My Drug Store Skin Care Journey:Sometimes You Get What You Pay For

1/3 of the Skin Care Products Available at Local Drug Store

 

I have some clients that continually use drug store products because they are inexpensive, or a friend of a friend's doctor recommended it. Some of the favorable mentions are: "Dove-Sensitive Skin Unscented" bars, "Neutrogena Facial Bar" and "Simple Moisturizing Facial Wash."

I went in with an open mind. As I browsed the drug store, my eyes were overpowered with all the skin care choices. How would a customer even begin to know what they are looking for with all the endless packaging and discount signs? It is crazy. The skin care product industry has exploded on the drug store shelves.

I looked specifically for the three customer favorites. I am not sure if they are favorites as much as they are their first pick on the infinite skin care shelf. I tested "Simple" first--I like the name and the packaging--and yes, it is rather simple--it evokes organic images. The first thing I noticed right away is that it truly has no fragance, which is nice for sensitive skin types, but it is thick and goes on heavy. My skin didn't not feel supple and smooth as it does with my professional grade cleanser. In addition, the organic images exited my brain as soon as I read "Methylparaben" on the ingredient list. There is nothing simple about "Methylparaben" it is a chemical that has been linked to cancer. I am not a doctor, but I don't want a chemical in my skin care product, period. There is nothing SIMPLE about chemicals...thus, the organic packaging might be pretty, but there is nothing organic about this product. It is banned to my trash can!

The "Neutrogena Facial Soap" has zero scent which is great for people who have aversions to scents. My skin felt clean after using this soap, but it didn't feel nourished at all. I am used to cleansers that nourish the skin and leave it feeling like a baby's butt. This didn't do that for me, and it is filled with questionable ingredients.

Finally the Dove bar, as I lathered the soap bar in my hands and applied it to my face it did feel quite nourishing to my surprise. There is absolutely no scent so it wouldn't bother anyone with sensitivities of that sort. Afterwards my skin felt extremely dry--immediately! I am not used to feeling like my skin is super tight and taut following a cleanse, and I put on my heaviest moisturizer to combat that my-skin-is-going-to-crack-feeling. Not happy with the results at all. I expected that my skin would feel nourished and supple, not cracked like an alligator's skin. Ugh. Terrible feeling! Then I went on a quest to find out what is in this particular soap, and I am disgusted in what I found: Tetrasodium a preservative, Titanium Dioxide a chemcial with possible links to cancer and a host of other ingredients that are more chemical based in my opinion than organic.

Yes, the products are cheap! Absolutely, I can't argue with customers that they can get cheap skin care products at the local drug store, but you definitely get what you pay for. If you want beautiful, clear and supple skin then the drug store skin care products are probably not for you. I know I am biased because I am an esthetician, but now that I have tried these products I can unequivocably tell clients that if they want to put chemical-filled products on their faces then they should keep on using what they use. I can't make clients use good products, but I certainly can educate them on differences between products. And once customers realize that the products that I use feel better on their skin they usually ditch the over-the-counter and buy the products I use.

Esthetics: How to Sell a Service Not on the Menu

It sounds counterproductive to sell a service not on the menu, but I've found that selling services to specific clients keeps my appointment book filled. Early on, in my discussions with the owner of the spa where I work I wanted to bring on teen facials, but she was adamantly against them. She said our client base was too old. There wasn't any business for teen facials. I had to accept this because it is her business and she knew her clientele much better than I did. Secondly, it was her business and I could only push so hard without losing the job.

I had a client a few days ago that wanted to chat during the whole service. I generally let the client lead the way and determine if they want to relax and sleep, or if they want to chat. My clientele is about 50/50. I usually try to steer them away from conversation so they can relax, but I have several clients that love to chat. Anyway, recently I had a new client who wanted to talk through the entire facial and during that conversation she mentioned having a 13 year-old daughter.

I decided to be my own advocate and talk up the "teen facials" and "make up" lessons that I do. I explained that while they aren't on the menu that I do an educational facial that teaches the child about good skin care. I didn't clear it with the owner first, but after her facial ended she booked not only another facial for herself, but she booked one for her teenager as well. The owner of the spa was not angry at me for offering this service, no instead she was delighted that I am booking more business. This lady that booked services happens to be the PTA President of a local middle school, so if I do a good job with her daughter that could potentially bring me in more clients if she tells other parents.

