Medical-Grade Myths 

There are many misconceptions regarding the regulation of skin care products and services. Creative marketing terms only further the confusion. 

In the United States, the licensing board of each individual state regulates the scope of practice of skin care professionals. Those professionals include, but are not limited to, aestheticians, nurses, and physicians. Depending on state regulations, performing some types of skin care services may only be authorized to doctors or aestheticians working in a medical spa under a doctor’s supervision. Examples of those services are higher-strength chemical peels and lasers. In short, aestheticians, and often nurses, are limited in their scope of practice while physicians are not limited at all. In the cases where a desired service is out of the professional’s scope of practice, they may choose to work under a doctor’s supervision and give up some of their income to compensate the medical doctor, or they may be on the doctor’s payroll as an employee. However, the term medical aesthetician is not regulated either, and there are no medical aesthetician licenses.

Catherine Atzen is an innovator and trendsetter in the spa and wellness industry and was recognized by DERMASCOPE Magazine as an AIA Legend for her lifetime contributions to the field. She is credited with coining the term “day spa” and setting industry standards for high-end, clean, and effective skin care. Atzen has trained over 20,000 professionals worldwide and has had 225 articles published. She founded ATZEN which has more recently became ATZEN Superior to Organic Skin Care when she took the line to new heights by incorporating the best organic ingredients with naturally derived high-performance cosmeceuticals to truly transform one’s skin.

It is not always possible to avoid a medical malpractice claim. However, there are certain standards and procedures that every practice should have in place to minimize the risk of a claim and assist in the defense of any claim.
The key elements of every type of medical malpractice claim are that the practitioner deviated from the standard of competent care, and the deviation caused injury to the client. Or, the client did not consent to the treatment or procedure. In order to defend against malpractice claims, there are several key components to incorporate into your practice.

DELEGATION
First and foremost, all practices must know their state licensure requirements and be aware of what types of services can be offered and by whom. The degree to which the services can be delegated to an unlicensed health care provider or allied health care professional and what type of supervision is required varies by state. Therefore, it is imperative to know the specific requirements.
Any practitioner that decides to delegate a task must be able to perform the same tasks themselves. You cannot delegate a task to staff members that do not know how to perform. Delegating a task to a person who is not properly trained to perform the procedure or who is not permitted to perform the procedure can lead to a malpractice claim for negligent hiring, retention, training, or supervision.

Allyson Avila is a contribution author for the American IV Association (AIVA). AIVA is a national association for owners, operators, and providers of IV hydration therapy services offering reliable guidance about evolving industry legal requirements, regulations, and best practices. AIVA’s resources enable members to improve practices, manage risks, and develop effective compliance. Visit for more information.

Age brings about several changes to skin, including the appearance of wrinkles and other age-related blemishes, loss of elasticity, a shift in tone and texture, and more. Makeup’s adhesion to skin also evolves. So, even if you have applied your makeup the same way since college, there are a few things to be mindful of as you age. And no matter your age, these tips will help you feel confident and beautiful.

HYDRATE FIRST
A good skin care routine is vital to perfect makeup application, and the best way to maintain the look, feel, and overall health of skin as you age is to keep it well-hydrated. As you get older, skin’s ability to hold on to moisture decreases, so it is best to use a thick moisturizer before putting on makeup. It helps keep skin looking supple and prevents skin care products from clogging fine lines.
Make sure the moisturizer you choose contains elements that hydrate, revitalize, and mend skin, such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. In addition, everyone should use a moisturizer with sun protection factor, regardless of age or skin type.

Beauty scientist, Chicago native, wife, and mother, Victoria “Tori” Prince is a highly sought-after licensed aesthetician, international educator, continuing education sponsor, and the creative founder and CEO of Tori Prince Beauty, LLC and the Chicago Skin Lab. As a self-care expert, Prince wholeheartedly believes in building self-esteem by prioritizing self-care in one’s everyday lifestyle. Her favorite service to perform is customized corrective skin care treatments because it allows her to personalize each service to her clients’ needs while practicing the art of aesthetic and cosmetic science. Tori Prince Beauty provides refined products and services that transform clients’ skin and wellness from the inside out while coaching industry experts to encourage proper understanding and representation of women of color within the beauty and skin care industry.

