Victoria Arpels
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Victoria Arpels
"I Have Helped Over 100,000 People Join and Succeed in the Beauty Industry!"
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Having sold over 1,000,000 courses and with a client base of over 100,000 students and graduates, Victoria is widely regarded as one of the leading educators in the industry. We believe in empowering students to increase their self confidence, sense of worth, achievement & wealth through structured, positive, professional and creativity focused learning programmes, supporting learners throughout t
If you asked me where to start with … THIS would be the product I’d put in your hands first.
The E.X.F.O. Cleanse and there’s a reason I love it SO much.
It’s one of those products that just makes sense.
One product. THREE uses.
✨ Your everyday cleanser
✨ Removes makeup and impurities
✨ Can be left on as a hydrating mask
I use it morning and night, and it’s one of those staple products that I come back to again and again.
It gently cleanses while helping to exfoliate, soothe and hydrate the skin without leaving my skin feeling stripped or tight.
And that’s exactly what I love about professional, science backed skincare.
Every ingredient and every product has a purpose.
E.X.F.O. Cleanse contains ingredients including lactobionic acid, papain enzyme, rooibos extract and pro vitamin B5, helping to gently exfoliate while supporting hydration and leaving the skin feeling clean, smooth and refreshed.
And when I want a little extra from it? I apply a thin layer and leave it on for around 10 minutes as a mask.
If you’re completely new to pHformula and wondering where to begin, this is such a great starting point for your skin journey.
Simple. Multi-tasking. Easy to incorporate morning and evening.
Sometimes good skincare doesn’t need to be complicated it just needs to be the RIGHT skincare.
And THIS is why we love science backed skincare.
Who else couldn’t be without their E.X.F.O. Cleanse?
02/09/2026
6 weeks, 2 boys, ZERO routine… we made it 😂🙌🏼
Well, the summer holidays are officially over and it’s back to routine tomorrow!
And as much as I’ve absolutely loved the summer, the holidays, the slower mornings and having my boys around… I’m definitely a routine kind of girl and I’m SO ready for a little structure back in my life.
I love my boys more than anything, but having two teenage boys in the house 24/7 has definitely tested me at times 😂
If you’re a boy mum… you KNOW exactly what I mean!
But we made it 😂🙌🏼 and another summer of memories is in the bag.
Now it’s time to switch back into work mode and I’m genuinely so excited for a busy September ahead.
Back in my happy place, welcoming all my gorgeous clients into clinic, catching up with you all and getting your skin back on track after summer.
September… I’m ready for you
01/09/2026
I’ve tested this for 2 MONTHS before recommending it… and it’s officially earned a permanent place in my skincare routine.
Meet the pHformula UK & Ireland E.N.Z.Y.M.E. Powder.
When a new product launches, I don’t just tell you it’s amazing i want to actually use it, test it and see how my own skin responds before I start shouting about it.
And after two months of using this… I absolutely LOVE it.
I’ve slotted it into my evening routine around 3 times a week, swapping out my usual E.X.F.O. Cleanse when I want that slightly deeper cleanse and beautifully smooth skin feeling.
So what makes it different?
The powder is activated with water, creating a cleanser that combines cleansing with gentle enzymatic exfoliation.
✨ Helps remove impurities
✨ Gently exfoliates without abrasive scrubbing
✨ Helps refine the appearance of skin texture
✨ Leaves my skin feeling incredibly smooth
✨ Helps give the skin a fresher, clearer looking appearance
It contains papain, an enzyme used to gently exfoliate the skin, alongside allantoin, known for its soothing properties.
For me, this isn’t about adding another unnecessary product into an already complicated routine.
It’s about elevating the routine you already have.
Three evenings a week.
One simple swap.
And my skin afterwards feels SO smooth.
After two months of properly trying and testing it, this is one I can highly recommend.
And yes… it has officially earned its place in my bathroom.
29/08/2026
CHAPTER THREE — TAKING THE LEAP
I didn’t set out to build a nationwide beauty training business… I simply saw something missing and thought, why not me?
By 2010, I had spent years working within the beauty industry and education, and I’d started to see a real gap.
There were so many people who wanted to enter the beauty industry, retrain or create something for themselves but traditional training didn’t always fit around real life.
And I kept thinking… there has to be another way.
