Welcome to the Porefessionals Podcast.
We're Cara, Cecia, and Allie, licensed estheticians and certified acne experts.
Tune in every week to hear us dive into skincare myths, all things acne, and the crazy rollercoaster of being entrepreneurs.
Hello, welcome back to the Porefessionals Podcast.I'm Allie.I'm Cara.I'm Cecia. This is part two of answering your questions that you have asked us.We get so many questions when we put up Q&As and stuff.
We thought we would just kind of crank out a few general Q&A episodes.How are y'all?So good.So good.
Anything new going on in your lives?Getting ready for Halloween, that's all. Halloween.
Yeah.Well, when this comes out, I do think it'll be post-Halloween, Ceci.
Wrapping up Halloween, getting ready for Thanksgiving.OK.
I do have a question for you guys, though.
Oh, wait.When this comes out.Sorry.What?When this comes out, it's election day.
Stop it.Oh, God.I'm going to be in Portugal.
I'm probably getting there.And I'm going to be in Arizona.
I'm going to be in Arizona.It'll be election day.We'll have a new president.And I think we're all ready for this election, no matter who you're voting for, to be over.I need my text messages back.
I took the day after election day off, because I'm going to be up late.
That's so crazy, because you were supposed to come to Arizona with me, and you said you couldn't.But it turns out you're actually off?
Wow, you guys being here or fighting? We're feuding, apparently.
Well, listen, Kara's had a rough month.Give her a break.
Well, that's why I was trying to hang out with my good friend in Arizona.But I guess she doesn't want to spend time with me.
I'm in Portugal, by the way, guys.It's not me.She's talking about Kara.No.Ollie.
Ellie hates me.Okay, back to my original question.
When is it too soon?Like, when do you guys put up the Christmas decor?November 1st?After Thanksgiving?
I do it, like, Thanksgiving, like, the very next day after Thanksgiving.
Oh, no, that's too late.Yeah.No! I told the girls, November 1st, it's going up at We Love Action.
Do it!I actually bought a tree for the new spa.I bought like a really tall, kind of thin tree that I could put in a corner.
Oh, that's what I had last year, remember?Ozempic tree?
Yeah!Oh yeah!That's right!Did you like it?Was it cute?Are you going to do it again this year?Oh yeah, it was great.Okay, I kind of forgot you had it.I was just thinking of one that I could fit in like a corner.
Oh yeah, I need to go back and look at how you did yours, because I was like, I don't know what to do with it.It's just like a seven and a half foot, like skinny, skinny little ozempic tree.
A pink ozempic tree.Oh, that's fun.
Have you guys heard that song, the ozempic song?It's like... Oh, oh, oh wait.
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
Every time someone says a zempi, that's what I think of that song.Oh my gosh.A zempi?A zempi.That's what I call it.Okay.So yeah, we're going to do it the day after Thanksgiving, but you can do it whenever you want, Kara.It's your own life.Yeah.
You choose.Yeah.All right, let's get into these questions because we have so many.We're going to have to bust through them, you guys, really fast.Okay. Coming up with the, or let's start with, OK, number, OK.Number seven.Zio or Zoe.How do you say it?
I feel like I hear both ways.Don't know.Zoe or Zio.I wouldn't tell you.Opinions.Do we like it?Do you guys like it?Do you have an opinion?
I literally have no opinions.I've never tried it.Nothing.So.
Have you ever tried it, Allie?Me too.I have.
Am I the only one that's ever tried it?I just know that people, it seems to be really strong. It is.Very strong.
So it is really strong.I love that blue.That blue scrub though.It looks really pretty.I've used that.That's great.They actually do have really good retinols.
The problem that I have with Zio and I just don't like believe in the philosophy of skin with them.
They believe that like the skin gets lazy if you don't like when you use moisturizers they are like you get your skin gets lazy and so it doesn't produce oil on its own and so you
Use if you'd like, you shouldn't use moisturizers and I don't believe in that.I'm, I'm a barrier health.
Do they not have any moisturizers?
Technically?No.Everything's like in the hydration or, um, like. It's like an app, not an active.That's not the right word.A lot of antioxidants, a lot of other supportive things, but they don't have like a true moisturizer.
I think they had their daily.Is it daily repair serum or daily something or other is like their moisturizer, but it's not really a moisturizer.It's definitely more like an antioxidant and like a couple other things again.
Like if it works for you, great.I have seen a lot of like messed up skin, but we've all learned that sometimes you can use the best things and it has everything to do with the guidance.
