Picture it – a well-known organization has launched a new perfume to raise money for breast cancer. Many people who have had a loved one battle cancer would not bat an eye at purchasing this perfume for a great cause. Come to find out, the first six ingredients of the perfume are known cancer-causing ingredients. Everyone from doctors to nurses to cancer patients themselves have fallen prey to beauty companies’ efforts to sell products or raise money for cancer or cancer research but formulate with cancer-causing ingredients or ingredients that can interfere with cancer treatment. This is an example called pinkwashing – an ode to the pink ribbon synonymous with breast cancer – and surprisingly, most of the harmful ingredients being applied every day through personal care products are completely lawful.

UNREGULATED GOODS 

The United States skin care industry is one of the least regulated industries. There is little legal protection from people putting harmful chemicals on their bodies. There are 100,000 ingredients in the beauty industry and only 10% have been checked for safety. For example, fragrance listed on a product can mean up to 100 additional chemicals, but the FDA protects the company from listing them because these ingredients are considered a “trade secret.”  

For the development of healthy, functional skin, the hormones, melatonin and cortisol are critical, but how can skin care professionals detect when they go off course? What skin issues are brought on by excessive cortisol levels or a melatonin deficiency? It is important to understand the essential functions of cortisol and melatonin to provide insight into healthy functioning skin. 

References

1. Kresser, C. (2019, October 10). What really causes oxidative damage?. Kresser Institute. https://kresserinstitute.com/what-really-causes-oxidative-damage/ 

1. Tarocco, A., Caroccia, N., Morciano, G., Wieckowski, M. R., Ancora, G., Garani, G., & Pinton, P. (2019). Melatonin as a master regulator of cell death and inflammation: Molecular mechanisms and clinical implications for newborn care. Cell Death & Disease, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-019-1556-7 

1. Reiter, R., Tan, D., Rosales-Corral, S., Galano, A., Zhou, X., & Xu, B. (2018). Mitochondria: Central organelles for melatonin′s antioxidant and anti-aging actions. Molecules, 23(2), 509. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23020509 

1. Kauppila, T. E. S., Kauppila, J. H. K., & Larsson, N.-G. (2017). Mammalian mitochondria and aging: An update. Cell Metabolism, 25(1), 57–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2016.09.017 

1. Poljšak, B., & Dahmane, R. (2012). Free radicals and extrinsic skin aging. Dermatology Research and Practice, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/135206 

1. Silva, S. A., Michniak-Kohn, B., & Leonardi, G. R. (2017). An overview about oxidation in clinical practice of skin aging. Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 92(3), 367–374. https://doi.org/10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175481 

1. Poljšak, Borut & Dahmane, Raja & Godic, Aleksandar. (2012). Intrinsic skin aging: The role of oxidative stress. Acta dermatovenerologica Alpina, Panonica, et Adriatica. 2012;21:1-4. 1-4. 10.2478/v10162-012-0012-5. 

1. Reiter, R. J., Tan, D. X., Kim, S. J., & Cruz, M. H. (2014). Delivery of pineal melatonin to the brain and SCN: Role of Canaliculi, cerebrospinal fluid, tanycytes and Virchow–Robin Perivascular Spaces. Brain Structure and Function, 219(6), 1873–1887. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-014-0719-7 

People have control over precious little in their lives. For the majority of the day, the mind is running the show – making endless to-do lists and shifting focus in a million different directions, replaying conversations from the past and projecting potential scenarios of the future. This cannot be soothing for the soul. The good news is there are three simple, soul-sustaining secrets that can allow one to navigate life with grace and a smile (for the most part). 

AWARENESS

By nature, humans are programmed to be thinking machines, dissecting everything from wake to sleep. The mind is constantly churning out thoughts like “get ready for work,” “make breakfast,” “send appointment reminders,” “wake up kids,” and the list goes on and on.

I am not sure there is anyone else in the industry that uses the term, “age reversal” because it has not been the goal of most formulators and brands. While there are promising studies for future medical strategies to reverse aging, the skin care industry has been focused on slowing aging and making people look less old. Is there hope for more? 