I don't know if the owner of the spa will ever add "teen facials" on the service menu, but at least I found that I can generate more appointments by talking about services on and off the menu. Clients won't book if they don't know what you offer. Clients don't know about all the great services if you don't tell them about it. Even if it is on your menu, clients might not realize how these services can help them if you aren't your own walking advertisement for it. If you have a chance to talk to a client make sure you are highlighting the services that you do and you might end up with more bookings.

Esthetics: How to Survive a Grumpy Client

I've pretty lucky in my esthetics career, I've never had a nasty client. In fact, I need to thank my lucky stars because I've always had nice clients.  I never took them for granted, but today I am even more thankful for the wonderful clients in my business.

Recently, I had the unfortunate experience of having the most unhappy person land in my facial bed. I had a "friend" appointment--if you don't know what that is, it is when friends book appointments together and one gets a massage while one gets a facial and then they switch. These two ladies come in, and the one lady goes with the massage therapist and as I walk out with my smile on, ready to embrace the day, I introduce myself to my next client who has the meanest look on her face. Even before I introduced myself she looked like a Rottweiler protecting his owners---she was scary looking--not because she was ugly but because the negative energy exuding from her.

Panic set in a at first because I am not used meeting with disgruntled clients. I knew this would be a challenging situation. At first, I didn't want to pamper this lady--who would want to? I thought "I will just give her a bare bones treatment" because I can't give someone a great service when they are so mean. She wasn't nice at all, even when I spoke to her before the treatment. She seemed mad at the world.

I decided that I had to pamper her like I would any other client, not because I was scared that she would curse me out if I didn't (she probably would have) but because I didn't know her background. Maybe she just had a chemo treatment for cancer, maybe her husband left her for another woman recently or maybe she just lost her job. I looked for that place in my heart that would have compassion for someone who clearly was disgruntled with life in general.

I knew at the end of the facial that it was likely that this woman would not be happy with my service, and it was even more likely that she wouldn't leave me a tip at all. In the end, she surprised me with a $20.00 tip for a $60.00 facial. I don't want to deal with unhappy people because I am a happy person, and I refuse to let my personal life, no matter how difficult it becomes to allow me to treat people badly. It is hard having a client with such negativity enter your treatment room, but I appreciate my happy customers who fuel my passion for life. They make me remember that there are still compassionate, kind and nice people out in the world.

This lady may never come back, or maybe she will surprise me and she will return. I don't know, but if she comes back I will try to ignore her own unhappiness and try to strive above it, and treat her with compassion. I want every client, no matter how unhappy to leave my treatment bed more relaxed and calm. But I have to be honest, I prefer working on happy clients--this is the best job in the world when you have happy clients. There is nothing better than making someone feel pampered and refreshed, nothing better when clients skin improves.

Managing Your Time: When Receptionist Books Your Appointments Too Close Together

It happens, but when your receptionist books your appointments too close together it is bound to cause you a bit of stress. You have a 1:30 hour long facial and then a back-to-back 2:30 facial, but the receptionist mistakenly forgets to add enough time in-between for your earlier appointment to have to time to get dressed, and to give you time to clean up and prepare for the next client.What do you do? It depends on your spa, but there are a couple things you can do. You can have the receptionist call the second appointment and ask them to arrive 15 mins. later due to a scheduling conflict, or you could hope that the first appointment arrives earlier and you can take them in earlier giving yourself additional time. Depending on what your actual menu says about the time frame for each facial you could cut down on the service time allowing yourself extra time between appointments. My particular spa says a facial is 60 minutes, but it also says that 60 minutes includes changing time allowing for a little wiggle room.  Worse case scenario is telling the client that you are running behind--especially since you weren't the one who inadvertently double booked without a clean up time--I think this is the last option--you don't want to alienate clients. None of the above are ideal options; it would be far better if receptionists could remember to allow clean up time in between appointments, but they are human and make mistakes. It is up to you to figure out a solution and roll with the punches. Remember, not to be nasty to the receptionist, instead kindly remind them of why you need that time--most receptionists have no idea what goes into cleaning up and room preparation for each client. 