So it's very likely that those people were just not guided on how to use those products.So I think there are good products in there.I just, um, don't agree with philosophy and it doesn't resonate with me as like a provider.
So I'm not ever going to carry it, but. I do like that blue slushy stuff.It is good.I had it a couple years ago.It's really nice.It's good.It's pretty aggressive, though.But it does give you a squeaky clean.
I don't even know what you're talking about.It's just an exfoliator.That's our opinion.
Number eight, what is the most moisturizing moisturizer that's acne safe for super chronically dry skin that's been on Accutane?I feel like I know what you guys are going to say.I don't think you do.
OK, maybe not. I know what you think I'm going to say, but that's not what I'm going to say.I know.
I don't know what you're going to say or what you think you're going to say.
What are you going to say, Allie?Not comfort cream?No, not really.Tria Luxe, Skin Better.Oh.That would be one.That's not the one I was going to say, but that is probably.
Comfort cream, I don't think is that moisturizing.
No, I think it's calming.
I've never used it.Yeah. It's a nice moisturizer, but it's not the most I love.And just Trio in general, but Trio Luxe, I would say, is amazing.
I would say like the, um, and bomb from and FISA would be like a fantastic option for somebody who deals with like chronically dry skin.The thing is with dry skin, you've got to have a good hydrator.
The worst thing, the biggest mistake people make is they just find like a super greasy moisturizer and think that that's going to like solve their problems.Usually people are like severely dehydrated.So.
You got to get your water in first and then lock it in with a really good moisturizer that's got good ceramides and fatty acids, things like that, that'll lock all of it in.
So for me, it's probably Anbalm from Infisa, which I'm adding back to my shop.I carried it a couple of years ago.I'm going to add it back in.But I'm only going to carry the travel sizes, because I don't think it needs to be for everyone every day.
But I do like that one.And it's acne safe, believe it or not.I really like the texture of that.
I was going to say cream, peptide cream. I don't work with a ton of lines, so that's kind of like my experience with that.
Crenpet, there's another really good one actually from Lyra.The Caviar Cream from Lyra is amazing.It's a really, really good, thick moisturizer.I keep it in my back bar for when I do treatments.I don't sell Lyra, but I do use a lot of their back bar.
That's a great one.So if you have a Lyra provider, that's a really, really fantastic one.But it's got some shea butter and stuff, so if you're not acne prone anymore or you're not worried about that, that would be one. OK, next.
Like for at home, I would say Skin Better Even Tone, like a retinol, alpharet, just anything that's going to help speed up the cell turnover rate and lighten that skin.
I really love the Facialties Mandelic 11%.So when you jump from what, eight to 11%, it doubles the amount of lactic acid in there as well, so it's super brightening.And also, we just brought back the Skinscript Glycolic Retinol Pads.Those are great.
Those are great.People forget about those.They are.I brought them back actually too just recently.I've never tried those.They're good.They're so good.They're 25 bucks for 50, and they're so saturated.Cut those suckers in half.
For body acne, like we talked about on the last episode, actually, great for body acne.
We have the Skin Better Peel Pads, and I love those.But it's interesting.I will have to try that.OK.
Well, this is another question that I'll just, it's down the list.But since you brought up the Peel Pads, someone asked, Jan Marini or Skin Better Peel Pads?Or do you have a different brand you recommend?
I don't know anything about Jan Marini Peel Pads.Do you?
No, I don't.Sassia might.But you have the Skin Better peel pads that you like.
I do really like the Skin Better peel pads.They're the Alpharette peel pads.I love those.You apparently like the Skinscript ones.Sassia, do you know anything about the Jan Marini peel pads?
So Jan uses a lot of glycolic.That's her... Oh, Jan first name.Okay, a little bit of... Oh, she does use a lot of glycolic.She does.No, she does.
So the interesting fact about Jan Marini, actually, is back in the day, she was kind of a little bit of a pioneer when it came to glycolic acid.Did you guys know that? That's why you see so much of the glycolic in her line.
It's one of her, like the acids that she, she's, she's been in the industry for like a gazillion years.But she helped, um, I can't remember like the story behind it, but I'm not going to get into it.Basically she likes glycolic.I do like those.
I actually like the alpharette peel pads better though, if I were to compare the two.I would say peel pads from alpharette better.
You didn't let me say my PAE product, though.
You skipped me.I like the Brilliant Tone from Glymed, but it's fine.Everyone already knows I like that one.
