Meet The Member - Stephanie Lyon of Sabel Walker Skin and Wellness
Sabel Walker Skin and Wellness
We interviewed our member Steph of Sabel Walker Skin & Wellness to find out more about her journey as a skin specialist and how she can help you.
Hi Steph, it’s lovely to chat with you today and welcome to the We Are St Albans community! Sabel Walker is brand new to St. Albans. Please introduce your clinic to our readers and tell us your specialisms?
Hi! It’s lovely to be part of a great community like this, thank you. Sabel Walker Skin & Wellness is a skin and waxing clinic. I work with professional-only skin brands (you might have heard them being described as “medical grade” or “cosmeceuticals”) to perform advanced treatments. I always tailor my treatments to the individual, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, and I provide customised skincare regimes.
Along with facials I offer skin treatments for the intimate area (helping with those annoying ingrown hairs), lash & brow tinting and full body waxing for all genders. SW is an LGBTQIA+ safe space - everyone is welcome!
Where does the name come from and what meaning does it have for you?
I came up with Sabel Walker by pairing my mum and nan’s maiden names. I knew I wanted the name to be unique and represent me in some way. Supporting women, celebrating their success and encouraging them to take up space is something I feel strongly about. Not only in relation to business, but in all aspects of life. It’s lovely to have a reminder of the women in my family around me every day.
You include ‘wellness’ in the title. In your opinion, what does wellness cover for your clients?
I think it has a couple of meanings. Firstly, it refers to my holistic approach to skin health. In order to help clients improve their skin I need to learn about multiple aspects of their life and history, to find the root cause of their concerns. It’s rarely a simple fix. It encompasses stress, nutrition, sleep, medical history, environment, hormones… the list goes on! Addressing overall wellness along with using the right treatments and products is the best way to achieve skin health.
Secondly, my role as a skin therapist has never just been about the practical skill required. It comes down to human connection and helping people. I love my work because I build close, lasting relationships with my clients and a huge part of it is being, well, a therapist! Sometimes I’m the only person my clients feel they can vent to without judgement, and even a Hollywood wax can provide half an hour’s escape from the stresses of life. I feel incredibly privileged that I get to experience this kind of connection and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity to help people.
You’ve been a skin specialist for over ten years. What is your background training and how do you keep on top of trends and knowledge?
I completed my Beauty Therapy NVQ back in 2014. Since then, I’ve trained with multiple skin brands and become certified for various advanced treatments and technologies. I am also qualified to teach in further education, which didn’t feel like the right direction for me to take in the end but has helped with educating clients about skin science.
I keep on top of the ever-evolving industry by being a total nerd! I regularly refresh my brand training and I actually enjoy reading clinical papers and following new scientific research in my spare time. Social media also helps with following new trends, although it’s far too easy to get stuck in a scroll hole!
Do you have any areas of skin care that you’re a particular advocate of?
I think everyone can implement the fundamentals of skincare and achieve great results. You don’t have to do a 10-step regime every day to get your skin healthy. Using a cleanser, chemical exfoliant (no scrubs!), active serum or moisturiser and a broad-spectrum SPF will make a huge improvement to most people’s skin (after taking individual needs into consideration).
Of course, there are some issues that require a more varied regime, with active ingredients to treat different areas of concern. But you’d be amazed at how much your skin can improve when you cover the fundamentals.
If a client is looking to improve their skin, how do they choose where to start and which treatments are right for them?
The first step is always a consultation. It might seem to the client like a relaxed chat over coffee, but that hour gives me lots of information to help put together a treatment plan and skincare regime tailored to them.
I don’t provide a long price-list of different facials because I don’t think you should have to choose! It’s my job to find out what your skin needs, and it’s far more effective to customise each treatment to get the best results for you. Clients can choose to spend 60 minutes or 90 minutes with me after their consultation, and we continue to explore the options in each follow-up treatment.
Your salon is in St. Albans right next to the Cathedral. Can you tell us a little about your treatment facilities and what you offer.
My lovely little clinic is humble but has all the space I need! I have one treatment room where I perform waxing and tinting, and my bespoke facials. These include active serums, masks, and chemical peels from Nimue Skin Technology and Dermaviduals, Celluma LED light therapy and 4T Medical micro needling with Clinicare growth factors.
Your Instagram account is fantastic. How do you stay inspired to keep posting informative and funny things?
Thank you! The great thing about doing what you love for a living is that research doesn’t really feel like work, so I enjoy interacting with other businesses and getting inspired by great content creators. I guess I also have a decade’s worth of experience teaching people about skin, so informative content comes easily. Then it’s just about trying to let my personality show through!
Do you have any local independent shops that you like to buy beauty products from?
Being a skin specialist, I do stick to using the professional brands I stock here. However, creating a calm and welcoming atmosphere in the clinic is important to me, so I’m a real sucker for anything that enhances the ambience. I buy candles and diffusers from my neighbours Raindrops on Roses and Chloe James Lifestyle. And Olivia Rose Fairtrade in the Village Arcade is the place to go for crystals!
Tell us your favourite St. Albans hotspots that you particularly enjoy.
I’m lucky to live and work in the city centre, so I think I’ve visited just about every pub, coffee shop and restaurant St. Albans has to offer! I love having a drink at The Hub on Verulam in the summer, Per Tutti is a firm favourite and Toast is my go-to for brunch.