The Dentist - a story about facials?

​I was visiting a new dentist recently for a crown and she asked if I wanted to schedule a cleaning, "We recommend that if you haven't had a cleaning in the past six months, then you should get one." to which I replied, "And we recommend that you get a facial every month!"

Did you know that little fact?  That facials aren't just for special days, or only when you are on vacation, or when you have a gift certificate?
 
Later that week, I was talking to a lady who when asked if she gets regular facials she answered, "I do those at home."  I didn't want to be rude, but what I wanted to say to her was, "No, you don't. What you are doing at home with your scrub and masks is called MAINTENANCE! Unless you have professional strength products in your bathroom (and you REALLY shouldn't), and you have a steam machine, a light therapy device (which runs about $15,000!), therapeutic-grade essential oils, Vitamins & serums - then, NO, you aren't doing "facials" in your home.  What you ARE doing is CORRECT and you get major bonus points for keeping up with Vantastic skin care at home, so applause for that.  But just like a visit to your dentist for a professional cleaning will get - and keep - your teeth in their healthiest state possible, facials are the deep cleaning and correctives to your home care maintenance.  

Maybe it's the word, facial, that needs updating?  Perhaps we should rename them: Professional Skin Care Treatments.  Would that get the point across better?  


You know, it's been a LONG, HARD ROAD forging professional skin care in America.  For the longest time we (those gals and guys who have actually gone to school for this - and keep up-to-date with continuing education - and renew their state licenses every year ...) were thought of as "snake oil salesmen" (the younger generation will have to Google that one!).  And for a long time skin care was just about Ponds cold cream, and "pampering" (gosh, we pros detest that word - it really devalues all the work we put into our profession) - and I suppose to many people it's still thought of that way today.  

It's hard to believe how incredibly things have changed.  25-years ago, we DIDN'T have a separate Esthetics licence - or even a massage therapy license yet.  The Day Spa concept hadn't occurred, nor had Physicians realized how much more profitable hawking skin care products would be compared to the hard work of actually being a physician!  No, in fact, a licensed Cosmetologist couldn't even get her foot in the door of a dermatologist's office.  We were thought of as those silly girls slapping cream on people.  Definitely not smart.  Definitely frivolous.  Definitely not worth their time or attention.

Then things changed.
​
The Day Spa market BLOOMED - hair salons were cleaning out their broom closets and sticking a massage table in them - all ready to become a "spa".  Doctors not only saw value in selling skin care products, but even tried to push us out of our own profession - you'd believe a DOCTOR, right?  He must know EVERYTHING since he went to medical school.  HA!  Fun fact - they don't actually study skin care, or take any product knowledge classes - ahem, they are supposed to be studying to cure DISEASES - NOT SELL SKIN CARE PRODUCTS!  Incredible.

Early in my career - after my excursion to L.A. to pursue being a "Hollywood Makeup Artist", I learned about a company who was doing things the right way: they positioned themselves as "Professional Skin Care Therapists" and chose the specific channel of licensed salons to sell their products.  THIS was exactly as it should be.  Who else knows your skin best but the person who is actually touching your skin, and learns about it as the months progress, but your licensed skin care professional?  Not a nurse, or doctor, or Cindy Crawford, or Elizabeth Arden or Estée Lauder ('cause they're dead!) - but the person who sees you every month for professional skin treatments.  OF COURSE they would have the insiders knowledge to the best products for YOUR skin.  They aren't trying to sell their way to the big pink Cadillac, or decided to leave their job selling cell phones in favor of the glamorous world of At-The-Mall-Big-Corporate-Skin-Care-Companies.  No, they chose this profession of skin care - a mission - a calling - to HELP PEOPLE.  I chose this profession to help people!  You can't imagine the satisfaction gained when someone comes in to see me with a problem, be it skin care, emotional stress, you name it, and during the time we spend together things gently slide back to a healthy balance and they leave with a big smile on their face.  Job well done!

So if you've never had a facial, or only think of it as a special treat, or even if you think you're doing enough on your own at home, give me a call, or email, and let's talk.  Professional skin care has come such a long way from the cold cream days.  It's astonishing sometimes when I delve deep into the science behind things today.  Quite overwhelming at times, but so beneficial to you and your skin care needs. We really do have the tools to reduce wrinkles, improve firmness, clear acne, support a sensitive skin, and so much more!  I can't promise you a quick fix, like sticking a poisonous toxin in your face might, but what I can promise is that with consistent care, you will have the best skin of your life!
 
Book your professional skin treatment today and experience it for yourself!  I think you'll be amazed!

~N.


​​