I've been using the Brilliant Tone because you spoke so highly of it.And I haven't been using it long enough to notice a difference.But I do want to address the after feeling of it, the texture.
It's so sticky.Is it not sticky for you?
It is, yeah.It's a little sticky.
It's really... Do you only use it once a day?I use it twice.
Yeah.No, it's technically only supposed to be PM.Okay.
Regardless, it's so sticky.It's really... It's a weird texture.I'm trying to get over it.Because if it works, and it's cheaper than Eventone, amazing. But it's killing me in the sticky department.
Different than Even Tone.So a lot of people will ask me, because I'll have people come to me that have been on Even Tone.It's like an active, yeah.Yeah, it's different.I wouldn't say that they perform similarly.
And they feel like Lightyear's different, too.Brilliant Tone's an OG type of, it's using a lot of old school, you know, Kojic.Kojic, yeah.Yeah, it's just using old school, like, blueberry, lactic. Yeah, yeah.
So usually I say if you use that, I'd skip your Mandelic that night because it's a little spicy to do that with more AHAs.But anyway, okay, that's it.I just wanted to make sure I got mine in there because I do like her.
Okay, next question is best eye cream.Thoughts, opinions, feelings.Best eye cream.What are you guys using these days?
I feel like eye creams are lame.
I like the Hale and Hush.Oh yeah, you do like that one.
I like the Hale and Hush eye serum, the Brilliant Eye and Lip Serum.Oh my god, it's so pretty.Cecilia doesn't like it because it's like, she thinks it's sticky.
I get how you can say that, but it's so pretty.It's so brightening, has those like liquefied crystals in there.Oh, it's so pretty.
And you can use it on your lips.Does it dry not sticky?
It doesn't, I don't know.
It stays tacky, I think, a little bit.
Tacky-ish.It doesn't, like, completely go away, but I feel like that's what helps it, I don't know.
That's what helps it, like, well, hydrating and stuff, too.I think it's a lot of, like, surface hydration.I don't hate it.I just feel like it's tacky for me, but, I mean, I also like Brilliant Tone that is a little tacky, so. I don't know.
I like the Korean skincare one that I use, but that's the one that I've had the most success with.But at the end of the day, honestly, eye creams are like, you're never gonna see overnight difference with eye creams.I don't care what anyone says.
They're hydrating. And it's a long-term thing, and I would say maybe IMAX has been the only one that I've ever used that I've noticed significant because it's got that little bit of, it has a little bit of alpharet in it, doesn't it?
Doesn't it have a retinol in it?
Yeah.So I think unless the eye cream has an active like that in there, peptides even, I think the peptides can help make things brighter, but they're not gonna really touch those fine lines like a retinol-based eye cream will.
I think people think an eye cream is going to give them the effects of filler or Botox, and it's just not going to happen.Agreed.
Next.I love... Wow, you skipped me.Oh!Allie, tell us your favorite. Thanks, guys.I like the skin better.I'm Max Alfred.I already talked about it.That's what I'm going to use at night.I think it works.Wait, is that the one in the pump?Mm-mm.
Well, they're all in the pump.What's the one?
Oh, no.That's the Instant.Oh.I don't like that one.
The Instant Daily one, I thought it literally did nothing.
Mm-mm.It doesn't do anything.
No, I didn't understand it at all.
I think IMAX is the only one that's worth it.
It's amazing.It does have a little bit of retinol, so use that at night, and especially if you have like milia around your eyes, it's awesome.And then for the daytime, use the Elastin Trihex, I think it's restorative eye cream.
But their products that have the Trihex technology in it is so cool and I absolutely love that one.And that one can also be used day and night if you don't want to have like two separate ones.So that's what I would say.
All right.What? What's the best retinol for aging skin but no acne anymore?So they don't have acne or they've had acne in the past, maybe?They don't have it anymore, they don't deal with it.So they need a good retinol.What's the best retinol?
I mean, I feel like my answer...
I know.Well, I really only work with the facial reality line, so God, they renamed everything.I can't even think of the names.
I cannot.Retinol B3.There's the Retinol B3 and then the Retinol Peptide, which I think is the more intense one.
Intense, yeah.I don't sell the Retinol Peptide.I don't like it.Oh.I only like the Retinol.
It's so which is a really good introductory Retinol for people that like have not maybe used a retinol before it's kind of a baby retinol that I do like baby
Should I tell people what I'm doing?Should I tell people what I'm doing when it comes to retinol?I don't know what you guys are up to.Sassia has a big secret.She's been feeling it.I am testing out Trat, you guys.I am.And you know what?
