When pregnant, one will need to be really looking out what they are putting on their skin. For estheticians, we want to to support the mom to be while their body is changing, so will be their skin. We know that as soon as a mom finds out that she (more…)
Although there is no magic extract that will stop the aging altogether, a well formulated eye cream can really improve the overall appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The skin around the eyes is thinner and more fragile, prone to dryness, and quicker to show the visible signs of age (more…)
The beauty industry has been embracing natural ingredients for years, with a growing demand for products and treatments that are safe, effective, and environmentally friendly. One such natural alternative for rejuvenation treatments is the herbal peel with spicules. This derma-infusion treatment uses microcrystals extracted from herbs, which create controlled injuries (more…)
Injections will filler agents are becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for wrinkles and soft tissue augmentation. There are complications from fillers and patients can experience infection, nodules, hypersensitivity and vascular occlusion. For consumers wanting to look like the latest movie star or songbird maven, there may be a cautionary (more…)
The subject of skincare is not only complex it’s infinite. It seems like new brands and ingredients pop up overnight. Add in all the other variables to consider like skin type, the variety of concerns, new trends and the constant evolution of understanding surrounding skincare and skin health, and we (more…)
Sunless tanning has really come a long way, no more orange. Tips for a sensational glow. What is DHA and how does it “tan”skin? DHA stands for dihydroxyacetone – the active ingredient in most self-tanning products. “A sugar derived active produced by a natural fermentation process, DHA reacts with amino (more…)
The beauty industry has been embracing natural ingredients for years, with a growing demand for products and treatments that are safe, effective, and environmentally friendly. One such natural alternative for rejuvenation treatments is the herbal peel with spicules. This derma-infusion treatment uses microcrystals extracted from herbs, which create controlled injuries (more…)
Acquiring epidermal minor skin irregularities can cause distress for many.  Just like clients with skin of color or higher Fitzpatrick type 4 or 5, just like actor Morgan Freeman who recently shared his experience struggling with skin tags in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning.  Fortunately, there are safe treatments (more…)
Scars can come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. Not only do the appearance and anatomy of these scars differ, when they appear, their intensity, as well as their size can also be unpredictable and slightly inconvenient. The inconvenience can be anatomical, such as a nice little scar on (more…)
Indulging your skin in a deliciously scented serum or moisturizer is a key element of the self-care experience. But when it comes to adding scents in the clean skincare industry, many are unsure of their stance. We all care about the ingredients that go on our skin, but should fragrances (more…)
Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it’s also one of the hardest working. Every day it protects you from dangers large and small, and it faces an enormous amount of stress from UV rays, bacteria, viruses, pollution, and literally thousands of man-made chemicals. Yet the skin is also (more…)
There are many benefits to using alpha hydroxy acids in the treatment room and at home. We know that lactic acid has a gentle way of exfoliating the skin while having a humectant property that helps to prevent dehydration. Glycolic acid has a beautiful way of cutting through very oily (more…)
Perfection. It’s what we all strive for in life, our families and business but beginning at a very young age, it’s the perfection of the reflection we see in the mirror that becomes a daily goal. From the moment we notice that first “flaw,” perhaps a small whitehead or the (more…)
When it comes to achieving an enviously glowing, healthy complexion, chirally correct skincare is one beauty trend worth caring about. In this article, discover everything you need to know about how certain chiral molecules can help you enhance a skincare line. What is Chirally Correct Skincare? Over the years, pharmaceutical (more…)
The craving to adorn is as old as humanity is and deserves to be honored.  Herbal Skin Solutions is devoted to creating skincare product experiences that make us feel blissfully, beautiful inside and out. They are inviting us to elevate the way we think about applying skincare by connecting the (more…)
I have been a licensed esthetician and clean beauty lover for over twenty-three years. It has always been my passion to find the healthiest choice available. I am so pleased to see how the beauty industry has evolved and how healthy beauty brands like the one I work for sets (more…)
