Take Care to Give Care | ASCP Skin Deep Magazine

BEYOND SKIN DEEP

Make an Accessibility Plan

Recognize Signs of Domestic Violence

Practice Self-Care to Give Better Care

Using Citrus Extracts in Your Treatments

When to Treat and When to Refer Out

MARK LEES, PHD, MS

DASHA SAIAN MARCHESE, LE

Dasha is the co-founder and CEO of Saian and has over 23 years of experience in the spa industry. She is a licensed esthetician, Aesthetics International Association ambassador, and a member of the editorial advisory board for Dermascope. In addition to her esthetics schooling, Dasha has a degree in business and marketing. She gives lectures and classes internationally and regularly contributes to global trade publications.

saian.net

CRYSTAL OCHEMBA, LE

Mark is an award-winning speaker, master clinical skin therapist, and product developer of Mark Lees Skin Care products. He has actively practiced clinical skin care for more than 30 years in his CIDESCO-accredited Florida salon.

marklees.com

Crystal is a dynamic speaker, beauty business coach, and licensed esthetician with a love for teaching and speaking. With a combined 10 years of experience in the beauty industry and business marketing, Crystal helps beauty professionals scale their businesses and achieve profitability through her signature course, “The 6-Figure Client Generating Bootcamp.” Crystal has also spoken at several events, including the International Esthetics Cosmetics & Spa Conference and Premiere Shows.

crystalngozibeauty.com

CATHERINE SANTINO

Catherine is a writer in New York City. She specializes in beauty and culture and has written for outlets such as Insider, People, Popsugar, The Zoe Report, and Wonderland You can read more of her work at catherinesantino.com or follow her on Instagram.

@csantino

LAUREN SNOW, LE

Lauren is the director of brand management and communications at Circadia by Dr. Pugliese. She leads, oversees, coordinates, and participates in all brand activities and strategies. As a skilled licensed esthetician and spa marketing expert, Lauren has landed coverage in consumer publications. Her contributions are also regularly featured in industry trade magazines such as ASCP Skin Deep, Dermascope, and Les Nouvelles Esthétique snow.laurenk@gmail.com

TINA ZILLMANN, LE, CLHRP

Tina is a medical esthetician and the executive director and owner of Skin Rejuvenation Clinique Inc. and Advanced Rejuvenating Concepts. With over 30 years of experience in clinical esthetics applications, Tina continues to fuel her knowledge in skin care science and technology, which delivers profound impacts on the skin.

arcskincare.com

Take Care to Give Care

When was the last time you practiced authentic self-care?

by Lauren Snow

ESTHETICIANS POSSESS UNIQUE CHARACTER TRAITS

that contribute to our success in the treatment room. Of those traits, one of the most compelling is our empathy and compassion for others— the ability to empathize with client concerns makes us unique, but it also takes deliberate practice and patience. This work can be gratifying through the relationships we create, the results we achieve, and the profitable businesses we build.

While this compassion for others is important, prioritizing self-care has become more crucial than ever. We must protect ourselves by ensuring our spas are safe for us to work in. The timeless advice, “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life,” resonates deeply within our profession. Yet, the joy we derive from our work is intrinsically linked to our well-being. The risk of burnout and compassion fatigue underscores the necessity of safeguarding our own sanctuary—the treatment room.

By practicing self-care, we can make sure our spas are a safe space for ourselves as professionals, where we can model healthy behavior, treat our clients to rejuvenating services, and show up as our best selves. Traditional self-care practices like exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep remain foundational. But let’s explore some other creative ideas for practicing self-care.

FOREST BATHING

There are a lot of things we can learn from Eastern practices, and one of them is forest bathing. This practice is not new but is becoming more popular in Western cultures as we seek grounding.

Forest bathing aims to cleanse the mind and reconnect the body with the

earth. Some call this eco-therapy. We already know eco-therapy is good for us because vitamin D from the sun has shown to increase dopamine levels and promote mood stabilization.

Forest bathing takes this connection further by allowing you to intentionally submerse yourself in nature, consciously connect with your surroundings, and disconnect from the modern world. Leave the AirPods at home and untether yourself from digital devices. Once you’re in nature, move slowly and focus on activating your senses. Take in the sights, sounds, and scents that surround you and breathe intentionally. You’ll be amazed at how much beauty there is in the world that you miss on a daily basis.

MEDITATION

Meditation is often misunderstood as an elusive practice, but it is a powerful tool to quiet the mind and regain control over our thoughts. It can be intimidating because the perceived need for a quiet mind can be challenging to achieve. The goal of meditation isn’t to control your thoughts and sit in silence; the goal is to stop letting your thoughts control you.

One key thing to know about meditation is that it’s different for everyone. For those new to meditation, guided meditation through YouTube or apps like Calm or Headspace can gently lead you down a peaceful, reflective path where you let the daily chaos disappear. For seasoned meditators, using a sacred meditation space that is comfortable and soothing can elevate your sessions.

BREAK OR BE BROKEN

Scheduling breaks between clients is essential for recharging. You need this time to refuel your body with nutritious food to reenergize for the next appointment. Plus, taking a break to move around, stretch, and have a short mental respite can do wonders for your energy and concentration levels.

Sticking with a set schedule offers stability, protects you from being mentally and physically drained, and can reduce stress. It should also be noted that healthy business boundaries include offering online scheduling and responding to clients only during working hours so you can also have a break from your business.

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

When your clients use products consistently at home, they get results. You might have 100 products in your bathroom cabinets, but if you’re not using them to also nourish and nurture yourself, you’re missing a significant opportunity for self-care. A nighttime

The risk of burnout and compassion fatigue underscores the necessity of safeguarding our own sanctuary—the treatment room.

skin care ritual can be as much about skin care as it can be about self-care. When you intentionally take the time to pull your hair back, carefully cleanse your skin, and apply products as if you’re an artist swooshing paint across the most beautiful canvas you’ve ever seen, you can make all the difference in how you feel before going to bed.

DIGITAL DETOX

All day long, you’re exposed to digital distractions. You’re constantly connected to the outside world, from televisions to phones to computers and tablets. Whether you’re watching the news or scrolling social media, studies have shown digital overload can cause anxiety, insecurity, and loss of productivity, to name a few.1

Consider doing a nightly digital detox where you don’t use a phone, tablet, or television after a set time. When you turn this into a ritual after doing your

skin care routine, putting on pajamas, and allowing time to decompress from the day, you’ll see how much you gain by disconnecting. Science tells us people feel less stress, have improved focus, sleep better, and have better relationships when they consciously choose to ditch their devices.

CARE FOR YOURSELF AND CLIENTS

If we want to succeed in this industry, we have to recognize the symbiotic relationship between nurturing others and nurturing ourselves. As estheticians, we pride ourselves on being healers. However, amidst the fulfi lling journey of caring for others, we must not overlook the importance of our self-care.

Note

1. Giorgia Bondanini et al., “Technostress Dark Side of Technology in the Workplace: A Scientometric Analysis,” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 21 (November 2020): 8013, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7662498.