by Austine Mah Light and bright, fast and effective, from cosmopolitan cities to country counties, clear and even toned skin is the NOW and WOW factor that clients seek. It is the skin care professional’s business to support this aesthetic goal by promoting care and maintenance of healthy skin. How NOW can this goal be achieved, the WOW in the answer comes from excellent professional treatments and use of targeted products formulated with performance ingredients. An excellent professional treatment is learned and practiced by the skin care professional through continuing education and qualification by reputable and responsible organizations. Being dynamic and offering wow in your professional services comes from creating your personal skill set and developing yourself in the here and now. Continue to read trade magazines. Attend trade events and meetings to network with aestheticians like you, dedicated to actively participating in and staying at the top of the industry. Spend a day shadowing a dermatologist and partner with him or her if you find your philosophies and treatments are complementary. Dr. Marcia Glenn, founder and director of Odyssey MediSpa, Marina del Rey, Calif., recommends aestheticians: 1) develop a skill set, 2) keep up with the regular processes and Read More

by Preethi Burkholder A Lomi Lomi massage to the sound of the waves of the Polynesian sea; sitar music playing Raga during a soothing Shirodhara head massage; and the classical music of a Beethoven’s Symphony as you slip into a deep slumber. Music healing has been a part of human civilization for thousands of years. Many cultures have recognized the importance of music and sound as a healing power. In the ancient civilizations of India, Africa, Europe, Australian aborigines, and American Indians, the practice of using sound to heal and achieve balance from within was a central part of living. The Tibetans still use bells, chimes, bowls, and chanting as the foundation of their spiritual practices. In Bali, Indonesia, the echoing Gamelan, gong, and drum are used in ceremonies to uplift troubled feelings of people. Buddhist chants roam through the villages of Sri Lanka, drawing men and women to calm their stirred emotions through meditation. “Spa Music” has become a necessary marketing tool in day spas, salons, and resort spas throughout the country. Spa professionals have found that relaxing to the sound of music produces long reaching healing effects on their clients physically, emotionally, and spiritually. What’s more, spa music Read More

by Howard Murad, M.D. Scientists and researchers have come a long way in their efforts to understand the properties and benefits of supplements in skin care. The use of vitamins and other nutrients to hydrate, normalize, protect, heal, condition and beautify the skin appears to be the wave of both the present and the future. Clearly, the internal use of vitamins is one of the most powerful weapons in the ongoing quest for younger, healthier, more attractive-looking skin. I’ve been recommending dietary supplementation to my patients since I began my practice in 1972. While completing my Dermatology residency, I worked as a pharmacist and have always believed that nutritional supplements benefit the skin, and promote overall body health. I’ve devoted years of research in the fields of nutrition and skin health. Why?... you may ask, is a pharmacist and dermatologist recommending vitamins and supplements to his patients? Why devote so much energy and time to nutrition when the clients have acne, wrinkles and sun damage? The answer is simple – the skin is an organ. It is the body’s largest organ, and it is attached to every other cell and organ in the body. This is the foundation of any Read More

by Dr. Guy Lewis   Men are showing up at spas in far greater numbers than they used to. The International Spa Association in Lexington, Ky., states that 29 percent of spa goers are now men. Though the association did not start compiling the data until 2004, industry experts believe the number was probably in the range of 8 percent to 10 percent a decade ago. There has also been a steady erosion of men's resistance to what they once viewed as female territory, the spa.   This article will explore some basic, fundamental approaches to ensure that your spa is inviting and non-threatening from the male perspective to ensure that your establishment is capturing this expanding demographic. Read More

by Lina Kennedy If you don’t already cater your services to the men in your vicinity, or if you limit your services to haircuts, you are selling yourself short. That is to say, you are selling your business short on its potential profitability. Haven’t you noticed “for men only – hair care & more” places popping up all over North America? And, it’s fast becoming a hot commodity! So don’t wait until one pops open in your neighborhood before you realize that all those guys could be your customers! I just love it when a man knows how to take care of himself; a man who is not afraid to look good and who practices an all around good health regime. My appreciation towards a well “kept” man made it easy for me to “convince” men to try various services when I owned my day spa. And, one of the most popular was of course (for those of you who know me) sugaring hair removal services, albeit we also provided our men with manicures, pedicures, blackhead extraction using sugaring, etc. Read More

by Ameann DeJohn Most men are reasonably logical, simple, and benefit driven. Therefore, in a skin care product, they look for something with ease of use that feels good and produces results (benefits). Let me give you an example of an ideal product and description: category - after shave conditioner (not spoken of as moisturizer, by the way) - one that leaves the skin feeling soft and smooth, has a soothing, outdoorsy feel and smell, and protects the abused, freshly shaven skin from environmental trauma and sun damage (SPF 15). Ladies, there’s a different language we must learn in order to effectively communicate and satisfy men’s skin care needs. And while men are becoming more advanced in their knowledge of skin care, they still don't pay attention to what the active ingredients are, how much they cost, how long the product lasts, etc., as long as it works and they like it. Again, we need to speak in terms of benefits, not features. Read More

by Linda Bertaut Have you ever experienced a facial that provided you with new vision and helped you feel completely at peace with yourself and the world? Beyond relaxation you are free of mental chatter, emotional distress and even have more a-ha moments. If so, this is what healing the spirit feels like. We commonly refer to this as balancing body, mind, and spirit. Aestheticians can now provide products and treatments that specifically target the spirit or energy body with a category I call EnergyCeuticals. When we work to address a depleted spirit, due to a stressful lifestyle, we also help to heal emotional, mental, and physical aspects as well. The difference is rejuvenation versus relaxation. Read More

  by Maurice Stein The exact cause of acne is not known. It is one of the most common skin disorders and can affect teenagers and adults. Acne occurs when the skin's pores are blocked. Certain factors can worsen the condition, such as cosmetic and skin care products that contain oils and petroleum jelly or using make-up tools (brushes, sponges, spatulas and palettes) that have not been properly cleaned and sterilized, subsequently transferring bacteria onto the skin and into the pores. Having worked in the film and TV industry for 40 years and on some of Hollywood's most expensive faces, keeping the skin bacteria-free starts with eliminating any cross-contamination of product to skin via the tools being used. When working with someone with acne, whether moderate or severe, keeping the skin free of bacteria is extremely important, especially if the skin is inflamed or has any lesions. One vital rule is not to use the hands when applying make-up, as contamination begins when bacteria from the fingers is transferred to facial areas. It's a similar contamination when a brush is placed into a container, then used on the skin and placed back into the container. Even if only one person Read More