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Managing Editor Samantha Garcia samantha@lneonline.com
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May volume 42 number 5
Featured Articles
8 From Breakouts to Burnout
14 Holistic Consultations
30 Holistic Modalities for the Modern Esthetician
40 Why Your Acne Clients Keep Relapsing
Trending
20 Hot Products 28 Esthetician Edit
48 Editor’s Pick of the Month
Photo Feature 42 Trending Ingredients
Contributions
Samantha Garcia Aurora Solis
FROM THE EDITOR
This month, we explore what it really means to practice holistically in a modern treatment room. From Holistic Consultations: What You Should Be Asking Beyond ‘What Products Do You Use?’ to Holistic Modalities for the Modern Esthetician, we begin to reframe the way we approach our clients—not just as skin conditions, but as whole individuals with internal, emotional, and environmental influences shaping their skin every day. This is about expanding your lens, refining your intuition, and building a practice rooted in both knowledge and connection.
At the same time, we address the deeper patterns many estheticians are seeing but not always naming. In Why Your Acne Clients Keep Relapsing, we uncover the missing links that go beyond products and protocols, while From Breakouts to Burnout explores the emotional and nervous system connections that often manifest on the skin. These conversations are not about abandoning results, they are about elevating them. When we understand the skin through this multidimensional perspective, we don’t just treat, but we transform. My hope for this issue is that it invites you to slow down, ask better questions, and step more fully into your role as both a skin expert and a guide in your clients’ healing journey.
As this issue comes to life, we’re also preparing to gather in person at the International Congress of Esthetics and Spa in Dallas on May 17 and 18. Whether you are attending for the advanced education, the show floor discoveries, or the community itself, ICES Dallas is a reminder that you are part of something bigger. I hope to see you there, continuing these conversations in real time and stepping even deeper into the future of esthetics together.
SAMANTHA GARCIA Managing Editor samantha@lneonline.com
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How Emotional Suppression Shows Up on the Skin
by Aurora Solis
There is a quiet pattern that unfolds in the treatment room, one that cannot always be measured by a magnifying lamp or captured in a before and after photo. A client presents with persistent breakouts, inflammation that lingers longer than expected, or skin that never quite settles despite consistent care. On paper, everything appears to be in place. The routine is solid. The treatments are well chosen. And yet, the skin resists.This is where the conversation deepens. Because not all skin concerns begin at the surface. Some begin in what is held beneath it.
Breakouts toBurnout From
Emotional suppression, whether conscious or not, has a way of expressing itself through the body. And the skin, as one of the body’s most responsive organs, often becomes the place where that expression is seen.
The Skin as a Reflective Organ
Skin is not just a protective barrier. It is a communicator. It reflects internal shifts in real time, responding to hormonal changes, environmental triggers, and emotional states with remarkable sensitivity.When emotions are processed and released, the body maintains a level of balance. But when emotions are consistently pushed down or ignored, they do not disappear. They are stored. Over time, this can create a subtle but ongoing state of tension within the body.
This tension often shows up physically. Tightness in the jaw. Holding in the brow. Shallow breathing. A constant sense of bracing, even at rest.These patterns may seem small, but they have a cumulative effect. Circulation becomes restricted. Lymphatic flow slows. Inflammation becomes easier to trigger and harder to resolve. The skin, in turn, begins to reflect this internal holding.
Breakouts, Inflammation, and Emotional Holding
There is no single emotional cause of acne, but there are patterns worth observing.Clients who experience chronic stress or emotional suppression often present with breakouts that are cyclical yet unpredictable. The skin may improve during periods of calm, only to flare again when internal pressure builds.
Inflammatory acne, in particular, can be linked to heightened stress responses within the body. When the nervous system remains in a prolonged state of activation, cortisol levels stay elevated. This can increase oil produc-
tion, disrupt the skin barrier, and slow the healing process.But beyond the biochemical response, there is also a physical one.
Tension held in the face can impact how the skin functions. Jaw clenching can contribute to congestion along the lower face. Furrowed brows can affect circulation in the forehead. Even habitual facial expressions can influence how fluid moves through the tissues. Over time, this creates an environment where the skin is not only reacting internally, but also physically restricted.
