There is no complaint that ruins a working week faster than a returning client whose enhancements are peeling away at the cuticle. Lifting is one of the industry's most stubborn problems, and one of its most misunderstood. It is rarely caused by a single failure. Far more often, it is the cumulative effect of small oversights that compound across prep, application, and aftercare.
Read MoreOur editor spoke with Janna Ronert, founder of IMAGE Skincare, licensed esthetician and chairwoman of the board, whose brand says it is used by more than 60,000 licensed estheticians across over 60 countries. Together we explored what has really changed in clinic demand, why sensitive skin is still so often misread, how professional skincare should work alongside in-clinic procedures, and what clinics need to focus on now to keep their skincare offering strong going into 2026.
Read MoreAs advanced aesthetics places greater emphasis on recovery, clinicians are looking more closely at the technologies that can support tissue repair, regulate inflammation and improve patient comfort after treatment. LED phototherapy has long been used within acne and skin rejuvenation protocols, but its role is now widening. In clinic settings, it is increasingly being considered as part of a broader treatment plan that sits around a procedure, rather than as a standalone skin treatment.
Read MoreSpend enough time in aesthetics and one pattern becomes difficult to ignore. Women make up much of the workforce, much of the patient base, and much of the commercial energy behind the sector, yet that reality has not always been matched by who holds authority at the top.
Read MoreThe global wellness economy is still growing at pace. The Global Wellness Institute says it reached $6.8tn in 2024, up 7.9% on the year before, with further growth forecast over the rest of the decade. That is good news for spas, but it does not make the commercial picture simple. A growing market can also become a more demanding one, particularly when operators are trying to balance staffing, rising costs, guest expectations and the practical limits of room capacity.
Read MoreThe rise of non-surgical cosmetic treatments has brought with it a new phrase, and one that says a great deal about where the sector now finds itself. In the UK, “tweakment hotels” is increasingly being used to describe temporary or hot-desk treatment spaces, often in prestigious locations, where practitioners can rent rooms by the hour and benefit from the credibility of the postcode without necessarily offering the standards patients may assume come with it.
Read MoreAs regenerative aesthetics continues to move beyond correction alone, more attention is turning to what underpins long-term skin quality at a biological level, from amino acid availability to the role of substrate depletion within the extracellular matrix. Against that backdrop, biorestoration is emerging as a more technically nuanced area of aesthetic medicine, focused on supporting the skin’s ability to repair, renew and function more effectively over time. We sat down with aesthetic doctor and DermaFocus speaker Dr Catherine Fairris to discuss substrate depletion, the importance of amino acids in skin health, and where biorestoration, including Celora Vita, fits within the wider evolution of injectable treatment strategies.
Read MoreGel allergy is often framed as a trend problem, driven by social media, DIY misuse or poor training. In reality, it is a chemistry problem first. Modern gel systems rely on reactive ingredients that are highly effective when used correctly, but far less forgiving when technique slips. For nail professionals, that distinction matters. Rising allergy rates are not simply about one ingredient or one bad set of nails. They are about what happens when reactive chemistry meets skin exposure, poor curing and inconsistent system use.
Read MoreEmma Elliott shares a practical guide to future-proofing business growth, drawing on more than 30 years of experience in brand building, communications and consultancy to outline the key areas founders and senior teams should review, from branding and website compliance to marketing strategy, PR, retail costs and long-term scalability.
Read MoreFor years, injectable conversations were dominated by the upper face. Forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet were the familiar entry points, while the neck was often treated as a separate problem, something to be addressed later, or surgically. Platysma Botox is moving into the mainstream of aesthetic practice as patients increasingly focus on the neck as a visible marker of ageing and seek treatment options that can soften early changes without surgery and changing the market. The treatment itself is not new, but its profile is rising as awareness grows, clinical protocols become more refined and the industry’s attention shifts towards lower-face and neck rejuvenation.
Read MoreWomen’s health conditions have long been shaped by delay: delayed recognition, delayed diagnosis and, in many cases, delayed research. Lipoedema is increasingly being discussed in that context, with studies suggesting it may affect around 6 to 11 per cent of women, yet it remains widely misunderstood and frequently mistaken for obesity or simple weight gain. Lipoedema is a chronic condition that affects the way fat is distributed in the body, most commonly in the legs, hips and buttocks, and sometimes the arms. It usually affects women, and is marked by a symmetrical build-up of fat that can be painful, tender and prone to bruising. The feet and hands are often unaffected, which can leave a distinct cuffing effect at the ankles or wrists. Despite this, the condition is still regularly mistaken for obesity, lymphoedema or simple weight gain.
Read MorePores remain one of the most misunderstood features in skincare. They are routinely blamed for uneven texture, shine, congestion and the failure to achieve the smooth, refined finish that has become shorthand for healthy skin. In reality, pores are not cosmetic accidents. They are functional openings within the skin, closely tied to oil production, thermoregulation and the skin’s wider protective system. The problem is not that pores exist, but that they continue to be discussed in language that is anatomically inaccurate and commercially over-simplified.
Read MoreAnna Dobbie explores why the clinics that promise less often leave the strongest impression, and what aesthetic practitioners can learn from expectation management done well.
Read MoreKeeping your pricing fair but profitable is a delicate balance. But with rising costs, many salon owners are considering price increases, but how do you do this without upsetting your loyal clientele? Benjamin Shipman, co-director of The Hair Movement in Sidcup, says you need to value your worth and not undersell your expertise and knowledge.
Read MoreFor aesthetic clinics, the legal risk around a treatment complaint is no longer confined to a poor outcome, a difficult consultation or a missing signature on a consent form. The pressure is widening. Patients are arriving better armed, faster to escalate and more able to package dissatisfaction into a polished complaint. At the same time, many clinics are operating through looser care models, with separate prescribers, visiting injectors, device operators, remote consultations and outsourced follow-up. That combination is creating exactly the sort of liability picture insurers do not like.
Read MoreSix Senses has opened at The Whiteley in Bayswater, bringing a spa and wellness offer that is built for regular local use as much as hotel stays. The opening centres on Six Senses Spa London, a 2,300 square metre facility anchored by a 20 metre indoor pool and a dedicated magnesium pool, with a recovery focused biohacking lounge and a full scale fitness set up designed to support training, performance and downregulation in a city environment.
Read MorePBL Magazine sits down with Dr Rita Rakus, founder of the Rakus Clinic in Knightsbridge and one of the UK’s best known figures in aesthetic medicine. A co founder and Fellow of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine, Rakus has spent decades helping shape the non surgical aesthetics sector through clinical practice, innovation, training and a strong focus on patient safety. In celebration of the upcoming International Women’s Day, we discuss how opportunities for women in aesthetics have changed, where progress still falls short, what credible authority looks like in a crowded market, and why standards, mentorship and regulation remain central to the future of the profession.
Read MoreInternational Maisons of Fine Fragrance took place in London last week, bringing together a tightly curated mix of independent and luxury fragrance houses in a gallery-style setting built for discovery. With 32 exhibitors this year, the event felt international in scope while still intimate enough for real conversations, proper smelling time, and the kind of close attention niche perfumery deserves. Among the line-up, six brands stood out for the clarity of their concepts, the strength of their identities, and the way they translated storytelling into scent, design and experience.
Read MoreWhen rosacea in skin of colour is mistaken for acne or “sensitive skin”, treatment can go in the wrong direction fast. We look at the evidence behind underdiagnosis, the role of history-taking beyond visual cues, and why better recognition is a standards issue for the aesthetics sector
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