c/estheticians

Appreciation post: a client in Austin totally changed how I see extractions

Honestly, I was at a big skincare conference there last fall and saw a demo on a new pressure technique. They used a tool called the 'Luna Loop' on a model with really stubborn congestion. Ngl, I thought it looked too gentle to work. But after trying it myself back at the studio, I've had way less redness and better results on my own clients with similar skin. Has anyone else switched up their extraction method lately?

I thought those crystal facial rollers were just a pretty Instagram thing

A client brought her own jade roller to her appointment last month and asked me to use it during her facial. I did it to be nice, but honestly rolled my eyes inside. After the session, she looked in the mirror and said, 'Wow, the puffiness under my eyes is totally gone.' I checked my notes from her last visit and she was right, the difference was clear. Has anyone else had a tool they doubted actually work out?

I thought those ice globes were just a TikTok fad, but my client brought her own set

A regular came in for a facial last week and asked me to use her personal ice globes during the massage part (she had them in a little cooler bag, which was kind of funny). I was pretty sure it was just a gimmick, but I humored her and rolled them on after the mask. Her skin looked so much calmer and less puffy by the end, I had to admit it worked way better than my usual chilled jade roller. Has anyone else tried incorporating client tools into a standard treatment with good results?

Waxing always left red bumps until I cooled the wax down first.

Lower heat and slower pulls made all the difference.

I stopped recommending daily sunscreen for everyone

Most skincare guides push daily sunscreen no matter what. I had a client whose skin got worse with constant sunscreen use. She only goes outside for like 10 minutes a day. I told her to skip it on indoor days and focus on moisturizer. Her texture improved and she saved money too.

Setting up my home facial area and the wall color is all wrong

I thought painting my spare room a calm blue would be perfect for client facials. But under my treatment lights, it makes skin tones look weird and washed out. Now I have to repaint, which means moving all my equipment again. In my experience, choosing colors for a treatment space is harder than it seems. Your mileage may vary, but I wish I had tested samples first. Take this with a grain of salt, but learn from my mistake.

Forgot to check the wax temperature and gave a client a temporary tattoo

Honestly, it was way too hot. Tbh, she now has a red heart shape on her ankle.

For years, I followed the 'no pain, no gain' rule with extractions. A client's gratitude for pain-free sessions turned me around.

Warning: Too much dairy in client diets shows up on their skin fast.

I see more congestion when they don't cut back on cheese and milk.

Serious question, my quick meditation before facials made clients more relaxed

I read an article about how estheticians' own stress levels can impact client skin reactions. Last week, I tried taking three deep breaths before every facial appointment. Clients immediately seemed more at ease during steam and extractions. One regular even said her skin felt calmer and less red after the session. It's amazing how a small shift in my mindset improved the whole experience. Now I'm curious if other pros have simple tricks to stay present. Do you have a go-to method to reset between clients?

A client's offhand comment flipped my thinking on moisturizer

I always told people with oily skin to use light lotion, but now I think a richer cream can actually help balance things. Her skin got less shiny after she tried it on a whim, so I've been testing this idea since.

Cloudy day sunscreen skip was my biggest goof

Honestly, I got a nasty burn that took weeks to calm down. Tbh, never trust a gray sky with your skin.

Cautionary tale from my salon this morning

A new client walked in with irritation from using a jade roller incorrectly. She was pressing too hard and caused bruising. I showed her the right way to use it. This made me wonder how common these mistakes are. Let's share tips to prevent this.