10 Minutes with Melanie Grant By Clare Lamberth

With Skin Studio locations in Sydney and L.A and residences in New York and Paris, Melanie Grant is a celebrity Skin Clinician most would aspire to. At her core, her roots are grounded in client care, healing, tech and skin health, with a fusion of innovative technologies and formulations to treat her client’s skin from all walks of life.

We sit down with Melanie to learn more about how she came to grow her empire and how she managed at home during this time.

Tell us about yourself and how you first got started in the industry?

I always knew that I wanted to work within beauty and skincare from a really young age and since completing my qualification in 2000, it’s been my only job! When I was little, I’d play with ingredients from our pantry - things like yogurt, honey and cucumber and make my own masks and treatments. After graduating I first started working in more traditional spas and then moved into a more clinical environment working with lasers and more advanced treatments in a medispa setting alongside Drs/ Plastic surgeons. As our industry is always evolving, and there are always new things to learn, so I’ve never grown tired of the beauty industry. This along with the meaningful client relationships that we create, I feel really lucky and can’t imagine doing anything else!

Can you share with us one of your most memorable client stories?

There are honestly far too many to note. Being in the Studio treating clients is definitely my happy place. I’ve had so many memorable moments with my clients, many of whom have become my friends.

Work/mum life/me-time balance a myth? If not, what does this look like for you?

I think the term “balance” is different for everyone. For me, it means being completely present, wherever I am. If I’m in the Studio, I’m focused on my clients. When I’m home, I try to put emails aside and really enjoy that time with my family. It’s important to be fluid with your time and kind to yourself during busier periods. Even if we’re on different schedules, dinnertime is really special for our family; we always make sure to sit down, connect, share a meal together and speak about our day.

What inspired you to start your very first clinic and describe what it looked like?

I’d always known exactly the kind of space I wanted to open - a place I would want to visit as a client. I combined the things I was most inspired by - design, fashion, photography and above all innovative, resultsdriven treatments that felt just as luxurious as those you’d expect from a world-class spa. When I opened my first space in Double Bay, the idea of “clinical beauty” really wasn’t a thing, but as a Therapist that had treated across both realms, I’d always seen the value in both the traditional spa rituals and innovative clinical protocols and modalities. So, I combined the two and never looked back.

What made you decide to branch out into overseas locations?

Opening our Studio on Melrose Place was a dream come true for me. I love Los Angeles and there are so many commonalities between LA and Sydney, especially in terms of lifestyle. I felt as an Australian, I had something unique to offer in an incredibly saturated market, a pared-back, more relaxed point of view when it came to beauty and skin health. Our residencies in New York and Paris came about due to client demand. So many of our client’s travel, live and work overseas, so these cities made the most sense in terms of meeting them wherever they are.

Could you describe for us your signature treatment?

I don’t necessarily believe in a signature treatment, but rather a signature result. Our practice is shaped by a completely tailored, personalised approach towards achieving strong, healthy and radiant skin. For some, it may mean corrective treatments such as laser, ultrasound or needling, and for others a simple course of LED with gentle peels. I actually love LED Light Therapy combined with peels and dermal boosters for most skins and am always impressed with the results even after all these years.

Was it tricky setting up and fitting out a new clinic from across the globe?

It can be tricky managing large scale projects from afar, especially when you’re in different time zones. I’m really lucky to have such a great team to help me carry out my vision - and who share my attention to detail - even when I can’t physically be on site. It has meant a lot of late nights and early mornings, but I wouldn’t change a thing. The Melrose Place studio is everything I imagined it to be - and more!

What are your philosophies around booking deposits and cancellation fees?

It’s a tricky one, for sure. I think each business is different and you have to let your clients be your guide. We work with booking deposits because it seems the most straightforward way to manage our priority list, which can at times be booked out months in advance.

What are the 3 key things high-end clients value the most?

I think all clients share the same values - personal service, attention to detail and above all, being listened to and heard.

What is one of the biggest mistakes you see other clinic owners making and how can they fix this?

I can only speak for myself here. It’s important to surround yourself with a team whose strengths are unique and varied. I’ve worn every hat in my business and I know what my forte is, so working with talented people who can oversee the other elements is key. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work.

What processes do you go through when choosing new equipment or new brands for your clinic?

I’m grateful to belong to an industry that values innovation, so there are always new products and equipment to try. For me, efficacy is key. They need to deliver results and our values as client-facing businesses need to be aligned.

What innovations or ways have you pivoted to keep the Melanie Grant experience alive for your clients over the recent challenging times?

We’ve always had an online element - with SkincareEdit.com and Virtual Consults. Recently, we introduced Melanie Grant At Home Facial Kits for the first time. This has been an incredible way to stay connected to our clients and continue their journey of skin health while we can’t treat them face to face in the Studio.

What values do you hold dear in Therapists when looking for new team members?

There are so many qualities I look for when welcoming a new member to our team. Knowledge, experience and a great technical proficiency of course. But more than that I look for those things that you can’t train, that “je ne sais quoi” warmth, maturity and personality are super important!

Any new projects on the horizon?

Always! I’ve been working on product formulations and meeting with many new and exciting brands for our ever-expanding offering at SkincareEdit.com. Perhaps a new studio location soon too!

What’s the first thing you’re going to do when lockdown ends?

Holiday with my family! It might sound crazy after being stuck together 24/7 for the past couple of months, but I can’t wait for us all to take a getaway and decompress.