We’re delighted to announce The Good Skin Guru as the winner of Aesthetics Clinic of the Year at the My Local Awards 2026 Cumbria.
This award celebrates clinics that combine expertise, innovation and genuine care for their clients, and The Good Skin Guru is a truly deserving winner. As a medically led aesthetics clinic, the business has built its reputation on a clear philosophy: skin health comes first. By combining advanced technology with evidence-based treatment planning, the clinic delivers results that are natural, long-term and tailored to each individual, rather than driven by trends.
What makes this win especially meaningful is the journey behind it. Built within the local community of Cockermouth, The Good Skin Guru has grown from a single practitioner’s vision into an award-winning clinic with a strong reputation for quality, trust and consistency.
A vision rooted in skin health
The Good Skin Guru was originally founded in 2018 as Cheryl Cain Aesthetics, before rebranding in 2020 to better reflect its evolving identity and focus. From the very beginning, founder Cheryl recognised something that has since become the cornerstone of the clinic’s approach: truly effective results come from prioritising skin health, not quick fixes.
That philosophy has guided every stage of the business’s growth. Rather than following passing trends or offering one-size-fits-all treatments, the clinic focuses on understanding the skin properly first. From there, tailored treatment plans are created to support long-term improvements, helping patients feel confident not just in the short term, but well into the future.
It is a thoughtful, considered approach that sets the tone for everything the clinic does, and one that clearly resonates with patients.
What makes The Good Skin Guru different
One of the defining features of The Good Skin Guru is its medically led, evidence-based approach. The clinic is led by a Nurse Practitioner with a Level 7 postgraduate qualification in aesthetics, a level of expertise that remains relatively uncommon within the industry.
This depth of knowledge ensures that every treatment and recommendation is grounded in clinical understanding, rather than guesswork or trends. Patients can feel confident that they are receiving advice and care that is based on science, experience and a genuine commitment to outcomes.
Another key strength is that the clinic operates on a full-time basis, meaning the team is fully immersed in aesthetics every single day. That consistency allows for ongoing development, a high standard of care and a strong focus on delivering the best possible results for every patient.
Alongside this, there has been significant investment in advanced, medical-grade technology, ensuring patients in the local area have access to treatments that might otherwise only be found in larger cities. Combined with the clinic’s ‘skin first’ philosophy, this creates a service that is both highly professional and deeply personalised.
Growing with purpose and ambition
One of the biggest milestones for The Good Skin Guru has been building an award-winning clinic with a strong local reputation, all while maintaining a consistently high standard of care. That balance between growth and quality is not always easy to achieve, but it is something the business has clearly prioritised.
More recently, the expansion into advanced medical-grade technology and the development of Sōma Sana, a second, integrated wellness-focused concept, has marked an exciting new chapter. This reflects a broader vision for the future, one that goes beyond traditional aesthetics and embraces a more holistic approach to wellbeing.
The next major step in that journey is the launch of a new three-storey site, where The Good Skin Guru and Sōma Sana will operate side by side. Bringing these two concepts together under one roof has been a significant undertaking, requiring careful planning, investment and a clear long-term vision.
While challenging, this process has ultimately strengthened the foundations of the business and created something far more considered and ambitious than either concept would have been independently.
Overcoming challenges with clarity and resilience
Like any growing business, The Good Skin Guru has faced its share of challenges. The development of the new three-storey site has been one of the most significant, involving complex decision-making and the coordination of multiple elements at once.
The team approached this by staying focused on the bigger picture, working step by step and surrounding themselves with the right support. That structured and thoughtful mindset has helped turn a potentially overwhelming challenge into a defining moment of growth.
Another pivotal moment came earlier in the journey, when Cheryl made the decision to step away from the NHS and commit fully to building the business. It was a significant leap, but one that allowed the clinic to evolve into what it is today, with a clear focus on delivering the highest possible standard of care and experience.
Seeing the new site come together now stands as a powerful reflection of that decision and the progress that has followed.
Changing lives through a deeper approach
At the heart of The Good Skin Guru’s work are the real stories and transformations experienced by patients. One example shared by the clinic highlights just how impactful their approach can be.
A patient who had struggled with acne for years came to the clinic after trying multiple treatments without lasting success. Rather than focusing only on surface-level solutions, the team used their SkinCTRL protocol to take a deeper, more holistic approach. This included blood testing and an exploration of wider health factors to understand what might be driving the condition.
Over time, not only did the patient’s skin improve significantly, but she also experienced wider health benefits, including better energy levels and improvements in other aspects of her wellbeing. The most powerful change, however, was in her confidence. At a review appointment, when shown her before-and-after images, she became emotional and expressed just how much the journey had meant to her.
Moments like that capture what The Good Skin Guru is really about. It is not just about appearance. It is about helping people feel better in themselves, inside and out.
Rooted in community, raising local standards
Being part of the Cockermouth community is incredibly important to The Good Skin Guru. Cheryl was born and raised locally, and the business has been built within the same area it serves. That connection brings with it a strong sense of responsibility to create a space where people feel comfortable, supported and genuinely cared for.
At the same time, there has always been a clear ambition to ensure that being based in Cumbria does not mean missing out on the level of care and innovation available elsewhere. The clinic has worked hard to bring advanced technology and wellness services into the region, allowing local people to access high-quality treatments without needing to travel to larger cities.
The business also supports the community through local initiatives and collaborations, including working with organisations such as Cockermouth School and other small businesses. It is a thoughtful, engaged approach that reflects a genuine commitment to the area.
What this award means
When The Good Skin Guru found out they had won Aesthetics Clinic of the Year, the reaction was one of surprise as well as pride. With the team focused heavily on the new site and day-to-day clinic work, it was not something they had actively pushed for, which makes the recognition feel even more special.
For the team, this award represents the hard work behind the scenes and the standards they strive to maintain every day. It is also especially meaningful because it comes from the support of their patients. It reflects trust, loyalty and the strength of the relationships built over time.
That trust is something the clinic never takes for granted. Patients are choosing to return, recommend the clinic and, in this case, vote for it. That speaks volumes about the experience they receive and the confidence they have in the team.
Looking ahead, the focus is on launching the new site successfully, continuing to invest in the right technology and team, and further developing the Sōma Sana concept. It is an exciting time for the business, with plenty more still to come.
Congratulations to The Good Skin Guru
At My Local Awards 2026 Cumbria, we are proud to celebrate businesses that combine expertise, innovation and genuine care for their clients. The Good Skin Guru is a standout example of that.
From its beginnings as a small local clinic to its position today as an award-winning, medically led practice with ambitious plans for the future, it has built something truly special. Its commitment to skin health, patient trust and long-term results sets it apart and makes this recognition richly deserved.
Congratulations to The Good Skin Guru, a highly deserving winner of Aesthetics Clinic of the Year 2026.
And finally, a message from Cheryl: “Thank you for continuing to put your trust in us and allowing us to do what we love every day. The best is still to come, and we’re so excited to share what we’ve been working on with you.”
