often the first service a client tries, a simple way to get to know your salon before booking something bigger. If you treat it like just another item on the menu, that’s all it will be. But if you give it the same care as a facial, like Taylor does, it can start a real conversation with your client. When clients decide to try skin treatments, they remember the salon that made them feel cared for. “Very seldom do they come in 106 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

“OUR DEMOGRAPHIC LEANS TOWARDS MATURE CLIENTS WHO HAVE NEVER WANTED TO EXPLORE THE LASER PATH.”

for just a wax and not a facial,” says Taylor, whose clients now book their appointments for the whole year. Waxing is the gateway, and it leads to everything else you offer. Of course, the service still needs to be profitable, and Taylor pays attention to details that some owners overlook. “The most important thing to look at is how long the service takes the therapist,” she says. She recently made her leg waxing appointments more efficient and saw immediate improvements in her records. Profit comes from saving time, not just setting prices. Some of Taylor’s waxing clients have been coming to her for fifteen years. That kind of loyalty lasts longer than any new industry trend. ■

Words: Rachel Medlock | Photography: iStock/sam jackson/Supplied

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Photography: iStock/Fenton Roman

INCOME BEYOND THE INK How to diversify your income while respecting your purpose. By Amy Hadley

INSTEAD OF hopping between appointments for their aesthetic goals, clients are building long-term relationships with a select few specialists. As beauty, wellness, and lifestyle aspirations become more closely entwined, cosmetic tattooists should consider diversifying their existing skills with new treatment offerings to meet the market’s needs and create steadier income. “I cannot express how important this is – now in 2026, and in the future,” says Georgie Westley, co-founder and educator at The Agency of Skin and Ink in Geelong, Victoria. “Newer cosmetic tattooists just entering the industry often don’t have enough clients to pay the bills. Having other treatments on the menu will help keep the cash flowing.” As well as potentially boosting your income, offering additional services can help nurture relationships with clients. Westley explains that cosmetic tattooists who offer a limited number of treatments (like permanent makeup for brows or lips) may find themselves waiting for clients to return for maintenance, or even waving goodbye to them altogether after the initial service. “If you were to offer more services, this in turn will bring clients who may want or need the other services you offer,” she notes. “However, I do believe too many treatments can dilute your specialty and skills. There is certainly a fine line between not enough and too much; the balance needs to be there.” Westley advises against adding services that risk diminishing your business purpose. While beauty therapy treatments like lashes and waxing may seem like a natural extension, she believes services that complement a cosmetic tattooist’s skin expertise are a stronger long-term solution. Advanced skin treatments encourage ongoing client relationships, creating opportunities to introduce higher-value services over time. If you’re thinking about investing in new training and treatments, Westley has some practical advice: before you commit to anything, make sure you have the clients to support it. “Work within your means and don’t overspend on something you may not have the clientele yet for.” She adds that attending industry conferences or finding a business coach or mentor can provide valuable insights and help inform your decision-making process. 108 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

You have the skills expand upon them with other specialisations: Knowledge of skin structure: add laser/non-laser permanent makeup removal Hygiene and infection control: add ear piercing or microneedling Attention to fine detail: add permanent jewellery application Consultation and colour theory: add skin analysis or colour analysis.

After completing relevant training or obtaining certifications, consider asking trusted clients for their honest feedback in return for a free treatment. Once the treatment process is refined, market it as a progression of the expertise you’re known for. “Some benefits of having other treatments under your belt is that it creates word of mouth with other clients. At the dinner table, at the hairdresser, among colleagues in the lunchroom… this is where your generation of new, loyal business comes from.” ■

The Aesthetic Business

AWARDS Recognising excellence, leadership and meaningful contribution within the business of aesthetics. Don’t miss out, enter today! Entries open 1st September 2026.

PB OUT & ABOUT

Non-Surgical Symposium 2026 Where: International Convention Centre, Sydney What: Australasia’s leading non-surgical aesthetics conference returned to Sydney, bringing together clinicians, doctors and nurses for three days of education, innovation and networking. The program explored topics spanning energy-based devices, regenerative medicine, skin health, hair restoration and business strategy, alongside live demonstrations and expert-led discussions. Between sessions, delegates connected with peers and explored the latest technologies shaping the future of aesthetic practice.

Ultraceuticals launches Youth Boost ExoSignal GF² Facial Serum

Words: Erin Berryman | Photography: Supplied

Where: Chinatown Country Club, Sydney What: Beauty journalists, content creators and industry guests gathered at the fashionable Chinatown Country Club for a cocktailparty-meets-educational showcase celebrating Ultraceuticals’ new Youth Boost ExoSignal GF² Facial Serum. CEO Catrin Thomas was joined by Global Education Ambassador Tracey Beeby, Innovation and R&D Chemist Dr Sally Noushini and the brand’s education team, who guided guests through a series of immersive activations exploring the science behind the launch.