It's been okay for my skin so far.Okay, the reason why I'm trying it out, not really for my acne clients, for me, because She's 40, she's got lines.
Are you using the treadmill with isopropyl myristate?
I have both.So I've tried the isopropyl myristate.I didn't have problems with that one, but I have the gel and so I'm trying the gel now because the gel does not have it and I'm trying to see if the gel Irritates my skin.
And so far I haven't had any irritation, but I'm also on like the lowest dose of it.So I use the tread.Like three times a week right now.And then I'm doing like my benzoyl peroxide on the other nights.Um, and I haven't had anything.
In fact, I've, my skin's been super clear.So with all that said, just for anybody listening, like I, I think all of us have the, or of the opinion tread is not a solution for acne.I think it's, it's a, it can be.
helpful for some people, but for the majority of people, TRET is not where you want to turn first for acne.Um, my acne is pretty well under control and I still introduce benzoyl peroxide like a few times a week.
So, but yeah, I'm trying it just to see, because I do have some adult clients that have been coming to me that, um, I've been asking about it and I want to try, I want to mess with it myself just to see, you know, like what to expect.
And so that's the whole purpose, but yeah, I have a little bit of TRET in my life right now.
I just want to say thank you so much for being honest.This is a safe space.
I sent you guys a picture the other day.
I was like, look what I've been trying to say is like, can I tell you guys when she posted her like nighttime routine?I said, you forgot to shut up, Allie.
But you know, the reason why I got it originally to wasn't just for the fine lines.I am getting an ridiculous, ridiculous amount of sebaceous hyperplasia in my forehead. And I've had it.
I don't know why it's deciding to be a part of my life, but it is not cute.I don't like it.I'm very irritated.I keep getting them up here and it's driving me crazy.Cause it looks like I have like pebbly skin and I'm like, it's not, it's not bumps.
It's freaking hyperplay.So I talked to my dermatologist about it, who I really like.And he's like, I know you don't want to use it, but like, that is the strongest thing you can.And that's actually what will help.
He's like, you burn them off all day long, but they're going to keep showing up.So anyway.
Here we are.I love this journey for you.
Thank you.Next question.Thoughts on the plated serum?I feel like, Cessia, you've been using the plated serum, right?
I have been.I like it.It's been fine.Yeah.However, I have had a lot of people message me and tell me, oh my gosh, it broke me out so bad.I don't understand how that's possible.
But because it doesn't have anything pork hogging in it, but it could stir things up.It's been a lot of people?I don't know.I've had like six people.I feel like that's kind of a lot.Every time I introduce it, I break out.
I'm like, I don't know how that's, I don't even understand how that's possible.So I don't know.I don't know.I like it.I don't know that I'll for sure bring it on, but I do like it.It's been fine.Isn't it really expensive? Yeah.
Kira sent it to me, but yeah, I think it's like 200 plus.It's like a trillion, 7 trillion exosomes or something in it.I don't know.Not the trillion.Never tried it.Not the trillions.The gazillions.OK.
Yeah, I don't know.I think we talked about on our episode of Women in STEM about the, why are you pointing at me? Not you.
Ivy's back there.Ivy looks like the girl from The Garage right now.She's like, pointing at me.It's not The Garage.I'm dead.No, from The Garage, the movie.Not like she's in The Garage.
She's got the long dark hair too.I'm dead.I'm dead.She's just standing there staring.
Ivy.Oh, we were talking about on our episode in Women in STEM, we just don't know how accurate topically the absorption of exosomes is versus injecting it or like needling it in.But I've seen amazing before and afters of the plated serum.
So I think it's worth a try.You're still on mute, Cecilia.Oh, wait.We can't hear you. Okay, we can hear you now.
Oh wait!No, you're muted.You're muted.What?Am I back?
Now we can hear you.Sorry, I had to tell Ivy to go away.She was being creepy back there.Okay, so yeah, I don't think it's going to break people out.I don't know why people thought that.I think that they just probably, I don't know.
I think it's people who are already, like, I personally wouldn't introduce plated to somebody who is dealing with acne at the moment, because I don't like to add unnecessary things in.
So that's why I say the people who are telling me, like, it's breaking them out, I just wonder if they're, like, in the middle of their acne clearing process and, like, you know what I mean?
