I recently watched “Living with Less” on Oprah and picked up the March issue of O. That episode combined with her editorial note was, in the words of Oprah, my A-Ha moment of inspiration for this note.
Who do you trust – Your parents, your spouse/significant other, your children? What about your co-workers, your boss, your partner? As an aesthetician, do you have professional relationships with doctors, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, etc., where you offer referrals? If so, do you trust these relationships? Do you trust the industry and your clientele? What about your manufacturer/distributor, or the professional journals and trade shows?
A few weeks ago I was browsing the Yahoo home page and a tease jumped out and grabbed me. It read “The 6 Biggest Skin-Care Mistakes”. I was intrigued, so I clicked on it to read the full article. It was written by Leslie Baumann, M.D., Yahoo’s Skin Guru. The first mistake was no surprise: 1. Using a cleanser with harsh detergents. There were one or two others on the list that followed the words I’ve read so many times. Not using sunscreen every day (remember these are the biggest mistakes). But then there was the number 4 mistake that she listed: Getting Facials. The explanation was as follows: Yes, that’s right – you can strike facials from your skin-care budget and actually be doing your skin a favor! Studies show that as many as 80% of people break out after a facial. Aestheticians often don’t know which products are right for the skin of each client, and may use ingredients that can worsen acne, or essential oils that tend to irritate sensitive skin. Even if you don’t break out, there are really no long-term benefits to facials.
Shocked, yes; confused, a little. I’ve spent 10 years with DERMASCOPE working with educators, meeting aestheticians, reading articles, and hearing accounts of concern, interest, and indisputable skin care. Maybe I’m a little biased based on my experience. But that is beside the point. The point is if you aren’t always sure who to trust, how could the public possibly know? Should they automatically trust the M.D.? Do those two initials warrant such blind faith? Does the public at large know enough about aestheticians to make an educated analysis, or do many of them still just believe that a day at the spa is a luxurious retreat to be enjoyed as a gift or when they have disposable income?
Thirty some odd years ago the forefathers of this industry began to blaze the trail, the very trail on which you walk. In that first decade their mission was to unite, organize, and seek education. The descendants of the trailblazers expanded on the original blueprints and brought an overabundance of wealth and options to the industry. They did well for themselves and created many more opportunities than previously existed.
As the industry nears its fourth decade in the U.S., words that come to mind are division; distrust; lack of direction, communication, cooperation, and education. Not to mention the disparity in state licensing requirements. I receive e-mails regularly from newly licensed aestheticians seeking information on how to find a job, what to expect in terms of compensation, concern over lack of experience and how to get started. Quite frankly, the next generation of skin care professionals are entering the field undereducated and without a support system. Who should they trust?
Who did you trust when you came out of school? Did you have a mentor? Did you know someone in the business that was willing to give you a helping hand? Did you have a trusted educator that was genuinely interested in your development and success? Have you been that to someone? Or like so many others, do you wear blinders that allow you only to see and do what’s best for you? This very common attitude that exists in our society has led us to where we are today, and sadly falls far short of our greater purpose.
“Living with Less,” it’s a beautiful phrase if you think about it really. To me it means self-examination, evaluating the abundance you have, paring it down to what really matters, and sharing it with others. It also means reestablishing the importance of the dinner table and all that that ritual means.
I believe that you can trust in the ideals this industry was born out of, and that there is a firm foundation in place. The Aesthetics International Association was founded 37 years ago and it is a significant part of that foundation. The catalyst for its inception was community – bringing like-minded people together to work towards a common goal, very much akin to the “dinner table” if you will. To be fair there are certainly challenges ahead. The question is how do you define challenge – road block or opportunity? If we look at history, and trust what it tells us the answer is clear. Working together, in community, will open more doors and result in greater success.
Saundra