The Link Between Burnout and Skin Health
Burnout is often described in terms of exhaustion, but its impact extends far beyond energy levels. It affects
how the body regulates, repairs, and responds to stress.Clients experiencing burnout may notice that their skin feels more reactive, more sensitive, and slower to heal. Breakouts linger. Redness persists. Treatments that once worked no longer seem as effective. This is not a coincidence.When the body is depleted, it prioritizes essential functions. Skin health becomes secondary. Regeneration slows, inflammation increases, and the barrier becomes more vulnerable.In this state, even well intentioned treatments can feel overwhelming to the skin. What is needed is not more intensity, but more support.
Shifting the Approach in the Treatment Room
Recognizing the role of emotional suppression does not mean turning the treatment room into a therapy session. It means creating an environment where the body can begin to soften. The pace of the treatment matters. Slower, more intentional movements can help signal safety to the nervous system. Facial massage becomes more than a technique. It becomes a way to release stored tension and encourage flow.
Working through areas of tightness, particularly the jaw, temples, and scalp, can have a noticeable impact. As tension releases, circulation improves.
Lymphatic movement increases. The skin begins to look and feel different, not just because of the products used, but because of the state the body has shifted into.Even small moments, like allowing silence during a treatment or guiding a client to take a deeper breath, can support this shift.
Supporting Clients Beyond the Surface
Outside of the treatment room, education becomes a tool for awareness. Clients do not need to be told to stop feeling stressed or to suddenly change
their emotional patterns. Instead, they can be gently guided to notice how their internal state may be influencing their skin.
Simple practices, like creating a consistent skincare ritual rather than a rushed routine, can begin to change the relationship they have with their skin. Encouraging moments of pause, even briefly throughout the day, can support regulation.
It is also important to address habits that often accompany emotional suppression, such as skin picking. This behavior is not just about the skin itself, but about how the body is attempting to release or cope with internal tension.Approaching this with understanding, rather than correction, allows for more meaningful change.
A More Integrated Perspective on Skin Health
The goal is not to replace traditional acne treatments or corrective protocols. It is to expand them.When emo -
tional patterns are acknowledged as part of the picture, the approach becomes more complete. Treatments become more supportive. Results become more sustainable.Clients begin to feel seen, not just for their skin, but for the patterns that influence it. This builds trust, which in turn supports consistency and long term progress.
Where True Change Begins
Skin will always respond to what is happening beneath the surface. When emotional suppression is present, the skin may carry that weight in ways that are not immediately obvious, but deeply felt. By recognizing these connections, estheticians have the opportunity to shift the narrative. To move beyond treating breakouts as isolated events and begin addressing the environment they are forming in. Because when the body is given space to release what it has been holding, the skin often follows. And what once felt like a constant cycle of breakouts can begin to soften into something far more stable, supported, and clear.
Holistic Consultations
What Every Esthetician Should be Asking Clients
by Samantha Garcia
There is a moment in nearly every treatment room when the consultation begins and the same familiar questions surface. What cleanser are you using? How often do you exfoliate? Are you wearing SPF? These questions are not wrong, but they are incomplete. They only skim the surface of what is actually influencing the skin in front of you.
The modern esthetician is no longer just analyzing products and protocols. She is reading patterns. She is observing energy, lifestyle, habits, and subtle cues that reveal far more than a product list ever could. Because the truth is, skin does not exist in isolation. It is a reflection of internal rhythms, emotional states, and daily behaviors. When we limit our consultations to topical routines, we limit our results.A holistic consultation is not about stepping outside of your scope. It is about expanding your awareness within it. It is about asking better questions so you can deliver more precise, supportive, and lasting outcomes.
Reading the Skin Beyond the Surface
Before a single question is asked, the consultation has already begun. The way a client walks into the room, the tension in their jaw, the way they speak about their skin, even the pace of their breath, all offer insight.Is the skin inflamed and reactive, or dull and sluggish? Does it appear dehydrated despite heavy product use? Are there patterns of congestion along the jawline or cheeks that suggest internal imbalance or chronic stress?
