Introducing ZAQ Zayn, the revolutionary 5-in-1 skincare device designed to transform your skincare routine. Experience the power of multiple therapies in one compact and easy-to-use device:

Red light therapy (630nm): Stimulates collagen production, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and enhances overall skin rejuvenation.
Blue light therapy (465nm): Targets acne-causing bacteria, helps clear breakouts, and reduces inflammation for a smoother complexion.
Microcurrent therapy with three-step adjustment (adjustable intensity levels: 126MA, 210MA, and 280MA): Enhances muscle tone, improves circulation, and promotes a firmer and more youthful appearance.
Optional vibration therapy 12,000 times per minute with adjustable frequency: Maximizes the effectiveness of skincare products, stimulates blood circulation, and provides a relaxing massage for improved skin health.
Magnetic heat therapy with 38-45°C temperature control: Opens up pores, allowing for deep cleansing, improved product absorption, and a more revitalized complexion.
Massage head can be rotated 90 degrees: Provides flexibility and easy access to every angle of your face for comprehensive skincare.
Ergonomic 15-degree tilt design: Ensures optimal comfort and ease of use during your skincare routine.
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Acupuncture is an ancient technique used in traditional Chinese medicine that is now a common alternative medical treatment used worldwide. According to the National Institutes of Health, acupuncture has been used in some form for at least 2,500 years. It involves inserting very fine needles into the energy meridians or pathways in the body to balance and optimize the flow of the life or energy force known as Qi. Traditional Chinese Medicine believes that disorders of the energy flow, Qi, are the root cause of illness, emotional dysfunction, and aging. 

THE MIND-BODY CONNECTION 

Acupuncture provides benefits to both the body and the mind. In addition to its use as a treatment for physical ailments, acupuncture is widely used to treat diverse mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance addiction, and insomnia. Cosmetic acupuncture also provides a host of aesthetic benefits from acne treatment to anti-aging.  

Traditional Chinese Medicine recognizes that a link exists between the mind and body that make them an integrated system. This system connects the organs in the body, the energy pathways (meridians) throughout the body, and the psychological state. Through acupuncture, the body’s energy meridians are balanced and optimized so Qi flows freely, producing better mental and physical health. 

NONRISKY BUSINESS 

A 2018 article in Psychology Today, “Acupuncture in Mental Health Care,” states that research studies suggest that conventional needle acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and computer-controlled electro-acupuncture treatments show consistent beneficial effects on depressed mood and anxiety.  

A more recent article, “Acupuncture for Psychological Disorders Caused by Chronic Pain,” published in 2021 in Frontiers in Neuroscience, explains that “acupuncture tackles the multidimensional nature of pain with fewer or no serious adverse effect.” The article goes on to state that an estimated 20.4% of adults in the United States suffer from chronic pain, with depression and anxiety being the most common psychological disorders resulting from this chronic pain. An estimated eight million Americans have used acupuncture, primarily for pain-related problems, and it has had a beneficial effect in the treatment of psychological disorders caused by the chronic pain. 

Internationally recognized aesthetic business development expert. Cheryl Whitman. is the founder and CEO of Beautiful Forever Consulting. She is a sought-after speaker and industry marketing specialist. who assists physicians and medical spas in creating new profit centers, developing profitable private label product lines, ghost writing articles and eBooks, and identifying and executing new business strategies aimed at improving their bottom line. A celebrated author, Whitman’s “Aesthetic Medical Success System,” a turnkey educational system, has assisted clients in opening or jumpstarting their current businesses. Her second book, “Beautifully Profitable, Forever Profitable,” provides solid, practical information on how to create, launch, and grow successful aesthetic medical practices and related businesses.

Though dirt may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of luxurious skin care, mud treatments have historically been a favorite in beauty rituals in many cultures throughout all corners of the world. 

Fangotherapy, the medical use of mud derived from the Italian word for mud (fango), was first introduced by the ancient Greek and Romans that would often socially bathe together in mud baths. Romanian legend tells a story of an elderly man that was blind and crippled who ended up stuck in the muddy waters of Lake Techirghiol with his donkey and later walked out of the water with his blindness and aches cured. 

