Episode #1
Friday, 6th February 2026
Your weekly caffeine-hit of industry juice & intel ☕
🌡️ THE WARM-UP
Happy Friday, skincare besties 👯
Welcome to Episode #1 of Skincare & Starbucks.
You’re officially part of something we think is going to be a staple in this industry for years to come.
We created this because every single week, our DMs, texts, and WhatsApps light up with questions from practitioners like you. About treatments. About products. About regulations. About what’s actually working right now.
So here it is: everything you need to know this week, in 5 minutes.
No fluff. Just value.
Let’s dive in.
☕ SKINCARE QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“The days of 50 different serums are done. People are exhausted.”
Dr. Ife Obayomi, Dermatologist
(btw, we couldn’t agree more. our best clients are asking us for simple regimens which make life feel simpler, cleaner, and less complicated. focus on the 20% which produces the 80% of the results)
🔥 INDUSTRY BUZZ
The treatment stacking revolution is here
If you haven’t noticed, your clients are getting smarter. They’re no longer asking for “one treatment to fix everything”: they want precision. Treatment stacking (combining lasers + exosomes, microneedling + skin boosters, IPL + fractional treatments) is dominating clinic conversations. Kirsty, our director, says this is “the most important shift of all” for 2026.
Male bookings are surging
Men now account for 21% of all aesthetic patients in the UK, with enquiries up 30% in the past year. Dr Dev Patel reported a 65% increase in male bookings for non-surgical facial procedures over the past five years, with the strongest growth in 25-40 year olds. If you’re not marketing to men, you’re leaving money on the table.
Subscriptions are the new gold-standard
Clinics are quietly shifting to membership-style skincare & aesthetic packages. Clients are treating aesthetics like fitness: consistent, quarterly maintenance. The “race to the bottom” on price is slowing down. Patients are getting smarter and choosing practitioners they trust over the cheapest deal.
💉 TREATMENT SPOTLIGHT:POLYNUCLEOTIDES (PDRN)
What it is:
PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), yes, it’s derived from salmon DNA, is the regenerative treatment that dominated 2025 and is absolutely exploding in 2026.
Who it’s for:
Clients who want actual skin quality improvement, not just volume. Think barrier repair, hydration, fine lines, and overall regeneration. It’s for the client who’s done with fillers and wants their skin to work better.
Why it’s trending:
Because it works at a cellular level. Dr Leah Totton said polynucleotides have “surged in popularity, capturing a significant portion of the dermal filler market” as patients move away from conventional fillers. It’s not about masking problems, it’s about fixing them.
Tip:
PDRN works brilliantly as part of a comprehensive regenerative protocol. Many practitioners are combining regenerative treatments strategically across sessions to maximise skin quality improvements. Position it as a long-term skin investment, not a quick fix. Your consultations should focus on multi-session protocols, not one-offs.
Pricing insights:
Expect £200-£450 per session depending on your local market. Most practitioners recommend 3-4 sessions for optimal results. Package pricing is working well: think £900-£1,200 for a course of three, for maximum results.
Advice from Team MSTA:
Focus OBSESSIVELY on getting an all-star case study in early. Someone who can TRULY benefit from this treatment where the transformation will be insane.
Go crazy to find this person: hunt them down like your life depends on it. Then, go ALL OUT to create the dreamiest results you can.
Document the whole thing as carefully as you can. Write up a treatment case study, and take as many before & afters as your client will willingly allow you to. This case study will help 100s of future clients to understand the value of this fabulous treatment.
🧬 PRODUCT WORTH KNOWING:MEDIK8 LIQUID PEPTIDES ADVANCED MP
Medik8 just launched their most advanced peptide serum after 18 months of R&D and 40 formulation attempts.
What’s different:
Uses “dual mini proteins”, a complex structure between peptides and proteins that penetrates faster and deeper. Clinical trials show visible wrinkle reduction in 10 minutes, with even better long-term results.
Why it matters:
Obv. everyone’s been talking about peptides. Medik8 just leapfrogged the conversation. This is next-gen peptide technology that separates professional skincare from retail.
