Cosmetic Code: Natural Ingredients & Product Labels

Proper product labeling is paramount to both the product manufacturer and the consumer. Survey findings show that 61% of women were committed to reading product labels prior to their purchase of skin care products. Furthermore, 68% to 78% of women ages 18 to 54 want skin care made from natural ingredients, stimulating the need to read product labels.1 To meet this demand ethically, product manufacturers need to create product labels that comply to industry standards, as delineated by the FDA Cosmetics Labeling Guide.

Lydia Sarfati is an international industry leader, with over 46 years of experience as a spa owner, consultant, and aesthetician. She is the Founder/CEO of Repêchage, pioneers of seaweed-based  treatments, is the President of CIDESCO Section U.S.A, the world's major international beauty therapy association and a CIDESCO International Diplomate. She appears at industry trade shows, is the author of Success at Your Fingertips: How to Succeed in the Skin Care Business and The Repêchage® Book of Skincare Science & Protocols, and is a contributing author to textbooks such as The Milady Standard Esthetics: Fundamentals, Twelfth Edition, and Oncology Esthetics.

Spa owners have a lot of decisions to make regarding product inventory and management. Decisions regarding backbar and retail products can be overwhelming given the sheer magnitude of options available, and the thoughtful balance between ingredients, brand recognition, availability, efficacy, costs, and client demand is essential. Skin care specialists are expected to serve as knowledgeable client resources, providing expertise on a variety of products, lines, ingredients, and formulations. 

GROWING PAINS

Given the global growth in the skin care market, this is no easy feat. The global skin care market size was valued at $146.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $273.3 billion by 2031, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.7% from 2022 to 2031.1 Sales of skin care products grew by 13% last year in the United States, while makeup grew by only 1% in the same period. Online beauty retailers grew 24% in that time, with skin care leading the way. American women spend nearly a quarter of a million dollars on their appearance in their lifetime, new research reveals. The women surveyed, who said they routinely spend money on their appearance, spend an average of $3,756 a year (or $313 a month), which adds up to $225,360 throughout their entire lifetime (ages 18 to 78). Male respondents spend an average of $2,928 per year (or $244 a month), totaling $175,680 or about one-fourth (22%) less than women throughout their lifetime.

Lila Castellanos has focused her energies into the beauty industry for the past 19 years, specializing in skin rejuvenation. As a licensed aesthetician, she has lent her expertise to several different environments including working as a paramedical aesthetician in the medical spa field as well as in both day spa and mobile spa business models. It was through these varied experiences, along with the interactions with her loyal clientele, that she honed her passion for improving and maintaining the health and integrity of her clients’ skin. Castellanos thrives on being able to use her extensive knowledge to customize each treatment to help her clients achieve the results they are searching for. Her adaptability and versatility are equally impressive in providing antiaging facials, treating acne, and minimizing the appearance of scarring or when addressing skin conditions that arise as a result of hormonal changes. 

Licensed skin care providers understand the importance of ongoing education and staying up to date with the latest skin care trends and techniques. However, if you’re considering expanding your practice and hiring new staff, you’ll need to take your training methods to the next level. In this comprehensive guide, explore some highly effective training strategies to ensure your current and new team members excel in providing top-notch skin care services. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING

Before delving into the training methods, it’s essential to reiterate why investing in training for aesthetician staff is of paramount importance:

Taylor Wilson is a licensed aesthetician hailing from the Washington Metropolitan area. She is a graduate of Von Lee International School of Esthetics, founded by the legendary Carole Walderman. She was a wax trainer at a European Wax center and eventually transitioned into her own studio, JB Skin Clinic, full time where she provided waxing and skin revision treatments. Realizing she wanted to focus on education and helping other aestheticians reach their goals, she came on board to Starpil as their brand educator.

In a solopreneurship, the business owner must wear many hats, but maintaining the relationship with clientele is the most important hat the solopreneur can wear. With a full book of business (or even a growing one) and many other things to do, the solopreneur needs assistance in caring for their clients. 

CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. It refers to a system or software that helps businesses manage their interactions and relationships with customers and potential customers. A customer relationship management system allows the solopreneurship to store and organize client data, track client interactions, and manage sales processes. It serves as a centralized hub for client information, enabling businesses to better understand their clients, personalize interactions, and improve overall client satisfaction.