When you begin to look at the skin as a messenger rather than a problem to fix, your entire approach shifts. Instead of asking how to treat acne, you begin asking why it continues to show up in the same way. Instead of focusing only on sensitivity, you start exploring what is compromising the barrier in the first place.This is where the consultation becomes powerful. It moves from a checklist into a conversation.
The Lifestyle Layer Most Estheticians Skip
One of the most overlooked aspects of a consultation is lifestyle. Not in a generic sense, but in a way that connects directly back to the skin.Sleep is one of the first areas to explore. Not just how many hours your client is getting, but the quality of that sleep. Are they waking up throughout the night? Do they feel rested in the morning? Skin regenerates during sleep, and chronic disruption can slow healing, increase inflammation, and impact overall skin clarity.
Stress is another key factor, though it is often rushed through or avoided altogether. Instead of asking “Are you stressed?” which most clients will quickly brush off, try reframing it. Ask what their days feel like. Ask when they feel most overwhelmed. Ask how they unwind, if at all.
These questions create space for honesty, and they begin to reveal patterns that directly influence the skin. Elevated stress levels increase cortisol, which can drive oil production, inflammation, and delayed healing. When a client has been in a constant state of stress, no amount of corrective product will fully resolve what is happening beneath the surface.
Nutrition and hydration also deserve a more intentional approach. This does not mean prescribing diets, but rather observing patterns. Are they drinking enough water? Do they rely heavily on caffeine? Are there frequent spikes in sugar or processed foods? These details matter, especially when dealing with acne, sensitivity, or compromised barrier function.
Understanding the Client’s Relationship With Their Skin
Beyond physical factors, there is an emotional component to skin that is rarely addressed in traditional consultations.How does your client feel about their skin? Are they frustrated,
discouraged, or constantly searching for the next solution? Do they pick at their skin when they are anxious? Do they feel confident in their routine, or overwhelmed by it?
These questions may feel subtle, but they are essential. A client who is constantly switching products, over-exfoliating, or seeking instant results is often acting from a place of frustration or lack of trust in the process. Without addressing this, even the most welldesigned treatment plan can fall apart. When you understand your client’s mindset, you can guide them more effectively. You can simplify their routine, set realistic expectations, and create a sense of calm around their skin journey. This is where trust is built, and where real transformation begins.
Daily Habits That Quietly Disrupt the Skin
Many skin concerns are not caused by a single product or ingredient, but by small, repeated habits.Touching the face throughout the day, inconsistent cleansing, overuse of active ingredi -
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ents, skipping SPF, or constantly trying new products can all contribute to ongoing issues. These habits often go unrecognized unless you ask directly. Instead of assuming compliance, walk through a typical day with your client. Ask what their morning looks like, how they care for their skin at night, and what they do when a breakout appears. This gives you a clearer picture of where breakdowns are happening.It also allows you to gently correct without overwhelming. The goal is not to overhaul everything at once, but to create small, sustainable shifts that support the skin over time.
Creating a Consultation That Feels Like Care
A holistic consultation should feel different. It should feel slower, more intentional, and more connected.This does not mean it has to be long or complicated. It means being present. Listening without rushing to solve. Allowing the client to feel seen, not just assessed.
When clients feel cared for, they are more likely to trust your guidance. They are more open to education, more consistent with their routine, and more committed to the process.
This is where the consultation becomes more than a formality. It becomes part of the treatment itself.
Staying Within Scope While Expanding Impact
There is often hesitation around holistic consultations because of scope of practice. It is important to remember that you are not diagnosing or prescribing. You are observing, educating, and guiding within your expertise. You can speak to how stress affects the skin without treating the stress itself. You can encourage hydration and balanced habits without creating a strict nutrition plan. You can recommend supportive practices like rest, routine, and consistency without stepping outside of your role.This approach not only keeps you aligned professionally,
it also positions you as a trusted expert who understands the full picture.
