c/estheticians

Why does everyone push LED light therapy masks like they're magic?

My mentor told me last year that those masks are just a gimmick and I should stick with chemical peels instead. I tried one for 3 months anyway and honestly saw zero difference in my skin compared to just doing regular peels. Anyone else find LED masks totally overhyped or am I missing something?

My lash lift timer fail took three tries to get right.

Kept getting uneven curls on my clients for like two weeks. Finally realized I was setting my timer wrong by 4 minutes each time. Anybody else have a basic step trip you up way longer than it should have?

Gave a hydrafacial with wrong tips and it sprayed product everywhere

I was doing a hydrafacial at my booth in Phoenix last Thursday and the exfoliation tip wasn't clicking in right so I just pushed harder. Suddenly the serum started shooting sideways all over the client's shoulder and my uniform. Has anyone else had a machine misfire on them mid-service and what did you do to recover without looking like a pro?

Had a client tell me I was using too much product, she was right

Last month I had a returning client, Mrs. Patterson from down the street, tell me my facials left her skin feeling heavy and oily. I brushed it off at first, figured she just had finicky skin. But after three more treatments with her giving the same feedback, I finally cut my serum and moisturizer amounts by about half. Now her skin looks way better and she booked a whole package. Has anyone else had a client call them out on something that actually made you rethink your whole routine?

A client told me my brow wax was too "aggressive" and now I use a different technique entirely

I switched from hard wax to soft wax and started checking in with them after each strip, has anyone else had to change their whole approach from one comment?

Found a hidden gem for chemical peels at a spa in Denver

I was visiting a friend in Denver last month and stopped into this tiny spa called Glow Up Studio for a quick facial. The esthetician there showed me how she mixes a low-grade lactic acid peel with a calming booster to reduce irritation, and it made such a difference on my skin. I tried it myself with a similar product from my supplier and my clients are loving the results now. Has anyone else tried mixing acids with calming additives?

Hit 1000 glycolic peels this month and finally figured out the trick

I do a lot of peels at my studio and I hit 1000 this past week. For the first 600 or so I was just following the standard timing on the bottle. Then I started timing based on how red the skin got instead of the clock and my client results got way better. Anyone else adjust their peel timing based on visual cues rather than the timer?

Almost gave up on hydrafacials until I tried doing extra passes on the chin and jawline

I was getting so frustrated seeing no real change in my clients with stubborn chin acne, but after reading about it on a blog from a girl in Portland, I started doing 3 passes in that zone instead of 2 and the difference in texture after just 4 sessions was wild, has anyone else tweaked their protocol like that and seen better results?

Last Tuesday was the hardest day of my career as an esthetician

I had three waxing appointments back to back, and one client literally cried through her whole Brazilian because she was so sensitive that day. By the end of it my hands were cramping and I almost broke down in the back room. Has anyone else ever had a day where you just wanted to walk out and never come back?

My mentor insisted I stop using alcohol based toners on dehydrated skin

When I first started esthetics school last year in Portland, my instructor kept telling me to cut out alcohol based toners for anyone with dry or dehydrated skin. I thought she was being overly strict since I had been using one on my own combination skin for years without issues. During my first client facial, I used a rose water toner that had denatured alcohol in it on a woman with flaky cheeks. She broke out in red patches within an hour and I had to comp her next visit. My instructor pulled me aside and showed me the pH strips and how the alcohol was stripping the barrier completely. Now I only use hydrating mists or glycerin based toners for anyone with dryness or sensitivity. Has anyone else had a product you thought was harmless actually cause a reaction like that in the treatment room?

Finally figured out why my hydrafacial tips were clogging after 3 tries

Turns out I wasn't cleaning the solution line between each client and it took me an extra hour of trial and error to spot the buildup, has anyone else dealt with this sneaky problem?

TIL I was over-exfoliating my own face for 6 months

I kept wondering why my skin looked dull and tight no matter what products I used. Then a client asked me what I was using and when I said a physical scrub every day, she just stared at me. I switched to a mild enzyme peel once a week and my skin actually started looking normal again. Any other estheticians here keep doing the wrong thing to their own face?

Update on my stubborn milia client from last month

I started using a 30 gauge needle for extraction instead of my usual 27, and it made a huge difference with less trauma to the skin. Has anyone else found a better tool for those tiny, deep-seated ones?

A client told me my extractions were too aggressive and she was right

About three months ago, a regular came in for a facial and straight up said, "Mark, that hurts, you're pushing way too hard." I was using my usual stainless steel tool on her nose. I realized I'd gotten into a fast, forceful habit to clear pores quickly. I switched to a lighter touch with a comedone extractor that has a softer silicone tip, and I spend more time softening the area with steam first. Now my clients say the process is much more comfortable. Has anyone else had to slow down a technique they thought was fine?

