How Carla Pooran Built SkinRenewal Clinic & Why She Created 40+ Skin Bootcamp
By Shannon Kate Murray, Founder & Editor of High Flying DesignLet’s be honest: most women don’t think about their skin until something feels off.
Until what used to work suddenly doesn’t. Until your reflection looks a little more tired than you feel. Until you catch yourself wondering whether everyone else can see the thing you’re trying not to fixate on. At that point, skin stops being a background detail and becomes something you negotiate with daily.
We’re living in a time where women are expected to look effortless while putting in an extraordinary amount of effort. Smooth, glowing “natural” skin is held up as the baseline - even as hormones shift, stress accumulates, sleep changes, and life gets fuller and more demanding. The message is subtle but persistent: keep up.
For Carla Pooran, this disconnect between what women are told their skin should do and what it actually does has been central to her work for more than two decades.
Long before founding SkinRenewal Clinic, Carla was paying close attention to the emotional side of skin as much as the physical. To how confidence shifts when skin changes. To how often women blame themselves when routines fail. And to how little space there is in the industry for patience, education from genuine experts (not influencers) and long-term thinking.
It’s that perspective - shaped through lived experience working on London’s Harley Street - that led her to build her own skin clinic in Colchester, and later create 40+ Skin Bootcamp.
What Carla has built isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about learning to work with your skin - not against it - and reclaiming confidence as life, priorities, and bodies change.
Let’s start at the beginning. How did your own experience with skin shape the path you took?
Carla: “As someone who personally struggled with acne throughout my teenage years and into adulthood, I know firsthand just how deeply our skin can affect our self-confidence. This isn’t just my work - it’s my passion, my purpose, and something I truly understand.”
What do you wish women understood sooner about their skin?
Carla: “That no two skins are the same. That friend who is getting great results with retinol - but you try it and, for some reason, it just makes your skin worse. Why? Because your skin is unique to you.
Following trends and other people’s routines that worked for them doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for you. Be patient and consistent, and it will pay off.”
You’ve worked in the beauty and aesthetics industry for over 20 years. What shaped your approach to skin health?
Carla: “I have worked in the aesthetic & beauty industry for over 20 years and have had invaluable hands-on experience with all skin conditions. I have worked alongside some of the top doctors and dermatologists in the prestigious area of London’s Harley Street and Essex.
I have gained a wealth of knowledge about skin health and skincare in that time, priding myself with always staying up to date with this ever-growing industry.”
You trained under Dr Carl Thornfeldt Dermatologist in the US. Why was that such a turning point?
Carla: “Dr Carl is the founder of the Epionce skincare range, which I worked with for many years. Its concept is to strengthen the skin barrier.
By treating the skin barrier to achieve good skin health, this became the foundation of everything I do - and it’s why my clients achieve long-term, visible results.”
Do you think experience is undervalued in the beauty industry - especially in an age of trends, algorithms, and influencers?
Carla: “Yes. Social media has many positives, but also negatives. I’ve noticed that many clients feel totally overwhelmed by what they should and shouldn’t be doing to their skin.
Having hands-on experience, seeing skin every day and treating different concerns and conditions is invaluable when it comes to educating others.”
After years of experience, what made you want to build your own clinic?
Carla: “After years of building a client base and training other professionals - including doctors, nurses and aesthetic therapists - I followed my lifelong dream and launched SkinRenewal Clinic.
I wanted to create a private, boutique skin clinic in Colchester - a place where I could deliver advanced skincare treatments, personalised one-to-one care, and truly expert advice.
I also wanted flexibility for my family, and a business built on passion, integrity and results.”
What did you have to unlearn when you went from working in established clinics to running your own business?
Carla: “That I had to market myself and my business - something I never needed to do in an established clinic. I had to learn on my feet.
Learning about social media and putting myself out there didn’t come naturally to me, but it’s such a big part of running a small business.
My job never stops. I love it, but having your own business is hard work. You need to be willing to put in the hours and keep learning. The rewards are amazing, but the responsibility sits with you - when you work for someone else, you don’t have to worry about that side.”
SkinRenewal launched during the pandemic. How did that period shape the business?
Carla: “When the pandemic disrupted my original launch plans, I pivoted quickly. I began offering virtual skincare consultations and partnered with GetHarley, a platform that allowed me to recommend and deliver skincare globally.
I built strong relationships with beauty bloggers, local communities, and clients who wanted not just skincare products, but the right advice.”
What has running your own business taught you about your own limits and boundaries?
Carla: “Boundaries are something I’m not the best with - but I’m working on that for 2026. It’s been an extremely busy time and has certainly pushed my limits.
Alongside launching my second business, I’ve also been studying to further my qualifications. You need supportive people around you who believe in you. My family and friends have been amazing, and I’m very grateful for that.”
You’re known for continually reinvesting in advanced technology. Why has that always mattered to you?
