I waited until I completed the esthetics program before writing this review because I wanted to be…read moreable to reflect on my entire experience. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend L Makeup Institute's esthetics program. During my time at LMI, my class went through four different instructors.. I understand that employee turnover happens and isn't always within a school's control, but what disappointed me was the lack of a backup plan for students when an instructor wasn't available. There was a day where I spent 8.5 hours sitting at a computer playing "learning" games because we did not have an instructor. At different points, the program was so disorganized that I created my own lesson plan just to make sure I was staying on track. (Which got thrown away).
One of the most discouraging moments for me was hearing instructor #3 refer to my class as a "lost cause." As a student who was paying $15,000 out of pocket for an education and wanted to learn, hearing something like that was incredibly defeating..
I did pass my state written exam, but I genuinely believe that a huge part of my preparation came from the work I did outside of school. I spent countless hours watching YouTube videos, studying my textbook (that I bought due to lack of accommodations) & more! If I had relied solely on what I received from the program, I wouldn't have been adequately prepared for my written/practical exam.
What hurts the most is that I genuinely cared about this education. I worked extremely hard to put myself through esthetics school, and there were points during this experience where I felt so stressed, disappointed, uncomfortable, let down, and discouraged that I almost fell out of love with the beauty industry altogether. Something that was supposed to make me more excited about my career began making me question it.
I also felt that many of the concerns my classmates and I brought forward were not handled in a way that made us feel heard or supported. Eventually, I had a meeting with the owner about my experience. After everything that happened throughout the program, I walked away feeling like there was still a lack of accountability for what my class experienced.
I know I will never get the time, stress, or money I invested into this experience back. However, I do believe that I deserved a sincere apology, especially from the owner, for the stress, discouragement, and repeated letdowns we all personally experienced while attending this program. I wasn't expecting perfection. I was expecting consistency, communication, education, and support.. We barely got that..
I do want to recognize Ms. Melissa, Ms. Destinee, and Ms. Laura. They genuinely helped make my experience smoother, and I appreciate the kindness and support they showed me throughout my time there.
I am proud of myself for finishing and continuing to pursue the career I love despite this experience. My hope is that, with more graduating classes, more consistency among instructors, clearer policies and expectations, and a stronger structure for addressing student concerns, the program will improve.
If I could give prospective students one piece of advice, it would be to do your research, read both the positive and negative reviews, ask detailed questions about instructor coverage and curriculum, and understand exactly what you are paying for before enrolling.
Edit: LMI will never be able to take credit for my education. I'd like to thank YouTube and the outside resources that helped me pass both my written and practical exams. The responses from the owner and her husband speak for themselves when it comes to accountability. I made the most of my experience despite the circumstances, and I definitely learned how I won't run my own business. Thanks for the apology, LMI!
This review is not written out of hate or an attempt to hurt anyone's business. It is simply an honest reflection of my personal experience as a student.