In the future, always remind your receptionist how much time you need for clean up time and room preparation. I like 15 mins. in between clients. Before my first client, I always arrive a half hour to an hour early just to get in the mode.

Sharing Your Treatment Room: Staying Sane

                    
Sharing your treatment room is not the ideal situation, however, it is the fact of esthetics life sometimes. How do you share a room and save your sanity? There is some luck involved, if you get super respectful co-workers who share your infection control philosophy and will respect your personal esthetics products then you've hit the jackpot.

If you share a room and the owner buys all supplies, equipment and product lines it makes it a little easier to manage. It makes it easier in that you don't have to prevent co-workers from misplacing or stealing your expensive equipment and products. This type of treatment room sharing is ideal from this standpoint, it is not your money that is being lost if co-workers steal your stuff. However, it creates another host of issues.

What I found when sharing a treatment room was that things tend to move around a lot and you have to scramble to find the items that you need in a hurry--before your client arrives. In my experience, other estheticians will let product lines run low.  There were times I couldn't find basic things like cotton rounds, tweezers, and applicators. These are basic things that we all need, and we need them right in the moment of a facial or waxing, and we don't need to scramble during the facial to find them. There is nothing worse than not being able to find the right supplies when you need them!

I recommend bringing in some of your own supplies. Once you determine what things tend to run low. Bring in some of my own supplies--less expensive supplies like: cotton rounds, 4x'4's, my own brushes, and sponges. Don't forget to label your supplies and if you are worried about co-workers helping themselves to your stuff, find a locking cosmetology container.

A lot of estheticians will squawk about spending any of their own money for these supplies. I understand that position, and while I get no one wants to spend their own hard, earned money but you have to think about it from a different vantage point. If you don't spend the money, if you don't have the supplies you need at your fingertips, your customers will begin to notice. If customers begin to notice, your earnings will progressively drop as well. It might not be fair that the spa owner doesn't take care of this, but spa owners are spa owners--you have be in charge of your own career. Fair is out the window, you need to bring customers back to make money!

When I shared a room with my own equipment and supplies, I was more aggressive about protecting my financial investment. I had a lot of money in both equipment and supplies, and the last thing I wanted was some co-worker to run off with my stuff. With three non-locking closed cabinets and no way to secure my expensive items, I bought a rolling and locking cosmetology cart. All the expensive products went in that cart, and things like product manuals and Wubbies went in the non-locking cabinet.

While it is never easy to share a treatment room nor is it ideal, it is manageable with some advanced planning. We can't control who we share a room with. It might turn out that you share a room with very respectful and courteous people, and all is well. Or the opposite could occur and you need a plan of action to keep your treatments running smoothly and on time.

Skin Cancer Screenings: Why You Need Them--See My Pics & You Might Think Twice About Getting One

So back in Jan. 2013 I brought you my original blog about my annual skin cancer screening. I ended up having "Atypical Nevus" which is technically a benign mole that shares some characteristics with Melanoma, which as you might imagine could be problematic. This blog is a follow-up, what should have been a routine 6 month follow-up to my mole biopsy turned into yet another biopsy on the same mole! Here is the original blog and then I will continue with the new story below: http://gracerileypublishing.blogspot.com/2013/01/estheticians-corner-skin-cancer_14.html

 

Update on my Mole Biopsy

This past week I went for my 6 month check-up for the mole that came back as "Atypical Nevus" which is doctors' language for a mole that has unusual cells floating around under the microscope. I was told by my first doctor that they just take a look at it and if it looks normal they don't do anything unless it changes over time. I went in for a visit with a new doctor, and he did an entire skin cancer screening and sent me out the door with a clean bill of health. The next day, I get a call from the nurse stating that he received my original pathology reports, and he wanted me to come in for a deeper biopsy to make sure no cancer is actually in there. Fabulous, right? So much for the clean bill of health!

