Meet the Beauty Squad 22' Mala McAlpin

Mala McAlpin knew from a young age that she simply couldn’t settle for one simple career.

She decided to follow my two passions - writing and beauty, knowing that she would one day combine the two to create a niche of skillset and endless variety in whatever it was that she chose to do.

In 2011, Mala graduated from Elly Lukas with a Diploma of Beauty Therapy, including ITEC international qualifications. She had already commenced a beauty traineeship in 2010, and in the years following continued to work in a number of spas and salons throughout Melbourne as she worked towards completing a Bachelor of Arts Journalism, Co-Majoring in Public Relations, in 2015.

Mala eventually moved to Sydney, spent a while working full time in PR and eventually landed the role of Online Editor at SPA+CLINIC magazine.

This led to several years fully immersed in the surgical and non-surgical medical aesthetics sector, where she fell back in love with the heavy science and anatomy content - always her favourite component of beauty therapy.

Mala soon discovered that she could work hands-on in this space if she went into dermal sciences. So, by 2022 Mala had completed her Bachelor of Applied Health Science Clinical Aesthetics through the Australasian College of Health & Wellness (ACHW).

Today, her career is as diverse as she hoped and dreamed it would be. Mala works 2-3 days per week doing skin treatments alongside Dr Naveen Somia, a prominent Plastic Surgeon, and when she’s not in-clinic, Mala offers clinical training for a handful of brands, and freelance writing and marketing services for clinics, cosmetic physicians, and brands such as skincare and device companies.

She attends (and sometimes speak at) industry conferences, volunteer as a committee member for the Australian Society of Dermal Clinicians (ASDC), and she is on the ACHW’s Academic Board. She is always looking for the next exciting opportunity!

What made you want to be a Beauty Therapist?

I remember being in my early teens and realising that I loved reading the copywriting (blurbs) on the backs of shampoos, moisturisers, body washes - any personal care product. I always found them to be so powerfully transportive and relaxing and draw attention to how important self-care and wellbeing is.

I wanted to do that for people, through my writing or treatments or both, to form that same connection. I guess like so many other therapists, I want to look after clients and make them feel good, inside, and out.

What kind of treatment is your favourite and why?

I hate this question because I don’t think I really have a favourite! What I love most is the diagnostic part-talking to clients and forming a deep understanding of what bothers them, and finding the best solution for addressing that, and then delivering it with great results and seeing the positive change it brings.

How do you manage life and work balance?

This may be a little more complex for me to answer compared to most…I have been diagnosed with ADHD and ASD, and while these conditions actually come with some superpowers (multi-tasking, bursts of energy, hyperfocus, quick to pick up skills, and a desire to juggle lots) they also come with plenty of impacts on my mental health and professional career.

My social battery dies quickly, which is terrible for the amount of networking and social events my career involves. I get burnt out easily and need ample time to recover, during which time I can barely function and do my work or even respond to messages.

What I’ve learned over the years (and from years of excellent help from psychologists and psychiatrists) is to pay close attention to what I’m feeling and what my body is telling me. If I feel like I need to stop and rest, do it. If I’m at an event and my battery dies, sneak out and go home without feeling like it’s the end of the world if I don’t do the endless rounds of goodbyes (I used to hate this, but I’ve learned to let go!). I try to map my week out with tasks scheduled in blocks, and when this doesn’t go according to plan - it’s okay.

It just serves as a general guide; it doesn’t mean I’ve failed. The three most important lessons I’ve learned are to A) be kind to myself, B) be realistic and flexible with my task management and C) that relaxation is productive.

Who inspires you in the beauty industry and why?

There are way too many to name. But I think for me it’s the ones who give up their time to teach and share their knowledge with others, with no expectation of anything in return. They volunteer to take themselves out of their insane schedules to speak at conferences or mentor students because they want to help, and give back, even when there’s nothing in it for them.

If you could spend a day with anyone from a business or lifestyle mentorship perspective, who would it be and why?

One of the best perks of working in a media position is having the opportunity to meet and talk to incredible people and attend all the conferences. I’m extremely lucky to have already met all my heroes in the industry! I’ve known Dr Somia for many years and although I now work as his Dermal Clinician, I never really get the chance to spend much time in-clinic with him.

So, if I had to choose someone to spend the day shadowing it would definitely be him, watching him consult and perform his surgical procedures…I have a huge amount of respect for him and the way he operates, and the surgical sector is still one that I have much to see and learn about!

How important is training and education for you?

THE most important thing. Every day is a learning opportunity. I do as much training as I possibly can, including every conference, physical training session, information dinner, online seminar, you name it.

While they can be overwhelming, industry conferences are the number one places to learn, you get to hear first-hand what others are doing in their practice and see the latest research, technologies, and treatments. Also, I became a freelancer so that I wasn’t limited to working with just one person or company. Everything I do, every person or brand I work with, it’s a learning opportunity. That’s one of the things I value most about my career.

Can you tell us a little about what you were most looking forward to being a member of the Beauty Squad team?

Being part of this year’s Beauty Squad has been another amazing achievement under my belt. I (among so many others in this industry) suffer massive imposter syndrome and often undervalue or disregard my skills and experience.

But I think it’s so important to keep reminding ourselves of why we got to where we are. Being an award winner is a public validation of our skills and experience that can’t be argued with. It’s been so wonderful to be part of a community of other skilled therapists and to learn about their different passions and walks of life but see that same passion and drive to succeed reflected in all of us.

All of the mentors and workshops we experienced in the house had something profound and wonderful to offer, and to take with us into the future, which I’m eternally grateful for.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years’ time?

Hopefully exactly where I am now - being extremely active in the industry, working a couple of days a week hands-on in clinic, and the rest of the time creating content and projects for people in the industry that inspire me and that I love working with.

FUN FIVE MINUTES WITH MALA

Worst fashion moment: The teen emo phase…

Worst Hair Day: 14 years old when I discovered Sun In, that bleach spray that you applied and then laid in the sun until it lightened!

Fave Destination: Tokyo

Fave Drink: Espresso martini

If you weren’t a beauty therapist, what would you be?

I guess I’d still be creating content, marketing and PR for beauty and aesthetics. Nothing could keep me away from this industry!