Yes. As it relates to skin, aging can be defined as a loss of collagen and elastin, a loss of circulation and nutrients, and an increase in wounds that leave skin with hypopigmentation, hyperpigmentation, or chronic redness. Many companies offer products that temporarily lighten redness or pigmentation, but the goal should be to heal and reconstruct skin. How is that done?  First, use ingredients that rebuild lost circulation. They exist – chlorella, niacinamide, retinaldehyde, and growth factors to name a few.

Aging can be proactive but inevitable. Skin changes over time. Some of these changes can be quite intense and affect not just skin but also mental health and well-being. For example, a teenager with severe acne may feel self-conscious and lack confidence due to their skin condition. A person in their 40’s who has developed deep wrinkles from improper skin care and sun exposure can resent their older appearance. From birth to final breath, it is imperative to provide skin with the proper products to meet its changing needs.

Education is an important factor for the longevity of a skin care professional’s career and ensures not only safety compliance but also ethical standards and the understanding of current industry trends. Skin care professionals must remain humble, with a true willingness to learn and absorb more information at all times as the industry is constantly evolving and changing. Professionals must focus on three categories of education investment: quality and compliance, investing in yourself, and credentials. 

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Courtney Sykes is the chief administrative officer of Southeastern Esthetics Institute and is a licensed aesthetics instructor in South Carolina. Sykes is also the creator of Courtney Sykes Molecular Anit-Aging, a clinical skin care line for consumers and professionals. Her passion lies in creating real change in the aesthetics industry, assisting her students to obtain gainful employment, and making a difference in the lives of their clients. Sykes specializes in a science-based approach to skin health and education. Her primary focus is chemical peels, laser treatments, eyelash extensions, micropigmentation, and cosmetic lasers. Her background in medical spa management has led her to nationally accredit the largest licensed aesthetics school in South Carolina – Southeastern Esthetics Institute. 

Social media can be overwhelming, exhausting, and disheartening at times. It can feel like a necessary evil for business owners and industry specialists with constant pressure to set yourself apart from competition and show up perfectly manicured for viewers. 

Social media may or may not be for everyone, but it is a free and powerful tool if you know how to utilize it in ways that won’t kill your spirit. It can be difficult to master the art of online sales through social media, but with a few simplified tips and tricks, the path to success is much easier. 

Tiffanie Orr has owned and operated her own skin care business for eleven years. She has successfully grown her business from a one aesthetician show to a thriving multiple six-figure operation. She has a team of nine amazing women in a small and rural town of only 3,500 people. She is proudly partnered with Éminence Organic Skin Care and Herbal Skin Solutions and is an educator and coach for beauty and skin care professionals through her sister company, Sweet Cheeks University (@sweetcheeksuniversity). Orr deeply wants to impact the lives of women through her work, and she especially wants to impact women who want to serve others as aestheticians as well as the women who depend on them. Orr is a mom to three beautiful children and resides in Salmon, Idaho. Follow her at @sweetcheekswaxingskincare. 

Though rosacea is already a challenging skin condition for skin care professionals to correctly identify and treat, even more difficulty arises when working with deeper skin tones, particularly those whose skin falls between a Fitzpatrick Scale IV through VI. Despite the estimation that over 40 million people of color suffer from rosacea,1 the challenge of diagnosing the condition is due, in part, to the fact that spotting early symptoms, like redness, flushing, and broken capillaries throughout the cheeks and chin, is more difficult in deeper skin tones.

PLAYING DETECTIVE

If this many people of color are estimated to be suffering from rosacea, how else can skin care professionals meet the need to recognize and diagnose it in deep skin tones if not by these common early symptoms? There are some additional signs that may point to rosacea and also happen to be easier to spot on darker skin tones. 

