When Liz McMillan first discovered a natural approach to beauty, something clicked. She has been passionately pursuing holistic health ever since. For the last two decades, Liz has nurtured and supported clients at her Whakatane-based clinic, Face and Fragrance. As a beauty therapist and a qualified health coach, she complements her healing facials with nutritional coaching, helping clients to enjoy lasting health and beauty. Liz is a Slow Beauty champion, enthusiastic about yoga, Pilates, meditation, home-cooking and self-love.

Liz, can you tell us about how you started your career in beauty therapy?

I trained as a beauty therapist in the mid-seventies. At only eighteen years old, I was the youngest student in the class. At the time, my decision to enter beauty school was sort of going against the grain. I got told, more than a few times, to follow a more ‘normal’ career path by studying business, nursing or teaching instead. But pursuing beauty therapy was the best decision I ever made and has given me a lifelong career and passion.

Do you specialise in any one area in your beauty clinic?

I have been fortunate over the years to have experienced all sorts of things but my core practice always seems to come back to two main treatments: electrolysis and facials. The satisfaction I get in giving someone a beautiful facial – making them feel special by delivering the best experience possible – is unbeatable.

Being able to offer clients reiki healing with my facials is also very special. I love channelling this beautiful, healing energy, if the client should so desire it. It can be quite extraordinary what people experience.

How did you discover a holistic view of beauty therapy?

About 25 years ago, I felt like I just wasn’t on the right path. I wasn’t getting what I wanted out of the beauty industry and, in my heart, I knew there had to be another direction. Janine Tait and I bumped into each other around that time: we were both scratching our heads thinking, there has to be more to beauty therapy. What is it?

Although we were passionate about skin health, we were at a crossroads. Janine and I attended a talk by Janice Smith at the Parnell Rose Gardens in Auckland. Janice spoke about her skincare range, Janesce, and how she combined her products with nutritional advice.

At that moment, the penny dropped! Treating the skin with beautiful plant essences as well as wholefood nutrition completed the picture of beauty. It was a turning point in my life.

How has Janesce grown in New Zealand since those early days?

Back then, when I first discovered Janesce, programs needed to be developed in our country for therapists to feel confident about adopting this holistic approach. When Janine Tait became the New Zealand distributor of Janesce, she really brought about positive change in our industry. She truly exceeded my expectations in what was possible. Janine has developed highly professional training programs that allow therapists to feel confident about doing their jobs properly. She has created a supportive community around holistic beauty therapy. Because of this, I now feel truly accomplished as a skin therapist.

How has adopting the Janesce approach shaped your practice?

Everything changed when I started getting involved with Janesce and using their products in my clinic. The Janesce skincare range has an enormous healing capacity. Working with herbal remedies, cleansing the internal body, supplementing with oils, vitamins and minerals and correcting the diet – this range is really quite amazing.

I started seeing first-hand what results could be achieved when we change what people are eating and drinking coupled with the use of natural, plant-based products. I love educating clients about the basics of nutrition, teaching them to incorporate whole-foods and eliminate packaged foods, then supporting them in making small sustainable steps in the right direction.

Of course, this takes commitment from the client too; it’s challenging, but it is something I can really sink my teeth into!

How did you pursue your interest in nutrition and healing?

I followed up my passion in the nutrition side of skincare by training as a health coach. This has allowed me to work on a deeper level with my clients. I am an investigator as well as a therapist, and I provide more useful tools to achieve better results.

Emotions play an equally crucial part in our health. The impact that stress has on the body is huge. When we are stressed or constantly on the go, never taking time to slow down, chew our food properly and relax, this impacts our digestion, our sleep and our response to everyday life.

Having this knowledge has given me more confidence. It has shaped me as a therapist – I work more intuitively which is a beautiful thing to be able to do.

How does Bestow Beauty fit into your clinic?

The Bestow Beauty oils are high quality internal products which address the deficiencies in clients’ diets. I love handing out the Bestow recipes to clients: they can literally have their cake and eat it too! The Bestow Recipe Books fit in perfectly here. People don’t have to miss out on their favourite foods, they just have to prepare them differently and substitute certain ingredients.

Looking into the future, where do you see beauty therapy heading?

I think that working with nutrition is the sustainable way forward for the beauty industry. Skin is really a reflection of what is going on in the body, especially the gut, the immune system and the brain. All systems of the body are affected by what you eat, and the skin reaps and reflects the amazing benefits of improved internal systems.

Do you have any advice for beauty therapists who are just starting their career?

I think when it all boils down, the most important thing is self-love. Take care of yourself by finding a balance between career, relationships, spirituality and exercise. The most powerful practices for me personally, are meditation, affirmations and lots of self-care.

When it comes to your career, remember that quick fixes don’t last and the results are never what they could be with a more natural approach. Tune into your own inner guidance and trust those gut instincts. Choose a product range that works and reflects your values and find an area of expertise that is uniquely yours.

Simone Rose walks the walk when it comes to holistic skincare. At her tranquil salon in Auckland, she offers pampering facials, and holistic skincare advice. Using her self-professed “messy” drawings, Simone teaches her clients the behind-the-scenes science of skin health and helps them to make sustainable changes to their diet, lifestyle and skincare routine to achieve naturally healthy skin. Simone puts her whole self into her salon, sharing her own beauty rituals and personal life stories to help motivate her clients.