 

8/2/13 This is prior to my biopsy today--this is what the mole looks like 6 months following the first biopsy. The pigment is a little dark apparently--according to the doctor. It is the small, dark circle.

8/2/13-This is what it looks like after the deeper biopsy.--

 

 

                             So I am left with this ugly hole in my leg, and it is a reminder that not only does sun and tanning beds cause abnormalities, but simple moles on our bodies can cause problems. Genetics, sun, the frequency of moles on our bodies, and our skin pigment are all factors of who gets skin cancer!  I nearly passed out today in the office, as I looked up at the bright lights and the nurse shot my leg a few times with the numbing agent--but I think what made me feel sick was that feeling of "WHAT IF IT IS CANCEROUS?"
I went back for my 6 month check up and this is what happened, now think about people who never go to the dermatologist.

                             . What would happen to people who wait years to get moles and their entire bodies scanned? Would it be too late to treat? How deep would their scars be? Would it be fatal?

                            I don't know if I am out of the woods on this one yet as I have to wait two weeks. I am going to try not to worry about it until it is something to worry about, but I imagine if I had waited too long, what probably is treatable, may not have been treatable any longer.

                        So why am I telling you this? My hope by sharing this story is that you will consider adding an appointment to your calendar, to make your annual skin cancer screening an important part of your life--because it could save your life. Remember, many hospitals offer free screenings, so get checked today!

Meet Gladys--Learn How She Secured a Job Fresh Out of School

Meet Gladys

I am so excited to introduce to you this classical beauty who is just as sweet and nice to talk to as she is beautiful. I speak with so many students on a regular basis, but there are certain students that resonate with me, and Gladys is one of those students. It is an honor to write a blog about her not just because she is a endearing, but because she is truly a professional role model every esthetician student can look up to. Read the blog below to learn more about this amazing esthetician.

                                                                       Bio:

 

"I am 40 years old, married and a mother of a 10-year-old boy and a 6-year-old girl. I am originally from Argentina and have lived in the United States for the past 15 years. My professional background is in Marketing and Communications and I hold a Masters in Communications from Columbia University.

I like in Hartsdale, a quiet, enjoyable suburb in the outskirts of New York City. I enjoy spending time outdoors, gardening and cooking when my busy life allows for this. About a year ago I decided the industry I was in afforded me no flexibility whatsoever and wasn't really something I was passionate about. I armed myself with courage and decided to follow may passion: esthetics and skin care.
I love the North East but long term I hope to one day move down south where I can enjoy warmer winters and continue to practice esthetics."

Gladys, congratulations--you've just passed your esthetics' test--please tell us how you go a 98! What was your secret?
"I think the trick was to study hard for each individual exam and take things very seriously from day one. By the time we started reviewing all the material during our last week, all the information was coming back to me. The less conscientious and dedicated you are at the beginning, with each test, the more difficult it will be when you reach the review stage. Once we completed the theory part of the program, I had two months of clinic at the school's day spa so during that time I kept reading articles from trade magazines and blogs, such as Grace Riley's, to keep some of the terminology fresh in my mind."

What did you like about esthetics' school? What did you dislike about it?
" I loved most things about it from the very beginning. I had always had an interest in esthetics but learning the science behind it, as well as skin conditions and ingredients was amazing. Getting that hands-on experience at the school's day spa helped me gain confidence in my work. If I had to point out one element I didn't like about school, I guess that would be the lack of professionalism, dedication and seriousness I found in some of my classmates."

What product line did you use?
"Our school uses Dermalogica but we also had the opportunity to work with some products from Botanical Science."

How did you balance your family responsibilities with your school responsibilities?
"As as mom of two young kids, juggling family life and school was difficult and stressful, especially at the beginning. I wanted to give the best of me to the program and learn as much as possible. The program is not long so I decided I had to put some of my interests on hold. I knew it was only temporary. I also knew that the more time I dedicated to studying initially, the less stressful it would be towards the end. Having a family that supported me was just as important."

