News

  • Breakout Freakout

    Ah summer. The home stretch, the ninth inning, a time for preparation and relaxation and… final exams! This may stir up terrifying memories, or if you’re in the midst of it, elicit a reminder of what’s to come. This crunch time is key to passing exams with flying colors or not passing at all, and it can feel like a literal squeeze or crunch, with your mind racing at 100mph. What you may not even realize during this hectic time is how it can also affect your body and even your skin.

    Psychological stress is not just “in your mind,” although it does begin there. When we experience stress, a region in the brain called the hypothalamus releases signals to specific glands to produce even more signals, or hormones, which then circulate around the body and elicit the “stress response.” The stress hormones released by the glands sitting atop the kidneys are epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol.

    Cortisol is a stress hormone that can also impact skin health. When cortisol is released, it can trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum as well as increase inflammation. In the skin, this increased inflammation and sebum is the perfect environment for P. acnes to thrive inside the follicle. The result? A breakout.

    We may not be able to avoid those finals, but we can try to avoid that stress-induced pimple by practicing relaxation techniques. Or at the very least, treat it with efficacious ingredients to help the skin heal. If you have teenage clients in the treatment room, remember this is a high-stress time so combine stress-relieving techniques with these ingredients:

    • Benzoyl Peroxide: Stops breakout-causing bacteria in the follicle and helps clear skin.
    • Salicylic Acid: A hydroxy acid that exfoliates surface skin cells and reduces inflammation.
    • Bentonite and Kaolin Clays: Purifying clays pull oil from skin, deep cleaning and helping to control shine.
    • Niacinamide: Assists in regulating sebaceous gland secretions while scavenging free radicals.
    • Meadowsweet: protects against the production and secretion of excess sebum.
    • African Whitewood: The bark extract of this tree has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and sebum-regulating properties.

    To learn more about stress and breakouts, check out this video that I shared for Ted Education:

  • Is your Business Ready for Mother’s Day?

    Mother’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the importance of the mothers in our lives. It is also an occasion to give thanks to them for being a constant guiding force in our lives and for the support they have shown in helping us achieve our dreams and goals. Not only is this a special day to celebrate anyone who has been a mother to you, but it is also an opportunity to promote your business and to connect with your clients and potential consumers.

    Remember to organize ahead of time with a marketing calendar so you can optimize the opportunities that special events, like Mother’s Day, can bring to your business.

    Many people are unsure what to get their mum’s for the holiday, so why not take away the confusion and make it easy? Bouquets of flowers are a traditional Mother’s Day gift, but bouquets can come in many shapes and sizes. Think of your own products or services as bundles that you can then translate into great Mother’s Day packages of your own.

    Target your existing data base and send out an e-blast and/or text to your clients, as many of them will be looking for ideas. Prepackage gift baskets for Mother’s Day with themed items such as hydrating, anti-aging, reducing stress etc. Remember men purchase a significant portion of Mother’s Day gifts overall, so make it clear to them the gift options they have. This might mean partnering with businesses that have a significant number of male patrons for cross marketing.

    Use social media to connect with your customers as many people will be searching online for ideas. You could engage them with a competition for the best story on how their mother has inspired them, and the gift could be a treatment or product for their mum. A different social media channel to promote is Pinterest (instead of just Twitter or Facebook), as a lot of mums use this site to save their ideas for food, kids, the home and much more. You could also create a “Mother’s Day wish list” of gift ideas to post on your blog, website, or email newsletter.

    Don’t forget to also take the opportunity to bring them back to your business once they have purchased their gift. Ideally, a Mother’s Day gift won’t just represent the sale of products for your business one time, but rather it will result in a new customer coming back to your business. Include a bounce back offer, bag stuffer or special offer along with the customer’s receipt. If you’re offering a service, consider creating a tangible gift that a spouse or child can wrap up to give to their mothers. For example: a free gift with the purchase of a treatment.

    Events are great to link with celebrations like Mother’s Day; you could create a mother and daughter/son event to celebrate. Events create an ideal environment for them to interact over skin lessons, treatments and product.

    Lastly let’s not forget that we can also use Mother’s Day to make a difference and support women around the world who struggle to provide for their children. You could connect with a charity or philanthropic initiative that helps give women support and opportunity to enable them to provide for their families, allowing them to raise their children in a safe and healthy environment. You could also connect with a local organization that supports women and mothers, encouraging people to pay it forward and get involved in sharing with others the opportunities their own mothers have given them.