Most people don’t sleep enough or get quality sleep. I wish I could tell you that I’m writing this article because I always get enough rest. However, the truth is, I struggle just like you. As a single mom of two tweens and a teenager, a business owner, and head of household, getting proper sleep is my biggest downfall. My goal for 2023 is to focus more on myself and sleep is a self-care must, which I am improving on. Getting enough sleep is important and lack of sleep affects overall health, so knowing how to schedule your sleep can make all the difference. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF SLEEP

Because life is so busy, you might be avoiding or putting off sleep, almost like it is an inconvenience. However, lack of rest puts the body under stress and produces cortisol. This causes a decrease in productivity because your brain needs sleep to recharge. Yet, many struggle with sleep because of an active brain. When you sleep, your organs repair themselves, which is essential for skin as it is the largest organ of the body. If you don’t get enough sleep, your organs can’t function properly, which not only leads to health problems but also accelerates the aging process. Skin care professionals are supposed to be experts at slowing down the aging process, yet most aren’t sleeping enough – the foundational rule of age management. 

References: 

1. Partial sleep deprivation linked to biological aging in older adults. American Academy of Sleep Medicine – Association for Sleep Clinicians and Researchers. (2018, March 9). Retrieved February 22, 2023, from https://aasm.org/partial-sleep-deprivation-linked-to-biological-aging-in-older-adults/

Samantha Dench is a 15-year licensed aesthetician, author, speaker, and owner of Skin Deep. Dench’s passion goes beyond treating skin to include internal health, so she can achieve healthy skin for her clients by finding the root of the problem. Dench loves to educate groups of women and share her knowledge and passion for skin through her book and speaking engagements.

The excitement of beginning and operating a business created simply from one’s love of aesthetics is the dream for many solopreneurs. Parts of this dream are exhilarating and fulfilling, like transforming a client’s skin and seeing them love the way their skin looks. Having satisfaction in one’s contribution to someone’s happiness is priceless. Other parts of solo business ownership may not be as much fun.  

An all-too-often-overlooked aspect of business ownership is insurance. There are simply too many solopreneurs risking everything because they do not know where to start in relation to insurance for their business. Each solopreneur should do the research they need, specific to their individual business. Consulting with an insurance agent is highly recommended. Business insurance policies can be much more complex than personal policies, and very few Americans actually understand their personal insurance. Prior to meeting with a professional to assess the business’s needs, the solopreneur should know some basic information about the types of insurance a business can have. There are many more insurance types than there is space for here, but this space will cover the most popular and pertinent to solopreneurs in the industry.  

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. 

Ever wonder why an individual chooses a certain brand over another similar brand, like Target over Walmart, Coke over Pepsi, or vice versa? Effective branding is usually the culprit. Branding is a term that gets bandied about everywhere in business although many do not have full comprehension of what it means or how it can influence human behavior. To pull back the smoke and mirror curtain, all branding boils down to getting super clear on the business’s “what,” “how,” and “why” – in other words, brand identity, brand personality, and brand story. Authenticity, consistency, and connection on an emotional level with the target perfect potential client (Make sure to read March’s installment of “Owner’s Manual” for the full description.) should be the goal when creating the spa’s unique brand. 

 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 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.

Fear can be one of the biggest barriers for skin care professionals (especially new ones) when considering new modalities in their treatment rooms. Other times, it is inexperience or lack of practice. Whatever it is, it is beneficial to continue to learn new techniques and modalities that will improve and enhance your clients’ experience. A lot of people want maximized results in a minimal amount of time; they want instant gratification. There are many great ways to add in a new treatment that new professionals can afford while also making it an affordable upgrade for clients. One that is very easy to use and safe for virtually any client is LED therapy. 

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.

Storytelling, marketing, and building a clientele go hand in hand. Here are some ways to create your business’s story and marketing while building your waxing clientele.

USE YOUR VOICE

Storytelling starts with your voice. What do you want people to remember you by? Your voice is your brand and a part of building up your clientele. Business is more than just clients though. It’s creating a story and an image that people want to be a part of. Are you a skin care professional focusing on speed waxing and eyebrows? Or are you a chemical peel expert focusing on skin revision? 

