AN aesthetics business based on a family farm near Bridgwater has expanded with investment in a new hair removal machine.

Glow Aesthetics, which is based in Stretcholt, was established in 2020 by Rachel Foster and Lucy Price. The duo, who are both qualified nurses, met while working together at Langport Surgery in 2012 and decided to turn their passion for skincare into a business.

Rachel commented: “Lucy and I always had a great working relationship, and we quickly became good friends.  We knew we wanted to start our own business, and one day, after a lot of research, I ran into her room at work and announced I had signed up to do an anti-wrinkle and filler course. She immediately said: 'I’m doing it with you!'.”

From that point on, Glow Aesthetics was born. The pair even designed their own logo, and Rachel’s husband converted the garage into a clinic, which is based on a working arable and livestock farm.

In August, the pair made a “huge investment” in a Lynton IPL machine. Intense Pulsed Light is a flashlamp-driven technology which works by using a range of different wavelengths to treat different conditions – including hair removal and most skin rejuvenation treatments.

Reflecting on the new equipment, which the duo launched in September, Rachel said: “We were very aware of how unregulated the aesthetics world was, and still is. We want that to change, so we really invest our time and money to keep our training as up to date as possible, and we are always looking for better products, new innovations and technology.”

Glow Aesthetics now expands to include a range of treatments, from injectables, facials, vein treatments and polynucleotides. In addition, the business’s patient base has expanded, with regular customers visiting the clinic on the family farm.

Both Rachel and Lucy run the clinic part-time, as the pair both have busy family lives and continue to work in the primary care sector.

Rachel reflected: “Keeping our practice nurse jobs was hugely important to us.  We didn't want to deskill after years of training, and we absolutely love our patients.  It also makes us better clinicians to provide a more holistic service as we have a great range of knowledge and skill to draw from.”