    Happy Mother’s Day!

  • We Heart IDI

    To celebrate our 30th anniversary here at The International Dermal Institute, we asked IDI team members from around the globe to tell us what they love most about working at IDI! We appreciate the hard work, dedication and intelligence of each of our team members, and we are so grateful to offer their expertise to our students. Find out what our beloved educators and staff had to say about working at IDI:

    “I had my first taste of IDI at a seminar held in South Africa in the mid-1990s and it changed everything for me. I had always felt that, whilst I enjoyed my work, there was a strange disconnect with other people’s perception of me. It was wonderful to hear Jane speak about our trade in a way that resonated with how I felt. I wanted others to recognize that there was far more value to what skin therapists could and do contribute to society, and it was reassuring to know that I could be so much better than this warped perception. A few years later I moved to the United Kingdom and joined the International Dermal Institute as an Educator. Every day since has been extraordinary – challenging, rewarding, and more connecting than I could possibly have imagined. The International Dermal Institute has not only given me the knowledge and experience I craved, but it has given me a sense of pride in my industry that is a reason to give my best every day. Beyond that I have had the privilege to forge friendships that will last a lifetime. After more than 20 years in the industry, I know I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”
    -Candice Gardner, Educator

    “When I started working for Dermalogica more than 10 years ago, I attended various IDI classes, some of them abroad. I was particularly impressed by the wealth of information and its scientific background. This was completely new to me, because so far my experience with courses in the cosmetics industry were far more superficial and more traditional in Germany. The absolute highlight for me, and one that I will never forget, was the visit by Ohashi, who provided much amazement – as well as a certain amount of amusement – at an IDI class on the subject of face and body reading. His apt and very humorous analysis of a participant just by his shoes was amazing! I never fail to be impressed by the holistic broader view with which the IDI classes are held.”
    -Bettina Zammert, Education Manager, Germany

    “I’ve been in the industry for 14 years, and IDI has played an integral part in my learning and development as a skin therapist and an employee. It takes the journey of knowledge beyond what you expect and motivates you to learn more and share your knowledge with other like-minded skin therapists. IDI has evolved over the years and now in Australia it’s very exciting and motivating to know that yearly, IDI supports an event where we get see and hear from leaders within our industry.”
    -Triska Stratulat, Education Operations Manager, Australia

    “When I first entered the beauty industry in 1995, I was told by many people that I would be bored and never be successful. These people obviously had never heard of IDI. I admit, when I left college I thought I knew it all! I was brought back to reality when I attended my first IDI class. That first day I transformed from a beauty therapist into a skin and body therapist and I’ve never looked back. Over the years the education I gained from the IDI team and other students while in class has greatly built my knowledge and hands-on skills in the treatment room, increased my sales, and ultimately given me confidence. The passion for learning and the industry as a whole was infectious and highly motivational, so much so that I have worked for IDI for the past 10 years. IDI has helped me continually grow and to travel the world while being part of our exciting and ever changing industry. Boring? No way. Successful? Absolutely. Thank you IDI, and happy anniversary!”
    -Claire Crouch: Corporate Training Specialist

    “My passion and excitement for education began with The International Dermal Institute, from attending every IDI workshop as a student to now teaching as an IDI trainer for Australia, New Zealand and Asia. IDI’s education has built my love of skin more than I could have ever imagined, and it has provided me with a fantastic opportunity to share this with skin therapists around the world! I am very proud to represent IDI and be connected to such a strong tribe that shares the same passion for the skin care industry.”
    -Charlotte Brockett, International Senior Instructor

    “I remember attending my first IDI class; it was Effective Skin Analysis just over 16 years ago. I remember being blown away by the pH test with the pH pencil; my boss purchased three at the end of class. The next day we started testing all the cleansers the business stocked and we were shocked by the results! I was hooked on IDI! I was very fortunate to have worked for a woman that believes education is the key to a successful business, so the entire team of therapists were sent to attend training at IDI on regular bases.

    Next came Paraffin Therapies and then I worked my way through every IDI class and Guest Speaker Event that was on offer. With each IDI workshop I attended I used the information to educate my clients about their skin, and I performed the techniques learnt to enhance the treatments I gave. I believe IDI has been a key in assisting me to become a therapist that is well-skilled and knowledgeable.