Native Americans have also recorded the use of mud to sooth irritated skin. Cleopatra, beloved pharaoh of Egypt, is said to have built the world’s first spa after recognizing the mystical powers and therapeutic properties of the Dead Sea in Israel. Stories echo of her applying Dead Sea mud to her face which has claimed responsibility for her renowned youthful beauty. Queen of Sheba, King David, and King Herod the Great also acknowledged the healing powers of the Dead Sea, according to historians.

While clay is primarily used as a drying agent, mud contains more healing properties. From improving blood circulation, deep cleansing properties, removing impurities, unclogging pores, absorbing oil, exfoliating, brightening, softening, and tightening perks, mud has remained a staple in the skin care industry around the globe. 

NATURAL MUDS

Natural muds are saturated in a variety of enzymes and minerals that are essential for healthy skin and incredibly difficult to artificially simulate. Each type of mud contains unique properties specific to the geological location they originated from. Here are 10 of the most prized muds used today:

1. Dead Sea mud: The Dead Sea, located along the shores of Israel, arguably contains the world’s largest source of vital minerals that benefit skin. This dense, dark mud has high amounts of sulfur (which is reflected in the aroma), magnesium, potassium, calcium, sodium, bitumen (natural tar), and silicon. Its high mineral concentration helps sooth inflammation and remedy common skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and acne. 

1. Volcanic mud: This can be harvested from any location that has or has had a volcano, regardless of the volcanic activity. The most common harvest sources include Argentina, Hawaii, Italy, California, and Japan. The trace elements and ash found in the different locations are specific to the geography of its origin, but most all, volcanic muds offer antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits. Jeju volcanic clay from South Korea is particularly absorbent and ideal for oily skin as it smooths porous skin by drawing out excess oil.

1. Moor mud: This deep colored, plant-derived mud originated in the moorlands of Europe. Austria, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, France, and Turkey are the main locations it is found thanks to over 20,000 years of plant decomposition common in those areas. Because moor mud contains a mild astringent, it is ideal for sensitive skin types.

Amanda Azar is a published makeup artist, medical aesthetician, and body wrapper based in south Florida. She is the founder and executive artist of Azar Beauty, makeup artistry instructor at Cortiva Institute, and lead artist for NewsmaxTV, Pelican Grand’s Pure Spa, and St. Andrews Country Club. Azar has a degree in business management from Florida Atlantic University, diplomas in fashion makeup from Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry and Paramedical Aesthetics from Southeastern College, is dual licensed, and holds over 40 certifications. Azar is a member of the National Association of Professional Businesswomen, National Aesthetic Spa Network, Look Good Feel Better, and a RAW Artist alumni.

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The ocean is an abundant source of truly organic, hydrating, nourishing, and healing ingredients which are beneficial for practically every complexion. Those with aging and dry complexions with discolorations and adult acne require a healing and anti-inflammatory approach that is also hydrating and nourishing. These complexions cannot utilize drying ingredients like salicylic acid, traditionally associated with oily and acne-prone teenage skin. Instead, marine ingredients are proven to be an effective hydrating, nourishing, and anti-inflammatory alternative. 

Oceanic sponges and fermented kelp help balance skin’s microbiome when applied topically. Powdered pearls are proven to have soothing, calming, and healing effects on inflamed skin as well as nourish it with a variety of proteins. Skin care professionals are sometimes hesitant to incorporate these ingredients into acne protocols because of their concern about iodine content and its possible stimulation of thyroid function. Though extracts of marine ingredients contain trace amounts of iodine, more and more studies have proven these ingredients can be used to disinfect, increase skin regeneration, promote healing, and deliver anti-inflammatory benefits without any negative effects on acne. 

Elina Fedotova is the Founder and Chief Formulator for Elina Organics. Since 1998, Elina has created organic, seasonal, and liposome-encapsulated formulations that naturally deliver clinical results. Elina is also an award-winning cosmetic chemist, master and celebrity licensed aesthetician, and president of the Association of Holistic Skin Care Practitioners (AHSCP) which she founded in 2007. Elina handmakes her professional skin care line using small-batch production in her Michigan-based laboratory. Elina Organics’ entire product line is available online, in skin care spas, and in medical offices. Elina continues to personally offer her unique, holistic skin care treatments to clients who come to her Florida and West Michigan spas. 

