ASCP Esty Talk

A new cultural norm is reading labels, scanning for potentially malicious ingredients, deciphering if a product has passed the test of "good-for-you" or not. In this episode of Esty Talk , we discuss the importance each ingredient has on the entire formulation and clarify a few misunderstood ingredients. Accurately examining an IL means looking closely at ingredients AND the order in which they ar...

As the name implies, a daptogens help the skin adapt. Like many other ingredients, adaptogens, an industry buzzword, are known to reduce stress, target oxidation, and even increase blood flow. On this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist , Benjamin Knight Fuchs, RPh, discusses what adaptogens are and why estheticians should know all about them.   Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) presents The R...

Estheticians are notoriously good at caring for others but neglecting our own self-care. If estheticians aren't mindful of our wants, needs, and self-care, we burn out, hit a wall, and aren't there for our clients. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Maggie and Ella discuss their self-care habits and rituals as well as the importance of daily personal check-ins. ASCP Esty Talk with Maggie Staszcuk...

On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA). This reform brings more regulation to a cosmetics industry that has faced scrutiny for decades. It's also the first update to FDA authority over cosmetics since 1938. In this ASCP Esty Talk episode, Ella and Maggie highlight what you should know about MoCRA and what's next for the b...

Shown to improve the skin's elasticity, help with sensitivities, and rid the skin of irritation, colostrum could be the wonder ingredient your skin is missing. Some people may wrinkle their nose at the thought of colostrum in skin care, but it's a trending ingredient for many reasons. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist with Benjamin Knight Fuchs, RPh, Fuchs shares what estheticians need to kn...

With the new standard of free two-day shipping, the world has opened to reveal a bounty of "things" available to consumers. We can find just about anything we think we need, and even more that we absolutely don't. This rings true in the beauty industry with products that make us prettier and devices that could cause damage. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Ella and Maggie examine the blurred lin...

The skin care industry is fiercely competitive, and navigating the ins and outs of client management, business ownership, and maintaining a work-life balance while achieving important goals can be challenging. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Ella and Maggie review an article touting the reasons one esthetician decided the beauty industry was not for her. Tune in to see if any of her reasons re...

When we think of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), we usually think of cell energy. But this year, ATP is trending for a different reason. It's the latest buzz-worthy ingredient for its ability to anti-age. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist with Benjamin Knight Fuchs, RPh , we talk about what ATP is, how to boost it in the skin, and why this ingredient is an all-star.   Associated Skin Care Prof...

The idea that blood contains the power to preserve youth and beauty can be observed throughout the course of history. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella share both ancient and modern concepts of blood as an aid to skin care—from bloodletting to vampire facials with platelet rich plasma (PRP), as well as the dangers of a trending use of blood in skin care.     ASCP Esty Talk with Ma...

AHAs and BHAs, both amazing skin exfoliants, offer a lot of options, like glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids. But these are just the basics, and in the world of cell turnover, there is so much more to choose from. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Maggie and Ella discuss what makes an acid an AHA and a BHA, plus they explore some not-so-basic options. ASCP Esty Talk with Maggie Staszcuk and E...

Melatonin, the hormone that's known for helping the body's sleep cycle, is trending for its ability to rejuvenate the skin. In today's episode of The Rogue Pharmacist , we talk with co-host Benjamin Knight Fuchs, RPh, about the effects of melatonin, its applications, and what we can expect from using this amazing, and sometimes overlooked, hormone.   Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) prese...

Exosomes are quickly becoming a popular clinical therapy and topical ingredient in the medical esthetics market. But, what are they and how do they work? Join Ella and Maggie in this edition of ASCP Esty Talk as they discuss these efficient messenger cells and investigate where they come from and how they are incorporated in esthetic treatments.  ASCP Esty Talk with Maggie Staszcuk and Ella Cressm...

We've seen the clean beauty movement explode in recent years, and one trend emerging from this movement is upcycling . It's a trend that's likely here to stay, and many companies have jumped on the bandwagon. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Ella and Maggie discuss what upcycling is, its benefits and limitations, and how this impacts product usage in the treatment room.   Want more about upcycl...