    IDI ignited my passion for learning to become the best skin therapist I could possibly be, and it helped me make a very easy decision on what direction my career should take. I have just celebrated my 12 year anniversary with the company and am fortunate to be part of the IDI team. Thank you IDI and happy anniversary!”
    -Dennille Ludenau, Corporate Training Manager, Australia

    “I get as excited today when I log onto the IDI website and have at my fingertips the most incredible and valuable source of information to support, strengthen and develop any industry professional as I did 20 years ago when I joined IDI as an educator. It has, and remains, an incredible fountain of knowledge.

    To me IDI is more than simply an education provider, it is a community of like-minded people across the globe who share a common passion, skin/body health and wellness, delivered through the most up to date business practices and outstanding customer service. Whether it is face to face learning in a workshop or symposium, through live webinars, videos or the written word, IDI is our industry’s guiding light; it equips us with the tools to face the future challenges head on and reap the rewards of success. Happy anniversary IDI, here’s to the next 30!”
    -Emma Hobson, Education Manager, Asia, Australia & New Zealand

    “Over the course of several years I took every IDI course I could to not only build my scientific knowledge base on skin, but also to learn and apply new skills to my practice. I quickly found work in a medical clinic and was eventually asked to partner in a medical spa venture and act as their Esthetics Director.

    Because of my exposure to the Dermalogica line while taking practical courses at IDI Minneapolis, I made the easy decision in my first business to carry Dermalogica. Clients absolutely loved the versatility and results of the product line and I felt supported in my continuing education with Dermalogica!
    Throughout my career I frequently sought the advice of my instructor, Holly Stoviak. My professional relationship with Holly provided a secure and supportive mentorship that I continue to value to this day. She steered me clearly on so many decisions and provided wonderful insight into the advancement of my career.

    My time at IDI and Dermalogica as a student facilitated countless networking opportunities, continuously reignited my passion for the industry, kept me competitive as a skin therapist, and provided a trusted and respected ‘home away from home’ through the compassion and professionalism of exceptional instructors and staff.

    IDI broadened my horizons and scope of practice and shaped me into a professional that has gone on to direct cosmetic laser divisions of two medical practices, manage three medical spas, orchestrate an entire build-out on my first business, provide freelance consulting for physicians seeking to open medical spas, and train others in my craft.

    These adventures in my career would NOT have been possible without my continued post graduate education at The International Dermal Institute.”
    -Danielle Spak, Instructor, The International Dermal Institute

    We are pleased to provide skin therapists with the best education possible to ensure success in their skin therapy careers.

  • Spring Skin: The Seasonal Change that Can Come with an Itch!

    Being a native South African, I can honestly say that I’ve currently come through one of the longest, most severe Canadian winters of my entire life. Having survived through -27 C, months of endless grey skies and snow storms, I am nearly at the point of jumping out of my skin at the mere thought of Spring and its promise of blue skies and brightly colored blossoms!

    However, the thought of Spring can leave some less fortunate individuals with a dreaded promise of an ensuing runny nose; red, puffy eyes and itchy, sensitive skin.

    In Spring, the skin is exposed to invisible airborne allergens, such as pollen, which in some individuals can lead to release of histamine, a neurotransmitter that dilates blood vessels and leads to inflammation. Higher levels of histamine can lead to the skin being more reactive and can even trigger eczema and allergies. The most readily effected areas for this to occur on the face are on the cheek and the skin surrounding the eye.

    Due to climate change, experts are predicting a worse-than-average spring allergy season and expect the situation to escalate as time goes on. The reason being that concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have risen, which increases the release of allergen levels such as pollen and types of fungal growth, such as mold, and the spores they release.

    As professional skin therapists we need to be armed with a few handy tips that we can provide to our clients as part of a prevention plan:

    Reduce Stress Levels
    Stress has been found to actually make your response to allergens worse. Offer a 15 min back massage as an add-on to an anti-inflammatory skin treatment and market it as a “Spring Skin Program.”

    Change Up Your Routine
    If you tend to be someone who experiences some of the symptoms of “Spring Skin” then you may need to consider temporarily switching to a 4 week skin care program that can actively target skin inflammation, puffiness and irritation while repairing the barrier function of the skin. Once your skin is healed and all your symptoms are gone, it’s more than likely that you’ll be able to revert back to your normal home care program.