110 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

PB OUT & ABOUT

PBS Skin Summit & Gala Dinner Where: Ivy Ballroom, Sydney What: Skin Summit 2026 saw salon owners and therapists unite for a day of future-focused education, with sessions covering regenerative skin health, business strategy and the latest aesthetic technologies, alongside live device demonstrations. The event came to a glittering close with a Gatsby-inspired Gala Dinner celebrating PBS’ 20th anniversary, against a backdrop of feathers, pearls and vintage glamour. Guests enjoyed an evening of fine dining, entertainment and celebration, before the annual Salon of the Year Awards recognised the achievements of outstanding businesses across Australia.

iS Clinical unveils GeneXC Firming Eye Gel Where: The Woollahra Clinic, Sydney What: iS Clinical celebrated the launch of its latest innovation at Sydney’s newly opened Woollahra Clinic. Guests were taken on an exclusive tour of the state-of-the-art facility founded by Associate Professor Bish Soliman. A departure from traditional clinical environments, the clinic’s luxurious $2.5 million purpose-built fit-out reflected iS Clinical’s premium standing within the cosmeceutical market. iS Clinical Territory Manager Nikki Vezza introduced the GeneXC Firming Eye Gel, followed by a virtual presentation from iS Clinical’s Aesthetic Training Manager, Traci Imperio, who joined remotely from the United States before answering guests’ questions in a live Q&A.

PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY | 111

PB OUT & ABOUT

ParagonCare Aesthetics showcases the future of combination therapies Where: The Brighton Hotel, Brighton-Le-Sands What: The full-day event combined education with networking as industry professionals gathered to hear from international speakers, watch live treatment demonstrations and discuss the future of aesthetics. Sessions explored topics including the rise of energy-based devices, emerging opportunities linked to GLP-1 medications and the industry’s shift towards ongoing treatment plans, before delegates continued conversations over lunch and rooftop drinks overlooking Botany Bay.

ADVANCED COSMECEUTICALS (Medik8) 13 AESTHETICS BUSINESS MASTERS AWARDS 109 Alma 83 BEAUTY EXPO AUSTRALIA 38, 39, 40, 41 BizCover 45 CANDELA (Glace) 43 COSMOPROF ASIA 61 DERMAenergy 15 derma aesthetics (dermaviduals) 4, 5 Doctor Eckstein 31 Founder’s Formula 8, 9 HIGH TECH MEDICAL (Aura) 7 Hydrafacial 78, 79 Intraceuticals 27 Lycon 107 NATURAL LOOK AUSTRALIA (Artav) 11, 115 O COSMEDICS Clinical Care 2, 3, 79 Professional Beauty Solutions 50, 51, 52, 53 SkinCeuticals (L’Oreal) 6, 7 Sunless 98, 99, 101 Synergie Skin 88, 89 The Foundry 13 Timely 57 Ultraceuticals OFC, 20, 21, 22, 23, OBC Ultraderm 29 Wellness Atmosphere 97 Zhav International 93 112 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Photography: iStock/CoffeeAndMilk

AD INDEX

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NOT JUST ANOTHER

MARKETING AGENCY Samantha Mitchell of The Foundry on the exhaustion so many salon and clinic owners are quietly carrying, and why the fix isn’t another agency, it’s a team that’s actually stood where you’re standing.

IT’S 9PM. The last client has gone, the machines are off, and you’re finally sitting down. Except you’re not resting. You’re staring at your phone trying to write a caption, wondering why last month’s ad spend didn’t bring in a single new client, or scrolling a competitor’s page wondering how they make it look so easy. If that’s you, we get it. You didn’t get into this industry to run ad accounts or decode an algorithm. You got into it for the transformations, the relationships, the craft you’ve spent years perfecting. Somewhere along the way, marketing quietly became a second fulltime job you never signed up for.

We Hear This Every Eeek

We talk to owners every week who’ve been burnt, locked into a 12-month contract with an agency that overpromised and underdelivered. Sold a dream in the pitch meeting that never showed up in their bank account. Handed a report full of click-through rates and impressions, when all they wanted to know was simple: did new clients walk through the door, and did existing ones come back? That gap - between what agencies measure and what keeps your business alive - is exactly why we built The Foundry differently.