So I took the leap and founded Next Step Beauty
What started as a beauty training academy here in Norfolk quickly became something much bigger than I ever imagined.
Within two years we were offering courses nationwide and had launched our online learning portal, giving students the opportunity to learn in a way that could fit around work, children and everyday life.
Since then, over 100,000 students have trained with us.
Even writing that still feels pretty incredible.
But the number isn’t what makes me proudest.
It’s hearing from the women who took that first step, gained their qualification and went on to build businesses, open salons and clinics, create an income for their families or simply find a career they genuinely love.
Because I’ve always believed beauty education is about so much more than learning a treatment.
It’s about giving someone the skills, confidence and opportunity to change their own path.
And when I look back now, I realise that decision in 2010 didn’t just shape Next Step Beauty…
It shaped me too.
And there were still a few more chapters to come…
Chapter Four coming next.
If your skincare isn’t working… this could be why.
I see this ALL the time.
A bathroom cupboard full of expensive skincare.
The latest trending serum.
Another new active.
Another product promising amazing results…
Yet your skin still isn’t where you want it to be.
And very often, the problem isn’t that you need MORE products.
It’s that you need to understand your skin.
There are three things I see regularly:
✨ Constantly changing products
Skincare needs consistency. If you’re continually swapping products because you’ve seen something new online, you’re never really giving your routine the opportunity to work.
✨ Treating what you can SEE without understanding WHY
Pigmentation, redness, breakouts, sensitivity, ageing concerns they aren’t all treated in the same way.
Understanding what’s happening within your individual skin is where a professional consultation becomes so important.
✨ Expecting results too quickly
Healthy skin is a journey.
The right homecare, professional treatments where appropriate and, most importantly, consistency are what create long term changes in the skin.
This is why I will never simply hand someone a product because it’s “good for pigmentation” or “good for ageing”.
I want to understand YOUR skin first.
Because you don’t need the biggest skincare cupboard or every product currently trending on Instagram.
You need the right products, the right ingredients and the right plan for you.
Stop chasing products. Start understanding your skin.
If you’re overwhelmed by skincare and have absolutely no idea what your skin actually needs, send me a DM and let’s start with a skin consultation.
26/08/2026
I might look like I’ve got it all together here… but the reality this summer has been a little different.
Does anyone else feel like they’ve completely fallen out of routine this summer? Because I definitely have.
Summer has been AMAZING. We’ve travelled, celebrated, eaten out, made some gorgeous memories and I’ve genuinely loved every minute of it.
But behind all of that, I’ve definitely struggled at times to balance everything.
Running businesses.
Working.
Being a mum.
Trying to navigate the summer holidays with teenagers.
Family life.
Trying to exercise.
Trying to eat well.
And somewhere amongst all of that… finding a little time for ME.
Because summer holidays with teenagers can be a whole different kind of busy. Keeping everyone entertained, working around different plans, managing changing moods and trying to make the most of the time together definitely comes with its own challenges.
My normal routine has definitely slipped.
I haven’t been eating as well as I normally would, the gym hasn’t been as consistent and I’ve had moments where I just haven’t felt quite as good in myself.
And I wanted to share that because Instagram is a snapshot it doesn’t always show the full picture.
We all have times when life gets busy and something has to give.
For me, feeling good isn’t about being perfect. It’s about moving my body, eating well MOST of the time, having some structure and making time to look after myself too.
So as summer starts coming to an end, I’m actually looking forward to finding my routine again.
Not punishing myself for enjoying the summer.
Not starting some crazy diet.
Not feeling guilty about the meals, drinks or memories.
Just getting back to the things that make me feel healthy, strong, confident and like ME again.
Because as women and especially as mums we can be pretty good at looking after everyone else…
Remembering to look after ourselves is sometimes the hardest part.
Please tell me I’m not the only one ready for a little routine again?
The biggest mistake I see women making with their skin after 40? Doing TOO much.
We start noticing changes…
Pigmentation.
Fine lines.
Changes in texture.
Loss of that glow.
And suddenly we panic and think our skin needs everything.
Retinol. Acids. Vitamin C. Exfoliation. The latest product we’ve seen trending on Instagram…
But here’s the thing more doesn’t always mean better.
Your skin at 40 doesn’t need every active ingredient going. It needs the RIGHT ingredients for YOUR skin, used correctly and consistently.
