When it comes to body care, there are a plethora of options to choose from. Whether you are in the market for natural, synthetic, or a mixture of both, there are ingredients that should be avoided to maintain the integrity of clients’ skin. There are many chemical compounds that make up body care. Common ingredients can be broken down into categories, both natural and synthetic. There are natural and synthetic actives to avoid or use in small quantities to achieve smooth, supple, and hydrated skin that professionals and their clients are looking for.

Ashley Deckard has been a licensed, practicing aesthetician in sunny Denver, Colorado since 2013. While gaining experience in the industry, she realized there was something special about holistic skin care treatments. Deckard’s love of working with the body’s natural intelligence to heal itself led her to working with CBD. Education is at the heart of what she does; the last five years of her career have been dedicated to developing future industry professionals. Her passion lies in providing space for individuals to unwind, renew, and tune in. In addition to her practice, Deckard is the assistant director of education for Color Up CBD.

Many clients are afraid of getting botulinum toxin treatments because of common myths. They may believe that antiwrinkle injections will freeze their facial expressions (leaving them unable to lift their eyebrows naturally), neurotoxin injections are extremely painful, or if they stop receiving injections, their face may look more wrinkled than before they started. These myths have been debunked time and again.

What is rarely acknowledged is that even clients who choose to get botulinum toxin treatments often harbor misunderstandings about it. Therefore, it is an injector’s responsibility and even moral duty to ensure that their clients fully understand the treatments they give them, so they can make fully informed choices about their own faces, skin, and bodies. This is also in a medical spa’s interests, as they can prevent their clients from feeling disappointment, unhappiness, and even anger down the road.

There are two popular misunderstandings about injectable neurotoxins from clients who are new to injectable treatments and more seasoned aesthetic clients as well. They both have the common theme of expecting too much from these treatments.

Dr. Moses established Parfaire in 2015 to deliver world-class quality cosmetic treatments synonymous with Beverly Hills, California to the San Gabriel Valley and Southern California at affordable prices. Prior to entering the beauty world, she earned a master’s degree in biochemistry from the Colorado School of Mines where she graduated second in her class with honors. Dr. Moses received her medical degree and completed her residency training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She graduated with honors and was awarded the prestigious Janet M. Glasgow Award for being the top student in her class and was recognized as an outstanding woman at the threshold of her medical career. Dr. Moses served as an American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) physician in one of the nation’s top hospitals for more than a decade.

Diane Von Furstenberg once said, “I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I always knew the woman I wanted to be.” However, for me the woman I wanted to be was a dermatologist. Not just any dermatologist, I wanted to be a holistic dermatologist so I could integrate my love of nature with the human body. Dermatology proved to be the vessel where I could bring healing through skin care.

On my medical journey, I discovered that there is a path for students to become a holistic healthcare provider, which took me to the Pacific College of Health and Science (PCHS). Before arriving there, I traversed many other medical programs where I learned that healthcare is best approached when all medical disciplines are involved. In other words, people need both aspects of eastern and western medicine to heal. To implement those values in my future practice, I gravitated towards Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which includes the field of acupuncture.

With October comes the long-anticipated arrival of Halloween. Make sure clients stay away from toxic ingredients found in mainstream Halloween makeup by recommending safe, mineral powder-based products. Additionally, learn the steps to a boo-utiful candy corn eye look using products like these. (Must be logged in and hold an active AIA membership to view video below.)

Even though it does not require much to rejuvenate, professionals in the skin care industry may be too busy with giving that they forget to take care of themselves. Finding a podcast to listen to while commuting, attending to chores, or just resting is one way a professional can care for themselves this month. (Must be logged in and hold an active AIA membership to view video below.)

One of the most important hires a spa owner will make is the position of receptionist. From booking appointments and greeting clients as they walk through the door to managing inventory or assisting management, a spa’s front staff plays a big role in the day-to-day tasks. However, what exactly should be expected from a receptionist? No matter the size or needs of a spa, there are basic expectations everyone should have.

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Lina Kennedy is the president and CEO of Alexandria Professional, a worldwide leader in body sugaring epilation and skin conditioning. Kennedy is the pioneer of professional body sugaring and master trainer of professionals and distributors in more than 30 countries. As a beauty industry innovator, Kennedy has developed a full line of all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free skin care products and treatments that are safe and effective for all hair and skin types. Kennedy is dedicated to ensuring that each professional trained in body sugaring learns and understands the exceptional results they and their clients can achieve through the Kennedy Theory. She is a motivational speaker, the author of numerous articles in beauty magazines, and a multi-patent holder.

Internet Inspiration: Creating the Ultimate Digital Presence 

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For many business owners, once their website created, the next logical step may seem to frequently post on social media and work on the business' search engine optimization. However, many aesthetic practices and spas do not align their digital strategy in a growth-oriented way, which delivers disappointing results and an overextension of a marketing budget. The webinar will discuss how to avoid common mistakes and resolve existing issues, transforming and immediately impacting a spa business. Learn the most effective ways of building a digital strategy and give new insights and ways to approach online marketing. 

