Category: Opinion

Lessons Learned from Acne Journey Stories

Posted on Cybil SolynLeave a commentPosted in Opinion, Uncategorized, Wellness

I’m known as the House MD of Skincare because I specialize in hard cases. This brings a lot of acne into my office. But not the easy to fix acne, the weird, obscure, and just plain nasty to fix stuff that is often on the edge of ruining a person’s psyche.

The thing many people don’t realize, is acne is physically, emotionally, and mentally scarring. This is where a well crafted skin journey is vital. The power of seeing someone else get clear, someone with skin like yours or worse than yours, clear up give you hope! The more positive the message and story the better.

It takes courage to share an acne story which is why so many people don’t want to. In my office I clear about 30 cases of acne a year, but very few of my clients are comfortable sharing those images online. It’s hard to show yourself at your most vulnerable and unflattering pictures that remind you of the worst moments of your life are just that. Remember what I said about acne being physically, emotionally, and psychologically scarring? Well sharing all this. Reliving it all can be really triggering for the storyteller.

All Yellow Josh is a perfect example of what a great acne journey is all about. He mixes bravery, humor, and creativity with a strong message to his viewers. His acne journey has me sobbing over how vulnerable he was with everyone.

I also appreciated how clear and strong Josh’s message of love and support was while expressing that there is no magic cure to acne. He was adamant that acne is controlled not cured. He got help to get it under control. He continues to take care of his skin and knows that his acne can flare up, but feels in control of his skin now because he’s educated and knows what to do if he has an acne breakout again in the future. He sought help from those more skilled and educated than he was, listened to their advice, and the plans to continue with his routines to keep clear. We love you Josh!!!💛 💛 💛

Another way acne stories can help is by showing real pictures with dates. Acne is a twisty bitch and getting clear isn’t a straight line. For the hard cases especially it gets better, it gets worse, it gets better, then it gets THE WORST IT’S EVER BEEN right before it gets better in nearly all the cases I work on. I’m not going into the why’s in this post, but there are reasons for sure why!

Showing images of how long the process takes and what the clearing process is like gives you a realistic expectation of what getting clear skin from having years of breakout will be like. I’ll be honest, I’m amazing at my job. I’m one of the top estheticians in the country but getting someone clear and controlling a hard case can takes about a year. YES you heard right, A YEAR. That’s just reality.

I follow Madison on Instagram (she’s very talented!) and when I saw her acne journey photos in her Story I reached out to talk to her for this post. Like me she was called to aesthetics because she struggled with her own skin. Her journey is beautiful to watch because she was so diligent about her photos. In them you can see the clearing and purging cycles that come with any true deep acne healing instead of acne suppression. As I always tell my clients – “That craps gotta come out!”

Since Madison is an esthetician she is honest about her feelings, what crazy stuff she’s tried (and OMG as esty’s we try crazy stuff!!), and finally what worked for her. She discussed her ongoing struggle to stay on track and keep clear because controlling acne is a lifelong endeavor!

My favorite part about speaking with Madison was talking to her professional to professional about how diligent you have to be to control acne. “You can’t give up. I got lazy and my skin wasn’t looking right. I finally forced myself to keep to a better routine.”

Madison’s acne journey is the perfect example of setting realistic expectations for people. I get so mad when I see stories of people who washed their face for a week and cleared up. If you started from nothing and did something, then yeah you’re going to get great results. The reality of most clients who see me, and who are reading about acne are that they’ve lived with it for a long time. It’s going to take some time to heal that up.

I encourage you to go look up some acne journey’s for yourself. If you have one write it! Be brave and share. Know that your acne story could change someone’s life.

Confessions of an Esthetician

Posted on Cybil SolynLeave a commentPosted in Opinion

As the person who removes your hair and picks your face it can be hard being me. I hate causing you pain. Every time you cringe I die a little inside. I know you want to be waxed, but the idea of making you suffer is hard on me. I try and make every clients visit as comfortable as possible, but there are a few things you can do to help. Take an aspirin or ibuprofen about a half hour before your hair removal service. While you’re at it, pop a Tums or other antacid if you’ve been treating yourself a little hard. I know it sounds odd, but if you smoke or drink a lot of caffeine or alcohol, it creates acid in your body. Acid makes your skin more sensitive, leading to more pain and redness.

Wear your SPF. I know I feel like a nag, but you’re aging your skin and promoting cancer. I love that you are coming to see me on a regular basis. It means you care about your skin! So please be just as concerned with the future of your skin by slathering the stuff on and re-apply on a regular basis.

Treatment is cumulative. Please do not think I’m trying to up-sell you when I ask you to rebook, upgrade to a more expensive service, or pick up product. I do this because it’s what will help your skin in the long term. Just as poor diet, air pollution, and overexposure to the sun will slowly damage your skin, a healthy, young skin will be your reward for taking my advice to heart. I work with all kinds of budgets and lifestyles, but my work is only as good as your compliance.

It’s okay if you just want to chill. No matter which service you’ve come in for, you honestly don’t have to entertain me. I love to hear about you and your loved ones, and if that makes you relax (which for many is the case) then I’m happy to chat, but spa time is meant for YOU. You are my number one care. I want to relax and renew you. If that means you just want to lie there and contemplate the meaning of life, I’m cool with that. In fact, I’d probably do the same.

You are beautiful. You are amazing. And although my job is to help you be the most beautiful and healthy you possible – you are perfect JUST AS YOU ARE. Do you know how often I’ve heard you complain about your wrinkles, your cellulite, the length of your lashes, the size of your butt, or apologize for the condition of your skin? It’s fine if you need to vent, but please know that it bothers me when you can’t see your own beauty. We are going to work on all the things you want to improved, but I want you to know that I don’t have one single client who looks like you, has your life experience, or your particular sense of humor. In short, I really like you for YOU, and trust me if I didn’t I wouldn’t let you back on my book. My secret goal for every visit is that you see yourself with more grace and kindness, just as I see you. So please, please, PLEASE see yourself through my eyes – for the wonderful, beautiful, person you are. I can make you look and feel better, but only if you can see it. —you’re perfect.

The Disservice in Your Service

Posted on Cybil SolynLeave a commentPosted in Opinion

me in a lecture!
that purple jacket and brown hair on the left is me!

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.