q&a by dermalogica question time Candice Gardner answers your skin care and business questions


Q: I work onmy own and taking time out for training means I amnot earning. How do I prioritise what training I should do?


A:Whilst I can appreciate your dilemma, you are not alone in your concerns.Most skin therapists whether they work alone or are running a business with a teamhave to weigh up the investment against the return when deciding about training.


With somuch competition in themarket place, we have to be driven to exceed clients’ expectations. Being equipped to performtreatments is really only the bare minimumrequired; exemplary services come fromconfident, happy therapists who understand the need to go the extramile. Learning new skills and techniques will enhance your perspective in understanding what a client needs fromyou, and how best to create a legendary service that keeps themcoming back formore.This will in turn bring greater retail and service results.


All reputable professional companies offer training programmes on their various products and equipment to ensure correct application and use. Don’t pass up on the opportunity tomake use of such courses. Your clients won’t come back to untrained, incompetent and possibly dangerous therapists.At the very least you will only ruin your business reputation, but at worst may indeed find yourself with a lawsuit on your hands.


Aside fromthe insurance concerns when there is inadequate training, health and safety of staff and clients should always be of paramount concern. It is every business owners’ responsibility to ensure both are protected in every way frominjury or incident.


Set out a plan to address your professional development.Assess which areas of the business could do with a boost. Do you need to improve your retail? If so look at product training that will give you confidence to talk to your clients about appropriate formulas. Or if services are down, look at how youmight invigorate this with a new technique or a fresh approach to what you are currently offering.


Look for courses with a company that has a good educational track record so that you know the time spent will be worthwhile. Make use of courses or forums offered free of charge, and try scheduling your training on days and at times that are generally less busy.


Look at attending something at least once per quarter. If you plan in advance you can get the training dates that suit you.


Whilst youmay be out of the business for a day or so, thismoney can quickly be recouped when you have fresh energy and ideas which can be implemented as soon as you get back to your business.


On a final note, remember that one of the most valuable elements to attending training is the opportunity to network with like- minded therapists and business owners. Working on your own can be isolating and you will gain farmore than the content of a training course by simply having the chance to talk and discuss what you are doing and the challenges you face with others.


Q: How do I know when a client is exfoliating toomuch?


A:There is a valid concern that clientsmay be over-exfoliating their skin at home. In their quest to achieve a radiant, healthy looking complexion, consumers will often double up on their at-home exfoliation treatments and even use exfoliants from differentmanufacturers on alternate days. Unfortunately consumers tend to subscribe to the erroneous belief that ‘if a little is good,moremust be better’.


With repeated over-exfoliation, the inevitable result will be to diminish the skin’s natural barrier function thereby contributing to a potentially sensitised skin condition and ultimately dehydration.


Tell-tale signs of over-exfoliated skin include: noticeable dehydration, patchy areas of dryness, skin tautness, a transparent looking epidermis, red and blotchy complexions, dilated capillaries, itchiness, increased sensitivity, inflammatoryAcne and irritation.


Regardless of which type of exfoliant you select to use on your client, you should always complete a consultation card to assess what products theymay be using at home, if they are using any prescription medications that will seriously alter their skin physiology and the frequency of use of these products.


Whilst exfoliation is an essential part of a good skin regimen,make sure that your customer is using the correct type of exfoliant for their individual skin and is clear on the weekly limit of applications. Ideallymore advanced exfoliation should be followed with amasque to counter some of the issues described above.Mild buffers that are used daily should not create any concerns.


Be conscious too that inmany instances clients simply don’t realise that they are layering up exfoliation effects fromusing a variety of products daily – a dual action cleanser, a separate exfoliant and then applying a serumwith retinoids. It is also up to the SkinTherapist to be aware of what is being recommended to the client and how it works within their overall routine.


Candice Gardner is Education CurriculumManager for the


International Dermal Institute in the UK and Eire, with a breadth of knowledge across all skin care concerns.


t: 08000 564 544


w: www.dermalinsitute.co.uk @Dermalinstitute


140 GUILD NEWS


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