I recently had the opportunity to visit the Edgar Cayce Wellness Spa in Virginia Beach, VA. Established in 1931 by Edgar Cayce. He has been called the father of the modern-day holistic moment. I had a 90 minute body service which included an Abdominal Castor Oil Pack, massage and foot (more…)
Lasers offer the latest technology in disease management in both the aesthetic and medical field. Laser therapy is non-invasive with little if any down time after treatment. Laser benefits outweigh any risks in providing clients optimal clinical outcomes which makes laser therapy a safe and effective therapy. AESTHETICS and how (more…)
If you live in an area that has all 4 seasons, you are probably also one of those yearning for Spring to come. When it is finally there, everything starts to bloom and along with it – allergies. Besides of runny noses and watery eyes, many suffer from itchy skin. (more…)
With so many skin care products out there marketing themselves or their ingredients as the latest and greatest, how do you know what is hyperbole or credible? Innovations in the beauty industry can be confusing as some deliver on their proposition and are supported by credible clinical testing and others (more…)
Getting started in the industry isn’t difficult but you will need to do a little research in your state. Do you need to have a special license or city permit? Do you want to be solo or a part of a team? What style of makeup are you going to (more…)
If there is ever a day to have flawless, glowing skin, it would be one’s wedding day! Not only is the betrothed center stage for all to see, but, is forever captured in images that will be viewed by generations to follow, a lasting remembrance of a most happy day. (more…)
Lasers offer the latest technology in disease management in both the aesthetic and medical field. Laser therapy is non-invasive with little if any down time after treatment. Laser benefits outweigh any risks in providing clients optimal clinical outcomes which makes laser therapy a safe and effective therapy. Aesthetics and how (more…)
There have always been trends in the beauty industry and there always will be. One trend and buzzword that is here to stay is Biocompatibility. It is often misunderstood, misused, and confusing. So, what does biocompatibility mean exactly and why is it so prevalent of late? The term biocompatibile can be used (more…)
Much has been made of the nasal labial problems over the years. In fact, I have always been concerned about mine! There are some surgical solutions possible, but not guaranteed to give the result wanted. There is a combination of several things that can “lift” this problematic area, but heredity, (more…)
Acne effects virtually everyone at some point in their lives, making it the most common medical skin condition according to the Academy of Dermatology. There are four different stages of acne that range from mild to severely inflamed. Grades I and II acne are considered acne simplex and grades III (more…)
Electrolysis as most of know or have done is a method of removing individual hairs from the body permanently.  A trained electrologist inserts an exceptionally fine filament into the natural opening of the hair follicle alongside the hair shaft. A tiny amount of electrical current is then applied to create (more…)
Associated with well-being and health, the plump and luminous appearance of skin not only favors but also radiates youth. This is nothing new but there is a new concept or rather a new approach of how to achieve it: creating D-skin! D-skin stands for Vitamin-D-enriched skin, d-lighted skin, deep-layer hydration (more…)
Lasers offer the latest technology in disease management in both the aesthetic and medical field. Laser therapy is non-invasive with little if any down time after treatment. Laser benefits outweigh any risks in providing clients optimal clinical outcomes which makes laser therapy a safe and effective therapy. Aesthetics Medical aesthetics (more…)
There is already a silent but steady swing going on in our industry. As researchers discover more and more where the energies that run our physical bodies come from, skin and body treatments will take on a new slant. It won’t be “out with the old, in with the new!”, (more…)
“AIN’T NO TIME TO WONDER WHY. WHOOPIE, WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE” – COUNTRY JOE MCDONALD “Be afraid, be very afraid.” “The dangers are discredited and there’s no conclusive evidence.” “We’re screwed!” “Research has found no significant health risks.” These comments can address many topics related to our existence in an (more…)
Electrolysis as most of know or have done is a method of removing individual hairs from the body permanently. A trained electrologist inserts an exceptionally fine filament into the natural opening of the hair follicle alongside the hair shaft. A tiny amount of electrical current is then applied to create (more…)
Myth – Skin Cleansing is necessary by Germicidal Substances? Skin has profound Microbiome, consisting of Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi etc. and skin’s overall health is highly governed and dependent on integrity of Microbiome. Germicidal Substances present in soaps, detergents can kill healthy microbiota along with targeted pathogens and it is highly (more…)
