Cannabidiol (CBD) has made a huge impact on the skin care industry. From serums to moisturizers, masks, oils, and more, the options become endless when speaking on this antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient. However, many do not know the history and evolution of CBD and how it became to be a popular trend in skin care. The cannabis plant, which not only harvests CBD but also its more potent counterpart THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) as well, was said to be gathered as early as 12000 BC in ancient Siberia and Mongolia. During this time period, the cannabis plant was used in clothing, cooking, and religious practices. Around 6000 BC, China began to partake in research regarding the plant in order to understand its potency. This rise of cannabis further perpetuated into India between 2000 and 1000 BC. Cannabis was considered to be a very sacred plant in India and was used in festivals, weddings, religious ceremonies, and more. Furthermore, it was considered to be an ingredient, which when consumed, could allow one to reach enlightenment in Tantric Buddhism. Cannabis did not, however, begin to be used in skin care until around 1279 to 1213 BC in ancient Egypt. Much research regarding cannabis was extracted from the heavy use and different functions found in the Middle East. 

It is difficult to come up with a modality more useful and more versatile in an aesthetics practice than LED light therapy. A results-driven LED device can improve the outcome of almost any service, increasing income through new services, retail, and rental initiatives as well as increase referrals from satisfied clients. With a bewildering number of new machines hitting the market, it is more important than ever to understand exactly what makes LED devices effective. Being able to decipher marketing hype from scientific parameters will make the selection process much less intimidating. There are primary guidelines based on proven scientific principles to apply to all LED brands.

Facial fillers, also known as dermal fillers, can target a multitude of areas on the face and neck and have risen considerably in popularity over the last few years. There are a variety of dermal filler products on the market, which make picking the right option for clients of the utmost importance.

The most important question to ask before choosing a dermal filler, is “what is my client’s goal?” Once the skin care professional has a firm understanding of what it is the client is trying to accomplish, the skin care professional can examine the different categories of filler to determine which product’s capabilities aligns with the client’s goal. Generally speaking, there are three different categories of filler to choose from that target specific problem areas on the face: lifting, smoothing, and intermediate filler, or a combination of lifting and smoothing fillers.

Chemical exfoliants are big business in the beauty industry, but with countless different formulas all promising to brighten and resurface better than the next, the choices can be tricky to navigate. This article discusses the difference between enzymes, alpha, and beta hydroxy acids by addressing the benefits of each and what type of skin care needs they benefit.

Cleansing is often considered the first step in facials and are a gateway to the efficacy of the overall treatment. Before settling on a protocol, a careful skin analysis determines which types of cleansers should be appropriately selected for a client’s particular skin condition.

Vitamin C is most associated with immunity. When thinking about building up the immune system or combating a cold, the first thing people want to do is increase their vitamin C intake. The immunity building benefits are just one of the powerful effects vitamin C has on the body, but what about skin specifically? 

Despite being around for years, peptides continue to garner significant buzz throughout the skin care industry. The touted benefits are numerous, including reduced wrinkle depth, tightening and smoothing of facial contours, increased hydration, and stimulation of the immune system. Peptides’ promises run deep, and while skin care products have traditionally utilized peptides that are synthetically sourced, plant-derived peptides offer a natural alternative, free from potential side effects and preservatives associated with their synthetic counterparts.

There are many mixed messages out there about certain skin care ingredients. While there are certainly some ingredients that have unanimously been deemed bad, there are others that have undeservingly earned a bad rap.

Ingredients like alcohol, laureth, and glycerin are just a few examples. However, when it comes to whether these are truly bad by definition, the answer is not as clear cut. In many cases, it depends on the percentage, source, and overall formula.

Often when thinking of products and formulations, the first thoughts are active ingredients, natural ingredients, antioxidants, and what is trending at the current time. However, these ingredients are just a fraction of what it takes to formulate a product. This can create confusion and controversy amongst those who specialize in skin care, whether they be manufacturers or aestheticians. 

Gina Marie McGuire is the president and CEO of GINAMARIE Products and a licensed aesthetician. She has over 30 years of experience in the skin care industry and has been educating professionals and consumers for the majority of her career. She feels strongly that when treating skin from the health standpoint, one can achieve remarkable results. McGuire brings a wealth of information to the industry as she has extensive experience in retail, manufacturing, wholesaling, public speaking, educating, marketing, and skin therapy treatments. She is considered a leading expert in the skin care field and has a strong desire to share her wealth of knowledge in the advancement of the beauty industry.

What does size mean anyway? There are two sizes that are relevant to skin care. One is the molecular weight and the other one is particle size. Molecular weight refers to the weight of one molecule expressed in daltons. On the other hand, particle size refers to the width of a particle expressed in some unit of length (usually micrometers or nanometers). For example, the molecular weight of water is 18 daltons, and the particle size of one molecule of water is 0.27 nanometers.

In skin care, both sizing parameters are used. For active ingredients such as alpha hydroxy acids and hyaluronic acids, molecular weight is a much more relevant number. When talking about powders, especially sunscreen filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, it makes much more sense to talk about their particle size. Of course, size is only one parameter, so one must consider other examples of when size matters in skincare.

Gloria Lu studied chemical engineering with a focus on renewable energies at Cornell University. Interestingly enough, Lu did not have an interest in the beauty industry until landing a summer internship at L’Oréal. During that summer, she fell in love with the fast-paced environment and product development process. That internship transitioned into a full-time job with the skin care laboratory, specializing in clinical products with high levels of active ingredients. Her cubicle neighbor was Victoria Fu, and the rest is history. After leaving L’Oréal together to launch Chemist Confessions, the women established a large following on social media through educational and creative content, in addition to creating a blog and launching their own skin care line. Notably, they recently authored a book, “Skincare Decoded.”

While in school at UC San Diego, Victoria Fu studied chemical engineering and was part of a research team that studied nano-carrier therapeutics that focused on topical therapies for acne. Having struggled with acne all her life, Fu felt like this was a great fit for her at the time but feared a future in pharmacy would limit her creativity. After completing her masters, she landed a job in the L’Oréal skin care laboratory. During her four years as a skin care chemist, Fu worked more upstream in antiaging, which included anything from sunscreen to antiaging serums.