It has been a positive, forward-moving, and productive year for me. And now tradeshow season has begun. The International Congress of Esthetics and Spa kicked off in Miami last month, and this month professionals from all over the southwest are headed to Dallas. When you think of attending a tradeshow, what comes to mind? My first thoughts are the networking opportunities – catching up with existing relationships and creating new ones. But mostly, I think of continuing education… The atmosphere is always charged with positive energy; it is full of learning, excitement, growth, and opportunity. One of these topics I feel most strongly about is learning. Read More

When you finish my Editor’s Note and start to flip through the magazine, you will begin to notice that this issue has more valuable resources in addition to the educational feature stories on hormones and ethnic skin. Beyond the primary topics of this particular issue, there is plenty of content that touches base on a series of different material. From our monthly case study (April focuses on how to treat chronic dry hands in the spa) to the top 10 tips of getting skin ready for the summer, there is an abundance of education that will surely leave each reader a little more informed. But this print version of DERMASCOPE Magazine you are holding is not the whole story this month. Read More

Twenty years ago this month, my father became Associate Publisher of DERMASCOPE Magazine. Not so coincidentally, this month I accept the same position. As you might know from my previous editor’s notes through the years, I have grown up in the world of aesthetics where my passion has continued to evolve. I have become a beneficiary of many important relationships. Between industry legends and world renowned writers and educators, I have an enormous resource of talent to draw from in my quest to keep DERMASCOPE at the forefront of aesthetics. Many have been great guides and continue to provide inspiration to me. I have enjoyed the rewards of working in this industry and it has been a true labor of love. It helps to do what you love in life and, for me, it is an accurate depiction of my job. I work with great people and every day is entertaining and enjoyable. Read More

It is difficult to believe it has been 20 years since I wrote my first Publisher’s note in DERMASCOPE Magazine. My predecessor, Ron Renee developed DERMASCOPE from a newsletter he created for the Aesthetics International Association (AIA) in 1972. Ron owned several cosmetology schools and a successful beauty supply business. Throughout the 1960s he was a regular attendee at hair tradeshows in Europe where he discovered a world of skin care that had not yet found its way to America. As he began to import skin care education and equipment, he found little interest from the attendees at the American hair shows. He founded AIA as a networking and educational resource, which created the first gathering of aestheticians in America. Read More

Some people consider the saying “Jack of all trades, master of none” somewhat derogatory. My perspective is different being raised in a family business. When my parents met, my father was a devoted entrepreneur and my mother an aesthetician. After they married, my father decided to train as a massage therapist and open a spa with my mom. He also obtained his aesthetics license and they stayed in the spa business for about six years. My father began publishing this magazine and producing tradeshows 20 years ago. In addition to operating these businesses, he is partner in an advertising agency and runs a charitable foundation. He has often been accused of being a serial entrepreneur and his “spirit” was definitely passed along to his children. Read More