Who’s it for:
Clients wanting immediate results without retinoid irritation. Perfect for “I need to look good for an event” plus cumulative anti-ageing.
Pro angle:
This is your authority-builder. 18 months development, 300-person trial, clinical backing. You can educate clients on why it works, not just claim it does.
Bonus:
L’Oréal Luxe just acquired Medik8 (June 2025). Founder’s staying, quality’s intact, but distribution firepower just went nuclear. Get ahead before this goes mainstream.
Professional skincare is splitting into two camps: real innovation with clinical backing vs. trend-chasing. Medik8 is firmly in camp one, exactly where your clients’ trust (and your margins) should be.
🎤 FIVE MINUTES WITH...ASHLEY STOBART (THE COSMETIC CONSULT)
This week, we sat down with Ashley Stobart, aka The Cosmetic Consult, who trained with MSTA at the start of her career and has since built a global podcast, become a trusted industry influencer, and launched a skincare brand that’s gone viral.
Q: What’s the biggest shift you’ve noticed in the industry lately?
“Clients are tired of being sold to. They want education. They want to understand WHY a treatment works, not just what it does. The practitioners who are winning right now are the ones who can explain the science in a way that doesn’t feel patronising.”
Q: What’s your advice to new practitioners starting out in 2026?
“Stop trying to do everything. Niche down. Be known for ONE thing first, then expand. The generalist approach doesn’t work anymore, not when clients can Google 47 clinics in their area in 30 seconds.”
Q: What’s one treatment you think is underrated right now?
“Proper skin preparation. Everyone wants to jump straight to injectables, but if the skin quality isn’t there, the results won’t hold. I’m obsessed with prepping clients with regenerative treatments first, it makes everything else work better. That’s why I genuinely love our Cosmetic Consult miracle skin product so much.”
📱 WHAT'S WORKING ON SOCIAL MEDIA RIGHT NOW
🤳🏽 🎥 📸
“I’m not Gatekeeping” content
The trend of “no longer gatekeeping my favourite [X]” is performing well. Example: “No longer gatekeeping my go-to at home treatment for post-pregnancy pigmentation” or “Finally sharing the product I’ve been using on every client for 6 months.” It creates FOMO and positions you as someone with insider knowledge.
Super clean before & afters with ZERO editing
The algorithm is rewarding authenticity. Fabulous but natural lighting, no filters. Clients are tired of perfect skin that doesn’t exist. If you’re posting results, make them raw. The more real it looks the better. Clear the background so the photo feels fresh.
Educational carousel posts (but make them aesthetic)
Multi-slide carousels, just one simple image but with text overlay, explaining ONE thing properly. Eg, explain how PDRN works, why barrier repair matters, what treatment stacking actually means. But here’s the key: playful backgrounds, varied images per slide, fonts that match your brand. The content needs to educate AND look good. Think minimalist, not boring.
Cinematic “soft drama” Reels
Aesthetic, emotional transitions: crying to laughing, breakdown to bounce back. It’s a bit dramatic but it works for big moments. This works brilliantly for showing client transformation journeys (not just physical results, but confidence shifts). Use slow-motion, warm vs cool lighting, natural sounds or trending audio.
Social media creator to watch:
This week, we think you should follow @drewomaukeleghe on Instagram.
Dr. Ewoma is a London cosmetic doctor, 257K followers on IG, with elite-level credibility.
Award-winning Medical & Cosmetic Doctor.
Lots of fabulous social media content with lots of valuable nuggets for skincare professionals. She bridges clinical excellence with accessible education: her content mixes medical expertise, skincare science, and inclusive aesthetics for all skin tones.
Built 90% of her clinic clientele through social media alone.
Works with Dior Beauty, Glossier, Charlotte Tilbury.
Definitely worth a follow, if you don’t already.
☕ THE BOTTOM LINE
That’s your shot of industry intel for this week.
If there’s a topic you want us to cover, a product you’re curious about, or someone we should interview for “Five Minutes With,” email info@mstauk.com and let us know. We read every single response.
See you next Friday at 7am.
Kirsty & Team MSTA
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