They're purging, like, who knows that it's just that they're introducing it.So anyway, what's the next question?
Best anti-aging line that doesn't require a medical director for non-acne people. So not skin better, I think, is what they're saying.Lyra.Lyra would be who I would do.I feel like Renee is a good one.Renee Rouleau.
She does a lot of acne, actually.
A lot of acne, but I feel like a lot of her stuff is very for pigmentation and brightening and anti-wrinkles and stuff like that.
Why can I not like think of literally anything right now in my brain?
Lyra?I mean even like Glymed and Skinscript have like- Yeah!
Don't need a medical director.No.
Skinscript can be good for it. Um, I honestly, Lyra Lyra is a great line.I just, it's for me, it's how it has a smell to it that I don't personally like.It's got a very like mature smell to it.I know people say they like the smell.
I worked with Lyra like in, I don't know, like early, like when I, they're a California based company.So when I was in the Bay area.
I worked with them a little bit and I don't know, I think I got like burnt out on their products a little bit, but they have a smell.They have a very specific kind of like perfumey smell that I just don't personally like, but love their products.
Like they have really nice products.Does it have added fragrance?I don't think so.I think it just, um, no, I don't think there's added fragrance in it.
There might be like some essential oils in it that give it that smell, but they're very like cream-based things.Really nice formulas.They use a lot of Mystica, which is like a, they're specific.It's like derived from like a Greek plant or something.
I think it's Greek, but that's a nice one.But I don't know.I can't think of anything else.Rene Rouleau is a nice line.I don't know that I would say anti-aging though.I would probably say it's more for acne actually.
I haven't used it personally, Renee's line, but I know a lot of people love it and I'm seeing like more and more estheticians carry her like wholesale retail.
I feel like there's one that I cannot think of right now that is escaping me.If I think of it later, I'll let you know.Okay, what I wish my clients knew what?
Cosmetics?Cosmetics with an X. Osmosis, were you thinking?
Oh, that's a good one.I do like osmosis.It'll come to you.
OK, what I wish my clients knew about acne products or our jobs.
What do we wish that we could tell?
Let's pick one of those.Oh, God.About our jobs.What about our jobs?Let's pick one about the jobs.Ooh, there's so many things.But we don't actually know when we're making money.
Because I don't know about you guys, but I feel like we have these amazing months where we feel like we're making all this money.But then I'm like, but how much did I actually make?
Yeah, and then I meet with my finance guy.He's like, you only made this amount.I was like, oh, OK.
How does that work?It's so sad.It's so sad.Yeah, I think people think, oh, well, I just spent $200 here.If this many people are spending $200,
seven days a week or whatever like you must be raking it in like i wish you could see how little stays like it's like sad like comically sad like how little money goes to us and i don't know about you guys but i am um
Like I'm a W-2 employee of my business.I don't know why my tax person told me to do that.But I just get a paycheck.I just switched to that.Similar to my employees.And I make less than my employees.
I was about to say, I make less than mine.
Yes.Because one, I want to prioritize them.And then I basically just get what's left over.The scraps.
Yeah. No, I think that's what's funny is that it is like the the amount that we actually get to take home is just it's different.It's not what you think it is.
And honestly that's so good for like I think even like you know people who are solo estheticians or thinking to be solo estheticians should know.I know it seems like you would make more money but sometimes that's not really the case.
You'll get more freedom, yes. And there's more flexibility, yes.But there's a lot more constraints that you're not probably accounting for.That's all.Yeah.That's what I would like them to know.OK.Next.
Next one.I heard from ClearSim, if you apply something over Mandelic Serum, it quits working.Is that true?Our favorite people to spread information. Why would they, why would it stop?Did they stop at Mandelic?
They say, so their, yeah, no, no, no, their Clarity Serum, which is a Mandelic, that you have to wait 15 minutes before putting on anything else or else it neutralizes the Mandelic.
But that's not really how, like, the pH scale works, necessarily.
I mean, yeah. You know, I think things will naturally things will naturally like the pH.So if you put something acidic on the skin, it doesn't mean your skin stays there.
So like initially, yes, it'll take it to a slightly acidic state, but your natural pH starts to adjust back to like a different number.It's not going to be. that number anymore.That's why you have oil and water in your skin and it adjusts.
Wait time, sure, maybe a minute, but you're not going to dilute it.I'd say five.Sure, five.But 15 is excessive.Your skin is like a
organism like it works it has the ability to adjust it doesn't just like it's like a dead fish you like put it on there it's like it's just stuck there now that's it like it adjusts on its own it's alive it's a living thing so No.Go ahead.