Figuring out acne has been my goal since I was a teenager, and it has been a very long road. As a college student and then young adult, I have taken a traditional route of antibiotics and even Accutane… just to see my acne come back with the vengeance. My (more…)
As we transition to recovery mode from a global pandemic… Life and beauty has been really affected. If we are able to continue to be flexible that does not have to be a bad thing. Its just different… As we start transitioning into our new normal (as the gathering restrictions (more…)
Moles, warts, and skin tags can be very embarrassing and the reason most clients seek removal. With the advent of licensed estheticians performing more and more advanced procedures it is critical to be able to identify not diagnose the difference between moles, warts, and skin tags. Knowing the difference will (more…)
Introduction Melatonin is an essential hormone associated with the natural biological (chronobiology) process known as the Circadian Rhythm that regulates our sleep-wake cycle and natural body cycles within a 24-hour time frame. These natural timing devices (circadian clocks) are composed of specialized proteins that interact with all cells throughout the (more…)
As licensed spa professionals our #1 priority has always been safety and sanitation. Since the pandemic, there has been a huge shift that reminds us of the hygiene and sanitation we learned in school and did at our state board exam. I have been a licensed esthetician and make-up artist (more…)
Being an Esthetician can be likened to being a detective. The hardest part of our job description is deciphering the subtle differences in skin conditions. Although diagnosing is out of our scope of practice, it’s always important to stay educated on common skin conditions, and moreover, the differences they represent (more…)
Every day in the treatment room is a golden opportunity to become a melanoma detective. Whether you are a skincare professional, a massage therapist, cosmetologist with emphasis on hair, skin, or nails, you can be the catalyst sending your client to the dermatologist. Not to be overly dramatic but it (more…)
The eyes truly are an entrance to many emotions, but the peripheral skin around them have been misunderstood by the AESTHETICS industry for decades. We often see ads depicting facial treatments with damp cotton wool or cucumbers over the eyes, ostensibly because skin surrounding the eyes is said to be (more…)
Cupping is a traditional form of Chinese healing therapy. One of the earliest documentations of cupping can be found in the work titled, “A Handbook of Prescriptions for Emergencies,” written by a Taoist herbalist by the name of Ge Hong and dates all the way back to 300 AD. An (more…)
Rosacea itself is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder. But to better understand the sometimes-weeping lesions seen in older people- let’s follow the history of the disease. To me, the idea that the cause of rosacea is unknown or cannot be identified is a myth. When anything is chronic it must (more…)
The sun is not our friend anymore. The protective ozone layer encircling our world has been thinning out for decades, intensifying the UV rays we encounter on a daily basis. Amazingly, as a result of the lockdown and stay-at-home orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic, satellite photos above China and (more…)
I get weary of seeing products touted as “all-natural” in order to lead the therapist to believe that such a product is far superior to those that have long, unfamiliar words on the label that many people think are synthetic therefore no good. In actual fact, there is nothing wrong (more…)
Deidre Ramdhanie, National Educator for DermaConcepts (Environ US Distributor) In the midst of the pandemic, healthcare professionals will always be found wearing an N95 face mask. While detrimental, this is a definite way to sensitize the skin. A skin sensitization condition will manifest the same characteristics as a genetically sensitive (more…)
For the last 5 plus years now the brow trend has taken its cue from the drag world, the bigger, the bolder, the darker, the better!  These are the brows you can see coming from a mile away. They are meant to be eye catching, and while they make for (more…)
From traditional techniques using your hands to those that leverage the use of ancient skincare tools, facial massage is one of the most potent methods for both optimizing and supporting treatment results as well as transporting our clients into a deep state of tranquility. By performing facial massage that delivers (more…)
Did you know that the cells in your body talk to one another? There is a symphony of communication happening throughout your body, and skin, and the language that your cells use to carry out this conversation is known as growth factors and cytokines. These are tiny, protein messenger molecules (more…)
Hyperpigmentation and Melasma can be incredibly challenging to correct.  The first thing we need to identify is the type of pigment.  Is it the result of over exposure to the sun, the result of medication or birth control side effects, or is it simply the result of getting older? Pigment (more…)
