One common thread that can be seen in my Yelp! reviews is that I am not a “hard sell” kind of person. And while this is true, it shouldn’t be taken as an indication that proper home care with the appropriate products between professional services isn’t essential — because it is! A good skincare therapist will recommend products based on what they learn about their client’s skin during their treatment, so that the benefits they have received during their treatment can be continued at home, between services, for optimal results.
Often people will come to see me with a “fix me!” request. I’ll analyze their skin, and based on that analysis, choose the best products for their treatment. I’ll spend the next hour getting their skin properly cleansed and exfoliated, the congestions in their skin extracted, perform a therapeutic massage, and deep-treat their skin through use of serums, a penetrating mask and finishing products. At the end of their appointment, they are excited to see and feel all of the improvements in their skin: noticeably smoother texture, a dewy glow, clearer pores, among others. They’re grateful, and I’m thrilled to be able to help them.
The majority of the time, I will then recommend home-care products they can purchase. However, just because I’m not “pushy,” doesn’t mean that I don’t believe it’s important that they follow my advice. I’ve just spent the last hour or so touching, poking and prodding their skin, as well as analyzing it through a magnifying lamp. I have spent hours being educated on analyzing their skin type and condition. I have many professional-grade products that have just been utilized. To now go home and use home-care products that have been bought based upon what the label claims or what the commercial said, could undo everything that has just been done.
Everything Needs Maintenance Between Professional Visits. We all brush our teeth between visits to the dentist, using ADA-approved, dentist-recommended products. Why, then, would we do anything less for our skin? The skin is the body’s largest organ. It is also the first one that can be seen to the outside world, the last one to receive nourishment from within, and the first to show signs of aging and mistreatment. Constant maintenance is required to keep it healthy, and if it is neglected, it is obvious. To spend time and money for a skincare therapist to share the benefit of their skills and knowledge, and then go back to using products that could undo everything that was just done, doesn’t make a lot of sense.
The Appropriate Products Are Crucial. Most people are unaware of their actual skin type. Often a client will come to see me, complaining that their skin is dry and that despite using a heavy moisturizer, they have seen no improvement. I will analyze their skin and find that it is actually somewhat oily, but is also dehydrated. Since most people are unaware there is a difference between dry and dehydrated, if they are using products that are for dry skin, they are probably making their skin worse, not better. Dry skin lacks oil, while dehydrated skin lacks water. Putting an oil-based product on oily, dehydrated skin will only serve to further clog pores, while failing to address the dehydration. A good skincare therapist is able to eliminate the guesswork from choosing the right product, and the client will see a marked improvement in a very short time.
You Get What You Pay For: I’m not saying that all drugstore skincare products are low-quality. But many are. For example, they may say they contain retinol, but how do you know how much, what quality, in what percentage, and if you even need a retinol-based product? In addition, many have added ingredients, such as perfumes or alcohols, that can cause irritation. And many, while being marketed as being gentle or pH-balanced, actually are not. Does it say they’re pH-balanced for your skin? I have a pH pencil in my treatment room, and it is always fun to test different products my clients bring in to see exactly what the pH level is. The results are often surprising, and reveal why the client has been experiencing tightness in their skin despite using a “gentle” product.
Instructions, Please! Yes, I know that all skincare products come with directions. Seriously, though, how many of us actually take time to read them before we throw them away along with the box they came in? Even the best products, used incorrectly, can cause more harm than good. A good skincare therapist will tell you exactly what the products is supposed to do, how often it should be used, how much should be used, and what results should be expected.
A good professional treatment is essential for your skin’s well-being. However, failure to maintain it between visits to your esthetician could undo all of the benefits you’ve just received. You’re already halfway to putting your best face forward — go the distance!