Ask the experts

Our beauty experts answer your questions about every aspect of running a salon or spa business

1 How does the skin microbiome affect skin issues?

An emerging area of research into skin ageing and other issues is the effect that the skin microbiome has on the health of the skin. The skin microbiome consists of the naturally occurring bacteria, viruses, fungi and mites that live on the skin. They are part of the natural skin barrier, playing a part in immune responses (inflammation), resistance to UV light and skin ageing processes.

It has been shown that when the skin microbiome is healthy, there are less skin complaints and slower signs of ageing. This has implications for how we should treat the skin in the salon and through homecare.

To support the skin, it is important to use gentle cleansers and toners that do not strip the skin or change the pH levels. We want to avoid anything harsh on the skin that might damage the delicate balance of healthy micro-organisms, and we want to boost the healthy populations. The research is showing that a healthier skin microbiome helps reduce inflammation and pigmentation, and improves cell renewal and collagen production. Pro-biotics, pre-biotics and post-biotics are also beneficial ingredients that can feed the healthy microbiome of the skin, and are very useful ingredients to look out for in skincare.

Similar to the gut microbiome, the types and quantities of micro-organisms found in the skin microbiome have been shown to vary across individuals, according to skin type, health and age. This could explain why certain groups are prone to some skin conditions – for example, some types of dermatitis occur only in children and acne is most prevalent during puberty. There is evidence that eczema sufferers have more of a particular bacteria (Staphyloccus aureus), and psoriasis sufferers have a higher concentration of Streptococcus bacteria and Malassezia yeast, and a lower concentration of Cutibacterium bacteria.

It is not yet clear whether overgrowths of certain microorganisms cause these conditions, or if the conditions themselves provide the ideal environment for these micro-organisms to thrive. Either way, it is clear that more attention will be given in the future to boosting a healthy skin microbiome, as has been happening more recently with gut health.

Claire Kenny is managing director of Sunaura, which distributes Mila d’Opiz Swiss skincare and a number of make-up brands.

2 How do I become an ‘employer of choice’?

There are a number of strategies you can adopt to build your employer brand and attract the best employees:

• Create a positive culture. Culture is the experience employees have with managers, peers and customers and a ‘positive culture’ is a key reason employees stay.

• Optimise your recruitment process. A great interview experience showcases your brand and ensures the external view of your business is positive. Be consistent in job advertisements, use interview guides to assess candidates to minimise bias, and hire for people skills, passion and drive.

• Invest in training and development. Helping your team grow professionally shows concern for their future and improves engagement and retention.

• Offer a competitive compensation and benefits package. It takes more than money to be an employer of choice, but you need to pay your employees competitively. This signals that you value their skills and education.

• Promote internally. Establishing internal career pathways will develop and inspire your team. Build bespoke performance plans for each employee so they have goals.

• Create a desirable working environment. A therapist once told me she loved coming to work because of the beautiful aesthetics of the clinic. She felt energised and proud to be there. Make sure your clinic or salon is tidy, welcoming and peaceful, and leaves a positive impression on clients and staff.

• Promote a healthy work-life balance. If your employees have a poor work-life balance, it affects every area of business. Embrace flexible working to support your team and widen your talent pool. Offer casual or part-time hours, and consider extended leave or longer holidays.

•Give something back. Could your business consider making social contributions? Being part of socially responsible initiatives signals to the team and clients that your business aspires to high ethical standards, and this cultivates trust. Donate time or money, or consider ‘virtual volunteering’, where activities are done partly or wholly online.

Louise Guilfoyle is a talent acquisition and employer branding specialist, and owner of Skin Deep Careers.