Factors contributing to aging can be divided into four main categories: biological (genetically determined and unalterable), environmental (damage associated with exposure to sunlight, pollution or nicotine), mechanical aging (repetitive muscle movements such as squinting or frowning), and miscellaneous factors including diet, sleep patterns. Skin Thickness Changes The epidermis decreases in (more…)
After fifty plus years in this industry I can truthfully say…nothing is new under the sun. No one “creates “anything (except the man upstairs). All we can do as scientists is to OBSERVE what is around us, pay attention to the bodies dictates, study how it interacts with stress, hormonal (more…)
Australia provides one of the harshest climates in the world, providing a bounty of botanical extracts that are unique and exclusive to the continent of Australia. The harshness and extreme weather conditions of Australia have enabled these plants to develop unique biological phytochemical molecules to adapt to the environment they (more…)
Consider looking at all of your multi-faceted, wide-ranging experiences as opportunities for learning, personal growth, and genetic evolution. With this approach to our annual reflection, we cultivate greater appreciation for the present and what it holds. This practice allows us to glean a renewed hope through the power of using (more…)
The winter is an unforgiving time of the year for our skins where we can see many difficult and sometimes painful conditions manifest. Looking through our Skin Care Therapist Tool Box may help our clients through that harsh winter wonderland. Exfoliate The winter may see the build up of dead (more…)
Tis the season for stressing! Nearly half of the people polled in an American Psychological Association survey said their stress levels increase during the holidays. (The other half may have been too stressed out to answer the questions.) Seasonal pressures make it is easy to get wrapped up in the (more…)
We’ve all had clients come in with acne on one side of their face.  In Esthetics school, we are all taught to ask the same questions:   Is this the side you sleep on?  How often do you change your pillowcase?  Which ear do you use when talking on the phone? (more…)
I had my first Multiple Sclerosis (MS) attack at 25. Unfamiliar with the disease, I purchased a book for newly diagnosed. Explaining the history of MS, the author called it “rich mans disease” saying many thought being too clean contributed to MS. I never understood what it meant, but never (more…)
The trend to offer Vaginal Steaming in the spa is gaining momentum. We use steam to beautify the skin in our facial and in in body treatments, it makes sense that we would also provide a gentle steam to enhance the cleanliness and wellbeing of the vaginal skin. What do (more…)
Our skin has a lot on its plate. It is responsible for protecting against environmental factors like UV radiation, foreign bodies, and toxins as well as temperature regulation and immune defense. For our body’s largest organ, there’s a kernel of truth to the common phrase, you are what you eat. (more…)
You have a great idea to start or reposition your day spa as a med spa! However, one of the main obstacles is a competitive explosion of new med spas opening every year. Potential or present owners are challenged by the prospect of making their brand stand out and differentiating (more…)
A consultation is typically the first point of contact we make with a client.  This first impression essentially determines if they will literally put their face into our hands.  Because a peel is a controlled wound, this consultation requires a few extra steps to ensure a successful experience for both (more…)
The skincare industry is ever evolving and as business owners and estheticians, we want to be knowledgeable in the newest and most effective treatments. Our clients are looking for the what’s new treatment, what’s best for me and I’m sure we all want to provide an outstanding service.  As skin (more…)
“A shoemaker never has shoes”. This old saying, dating back to 1621, still rings true today. As a skin care therapist, how many treatments do we get ourselves? So, in order to keep our skins in their best shape, how can we bring those professional treatments home. And, how do (more…)
As people are retiring later in life, additional environmental exposure, increased stress levels, and hormonal fluctuations are contributing to more pigmentation management than ever before.  Expectations of bright, flawless skin are seen throughout digital and print media influencing clients to request brightening and refining facial treatments with little to no (more…)
Whether you are a newbie enrolled in an esthetics program or an experienced veteran in the industry the same principals to achieving success are applied. After setting a clear, obtainable goal you will need to make a plan of action: Keeping in mind why this is important to you in the long-run (more…)
