Beauty That Brings You Back to You
New Columnist
Lisa Sloan, Aesthetic Nurse Prescriber at Simply Be Beautiful, launches her new column for Local Women, sharing her thoughtful, ethical approach to aesthetics and why confidence is about feeling like yourself, not chasing perfection.
After more than three decades in nursing and over 15 years working in aesthetics, there’s one thing I’ve learned above all else. Women don’t come to me wanting to look “different”. They come because they want to feel like themselves again.
Somewhere between careers, children, stress, hormones, lack of sleep and the general chaos of life, many women quietly put themselves last. Confidence slips, not because they’ve done anything wrong, but because they’ve been busy looking after everyone else.
That’s where my passion for aesthetics really comes in.
For me, aesthetics has never been about chasing trends or perfection. It’s about subtle, ethical treatments that support confidence, wellbeing and self-esteem. The kind of results where friends say, “You look well,” rather than, “What have you had done?”
Every day I meet women from all walks of life. Mums, professionals, carers, business owners. And the conversations are rarely just about skin. They’re about confidence, life changes, menopause, divorce, starting again, feeling invisible, or simply wanting to look in the mirror and recognise yourself.
One thing I always say to my patients is this: confidence doesn’t come from erasing who you are. It comes from supporting it.
Sometimes that support is skincare. Sometimes it’s injectables. Sometimes it’s just reassurance and honest advice, including telling someone not to go ahead with a treatment if it’s not right for them. That ethical approach is something I’m deeply proud of, and something I was honoured to be recognised for as Local Women’s Highly Commended Aesthetic Practitioner 2024.
There’s a lot of noise online about beauty and aesthetic treatments. Filters, trends and quick fixes can make the whole space feel overwhelming, and there’s a lot of misinformation out there. My aim, both in clinic and through this column, is to cut through that noise and bring things back to basics through education, balance and real conversation.
In future columns, I’ll be sharing honest insights into skin health, ageing well, confidence, common myths in aesthetics, and how to make informed choices without pressure. No scare tactics. No hard sell. Just straight talk from someone who has spent a lifetime caring for women.
Because looking after yourself isn’t vain. It’s not selfish. And it’s certainly not something you need to justify.
When you feel good in yourself, it shows in how you carry yourself, how you show up for others, and how you move through the world.
And that, to me, is what beauty is really about.
Simply Be Beautiful
229 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7EN
Tel: 028 9068 7519
Email: simplybebeautiful@hotmail.com
Web: www.simplybebeautiful.co.uk