The Future of Esthetics Is Personalized, Not Prescriptive
The industry is shifting. Clients are no longer looking for quick fixes or onesize-fits-all routines. They are looking for understanding. They want to know why their skin is behaving the way it is, and they want solutions that feel realistic and supportive.
Holistic consultations meet this need. They bridge the gap between surfacelevel care and long-term transformation.When you begin asking better questions, you begin seeing better results. Not just because of the products you choose, but because of the way you guide your clients through their skin journey.And in a world where information is everywhere, that level of care, intention, and personalization is what truly sets you apart.
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On the Blog
The Business of Being an Esthetician: Why Burnout Happens (and How to Build a Better Model)
Burnout is quietly reshaping the esthetics industry — and not because estheticians lack passion. In fact, the opposite is true. Most professionals enter this field because they genuinely love skin, care deeply about people, and feel called to create meaningful, restorative experiences for others. Esthetics attracts empathic, intuitive individuals — people who are naturally attuned to energy, emotion, and human connection.
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Holistic Modalities for the Modern Esthetician
Elevating results through touch, regulation,
and ritual
There is a shift happening in treatment rooms across the industry. Clients are no longer seeking only visible results. They are seeking an experience that feels grounding, restorative, and deeply supportive. They want their skin to improve, but they also want to leave feeling different in their body.Holistic modalities are what bridge that gap. They allow estheticians to move beyond surface-level care and into treatments that support circulation, the nervous system, and the overall state the skin exists within. When thoughtfully integrated, these approaches do not replace corrective work. They enhance
by Samantha Garcia
it. In this article, you will find key holistic modalities that can be seamlessly incorporated into your treatment room to elevate both results and experience.
Lymphatic Drainage
Facial Massage
Lymphatic drainage is one of the most impactful yet underutilized techniques in modern esthetics. This gentle, rhythmic massage supports the movement of lymph fluid, helping to reduce puffiness, clear stagnation, and improve overall skin clarity.When lymph flow is sluggish, waste and fluid can build up in the tissues, leading to congestion, dullness, and inflammation. By encouraging proper drainage, the skin becomes clearer, more sculpted, and better able to function.This technique is especially beneficial for acne-prone, puffy, or inflamed skin, and can be incorporated at the beginning of a treatment to prepare the skin for deeper work.
Facial Sculpting and Muscle Release
Facial tension is one of the most overlooked contributors to aging and stagnant skin. Tightness in the jaw, cheeks, and forehead can restrict circulation, limit oxygen flow, and create patterns that lead to fine lines and dullness. Facial sculpting techniques focus on releasing this tension through deeper, intentional massage. The result is improved circulation, enhanced product absorption, and a more lifted, contoured appearance.Beyond the physical benefits, this modality also has a profound effect on the nervous system. As muscles release, the body begins to shift into a more relaxed state, allowing the skin to respond more effectively to treatment.
Breathwork Integration
Breath is one of the simplest and most powerful tools for regulating the nervous system, yet it is rarely utilized in the treatment room.Guiding a client
through even a few slow, intentional breaths at the beginning of a facial can help shift them out of a stress response and into a state of calm. This transition supports circulation, reduces inflammation, and allows the body to be more receptive to the treatment. Breathwork does not need to be complex. A simple cue to inhale deeply through the nose and exhale slowly through the mouth can create a noticeable shift in the overall experience.
Cold Therapy and Cryo Techniques
Cold therapy offers both immediate and long-term benefits for the skin. It helps reduce inflammation, tighten the appearance of pores, and stimulate circulation through contrast. Incorporating tools such as chilled globes or cryo sticks can enhance the sculpting phase of a facial while also calming reactive or acne-prone skin. The cooling sensation also has a soothing effect on the nervous system,
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ence the nervous system in subtle but powerful ways.Soft music, nature sounds, or frequency-based tracks can help create a calming atmosphere that supports relaxation. The goal is to reduce external stimulation and allow the client to fully settle into the experience.Even the absence of sound, when used intentionally, can create moments of stillness that deepen the treatment.
