Common SkinCare Myths

Interview with Former UAC Member Jean McKoy

Since November is Healthy Skin Month, I wanted to focus on what healthy skin truly is. In the age of social media and the internet, its representation gets skewed by the idea that perfect skin is the only way to have healthy skin, which is quite the opposite of the truth. 

In this era of social media, we are constantly shown super creamy, edited skin with zero pores or blemishes. From someone who used to smooth her skin with filters, I’m just as guilty as the next person, but what I didn’t understand was just how damaging that was to other people. What we see day to day on Instagram isn’t real life, and it’s so important to understand that. Most of those photos are photoshopped, even photos of people with actual healthy skin. I think this creates a sense of misinformation about what healthy skin is. Healthy skin is not glassy, blemish-free skin. It doesn’t look powder smooth. Healthy skin isn’t free of texture and flushing, although we tend to strive for this sort of perfection. In reality, perfect skin doesn’t exist. Even the healthiest skin has pores, texture, changes in tone and blemishes!

As estheticians and skincare professionals, we spend a lot of time caring for our clients. Our profession requires us to be kind, patient, nurturing, and supportive. It’s easy to get caught up in the daily routine of providing the self-care our clients need from us; it’s also just as easy to neglect to take the time to provide it for ourselves.

Fall is around the corner, which brings the beginning of autumn festivities and holiday-themed treatments! It's an ideal time to cocktail our products to drive those results and maximize a product’s efficacy.

Fall requires a transition in your skincare selection to accommodate the drier and colder weather. Choose products that focus on hydrating, exfoliating and brightening for every type of treatment you offer clients and for yourself. 

Cocktails to try this FALL

Lips

Peptide Micro Scrub + CBD Hydratherapy Masque + Hydrating Lip Balm

This lip cocktail works wonders to exfoliate and hydrate the lips. Massage a pea-size Micro Scrub onto the lips for 1 – 2 minutes. Remove with a warm towel. Apply a pea-sized amount of the masque, let it sit for 5 – 10 minutes, then remove with a warm wet towel. Finish with the Hydrating Lip Balm and re-apply as needed.

Lip Enhancer + Cellulite Corrector Cream

Amazing combination for a temporary lip plump. Apply and mix equal parts of each. Be sure to stay inside the vermillion border to avoid redness outside the lip line due to vasodilation. Follow with Sonophoresis or Microamp on your DermaSound^™ Ultra for an extra boost!

Face

CBD Hydratherapy Masque + Hydrating Masque

This ultimate hydration masque combination feels like luxury on your skin. The CBD Hydratherapy Masque brings increased hydration, reduces inflammation, plumps and smooths the skin, while the Hydrating Masque will help to exfoliate, detoxify, energize, and moisturize dry, dehydrated skin. Combine at a 1:1 ratio.

Ultra Hydro Gel + Professional Oxygen Booster

Boost hydration and help reverse dull, tired skin. Mix equal parts with a fan brush. Apply to face, neck and décolleté and allow to sit for five minutes. Gently massage excess into the skin.

Oxygen Deep Pore Masque + Professional Tightening Protein Booster

Tighten, brighten and lighten the skin with this duo! Apply ½ teaspoon with 3 – 4 pumps of the oxygen deep pore cleanser. Make sure the brush is wet, and mix the two. Leave on the skin for 10 – 15 minutes and remove with warm towels.

Accelerator Gel + Diamond Bright Skin Illuminator

Lighten and brighten stubborn pigment! Mix equal parts and apply to the skin. Follow with your favorite moisturizer. Best if used at night due to sun sensitivity.

Essential Serum + Daily Skin Clarifier + Restoring Fulvic Elixir

This antioxidant-packed trio helps fight free radical damage, promote healing, increase hydration, reduce inflammation, and provide antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Mix equal parts of these serums and apply them to the face at the same time. Follow with your favorite moisturizer.

Hydrating Masque + Professional Exfoliator with 30% and 50% Lactic Acid

Enzyme exfoliation from the Hydrating Masque combined with the Professional Exfoliator with 30% or 50% Lactic Acid delivers amazing lightning, brightening, and moisturizing properties. Mix equal parts and leave on for 5 – 15 minutes. Remove with warm towels.

Body

Cellulite Corrector Cream + Anti-Aging Exfoliant Masque

Great for anywhere you are trying to target cellulite. Mix equal parts and exfoliate into the skin for 3 – 5 minutes. Leave on the skin for an additional 10 minutes. Remove with a warm towel. We especially love this for a booty treatment!

Professional 5 Berry Solution + Hydrating Hand & Body Lotion

This duo is targeted to lighten, brighten, and tighten the skin. Mix one part of the body lotion with ½ part of the peel. Leave on the skin for 3 – 5 minutes to neutralize. This cocktail can be used as a facial treatment by substituting the lotion with your favorite moisturizer! We love the comfort cream for the face.

These cocktails are safe for all Fitzpatrick Skin Types!

GlyMed Plus products cocktail options are endless and this is only a sampling of what you can do. There are a few ways you can look out for new ones, follow our social media, chat with other GlyMed estheticians or reach out to your Account Manager for more!

The Power of Touch

As an esthetician, touch is an integral part of what we do in the treatment room. It is a way to help your client to relax while you are caring for their skin. It is a way to heal, treat, and relax your client’s skin in its most basic sense. While this is a big part of the healing process, what you do in the treatment room goes beyond what can be seen physically. The face is connected with the body through pressure points that correspond with vital organs and body systems. Touch can also release immune-boosting chemicals known as endorphins into the body, which can help your client unwind and relieve stress on a mind and body level. 

In this article, we will discuss ways you can utilize the power of touch in your treatments. These healing forms all focus on things such as de-puffing, smoothing, etc. You could use all or a combination of these options; it may just be your personal preference.

One thing to keep in mind with these is it does include lymph drainage, so ensuring proper technique and pressure is vital for the health of your clients and or your skin if you perform it on yourself. Excellent prep for these treatments could include dry brushing. 

Lymphatic Drainage

Lymph drainage massage can first and foremost be done with your hands to stimulate it. The lymph nodes do not have a system to push lymph around, so the lymphatic system relies primarily on our body’s muscle action and movement to maintain its fluid movement. Lymph drainage massage is a manual massage technique that works on the lymphatic system, stimulating it to work quietly by moving the lymph to the lymph nodes. 

Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage

• Stimulates blood circulation and tissue regeneration
• Directs and increases lymphatic flow
• Reduces swelling and water retention
• Improves the immune system due to the elimination of toxins
• Promotes body and mental relaxation
• Energizes the body, and provides an overall lightness in the body

Gua Sha

Gua Sha is traditionally performed on the body, but a more gentle form can be utilized on the face. It’s performed with a stone that is shaped to contour the face in different ways. It can release built-up tension to help your skin perform essential functions such as eliminating waste and detoxifying, allowing the skin to come back to its more natural, healthy, balanced state. 

Benefits of Gua Sha

• Stimulates circulation
• Helps improve collagen
• Softens lines and wrinkles
• Decreases puffiness and inflammation
• Diminishes dark circles
• Temporarily tightens skin
• Brightens complexion
• Sculpts facial muscles
• Releases tightness

Jade Rolling

Jade rolling is similar in a sense to Gua Sha, just with a different type of tool. While the Gua Sha is a handheld stone, Jade Rolling is a handheld stone that typically has two-sized tips for rolling on the face. They come in various stones from rose quartz, jade, black obsidian, and many more.

Benefits of Jade Rolling

• Lymphatic drainage
• Improved circulation
• Better product absorption
• Tighter looking skin