“Did you know St. Ives was sued over their scrub?” “Does this serum contain magnesium ascorbyl phosphate or l-ascorbic acid?” “Just making sure you aren’t using a benzoyl peroxide cleanser, since I’m currently on a retin-a regimen.” Anyone have one of these type of clients? You know the kind. The ones that know just enough to be dangerous. And it’s not just facial clients. Aestheticians…

Anyone have a client who comes in every single month for a treatment, buys retail, and their skin still looks like a nightmare? Tanned, lined, dry, and so dehydrated it vaguely resembles parchment paper? The first time it happened, I was convinced I was the worst aesthetician in the world. But, during a marathon laundry session with my manager, who was also an aesthetician, I…

Michelle D'Allaird-Brenner has been in the beauty business since 1988; as a licensed cosmetologist, aesthetician and CIDESCO diplomat she has pooled all of her knowledge and expertise into education and raising the bar for professional aestheticians around the world. Michelle is the owner of Aesthetic Science Institute, a NYS licensed aesthetics school in Latham, N.Y. She is a regular contributing author for DERMASCOPE and Les…

"Excellence in Education… One Student at a Time" has been the guiding principle of Annette Hanson, president of Atelier Esthétique® Institute of Esthetics in New York City. Her professional experience spans 30 years, making her a renowned skin care expert and published author in industry periodicals, as well as a sought after lecturer at leading professional conferences worldwide. Annette was instrumental in the development of…

Catherine Atzen was introduced to facials by an aesthetician in France when she was 13, suffering from acne and sensitive, dehydrated skin. She inspired Catherine to care for her skin and thus Catherine’s passion was born. Years later, while working in aesthetic medicine doing research on skin care for burn victims, she was at the forefront of the skin care industry by developing the first…

Before coming to the U.S. from Russia in 1991, Elina Fedotova transformed her acne prone skin into a glowing example of the power of natural healing. She is now the CEO of Elina Organics with clinics in Chicago, Ill. and Kalamazoo, Mich. Her products are available in spas and medical offices across the U.S. and abroad. Elina is the founder of the Association of Holistic…

Alexandra J. Zani is an international educator and speaker with a background in biology and medical technology. She holds an instructor license in cosmetology/aesthetics, is NCEA certified, and has received advanced certifications both in the U.S. and abroad in the dermal sciences, spa therapies, non-ablative laser, LED and microcurrent. Zani is an independent technical and scientific advisor and mentor for postgraduate studies in the medical…

Douglas Preston Aesthetician, Business Consultant, Educator and Lecturer Douglas Preston is a business consultant and frequent lecturer in the day and medical spa industry. Preston's business articles frequently appear in DERMASCOPE Magazine, Spa Management Journal, American Spa, MedicalSpa Magazine, Les Nouvelles Esthetiques, and others. Preston is a past-president of Aesthetics International Association (AIA), and served as committee chairman for The Day Spa Association (DSA). He…