The Skin Growth Academy

What I actually needed as a newly qualified skin therapist

Looking back, it’s so clear now.

I didn’t need more treatments.
I didn’t need more protocols.
I didn’t need more certificates.

I needed:

🤍 Someone to help me understand why skin was reacting
🤍 Someone to sense-check my decisions
🤍 Someone to tell me when to push — and when to pause
🤍 Someone who was actually treating real clients every day

Because the hardest part of clinic life isn’t learning how to do treatments.

It’s knowing:

– When something isn’t working
– When to change direction
– When to simplify instead of adding more

That confidence doesn’t come from manuals or Facebook groups.

It comes from understanding skin and having the right guidance behind you.

That’s exactly why I offer 1:1 mentorship.

Not to give you another system to follow,
But to help you think like a skin specialist and stop second-guessing yourself.

If you want support, clarity, and confidence in clinic, message me “MENTOR”.

Sometimes one conversation changes everything.

6 actives you might be using too early in your facials

This isn’t about doing anything wrong.

It’s about timing.

One of the biggest mistakes I see in clinic is introducing actives before the skin is ready to tolerate them.

Here are some common ones therapists reach for too early:

1️⃣ Strong acids
Examples: high-percentage glycolic, salicylic, TCA-style peels
Great tools , but not on inflamed, sensitised or barrier-impaired skin.

2️⃣ Retinoids
Examples: professional retinol serums, retinoic-style treatments
Amazing long-term, but not when redness, inflammation or reactivity is present.

3️⃣ Vitamin C (especially L-ascorbic acid)
Examples: low-pH vitamin C serums
Often introduced too soon when the skin needs calming, not stimulation.

4️⃣ Benzoyl peroxide–type acne actives
Examples: antibacterial acne treatments
Helpful in specific cases, but damaging if inflammation hasn’t been reduced first.

5️⃣ Aggressive enzymes or peel combinations
Examples: enzyme + acid layering in one session
This often slows results instead of speeding them up.

6️⃣ Layering multiple actives together
Examples: acid + retinol + vitamin C in the same treatment plan
More actives doesn’t equal better results , it usually equals irritation.

Healthy skin is built before it’s pushed.

If the barrier isn’t supported first, actives won’t perform the way you expect, and that’s where confusion and self-doubt start.

If you’ve ever wondered why skin isn’t responding how you expected, comment “BARRIER” or message me.

Sometimes progress comes from stepping back, not adding more.

Please STOP asking how to treat skin conditions in Facebook groups 🤔

I know this might ruffle a few feathers, but it needs saying.

Asking how to treat acne, pigmentation or ageing in Facebook groups is not mentorship.

You’re often getting:

• Advice from people you don’t know
• Opinions from those who aren’t qualified
• Brand-biased answers if you use multiple product ranges

And here’s the bigger issue…

If you don’t truly understand the condition you’re treating, how do you know if the advice is right?
How do you know if what you’re doing is working?
How do you know when to change direction?

Following a protocol without understanding skin leads to:
• Doubt
• Inconsistency
• Second-guessing yourself with clients

Real confidence doesn’t come from crowdsourcing answers.

It comes from understanding skin, having real-world experience, and being guided by someone who’s actually doing it day in, day out.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice, comment “CLARITY” or message me.

You don’t need more opinions, you need better understanding.

The moment I realised more courses weren’t the answer…

Every time a client didn’t get the results I expected, I assumed I needed another course.

So I booked one.
Then another.
Then another.

Different brands.
Different protocols.
Different opinions.

And instead of feeling more confident, I felt more confused.

I knew more techniques but trusted myself less.
I questioned every decision I made in the treatment room.

That’s when I realised it wasn’t another skill I needed.

I needed understanding.
I needed experience.
I needed guidance.

Courses teach you how.
Experience teaches you when.
Mentorship teaches you why.

And that’s when everything changed.

If this sounds familiar, comment “ME” or send me a DM.

Sometimes clarity comes from the right conversation, not another certificate.

5 things I wish I knew when I left college as a newly qualified skin therapist

When I left college, I thought I was prepared.

I had my 7-step protocols.
My consultation form was ready.
I had a good range of products.
My bed looked professional.

But that was just the first step.

You know how people say you don’t really learn how to drive until you’re on your own in the car?

That’s exactly what clinic life felt like.

Here’s what I wish I’d known sooner:

1️⃣ Protocols don’t equal confidence
Real clients don’t follow textbooks. Skin changes, reacts, flares, stalls. Confidence comes from knowing how to adapt, not just follow steps.

2️⃣ More courses don’t automatically give better results
I kept adding skills thinking this one would be the answer. Instead, I became more confused, not more confident.

3️⃣ Experience matters – but guided experience matters more
Trial and error without support is stressful, expensive, and knocks your confidence fast.

4️⃣ Facebook groups are not mentorship
Advice from people you don’t know, don’t follow, and may not be qualified in what you’re doing will keep you second-guessing yourself.

5️⃣ Understanding skin is more important than treating skin
If you don’t truly understand acne, ageing, pigmentation etc… how do you know if what you’re doing is actually working?

What I really needed wasn’t another certificate.

I needed:
• Real-world skin knowledge
• Clear decision-making
• Guidance from someone actually doing it day in, day out

If this sounds familiar, you’re not failing.

You’re just missing the right support.

✨ And that changes everything.

How would you have treat this cliient?

So this week i have shared a transformation that is only part way through.

Already the skin is clearer, more hydrated, pores are no longer blocked and dilated.

The thing with skin like acne or break out prone skin is most therapist attack skin with harsh treatments like really strong peels, microneedling which isnt wrong (fully) its just not a plan!

We need to give proppa direction

Habits ned to be formed and the barrier calmed and fixed.

This is what i teach in my programme complete skin therapist. Skin isnt just a protocol! Its a full inderstanding

New here? 👋 Welcome!

If you’ve just joined my page, I’m so glad you’re here 🤍

I’m Michaela Newbould
✨ Beauty therapist of 22+ years
✨ Qualified teacher, assessor & internal verifier (18 years)
✨ Level 5 skin specialist

I’ve trained in colleges, academies, and I’ve owned my own OFQUAL training centre, so I understand the reality of skin therapy, not just the qualifications, but what happens after when you’re treating real, paying clients.

My passion is helping therapists stop guessing, stop jumping from treatment to treatment, and stop relying on last-minute discounts just to fill diaries (we’ve all done it… and hated it 😅).

I help you:
✔️ get consistent skin results
✔️ trust your clinical decisions
✔️ build a diary that books week in, week out

How you can work with me:
▫️ Complete Skin Therapist – accredited, confidence-building skin training
▫️ Advanced Skin Practitioner – advanced rejuvenation beyond “just injectables”
▫️ Accredited online masterclasses (dermaplaning, skin needling & more)

Coming very soon… 👀
✨ The SKIN System, my exact clinic method for predictable results without overworking the skin or losing trust in yourself.

If you’re a skin therapist who wants clarity, confidence, and clients who commit, you’re in the right place 🤍

👉 Tell me in the comments: how long have you been in the industry?