Pro tip: I switched from a standard facial steamer to a nano-mist one and the results are wild

Okay, so for like two years I used a basic steamer I got for maybe $150. It worked fine, but I felt like some clients with sensitive or rosacea skin just couldn't handle the full heat and moisture. I finally invested in a nano-mist steamer after seeing it at a demo, and the difference is huge. The mist is cool and way finer, so it doesn't overwhelm the skin. My rosacea clients don't get red during that part anymore, and I swear the serums I put on after soak in better because the skin is prepped without being irritated. It was a bigger upfront cost, around $400, but seeing how much more comfortable my clients are makes it worth it. Has anyone else made a switch like this and noticed a big change in how certain skin types react?

Rant: I keep seeing people use the same microdermabrasion tip for every single client

I was at a trade show in Phoenix and watched a demo where the tech used a diamond tip on a client with active rosacea. I almost yelled from the crowd. I've been doing this for eight years, and using a rough tip on sensitive, inflamed skin is a recipe for disaster. It doesn't just hurt the client in the moment, it can set their skin back for months. I know the machine manual says to clean the tip, but it says nothing about matching the grit to the condition. I've had clients come to me after a bad experience somewhere else, and fixing the damage takes three or four calming facials to get them back to baseline. How do you all decide which tip to use for different skin types? Do you have a set rule you follow?

Question about calming a client's skin after a strong peel

I had a client last month with redness that just wouldn't settle after a 30% glycolic treatment. Instead of my usual aloe gel, I tried a cold chamomile tea compress for five minutes before applying a zinc oxide cream. Has anyone found a better post-peel soother for sensitive types?

I bought a fancy new LED mask that ended up being a total dud

Saw a bunch of ads for this high end LED mask that promised to cut down on redness and boost collagen. It cost me $350 and I was really excited to try it on clients. After using it for two months, I saw zero change on any of the skin charts I keep. The light just felt weak and the fit was weird on most faces. Anyone have a good, cheaper LED device they actually trust?

Just counted 500 repeat clients in my book. Never thought I'd see that number.

So I fell for the 'magic' crystal roller hype

I saw a bunch of posts about this fancy rose quartz face roller that was supposed to drain lymph and sculpt your jawline. Spent $65 on it, used it for a month like clockwork. Honestly, my old $5 jade roller from the drugstore does the exact same thing. The only thing it drained was my wallet. Anyone have a real tool they love for facial massage that actually feels different?

TIL a client's skin reacted way better to a gel cleanser than my usual cream one.

I had a client with oily, sensitive skin and had to pick between starting with my standard cream cleanser or trying a new gel formula I just got. I went with the gel, and her redness calmed down a lot faster than it usually does. Has anyone else seen gel work better for that specific skin type?

A client in Phoenix said my extractions were leaving marks, so I switched up my whole approach.

She told me straight up that the red spots from my usual method were lasting for days after her facial. I was using too much pressure with my metal tool, trying to get everything in one go. Now I do a much longer steam session first and use a lighter touch, and I've seen way less post-facial irritation. Anyone else get a piece of feedback that made you completely change a technique you thought was fine?

Saw something at the mall spa in Springfield that made me question a common practice

I was at the big mall in Springfield yesterday and walked past one of those chain spa kiosks. They had a sign up for a free pore cleansing demo, so I watched for a bit. The person doing it used the same extraction tool on three different people without cleaning it between clients, just wiping it on a paper towel. I know a lot of places say a quick wipe is fine, but I disagree. Seeing it happen in person, with visible debris on the tool, really drove it home for me. Has anyone else seen this and decided to stick with disposable tools only?

Shoutout to the booth next to me at the Dallas trade show

They were telling a group that you should NEVER use a physical scrub on mature skin, but my best results for texture on my 60+ clients come from a gentle sugar scrub twice a month. Has anyone else found this to be true?

Unpopular opinion: I stopped pushing extractions on every client and my results got way better

I mean, for years I was taught that a facial wasn't complete without a full manual extraction, right? I'd spend 20 minutes on it sometimes, and clients would leave red and sore. About six months ago, I had a client with persistent rosacea who just couldn't handle it. I skipped the extractions entirely, focused on calming treatments and a really gentle enzyme peel instead. I saw her again last week after three months of this new plan, and the difference was crazy. Her skin was calmer, less inflamed, and the texture had improved more than it ever did when I was digging at it. I think we cause a lot of the irritation we're trying to fix. Has anyone else moved away from aggressive extractions and seen a real change in client skin health?