Wait one minute.Five minutes.I say one.Allie says five.Go in half way.Two and a half minutes.
I say max five.Like I usually will tell people like I'll brush my teeth and like go put on my PJs or something.You know, like do something else and then you can apply the rest of your routine.But definitely not fifteen.
Allie will do like her like butt acne routine and then.
I thought this was a safe place.
And it's obviously not.Let's move on from Allie's butt acne.
And that wasn't even in this episode.
I know.If you're new to this last week's episode, go back and listen.You'll know what we're talking about.OK.
I got married and I have butt acne, OK?
OK, next question.I have a cystic pimple on my right side of my cheek.I'm on face reality protocol.What should I do? Uh, don't pick it.Sulfur it.
Ice it.Sulfur spot it.Ice.Forget it.
Keep up with your routine.
Yeah.Um, okay.Next question.How to gain more clients when first starting in the industry?Hmm.
Only fans.Ha ha ha!Just kidding.
um but you really have to put yourself out there like you need to consistently yeah like social media yes but also like go to local like events like if you can sponsor local events or just like be at local events like i i don't like not fairs but like
Similar type things you just need to put yourself out there consistently and like throw ego to the side and like Really show up for your business, you know Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I was gonna say social media will only take you so far, but it's so important to make those local connections like Ali said um
going out, meeting your neighbors, going to local small businesses, people that maybe you could do like a giveaway with or, you know, just meeting people.
And I, when I first started, I went and passed out like little goodie bags, like with my business card, a discount card.
like maybe some like under eye gels, like something with cheap and went and passed that out and introduced myself to like, like I said, local businesses.
So just putting yourself out there and then to remember to like be patient, it's going to take time.So.
Yeah, I agree. And then I was going to say something else, but no, I don't remember what it was, but that's OK.OK, this next question, I actually am like really interested to hear from Kara, because I feel like I didn't ask you when it happened.
Kara, was it hard to rebrand and rename your business when you did it?
That's really good question as far as like the back end of things like legally, so it actually was pretty easy Legally, I'm still skin Cara, but I'm a DBA so doing you're like back Yeah, so it was just like a quick
like online form that I had to fill out so that was pretty easy um I don't know I feel like I slowly made the changes like my um Instagram handle was skincara and then even wait months before I changed the business name I changed the handle to we love acne um
So I don't know.I feel like it was a pretty simple change.It's not like I'd been in business for 10, 15 years and then changed it.But I think it was just a natural transition.
And I don't think I had any... People still want to call me Skin Cara sometimes, but I think... I don't know.We're WLA now.
Who wants to call you Skin Cara? Well, clients.
Oh, first of all, my parents, they refuse to call me.We love acting like they'll still call my business skin care.They hate the new name.Why?But it is what it is.I don't know.They are just so opinionated.Yeah, but.I was honestly not too hard.
So if you ever private labeled products, you should call them skin care.
It's so cute, like skincare, skincara, but like a, it's literally skincara wash.It's so cute.
Yeah.Okay.Yeah.Well maybe, I mean I still own the rights to the name, so.
Hell yeah.Any new tips, or sorry, any tips for a new esthetician and always feeling like you're not doing enough or comparing yourself?
Am I frozen?No, we hear you.No.OK.
Hello.I was talking before.I think you were muted.I was muted.OK.
What was the question?Any tips for a new esthetician?
Social media, stay in your lane in terms of don't follow too many people. and be trying to look at other people's stuff, I think will really help.
Whatever inspires you and motivates you, talk about that, and don't look at what other people are doing, and you will find success.
Yeah.And just remember, social media is such a highlight reel of everything.People are generally not putting the bad, the hard,
all that so just I don't know it breaks my heart sometimes because I'm like people just think it's all rainbows and butterflies but it's so hard like running a business and the industry can be hard sometimes but I don't think they like finding
a few people in the industry and your community that you can like vent to, bounce ideas off.I mean, we have a running group text that we text each other every day.So like finding your people that, you know, you can pick their brains.
They can listen to you.You know, it's hard to find some like people who know exactly what you're going through.So find your people.Yeah.
Amen.Find your people and try not to compare.That's literally The best advice.Amen!Okay, should I niche down my business?Feeling like it would exclude some clients, but I really want to focus on more corrective skincare only.Hell yeah!