    Ingredients to look for in your “Spring Skin Care” program should include Avena Sativa, which is proven to have natural anti-irritant and anti-redness properties, and Red Hogweed Root Extract, another amazing ingredient that targets inflammation by limiting the production of pro-inflammatory agents (such as prostaglandins), as well as promoting the production of natural anti-inflammatory agents in the skin. The delicate eye area is often the first to show signs of irritation, so try using a light weight, gel-based eye cream that contains Harpoon Weed and Norwegian Kelp combined with Golden Chamomile. These three ingredients work very well together by limiting the inflammatory mediators, thereby significantly reducing eye puffiness and inflammation by 43%.

    Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption
    Many may not be aware that there is naturally occurring histamine in alcohol, which is made during the fermentation process. Wine, beer and champagne contain the highest concentration of histamine which could exacerbate your symptoms.

    Eat Right
    “Avoiding certain foods and adding more of others — can affect your likelihood of developing seasonal allergies, as well as the severity of your symptoms”, says Leonard Bielory, M.D., American College of Asthma and Immunology.

    German researchers from the University of Bonn published an article in 2007 in the “American Journal of Clinical Nutrition” (AJCN) that identified high-histamine foods. Fish high in histamine include mackerel, herring, sardines and tuna. According to the Michigan Allergy, Sinus and Asthma Specialists (MASAS), fermented, aged and processed meats and cheeses are also high in histamine. It would be advisable for you to refer your client to an allergist and or nutritionist to really get some expert advice in regards to what food to avoid and include in their diet.

    Resources
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/best-worst-foodallergies_n_3017544.html#slide=2300996

    http://www.livescience.com/28320-climate-change-allergies.html

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/106451-foods-trigger-histamine-response/#ixzz2QZCqcovx

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/106451-foods-trigger-histamine-response/#ixzz2QZF4d3OX

  • I Heart IDI

    In honor of our 30th anniversary here at The International Dermal Institute, we asked students at IDIs across the world to share what they love most about their experience with us. When we received the success stories and testimonials, we were overjoyed by the response! See for yourself what the students had to say:

    “My name is Lanell ‘Lanie’ White and I have been an esthetician for 19 years. I have enjoyed taking several IDI classes, but the Acids, Peels and Exfoliants class changed my professional life. I had a young man, about 17 years old, who suffered from large and painful acne break outs. After the class I was able to use more aggressive exfoliants on him, along with a six-treatment peel, and it helped to not only eliminate his acne scarring, but his skin became healthy and acne free. He loves the way his skin looks now and is using the hygiene techniques I taught him to keep his razor and other products that touch his face bacteria free. What a wonderful gift to give someone – clearer skin and less breakouts, on the way to none at all. Thanks IDI.”
    -Lanie White, Independent Consultant/Esthetician

    “The education I’ve received at the International Dermal Institute has greatly boosted my confidence. I’m comfortable explaining product ingredients, skin conditions and types, electrical modalities, and recommending products and treatment plans.”
    -Terrius Gaines, Terrius Gaines Skin Care Inc.

    “No matter how I am feeling, about life, work, my boss – whatever – every single time I come to class, I feel reinvigorated and inspired to do a better job. The way you teach classes here is so easy to follow, learn from and implement.”
    -Karen Crosby, ULTA

    “IDI sets the bar in the industry for excellence in skin care education. As a Skin Therapist, IDI gives me the resources for knowledge and confidence for continued success. I really do greatly appreciate the entire team, including Heather, Misty and Christy.”
    -Sharie, Professional Skin Therapist

    “Dear Jane,
    It is an honor to congratulate you for IDI’s 30th Anniversary. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving to us “The International Dermal Institute,” a source of inspiration, a hub for learning, a place for practice, a fountain of knowledge, a forum for skin care professionals who share their wisdom and expertise, and for The Lisa White Spiering Legacy Scholarship. In a few words, it is “The Skin Care Therapist Oasis,” for it is a place for growth and to reach excellence as a PST.

    The knowledge shared in the training and the tools provided online for skin care techniques, products, treatments, best practices, market trends, customer service, new technology, research, development, products, knowledge on ingredients, specific skin conditions and so much more, has increased my confidence, my level of expertise and is opening many opportunities to me.

