September 2026

Skaistuole's Story

By Skaistuole Jonaviciene

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Skaistuole Jonaviciene

It was a “dream come true” when Skaistuole opened her own skin and laser clinic in 2022 – all while studying for her aesthetics degree at University College Birmingham.

Skaistuole, who graduated with first class honours, had worked in beauty for eight years when she applied to university to develop her knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of skin science, treatment safety and the professional side of the industry.

It was the best decision, enabling the mother-of-two to upscale from a rented room in a salon to running her own clinic, Smart Skin, in Norfolk, offering everything from wrinkle reduction to tattoo removal.

“Balancing running a clinic with university was challenging, but it was also incredibly valuable because I could immediately put my academic knowledge into practice,” she said.

Skaistuole, who now employs a team of three, manages a diverse and loyal client base and oversees the wider operations and growth of the business, said the opportunities she had during her degree were incredible.

These included hearing from high profile guest speakers such as Dr Alison Colville, winner of Best Injectable Result at the 2026 UK Aesthetics Awards.

“Hearing from experienced professionals within the industry gave me a different perspective on career development and reinforced the importance of continuing to learn and evolve within aesthetics,” she said.

“The course also encouraged me to look at the aesthetics industry from a wider perspective and understand the importance of evidence-based practice.

“Crucially, I developed skills in research, critical thinking and professional development.”

She said being able to network was extremely important.

“It allowed me to connect with other professionals and develop relationships within the industry,” she said.

“I was able to apply much of what I learned directly to my own clinic.”

Now, Skaistuole is giving back by becoming an alumni ambassador for UCB, going out to local schools to speak about aesthetics as a profession.

“I am passionate about sharing my experience with others entering the aesthetics industry and mentoring, education and supporting the next generation of practitioners.

“Ultimately, I would like to combine my clinical experience, academic background and business knowledge to make a positive contribution to the industry and help raise professional standards.”

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