Where you live in the world will determine your use of sun protection or your lack thereof. Those who live in hotter climates are sometimes more conscious of protecting their bodies from the sun’s rays, but majority of people neglect sun care for their body, especially when they don’t live in a hot climate. Living in Ireland, I have seen this regularly as our climate in the summer months can vary so much from a wintery day to beautiful sunshine in 24 hours. A common sight following a sunny spell is sunburnt skin as people think the sun in Ireland is not as strong as it would be in the Mediterranean. Regardless of location, it is imperative to protect skin from the sun’s harmful rays. 

KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE

Education is key when it comes to the sun and how it affects skin. A lot of the time people only consider ultraviolet B rays and forget about ultraviolet A rays. “Solar ultraviolet radiation cannot be seen or felt and is not related to temperature; it can pass through cloud, bounce off reflective surfaces, and is the primary cause of skin cancer.”1 There are three ultraviolet rays; ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B, and ultraviolet C. Ultraviolet C rays are blocked by the ozone layer whereas ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B reach skin.

So, what is the difference between the two? Ultraviolet A rays, also known as aging rays, penetrate the middle layer of skin and contribute to skin burning, skin cancers, and are responsible for premature aging. Ultraviolet A rays are present 365 days a year whether there is snow, rain, or shine. 

Ultraviolet B rays are known as burning rays, and they reach the outer layer of skin. They are the primary cause of sunburn and skin cancer and are predominantly stronger in warmer climates, mainly during the summer months.

Reference

1. Kenny, Anna Louise. n.d. MACED Advanced Core Knowledge of Skin.

Sarah Jane McGrath is a recognized and renowned expert aesthetician with over 16 years of experience working in spas and skin clinics in places like Ireland and Australia where she developed a passion for skin care. For the past few years, she has continued to develop her skills and knowledge in this area that added strong client testaments to her professionalism and expertise. ’McGrath’s talent and determination to excel in her field pushed her to qualify as a trainer and educator in the beauty and skin industry eight years ago, and she now tutors in Kilkenny College of Beauty and Sports Therapy.

Skin is a big deal – literally. It is the body’s largest organ; therefore, it makes sense that skin care should include the body as a whole and not just the face, neck, and décolleté. Exfoliating our bodies is an excellent way to maintain skin’s overall health and strengthen its barrier. Exfoliation is the process of removing dead epidermal skin cells, which comprise the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is made up of skin cells that form a protective layer to help with the epidermal barrier. 

Exfoliation can be done one of three ways: body scrubs, body polishes, or acid-based body exfoliators. Though these exfoliants are often grouped together, there are differences among the three methods.

BODY SCRUBS

Body scrubs are most often used to cleanse the body. These scrubs are comprised of a physical exfoliant, such as sugar, sea salt, or even coffee grounds, that physically removes dead skin cells when rubbed over skin. The physical exfoliation of a body scrub can have detoxifying benefits, including stimulating the body’s natural healing mechanisms by increasing circulation and promoting cellular regeneration – all of which leaves skin smooth, soft, and youthful.

Since the physical exfoliating agents in body scrubs are made of larger, sandy particles, scrubs can be abrasive at times and can cause inflammation and redness. Ingredients such as colloidal oatmeal, chamomile, and shea butter are great in formulations for physical scrubs because they calm and replenish moisture to skin. The frequency at which a body scrub can be used varies but is recommended as a weekly treatment always followed by a moisturizer.

BODY POLISHES

Body polishes share similar exfoliating ingredients to that of scrubs with the same purpose of buffing away dead cellular buildup from the surface of skin. Polishes are most often done in the spa setting by a professional and prior to another body treatment, such as a seaweed or mud wrap. The exfoliating benefits of a body polish help open pores in preparation for a hydrating or detoxifying treatment to maximize its benefits. While a body scrub cleanses and exfoliates skin, a body polish only exfoliates and prepares skin. It is important to note that a body scrub and a body polish may also contain ingredients that are pleasing to the senses (essential oils, fragrances, and so on) but may have adverse reactions if someone has sensitive skin. 

Lindsay Lange is a licensed aesthetician with 15 years of experience. Her passion in the aesthetics industry began with makeup artistry and expanded into skin care and full body waxing. She specializes in anti-aging and corrective treatments, as well as Brazilian waxing. Lange’s balanced approach of science and holistic-based services has garnered client trust in and out of the treatment room.

