Mistletoe & Wine

As we careen towards the helter-skelter festive season, we simultaneously move towards a time in which aiding our clients in having control over their skin becomes more difficult. A skincare routine that tackles from the top down simply won't cut it when your clients live a more party-fuelled lifestyle. At The Skin Nerd online skin consultancy and in my previous positions, when you hit the winter, clients come in with unique concerns that are more a result of lifestyle than neglecting their topical skincare routine. Often times, this peak in their concerns has arisen from one or a number of the following: dry air (space heaters, in-car heating, radiators and fireplaces), increased consumption of sugar-filled foods and increased alcohol consumption.

In my opinion, a skin consultant who wants true results knows to advise on not only the products being used but on how lifestyle may be affecting their client's skin. However, nobody likes a preacher and sometimes, with specific clients, you have to resist taking the hard-line approach.

It may be helpful to mention the effects that drinking alcohol can have on the skin and to ask your client whether they are seeing increased skin

dehydration after they have been out sipping gins. Let them know that if they are seeing breakouts it could be due to an overproduction of sebum occurring in the skin to counteract the dehydration caused by alcohol or by being in dry air conditions consistently.

What can you do as a therapist to assist with those experiencing dehydrated skin due to a lack of humidity? Recognising that is what may be occurring is what is important. Dehydrated skin may be more sensitive or reactive than usual, the complexion may be dull and fine lines or wrinkles may look more prominent. Dry air, whether it's the winter winds or that coming from a heating system, robs the skin of hydration so ensure that your client has enough hydrating ingredients in their routine – humectants like hyaluronic acid aren't fool-proof in this case as they can draw the lack of moisture in the air into the skin and pull moisture from the skin when the barrier is compromised.

Avoiding sugar entirely coming up to Christmas is futile and this goes for both therapists and clients. Sugar can be the culprit for a number of changes within the skin and we, as therapists, can often tell when a client has been binging on chocolate or sweets. There may be increased lumps and bumps across the surface of the skin, such as minute closed comedones, an increase in skin inflammation, the skin may be more sluggish and lethargic and in the long term, there may be more severe lines and wrinkles due to advanced glycation end- products (AGEs).

I believe that it is important to speak about this with clients who you think are experiencing “sugar face” around this time of year. Broach the subject when they are discussing their feelings about their skin or if they say that they are seeing any of these symptoms.

All of these things also lead in to future appointments too, even if your clients aren't experiencing the aforementioned issues before the holiday period. Clients who are prone to congestion could benefit greatly from a salicylic based peel come January and those with inflamed acne should be recommended LED treatments, which can help to near-instantly bring down redness and swelling. Treatments that infuse the skin with large amounts of hydration, such as the HydraFacial MD, should be recommended to those with normal, dehydrated or dry skin. Consider utilising the concerns people are facing post- Christmas as a mode of marketing. Get some discounts or deals going on the treatments that your specific client demographics will be looking for and will benefit from and have them ready to go from the 2nd of January. If this can be arranged, it may be just the thing to get your salon or business out of the January slump!

Jennifer Rock is the CEO & Founder of The Skin Nerd®, including Nerd Network online skin consultations and store, and the Cleanse Off Mitt® makeup remover. She is the bestselling author of The Skin Nerd: Your Straight-Talking Guide to Feeding, Protecting & Respecting Your Skin and is an multi award-winning dermal facialist.