MEET THE PRESENTER- Michael Antosy

Michael Antosy is a practice growth consultant at Advice Media. He has consulted with thousands of aesthetic practices since 2010, and his counsel and guidance have been transformative in making his client's lives better by saving them time, earning more profit, and helping to make his practices more competitive in their markets. Antosy has also spoken at The Aesthetic Show, American Brazilian Aesthetic Meeting, California Cosmetic Surgery, and many other medical conferences.

Client success comes down to not only their commitment, but the expertise of their professional. Acne can be a difficult skin condition to get under control even for licensed professionals, especially when you have not been able to dedicate time to studying it. Clients are becoming increasingly savvy about their own skin and acne, but they are not always looking in the right places. Many take to social media platforms like Tik Tok to get skincare advice from influencers who are using a plethora of different products and prescriptions that they claim helped clear their skin. As we know, influencers are just that: influential. If clients see this kind of content, they may believe that those products will clear their skin too.
The key is to educate yourself and your clients on what acne really is and how we, as licensed skincare professionals, can help them manage their acne long-term. The real reason your clients have acne is a process called Retention Hyperkeratosis. A normal, healthy pore sheds about one layer of dead skin cells per day, the body has no difficulty keeping up with that rate of skin cell shedding. When someone is suffering from Retention Hyperkeratosis, their pores are shedding five times the normal rate and the body cannot keep up. This excess shedding of skin cells coupled with the oily, waxy nature of sebum creates the microcomedone, the beginning of all acne lesions.
There are certainly exacerbating factors that can influence Retention Hyperkeratosis and breakouts. Main factors include an inflammatory diet, hormone fluctuations, and pore clogging ingredients. Lessening the effect of these exacerbating factors through conscious lifestyle changes is extremely helpful for those who experience acne, but the cause of acne itself is unavoidable. Retention Hyperkeratosis is a hereditary disorder of the pore so regardless of lifestyle, microcomedones will continue to form.
Now that we know that Retention Hyperkeratosis is the culprit behind acne, let’s discuss how to control it. Acne cannot be cured, so we must educate our clients on their skincare routine and lifestyle choices so that they can continue to keep their acne in check. One very tried and true ingredient for this is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl Peroxide acts as a preventative product in an acne home care regimen. It oxygenates the pore, killing any bacteria present and exfoliates away that build-up of dead skin cells. Essentially, it halts the formation of the microcomedone. As great as benzoyl peroxide is, it cannot do it all alone.
Another amazing acne-fighting ingredient is l-mandelic acid. This alpha hydroxy acid is anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, exfoliating, and brightening. Not only will this help to heal and improve acne, but it can also be used to combat acne imposters such as Malasezzia Folliculitis. Together, l-mandelic acid and benzoyl peroxide help to prevent, correct, and soothe acne prone skin. When working with active ingredients such as these, it is also extremely important that clients are properly hydrating and moisturizing their skin. An impaired barrier can lead to breakouts and unnecessary discomfort.
Many times, when clients are treating their acne with harsh OTC products, they are trying to “dry out” their acne lesions thinking this will clear their skin—which is the opposite of what anyone should do with acne. Treating acne is about creating balance that is lacking in the skin. Ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and l-mandelic acid should not be used without accompanying hydrators and moisturizers. Our skin barrier requires a balance of oil and water to remain healthy and to function properly so it can protect us from pollutants, irritants, and so on. When the barrier is impaired, it can lead to skin conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis.
Favorable hydrating and moisturizing ingredients to incorporate around these active products are hyaluronic acid, beta-glucan, glycerin, and allantoin. Antioxidants are also important for acne-prone clients, especially if treated with benzoyl peroxide because it is an oxidative product. Green tea extract, syringa vulgaris (lilac stem cells), gluconolactone, and mushroom extract are among the most helpful. All these ingredients can be found in the form of serums, gels, creams, etc.
Whether you have been licensed for years or are just graduating from your esthetics program, continuing education will always be important for your career. Treating acne is not a one size fits all process and it takes dedication, from us and our clients. There is so much to learn about acne and how to treat it, more than what can be shared in esthetic school curriculum. If you are interested in helping those dealing with acne, find a credible source to provide that knowledge and training for you.

Alex Hernandez, LE Education Manager of Face Reality Skincare
Face Reality Skincare

The Science Behind Peptides: Their Role in Skin Health

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Join the leading peptide company for advanced education opportunities that teach the science behind peptides and their role in skin health. Become a certified-Viktoria DéAnn skin care professional to access a grand opening special that is unmatched in the industry and available only to licensed skin care and medical professionals. Engage with Viktoria DéAnn’s elite educators to become a leading expert on the BioActiv Peptide difference and visit their page for links to educational classes, articles, and upcoming events.

