Isabel Carstens-roos CIDESCO

Dr. Isabel Carstens-Roos, owner of the Isa Carstens Academy, was an internationally renowned therapist, businesswoman and educationalist. She founded the Academy in the historic town of Stellenbosch in 1978.

A woman of stature and vision, she created a facility offering the best possible training in the field of Health and Skin Care therapy in South Africa. In 1978, the Isa Carstens Academy became the first South African school recognised by the Swiss-based CIDESCO (Comité International d’Esthétique et de Cosmétologie).

To ensure that the latest technology and training methods were applied at the school, she studied abroad in Vienna, France, Italy and Britain. She was invited to make presentations at CIDESCO World Congresses in 1984, 1986, 1992 and was appointed national examiner for CIDESCO in 1985, sharing her extensive knowledge and experience freely and widely.

Mrs Carstens was a founding member of the South African Institute of Health and Beauty Therapy (SAIHBTh), now called South African Association of Health and Skin Care Professionals (SAAHSP) and was president from 1990 to 1993. In 1994, she was awarded the first Mèdaile D’Esthetique for Educational Services by CIDESCO for her outstanding contribution to education. Mrs Isa Carstens passed away on 28 December 2002.

In 1993, Isabel Carstens-Roos took over as Managing Director of the Isa Carstens Academy, following in the footsteps of her mother. In 1999, the Academy was the provincial winner and a national finalist in the Old Mutual and Business Partners for Service Excellence competition. In 2007, Isabel Carstens-Roos was awarded the Medaille du Merite for high standards and professionalism by CIDESCO.