One of Wales’ emerging female entrepreneurs has scooped the Cosmetic Clinic of the Year title at the Welsh Hair and Beauty Awards 2015 for her innovative business Complexion Medispa.

Clare Sawkins and her team based at the clinic in Cwmbran Shopping Centre, stood out alongside six other finalists for this coveted national award.

The judges said they won because of exceptional consistent results with Intense Pulse Light, laser treatments, anti ageing and outstanding customer service. The team also showed a commitment to safe, professional practice.

This is the clinic’s third award in its short history.

Clare and husband Mark set up the business in 2012 alongside their thriving day nursery business and a commercial and residential property company.

It’s another milestone in an amazing journey for Clare, who grew up on a council estate in Newport.

Clare, who’s 44, said: “Mark and I came from working class backgrounds, everything we’ve created has come from scratch.”

Her entrepreneurial spirit emerged at an early age. She applied to be an Avon consultant at the age of just 12.

“I’ve always been fiercely independent and I needed some pocket money, so when I saw an advert for Avon reps in the South Wales Argus and I wrote to them impersonating my mother and got the job! It taught me an important life lesson - if I need something, I just have to work out how I’m going to get it.”

As soon as the box of beauty products arrived, Clare started door-to-door selling and she said the best bit of the job was finding out what people bought and why.

“I’m all about customer service and looking after people,” Clare said. “Everyone needs to be treated as an individual and that’s the ethos of all my companies.”

A few years ago, Clare was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and had to take some time out from her companies to find a better work/life balance. During that time she started researching non-invasive aesthetic treatments and this led to her launching Complexion Medispa.

She was particularly interested in non-surgical beauty treatments for busy women. Her team now supports more than 1,300 clients with a team of six running the clinic.

“We’re so overwhelmed to have won this Welsh Hair and Beauty Award. We were up against doctors, dentists and long standing skin clinics. Our consistent results and unique environment have helped us win this prestigious title.”

Clare is married to Mark and they have two boys Max (16) and Louis (12).