On Monday 22nd June 2026, we held the annual Salon of The Year Awards, welcoming over 150 skincare professionals across the UK and Ireland to celebrate their achievements over the past year and highlighting the extraordinary client results achieved.
Hosted at The Rosewood Hotel in Holborn, London, the awards were compared for the 6th year in a row by radio presenter and host Zeb Soanes. The event featured some incredible stories and speeches from their inspirational skincare professional community.
DonnaMarie McGrillen, owner of Vermilion Clinic, shared the importance of community engagement and networking in building a successful business. She highlighted how hosting events in her business and creating meaningful connections with clients played a key role in growing her business.
Corinna Tolan, of Monica Tolan The Skin Care Experts, expressed how embracing social media transformed her business. She discussed how consistently showcasing treatments, highlighting client results, and creating authentic content helped increase brand awareness and attract new customers.
The final speech of the day was delivered by last year’s Therapist of The Year winner, Alex Blaikie, De’Luxe Skin and Beauty Clinic. She gave an empowering speech about her journey and how at the start of her profession, many people did not view beauty therapy as a career with great prospects. However, she refused to let others define her future. Through hard work, dedication, and a passion for helping others feel confident, she built a highly successful and rewarding career, proving doubters wrong.
The award for Therapist of The Year 2026 was won by Jo Anne O’Neill of Lipstick & Lashes. This incredible before and after case study highlighted the remarkable transformation of a client struggling with severe cystic acne. Through a tailored skincare programme, designed by Jo Anne, utilising iiaa brands (Advanced Nutrition Programme™ Skincare Supplements and Environ® Topical Vitamin A), the client experienced significant improvements in skin clarity, texture, and their overall confidence. Speaking of their results, Jo Anne’s client Ryan says: “My skin journey has been nothing short of life changing. I started with severe cystic acne and left with healed, healthy skin, and renewed confidence.”
The iiaa Salon of The Year Awards ceremony was a powerful reminder of the hard work, talent and resilience that continues to drive the industry forward. Bringing together skincare professionals from across the UK and Ireland, the event fostered a sense of community and pride while celebrating outstanding achievements. Its impact will extend far beyond the day itself, inspiring continued growth and success for years to come.
The full list of iiaa award winners 2026 are:
Salon of the Year UK
Winner: Beauty by Helen French, Merseyside
Salon of the Year Ireland
Winner: Skin & Body Works, Ratoath, Ireland
Salon of Excellence Winners
North winner: MJ Beauty and Skin Clinic, Dumfries, Scotland
South winner: The Beauty Room Spalding, Lincolnshire
Ireland winner: Vermilion Cosmetic Clinic, Belfast
Recognition of Achievement: Opal Rooms Beauty Spa, Liverpool
Independent Salon of The Year UK winner: Skin Health Studio, Cambridgeshire
Independent Salon of The Year Ireland winner: Soiléir Skin, Co. Laois, Ireland
Newcomer of The Year winner: Galánta Skin County Galway, Ireland
Sustainable Salon of The Year winner: Denises Beauty, Country Wexford
Advanced Nutrition Programme Salon of the Year
Winner: Tessa Stevens Health & Beauty Clinic, London
Environ Salon of the Year
Winner: Touch & Glow Skin and Laser Clinic, Co. Monaghan, Dublin
et al. Salon of the Year
Winner: Clarity Laser, London
Community Champion Award
Winner: Pure Birkdale, Southport
Therapist of The Year
Winner: Jo Anne O’Neill, Lipstick and Lashes, Belfast
View the Photo Gallery from the event.