How did you decide to change careers and go into esthetics?
"As a teenager, I had always been intrigued by skin care. However, life took me in a different direction. My parents wanted me to go to college and follow a more traditional career path. After years of being in a corporate environment, I realized I was not doing what made me happy. Moreover, I was most likely never going to achieve the flexibility I needed as a mom of young children. It took me months but I finally made up my mind and I certainly feel it was the best decision."

The ink has barely dried on your passing score, and you already got a job offer. Can you tell us how you prepared for a job before you even graduated?
"Even before I started the program, I was already doing research and looking into potential employers in my area. Any conversation I started had some element of networking involved. I figured that at least one person I connected with would know someone in the industry and that is exactly how I landed this job. For example: I would look at what lines the spas in my area were using and then do as much research as possible on them."

What was the interview process like? What types of questions did they ask? How many interviews did you have?
"I met with the spa owner three times. My first visit was an informal conversation. In my second visit, I was asked to give a facial. My third visit was to evaluate my waxing skills. We also talked about product lines, modalities and what was expected of me. The interviewing process was rather informal but I always maintained the same degree of professionalism, both in my demeanor and my presence. It was not so much about our conversation, but rather about the facial I gave and my waxing skills."

What tips do you have for recent graduates in terms of finding a job? Any other tips about school and/or career advice you could give students?
"Network. Network. Network. However, insignificant the conversation, you never know what it can lead to. Always maintain your best level of professionalism. Have a clear mind as to where you want to be in the long-term, try to identify what it will take to get there and work on that. And, always, always give the best of you. Teachers will notice. Clients will notice. That is your best credential."

What is the one thing you wish you had learned in school that you didn't?
"I wish I had learned more about the business aspect of the profession, how to negotiate fees and rates, what to expect from an employer as a junior esthetician, etc. I feel we leave school ill prepared in this aspect and I believe it is a very important part of the profession."

Dirty Little Secret of Esthetics School

Dirty Little Secret of Esthetics School

Most students can't wait to get through all the academics and clinical side of esthetics school, and move into a working esthetician life. You've worked hard, studied hard and plowed through everything you needed to do get your license. No matter what school you go to, all schools will be positive about prospective jobs for estheticans. You might here things like "There are tons of baby boomers who need estheticians" or "Cosmetic procedures are up a 100% and doctors will need estheticians." 
While these statements aren't necessarily false, most schools don't prepare students for the reality of the esthetics' job market. You don't hear very often in esthetics school "You need two years experience to get a job" or " You should  get an internship, or work for a spa while in school."
There might be some schools that tell students the truth about the esthetics industry, but the unfortunate reality is so many schools fail to tell esthetician students the hard truth that most spas won't hire recent graduates. They want estheticians that have two or more years experience. I wish more schools would tell potential students this little dirty secret during the admission process so applicants have all the information to make an informed decision. I would like to see schools start networking more with community spas and launching a career network for recent graduates. Many newly licensed students are exceptional at their craft, many better than seasoned estheticians and they deserve the opportunity to apply for the same jobs as seasoned estheticians, but there is a stigma about recent graduates that needs to be changed.
Please don't despair because this doesn't mean you can't get a job; you can still get a job without experience but you have to get creative and aggressive in your job search.
Many of you who have read my blogs have witnessed along with me several recent graduates who have risen above this difficult climb with perseverance, positivity and professionalism to eventually succeed in their job search despite the lack of the "two years or more job experience" requirement.
How did they do it? How did I do it? First it takes a lot of patience, secondly it takes creative resume writing to focus on what assets you do have as opposed to your recent graduate status, and it takes pounding the pavement to succeed. And of course a little luck doesn't hurt. If you read my blogs about the other students, or my book JumpStart Your Esthetics Career: A Guide For Newly Licensed Estheticians you will see despite the difficulty of getting a job in esthetics fresh out of school, that is possible.
My hope is more instructors and schools will have a candid conversation with their students about this job requirement reality. Instructors should of course prepare you first for state boards, but at some point there should be some business and career planning beyond a simple chapter in a textbook. Some schools might do this, but I encounter so many estheticians who tell me that this "candid conversation" never existed at their schools. I believe schools have an obligation to at least prepare students for this side of the business reality, and help them overcome the "Two year experience" obstacle.