Nichelle Mosley’s passion for aesthetics was born out of a desire to help others, after failing to find help for her own acne as a young adult. Licensed in 2015, she has worked in clinics, plastic surgery practices, dermatologists’ offices, and with family practitioners. She then opened her own clinic in 2017, Queen City Beauty Group + Wellness. She focuses on integrative aesthetics and holistic solutions to clients’ skin concerns. As a member of the International Association for Applied Corneotherapy, Mosley seeks whole-person solutions, while delivering results for clients. She is also the 2019 Skin Games Age Management Champion and 2018 Skin Games Acne Finalist.

Imagine a spa, carefully nurtured over the years, radiating relaxation and wellness. It has become a part of the owner’s identity, reflecting their vision and dedication. But here’s the thing – just as a skilled artist visualizes the final brushstroke before starting a masterpiece, a savvy spa owner must also envision the endgame. Crafting an exit strategy is not about waving goodbye to a dream; it’s about ensuring a legacy thrives even when the time comes to step away. Recognizing the significance of an exit strategy in an uncertain entrepreneurial journey is both a wise move and one that can completely transform the trajectory of the business. Planning a solid exit is as essential as choosing the right essential oils for a soothing massage.

PREPARING FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER 

As the seasons change, so do the circumstances of lives and businesses, regardless of whether the spa is thriving with satisfied clients, expertly trained staff, and a well-established brand. Whether due to shifting personal priorities, new opportunities, or the desire to explore different horizons, the time may come when stepping back from the beloved spa is necessary. Just stepping away is not prudent for ensuring the spa lives on while embarking on the next chapter. Carefully considered and thoughtful navigation through the waters of transition will leave behind a legacy that continues to deliver serenity and delight to cherished clients. 

Melissa Allen has lived many lives as a dance teacher, biologist, and marketing director before becoming a successful aesthetician and spa owner. All of these former positions help to color her opinions, actions, and style. Allen’s career in aesthetics has also been far-reaching; she has been an aesthetician in the back of a salon, a solo aesthetician, a spa owner with several employees, and a global brand consultant. Allen has experienced many of the paths of aesthetics and is open, honest, and willing to share her adventures. As her time in the treatment room comes to an end, she is focusing on mentoring and guiding the next generation of thinking skin care professionals and spa owners. 

Laser hair removal services have grown in popularity over the last several years, and they are increasingly becoming the go-to standard for hair removal. LASER is an acronym for light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation. To understand how to safely perform laser, professionals must first understand how laser works. Laser treatments offer permanent hair reduction and, due to updated equipment and technology, this treatment is now available to nearly anyone. 

Laser works by utilizing pulses of light to target the pigment in hair follicles. The light energy is absorbed by areas of high pigment, melanin. Once the light energy makes contact with the hair follicle, it transfers the energy to heat energy. Over time and several treatments, this damages the follicle which then reduces and even prevents hair growth. 

Andrea Gregaydis is a licensed aesthetician and international CIDESCO diplomat. She holds multiple additional licenses as a New York state instructor and nail technician, as well as certified laser technician. Gregaydis is the lead instructor at the Aesthetic Science Institute and has over 10 years of experience as a practitioner, team coordinator, and role model for hundreds of future skin care professionals. She is contributing author to top industry trade magazines, as well as a speaker at various aesthetics conferences across the United States. She is also a CIDESCO International Examiner. 

In any successful business, there comes a time when you have to decide how to scale its capacity beyond where it is, with the aim of serving more clients. Large national chains in all industries scale their business by opening new locations, moving online, offering new services or products, acquiring their competitors, reorganizing their workforce, and so much more. Similar to large companies and multinational corporations, as a solopreneur grows their business, decisions regarding scaling are nearly inevitable. Scaling a solopreneurship looks different than scaling a larger , but the principles remain the same.   

DREAM TEAM

One of the most common routes of growth for solopreneurs is expanding the business by hiring other skin care professionals. Hiring other professionals is the most intuitive method of scaling a practice; it changes the solopreneurship and the client experience completely. In this endeavor, it is wise to make sure that the solopreneur’s market the needs the type of business the solopreneurship will become after hiring others. Pay close attention to hire only those whose values align closely with the solopreneur’s because the business owner cannot lose what makes their business unique in their market, which is very likely the close, personal attention clientele receive during their appointments. No matter the reason a client visits, the solopreneur’s main objective is to preserve or improve clients’ experience by hiring additional professionals.  

