For Part 3

 We are going to learn about

Knowing & Knowledge

    Educating my clients with tips to increase the absorption of ingredients can enhance results and should be done on a regular basis. Well-hydrated skin with an intact barrier increases product absorption. The reasons I use massage and steam in facial treatments is to stimulate blood flow, soften the skin, and dilate the blood vessels to allow for better cleansing thereby enhancing absorption of key ingredients.  Exfoliating the skin on a regular basis to remove dead cells decreases resistance from the barrier. Water-based products should be applied before oil-based products. In general, an easy way to achieve this is to apply products from the thinnest to the thickest. The amount of product applied to the skin is also IMPORTANT to produce results. Clients may think they can buy a $100 serum and try to make it last longer by using half the recommended dose; however, this will simply give them half the active ingredients.

Another part of my responsibilities to skin care clients is to teach the importance of using products that are of a higher standard than those available at local drug stores. Not to imply that there are not any good products over-the-counter; however, professional skin care products often carry more weight. Most spa professional skin care products offer before & after pictures and some even offer FDA-approved clinical trials.  Professional product lines, like Dermalogica, PCA, Hylunia, & Nancy Dowe Cosmeceuticals commonly use higher percentages of active ingredients to create a desired reaction.  Everyone knows I am a Vitamin C topical solution proponent. Be aware that the type of ingredients used may differ in various ways, therefore pricing differs as well. Think of it as getting a cheeseburger from a fast-food restaurant compared to a high-end steak house.

Skin Care Therapists should exhibit vast knowledge on a variety of active ingredients and their functions. Education is crucial when choosing and recommending the right products for each, individual client.  Industry professionals commonly believe that the majority of clients' results come from their home-care regimen. When I pull a product off the shelf to offer a client, I feel I know and can communicate exactly how and why each product works.  If the companies that I work with do not promote proper education when it comes to using its product, I question its effectiveness. Education shouldn't stop with your visit to SpaRenity's Skin Care Therapists; brochure or materials should be available that thoroughly explain how the product should be used and its mechanism of action.  A comprehensive product line may cover the majority of your concerns, but if there are any gaps, a second, or third line may be represented in SpaRenity.