    I believe in the power of knowledge and how education is a great investment for the future. I am constantly taking classes at IDI, classes that become alive in my work when I apply the knowledge I learned at IDI. The results can be seen when I transform the health and look of my clients’ skin and I provide effective education on the importance of skin care maintenance. My growing experience and knowledge has taught me that skin care is not only for looking good and feeling good, but for a healthy skin, and this translates to my customers as I do care for them from the inside out. The results… priceless.

    Thank you Jane for providing to all of us at IDI “an oasis for the skin care therapist.” I am grateful for all the support from IDI, transforming me to Excellence in the skin care field. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
    -Monica Betancourt, Awarded the Lisa Spiering Scholarship 2012

    “IDI has truly been a force in my education! I started in the industry as a cosmetologist and my esthetics background was marginal at best. After attending several hundred hours at IDI and Dermalogica trainings along with self-study, I feel competent in my esthetics career. I believe that competence is knowledge + confidence, and IDI has given me huge doses of both!

    Thank you for the chance to learn, grow and develop in such a wonderful environment! I love that no matter what IDI you go to, you feel welcome, warm and like you belong. The trainers are always top notch and I thoroughly enjoy and appreciate whenever I get to be there.”
    -Mary Hess, IDI student

    “I love being at IDI, all the instructors are very knowledgeable and are just a pleasant to be around. One day I was at IDI taking a class and the new instructor Danielle came up to me and let me know that she passed my name along to a new account that was looking for talented skin therapists. I was shocked because I hadn’t talked to Danielle a whole lot and hadn’t known her for very long, but I was very honored that she saw me as a talented therapist. Needless to say, I got the job (and I absolutely love it)!

    With being hired, I set up a time to take my expert practical so I would be set before the new salon opened. I passed the practical with flying colors and Danielle boosted my confidence even more with all the things she said about me during the test. She also gave me a few pointers that will help me during my treatments. Overall, I am very thankful for the wonderful ladies (Danielle, Holly, Brenda) at the MPLS IDI. I owe my current job to them and look forward to taking more classes in the future. They are my go-to ladies for any skin questions and are always able to help me out or find the information I need.”
    -Alicia Reilly, IDI student

    “Education through The International Dermal Institute and Dermalogica has helped me in my profession by teaching me quality products along with amazing treatments. My confidence level has increased by being better informed of products, how they work together, and the amazing results clients receive.”
    -Christine Stramaglio, Essence Salon and Day Spa

    It is our absolute pleasure to provide skin therapists with the best education possible to ensure success in their skin therapy careers, and we appreciate the support of our students in return!

  • Spring Promotions for your Business

    Spring, a season of renewal and beauty, is the perfect time to revitalize your treatment center with revenue boosting promotions for clients, both new and old. There are so many people who have yet to receive a professional skin or body treatment, so it’s imperative to continuously provide updated and fresh, seasonal promotions to draw new business to your door!

    A great way to plan a spring promotion is to start small. Weekly, mini events for a smaller group are a great way to celebrate the season without interfering with business as usual. The business owner or manager can run the event, or each skin therapist could host her or his own mini event. One idea I love is to host a mother-daughter tea party, in which a small group of mothers and daughters come in on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and receive customized skin care lessons. Offer a discount on products purchased at the end of the event, and include a gift bag with samples and a coupon to encourage their return. Always offer a discount for rebooking a future service on the spot; this is a great way to ensure they will be back! Mini events can be promoted in-store or by sending out an e-mail or postcard to your customer database. To save money on postage, send out a mailer to your top clients only and offer them a “Refer a Friend” discount if they send a friend in to the event.

    Another idea is to partner with a local gym or yoga studio and plan a “Beauty Bootcamp,” offering guests your selection of complimentary mini services while a nutritionist or instructor from a gym can offer to get clients summer ready. Partnering with a gym or yoga studio is also a great way to meet new clients and cross promote throughout the year. Bounce backs for each other business’ are a great way to do this; for example, with every skin treatment your clients receive, they’ll get a bounce back for a discount on a yoga class, while the yoga studio can do the same for you. When looking to cross promote, look for businesses that share common ground with you.

    Spring is also a great time to introduce a new series or package to lock clients in for the season and keep them coming back all year long! Your clients are recovering from the winter blues and are usually inspired to start some new healthy routines! Make sure to provide a selection of packages that will appeal to a variety of different clients, such as a bundled package in which clients receive larger discounts the more they purchase. If you are trying to introduce a new service or add-on, this is a great time to add it in!