Nichelle Mosley’s passion for aesthetics was born out of a desire to help others after failing to find help for her own acne as a young adult. Licensed in 2015, she has worked in clinics, plastic surgery practices, dermatologists’ offices, and with family practitioners. Mosley then opened her own clinic in 2017, Queen City Beauty Group + Wellness. She focuses on integrative aesthetics and holistic solutions to clients’ skin concerns. As a member of the International Association for Applied Corneotherapy, Mosley seeks whole-person solutions while delivering results for clients. She is also the 2019 Skin Games Age Management Champion and 2018 Skin Games Acne Finalist.  

In the ever-evolving landscape of the spa industry, assembling a team of talented individuals is like embarking on a quest for the holy grail of success. The right team members possess the ability to create a magical client experience, cultivate a harmonious work environment, and propel the spa toward unprecedented heights. Yet, amidst this noble pursuit, there are instances when the hiring process takes an unexpected turn, leading to obstacles and setbacks. So, let’s embark on a journey through the treacherous terrain of hiring in the spa industry, unearthing common pitfalls and illuminating the path to triumph.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS

During the hiring process in the spa industry, most encounter the problem of an inadequate job description. This leads the hiring process astray and hinders the quest for the ideal team member. When the job requirements, responsibilities, and expectations are shrouded in ambiguity, the call for qualified candidates goes unanswered. To conquer this challenge, wise spa owners and managers must craft detailed job descriptions that serve as beacons of guidance. These comprehensive descriptions not only unveil the true nature of the position but also shed light on the spa’s unique culture. By charting a clear path and setting crystal-clear expectations, the spa can forge an unbreakable bond between the candidate’s skills and the spa’s deepest needs. 

Melissa Allen has lived many lives as a dance teacher, biologist, and marketing director before becoming a successful aesthetician and spa owner. All of these former positions helped color her opinions, actions, and style. Allen’s career in aesthetics has also been far-reaching; she has been an aesthetician in the back of a salon, a solo aesthetician, a spa owner with several employees, and a global brand consultant. Allen has experienced many of the paths of aesthetics and is open, honest, and willing to share her adventures. As her time in the treatment room comes to an end, she is focusing on mentoring and guiding the next generation of thinking skin care professionals and spa owners. 

Speed waxing is all about technique; it is when you can lay multiple strips at once to finish a particular waxing service in a shorter amount of time. To provide a quality service, it is important to go over some speed waxing techniques to boost your business. 

PICK YOUR POISON

Select a quality wax that you are comfortable and confident working with. For speed waxing, a formula that has a slightly longer setting time is beneficial. Because you’re going to be laying multiple strips at a time, it’s important that it doesn’t set too quickly – if it does, it’s going to break and crack upon removal because it set for too long. If the formula you’re currently using has a lay and remove setting time, an alternate formula for speed waxing is recommended, especially for larger areas and Brazilian services.   

Taylor Wilson is a licensed aesthetician hailing from the Washington Metropolitan area. She’s a graduate of Von Lee International School of Esthetics, founded by the legendary Carole Walderman. She was a wax trainer at a European Wax center and eventually transitioned into her own studio, JB Skin Clinic full time where she provided waxing and skin revision treatments. Realizing she wanted to focus on education and helping other aestheticians reach their goals, she came on board to Starpil as their brand educator.

Hyperpigmentation takes much longer to address than most other skin issues, but approaching treatment from a holistic base can ensure long-term success, not necessarily perfection. This mindset can take some getting used to for most. Mostly due to society’s unattainable beauty standards made popular by media consumption, it should be said that healthy skin does not equal flawless skin.  

“Holistic” is an ambiguous term used as a part of a shift in consciousness to return to nature. However, a holistic aesthetics practice is much more than “natural” products. A holistic approach looks at the whole being working together to support harmony and homeostasis. In the treatment room, it can include symptom management with ingredients that work to support the entire body but generally address the root cause of an imbalance. Often, products with specific ingredients (or without particular ingredients) are chosen to avoid other disruptions elsewhere. In addition, holism generally implies a look at how all the other systems in the body affect skin, even emotional and energetic effects.

Emily Davis is the founder of Stratum Aesthetics, a veteran aesthetician, holistic health connoisseur, and budding herbalist. She has spent the last 15 years as both an educator in the aesthetics industry and her private practice, creating unique facial experiences that support the mind, body, and spirit of her clients. She integrates plant medicine, nutrition, old-world holistic spa techniques, and modern modalities to stimulate the body's natural ability to heal and thrive. Davis has a long-standing passion for health, wellness, and skin care. She is thrilled to intersect that passion with her love for plant medicine.