This is where understanding your skin becomes so important.
For me, good skincare is about:
✨ Protecting and supporting your skin barrier
✨ Using the correct actives at the correct strength
✨ Daily SPF — always
✨ Professional treatments when appropriate
✨ Consistency rather than constantly changing products
✨ And most importantly… understanding what YOUR skin actually needs
I’ve spent years working with skin, and one thing I see time and time again is women unintentionally overwhelming their skin because they’re simply trying to do the right thing.
You don’t need the biggest skincare cupboard.
You need a routine that makes sense for your skin.
And remember…
Your skin at 40 doesn’t need punishing. It needs understanding.
If you’re overwhelmed by skincare and don’t know where to start, send me a DM. Sometimes simplifying things is the best place to begin.
23/08/2026
At 19, I made a decision that I had no idea would shape the next 20+ years of my life…
Chapter 2 — Becoming an Educator
I’d already fallen in love with the beauty industry, but at just 19 I decided I wanted to take things one step further and began my teacher training.
Over the next four years I gained my Certificate in Education and BA (Hons) in Inclusive Practice and Education, while teaching beauty therapy part time and working alongside some of the UK’s leading beauty brands.
And I think this was the point where everything started to change for me.
I realised I didn’t just love doing beauty.
I loved understanding it. Teaching it. And helping other people understand it too.
Seeing someone’s confidence grow because they’d learnt a new skill gave me a completely different sense of purpose.
Looking back now, I can see just how much those years shaped everything that came afterwards.
They laid the foundations for Next Step Beauty but they also shaped the way I work today as a Skin Specialist.
I still don’t just want to do something to your skin or hand you a product.
I want you to understand WHY.
Why we’re using a particular product.
Why your skin is behaving the way it is.
Why I’ve chosen a particular treatment.
Education has been at the heart of my career since I was 19… I just didn’t realise then quite where it was going to take me. 🤍
And there was still SO much more to come…
Chapter 3 coming soon. 👀
21/08/2026
MELA vs TXN… if they both target pigmentation, why would you need both?
This is something I get asked all the time and the answer is simple:
They don’t do the same job.
pHformula UK & Ireland MELA Serum
MELA is designed to target uneven pigmentation and dark spots, helping to improve the appearance of an uneven skin tone and create a brighter, more uniform complexion.
pHformula UK & Ireland TXN
TXN takes a different approach. It contains tranexamic acid and is particularly useful when we’re working with stubborn, uneven pigmentation and helping to improve overall skin clarity.
So… which one should you use?
For some skins, I may prescribe MELA.
For others, TXN.
And for some of my clients including myself there can be a place for both within a carefully planned routine.
And THIS is exactly why professional skincare isn’t about buying whatever product is trending on Instagram.
It’s about understanding your skin, the type of pigmentation we’re dealing with and which ingredients are appropriate for you.
Two products.
Two different roles.
One goal healthier, brighter, more even-looking skin.
If pigmentation is something you’re struggling with, don’t guess your way through your skincare.
Start by understanding your skin.
DM me to book a skin consultation.
20/08/2026
This is why I’ll never promise you perfect skin after ONE treatment…
This is what 6 months of understanding the skin, consistency and the right treatment plan can look like.
This client came to me struggling with rosacea, redness and sensitivity and rather than trying to aggressively “fix” her skin, our priority was to understand it, support it and work with it.
Over a 6 month period we focused on:
✨ Regular pHformula professional treatments every 4 weeks
✨ A carefully prescribed pHformula homecare routine
✨ Supporting and strengthening the skin barrier
✨ Calming visible redness and sensitivity
✨ Making adjustments along the way as her skin changed
And THIS is why homecare matters just as much as what we do in clinic.
Your professional treatment happens once every 4 weeks… what you do with your skin on all the days in between matters.
Rosacea isn’t something I promise to magically “cure” but with the right knowledge, professional treatments, homecare and consistency, we can work towards calmer, stronger, healthier-looking skin.
No quick fixes.
No chasing trends.
No unnecessarily aggressive treatments.
Just science backed skincare, consistency and a plan created for YOUR skin.
This is what investing in your skin looks like.
If you’re struggling with redness, sensitivity or rosacea and don’t know where to start, DM me to book your skin consultation.
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