Aesthetics

Rock the Retail: Pumping up Scales Facilitates Home Care Success Stories

Most of us know the advantages of selling retail products well, so for the sake of argument let us look at the dark side of not selling our clients their home care products. In other words, what are the consequences of our failure to play the role of expert in recommending products for the day-to-day maintenance of our clients skin?
First, clients will end up buying department store products, drugstore, or infomercial brands. Not only will these products typically under-perform, they will generally not be suited to our client's skin type or needs, and thus, will fail to provide proper results. Our client will become frustrated.

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Upselling Skin Care and Aesthetic Services

The true value of a product can only be determined by the consumer, however it takes a passionate advisor to present the benefits and features of a product that establishes the worth. Think about it.
The rule of sales states it is better to have 100 satisfied customers than 1000 prospects! More sales are made with friendship than with salesmanship. This and another old business adage says “All things being equal, people want to do business with their friends” and if you have fostered your skin care business to care and help people, garnered trust based on your skills, personality, and client follow through -

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Increase Your Service Dollars by Add-ons and Upgrades

Sinking down into the soft Frette sheets for my one hour signature facial, I relinquish all my worries to Anna, my aesthetician. After a thorough cleansing, she begins to analyze my skin and says, "Ms. Hanson, would you like me to clean your brows. It is only $10?" "Of course yes, thank you, I reply." And as her hands touch my skin, she recommends that I add on the collagen-fleece mask for an additional $25 to take care of my dehydration issue, and I say, "Great." Here is a classic example of an upgrade and an add-on, so well done that "it did not hurt a bit."

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Successful Upselling Foreward

Upselling and add-ons – a challenging subject to talk about even in the best of times. But here we are in the middle of an economic crisis, so you must be asking yourself how we could possibly consider this a reasonable topic when you are just happy you are able to sustain your clientele. Many of you are probably thinking there is no way you would jeopardize that relationship by asking the client to spend more money. All of which are perfectly reasonable thoughts and questions. However, I will ask you to put them in a box briefly, clear your mind, and be open to consideration for just a moment.

Let me give you an example of an effective suggestion that happens millions of times, everyday, all around the world. You go to your favorite restaurant; you sit down, and look over the menu. Your server comes to the table and takes your order, you tell him what you would like and he confirms your order then says, “Would you like a salad with that tonight, or can I interest you in a glass of wine?” A perfectly harmless question, that was neither painful nor offensive. At worst you say “No, thank you.” At best, he just enhanced your dining experience, increased your bill, and ultimately his tip. Job well done!

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Lemons

Lemons may give you lemonade, but they also deliver beautiful, healthy skin! Fresh, clean and invigorating are all words invoked by this citrus dynamo. Lemons are popular for their astringent and purification capabilities and also deliver a healthy dose of skin essential nutrients.

Lemons have been used for beauty and medicinal purposes since ancient times and continue to be one of the most popular ingredients around. In fact, they are an ideal skin care ingredient because they provide two out of three of the most important elements for healthy aging skin. Lemons are loaded with alpha hydroxy acids and vitamin C; if they only provided the third ingredient, vitamin A, the line in the produce department would be out the door!

Lemons are a natural source of alpha hydroxy acids. By applying lemon topically you are able to generate a great exfoliation. The pH of lemon juice is between a 2.0 and 3.0. The pH of skin is between a 4.5 and 6.0. By applying lemon juice to the skin, you are able to drop the pH of skin and create an activity level that generates an exfoliation. This will help alleviate buildup of dead skin cells, clear congested skin, balance oil production, deliver skin brightening and lightening effects, and diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

In addition to the benefits achieved by the alpha hydroxy acids, lemons are also a perfect source of vitamin C. One of the best things for the skin both topically and internally is vitamin C, a skin essential nutrient. It is critical in defending against the effects of aging. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects against free radical damage, heals the skin, maintains capillary health, defends against environmental assaults, and encourages collagen production.

Lemons are also an excellent source of bioflavonoids. Bioflavonoids are a natural pigment found in fruit and assist our bodies in absorbing and utilizing vitamin C. This tiny citrus fruit also provides minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Another reason for the popularity of lemons is that they are aromatherapeutic and universally appealing. Lemon infused products offer a tropical treat for the skin and senses. They are light and clean in aroma and favored for their ability to calm the mind and relieve mental fatigue. Lemon is known to improve concentration levels and increase alertness. Common skin care products that use lemon are cleansers, toners, and body products.

The goodness enveloped in this tiny citrus fruit will keep cosmetic chemists formulating with it for years to come. Customers will continue to crave lemons because they know a daily dose of this tropical treat will keep the wrinkles away!

Published in Scope This

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Tobacco plant could provide anti-wrinkle solutions

by Katie Bird

A sugar-peptide mix from wild tobacco plants could be an effective anti-aging ingredient for cosmetics, according to scientists in Italy. The mix of short peptides, amino acids and sugars has antioxidant properties as well as promoting collagen synthesis and stability, and upregulating the expression of a number of genes, the study claims.
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Reflections of Your Greatness

You are great. You are far greater than you imagine. You are a unique entity given the power to create your own life. When you look outside yourself for self-definition you are giving your power away. However, when you understand and accept that you alone possess the power to define yourself and your life, there are dramatic changes. You will find new clarity, focus and confidence. You'll also find that using this incredible gift is both exhilarating and challenging.

