Fact or Fiction: Sleep affects the skin.
Written by Alexandra J. Zani, industry strategist and scientific aesthetics educator
Sleep deficiency is reported to be a common health problem in the United States. There are long- and short-term consequences that include heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity, and depression.1 Physical signs may be swollen, sunken eyes, dark circles, pale dehydrated skin, and barrier dysfunction.2 Subclinical effects can affect wound healing, collagen growth, skin hydration, and skin texture.3 Moreover, there is…
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Fact or Fiction
E-learning with DERMASCOPE
Written by Amanda Strunk Miller
No matter how you got your hands on this issue of DERMASCOPE – whether through your own print or digital subscription, your aesthetics school, a fellow aesthetician or staff member at your spa, your membership with Aesthetics International Association, or at the International Esthetics, Cosmetics & Spa Conference in New York – one thing’s for sure… you don’t have your hands on all that DERMASCOPE…
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Editor's Note
Facial movements cause wrinkles.
Written by Anabel de la Vega, certified license specialist and author of TAO – The Art of Relaxation
Facial expressions can cause wrinkles due to the fact that striated muscles in the face create limited expressions. The more expressions a person makes the more active those muscles are going to be. In the forehead, there is a muscle called the corrugator which controls forehead movements. The forehead controls the muscles around the eyes, which is why it is more common for those who…
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Fact or Fiction
Spa Revolutions announces the expansion of their natural Lava Shell massage line to include facial enhancement services. Utilizing the newest, most versatile cowrie shell, with two specifically engineered mineral blends that deliver the dual efficacy of electricity-free warm and cold treatments, Spa Revolutions will take its facial treatments to a whole new level. “The luxurious technique of shell massage combined with the spa’s go-to choice for serums, masks, and moisturizers,…
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Tips and Tricks
Featured in February
Written by Amanda Strunk Miller Publisher and Managing Editor
This month, DERMASCOPE is tackling some of the most talked about topics in aesthetics – including what’s truly going on with hormonal acne, if “medical aesthetics” is really even a thing, and how much is too much when it comes to exfoliation. Plus, Aesthetics International Association has inducted its first Legend into the Academy for 2019! First, we asked a few acne experts to chime…
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Editor's Note
Cucumbers on puffy eyes soothe and reduce swelling.
Written by Janel Luu, founder, formulator, and CEO of Le Mieux Cosmetics and PurErb Herbology-based Skincare & Aromatherapy
Thumbing through a beauty magazine or a luxury resort brochure one will probably see the serene image of a recumbent woman wearing a pristine robe and artfully wrapped towel turban, her face slathered in a luscious cream mask with perfectly shaped cucumber slices carefully positioned over her eyes. But is there more to this iconic image of spa luxury and blissed-out relaxation? CURE OR CLICHÉ?…
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Fact or Fiction
What’s New in 2019
Written by Amanda Strunk Miller
For months, DERMASCOPE’s editorial team has been creating, developing, and strategizing for our first major announcement of 2019, and excited is an understatement. This year, in addition to the wonderful content provided in the print magazine, we are pleased to present 18 online exclusive columns each month. We’ve asked leading industry professionals to deliver monthly education on a variety of topics to be featured on…
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Editor's Note
Fact or Fiction: Steam opens up pores.
