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skincare blog

  • Skincare: Why is it so Important?

    Skincare: Why is it so Important?

  • What advice can I give my client about staying safe in the sun?

    What advice can I give my client about staying safe in the sun?

    As Beauty Therapists we are in a privileged position as a trusted source of knowledge for our clients, being able to guide and educate them on the best ways to protect their skin in the sun. With the majority of our treatments taking place on their skin we are also able to draw their attention to changes or suspicious looking growths. Search online ‘Beauty therapist spots cancer’ and you will see multiple news articles of Beauticians saving clients lives!

    It’s vital that we equip ourselves with the most up to date information to share with our clients. Today’s blog covers the ABCD of essential information relating to the impact of UV on skin.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: We are not in the position to diagnose, if you are ever in a position where you spot something concerning on your client skin, always refer them to their GP.

    The ABCD of UV

    A: UVA

    UVA is commonly referred to as the ‘ageing ray’ this is because It has the longest wavelength of the UV rays, meaning it has the ability to penetrate the skins lower dermal layers. Long term over exposure of UVA such as sunbathing and sun beds leads to the degeneration and mutation of cells. This breakdown of collagen and elastin is the cause of lines and wrinkles.

    UVA is the same strength, 365 days a year. To protect against damaging affects wear broad spectrum SPF’s every day, even in winter and swap the tanning beds for a bottle!

    Long term exposure of UV rays can trigger free radicals, creating an oxidative response. This response is seen as skin mottling, hyperpigmentation and age spots. Using products with added vitamins can reduce the risk of this stress on the skin as vitamins help to fight free radical damage.

    B: UVB

    UVB is considered the ‘burning ray’ it is much shorter and more intense than UVA. It’s UVB you can feel warming your skin when you are out in the sun and is at its most intense during summer months (particularly around midday) UVB has an accumulate affect when damaging the skin, the more your skin burns the more cells will mutate. These mutations can start to divide and multiply leading to skin cancer. skincancer.org states that 5 or more sunburns doubles your risk of developing life-threatening melanoma. (The Skin Cancer Foundation Official Website – The Skin Cancer Foundation, 2021)

    Top advice for protecting against burning:

    1. Apply SPF at least half an hour before exposure. This should be reapplied every 1-2 hours. The recommend amount is a teaspoon for the face and a shot glass for the body!
    2. Try UPF clothing. UPF clothing limits the number of rays coming into contact with the skin.
    3. Check the daily UV index and act accordingly. Reduce exposure during the hottest times of the day.

     

    C: Cancer

    According to Cancer research UK 86% of skin cancer is preventable (Melanoma skin cancer statistics, 2021) So what causes skin cancer and how can we prevent it?

    Skin cancer or it’s official name Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer in the UK. Although not all types of melanoma are directly linked to sun exposer the majority of cases are, this is because UV rays damage the skin. This skin damage accumulates overtime particularly in cases where the skin has been burned, causing cell and DNA damage. This cell damage mutates into cancer and can grow.

    The fairer the skin the higher the risk for developing skin cancer, this is because melanin (natural skin colour) offers some protection against UV. The darker the skin the naturally more protected it is. Although it may not happen quickly, black and asian skin can still burn so it is still important to protect the skin with SPF.

    There are various types of skin cancers and although we are not in a position to diagnose cancer on our clients, it is good to have an awareness. This awareness can help us to draw their attention to changes in their skin or growths we may think they need to get checked. Always refer clients to their doctor for a diagnosis.

     A reference for skin changes:

    Asymmetry: is it asymmetrical or does it have a jagged edge?

    Border: does it have a border?

    Colour: is it one solid colour or does it vary?

    Diameter: has it grown in the last few months?

    Evolving: has it changed shape or evolved in the last few months?

     

    Visit www.cancerresearchuk.org for more statistics and information relating to skin cancer.

     

    D: Vitamin D

     Although we have looked at the negative impact of UV on our skin it’s important to note that it does play a role in a positive contribution and that is in the production of Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for healthy bones, teeth and muscles.

    The rate in which you produce Vitamin D depends on the amount of melanin your skin natural produces, the fairer the skin the faster it will produce the Vitamin. Most people in the UK do not produce enough Vitamin D during the winter months.

    Vitamin D can be supplemented through diet by taking supplements or eating foods such as oily fish, red meats, eggs and fortified breakfast cereals.

    For more references visit: 

    www.cancerresearchuk.org

    https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/

    https://www.skincancer.org/risk-factors/sunburn/

     

  • Facials, how to stand out against the competition.

    Facials, how to stand out against the competition.

     

    With a current market value worth £560 million, the skincare industry is as popular now as it has ever been. Gone are the days of the monthly facial and on your way. In recent years clients are demanding more from their skin treatments and their skin therapists. With so much available on the market, here’s our top tips to stay relevant and stand out against the competition.

    Bespoke treatments

    Personalisation is the key to building a loyal clientele. Clients have their own individual skin concerns, lifestyles and their own preferences when it comes to their treatment. By completing a comprehensive consultation, you will be equipped with all the information you need to design their experience for them.

    Don’t feel pressured to sticking to a concrete routine, your facial routine can be flexible. By focussing on the treatment steps that will benefit the client the most, you will get more of a targeted result. For example, a client that complains of dull, rough skin would benefit most from the exfoliation and masking stages, whereas for a highly sensitised skin you may choose to omit exfoliation altogether.

    Combining stages can speed up steps, have a more targeted results and allow you more time elsewhere in the treatment. Talk to your skin care provider on how you can mix up your products! Common combos include power cleansing and masking by adding an exfoliant to a cleanser or mask, massaging over a mask or combining retail serums into moisturisers in the treatment room.

     

    Tools 

    The world is becoming more technological, your treatments can be too! Using machines within your treatments can increase the results you can achieve. Microcurrent, Microdermabrasion, LED and more are favoured with professional therapists worldwide for their easy use and quick results.

    Manual tools are also becoming more popular, whether it’s a Guava stone for cleansing or a Derma roller for increasing product efficiency they offer you further ways to customise the clients treatment.

    Multisensory experiences

    Elevate your treatments by customising your client’s full sensory experiences. By customising these experiences, the client will not only leave with great skin but an overall sense of relaxation and well-being specifically designed for them.  Ask your client how they would like to feel after their treatment: relaxed or uplifted there are various ways to target this form them.

    Taste: consider what you serve your client prior to their treatment. Herbal teas and fruit waters can be a great place to start. Certain blends such as lavender and chamomiles would suit the client looking for relaxation, whereas citrus fruits are the go-to for invigoration

    Smell: Smell and taste go hand in hand, complement the drinks you offer with diffuser smells in the treatment room. Beginning and ending your treatments with some inhalations using essential oils can help transition your client in and out of their treatment.

     Sight: lighting can be a great way to set the mood for the treatment, some therapists will use changeable mood lamps. Also consider the colour of your treatment space, it’s been proven that colours affect moods. For example blues, purples and greens can stimulate feelings of calm, yellow can increase anxiety and reds can be very stimulating.

    Sound: not everyone relaxes to the same music, try asking your client what they prefer to listen to during their treatments, they might just surprise you! Some clients may prefer not to listen to any music at all, they may find it distracts them from completely switching off. Ensure background noises, sounds that we become accustom too such as the squeaky chair, phone ringing or dripping tap are all new for our clients!

    Touch: don’t save the relaxation for the massage, increase touch throughout the treatment to relax your client. Begin with some pressure points or shoulder rocks to introduce your touch this can increase the clients comfort in their surroundings.