As estheticians we are always seeking the most effective, innovative ingredients available. This industry is constantly evolving. We are in pursuit to find the fountain of youth, the miracle to turn back time and slow down the aging process or perhaps the solution to acne… Each of us have our (more…)
Aging is a very short word for what it harbors: our skin is losing elasticity and vitality, wrinkles start to form, our bones get brittle, illnesses like diabetes occur, our metabolism slows down, etc. Basically aging is another word for breakdown. However, research gives hope, not just in the form (more…)
In the modern world of “quick fixes” which include skin fillers, BOTOX®, surgical threads and all kinds of radio frequency and laser machines, if I were asked to select ONE treatment that in the long term gives the best results, I would have to say The Enzyme Therapy. There is (more…)
A hairy situation indeed!!!  I don’t know that any of us would like to be compared to an ape, but both a chimpanzee and humans have approximately 5 million hairs. Needless, to say the hair of a primate is much courser than human hair. The average human has only 100,000 (more…)
It comes on slowly but when sadness, anxiety or depression hits us full on it’s usually because we were not pay attention. In our fast pace world we don’t take the time to listen to our body telling it us time to stop, we just keep on going. A few (more…)
The face, neck and décolleté are exposed to the sun, wind and cold weather, and must be all cared for in the same way as the face during the professional treatment and at home. The delicate neck and décolleté area is often ignored when it comes to application of moisturizers (more…)
“How do I choose the right sunscreen? What is an SPF?” It’s not surprising that many people, including estheticians have questions about sun care products. There is a vast array of sunscreens on the market, and plenty of conflicting information regarding their effectivity, toxicity, and proper mode of application. Sunscreens (more…)
The benefits of steaming have long been promoted for overall health and wellness in a variety of applications and techniques. When tissue is warmed above a normal body temperature specific enzymatic, cellular, vascular and immunologic functions are activated. Steaming of both the skin and body has been practiced since the (more…)
Skin care professionals come in many varieties, but one thing I can safely say about all of us is that we are fixers. We like to help people, we like to solve problems, and connect at a deeper level with the people we work with. A level of trust is (more…)
Skin needling for the body may follow similar guidelines to microneedling for the face, but there may be the need for several considerations: the size and area being treated, the level of damage, or the depth of needles required to attain a result. Regardless of the anatomic area being treated, (more…)
Microdermabrasion is a very popular, machine-assisted skin-exfoliating treatment. Microdermabrasion has advantages of low risk and rapid recovery compared to the other more invasive resurfacing methods such as dermabrasion, chemical peeling, and laser resurfacing. Since microdermabrasion produces only a very superficial depth of skin removal, it works best on improving conditions (more…)
”Turn your face toward the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.”― Maori Proverb.  This proverb sounds zen, and how one might want to live their life, but theoretically, by doing so, one stimulates many communication pathways in the skin leading to multiple unwanted skin conditions. Cellular Communication In (more…)
What an exciting time this is in anybody’s life! Preparing for a wedding. Whether you are the bride or the groom, part of the retinue or simply an honored guest, we all want to arrive on the big day looking our best! This is certainly not more true than for (more…)
Every bride wants to glow as she glides down the aisle. As an esthetician and owner of Natural Feeling Spa in Los Angeles, the most frequent request received from brides is for youthful-looking skin. They want a flawless, dewy, brighter and, overall, more supple appearance. As with all the logistics (more…)
We know that traveling can wreak havoc and stress out our skin. Whether it’s an hour long flight or an entire day sitting on a plane, the dry recirculated air zaps moisture out of our skin leaving it feeling dull and dehydrated. In addition to suffering from rosacea, I live (more…)
Microdermabrasion is a very popular, machine-assisted skin-exfoliating treatment. Microdermabrasion has advantages of low risk and rapid recovery compared to the other more invasive resurfacing methods such as dermabrasion, chemical peeling, and laser resurfacing. Since microdermabrasion produces only a very superficial depth of skin removal, it works best on improving conditions (more…)
As a bride gets ready to take the last few steps of her single life down the aisle, she wants to look her picture best. So what are the key elements one needs to know to make that happen for her, as well making her look simply fresh and up (more…)