Post-Treatment Integration and Client Guidance
Holistic care extends beyond the treatment itself. Providing clients with simple, supportive guidance for aftercare helps maintain the results achieved in the treatment room. This may include encouraging hydration, rest, gentle skincare routines, and moments of pause throughout their day. The goal is not to overwhelm, but to reinforce the state of balance created during
the facial. When clients leave with a sense of understanding and connection to their skin, they are more likely to remain consistent and see long-term improvement.
Bringing It All Together
Incorporating holistic modalities is not about adding more for the sake of it. It is about being intentional with every element of the treatment.When touch is slower, when the environment feels safe, and when the skin is supported rather than pushed, results begin to change. The skin becomes clearer, more resilient, and more responsive. But perhaps more importantly, the client feels it.They leave not only looking different, but feeling different. And that is what transforms a facial from a service into an experience clients return to again and again.
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Why Your Acne Clients Keep Relapsing The Missing Link Is Their Nervous System
by Aurora Solis
There is a pattern many estheticians know too well. A client commits to their routine, invests in treatments, and begins to see progress. The inflammation calms, breakouts reduce, and the skin starts to feel manageable again. Then, weeks or months later, the cycle returns. Congestion builds, cystic breakouts resurface, and the client finds themselves back where they started, confused and discouraged.
In most cases, this is not a failure of products or protocols. It is a reflection of something deeper that has not yet been addressed. The nervous system.For years, acne has been approached through a primarily topical lens. Cleanse, exfoliate, treat, correct. While these steps are essential, they only tell part of the story. Skin is not separate from the body, and the body is not separate from
the mind. When the nervous system is dysregulated, the skin often reflects it in real time.Understanding this connection is what allows estheticians to move beyond temporary improvement and into lasting transformation.
The Physiology of Stress and the Skin
When the body perceives stress, whether emotional, environmental, or internal, it activates a cascade of hormonal responses. Cortisol rises, inflammation increases, and the body shifts into a survival state.This shift has a direct impact on the skin. Elevated cortisol can stimulate excess oil production, leading to clogged pores and breakouts. It can impair the skin’s ability to heal, prolonging the life cycle of acne lesions. It can also weaken the skin barrier, making it more reactive, sensitive, and prone to irritation.
For clients living in a constant state of stress, this response is not occasional. It becomes chronic. The skin is continuously trying to recover while being pushed back into inflammation, creating the cycle of relapse that so many struggle with.This is why even the most well-formulated skincare routine can only take a client so far. If the internal environment remains unchanged, the skin will continue to return to its baseline.
Recognizing the Signs of Nervous System Dysregulation
Not every client will openly express that they are stressed. In fact, many normalize it. It becomes part of their daily rhythm, something they no longer question.As estheticians, the ability to recognize subtle signs becomes essential. Chronic breakouts along the jawline, persistent inflammation that does not respond to treatment, and skin that fluctuates dramatically are often indicators.
There are also physical cues beyond the skin. Jaw tension, shallow breath -
“If
the nervous system stays in survival mode, the skin will continue to follow.”
ing, tight shoulders, and an overall sense of urgency or restlessness can point to a nervous system that is rarely at ease.During consultations, the language clients use can also reveal patterns. Statements like “my skin was doing better but then everything came back at once” or “I feel like nothing works long term” often reflect an internal cycle that has not been interrupted. When these pieces are observed together, it becomes clear that the issue is not just acne. It is the environment the skin is existing within.
Why Traditional Acne Protocols Fall Short
Traditional acne treatments often focus on control. Reducing oil, eliminating bacteria, accelerating cell turnover. While these approaches can produce visible improvement, they can also become aggressive if not balanced properly.Over-exfoliation, frequent peels, and strong actives can further compromise the barrier, especially in clients already experiencing internal stress. The skin becomes more reactive, more inflamed, and ultimately less resilient.
This is where many clients get stuck. They are doing everything they have been told to do, yet their skin cannot sustain the results.A holistic approach does not replace corrective treatments. It refines them. It asks not only how to treat the acne, but how to support the skin so it can maintain the progress being made.
