Bring Home the Bacon… Now Where’s the Pan?

 ‘I’m a Woman,’ written by Lieber and Stoller and performed by the late Peggy Lee became famous for the Enjoli perfume commercials of the 1970s. Some however, may remember it differently as the duet with Raquel Welch and Miss Piggy on The Muppet Show!

It is a song of inspiration about the amazing feats that women perform every day and although I am constantly aware of this, do I really understand exactly what kind of feats they are referring to? I might not be saving lives, ending wars and giving all my money to charities but I do know of the amazing feats I perform for women every day. It goes a long way to helping women feel better about themselves, it’s rewarding and it inspires me.

This all began in my car this morning as I cruised over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and into the dawn of a glorious new day. (For those who don’t know, The Skyway bridge is the tallest, most majestic bridge in Tampa Bay connecting South Shore to Saint Petersburg.) Then suddenly as if by an amazing feat itself I found myself humming this very same song. I smiled.

Although I drive this same bridge everyday somehow today felt different, very different. Partial as I am to random humming, I have no idea why I began humming “I’m a Woman” this morning, it’s not as though it was on the radio or anything. In fact I hadn’t thought about the song in ages but just in that moment I was transported back and began thinking of how powerful women in business really are. I also began thinking how I feel when I am working on a woman’s face. How totally focused I am on getting her the results she is expecting, hand holding with every step. It is fulfilling and as I feel empowered, I am empowering them too. It is the most natural of motivations and makes me forever grateful for what I do.

I was also thinking about networking, due mainly to the rather large, bright pink directory of Working Women of Tampa Bay that is resting on the front seat of my car. (www.workingwomenoftampabay.com)  It made me think of all the women out there who are working and of those who are the only bread winners in the family. I paused to think a while.

Just prior to breaking in to my first hum of the day I had just finished a telephone conversation with Heather Sakelariou, owner and fellow Aesthetician of Heather’s Day Spa www.HeathersDaySpa.com. I had just booked her for my March 22nd. About FACE show on Rhino On Air www.rhinoonair.com and she shared with me about how much she does for her family. She is both gracious and humble. She is happy and she is inspiring. People like this are such a pleasure to work with, every day they stride forward with a purpose.

I also pondered over ‘About BEAUTY’ and I secretly hoped it would be a success.

As I said “In the Beginning” this is therapy for me. I reflect on my thought process, my own fears and insecurities and my hopes and aspirations for the future. With that comes a true, very real respect for women. We are powerful, we are strong and we are united.

We are women… now where was my pan?

What Grade Does Your Makeup Get?

There is a HUGE difference between over the counter products and professional products. Effectively it all boils down to how you get the products, did a woman behind a fancy department store counter help you, did you get a facial with an Aesthetician and did she recommended it to you? Believe it or not, there is a huge difference between the two.

There are three different grades of makeup to choose from, over the counter, professional or medical. Let’s look at them in a little more detail.

Everything you are able to use on your face is regulated by the FDA and the percentage of active ingredients in the product will determine just how you can buy it. Over the counter (OTC) constitutes less than 2% of active ingredients. You can acquire these products by means of TV, radio, department stores, grocery stores, beauty consultants (working with a MLM line) CVS, Walgreens etc. The products aren’t strong enough to hurt your skin providing you use them correctly. Many of my clients are happy with their products and being a professional I respect their choice. However, I think it all depends on what your expectations are, if a client is really happy using an OTC product then that’s good. Personally I’m happy to let my facials speak for themselves as my main focus is my client’s satisfaction.

Professional: 2% and higher, up to 10% of active ingredients. The professional has a license and education that pertains to application and you can find these products in a salon, spa, dermatologist and plastic surgeon’s office.  As these products are result orientated the focus and motivation behind the product is change. But for real change you’ll need a higher active ingredient in the product .

Medical: 10% and higher of active ingredients. This is a prescription product only. The doctor prescribes the product for real change but it is mainly the patients who receive prescriptions for skin conditions and diseases.

I hope this sheds some light on the subject. If you’re confused and want personal attention in this matter then I’d be happy to help you. I conduct a comprehensive 2 1/2 hour appointment in the comfort of a woman’s home, a one on one with emphasis on my clients concerns together with any questions they might have. This is a great opportunity to examine the makeup and skincare she has in her drawers and is currently using. I go though their makeup and pitch the old, dated, wrong and expired. Believe me there are a lot of crazy things in a woman’s purse, I can understand why men are afraid of them. I then give suggestions for positive changes.

Although Mary Kay started this idea I approach it from a slightly different perspective  where my focus is on education not sales. I also do a step by step makeup application with a detailed instruction. The makeup is removed and my client can then apply the makeup herself with further instruction. I will demonstrate the most progressive techniques in makeup application and teach you how to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

After I leave clients are so happy that they ask me to do closets, kitchens and garages…but I think I’ll just stay with what I know. I do love what I do especially when I see the proverbial light bulb go on when a client figures out her daily regime and gets the look she is needing. It is magical!

When it comes to products ask yourself a simple question, are you happy with it and is it helping you? Are you getting results? If not then I suggest you go up a grade level. It can make all the difference in your skin! I love and recommend Randy James LeBrecque’s line Rande James… check it out www.randejames.com and GloTherapeutics http://www.glotherapeutics.com !

If you are interested in any further information or would like a consultation then please visit www.skinchicinc.com for my number and special pricing, mention my blog and receive 10% off.

 

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In the beginning….

Skin Chic Inc. Picture

Hello out there in blog-land!!!

I have been told that I needed to start a blog, yet another tentacle out there in cyber space linking my two pages on Facebook, my personal Facebook page, my Twitter account and lastly my web site. It all seemed like more work but I really think this could end up being therapy for me, a diary of sorts. I might not be known especially for my writing but this doesn’t stop me having something to say and blogging is the perfect vehicle. So now I’m here and just like you, I’m hungry for knowledge.

By trade, I am a licensed Paramedical Aesthetician, throw in a little singing and there you have it. But let me stop right there because I realize not too many people understand what “Paramedical” means. Paramedical means that not only do I have advanced training hours outside of specific Esthiology but I also have an internship with a Plastic Surgeon and Dermatologist. This training has given me a complete understanding of what skin conditions like Psoriasis, Rosecia and Eczema, the specific histology of the skin that goes with these conditions and what to do to minimize, control and treat each patient. I just love to help others with skin issues. I am a survivor of a skin condition called Cystic Acne. I literally stuck to my pillowcase at night, not only was it painful for my face, the pain went much deeper than that. After three rounds of Accutaine and some wonderful facials from a Paramedical Aesthetician, a passion grew deep inside to help others with similar skin troubles.

I am also a Professional Makeup Artist. This started from sitting on my mother’s floor watching her get ready to go out. I was fascinated by how a face could look so different, so colorful and so beautiful after one hour of work. I was transfixed and from there a seed was sown. I love make up, it is so easy for me, so natural. I can see a women’s face and know just what to do to make her natural beauty shine. I love for the light bulb to go on and then when I am finished for them to look into the mirror. The smile, the hug, the appreciation makes it all the while. That makes everything well in my world…. and theirs.

As you follow my blog, I ask you to open both your mind and your heart. I will be tearing down the beauty myths we all grew up with and sharing with you some of the wonderful stories from my 20 year career together with some helpful hints along the way. So join me, I am humbled to do this and looking forward to the therapy that awaits not only me but you too!