Top 5 Causes of Dry, Dehydrated Skin – And How to Treat It

Dry, dehydrated skin can feel uncomfortable and look dull, often leading to flaking, redness, and premature aging. While some dryness is temporary, chronic dehydration can make skin more prone to irritation, fine lines, and uneven texture. Understanding the key causes of dryness is essential for restoring your skin’s health and maintaining a radiant glow

1.   Harsh or Inappropriate Cleansers

One of the most common reasons for dry skin is the use of harsh or inappropriate cleansers. Many skincare products contain sulfates, alcohol, or strong exfoliating agents that strip the skin’s natural moisture barrier. This leads to a tight, uncomfortable feeling and increases the skin’s vulnerability to external irritants. To prevent this, choosing a gentle, hydrating cleanser like a Milk Cleanser or a Gentle Sensitive Cleanser is crucial. Washing your face with warm (not hot) water can also help preserve essential oils, ensuring that your skin stays balanced and nourished.

2. Cold Weather & Low Humidity

Top 3 Reasons Why Health Insurance is an Absolute Must

We take our health for granted until something goes wrong. Medical expenses can be staggering, and the last thing you want during an illness or injury is the additional strain of financial hardship. Here are the top 3 reasons why everyone needs health insurance:

1. Protection From Catastrophic Costs

Unexpected medical emergencies happen. Accidents, serious illnesses, and hospitalizations come with enormous bills. Health insurance acts as your financial safety net against these staggering costs. It helps you manage expenses and reduce your out-of-pocket payments, so you don't have to deplete your savings or go into debt over medical care.

2. Access to Preventive Care

SUMMER FOOT CARE

Now that it's summer and your client’s feet have emerged from winter hibernation here are some tips for summer foot care.

Professional Pedicures are designed to give basic care to your feet and toes. Each step of a pedicure is designed to help keep our feet healthy. Here are just a few of the important steps to a professional pedicure.

IT'S ALL IN THE NAME

Someone told me that we should change the title of advanced practice esthetician to “Master Esthetician”. I wondered why master? The answer is, we would follow the terms used by colleges across the country for those who have completed a master's program. Because several other states use the term Master such as Washington State, Utah, and Virginia, that brought up another question what makes the name those states chose right? If we follow terms used at the college level, would our basic esthetics 600-hour certific progam be a Bachelor of Science in esthetics and the next level would be Master Esthetician? Interesting!

Then I thought, do people really believe they are master estheticians? I don’t think we ever master esthetics and I also believe Minnesota chose the correct name for our profession. Yes, Advanced Practice Esthetician fits our profession perfectly because we continually learn, grow, and practice. We do this by attending continuing education classes, workshops, events, reading articles, doing research and sharing our knowledge with others.

Look around! Our product lines change, formulas change, and there are new emerging ingredients. Equipment has changed and will continue to change. Just look at the technology behind the equipment we are using today. Machines that exfoliate and deliver specialized ingredients to the skin by using water, or our LED and Microneedling equipment which has grown and improved over the years.

As estheticians, we consistently practice by working with clients, working with new products and ingredients, bringing in new equipment, working with new procedures, and sharing knowledge. If we stop growing, learning, sharing, and practicing it’s time to get out of the business. I am proud of this profession and proud to call myself an Advanced Practice Esthetician. How about You?

It’s that time of the year! 

Open Enrollment for health insurance in Minnesota is November 1 - December 15th for health insurance coverage effective January 1, 2024. MNSure has an extended enrollment from December 15 - January 15th for coverage effective February 1, 2024

Anderson Benefit Partners can help you find out if you qualify for assistance, explore your options, and enroll! We are
MNSure certified and works with over 250 individuals and families to obtain their coverage through MNSure.

Important to note, you don’t pay any more (or less) when you work with us! Our job is to help you understand your options and make the right insurance choice for 2024. This is also a great time to explore your dental, vision, and life insurance needs.

Walz signs off on legislation prohibiting employers from entering into non-compete agreements with employees or independent contractors

Minnesota is banning employment non-compete agreements and restricting provisions that require non-Minnesota laws or venues for disputes.

The law will become effective on July 1, 2023, and will apply to agreements entered into on or after that date. Minnesota’s changes follow many other states that have statutorily limited restrictive covenants but are separate from the FTC’s proposed (and still pending) ban. 

Why Do We Need Health Insurance?

Why do we need health insurance?  Statistically speaking, less than half of Americans have $1000 ready in the event of an unexpected illness or injury.  The role of health insurance in today’s environment is partially to provide financial protection in the event that an individual has a major health event.  In this scenario, the insurance plan pays 100% of the charges after the individual’s out-of-pocket limit.