Written by Sara Fulton, co-founder and president of Vivant Skin Care
In a professional facial, steaming the skin is regarded as an essential element, but not for the reason many clients believe. While steaming provides multiple benefits to enhance the facial process, opening the pores is not one of them. The fact is, pores do not open and close. They are not a muscle. They are, in effect, the lungs of the body’s largest organ, the…
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Fact or Fiction
Seasons of Change
Written by Amanda Strunk Miller
If I had to pick one word to describe this time of year it would be “change.” From trees empty of leaves, to falling snow, to “ringing out the old” with the New Year, change is eminent in this period between one year and the next. While change can often be a good thing, for some it can also be hard to accept. This is…
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Editor's Note
Gold Package (Company Spotlight): $100 Logo Highlight: $100 2019 ACA Award: $250 Includes an advanced, printed listing in the 2019 P&E Guide, detailing the company or school name, phone number, and website, along with a large company or school logo and 80-word write-up about the company or school. Maximize visibility by having your company or school logo prominantly displayed on the introduction page of the…
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Magazine
One of the greatest responsibilities spa professionals take upon themselves is to create a safe and welcoming environment for clients. Although a primary client expectation is that an intended result is delivered within a clearly-defined scope of practice, it is just as essential to have positive energy generating and a comfortable setting for clients when they visit. There are different approaches to creating an ambiance that encourages a stress-free experience,…
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What's Your Recipe
Every time I attend an industry tradeshow, I inevitably learn about something new – from ingredients and products to updated treatment techniques and marketing strategies. With so many tradeshows in our industry, it can sometimes feel overwhelming with how quickly new products are being debuted or ingredients are being researched and discovered. That is why DERMASCOPE launched its Aestheticians’ Choice Awards in 2015 – to…
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Editor's Note
Sun damage is developed in two ways: by sunburns or through accumulated sun damage over time. Most people suffer from both. Most have experienced sunburns, mostly as children, and can remember the burning sensation, hot and swollen skin, consequent blisters and peeling, itchiness, and misery. Daily sun damage over years of exposure – even without burns or irritation – can go unnoticed for years, until…
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Fact or Fiction
For spas who would like to offer options for treating minor skin irregularities, such as clogged pores, skin tags, sebaceous hyperplasia, and so forth, specialty equipment can be a good…
When it comes to masks, there are so many products available on the market today that it can be overwhelming to know where to begin when choosing the right product.…
Choosing acne products must begin with education about acne. In order to have an effective treatment, today’s aesthetician must choose acne products that treat the causes of acne, rather than…
For professionals looking for hair removal methods outside of waxing or lasering, a natural hair removal product can be a great alternative. When it comes to choosing the right product,…
To address consumer demands, today’s skin care professional must be able to develop highly-customized treatment plans that provide thorough exfoliation, but do not necessarily promote visible skin peeling. Fruit enzymes…
There is a wide variety of skin-imaging equipment that professionals can choose from and each device serves an array of purposes. Some devices are able to project an image of…
Body sugaring hair removal is an ancient beauty secret and has evolved dramatically in the last 30 years. While a good sugaring technique is key to providing clients with the…
While it is typically a bigger up-front investment per product due to minimum order requirements and custom labeling, private label products do not cost much in comparison to the opening…
LED technology has improved dramatically in recent years and, consequently, devices are more affordable and more versatile than ever. While selecting the appropriate machine may seem overwhelming, it does not…
When it comes to choosing advanced oncology training, here are the things to consider. Choose a path. Advanced training will make a professional more knowledgeable, set them apart as an…
When choosing peeling solutions to offer at the spa, important factors to consider include level, suitability, and formulation. LEVEL Peels are formulated as a gel, cream, or liquid solution in…
Hard wax is applied and removed differently than soft wax. Hard wax is gentler to the skin than strip wax, as it adheres only to the hair and not to…
Conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, occurs when the conjunctiva becomes inflamed. It turns very pink or red due to its many blood vessels dilating in response to an irritant. There are several types and causes for conjunctivitis. Bacterial Conjunctivitis: This form is highly contagious. Signs include red eyes, itchy eyes, and a sticky yellowish green eye discharge. The only way to clear the eyes of this particular conjunctivitis is…
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What's Your Recipe
Today, it is difficult not to notice the growing trend for natural, organic, and less chemically-laden products. Everything from foods to home goods to skin care has changed course from laboratory formulations to producing the purest products possible. As professionals, is it necessarily better to advise clients to make the switch? Recent studies show almost 50 percent of consumers today are buying natural beauty products…
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Fact or Fiction
October is a busy month for my family. With multiple birthday parties, trips to the pumpkin patch, and preparations for the upcoming holiday season, my calendar is packed. Aside from my personal life, the month of October for the DERMASCOPE team is quite busy, too. We’re finalizing the voting process for the upcoming Aestheticians’ Choice Awards in November, researching our 2019 editorial topics, and creating…
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Editor's Note
In the spa industry, professionals are usually very busy taking care of clients, preparing their spas for seasonal events and sales, and working extra hours to accommodate everyone during the holiday season. Professionals often miss family gatherings, shopping with friends, and taking the time to get into the holiday spirit themselves. It is just as important to focus on self during holiday preparation, as it is on business.
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What's Your Recipe
September is my favorite month of the year. It’s my wedding anniversary month, the time the State Fair of Texas returns for the year, and when everyone seems to start prepping for the upcoming holiday season. Though the weather often still reflects the hot temperatures of the summer months, September also means the return to school and the end of summer vacations.