Carla: “Throughout this journey, I’ve remained committed to reinvesting back into the business to ensure my clients receive the most cutting-edge technology to optimise their skin health and address their individual concerns or conditions.
Choosing the right devices takes time. I always research thoroughly and listen to my clients’ needs. I don’t go with trending devices or skincare - I choose results-driven, safe, clinically backed options.
Every piece of equipment and skincare has been carefully considered, which is reflected in devices winning awards such as the Safety in Beauty Awards and Aesthetic Awards.”
You were the first clinic in Essex to introduce the Byonik Laser and Sylfirm X. What did that represent for you at the time?
Carla: “As the first person to have the BYONIK® laser treatment in Essex, this multi-award-winning device kept me busy doing what I love - treating and helping clients with their skin.
The BYONIK® Pulse-Triggered Laser remains my most sought-after treatment. Over the past four years, it has gained numerous accolades, become a celebrity favourite, and retained its uniqueness within the industry. There really is nothing quite like a BYONIK® facial - with lasers guided by your heartbeat, it’s been dubbed the ‘space-age facial’.
Sylfirm X RF Microneedling had been on my radar for a while. Clients were asking for skin tightening without injectables or surgery. I trialled treatments on myself - I would never bring something into the clinic that I wouldn’t have on my own skin. I was amazed by how quickly the redness settled - within two hours. It treats multiple skin indications, from pigmentation to acne scarring, and even the body. With over 25 clinical studies, FDA approval, and excellent safety data, it was the right choice for SkinRenewal. Being the first in Essex was an added bonus.”
In recent years, your work has increasingly focused on skin changes in midlife. What were you noticing in your clients?
Carla: “The majority of my clients are over 40, and many - including myself - were noticing hormonal fluctuations affecting their skin.
Skin would feel dry one day, then breakout the next, with more inflammation overall. Treatments like BYONIK®, which is recognised as a menopausal skin treatment, alongside my Slimyonik Air Bodystyler - which can help alleviate perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms - work as the perfect duo at this stage of life.”
How did those conversations change the way you thought about your role - not just as a skin specialist, but as a guide?
Carla: “It made me realise how important education is at this age. It’s a time when people can feel more self-conscious and start buying any and every anti-ageing product they see. We’re bombarded with celebrities and influencers looking younger than their years on social media, and that pressure can really affect confidence.
I wanted to educate people without overwhelming them - helping them understand skin health and cellular rejuvenation from a 360-degree approach, rather than offering quick fixes. That’s how you get long-lasting, natural results.”
What led you to create 40+ Skin Bootcamp?
Carla: “I had the idea for about a year before acting on it, and it was really driven by conversations with my clients and friends of the same age.
The general consensus was that people felt overwhelmed by information online and weren’t sure what they should or shouldn’t be doing for their skin during this stage of life.
My clients were getting this advice from me in-clinic, but I realised many people either can’t afford treatments, don’t feel comfortable with them, or are too busy to visit a clinic regularly.
So I thought: let’s educate people from the comfort of their own home. A guided six-week programme led by me - not an influencer - with real experience and knowledge.
It covers things people were confused about, like collagen - with so many brands out there, how do you choose? And with skincare, instead of constantly switching products, 40+ Skin Bootcamp gives you an online consultation and a digital skincare plan you can keep.
The goal is to educate, cut through the noise, and help people feel confident about what they should and shouldn’t be doing - with six weeks of online support at a very reasonable price.”
What did you want to do differently with the Bootcamp, compared to the skincare advice women are usually given online?
Carla: “I want to see people and hear their concerns during the initial skin consultation, so I can give the right recommendations.
It’s not a tick-box form or AI-generated advice. It’s personal, supportive, and something you can keep for future reference.
You also get a community group during the six weeks, but most importantly, it’s backed by over 20 years of hands-on experience treating real skin.”
Why was it important to you to reach people beyond Essex, not just in-clinic?
Carla: “This issue affects women everywhere, not just locally. I wanted to make the support accessible and inclusive.
Having the programme online makes that possible, and using my digital platform GetHarley means products can be delivered straight to your door, making the whole process simple.”
Looking back, what have the last few years taught you about building a business?
Carla: “You need to follow your dreams and your ideas, and be willing to take risks - but stay grounded.
Don’t compare yourself to other businesses, and make time for yourself to avoid burnout. You’ll be better for it.”
How has your definition of success changed over time?
Carla: “With age, your definition changes. I feel successful when my clients are happy and see results - that brings me joy.
I care deeply about what I do. I want to make a difference, not build a chain of clinics.
I want women and men to feel more confident in their skin, and having two businesses allows me to bridge a gap I’ve seen in this industry.”
And finally, what do you hope women reading this take from your journey?
Carla: “I hope it inspires people to follow a dream, but most importantly, to know that help is out there to achieve great skin without it being complicated or overwhelming.
Take advice from professionals. No two skins are the same.
One thing I’ve seen a massive increase in is compromised skin barriers - something I didn’t see as much years ago. You have to ask why that is.”