The other, less mentioned reason for maintaining coverage is to ‘Access’ care.  If an individual is uninsured, it may be nearly impossible to schedule an appointment to treat an illness or injury for non-emergency care.  Insurance is the guarantee of payment for the care providers.  When we shop for your plan, we discuss the providers you use or would like to use and propose options that fit that need.

In addition, health plan shopping is only available during open enrollment (November and December) or with a qualifying life event - like losing other coverage.  It’s important to know that when enrolling with a qualifying event, we have a limited time to report the event and make a plan selection.

Hey there friends at the Salon Spa Association, Mike at Anderson Benefit Partners here. I wanted to put together a message for you that speaks to the end of the COVID public health emergency.

As you may or may not know, that formally ends as of May 11th. And in Minnesota Minnesota has started the unwinding process of the guaranteed public programs that have been in play since April of 2020.

So beginning in April, communication will be sent out for medical assistance renewals. Renew in July and then every month you know, May would target August, and so on and so forth. If you are one of the 1.5 million people in Minnesota that are currently enrolled in a public program, action will be required to renew your coverage.  Medical assistance will renew the month it was approved and Minnesota care will renew at the end of this year during our regular open enrollment period for January 1st. https://mn.gov/dhs/renewmycoverage/

Are YOU ready for EARTH DAY?

Did you know?   Senator Gaylord Nelson, the junior senator from Wisconsin, had long been concerned about the deteriorating environment in the United States.  Then in January 1969, he and many others witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. Earth Day 1970 would come to provide a voice to this emerging environmental consciousness and put environmental concerns on the front page. 

In 2009 the United Nations started calling it INTERNATIONAL MOTHER EARTH DAY and is now recognized worldwide with 190 countries taking part in EARTH DAY. Today, over a billion people across the world participate in EARTH DAY. 

The Biden administration declared a public health emergency (PHE) for Monkeypox - 4/4/2022

Salons and Salon Professionals should be aware of this new public health threat. Monkeypox (MPX) is a rare viral illness. Anyone can get MPX, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Since mid-May 2022, cases of MPX have been identified in the U.S., where cases don't normally occur. MPX symptoms often include a rash that can look like pimples or blisters. The rash can appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on other parts of the body.  

Here are two helpful links to learn more:

HOW TO SMOOTH LINES AND WRINKLES  AND MINIMIZE PORES

Does it seem like every time you look in the mirror your pores look bigger and there seems to be a new line or maybe even a wrinkle? Are you wondering, how did this happen overnight? How do I minimize those expanding pores, smooth those lines, and soften those wrinkles?

Even as an esthetician I look in the mirror and ask myself these questions, how about you?

If you do maybe it’s time to do a self-recheck and remind ourselves what causes pores to look larger, lines to appear, and wrinkles to show up. And just maybe, we should also take the time to do what I call a Reboot of our own home skin care program.

Charging your Worth - Adding Value to Every Service

Joseph Pine and James Gilmore in their book, The Experience Economy share “customers don’t want choices; they just want exactly what they want”. If we compare our work to talented Performers whose job is to “draw people in, amaze them, and then ask for money”, we illuminate the value of an experience that they will always remember. I am always amazed at witnessing the value of changing a seemingly “difficult” customer into a happy and grateful human when they are given exactly what they wanted. When we ask ourselves, “what experiences are my customers receiving that add value”? We essentially are asking “am I charging for the experience that my customers are wanting, and that I am providing”? If I am than what can I do to increase the value of their experience, or increase my price?

Admittedly, the customer experience is different than it was ten years ago. Today customers come because they have seen our work on Instagram instead of only by word of mouth. They look at our service menu online to see if they “belong”. Do you only offer “Men” and “Women’s” services? Is the service they need even on your service menu”? And finally, customers only come back when you “invite” them back for another wonderful experience. What rituals do you have around inviting them back? It all comes back to “the experience”. As we create a beauty experience, history reminds us that “economic progress consists of charging a fee for what once was free” (Pine & Gilmore). Create and experience your customers will always remember. Smile and be kind, “do the damn thing” to use popular jargon and increase your net worth. Cheers! To an industry that values the business of beauty.

As a Beauty Artist, we all have a way of expressing our interpretation of beauty and it is what makes us unique and makes our clients keep coming back again and again. To define different expressions of art I will use foundations that we are all familiar with. The question is are you a Painter, Sculptor, Architect, or Illustrator?

A painter expresses their beauty art by using long and short strokes with a brush, while incorporating colors that add depth or expand that can be gradient or abrupt creates both bold and subtle looks. These looks can be modern, classic, abstract, surreal or cubed to name a few. Think colorist.

