Abigayle helps women feel good in their skin

“From being a child my mum always taught me to look after my skin,” she says. “I remember, from my early teens, knowing about cleansing, toning and moisturising. We didn’t have central heating because she said it was bad for your skin.”

Abigayle, 28, who grew up in Low Moor and now lives in Birkenshaw, studied beauty at Bradford College where she was encouraged by tutor Haedeh Abbasi. “She saw something in me and instilled confidence in me,” she says.

After leaving college she worked in sales for the luxury perfumes and cosmetics house Lancome before deciding she would like to open her own business offering beauty treatments. She retrained, specialising in holistic skin care and make-up.

“Holistic by my definition is a 360-degree approach. Everything is connected, especially when it comes to skin,” she explains. “Your mind, your gut, your environment… everything. “We forget that our skin is a living organ and is there to protect our body and other organs.”

The former pupil of Dixons CTC and Tong High School, as they were then known, is passionate about making other women feel good in their own skin.

“I started doing freelance make-up alongside my online business and found a common theme with my make-up clients - they didn’t feel confident without it. Even models I’d worked with were not confident in their own skin.

“It bothered me that these amazing women felt badly about their skin - it really affected their self-esteem. Some women didn’t feel comfortable leaving the house without make-up.”

Abigayle decided that she wanted to do something to change this.

She decided to start her own business and found the perfect premises at Dudley Hill Business Centre in Knowles Lane.

Her business, Glam Aesthetic, been open for just two weeks when the first lockdown was announced. Instead of worrying about the future, she decided to turn the situation to her advantage.

“I had invested a lot of money into my education, marketing, stock and the clinic itself,” she says “While I was uncertain with regard to reopening, I knew that there would be opportunities in lockdown. I love a challenge.”

She focused on online sales, which rocketed and also started her own fake tan brand Glamour Tan. “I wouldn’t have had the time to do that otherwise,” she says.

Abigayle makes bespoke products to suit individual clients. “I use clinical strength active ingredients, such as vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C and azelaic acid, to create serums and moisturisers.

She redesigned the clinic earlier this year, creating a bespoke blending bar where she creates custom serums for her clients’ skin routines.

Abigayle has built up many online clients, each of whom has taken an interactive test. “We ask a series of questions and from that I make recommendations on products to improve their skin,” says Abigayle. “Lockdown has been an amazing time for women to have a ‘glow up’ and I’ve seen my clients go from feeling down about their skin to feeling confident in it - without even meeting them.”

Abigayle believes there is a lot of pressure on women to be perfect, especially in the days of social media. “Social media can be an amazing tool, but it also presents a comparison catalogue in the palm of our hands.

“Many women feel they need to use filters to look good and don’t feel confident to take photos without one.

“Your skin has a direct affect on self-esteem and mental health. It’s amazing how improving your skin has a direct effect on how you feel. A lot of my clients now feel confident without foundation or filters.”

The pandemic has seen a shift in women’s attitudes to make-up, says Abigayle

“Women are wearing less make-up - the past year has resulted in a lifestyle change for a lot of people. We are not going out as much and much more is done virtually than ever before.

“Women don’t feel that they have to wear make-up. It’s been a really transformative period.

“Lockdown really could have been the end for my clinic, but thanks to an amazing community of women in West Yorkshire, my clinic has thrived. I’m really grateful to them for their support.”

Since reopening in April she has seen a surge in women having her bespoke skin treatments, the most popular being dermaplaning, microneedling and ‘The Million Dollar Facial’, which combines both.

“I have clients of all ages, many come to address dull skin, acne, scarring or pigmentation. Many women are also starting to focus on anti-ageing, the treatments I offer are a great alternative to Botox.”

While Abigayle aims to make women confident in their own skin, she works with make-up and if wearing it makes someone feel good, she’s all for it.

“What matters is that they feel empowered and confident in that choice. Not forced to wear it, or ashamed if they don’t.”

Abigayle finds her work extremely rewarding. “It’s really satisfying to hear women say they feel a million dollars after their treatment. It gives them a confidence boost and makes them feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the world.”

Abigayle recommends the following tips for looking after your skin:

*Use a cream cleanser instead of face wash as it is better for the skin barrier - always use lukewarm water instead of hot which strips the skin.

*Ditch the baby wipes and micellar water in favour of double cleansing with a cream cleanser to remove makeup.

*Wear SPF50 every day regardless of the weather and reapply regularly to help avoid premature wrinkles, pigmentation and breakouts.

*Avoid harsh scrubs and pore strips which damage and strip the skin and opt for AHA/BHAs (alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids) gentle but more effective exfoliation.

*glamaesthetic.co.uk; You can follow Glam Aesthetic on Instagram and Facebook @glamaestheticuk; glamourtan.co.uk