Your voice determines who your target market will be. Without a voice, your brand won’t stand out, and it’ll be difficult for your audience to figure out who you are, what you are, and why they need to incorporate you into their life. Think about a movie trailer – if you have absolutely no idea what it’s about after watching it, how inclined are you to really go see it? If a movie starts out too slow, do you see it through or does it take you a few times to get through it? Think of defining your voice in these ways. If your clientele has to go through too many steps to figure out who you are and the services you offer, they are more than likely going to find a waxer that has everything laid out more directly and explained clearly. 

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 a wax trainer at a European Wax center and eventually transitioned full time into her own studio, JB Skin Clinic, 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.

Spring Into Beautiful Skin: Holistic Custom Treatments to Rebalance Skin

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Now is the time that skin care professionals need to address the wide array of skin concerns their clients present at this time of year. The change to the warmer weather seasons affects all skin different. It can cause some complexions to get oilier in some areas, dryer in others, and even cause redness and breakouts. This webinar will provide extensive insights on ingredients, techniques, and treatments to rebalance and restore skin holistically, as well as different handheld modalities to customize treatments based on skin concerns.

MEET THE PRESENTER:

Lydia Sarfati

Lydia Sarfati is an international industry leader, with over 46 years of experience as a spa owner, consultant, and aesthetician. She is the founder and CEO of Repêchage, the first company to bring seaweed-based skin care treatments to the United States market, and is the President of CIDESCO Section USA, the world's major international beauty therapy association. She appears at industry trade shows, is the author of “Success at Your Fingertips: How to Succeed in the Skin Care Business,” “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.”

REGISTER NOW!

The Forbes Travel Guide, considered the global authority on luxury hospitality, has awarded Repêchage Spa Partners Aquanox Spa in Sunny Isles, and CONRAD Spa at Conrad Fort Lauderdale, Florida Four Stars in their 2023 Annual Luxury Hospitality rating, citing them as “exceptional properties, offering high levels of service and quality of facility to match.”

The Forbes Travel Guide awards exceptional properties based on assessments of service and facility. Their Star Rating system emphasizes service because “a great experience goes beyond how the surroundings look — how the visit makes you feel is what you will remember most.” It is because of this that 70% of the rating is based on service.

“As the leaders in luxury professional skin care, we are proud to be part of these award-winning service teams,” says Repêchage CEO and Founder Lydia Sarfati. “We know that one spa treatment that incorporates wellness, advice, excellence in service and real results in a luxurious yet nurturing environment can truly be life-changing, and be an experience the guest returns for again and again.”
As part of Trump International Beach Resort, Aquanox Spa is located just north of Miami in the community of Sunny Isles. The 8,000-square-foot Aquanox Spa offers six treatment rooms, with a menu, according to Forbes, “featuring everything from facials to body polishes. The hardest part of your spa day will be choosing which treatment to indulge in.”

Spa services include Repêchage’s award-winning, seaweed-based facial and body treatments. In addition, the Repêchage Wellness Program provides in-room amenities and protocols to create a 360° wellness experience for the guest from the moment they open the door.

The oceanfront CONRAD Spa at Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach “offers a menu of targeted wellness and body treatments, plus a range of beauty facials and add-on enhancements inspired by the natural coastal environment and designed around well-being journeys and healing experiences,” says Forbes. These treatments include award-winning seaweed-based treatments from Repêchage that restore and strengthen the appearance of dry, sensitive skin with natural Mastic water from the Aegean Island of Chios, Camellia Japonica Seed Oil, and other beneficial botanical ingredients.

According to Forbes, “The spa aims to inspire you to ‘achieve radiant health’ by focusing on stress relief and management techniques and ensuring a high-level of customization by Conrad-trained spa professionals.”

“My approach has always been based on a holistic approach to skin care,” says Sarfati. “Since 1980, Repêchage has been delivering the best wellness and skin care results with award-winning professional skin care in over 50 countries world-wide.”

1-800-248-SKIN (7546)  repechage.com