ASCP Esty Talk

What is the difference between "100% organic," "organic," and "made with organic ingredients"? Is there even a difference? Learn what full-chain traceability means and how CBD (and CBD-infused products) can, in fact, qualify as "organic." In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we explore the stringent world of cannabis compliance and gain an understanding of how CBD makes its way through many checkpo...

What do nuclear forensics and CBD have in common? Separations! While they're not exactly the same, there are similarities. Extraction is a method of separating specific compounds from plant material (biomass) to be used in formulations. Estheticians and skin care professionals may have heard a lot about extraction methods from their CBD skin care product brands, but in this episode of ASCP Esty Ta...

You might think a fondness for recreational cannabis products and desire to turn that passion into profit would be most people's initial motivation for starting a CBD skin care company. But such is not the case for Karina Perez-Marconi, the founder of Antedotum. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Karina shares how her decade-long struggle with hyperpigmentation and postpartum melasma eventually l...

Clarification of the Farm Bill in 2018 meant we saw a rush of CBD-infused products everywhere, from the gas station to the med spa! There were a handful of brave companies that led the charge, fighting against stigmas and even the obstacles of banking and advertising. These companies knew this ingredient, from a plant that continues to show amazing potential, was worth it! In this episode, we spea...

Lifelong learning is a necessity in the esthetics industry—not only because you should want to stay ahead of trends and keep your menu fresh, but also because maintaining and increasing your knowledge will help you meet the demands of your clients (they're quite savvy these days, as we're all aware!). In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we sit down for a chat with Adriana Babani, Director of Educa...

Yoni is Sanskrit for "vulva" or "sacred space." As estheticians, we are well versed in and comfortably exposed to female anatomy from an outside, looking "at" perspective. With professionals adding yoni steam treatments and retailing yoni eggs in their practices, maybe it's time to understand not only how to properly groom lady gardens, but also the ancient roots of yoni health and how esthetic pr...

The comedogenic rating scale was born in 1979 on the ear of an albino male rabbit. It has since grown into a gold standard of qualifying ingredients for acne potential. A quick Google search of comedogenic scales pulls up thousands of results, often with contradictory ratings. So how can you trust the evidence? In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk : 2 Es in a Podcast, licensed estheticians Emily Morg...

A passion for learning is at the root of Jessica Marie's success. We catch up with our ASCP 2020 Esty of the Year, who is now taking her passion for advanced skin care and beauty services and passing it on to a new generation of students as she prepares to open her very own training center! During this episode, we focus on esthetic licensure and discuss how advanced esthetic training will help est...

Lash lifting has become wildly popular; on this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we bring in Jodi Jolley to take a deeper dive into this highly sought-after beauty service. Jodi is the CEO and founder of My Absolute Beauty and a leader in the industry for all things lashes and brows. We discuss the benefits of offering lash lifting service to your clients, how this simple service can help build your bu...

In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, we continue our discussions with Black estheticians on how race and skin color play a significant role within the esthetics industry and in our everyday lives. Crystal Ochemba-Powell explains how to expand your esthetics knowledge in order to treat a wider range of diverse skin types, discusses what all estheticians should be keeping in mind when treating clients...

This year we celebrate Black History Month, which gives many of us a new perspective on the challenges and issues we face in our society. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we speak with Toshiana "Tosh" Baker to understand her perspective on being a woman of color in an industry entirely focused on skin. How did her education, her career, and her many roles in the industry influence her personall...

In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk we are joined by Eva Borges, who shares her professional experiences working as a Black esthetician and discusses how skin color plays a major role in proper treatment protocols, skin care education, and our daily lives. We discuss the impact of what it is like for clients of color to be treated by an esthetician of color and what effect that experience has on a c...

Eyeliner, blush, and lipstick! No one plans to eat their makeup, but are the ingredients in makeup safe enough to ingest? What if the medium we use to look and feel pretty is really creating ugly effects in our skin? Let's explore good and bad ingredients found in our everyday ritual staple, makeup!   About Michael Moore   Michael Moore, owner of Moore For Life in Denver, Colorado, has been in the...

Some things in life we just can't change. But thanks to noninvasive body-contouring procedures, treating areas with stubborn fat and cellulite is no longer one of them! In today's esthetic marketplace, the devices and technology available for this sector of the industry are immense, including everything from cold and heat therapies to radio frequency, laser, and even injections. In this episode of...

Have you ever thought about the real difference between a Licensed Esthetician and a Medical Esthetician? What makes one more desirable than the other? Is it more money? More capabilities? More "street cred"? In this episode, we explore the difference between the two titles to get to the bottom of what each are allowed to perform, and the capabilities of each.   About Maggie Staszcuk   Maggie has...

"Recent studies show" is a phrase we see often. It could be said in reference to ingredient or product efficacy, to human behaviors, or even to environmental factors. The phrase is usually taken at face value and typically, no further explanation is asked of it. But what happens when you dive a little deeper into these studies? What do they really say? Is the company or person referencing the stud...

You've got the perfect idea for your esthetics business and now you must build the brand. Where do you start? Marketing on social media? Posting flyers on bulletin boards in coffee shops? In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Beauty Business Coach Crystal Ochemba-Powell takes the guesswork out of how to successfully build and grow your esthetics business. We discuss tactile and effective methods you...

Lash extensions are lovely and luxurious. But have you ever wondered what they're made of, or how exactly they're able to stick to real lashes? In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , Ella Cressman chats with the owner of AW Lashes, Alexis Weisenburger, and explores everything lovely and lashy!   About Alexis Weisenburger:   Alexis is a licensed cosmetologist and owner of AW Lashes. She is a major inf...

With so many changes in the industry—salons and spas opening and closing, schools going remote, and new legislation to promote the safe practice of advanced esthetics—it's hard to know whether estheticians should take the time and the money to advance their education. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we sit down with industry expert Mary Nielsen, vice chair of the Oregon Board of Certified Adva...

In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we chat with skin care expert Farida about her experience growing up in Chennai, India, and how the importance of skin care has played a significant role in her life since the day she was born. We discuss how esthetics education in India compares to education in the United States, covering everything from differences in client concerns and various techniques use...

Peptides are an extremely broad subject with many areas of opportunity in skin care. We can explain them simply by saying they are smaller versions of proteins, short strings of amino acids in groups of 2-50. As we know, amino acids are also the building blocks of proteins, but proteins contain significantly more amino acid chains. Because of their smaller size, peptides may prove to be more bioav...

Peptides are an extremely broad subject with many areas of opportunity in skin care. Recent research indicates that some types of peptides may have a beneficial role in slowing the aging process, reducing inflammation, and even destroying microbes. A vast array of peptides can be found in many skin care products, promising everything from tighter, more youthful skin to longer, thicker lashes. So,...

Peptides are an extremely broad subject with many areas of opportunity in skin care. Recent research indicates that some types of peptides may have a beneficial role in slowing the aging process, reducing inflammation, and even destroying microbes. A vast array of peptides can be found in many skin care products, promising everything from tighter, more youthful skin to longer, thicker lashes. So,...

Sugaring and waxing tend to fall into the same category because they are both hair removal techniques, but there are some key differences that are important for you to know about. For example, did you know that sugar was used thousands of years ago as a method to dress wounds on the battlefield? Even today, veterinary clinics use sugar to clean animal wounds. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk , we...

Have you ever dreamed about going solo with your esthetics practice? Sounds like the perfect gig, right? Being your own boss, developing your own brand, creating your own schedule . . . But before you take that first big plunge into the solo practicing world, you should be aware of and prepared for some serious challenges that will put your boss babe skills to the test. In this episode of ASCP Est...