Skin care professionals routinely offer and discuss sun protection with our clients; however, formulators are restricted in their ingredient choices, and many believe we could deliver safe yet more effective options.

Sunscreens are regulated in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. As such, they must demonstrate safety and effectiveness using FDA testing methods and comply with all the requirements outlined in the FDA’s sunscreen monograph.

THE NUMBERS

The global sun care market was valued at $10.7 billion in 2020 and has a projected growth rate of 4% annually from 2021 to 2028. These numbers may have been affected by the pandemic, limited travel, and the shift to a work-from-home model. Those factors combined with limited sporting events and vacations led to a change in consumer purchasing habits. With some semblance of normalcy, figures are on the rise again.

In 2020 approximately 48% of sun care products bought were retailed through grocery stores and hypermarkets. Increasing the number of brands sold through these channels made it convenient for many consumers.

With mainstream media bringing enhanced awareness to the increasing numbers of ultraviolet-induced melanoma and other dangerous skin cancers, consumers are becoming more sun-safe savvy. However, with often conflicting information, consumers may need clarification. Data is often difficult to navigate, as well as understanding the need for frequent application; how sun protection factor ratings are measured; whether cream, spray, lotion, stick, or powder is the best form of application; and when and where to apply – not to mention the labeling of products and their ingredients. What is safe? What is safe for the environment?

THE CONSUMER ENVIRONMENT

Consumers are driving changes to the sun care market in many ways, including responding to the negative press in multiple areas of the industry. They are driving demand for healthier ingredients, extended protection, environmental safety, and are showing concern for the safety of chemical ingredients absorbed into skin. Some sunscreen ingredients, such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, have been discovered to have endocrine-disrupting potential. In a clinical trial by the FDA, twenty-four healthy volunteers applied one of four commercially available sunscreens to measure their systemic absorption. The study ran from July 2018 to August 2019. The ingredients tested were avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, and ecamsule. These ingredients resulted in plasma concentrations exceeding the FDA’s threshold.

Green-label ingredients are gaining popularity with consumers. Components free from fillers and parabens are essential to many and coral reef bleaching and erosion have sparked enough concern that ingredients deemed unsafe for the environment are being banned. This began in Australia and is spreading across the globe with Hawaii and Key West, Florida. Other countries, including Thailand, are also following suit. The main confusion with reef-safe ingredients comes in the labeling as there is currently no legal requirement and little regulation on the term reef safe.   

RULES & REGULATIONS

Sun care regulation has been under the umbrella of the FDA since the 1970s. Under pressure from various groups to improve the ingredients available and create more consumer-friendly labeling, some changes were made. In 1999, “The Final Monograph for OTC sunscreens” was suggested, but these changes were never implemented. The deemed final order was eventually enacted through the CARES ACT, passed in 2020, 21 years after it was first proposed.

On September 24th, 2021, the FDA posted their deemed final order for marketing over-the-counter sun protection products; this order contains revisions to the deemed final order and reflects FDA requirements for future sunscreen labeling and marketing of sun protection products. These revisions were initially published in 2011. In 2014 The Sunscreen Innovation Act (SIA) was established to provide an alternative process for reviewing the safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter sunscreen ingredients and expediting the process. Most of the sunscreens on the market today are considered to comply with these regulations.

The over-the-counter rule book established guidelines, such as approved active ingredients, their dosage, labeling, and testing required. Providing manufacturers work within the parameters of the over-the-counter monograph, they are not required to apply for a new drug application.

Kirsten Sheridan has a higher national diploma in beauty therapy from the United Kingdom and is a licensed aesthetician. She has 20 years of experience as an aesthetician and educator, holds a teaching qualification through City and Guilds London, and is a CIDESCO diplomat. Sheridan’s other qualifications include massage therapy, aromatherapy, reflexology, and electrology. She has a personal training qualification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), although not in active practice. In addition, she is the owner and founder of knowskin.com, an online learning hub for aestheticians. Sheridan has taught for Dermalogica, International Dermal Institute, San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology, San Jose City College, and The Dermal Sciences Institute.

