State of the Skin Nation

By Louise May

Amanda Aleem, is the proud owner of Skin Nation, Ballarat. She has been in the beauty industry almost 20 years, and started with a spa background.

Amanda first started her beauty business out of the spare bedroom of her house, and it grew from there. After 2 children, 2 shop fronts and just under 10 years later, here she is, owning her own business and the building. Working alongside her team, and doing what she loves each and every day.

Beauty Biz Editor Louise May, saw the stunning new fit-out of Skin Nation on Insta, and just had to find out more about this gorgeous clinic, and the owner Amanda!

How did you each get started in your careers in the skin & aesthetics industry?

I always had a passion for beauty growing up. I started out spray tanning high school friends in the shower at home and that developed into me expanding into further studies to complete by diploma of beauty therapy at Vic Uni straight after high school.

Are there any must haves that you love to start your day with?

I love to start my mornings with a 5.30am workout class to get me up and about and feeling energised to start my day. Always take DMK Essential Fatty acids every morning without fail. I also never miss my morning skincare routine of course!! I like to have a pre and probiotic with is usually from the Beauty Chef range.

Tell us about your business and what makes your business unique?

We are your home away from home! Somewhere that you can come to escape the world and do something for YOU, in our beautiful fresh purpose-built space! We specialise is various skin treatments with results driven skincare ranges that blend results and relaxation together beautifully. We were the first clinic to bring sugaring hair removal to Ballarat and we have positioned ourselves as the experts in sugaring in our area. Each therapist is extremely passionate about sugaring and the results from our technique that we use are just incredible!

Explain your client experience of your clinic?

We pride ourselves on welcome each guest as though they are a part of our family. Each person to walk through the door is warmly welcomed and taken care of until the moment they leave. Each touch point with the client is calming and relaxed all the way through from our tone of voice through to the textures and colours used in our space.

Describe the clinics look and feel?

I designed the whole space myself. Right from a sketch of a floor plan, down to putting the cabinetry myself with my husband. I was inspired by my Italian heritage and travels through the Mediterranean. I wanted to create and escape for our clients.

Our space is fresh and minimal. We have touches of soft textures to bring in warmth create an inviting feel. Each room is different but similar. For example, we have terrazzo in different colours in each room.

Do you have a motto or signature life philosophy?

If you are not growing, you are dying. I also do not have any personal or business credit cards. My philosophy is, if I can’t afford it, I don’t need it. This has really helped to grow my business and help with budgeting and product usage etc.

What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?

To be priced for profit. When I started my first shop front, I had no idea about business. I based my prices on what I thought things were worth. I had no idea about a breakeven or the cost of goods of each treatment. Now I have all of my costing factored into making profit per minute on treatments.

What is your favourite treatment and why?

I do love skin treatments and taking client on a journey. By changing a client’s skin, it can completely change their life.

What’s on the agenda for you for the future?

I have spent the last 12 months working on doing what we do, and doing it really well whilst settling into our new space. The next 12 months we will be having a strong focus education. I have been trying to create work life balance for my team so we are trialling a few different hours and business structures which will hopefully pay off and create this for the future. Living through covid has taught me not to plan too far into the future.

What are the brands you have partnered with to compliment your treatment processes? And why have you chosen those brands?

DMK and Ultraceuticals. The two brands work really well for my business and clients as we have a solution for any type of concern and client budget and time to spend on their skin.