Shifting the Treatment Room Experience
Addressing the nervous system does not require a complete overhaul of your services. It requires intention.The treatment room itself can become a space that actively supports regulation. Slowing down the pace of a facial, incorporating rhythmic movements, and being mindful of transitions can signal safety to the body. When a client feels safe, the nervous system begins to shift out of survival mode.
Techniques such as lymphatic drainage and facial massage do more than sculpt or depuff. They encourage circulation, reduce stagnation, and create a sense of grounding. Even the way products are applied can influence the overall experience.Simple additions, like guiding a client to take a few deep breaths at the beginning of a treatment or allowing moments of stillness, can have a measurable impact. These are not extra steps. They are part of the work.
Supporting Clients Beyond the Treatment Room
The conversation does not end when the facial does. Education becomes a key component of preventing relapse. Clients do not need to be overwhelmed with information. They need clear, supportive guidance. Encouraging consistent routines, proper sleep, hydration, and moments of rest can create a foundation for the skin to function optimally.
It is also important to set realistic expectations. Skin that has been influenced by chronic stress may take longer to stabilize. There may be fluctuations along the way. Framing this as part of the process, rather than a setback, helps clients stay committed. When clients understand that their skin is responding to their overall state, they begin to approach it with more patience and awareness. This alone can reduce the cycle of over-treating and constant product switching.
Staying Within Scope While Expanding Your Impact
Speaking about the nervous system does not mean stepping outside of your professional boundaries. It means acknowledging the connection between internal states and external outcomes.You are not diagnosing stress or treating mental health conditions. You are observing patterns and educating clients on how those patterns may be influencing their skin.This distinction is important. It allows you to expand your impact while maintaining integrity within your role.
A New Standard for Acne Care
The future of acne treatment is not more aggressive. It is more integrated. Clients are beginning to recognize that their skin is influenced by more than what they apply topically. They are looking for practitioners who can guide them through a more complete approach.When estheticians begin to incorporate nervous system awareness into their consultations and treatments, the results shift. Skin becomes more stable. Flare-ups become less frequent. Clients feel supported, not just treated.And perhaps most importantly, the cycle of relapse begins to break.Because when the body no longer feels like it is under constant pressure, the skin no longer has to reflect it.
EDITOR’S PICK OF THE MONTH
Sorella Apothecary French Clay & PHA Solution
One of my top picks this month, this resurfacing treatment from Sorella Apothecary blends polyhydroxy acids with mineral-rich French clay to gently refine texture, lift dull surface cells, and bring out a soft, natural radiance without compromising the skin barrier. I love it as a non-aggressive exfoliation step that smooths, brightens, and preps the skin for everything that follows while keeping hydration and barrier integrity fully intact.
sorellaapothecary.com
Caffeine Peptide Depuffing Eye
Gel from Brow Down Studio Pro
A refreshing essential I love for instantly reviving the under-eye area, this lightweight gel uses caffeine-rich botanicals and advanced peptides to visibly reduce puffiness, soften fine lines, and brighten dark circles while delivering a boost of hydration. The cooling texture makes it an effortless daily ritual or post-treatment add-on, offering both immediate depuffing and long-term support for smoother, more awake-looking eyes.
browdownstudiopro.comm
ByAri Rx’s Seabuckthorn Skin Oil
A ritual I keep coming back to, this nutrient-rich oil from ByAri Rx is crafted with cold-pressed botanicals to deeply nourish, calm inflammation, and restore balance for a visibly smoother, more radiant complexion. Infused with antioxidant vitamins and essential omegas, it supports regeneration while delivering that effortless glow transforming everyday skincare into a grounding, skin-repairing experience.
byarirx.com
CryoThermal Facial Kit from Le Mieux
A results-driven treatment I reach for when I want both instant sculpting and skin rejuvenation, this CryoThermal Facial Kit from Le Mieux uses thermal contrast, cryogenic cooling, and gua sha to visibly lift, define, and depuff while enhancing circulation. Infused with advanced peptides and growth factors, it delivers deep hydration and a plumped, radiant finish making it a standout for both immediate glow and long-term skin support.
lemieuxpro.com