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According to market research, the average American only has an eight-second span for content to grab their attention; goldfish apparently have nine. In our fast-paced modern world, we have made it almost impossible for the products and services that could change our lives to enter our psyches. When it comes to marketing, it’s survival of the fastest to convey a story in an eye-catching, emotion-evoking, and totally novel way. Unicycling while juggling five flaming balls on a tightwire comes to mind. There are strategies that can simplify the content creation process, like having an effective brand, creating a content plan, and fostering partnerships. 

UNICYCLING – HAVING EFFECTIVE BRANDING

The perfect potential client (PPG) is still the best cornerstone to build an effective brand. (By now, the term PPG should be very familiar. If not, check out March’s installment of “Owner’s Manual” to learn more about the PPG and their importance.) Understanding what sets the spa apart from all the other local spas is known as the point of difference (POD). Successfully communicating that point of difference magnetically draws in PPGs. This communication can be both verbal and nonverbal and must be expressed across all branding congruently. Look for more in-depth branding guidance by reading more in April’s installment of  “Owner’s Manual.”

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 focused on mentoring and guiding the next generation of thinking skin care professionals and spa owners.

As a full-time or even part-time waxer, it is difficult to figure out which wax you like, let alone what wax is best for your business. The selection process can be broken down into a few steps to make this process a little bit easier.

STEP ONE: CONSISTENCY

The first step is determining the consistency of wax you prefer. Wax with a creamy consistency has a warm taffy texture. Some waxers prefer the application of a cream consistency wax over a gel. One isn’t better than the other; it really comes down to personal preference. 

The other option is wax with a gel-like consistency. Several chain waxing companies use this consistency of wax, so if this is what you’re used to, this could be the option for you. Experiment with each because you might surprise yourself. Not every cream or gel wax is the same, so do your research and test out a few different brands. Setting times, consistency, and application can vary between all formulas, regardless if they fall under the same consistency category. The major difference between the two is application. 

STEP TWO: SERVICE FREQUENCY 

You need a product that is going to best service you, your clients, and your business, so you will want to select a formula that caters to these needs. Hard wax is great for Brazilians, so if you’re doing majority Brazilian services, you may naturally lean towards hard wax. If you’re an eyebrow artist, you could definitely go either way, but a lot of seasoned eyebrow artists would rather work with soft wax. If you’re doing full-body waxing, it is more time efficient and financially friendly to use a roll-on wax system. Roll-ons cut out an enormous amount of time when performing a great deal of full legs, full arms, and backs. Keeping your profit margins high is a key in running and managing a business. Finding a way that allows you to do this without jeopardizing the quality of the product is what puts you in a position to run and manage a successful business.  4

Taylor Wilson is a licensed aesthetician hailing from the DMV. She's a graduate of Von Lee International School of Esthetics, founded by the legendary Carole Walderman. She was 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 skin care professionals reach their goals, she came on board to Starpil as their brand educator.

No matter the type of clinic a solo practitioner operates, they will likely have the opportunity to provide items for retail. Most are already doing this, but many who do, aren’t such big proponents of being salesy or constantly asking for additional business. The purpose of this column is not to persuade a solo practitioner to sell items at retail in their practice. This column’s intent is to convince the solo aesthetician that it is their duty to their business, their clients, and themselves to provide retail homecare (and other relevant items) to their clientele.

At the end of the day (and at the beginning too), soloists live to serve their clientele. Adhering to industry best sanitation practices, caring for each client’s safety, and monitoring their experience in the clinic is a natural thing for most solopreneurs in the aesthetics space. If something is beneficial for a client, practitioners should make it a priority as soon as possible. Retail sales should be the solo aesthetician’s priority for a host of reasons. 

BEING A BEACON

Simply put, no matter the reason a client is visiting their spa provider, whether they are looking for skin revision, a pampering spa day, or education in caring for their skin, clients look to skin care providers for guidance and expertise. Solo practitioners who abdicate their ability to sell retail to their clients are overlooking a number of facts in this decision. 

T{/mprestriction}he client who does not have the opportunity to get their homecare from their service provider is going to purchase skin care products anyway. Why not guide them in this process so they have a proper experience and get proper products? The results a client sees in a skin revision case study are due in large part to their homecare, so a client’s purchasing homecare elsewhere will usually delay the results both parties are working toward. Clients who aren’t seeking skin revision will also have an overall better experience if there are retail products on offer. That special scent in the air, their favorite moisturizer, or whatever it is, they will have a more complete experience if they can take some of that experience home with them. 

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.