Niacin, niacinamide, or just plain vitamin B is trending in the beauty industry as a skin-friendly supplement as well as a topical ingredient to boost skin health. While often touted as beneficial for acne, in this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist , Benjamin Knight Fuchs, RPh, tells us what else estheticians should know about niacinamide's health benefits.  Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP)...

We are all familiar with the beauty declaration, "Skin care is self-care." But what about body care? The skin care industry has seen a body care surge partly due to the rise in body contouring treatments but also due to social media. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Ella and Maggie talk about the common skin conditions affecting the body and the body-conscious shift in the industry. ASCP Esty T...

The industry gold standard of measuring hyperpigmentation potential has been the Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype. Originally intended as a purely visible assessment of eye color and skin tone, it is now easily intermingled in skin care professional vocabulary. However, there are many other scales, some potentially more deductive and useful. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Ella and Maggie explore sk...

Proper skin barrier protection seems obvious to some but for many people even understanding what the "barrier" is can be confusing, and in this industry you often hear the saying, break it down to build it up. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist with Benjamin Knight Fuchs , Ben explains to us the skin barrier and the proper way to protect it. Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) presents...

From new trends to old favorites, "skin-fluencers" of 2023 are expecting to see a renewed focus on barrier repair, gentle, supporting ingredients, and a continued minimalist approach to skin health. In today's episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Ella and Maggie discuss some of the more obscure skin care trends and ingredients we can expect to see in 2023.  ASCP Esty Talk with Maggie Staszcuk and Ella Cres...

2022 was an incredibly productive year for ASCP Esty Talk . We covered many topics, from technology to wax-idents. In this episode, Ella and Maggie recap the year and discuss their favorite episodes, which old acquaintances should be forgot, and what they'd like to carry forward from auld lang syne. ASCP Esty Talk  with hosts Ella Cressman and Maggie Staszcuk   Produced by Associated Skin Care Pro...

Skin care ingredients are trendy, trusted, or both. In this episode of Esty Talk , Ella and Maggie discuss what sparked excitement this past year, what continues to make most "must-have" lists and others that just missed the mark. Join Ella and Maggie as they discuss 2022 favorite ingredients, what they do within the skin and how they are used in formulations. ASCP Esty Talk with Maggie Staszcuk a...

Acne can be challenging not just for the client, but also for the esthetician. Affecting up to 50 million Americans annually, it is the most common skin condition in the US. But did you know there are many types of acne as well as acne-like conditions? In today's episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we break down the basics and address one of the leading acne healing trends on TikTok.  ASCP Esty Talk  with...

Although blue light is often used to target acne bacteria, recent research suggests blue light from electronic devices may lead to changes in skin cells. Pigmentation, redness, and wrinkles may all be an indication of overexposure. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist with Benjamin Knight Fuchs, RPh, we take a closer look and get Ben's perspective on protection from this high energy visible lig...

From helping others look and feel their best, to the power of touch, to bringing hope to clients, the skin care industry is never short on reasons why you love being an esthetician. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we hope to inspire you by sharing all the love and passion we have for the esthetics industry. ASCP Esty Talk  with hosts Ella Cressman and Maggie Staszcuk   Produced by Associated S...

They're out there. You've heard about them. Hopefully you've never experienced them! In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Ella and Maggie look at a few industry scams and a scandal to raise awareness so you never fall victim to these malefic shenanigans. ASCP Esty Talk with Maggie Staszcuk and Ella Cressman Produced by Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP) for licensed estheticians, ASCP Esty T...

Pre, pro, and postbiotics have become increasingly trendy, not just for gut health but also for the health of the skin. They are said to increase the skin microbiome, increase hydration, reduce redness, and even repair the skin. But do they really have a clinical impact? In this episode of the Rogue Pharmacist with Benjamin Knight Fuchs , we explore biotic skin care, what biotics are, and their po...