When it comes to true client results, proper homecare is an absolute must. After all, on average, 80% of your client’s skin health is based off their homecare. Skin care professionals love to see clients regularly, whether it’s weekly or monthly, but the truth is we are only providing limited results.  

There is nothing wrong with holding clients accountable and letting them know the 80-20 rule; sometimes, this is what it takes for clients to understand that they need to take matters into their own hands, with your guidance and support of course. You will have several clients that will tell you they do have a homecare routine but still see no results, or at least not what they are hoping for. The question is whether they have the right products and are using them in the correct way.

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 a 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. 

Continuing education is essential in any industry, and aesthetics is no exception. Many aestheticians leave school feeling lost, inadequately trained, and ill-prepared to face the busy treatment room. Practice and repetition go a long way in improving skills and perfecting treatments, but for new professionals hoping to go the distance and provide outstanding treatments and service to their clients, continuing education is vital. Knowing where to start can be overwhelming with many brand choices, new technologies, and medical options. Deciphering needs from wants in terms of what education to pursue can leave a feeling of overwhelm.

Reference 

1. Bay Atlantic University. (2022, December 23). 8 types of learning styles: The definitive guide. Bay Atlantic University - Washington, D.C. https://bau.edu/blog/types-of-learning-styles/ 

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. 

The ideal skin complexion is not determined by skin tone or color but rather, the state of skin. When given its adequate necessities, such as hydration, lipids, cellular renewal, and a healthy pH, the complexion is radiant, indifferent of skin tone or color. The role of skin care professionals is to help optimize skin health while mitigating factors that compromise the integrity of skin, and thus, the complexion. 

SKIN DEEP

There is more to skin complexion than meets the eye, with both external and internal factors impacting it. Internal factors go much deeper than what is visible on the surface; complexion goes DNA deep. Unpacking the uniqueness of one’s DNA can be like finding a needle in a haystack, but gaining a more comprehensive view of intrinsic factors is not impossible. It simply takes time, education, and professional intention. To understand what unlocks skin’s brilliance, one must first learn about one significantly important cell to skin complexion: the melanocyte. 

Resource

1. Cooper, C. R. (2022). The No Compromise Black Skin Care Guide: The Gender And Teen Equity Edition. Charmaine Cooper

C.R. Cooper is a connective, knowledgeable, and compassionate educator who has been a skin enthusiast for over 24 years. As the education manager and master educator for a renowned global institute of learning in the skin health industry, Cooper values organizational and individual industry standards, professional and personal brand integrity, and, most importantly, the inherent worth in every skin care professional.

It is essential for skin care professionals to understand the unique intricacies that different Fitzpatrick skin types present so that they can confidently treat all clients who walk in the door. The United States Census Bureau projects that by 2044, 50% of the United States population will be of nonwhite descent.1 As the country continues to become more diverse, it is imperative to provide specialized care for conditions unique to their ethnic backgrounds.  

While nearly every single client has unique skin challenges, understanding the challenges of ethnic skin on a broader scale helps professionals solve some of the most common conditions and concerns confidently when treating skin of color.  

SKIN COLOR 

Skin color is a composite made up of four compounds. Hemoglobin (oxygenated blood cells), hemoglobin with non-oxygenated red blood cells, carotenoids (yellow pigment), and melanin (brown to black pigment). The melanocyte, which produces melanin, is directly responsible for skin pigment.  

A melanocyte has a mighty job; it is responsible for making melanin. The melanocyte takes the amino acid tyrosine, and through the action of an enzyme called tyrosinase, it converts to a new compound which is then made into melanin by the action of more enzymes.  

Once the melanin has been produced, the cell must form little packets called melanosomes. Melanosomes are the melanin granules that get transferred to the keratinocytes to be utilized for sun protection. Melanosomes act like little umbrellas that try to shield the body from sun exposure by producing dark spots, or pigmentation.  

References

1. Burgess, Cheryl, and Olabola Awosika. 2015. “Ethnic and Gender Considerations in the Use of Facial Injectables.” Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 136 (November): 28S31S. https://doi.org/10.1097/prs.0000000000001813.

1. News. n.d. “Multicultural Dermatology: Treating Skin, Hair and Nail Conditions in People of Color.” News. Accessed August 17, 2023. https://health.ucdavis.edu/news/headlines/multicultural-dermatology-treating-skin-hair-and-nail-conditions-in-people-of-color/2023/02.

1. ‌Love, Porcia B, and Roopal V Kundu. 2016. Clinical Cases in Skin of Color Medical, Oncological and Hair Disorders, and Cosmetic Dermatology. Cham Springer International Publishing.

1. Ludmann, Paula. 2022. “Vitiligo: Diagnosis and Treatment.” Www.aad.org. June 29, 2022. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/vitiligo-treatment.

\Michael Q. Pugliese, an informed educator, writer, and asset to the skin care industry, became the third-generation CEO of Circadia by Dr. Pugliese in 2006. His dedication and leadership to the brand has grown to achieve international recognition and distribution worldwide. This global expansion has created a skin care regime for every skin type in the world. Pugliese’s compelling lectures honor the tenets of modern skin science discovered originally by his grandfather. By following in his grandfather’s footsteps, he has been driven to deliver a clear message on skin care to all his clients and fellow educators in the industry. In addition to the success of the skin care line, Circadia also has the first physician-formulated pillowcase formulated to work in harmony with the body’s natural circadian rhythms which protect from environmental damage while focusing on skin repair during evening rest.

