2 /5 Aaliyah Oke: - A Honest review of my experience on the Level 2 Facials course-
I enrolled at LSBM with the intention of advancing my skincare knowledge, but my experience was disappointing on multiple fronts. I feel compelled to share this in the hope that it helps others make an informed decision.
To begin with, the facilities are far below what one would expect from a professional training academy. The school is set up in what feels like a disused office space, and basic amenities like heating were absent during my time there. Instead, small portable fans were scattered around, providing little relief. The blankets used during treatments were unhygienic—you could feel how unclean they were just by touching them. The steamers were outdated and often produced yellowish water, which was concerning and a far cry from the standards I’m used to in my own salon.
Unfortunately, the teaching quality matched the poor physical environment. I was in Carol’s class, and the atmosphere became increasingly discouraging week after week. One of the weeks she ended our class an hour early as she was going on a cruise that evening. When you’re paying £1000 out of pocket, every hour to learn and perfect your craft matters.
Many students, including myself, felt uncomfortable asking questions, as they were often dismissed or met with sarcasm.
Personally, I experienced repeated mispronunciations of my name. When I gently corrected my tutor, I was met with, “Ah-liyah, Aaliyuuh, whatever.” It felt dismissive and unprofessional.
The course was heavily focused on anatomy and health and safety rather than skincare ingredients and applicable theory which I had expected to explore in more depth. I found the massage element of the course to be the most practical and helpful although I did invest in another massage course while I was on this level 2 facials course as I really wanted to excel in this area.
The quality of the products used in class was also a concern—several students experienced irritation around the eyes. The hydrating face masks (the only type they had that were suitable to put on anyone’s skin) were finished by the time we got round to our assessments. There was no stock management; we were simply told to throw away any empty bottles.
Several classmates expressed regret at enrolling at Level 3 here prematurely and some even managed to transfer to their sister school, Ray Cochrane, which they said offered modern facilities and a better learner experience.
I did raise my concerns with the academy during my final week, only to be told that I should have reached out sooner. That response felt dismissive and avoided any accountability for the issues raised.
In good faith, I cannot recommend LSBM. If you’re looking for a supportive, high-standard learning environment, I’d strongly suggest researching other options.
