The Skin and Makeup Institute | Peoria, AZ
How long have you been a member of AACS? Why did you become a member?
We have been members of AACS since July of 2025. SMI became a member of AACS because we believe in holding ourselves to the highest standards in education, compliance, and accountability. AACS connects us to national best practices, educator development, and industry leadership so our programs stay current and credible. Most importantly, it ensures our students receive an education that goes beyond minimum requirements and truly prepares them for the real world.
What makes your school unique in the beauty, barber, or wellness education community?
SMI is built by an unstoppable team of strong, qualified women who rebuilt this program from the ground up, redefining excellence and putting the student experience at the center of everything we do.
Share one student success story that represents who you are.
SMI supported a student who entered our program while balancing full-time work, motherhood, and a language barrier. Through dedication and resilience, she graduated with perfect attendance and honor roll distinction and now owns a successful business that allows her both flexibility and fulfillment. This is why we strive for excellence at SMI, to empower hardworking individuals to transform their lives through education.
How does your school support and uplift your students?
SMI has spent the last few months since our change in ownership making sure that the students feel comfortable giving us feedback
What is one way your school gives back to the local community?
SMI gives back in a powerful way through our Esthetics Oncology Certification preparing students to safely treat active and in remission cancer patients while educating caregivers, nurses, and medical professionals to raise the standard of care for common skin issues across the cancer community.
What recent accomplishment or initiative are you most proud of?
What we’re most proud of is what’s coming next. After months of intentional work, we’re rolling out a completely reimagined program in January 2026, built by estheticians, for estheticians. Led by licensed professionals and experienced educators, this program fuses advanced expertise, real-world skill, and the education we always wished existed. The result? A truly epic standard of esthetics education.
Describe your school culture in one sentence.
We grow high-performing beauty professionals through expert training and unwavering standards.
Highlight a staff or faculty member who embodies excellence in education—what makes them shine?
SMI’s Lead Esthetics Educator Jenny Jay embodies excellence in education. Her passion, experience and drive to build SMI into a school like no other is a pleasure to watch. She has such an eye for processes, curriculum, and making sure that students get the most from their education. She is truly the leader our students and education staff needs.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about your school?
This isn’t admin-led education. The majority of leadership and staff are licensed estheticians or licensed educators who know the industry firsthand — and actively shape what students learn.
Is there anything else we should know about your school, your students, or your community?
SMI offers a list of continuing education classes that you won’t find at other schools like, a 56 hour makeup class taught by very qualified and practising makeup artists, Oncology certification, lash extensions, microblading, advacned chemical peel classes, and laser.