AS A BEAUTY THERAPIST, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO MODEL A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

This is of utmost importance to me – having great skin myself gives my clients confidence in me. They trust me and often ask me what products I use, what my exercise regime is and what meals I eat. Modelling this lifestyle inspires them to make the necessary changes in their own lives.

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN HEALTH AND WELLNESS?

From a really young age, I have been passionate about health. My mum introduced me to face creams and body lotions while I was still at primary school and I was instantly hooked. At 13, I used the money from my first job to join a gym. I always tried to follow a healthy diet, but looking back, I didn’t really have a good handle on nutrition yet.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR DAUGHTER’S HEALTH HAS IMPACTED THE DIRECTION OF YOUR BEAUTY THERAPY CLINIC. CAN YOU SHARE THIS JOURNEY WITH US?

My daughter, Ella, was diagnosed with autism when she was two years old. It was heart breaking. Luckily, my passion for natural health had already begun to grow, so I refused to use any drugs in her treatment.

Had I not just signed a new lease for my clinic, I probably would have thrown in the towel and spent all my time with Ella. Instead, I had to dig deep and find the strength to heal my daughter while making my business a success.

I undertook extensive research on autism. I learned about toxic chemicals in our cleaning products and pesticides, and additives in our food. As a result of this my home and my salon became green and organic.

Through the work of Doctor Leila Mason, I discovered the link between autism and gut health. I removed dairy, gluten and processed sugar from Ella’s diet and focused on whole-foods. These changes had a major impact on Ella’s health and I watched the heavy fog lift from my little girl’s eyes. She has since grown into a bright, charming, sweet thing!

YOU HAVE A GREAT REPUTATION FOR EFFECTIVELY TREATING DIFFICULT SKIN DISORDERS. CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR APPROACH TO SKIN HEALTH?

This is my absolute favourite part of my job! I have a particular interest in working with stubborn rosacea, dermatitis and acne. My role is to educate the client on what is happening to their skin and inspire them to make the changes needed so that, together, we can reap the rewards.

There are three steps I follow in healing unhealthy skin.

Step One: Consultation
Clients fill out an online form before we meet. When I read through it, I highlight areas of concern and start to detect where problems stem from. During the consultation, we discuss these areas in depth. More information always comes to light, helping me complete my diagnosis and enabling me to create a personalised skin program.

Step Two: Internals
I explain what organs have been affected and how this manifests in their skin health and I draw (messy!) pictures to help explain this. I’m no artist, but I find these pictures gain the client’s respect as they can see the science underpinning my advice.

Step Three: Externals
My drawings help demonstrate the importance of the epidermis and its layers, bi-layers and barrier. I describe what damage my clients’ current skincare products might have done, always being careful not to blame the client for this. I have never come across someone who purposely destroyed their skin barrier or damaged their health. I focus on helping them to make positive changes from then on.

HOW DID YOU DISCOVER JANESCE?

Many moons ago, I attended Janesce Step One Training with Janine Tait. There, I realised that the majority of the beauty industry had it wrong. Janine is revolutionising the beauty education industry for the better. I am incredibly grateful that I get to come along for the ride and absorb her beauty knowledge treasures.

I love that the Janesce philosophy is based on science and that the range is organic. Ever since my research into autism, I have developed a real appreciation for organics.

WHAT SORT OF RESULTS DO YOU SEE WHEN USING THE JANESCE RANGE?

In the past, I had left the beauty industry because I wasn’t seeing results. Salon owners were always disappointed by my sales, but I’m not a salesperson and I couldn’t sell something that I didn’t believe in.

When I opened my own salon, I decided to only sell products that really work. With Janesce, I am never afraid that a client is going to be disappointed or have a bad reaction. Even on the most sensitive skin, Janesce yields wonderful results.

HOW DOES BESTOW BEAUTY FIT INTO YOUR SALON?

I love the Bestow Beauty range because it helps me truly heal my clients’ skin. I can’t un-block pores or bowels or flush the liver with moisturiser! The Bestow Beauty oils work from the inside out, making it easy for me to heal skin disorders from where they originate. The packaging is also absolutely stunning!

WHAT DOES SLOW BEAUTY MEAN TO YOU?

Slow Beauty means working in harmony with one’s own biology. In other words, supplying the body with what it needs, then being patient while it uses those tools to transform the skin. It takes time because we are correcting the source of the problem instead of masking it by removing a symptom.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR THERAPISTS NEW TO A HOLISTIC VIEW OF BEAUTY THERAPY?

Take baby steps with your clients. Start by suggesting lemon water in the mornings, then move on to Bestow Oil, teach them about omega fats, tell them to slow down and enjoy tea in a pretty cup. Take it slow for lasting results.

Get personal. Don’t be afraid to tell your clients about yourself, what you do for your health and the health of your family – it inspires them.

HOW DO YOU USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SUPPORT AND INSPIRE CLIENTS?

My social media communications are a continuation of ‘My Story’ found on my website.

I use Instagram photos to open a window into my healthy lifestyle and beauty knowledge for potential clients, and to inspire regular clients. I use Facebook as a cheap advertising avenue. Often I use the same photo from Instagram, but I provide more written information. You can target your audience and boost the post for as little as $5!

I write a blog to keep a personal dialogue going with my regular clients. I can’t spend their whole visit with me talking, so the posts showcase information about my lifestyle and what I can do as a skin specialist, that they may not otherwise have a chance to know.