Susan Wade

Susan Wade joined Viktoria DéAnn in 2015 as the director of education and sales after working in the health and education industry for over 30 years. She holds a Masters in Higher Education, is a licensed aesthetician, and is currently completing her license in functional medicine. Wade taught kinesiology courses for 12 years at Boise State University along with owning and operating a sports training business that worked closely with physicians, physical therapists, faculty members, and athletes. Her passion lies in learning about the complexities of physiology, nutrition, and cellular functions coupled with peptide science. Wade enjoys sharing her knowledge in a simple and applicable format. 

Kathy Terry

Kathy Terry has been active in the cosmetology and aesthetics industry for more than 40 years. She has been an educator for numerous industry leaders, as well as a spa owner and practitioner. Terry has achieved advanced certification in numerous areas including holistic practitioner, microneedling, microcurrent, chemical peels, cupping, as well as training in the Nefeli gua sha method. She has also achieved national certification through the National Coalition of Estheticians Association.

One of the most common misconceptions in cosmetics is that skincare stops at the face. In reality, the effects of aging can be observed all over your body and most noticeably, in the upper arms, breasts, and buttocks.

As soon as we turn 25, our bodies begin losing 1% of its collagen annually. If you’re doing the math in your head like we did when we discovered that shocking fact, you may also be starting to understand the importance of total body anti-aging skin care.

It’s also important to keep in mind that full-body skincare is much more than just a body moisturizer. That’s why Lira Clinical developed a comprehensive approach to professional body care which includes a full-body skincare line, home care system, and several incredibly effective treatments.

The beauty of Lira Clinical’s professional body care methodology is that it combines the importance of maintaining healthy skin all over your body with the relaxing indulgence of the spa experience.

Professional full-body skincare is in large part about keeping your complete skin microbiome in a state of balance. With that in mind, Lira Clinical has developed these five easy steps to get started on your full-body skin care journey:

Scrub
Cleanse
Firm
Hydrate
Treat

An easy way to remember it is “Skincare From Head to Toe,” because your skin is all over your body, and all of it should be properly cared for. When combined with Lira Clinical’s revolutionary SPA Line, these steps will provide the rejuvenated, brightened, tightened, and nourished skin you can only get from a day at the spa.

1. Scrub

When beginning your full-body skin health routine, it’s important to start with a blank canvas. That means you first need to scrub away the dirt, debris, and dead skin cells that can accumulate on your skin and potentially clog your pores.

Leg scrub

We recommend using the SPA Smoothing Scrub. Unlike many exfoliators, its mix of coconut sugar, papyrus plant stem cells, and natural oils from both hemp and coconut not only smooth away rough skin anywhere on your body, but they also hydrate the skin, leaving it smooth and polished.

2. Cleanse

Once you have properly exfoliated, it’s time to even out that new layer of skin with a brightening cleanser. And, since exfoliated skin has a lower pH balance, cleansers like the SPA Brightening Cleanser produce more noticeable and effective correction benefits.

The SPA Brightening Cleanser uses lactic acid, as well as a naturally powerful blend of plant-based oils and plant stem cells, to even out skin tone while beginning to firm up the fresh layer of skin. This is a formula inspired by the science behind ancient Egyptian milk baths – a health treatment that was both luxurious and great for your skin.

3. Firm

Now that your skin has been beautifully prepped and cleansed, it’s time to begin repairing problem areas with the power of science and nature.

If your goal is reducing the appearance of skin dimpling and cellulite that comes with aging skin, your best recourse for this step is the SPA Firming Lotion. By increasing the blood flow in the smallest blood vessels in your skin (microcirculation) and breaking down fats through increased hydration (lipolysis), the SPA Firming Lotion rejuvenates your skin and fights problematic signs of aging.

4. Hydrate

It’s certainly no secret within the world of skincare that the key to both balancing and restoring skin is proper hydration. After all, when your skin is properly hydrated it allows your body’s natural reparative processes to work at peak efficiency.

So, when it’s time to support the rejuvenating processes initiated in the last step, there’s no better option than the SPA Silk Soufflé. This soft, whipped body crème is infused with silk, nourishing vitamins, and botanical oils that elevates your skin to its optimal hydration point while simultaneously locking in moisture, so your skin stays smooth as silk.

5. Treat

This final step is aptly named since you’ll not only be providing powerfully hydrating treatment to your skin, you’ll also be treating yourself to undeniably soft, healthy skin. The purpose of this step is to nourish your skin and give it that extra touch of balance and hydration to ensure the most effective and noticeable results.

We recommend the SPA Nourishing Oil as it combines an array of exotic oils (argan, coconut, hemp, and rosa canina), powerful vitamins, and plant stem cells to focus in on specific trouble areas and encourage skin healing by preventing moisture loss.

And just like that, your full-body skincare routine is ready to go. As soon as you feel the difference in your skin, you’ll understand the power of full-body skincare and the beauty of the Lira SPA Line.

Lira Clinical was created by four passionate skincare professionals and educators, dedicated to providing the esthetic community with the world’s most effective skincare products, education and support.
Lira Clinical