4 Pillars of My Holistic Skincare Practice

Since it’s National Skin Care Awareness Month, I thought I’d share with you these basic principles I use to guide my professional aesthetics practice. I’ve been practicing now for 19 years and I didn’t always have a road map on how to treat clients. These are things I’ve developed over time going through struggles with my own skin right alongside my clients and their unique skin concerns. These 4 pillars are also the result of countless trial and error scenarios and the various books and articles I’ve read and educational programs I’ve sought out over the years. 

Pillar 1: Professional Treatments 

I have chosen treatments for my practice that align with Corneotherapy, these include: Ultrasound, LED, MicroChanneling, Microcurrent, Nano Infusion, Enzymes, Gua Sha, Cryo Massage, Facial Reflexology, Cupping. Corneotherapy means the repair and maintenance of the skin barrier defense system. I don’t do peels or microdermabrasion even though they are quite popular, because they take off too much of the skin’s outermost layer, cause too much inflammation and put the skin in constant defense mode. I’m not a huge fan of Dermaplaning for the same reason, however in a few cases I will do very light Dermaplaning just for the purpose of hair removal if the client’s skin is healthy and can tolerate it. Many aestheticians will tell you that this approach isn’t effective because it doesn’t go “deep enough”. I have almost 20 years of satisfied clients that will tell you it is in fact very effective. You can in fact, prompt the skin to make healthy improvements without causing damage to the skin. 

Pillar 2: Home Care

In my practice I’ve mostly chosen acid-free products to offer my clients. Daily use of exfoliating acids thin the skin and are not sustainable. Acids were never meant to be used on a daily basis. I like to focus on products that make the skin thicker and stronger like Vitamin C and Retinol, as well as brightening ingredients like Niacinamide. I teach clients not to over-exfoliate and to protect the skin from the sun. Consistent home care that supports the integrity of the skin barrier accounts for 80% of their results. I’ve found over the years this takes  a lot of commitment and education since the mainstream media is constantly throwing random products and bizarre remedies in front of them. It’s important to understand that it may take 3-6 months to get the home care regimen right and it will always need changing here and there because of seasonal or lifestyle factors. It can be a frustrating process for some but that’s why I’m here to support, educate and encourage them along the way.

Pillar 3:  Replenish the Skin with Nutrition 

As a general rule everyone’s skin can benefit from more nutrient dense foods like fruits and vegetables, (especially dark green leafy ones), healthy fats, and lots of water.

I try to educate clients on specific foods for their skin condition ie. wrinkles, acne, scarring, sensitive skin, rosacea, sagging skin etc. Since I’m not a registered dietician, I never recommend specific diets or eating plans. (Diets don’t work anyway, since everyone is unique.) Instead I educate on how specific foods are capable of improving our skin’s health.  

It’s my mission to also educate them on what things like added sugar, soda, alcohol, and processed food do to their skin like causing excess inflammation, which leads to redness, acne and early aging. 

Pillar 4: Rest, Restore, Decompress and De-stress.

Skin is part of the integumentary system. Under the skin is the lymphatic system, then the nervous system. All the systems work together. This is why stress and excess cortisol manifests as acne, redness, signs of aging. It’s so important to prioritize sleep and I strive to give my clients easy to implement stress reduction techniques. I believe stress is one of the most under-estimated enemies of healthy skin. After almost 20 years practicing as an aesthetician, I’ve seen countless clients make great improvements in their skin by just improving their sleep and managing their stress. These interventions cost absolutely zero dollars, yet make such a huge impact. I also like to focus on mental nutrition and skin gratitude. How often are you grateful for your skin and all it does for you? So often we are encouraged to look at all that is wrong with our skin, when in fact it is truly a remarkable organ that protects us from pathogens, helps regulate our body temperature and has an astounding ability to heal itself. When you look at your skin this way and see all the good it does for you it can help reduce negative thinking about the condition of your skin which creates stress and excess cortisol, thus restricting the progress of achieving skin goals. 

Did any of these 4 pillars resonate with you? If you’re struggling to achieve your skin goals and don’t know where to start, I am here for you! Drop me a message to get started today!