Starting over, all over again

                                                                      Here I am at the starting line once again.  Feels like it's happened a lot in the last few years.  Luckily, I'm at the excited for a new beginning part.

I've been taking some continuing education classes over at the Dermal Institute.  I took the 3 Day Skin Care Technique class and met a great group of fellow Estheticians. I really enjoy taking classes there, the teachers are all great and a bonus is that we use Dermalogica (which is cruelty free).  Up next is a "skin series" class and a class in gaining and retaining clients...which will be pretty important as I currently have a whopping ZERO clients in my roster.

After these classes, I'll be hopping to the application process.  I'm not even really sure where to begin...but I'll figure it out.  Just need to get organized, be focused, and keep up my skills.

Unfortunately my workouts took a backseat when I was in class last week (2+ hours in traffic sure takes a lot out of you!)...but I will get started again, no wagon falling off for me!

Back to school...the education continues

This week I'm going back to school (International Dermal Institute style).  Taking the 3-day Technique course.  I'm at a strange point of my life where I'm still struggling with the whole "What should I be when I grow up?" 

Part of me totally wants to pursue being an Esthetician, but I know that that goes hand in hand with sales.  I just have never been confident in my salesperson skills.  I guess for me, I'm a look around shopper myself and don't particularly like having a sales associate checking in on me. 

The other part of me really enjoyed working in an elementary school.  I love working with kids...you will always have a good story to tell when kids get involved.  Add to that the fact that I don't have any kids of my own (and having them in my future is looking a bit bleak for the time being) I kind of miss the school environment.  Weekends and holidays off? Yes please.  

For now, while I'm in the gray area I'm taking a couple of classes at the Dermal Institute to brush up on some facial giving skills.  Also, I get to go to the student store and pick up some products...yay! (For info on Dermalogica/Dermal Institute/Continuing Education click here).

taking sides on pretty (organic vs. lab made)

It's a choice you make for yourself. All organic and natural sound great...but in my experience sometimes it's a little lacking in the results department. An ingredients list with words as long as my arm doesn't seem much better, and even though I own ingredient dictionaries it is a bit time consuming to look it all up.

At an International Dermal Institute (Dermalogica) class I was at they talked about how their products are made in the lab and how the only guinea pigs they use are their employees.  It was pointed out that when a product is created in the lab it can synthesize the ingredient from nature...but it will turn out the same every time which in turn would create consistent results.  To me, I think seeing and feeling results is a bigger issue than the ingredients list.

Also, I'm currently more concerned about whether or not a product was tested on animals.

What are your main concerns when picking out products?  Do you look for organic certifications? Do you look for the bunny?  Do you go by price? Let me know...I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Cheers xoxo~~Tam

pretty lush and kind of envious?

Here I go into the job hunting phase...

A friend brought up to me that I should apply at Lush (which just so happens to be opening up at my mall this summer).  I looked into it, and while it's not a lot of skincare, I really like the company itself. I do love how their shops smell too.  It could be pretty fun.  I think I'm definitely going to apply, I just had a little trouble with their website.

There is also a Massage Envy opening near me at the end of the month.  I feel more confident about applying with them now that I've taken my three day class at IDI.  So, there's that too. Also they use Murad products there, which I used in school and I like.

I have a appointment call with unemployment coming up later this week. I never thought that would be me.  I'm still not quite sure how it works.  I hope I can pick up a job quickly (and that it's something that I like, and a place that is comfortable).

pretty/esthetic

aesthetics, esthetics

a branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and the beautiful.

In my International Dermal Institute class today we talked about some of the terms they like to use, such as skin therapist instead of esthetician,  because as skin therapists we treat the skin and the skin's conditions. Now, it's not that I don't like dealing with beauty...but offering to treat the skin does sound a little more professional.

My class went really well today.  I'm attending the International Three Day Skin Care Technique class, which is quite the mouthful and quite a bit of material too.  I got a mini facial today while we practiced the double cleanse, it was so relaxing that I can't wait for tomorrow when we practice the massage part!  

I was a little nervous at first (my last attempt at a facial was during a practical interview...and it did not go well), so I knew going in that I was a little rusty.  Luckily most of the class seemed to feel the same. Our instructor, Jennifer is great!  She is really patient, and great at going step by step to make sure all of us are getting it right.  

If you, or anyone you know is taking esthetician or skin care classes and feel that they need some continuing education I would highly recommend IDI...and I'm paying for these classes (not getting paid to say nice things).  

pretty for summer SPF edition

I, like the majority of people out there, don't use sunscreen correctly (by that, I mostly mean that I do not wear enough). I use a sunscreen on my face daily...but for my body I tend to only use that when I'm going to be in the sun (which is where the problems start).  Sun damage is cumulative, so even non beach days count for sun exposure...and here I am only protecting my face, when it turns out that most people show the signs of aging on their hand and neck areas...yep, I need to be protecting my skin more.

To cover your body with sunscreen you should use about two ounces, (or a full shot glass).  My average size sunscreen bottle is 6 ounces...even if I use less on days when I don't expect to be in the sun (days working or running errands) I should still be using probably at least an ounce or so to cover my arms, hands, neck and chest areas.

Here were my basic questions about sunscreen, and the answers I found to be useful (be advised: as with all beauty topics, there is also information to the contrary out there).

What's new in the world of sunscreen? (Yes, this was my first question, because I received an email newsletter with a topic of "New FDA Rules Regarding Sunscreen")

• Products will have to pass FDA tests for UVA and UVB exposure to be labeled broad spectrum
• From now on all sunscreens will be required to have the standard 'drug facts' on their labels
• Products will no longer be able to claim 'sweatproof' or 'waterproof'; the FDA will only allow 'water resistant 40 minutes' or 'extra water resistant 80 minutes'
• Source: International Dermal Institute News

What do the SPF numbers really mean? (I knew they had to do with exposure time, but could not remember what exactly)

• If it takes you 15 minutes to burn an SPF of 15 would keep you from burning for 15 times that long...however, that is only true if you were getting the exact same amount of sun exposure the entire time...which is pretty impossible considering the whole Earth rotating the Sun thing we've got going on. From what I understand, the FDA is tackling this kind of outdated logic too, so as more regulations pass the SPF guides will either change or drop away.

Is a higher SPF better? (I've held strongly to the notion that there is really no need to go higher than 30 for a long time...but have things changed?)

•  For that, I trusted this article on WebMD. I feel the info on there is well worded and worth a read, if you're so inclined.

Basically, in regards to sunscreen use the correct amount of coverage or you'll just be fooling yourself about how protected you are...always always reapply...and make it a part of your daily routine or you may end up an old leather lady before your time.

pretty good school day

I've been attending classes at the International Dermal Institute for the last couple of months.  It's nice that they offer post-graduate education for estheticians because you really don't learn enough in school.  I feel like I learned just enough to pass the State Board exams...but we didn't really delve into some of the skin care areas that I find interesting.

Today I took a class in cosmeceutical ingredients.  And right off the bat it was pointed out that actually "cosmeceutical" is actually more of a made up marketing term than anything else.  All it really is, is a combo of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. So basically any product out there that uses vitamins, antioxidants, and/or peptides can go ahead and give itself the fancy-schmancy title of being a cosmeceutical.

I got a lot out of the class, and hope to incorporate some of my new found/refreshed knowledge in future posts.