Marketing From People Who’ve Stood in Your Shoes

We’re not marketers who picked beauty as a niche. We’ve owned, grown, scaled and sold clinics of our own. We know what it feels like to

be the owner, the marketer, the HR department and the bookkeeper before your first client even walks in. That’s the lens every strategy comes through, real business outcomes, not vanity metrics. We work with businesses at every stage, from sole operators just getting started, to multi-location clinics like Fayshell and The Parlour Room. The approach is the same: strategy built around your business, not a template.

What Working With Us Looks Like

Done-for-you email marketing and automations, Facebook and Instagram ad management, website and SEO, content plans and marketing strategy, campaigns and launches, print collateral, website design, branding, marketing coaching, and more, scoped around what your business needs.

Let’s Talk

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PB END NOTE

A DAY IN THE LIFE… The heating goes on, then I jump straight back into bed with a coffee and my notes app. Every day starts with a to-do list before I even open my inbox. It keeps me focused and productive. Once I check emails from customers, manufacturers and suppliers, I already know exactly how my day will unfold.

6:30am

I get myself ready before George and Oliver wake up. Any mum will tell you that once they’re up, they’ll have at least 500 questions for you before you’ve even found your shoes. This time is my little pocket of calm before the whirlwind begins. If I’m ready before they wake, the whole morning runs more smoothly.

7:00am

Breakfast, lunches packed and the kettle on. By 7:30, the boys are downstairs and full of energy. They eat (while I sneak in another coffee and some water) before jumping on their bikes for the five-minute ride to school (I walk! I’m not a bike person).

12:00pm

Most days include a manufacturer call to discuss new fabrics, fit refinements or pre-production samples. We’re constantly refining our core collection while also developing fully bespoke projects for clinics wanting something completely unique to their brand.

1:00pm

Lunch. Every single day it’s four eggs, rye bread, avocado, sweet chilli sauce, and plenty of water. Some people call it boring - I call it one less decision to make.

1:30pm

It’s manufacturing call time. One of our biggest projects right now is introducing our Tie Shirt in black after countless “Will it come in black?” messages. Rather than simply changing the colour, we’ve gone back to the pattern and refined every detail. We’ve added 4cm in length across every size, introduced 11cm side splits for ease of movement, and repositioned the buttons - all inspired by feedback from the therapists who wear Salon Threads every day. I genuinely believe the best product development starts by listening.

2:30pm

Marketing time. I batch several weeks of email campaigns at once and weave in fresh imagery from our latest campaign shoot. Seeing our designs come to life across the website and emails is incredibly rewarding.

8:45am

At Salon Threads HQ, I print orders, carefully steam every garment, pack them, and prepare embroidery jobs before they head to our embroidery partners. Every order is checked by hand because presentation matters just as much as the uniform itself.

3:15pm

School pick-up. From this point on, it’s Mum mode. Homework is the toughest negotiation of my day, without question. I’d almost rather negotiate production timelines with a manufacturer.

8:00pm

9:00am

Laptop open, notes app beside me and it’s straight into the day’s priorities. Right now I’m building new Team Ordering and Bespoke Uniform pages for our website to make the customer journey as seamless as possible. Businesses can either select from our Signature Colour Collection or work with us to create a completely bespoke uniform, choosing everything from fabrics and colours through to trims and finishing details.

9:30am

Exercise. I’ve finally accepted that winter sunrise workouts simply aren’t for me - I’ve tried! Adding this workout in mid-morning is one of the best changes I’ve made because I’m showing up consistently and looking forward to it. A quick shower and I’m back to it!

11:00am

I visit our embroidery team to deliver new orders, collect completed garments and pick up alterations. Seeing logos stitched onto finished uniforms is a joy that never gets old.

114 | WWW.PROFESSIONALBEAUTY.COM.AU

Once the boys are asleep, I head back to work for another couple of hours. Evenings are when my creative brain comes alive. I’ll answer customer emails and DMs, refine bespoke uniform concepts and map out new ideas for Salon Threads. Progress is rarely made in one big leap - it’s built in these quiet hours.

9:30pm

My non-negotiable skincare ritual: cleanse, tone, moisturiser and eye cream. I’ve been using Environ since I was 24 and still recommend it to clients today! Fresh sheets and a (mostly) calm mind, I fall asleep to meditation every night - I’m all about finding peace these days!

10:00pm

Lights out. Since prioritising exercise, good food and cutting out alcohol, I’m sleeping better than ever. Tomorrow morning, the notes app opens again, and we do it all over.

Photography: Supplied

6:00am

Rosie Andrews is the Founder of Salon Threads, a premium Australian beauty and spa uniform supplier. Here, she walks Professional Beauty through a typical work day.

Professional Beauty ISSUE-3 2026