I took a class at the Las Vegas skin show in June called “The Disservice in Your Service.” Now, I have to admit I’m a bit jaded when it comes to marketing and business classes since I’ve been taking them for so long and at some point they all seem the same, but this was a new lecturer and the title intrigued me. I ALWAYS want to improve my service to my clients, and I’m constantly trying to find ways to better my care to all of you. So I made the time and went to the class…and left eighty minutes later knowing I had to make some serious changes.

dis·serv·ice/disˈsərvis/
Noun: A harmful action.

Do you all brush your teeth in the morning? Do you do it because it’s fun, or because you know it’s good for you? When you were a child did you want to brush them, or did your more responsible and knowledgeable parent teach you to? If your parent hadn’t made you brush your teeth would you think they did you a disservice? Would a mouth riddled with cavities, sore with gingivitis, and probably costing you a lot of money in repair that could have been avoided with proper care be your fault or theirs?

This is how the class started. The lecturer then asked, by a show of hands, how many of us used SPF, eye cream, neck or bust cream, and added treatments like neck, eye, lip, and chest services to facials they got when at a spa. As the room filled with skin care professionals raised their hands to all of these questions, the lecturer then asked how many of us make sure our clients do the same.

And that’s when I got sick to my stomach. I knew where this lecture was going and I was guilty of not providing the best service possible to my clients. Yes, I always use SPF, eye cream, and neck/bust cream. Yes I always add a neck, chest, eyes, and lip treatment to every service I pay for at a spa. I even give myself mini treatments every other week. Yes, I do all these things because they are vital to keeping those incredibly easy to age and hard to repair areas young and healthy. And yet, I haven’t educated my clients on their importance or recommended them to add these treatments on to every service. And for that I’m deeply sorry.

Like a parent who didn’t teach their child the importance of brushing I haven’t done my duty and taught my clients the importance of taking care of areas like neck, eyes, lips, and chests. All of these areas damage so easily and once they are damaged they are hard to repair. Sure I tell you how to use your eye cream, and I mention that you can bring your product down your neck and chest. But I need to make all of your skin as important to me as your facial skin because you are putting your trust in me as your Skin Fitness Expert. I’m your first, last, and often only line of defense against aging.

So I’m sorry. Terribly, terribly sorry. I want to apologize to each and every one of you. You put your skin in my care and I’ve done you and it a disservice.

Please forgive me.

Luckily, I learn from past errors and starting in October you will see a new service menu. That menu will reflect changes that many of you have been requesting. It will also have facials that include the neck, eyes, chest, and lips.

Change for the better is in the air, and I look forward to providing you even better care. This is why I continue to take classes, because there’s always more to learn.