    Another offer I love is a gift with purchase and new product samples! Clients always love a gift when they make a purchase, even if it is small. Offer tiers of gifts depending on how much they spend, such as a new eye cream or complimentary service such as a brow wax. If you are offering a gift with a purchase, make sure to advertise it on a sandwich board outside or on a window sign if you can. This will help draw in new business, and if your clients know they can usually get a small gift or sample with a purchase, they’re more likely to remain loyal to you.

    April is also the perfect month to plan spring celebration events such as a “Spring Fling” or a “Beauty Brunch,” with customers already in the mood surrounding holiday celebrations. Reaching out to local women’s groups, Girl Scout troops or schools is a great way to network. Additionally, May is a great time to start planning some events surrounding Mother’s Day and other focuses later in the season, which could include some bridal, graduation, and/or prom-themed series or events. Partnering with a flower shop is a good idea for May as well.

    And speaking of flowers, it’s always great to keep fresh cut flowers in your business to create a warm and inviting environment. A small bouquet near your cash wrap is all you need but it helps create a sense of renewal and beauty, and I believe it helps increase sales. As one of my skin therapists said recently, “How can anyone be in a bad mood when there are daffodils in bloom all around?” And when clients are in a good mood, they are more likely to book their next service and purchase that new eye cream. It’s the little things that can make a big difference!

    Happy spring selling!

    Erin Carey is the Retail Store and Business Development Manager for Dermalogica on Montana

  • Quenching the Thirst for Education in Sweden

    Last month, my colleague Arabella Lane and I had the opportunity to visit Stockholm in Sweden to conduct an International Dermal Institute (IDI) event on Rosacea and Inflammation to the students of St. Eriks College.

    In Sweden, the level of education is very high. Students have the option to either attend a private college or state college to complete their beauty/aesthetic diploma. Unfortunately, due to the economy, the numbers of jobs in the aesthetic field have started to decline, making the industry very competitive. As a result, students now value their education more than ever. In fact they are always looking to expand their knowledge in specialized areas like the skin.

    During this visit I was delighted to see many familiar faces of those who attended an IDI event last year. In fact this time I had the opportunity to spend some time chatting with the students during break. It was great to hear their laughter, feel their enthusiasm and also share personal stories about their love for the industry. Whilst we were chatting I found out that in Sweden they are required to complete an assignment on a specialized subject of choice. They can choose the subject; it can be skin specific, body or treatment related. This was music to my ears as many of them have chosen Rosacea as a result of our IDI visits that we have conducted. Even though they attended the same class last year, they expressed to me that they never stop learning and that their love and passion for IDI education never stops.

    We look forward to visiting with our friends in Stockholm again in the future!

    Vicky Convey is a valuable member of the IDI team and works to educate skin therapists abroad.

  • Deep Cleanse Your Way to Clean, Clear Skin

    A sign of a healthy skin is a smooth, clear complexion, free of oily blackheads and breakouts. Many individuals suffer with congested, bumpy skin, not as a result of acne or some other related skin condition, but rather because of ineffective cleansing methods.

    Professional skin therapists can offer deep cleansing treatments to help tackle the accumulation of environmental residues, sebum and skin cells that cause skin impactions. A good deep cleanse is reliant on three basic strategies: efficient cleansing, good skin preparation and skilled extraction techniques.

    For thoroughly clean skin, start with a double cleanse. The first cleanse will remove superficial debris that has adhered to sticky sebum and irregular epidermal cells including makeup, pollution, SPFs, and everyday dirt and dust. Ideally, choose a plant-based cleansing oil that will dissolve this surface grime. Emulsify with water and wash away.

    The second cleanse, using a cleanser appropriate to the general skin condition, will then be able to deep cleanse into the follicle openings, lifting away excess skin oils and minimizing build-up. It also guarantees a hygienic environment if proceeding with extractions.

    Top Tips for Effective Cleansing:
    • Cleanse in an upward, circular motion to lift hairs and get into follicles.
    • Focus on facial creases where sebum collects such as corners of the nose or crease of chin, or where more congestion is felt such as the
    T-zone or along the jawline.
    • Use steam to improve emulsification of cleansers, and encourage natural detoxification of the skin.
    • Use light pressure so as not to overheat skin with heavy friction movements, as this could sensitize and increase oil production.
    • Never reuse cleansing sponges on a different client. New client = new sponges to maintain hygiene standards.