 Every working skin care and spa professional knows the importance of keeping current in treatment technique and business skill to stay competitive. It seems that every week there is a new skin care device and product line asking for attention, each promising a more advanced way of producing client-pleasing results. Who wants to risk falling behind when trying to keep up with an ever-expanding field of aesthetics professionals all looking for the same client? 

Consider all the options for information, education, and training: online classes and podcasts, vendor-sponsored seminars, independent trainers, and tradeshows, to name a few. Given that most professionals –whether self-employed or by a spa or salon – have limited time and resources to devote to higher learning. This is especially true when educators require travel and time away from work to participate in programs. Given all this, how do industry trade events rate when choosing how and where to invest precious financial resources? 

IT’S A MONEY THING

The first thing to understand is that tradeshows are typically for-profit businesses, and like any business that hopes to stay viable, it must make money to realize that goal. Therefore, tradeshows always stick to a model that makes sense for them first, not necessarily those who attend them. That means everything attendees might want them to, they may not prove to be. Everyone would love free entry, free classes, educational topics that best reflect their practice interests, and locality to eliminate the need for travel and time taken away from work. Unfortunately, no tradeshow can provide all those things, but, like the tradeshow itself, attendees need to regard the time and money devoted to a trade event as a business investment – one that hopefully, converts into more skill, confidence, and income over time. That calls for a smart strategy for both deciding which shows to participate in and how much time and money to spend there.

SIZING IT UP

Size does not always matter, but it can. Is a bigger tradeshow a better one? That depends on individual expectations and needs. There are several well-established events that attract thousands of attendees, each featuring a large roster of independent and vendor-sponsored classes. They will have a vast exhibit hall populated by industry-related businesses with the latest treatment products and equipment available with a dash of technical demonstrations peppered throughout the floor. There may be an event-related kickoff party where attendees can meet with fellow skin care professionals and make some new friends or valuable contacts. The larger shows are often located in major cities that make an ideal destination for combining a tax-deductible business trip with some fun tourism, such as in Las Vegas, New York City, or Miami Beach.

Smaller trade and educational events have their merits too. While not always scheduled in the most glamorous of areas (often as a way for promoters to shave costs and serve more out-of-the-way markets) they can have their own unique selling points. Frequently organized by trade associations or independent businesses, these compact shows offer a more personal, intimate professional experience in a casual setting. In such programs, it is easier to intermingle with fellow attendees and even some of the guest speakers as they are not as overwhelmed by as big of an admiring post-presentation audience as larger venues. 

Douglas Preston’s career spans over 40 years in professional aesthetics, acne treatment and training, and aesthetician career mentoring. His business articles appear in many of the top trade journals and magazines. Preston’s career growth book, “An Esthetician’s Guide to Growing A Successful Skincare Career,” is a top-seller among ambitious working skin care professionals. In 2022, Preston was inducted into DERMASCOPE Magazine’s acclaimed Academy of Legends, a coveted distinction for spa and skin care professionals who have made exceptional contributions to the growth and excellence of the aesthetics industry. Preston is the creator of the celebrated, Preston Comedone Rxtractor, a special precision tool for the removal of follicular blockages in skin, widely used by professional aestheticians throughout the world. Preston Acne Pros offers congestive acne training and acne therapist certification both online and through in-person classes. prestonacnepros.com. 

Dive into the depth of hyaluronic acid's potential. While commonly recognized as a filler or for its superb moisturizing capabilities, hyaluronic acid has more to offer, especially when its size is considered. This webinar extends beyond the traditional uses of hyaluronic acid as a mere moisturizer. It provides an opportunity for skin care professionals to explore how the size of hyaluronic acid influences its effectiveness in treating various skin disorders. Learn about the latest research findings, techniques, and strategies centered around hyaluronic acid's size-specific treatment. Attendees will expand their knowledge and skill set and ultimately enhance the quality of care provided to clients.

MEET THE PRESENTER

Mark Viktora is the visionary president of Viktoria De’’Ann Peptide Cosmeceuticals, hailing from a long line of scientists. His journey as an innovative biochemist began over 30 years ago with pioneering peptide research that held therapeutic promise for burn victims and post-operative patients. Delving deeper, Viktora discovered unique actives that nurture, repair, and rejuvenate skin cells. Through rigorous testing, he developed powerful formulations that penetrate skin effectively and safely, leading to the vast library of peptides discovered by him and the Viktoria De’Ann researchers. Today, his groundbreaking work continues, driving a revolution in cosmeceuticals.

Accountability may seem like an odd topic to toss into this month’s issue, but trust me, I have not yet fallen off my rocker! The ability to recognize your weaknesses and strengths, admit when you are wrong, and assume responsibility for your actions and decisions all roll into one defining factor – your character. Accountability is a driving force of the person that you are, but even more critical, it is the driving force of the person that you want to be.

We can all come up with a million reasons why we have not done something, cannot do something, or never will. The fact of the matter is that anything can be done, anything can be had, and everything can be accomplished. It requires individual accountability to make the decisions, put forth the effort, and take action. How do accountability and continuing education go together? To flourish and succeed, readers must never stop learning. One can never sit back on their laurels and think they know it all. Regardless of age, accomplishments, and success, there is always more to learn.

Education is the key to success. It always has been and it always will be. Be accountable for your knowledge and continued education. Take full advantage of every page of this month’s issue, even the topics that you have no interest in. You never know when a light bulb will pop on and new information will ignite you forward. Enjoy!