Niching down doesn't necessarily mean you have to stop providing certain services.No!I think niching down means that when you start to present yourself in marketing efforts,
you are doing so with the intent to bring in the specific type of client you're looking for.So if you're wanting to niche down and try to provide more corrective services, all that means is that your marketing efforts need to look like.
marketing efforts for that service.So like say you want to do acne, it doesn't mean you have to take like your regular facial off of your menu.
It just means you start talking about a lot of acne and that's how you start to niche down and get more and more of those clients. Yeah, I don't think that it's, you don't have to get rid of other clients necessarily.
I will say that, you know, it might detour them from like booking with you if it becomes harder to book with you because you get, you know, your books get busier and maybe you start to accept more of those acne clients.Maybe it's harder for those
those mature clients to get in with you and they might kind of slowly phase out but maybe that's what you're trying to do anyway like that'll happen kind of organically I think anyway.
When I started to just do acne I told my clients that I wasn't doing a lot of it but like sugar and hair removal and
I had to tell them I wasn't going to offer that anymore and it was sad because some of them, you know, didn't come back for any skincare acne treatments but it also made room and opened up my schedule for those acne clients that I wanted in my treatment room and that never would have happened if I would have said, if I would have kept sugaring.
I didn't know you sugared.I had no idea.Yeah, probably because I never talked about it.That's so funny.
What do you tell clients who are becoming frustrated they aren't clearing faster? We didn't hear your last one so at least start this one for us.
This I feel like happens all the time.
I think validating their feelings is really important off the bat just like making sure that like they feel heard and understood and that you can really sympathize with how frustrating it is that they're going through that.But also I think
Stating from the beginning the first time they come in that this may take a really long time Like I almost always overshoot how long I think it'll take so that when it clears faster They're stoked because if you say like, oh, I think this is gonna clear in three months and it takes six They're pissed.
But if you say this is gonna clear in six months inclusion three, you're their idol.I So I think just being really upfront with expectations in the beginning, that purging, you know, it may get worse, all of that stuff, I think is really important.
No, I think that is huge.Setting expectations.Don't over-promise and under-deliver.Like, do the opposite.Like Allie said.And I think just being upfront and honest with them and not being upset if they share that they're upset.Like, it's okay.
Like Allie said, you have to empathize with them.And sometimes you have to have those tough conversations.But yeah, I think setting expectations in the beginning is super important.
Yeah, and I think that's just also a normal part of the clearing process.At some point, every single client that walks through our doors that goes through Acne Bootcamp deals with some level of frustration about the timeline.
I think that's actually pretty normal.The severity of how frustrated they are will vary for sure, but they will.They're going to be frustrated because it's a frustrating process, but
Usually it's more about you just ensuring or keeping your composure and not expressing that you're concerned.It's really easy, I think, sometimes to take in those emotions that those clients are feeling.What's the word I'm looking for?
You need to be able to combat those feelings for them.Does that make sense?You need to say, if they tell you, I'm super nervous.I don't know if this is going to work.I feel like it's getting worse and worse and worse.
You don't say, I know it's really hard.Like you can say, yes, I know it's really hard to empathize, but then quickly you need to reassure them.And that's where you can kind of change that tone.
Otherwise, if you act worried with them, like they're just going to be more worried.You need to show confidence in that conversation so that they kind of can get on your level as far as like that confidence.
They're going to kind of get that energy from you.So just try to be positive for them because sometimes that's all they need is just a positive reinforcement on your end.
Yeah.I also think I was just telling my girls this.Have that conversation face to face like they'll text us and be like, I'm, you know, kind of freaking out.It's getting worse.I'm purging, whatever.And I always ask them to come in.
So if you can find five minutes and like obviously they live close by and all of that stuff.But if they can find five minutes and you can find five minutes to be face to face, they will always feel so much better.
communicating to you face to face than texting because texting just stuff can get taken out of context and whatever.Yeah.So if you can have that conversation face to face or at least on the phone call them.
I know people don't talk on the phone anymore but if you can call them if you're going to be a business owner you start talking on the phone.Let me tell you.But yeah just making sure that stuff doesn't get lost in translation over text or email.
Yep.Love it.Agreed.Okay.Last question, which is kind of a long one.We cranked these out.Yeah.What are the absolute basics to go solo like equipment and spa supplies?
I would say walk through, make a menu first, decide what type of treatment you want to offer.Cause that's going to dictate what kind of supplies you need.However, with that said, I would say, Make a menu without any pricey equipment when you go solo.
