As skin care professionals, we are familiar with the signs of aging skin: loss of elasticity, discolorations, fine lines, and wrinkles. And we know these signs are directly related to oxidative and emotional stress, as well as inflammation and glycation. To combat these instigators, formulators are continuously looking for more effective ingredients for their anti-aging formulations. Botanical ingredients play an important role in corrective skin care formulations because they deliver vital organic nutrients to skin cells in a form that is friendly and recognizable to the body. Organic skin care product formulators often use whole plant extracts. Studies show that whole plant extracts deliver visible results without being highly concentrated. Read More

Aging remains a mystery to science. Indeed, many scientists do not believe that aging is natural or an inevitable consequence of living. Many repair systems exist in the body to correct molecular defects. For many years, it was thought that mitochondria did not have a repair system, but is now known that it has the same repair system as nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules. Read More

How many times have you waited in line at the grocery store and chatted with the stranger near you? When observing someone for the first time or even when meeting a friend after many years, we cannot help but notice their face and overall appearance. Subconsciously, we also may guess his or her age based on our observations. Chronological age and actual appearance can be deceiving. As skin care professionals, we strive to help our clients maintain their youthful appearance using anti-aging protocols. As aestheticians, we can be easily overwhelmed by media advertisements and topics on anti-aging. What does this term really mean? Read More

Having an understanding of how hormones affect the skin can help licensed practitioners assess the causes of some skin conditions and should be included in dialog during the initial consultation. Discussing the effects of hormones during the consultation will help give the client a clearer picture to some causes of their skin concerns. Read More

Hormones are critical chemical messengers that regulate the majority of all necessary functions within the human body. In individuals of all ethnicities, hormone fluctuations can be the cause of some unpleasant and frustrating skin challenges, including hyperpigmentation. This is especially true for individuals of mixed heritage or ethnicities who naturally have a more reactive pigmentation response. By understanding the best ways to identify patients who may be at risk of hormonally induced pigmentation and comprehending the detailed process by which this pigment deposit occurs, the skin care professional can effectively treat their ethnic clients who are fighting this frustrating condition. Read More

Hormones are signaling chemicals released by cells within an organism that lead to a wide variety of reactions. They are transported from a cell (or gland) to tissues nearby, or carried to another part of the body through the blood stream to interact with a specific receptor. There are different types of hormones and their internal actions often lead to outward effects in the skin. Although hormonal fluctuations can cause skin challenges, there are many effective treatment pathways that can mitigate these common issues. Understanding the positive and negative actions of a variety of hormones and how they affect men and women differently throughout their lives can help skin care professionals develop targeted treatment plans for all of their clients. Read More

Climacteric skin relates to long-term cosmetic changes that occur due to a lack of estrogen relating to biological, histological and clinical measures of consequences directly related to hormones that are linked to menopause. Climacteric skin is one of the greatest challenges faced by aestheticians; therefore, specific considerations should be undertaken as a whole health approach. This would include skin and/or body treatments, nutritional guidance, physical conditioning, and possible alternative hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with appropriate insight. Read More

People of all ages are actively seeking solutions to help them maintain healthy, youthful skin. Today’s media delivers an overwhelming quantity of aspirational imagery of young, happy and healthy men and women. These visuals, along with the copious amount of information about anti-aging products and ingredients available to consumers, have driven down the age at which people seek out products and treatments to mitigate visible aging. Many clients, however, are largely unaware of both the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to aging skin and how skin care professionals can guide them to the best product and treatment recommendations. Read More

The 101 of AgingAging is a 24/7 biological process that results in cellular wear and tear and cell senescence, eventually lapsing into decreased viability and then eventual cell death. This unavoidable, redundant aging syndrome is also affected by a pre-programmed genetic agenda (intrinsic) superimposed on cumulative environmental (extrinsic) and endogenous insults that take place throughout the cellular organism’s lifespan. Chronological skin aging comprises unwanted changes in the skin that occur as a result of a passage of time and, in part, as the consequence of cumulative damage from continuous formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during oxidative cellular metabolism. Despite inherent cellular antioxidant defense systems, generated ROS damages several cellular constituents including membranes, enzymes and DNA. Read More

Women, and now more men, consult with aesthetics professionals for a variety of different reasons. Some come with specific skin issues like sun damage, rosacea or acne, while others come more for the relaxing and pampering aspect of aesthetic services. Others come to the spa and receive facial treatments and purchase professional products in an effort to not only maintain healthy skin, but also to prevent premature aging and future damage. This last group of clients presents a well of opportunities for long-term relationship building and client retention, as well as for new prevention-oriented services. Read More