You are in charge. Think of your life as a movie. You are the writer, director, producer and star. You choose your co-stars and extras. Whether the movie is a smash or a flop is in your hands.

Your thoughts determine your outcomes. This is one of the great mysteries. There are a lot of theories about this phenomenon but no one really knows how it works. However, it does work and reveals the astonishing power of your thoughts. If you think you are average, you are. If you think you can't win, you won't. Conversely, if you see yourself succeeding, you will. If you expect great things to come to your life, they're on their way.

You bring others with you. Your courage and confidence to examine your life and make changes will have a profound effect on those around you. When you lift yourself up, others are lifted up too.

Your life. Your responsibility. The first and most important rule is to take responsibility for everything that happens in your life. Following this rule puts you in command. Winston Churchill said, "The price of greatness is responsibility." While I'm certain he was talking about fighting wars and leading nations, his statement applies to your life as well.

You have the power. Life will inevitably send you your share of setbacks, problems, disappointments and losses. These things are beyond your control. How you react to them is not. Listen to the voice within you and realize you have a choice. You have the greatness to persevere, to forgive, to smile, to lift yourself and others up and to move on.

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Rainforest Tree Bark Could Help Keep Skin Moisturized

Rainforest Tree Bark
Could Help Keep Skin Moisturized

by Katie Bird

An extract from the bark of the rainforest tree Angico-branco can help maintain the water balance in human skin, according to recent research. The tree (Piptadenia colubrina) is native to the South American rainforest and the study, published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, claims that an extract from the plant’s bark can help moisturize the skin. Source: Journal of Cosmetics Dermatology; Issue 9, Pages 35-43
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Considerations When Raising Prices

Considerations When Raising Prices by Valorie Reavis

How do you earn what you are worth, and not lose customers in the process? This also brings up another point to consider – are you planning to raise prices across the board or in certain areas. One idea is to raise prices for senior stylists only in order to filter down some clients to the junior staff. This must be done carefully in order to not lose clients, which is why it is vital to plan price increases with staff to make them effective overall.

Here are some steps to consider when increasing prices:
1. Decide upon a reasonable amount.
2. Give clients reasonable notice.
3. When you tell them, be professional.

The approach you take to raising prices also depends on what your goals are. If you want to attract higher-image clients and shed some lower-tier clients, then attrition during the process is expected. If you just want to lower the demand for appointments instead of expanding your business, then you should expect to lose clients. However, if you are looking to shift demand within your salon, this makes the job a little easier on you and your team.

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Skin Care Professionals: Facts about Flu Prevention with Health-based Cleaning

Skin Care Professionals:
Facts about Flu Prevention with
Health-based Cleaning

by Peter Sheldon

It is flu season again, and the additional strains of last year’s Swine Flu pandemic have businesses and consumers in a frenzy over combating flu germs. Professional outlooks on the flu season are not helping matters; leading health experts project that the H1N1 virus affects as much as 40 percent of the American population through 2010.
Since skin contact with contaminated surfaces is one of the main ways Americans can contract the flu virus, it is important for skin care professionals to educate worried clients that they are utilizing the most cutting-edge strategies for combating the virus. To be proactive, eliminating surface contamination in your spa is a first step. Unfortunately, lots of traditional cleaning techniques can actually promote the spread of germs through cross-contamination, via improper cleaning.
Health-based cleaning fills the void left by traditional cleaning strategies. By leveraging state-of-the-art soil containment and removal technology and hospital-grade disinfectants, skin care facility managers can create a cleaner environment for patients and clients. Some areas of greatest concern include are waiting areas, restrooms, and treatment rooms.

Surface Decontamination, Technology, and Hospital-Grade Cleansers
A crucial fault of traditional cleaning techniques is their tendency to use spray-and-wipe tactics to clean surfaces. Cross-contamination and the spread of harmful germs occur as a result of these techniques.
Health-based cleaning systems use advanced soil removal techniques such as microfiber technology. Microfiber in cleaning cloths and mops has been shown to be 99 percent more effective at removing soil and pathogens than traditional cleaning materials such as paper towels or non-microfiber cloths. Small, angled edges along the microfibers actually attract dirt, grease, and contaminants to help leave a truly clean surface.
With a color-coding methodology for these tools, health-based cleaning systems utilize a single tool for specific office areas, greatly reducing cross-contamination and germ transfer by making sure soil and matter from one area is not spread to another area.
For extra insurance use lightweight, flat mops equipped with super-absorbent fabric that traps and hold dead germs.
Just because you skin care facility is not a hospital does not mean you should not take the same protective measures for a safer, healthier environment as they do. Your facility can benefit from EPA-registered, hospital-grade cleansers and disinfectants that are highly effective in eliminating pathogens and the illnesses they cause.

Additional Tips:
• Perfumes or other odors – whether attractive or noxious –
should not be present following the cleaning process.
• High-efficiency, HEPA filtration vacuums that capture dirt and
particles that are .3 microns or larger should be used to
improve indoor air quality.
• Cleaning personnel should wash hands properly and change
gloves frequently.
• “No-touch” spray and vacuum systems should be used
whenever possible in restroom areas to effectively clean
germ hot spots, such as floors, sinks, and sink tops through
proper disinfection without danger of cross-contamination.