Base those off of, you know, modalities you can do with your hands.Do not equate like a hydrafacial machine into that right off the bat or a hydromachine, whatever.Like, keep it basic.Pick a few facials that you want to do.
Something for drier, sensitive skin.Something for anti-aging.Something for maybe like a rose or a I was going to say acne, something for like an acne-prone skin type.Have supplies for that.You don't need a ton of back bar either.
Just get the smaller sizes of things.We've talked about that before.No need to buy the big kahunas.Those will take probably too long in the beginning to go through.
They'll probably go bad before you go through them anyway, because you're not going to have a huge clientele.You need a bed.You need towel warmer.You need disposables like your 4x4s.I didn't even have that.
I never use towel warmer.
You don't use any towels?
Saving on laundry.Do you do towels, Kara?Yeah, but not many.I don't do it for any of the acne treatments, which is mostly what we do.Oh, I love a hot towel.Oh my gosh.
I'm old school.We do use towels.
I uh but you know what else I love is a bed warmer and a bolster yeah I have that yeah they're super cheap and I feel like they elevate the experience so a little rolly cart to put your stuff on um I would say though if you need sheets
that someone asked me in a Q&A, two things.One about the bed, like what type of table do you need to buy?Like a hydraulic one or whatever?
Like I literally think I got mine off of like OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace.That's just a typical like massage table.And then I think what you put on top is what matters.
Like I bought really nice like egg crates, the bed warmer, bolster, like thick, nice.Wait, what's an egg crate?Like a mattress topper.
So that it's really comfortable.And then I had another question that I didn't answer in the Q&A because I forgot.But it was someone that was like, I'm just about to start my business and go solo.Should I buy a hydrafacial or a glacial?
And I wanted a message from you like, bro, no.Those are huge investments. start like your hands.The only thing extra that I bought when I started my business was an LED.And it wasn't even like a Saluma.It was just like an LED.
So, and that got me so far.So, I mean, I guess if like, I guess if you have a bunch of money, go for it.But if you're a normal person starting your business, do not invest in anything crazy like that.
Well Hydrofacial gives you like 60 or six months I think to pay it or something and so you're gonna have like a $1,200 payment or something crazy like it's a more it's a big payment they don't I don't know whatever it is but I can't remember the frame that they give you to pay it off but it's not long it's not like it's like a car loan
Like where you've got like six years, it's like a year or something.But it's going to be a big payment.And you don't want that stress.You don't want to be able to go into it and not worry.You already have rent to deal with.
You don't need to worry about another payment. Um, the other thing I would say is don't be afraid to have like a part-time job, like aside from this, like you go in and it's, it's a business that has to be built over time.
And so I would say, don't necessarily quit like your existing job that you're doing or bartends, you know, wait tables, do something on the side so that you can.
Still have some income coming in and you'll be able to at least enjoy that process of building clients versus like,
Having that be the only thing you're relying on for income because coming right out of school and going straight to that Without some other form of income would be really hard.
It's it's just not I mean, I don't know how anybody does it No, it's hard.You have to yeah, you got to have some other revenue stream coming in initially, but Those are the basics Yeah
Well, we cranked through those.Dude, that was so many questions.Yeah.I know.Hopefully you guys learned something.
Took something away.For real.Yeah, hopefully you guys learned something.We love doing these.We have a couple of guests for our next episodes that we're very excited. to have you guys listen in on.
And if you guys ever have any suggestions on episodes that you want to hear, topics you want to hear us talk about, go ahead and message one of us.We're at CC Skin Studio.Is it at CC Skin Studio?I was like, what's my handle?
Kara is at We Love Acne, and Allie is at North County Skin.And yeah, let us know.
Yeah, for real.We would love to hear feedback.But if you're going to be mean, just don't message me.You can message one of them, but don't message me if you're going to be mean.
Also, leave a review if you've listened to this and you enjoy the episodes.Leave a review.We'd love to hear what you guys have to say.And we're just grateful you guys are listening, because we didn't think people were listening.
And then we looked at stats, and we're like, oh, people listen.OK.Cool, cool, cool.Now we have to actually keep it cool.I know.
Be cool.Be cool. Be cool.Be cool.Everything's fine.We will see you guys on Tuesday.Bye, guys.Bye.Thank you for tuning in to the Porefessionals podcast.
You can find us on Instagram at beloveacne, ccskinstudio, and northcountyskin, where you can submit questions that we'll answer on the podcast.See you next week.
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