A sculptor creates two- and three-dimensional statements on straight, wavy, curly, and tightly curled tapestries. Sculptors create structure and form that build on an already existing shapes, that add or create balance and distribute height and weight where needed. Think of a hairstylist who executes a beautiful updo.

SUMMER is HERE!  It is time to enjoy the beach, go on vacation, and have fun in the sun.  So, pack that SPF Sunscreen. It is HOT out there, share your professional sunscreen knowledge. 

Protect your guests, focus on the right SPF to protect their skin and hair.  Foundations, facial cream, body products, as well as hair products contain sunscreen.  Research your product line for sunscreen protection, then engage in a dialog with your guest.  Find out their summer plans and how much time will spend in the great outdoors or just time outside.  That pool is so inviting! 

Everyone needs sunscreen, from the toddlers to the retirees encourage them to use sunscreen DAILY.   Protect your guests from ultraviolet radiation and help prevent skin cancer.  They will Thank You for also helping to prevent wrinkles, aging, and dark spots.  Let’s not forget about how important it is to protect their hair, so encourage them to wear a hat or use a sun protector hair product.  That beautiful sun they love so much will fade that gorgeous hair color they spent their dollars and your creativity on!  Remember to check for any allergies as some are very sensitive to sunscreen. 

Kick the Heat to the Curb and ENJOY summer!

It's SPRING – Open the doors, clean the windows and start FRESH!

Minnesota is OPEN, ARE YOU READY?

After more than a year of wearing comfy pants, not doing hair, only looking “OK” for zoom calls and your overstuffed chair, It's spring and Minnesota is opening!

As the state of Minnesota begins to open up and prom season is upon us, teenagers have been sequestered in their homes-bored, in front of their phone camera (tik-tok) and have experimented with every Splat, Splot, Paint, known to woman. Well, let me prepare you. They are coming to a salon near you! They want to look “normal” for their prom. And… they want it done within one session (because they have prom pictures tomorrow). So, get ready, they are desperate for you to fix what they have been creatively expressing over this last miserable year for the event they have been waiting for all of their teenage lives. Dust off your magic wands and your secrete hair potions for the remainder of the month of May!

Get used to the words, pre-color, re-color, color cleanse, re-shaping, “we may need to consider other options” and of course our trusty stand by “not today”. Your portfolio of beautiful alternatives will be key for these young doe-eyed beauties.

For Professional use only: Only show the pictures that you will be able to achieve today!

DON’T BE SOUR LIKE A LEMON . . . USE THOSE LEMONS TO MAKE LEMONADE!

Salons have closed! Owners and licensed professionals are worried, even wondering how they will survive. We understand your concerns and would like to offer up some ideas. These are intended to help you focus on the things you have control over and do during this time. 

Go into the salon, if you have access, and clean and disinfect like never before. Here are a few suggestions, you get the idea?

• Break room
• Drawers
• All surfaces
• Bathroom
• Dispensary
• Tools and equipment
• Front desk and phone
• Re-decorate, re-model or re-pair the salon.

Let’s prepare to hit the road running when you return to the salon!

• Use this time to update your client information such as address, phone, email, and website.
• Stay in touch with clients via social media, phone or email.
• Provide clients with tips and ideas on how they can care for their hair, skin, and nails during this time.
• Retail a products that will help maintain their color or curl - please refer to the MN Board of Cosmetology for guidance on this.Please note, you can not do this from your closed salon
• Retail an exfoliant to help exfoliate their skin
• Retail a treatment product for the cuticles or exfoliant for the feet
• Create and promote pre-pay packages that clients can purchase now - Gift cards purchases online or via phone
• Give them tricks and ideas to make their hair look thicker
• Let clients know you are available to answer questions and help them. (Facetime or Zoom)
• Work on your year’s promotional calendar Download April-June here
• Create a “We Are Back” promotional piece
• Up your game in customer service, think of what can you do?
• Try a new product, face treatment, nail design, cut, color or hairstyle on yourself or family.
• Research a new product or service to introduce to customers when you return to work.

Take your Core and Professional Practice class online through SSPA Find a Course Here SSPA Members receive a discount! Happy Dance!

Young Blood and Plasma Transfusions

The FDA recently warned that plasma infusions from young people provides “no proven clinical benefit” against normal aging, Alzheimer’s disease, or a host of other diseases. 

Directors Gottlieb and Marks from the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research say young-blood transfusions can pose risks.

Most research thus far into young-blood transfusions has been conducted in mice. Some of the mouse studies have been encouraging, but other studies have been less encouraging. One biotech company is currently testing a plasma-derived product in Alzheimer’s patients; a previous study from the company yielded mixed results.