We called my father “Baba” (may he be resting in peace). Baba was my best guinea pig. He would always jump on any opportunity to get a facial, or let me test one of my gadgets or devices on him. It was a holiday for my father every time I (more…)
Pregnancy can be an exciting yet challenging time for woman. Your body goes through a vast amount of changes so quickly that it can be difficult to adjust. For myself, I went through a terrible bought of morning sickness, dizzy spells and I noticed a huge change in my skin. (more…)
Because one of the functions of the skin is as a barrier to protect the internal environment of the body, this barrier function must be overcome to enable the external penetration of beneficial cosmeceuticals. Transdermal delivery systems have been developed to modify this barrier function of skin and can be (more…)
Organisms age as cells accumulate free radical damage over time, a free radical is a molecule that has a single unpaired electron. Most biologically-relevant free radicals are highly reactive, for most biological structures, free radical damage is closely associated with oxidative damage. Antioxidants are reducing agents, and limit oxidative damage (more…)
Treating the appearance of stubborn skin conditions under normal circumstances can be a battle, but when adding hormones into the mix, it can feel like we are fighting an army comprised of sneaky little deviants we never saw coming. Hormones are at the core of the functionality of all cells (more…)
The history of skin needling dates back many years. For centuries, cultures of the world have experimented with needling skin through the practice of tattooing. Modern needling was established around 1996 when Dr. Des Fernandes starting performing it as we do today, but only after 6 years of first experimenting (more…)
When it comes to makeup…Lipstick has always been a passion of mine. I love helping women select a hue and all things for the lips too. I must have fifty lipsticks on my vanity and I use them ALL! My mantra is “A woman without lipstick is like a day (more…)
The Korean skincare phenomenon gripping the beauty industry for the past half-decade or so is finally loosening its grasp, but only a bit. At least enough to make a contemporary article on the subject risk seeming passé. Still, these beauty products and techniques are perhaps worthier of discussion in a (more…)
All estheticians, try to get the best quality products to use and offer in their services. One of the most important items they look for is the ingredients of the products. Professionally, formulations offer durability, efficacy, and faster absorption with better results achieved. In order to understand how the ingredients (more…)
Massage is one of the most ancient healing arts on the planet. It also varies in technique from country to country, and over the years I have experienced most of them from Europe all the way to Tibet. Commonly, various oils may be used. In China – the “no skin (more…)
Rose Quartz Background: Rose Quartz is a healing stone tied to the pink hue of the heart chakra, where emotional experiences are logged and kept. The heart chakra is located near the center of the chest and balances our ability to give and receive love. This harmonious characteristic is what (more…)
Preventing and correcting skin aging is the number one concern of the beauty consumer and continues to top the charts as one of the most sought after spa and medical skin care treatments. When considering the impact of the ever evolving demographics and ecological changes, the aging equation becomes even (more…)
Facial massage is one of my favorite section of both giving and receiving a facial treatment. As a guest, let’s face it, massage feels AMAZING! As an esthetician, the facial massage is a phenomenal way to enhance circulation, stimulate facial muscles, warm the skin, and prepare for extractions. If you (more…)
As estheticians, many of our clients come to us with concerns for their complexion, but what is often another area contributing to crippled confidence is thinning or receding hair. Whether a client is suffering from androgenetic alopecia or has experienced inflammatory skin conditions or metabolic imbalance, providing hair rejuvenation treatments (more…)
Antioxidants are a key player in the skin health game. Limiting inflammation, combating free radical invasion, and encouraging regular cellular turnover are essential in achieving the ultimate in skin health. As the restorative season of Spring approaches, consider utilizing these powerful antioxidants to reawaken skin’s natural beauty. Cut-Leaf Ground Cherry: (more…)
In the late 1960’s and early 70’s, when I was trying to plow my way through all the myths about facials and beauty treatments (the term skincare was not invented yet) I kept going back to books on biochemistry and anatomy to see how the skin and body actually worked. (more…)
Mists and toners are trending and understandably so. They’re quick and convenient. Psssht. Psssht. That’s it. No fuss. No mess. And there are so many uses for them. Take a look: Daily Skin Care and Treatments Facial mists and toners refresh and moisturize the skin, and they tighten pores. But (more…)