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Editor's Note
Skin care packaging in a product line can be lovely, especially when everything matches with soothing colors and bright metallic lining that catches the eye. However, is it always necessary to purchase all of the spa’s skin care items from the same line to get an effective result? The answer is no. It is all relative to what clients’ expectations are from the products.The scientists…
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Fact or Fiction
When today’s baby boomers first entered the workforce, and went on to take it over, employees came to their place of employment and, if all went as planned, stayed there for the duration of their career. This was, in essence, what was expected on both ends. The workforce has changed considerably in recent decades. Long-term career loyalty is no longer the case. Employers consider themselves lucky if an employee stays…
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What's Your Recipe
Recognizing Excellence
Written by Amanda Strunk Miller
From a distinguished designer debuting a new line at Fashion Week to an Olympic figure skater landing the perfect double axel – it is easy to spot excellence when it is present. The skin care industry is bursting at the seams with top-rate, professional product lines. Today, skin care professionals can choose from an agglomeration of companies when selecting the products to sell in their…
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Editor's Note
Though it may be surprising, this is true. “How old do I look?” may be a question that many are uncomfortable confronting. A question many of us are not fond of asking others. However, several scientific studies have revealed that up to 90 percent of how young or old a person looks, respective of age, is directly linked to their amount of sun exposure. Excessive…
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Fact or Fiction
THE PROBLEM SOLVER Lyn Ross, L.M.E., is the founder and CEO of the Institut’ DERMed family of companies. Working closely with Atlanta, Georgia’s top cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons, Ross…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE EUROPEAN BEAUTY SAGE Bella Schneider leads more than 150 aesthetic professionals in her Silicon Valley spas. She travels globally to bring the best in aesthetic science to her formulas…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE THIRD GENERATION Michael Q. Pugliese, B.S., L.E., is an informed educator, writer, and asset to the skin care industry. He became the third-generation CEO of Circadia by Dr. Pugliese…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE EQUIPMENT EXPERT David Suzuki, president of Bio-Therapeutic, has been an active and licensed member of the medical aesthetic industry for over 30 years. He is a leading authority and…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE IMAGING INNOVATOR Austin Podowski is an elite marketing specialist, serving as an A-to-Z business development executive since his youth, with several successful launches in his portfolio, spanning from digital…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE AESTHETICS AMBASSADOR Michelle D’Allaird-Brenner is a licensed aesthetician, cosmetologist, CIDESCO diplomat, and the owner of the Aesthetic Science Institute. She has over 30 years of experience in the skin…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE SKIN SAVANT Manon Pilon has conducted seminars internationally, educating medical specialists, aestheticians, dermatologists, nurses, plastic surgeons, and professionals spanning several other medical fields. She is an author, spa consultant,…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE WELLNESS GURU Wallace Vigo Nelson, N.D. is a holistic health expert and the foremost authority in the field of beauty nutrition. A second-generation naturopathic doctor, Nelson has followed in…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE FORMULATOR Janel Luu has enjoyed over 35 years of experience int he global cosmetics industry as an international educator, outward-looking researcher, and master skin care formulator. Her extensive background…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE LASER GUY Louis Silberman, CEO of National Laser Institute, pioneered the cosmetic laser training industry. He launched health4her.com out of his garage in 1998, which became the sixth most…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE DERMAPLANE TRAINER Rikki Kusy is an ASU College of Education and Barrett Honor’s College graduate with over 25 years of experience in training and education. She holds aesthetics licenses…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE ANGEL IN CHARGE Becky Kuehn, the leading educator for oncology training in the United States had cancer when she was 18-years-old. It shaped the course of her life and…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE SUGAR MASTER Lina Kennedy is the president and CEO of Alexandria Professional, a worldwide leader in body sugaring epilation. Kennedy is the pioneer of professional body sugaring and a…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE BEAUTY ARCHITECT Patricia Boland has nearly two decades of experience in the beauty and cosmetic industry. She is currently exhibiting that expertise within the Colorescience team as the vice…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE SKIN CARE CONSULTANT Pat Lam is a board-certified, anti-aging health practitioner, CIDESCO International Examiner, CIDESCO Gold Medal winner and diplomat, and co-founder and past president of CIDESCO Canada. She…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE GREEN COMPANY Attila Koronczay grew up in Budapest, Hungary until he and his brother moved to Vancouver, Canada in 1996 to pursue their dreams and bring natural, organic, and…
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Recognizing Excellence
THE HOLISTIC PROFESSIONAL Elina Fedotova is the founder and formulator of Elina Organics. An award-winning aesthetician and cosmetic chemist, she combines the intelligence of nature with modern science to help…
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Recognizing Excellence