    An exfoliant will begin to prepare skin for extractions. Removing loose cell layers will expose follicle openings and comedones – ideal for easing the impaction out of skin with reduced discomfort for clients.

    Application of an extraction or desincrustation fluid that further softens and loosens cellular debris will make it easier to extract blackheads without bruising. Most fluids are alkaline in nature to achieve this effect. Alkalinity assists with emulsifying the natural skin oils too, promoting the deep cleansing result.

    Top Tips for Extractions:
    • Allow enough time for the desincrustation fluid to process.
    • Avoid metal comedone extractors that bruise and damage tissue; rather manually extract with a careful rolling technique.
    • Use vinyl gloves to maintain a sterile environment and avoid cross-infecting.
    • Only extract non-inflammatory lesions to avoid scarring or spreading infection to neighboring follicles; wipe carefully and away from follicle
    rather than back into it.
    • Apply an astringent antiseptic post extractions to soothe and prevent infection.

    Focusing on the cleansing stages of the treatment can yield great results. But be sure to follow-up the deep cleansing treatment with relevant advice on cleansing at home to maintain the benefits!

  • Negative Reviews: The Silver Lining

    If you have social media pages for your business, it’s possible that you’ve experienced the dreaded “negative review” moment. This would be the moment when you log into your Facebook page, or Yelp page, or possibly it’s Twitter, and you see that someone has publicly complained about something within your business.

    But is a negative review actually a negative experience? Not always. Of course there are those occasions where people aren’t very nice with their words, but often, it’s just about perception.

    If you receive a negative review, stop and understand how you perceive the message. Is your initial instinct to take offense? Do you feel scared that that review may affect future business for the worse? Do you feel misunderstood? These feelings are normal, but they can get in the way.

    Sometimes people want to be heard above anything else, so instead, put yourself aside and listen to what the reviewer is actually saying. Is this person offering helpful advice? Is this an opportunity for you to help someone out when you didn’t know there was an issue? Are you able to publically show that you care for your clients by responding and handling the manner? Every negative review has its silver lining.

    When a negative review comes in, it’s best to reply as quickly as you can with a warm and understanding approach. Let your clients know you hear them and that you understand they are unhappy. Ensure that you appreciate both their business and their interest in reaching out, and that you’ll take the necessary action to resolve the issue. It never hurts to include a free service, gift, or product to help reconcile the situation. Chances are they’ll understand and be more willing to work with you given your concerned and thoughtful approach.

    What about positive reviews? It’s still great to interact with your clients and thank them for taking the time to write a nice message!

  • On Track

    Can you believe we’re three months into the year already? I know, where has the time gone? This can be a dangerous period for any business because it’s so easy to have now slipped into “working in the business mode” not “working on the business mode.” This means not taking the vital entrepreneurial time to look at both the big picture and the finite financials. March should be a crucial period for your business planning, when it’s essential to take stock of where you are positioned currently in 2013. Is your business resembling a runaway train going speedily off the rails, or right on track to your chosen destination (as per your business plan)?

    How to Stay on Track:

    1. Put some time aside NOW to review your progress.

    2. Get your business plan out and measure where you are currently in 2013 vs. 2012, and note where you are according to your 2013 budget.

    3. Make clear assumptions as to where you are on track, and where you have deviated from your business plan.

    4. Identify where, what and why you’ve been weak in certain areas. You can:

    • Review your treatments sales
    • Review your retail sales
    • Review your expenditure
    • Assess your current cash flow and future projections
    • Audit your current staffing levels
    • Review your promotional/marketing calendar
    • Revisit your training protocol

    5. Identify where, what and why the areas you have been excelling in.

    • What needs to be amended in your current business plan to capitalise on your successes

    6. What do you have to do now, YES NOW, to get yourself back on track? Create the measures you need to put in place to get yourself on course for the rest of the year. Set weekly, monthly and quarterly tasks and objectives allowing you to reach your goal in bite sized pieces.

    7. “Tweak” your business plan accordingly.

    8. Share with your team the current picture of where the business is and the changes you plan to initiate to get back on track. Ask for their suggestions and buy-in and advice what role they must play in attaining these goals.

    As a business owner you are in the driving seat, you map your course, you fuel your engine, you drive with either caution or recklessness to your destination, you choose to deviate or stay on track, and you are in total control – it all comes down to you.

    I therefore wish you a safe and successful journey that gets you to your chosen destination!