A BEAUTICIAN at a popular new salon has scooped first place in a prestigious skincare brand's national competition.

Rebecca McIlgorm, one of the beauticians at Zest in Barrow, has won Bio-Therapeutic's Face of the Future Before and After Photo competition.

Mrs McIlgorm's prize for winning the prestigious award will include an all expenses-paid trip to Seattle in the USA where Bio-Therapeutic's headquarters are based.

Her trip will include expert training as well as a session in the skincare brand's flagship spa.

The 38-year-old mum-of-two qualified in Beauty Therapy in 1997 and has a passion for treating mature skin with fine lines or pigmentation.

She said in a blog post after being revealed as the winner of the competition: "I’m passionate about educating people on their skin, and find that sometimes it really is just a lack of knowledge that may interfere with people reaching their goals.

"I took time off when I had children, but missed the industry so much that I could not wait to get back."

Competition entrants were tasked with submitting a series of before and after photographs showing the effect and improvement on a client's face by using Bio-Therapeutic products.

Zest, based in the former Post Office in Bowness Road, opened for business earlier this year and is the brainchild of young businesswoman Kristy Linton.

Having spent five years at respected salon Paul French, the 31-year-old former Walney School pupil took the bold step of opening a salon of her own where she works alongside beauticians, hairdressers and an apprentice.