Brian Goodwin is an award-winning International Educator for Éminence Organic Skin Care. As a master medical aesthetician, master herbalist, and consultant, Goodwin leverages over 10 years of spa industry experience to bring fun, engaging education to spa professionals around the world. Voted‘Favorite Brand Educator’ in DERMASCOPE’s 2019 Aestheticians' Choice Awards, Goodwin delivers influential trainings which continue to raise the bar for professional education and garner worldwide peer recognition. Goodwin embraces every opportunity to share his passion and guide industry professionals on their path to success. He has educated and consulted to more than 2,000 distinguished spas and has notably been invited to deliver keynotes at major industry events across North America.  

The day after The 2023 Skin Games’ award ceremony another competitor asked me, “How did you prepare for The Skin Games?” So many events and people ran through my mind as I tried to find the perfect answer. I stood there in silence reflecting on my experience. 

ONE DAY

When I was 12 years old, I knew I wanted to own a business. I had never stepped foot into a spa or had a facial, but I had a vision that I would one day own a spa. I imagined fish tanks embedded along a wall and Sade playing through the speakers. I made up business names like “Dom’s Makeover Salon” and “Endorphins Spa.” I had almost forgotten those silly memories until 17 years later when I decided that it was finally time to start a business. As I researched trades, I stumbled upon esthetics, and that’s when I remembered. 

Three days after graduating from a master aesthetician course, I had surgery on my left arm and wrist. I was going to be in a cast for the following three months. I was out of a hand, but I wasn’t out of hope. I went to the program’s assistant dean and asked if they were hiring. For the next four years I worked at the school, eventually becoming a licensed esthetician instructor and CIDESCO Diploma Holder. I also worked at numerous spas, treating skin in holistic, medical, and traditional spa environments.

Six months after opening Brave Skin Remedy, I was scrolling through social media. I came across The Skin Games, professional skin care’s most prestigious competition and awards show. When I was an aesthetics student, I told myself, “One day I’ll compete in The Skin Games.” The thought was daunting, but I felt ready to demonstrate my unique approach to treating skin.

IN THE GAME

Over the span of four months, I treated three models for different categories: pigmentation, antiaging, and holistic. Each model required an eight-week case study which included weekly video updates, SOAP notes, and before and after photos. When the top 10 finalists for each category was announced, I knew that my strategy of quality over quantity had worked. Finalists were invited to the official four-day Skin Games live event where the judges interviewed the finalists in person. The following night they would announce the winners.

I had never won an award before that event. I didn’t grow up playing sports or participate in any form of competition. I knew in my heart that I was leaving with an award, but I didn’t expect to leave as the Aesthetician of the Year! When my name was called, my excitement shifted to genuine surprise. The judges greeted me on the stage with smiles and hugs. “You deserve it” was whispered in my ear before I was handed a crystal trophy. Then, a generous cash prize was presented to me on a jumbo check as the crowd cheered. I gathered my bearings and stood in front the podium to give my award speech. It’s all a blur now, but the most important statement I remember making was, “As aestheticians, we are stronger together than we are apart.”

So, how did I prepare for The Skin Games? I prioritized quality over quantity. I applied my unique work background and esthetics training. I poured my heart into each treatment, refining my SOAP Notes, and gaining confidence along the way. I showcased my unique perspective and displayed confidence during my interviews. But ultimately, believing in myself is how I prepared for The Skin Games.

Finding a place within competitive markets is one of the biggest challenges any business faces. This can be a monumental difficulty even for businesses with marketing teams and ad budgets. With businesses being created and shuttered nearly constantly, how can solo professionals find their market within their local aesthetics economy? Finding one’s place in the aesthetics industry involves understanding your target market, tailoring your offerings, and effectively communicating your value proposition. 

PERFECT MATCH

The solopreneur should attempt to define their ideal client profile by considering demographic factors, psychographic characteristics, and specific needs or pain points their clientele visit them for. Once a solopreneur knows who they are wanting to serve and how to serve them, the focus should then shift to clearly articulating the unique value the solopreneurship brings to its clientele. Special care should be taken to address how client problems are addressed, how their needs are fulfilled, or their experience compared to local competitors. In a market full of unique businesses, differentiation of one’s offerings is vital for the business’s future. Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or your website. Positive reviews build trust and serve as social proof, helping potential clients choose the businesses services. 

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.