Taking Exfoliation to the Next Level

Sponsored by: Ultraceuticals

By Tracey Beeby, Global Brand Ambassador, Ultraceuticals

Long gone are the days where consumers experienced harsh professional chemical peels with long periods of downtime or the harmful effects of aggressive at-home exfoliants. If skin feels irritated or has a stinging sensation after exfoliation, it doesn’t mean the products are working harder or that they are better for the skin, it just means the skin is in pain! Fortunately, we’ve come a long way with product formulations for at-home products and professional treatments.

Before we dive into the gentle alternatives to exfoliation, let’s first define and better understand why clients should receive regular exfoliation treatments both in the treatment room and at home. Lack of radiance and uneven skin tone are common concerns for many guests. Due to buildup of dead skin cells on the surface, skin can appear dull and uneven, feel rough or bumpy to the touch, and can give the skin a blemished appearance. Other lifestyle and environmental factors can also contribute to the appearance of dull and uneven skin tone, such as ultraviolet (UV) damage caused by the sun, smoking, dehydration, and a poor skin care regimen. So, what is one of the most effective ways to address dead skin cell buildup and help treat dull and uneven skin? Exfoliation, of course. However, when it comes to exfoliation, there is no one-size-fits-all approach—estheticians must provide each guest with a personalized technique before they begin to incorporate exfoliation into their routine.

Exfoliation is the process of removing old, dead skin cells that cling to the skin’s outermost surface, helping to improve the quality and tone of the skin. Mechanical exfoliation involves physically scrubbing the skin with a mild abrasive that exfoliates the outer corneocytes that comprise the stratum corneum layer. Results vary depending on the amount of friction and the nature of the abrasive used. Therefore, it’s important to choose the proper exfoliation formula and method for each guest’s skin—using a more intense, abrasive formula or performing a method incorrectly can lead to adverse effects like redness, inflammation, and irritation.

At Ultraceuticals, we believe it’s possible to formulate gentle yet effective exfoliating products that can be used inside the treatment room and at home. The Ultraceuticals PHA Refining Solution, used in the Refine and Hydrate professional treatment, and Ultra Granule-C Microfoliant, which can be used in the backbar and at home, are both great examples of gentle alternatives to exfoliating treatments.

For guests experiencing their first chemical peel or who are prone to sensitive skin, the PHA Refining Solution is the ideal peel to recommend to guests in the treatment room. As a mild hydrating peel containing a “skin identical” acid (gluconolactone) for all skin types (including sensitive skin), PHA Refining Solution helps refine the surface of the skin, leaving it looking plumped, rejuvenated, brighter, and glowing. A great alternative to BHA or AHA chemical peels, this treatment is suitable for all Fitzpatrick skin types and requires minimal to no downtime.

It’s important to educate guests on the importance of regularly and safely exfoliating skin at home. The Ultraceuticals Ultra Granule-C Microfoliant, a transformative cream-to-serum formula, contains granules of vitamin C that exfoliate and melt into the skin upon massaging, making it the perfect product to recommend to your guests for use at home in between professional treatments. In addition to vitamin C, the product contains powerful antioxidants and vitamin E, leaving skin polished and glowing.

Ultraceuticals believes in taking a progressive, not aggressive, approach to skin care, and skin exfoliation is no exception. As with all Ultraceuticals products, the Ultra Granule-C Microfoliant and the PHA Refining Solution contain ingredients obtained from sustainable resources where possible and are formulated without propylene glycol or parabens. Ultraceuticals performs extensive, in-house panel testing of formulations to test the efficacy of new products as well as product attributes, such as skin texture and aroma. “In-house research and development (R&D) formulating and consumer testing are critical to enabling us to efficiently create highly effective products with appealing consumer characteristics,” says Dr. Geoffrey Heber, founder of Ultraceuticals. “We are able to obtain quick feedback as to how effective a product is and make changes if necessary. We offer formulations that are results-driven without compromising texture and aroma, and that’s what I feel makes us unique.”

With a plethora of choices and options now available, clients no longer have to associate exfoliation with discomfort. Through education, proper instruction, and effective product solutions, we can forever change clients’ perception of exfoliation and encourage them to embrace a regimen that helps them achieve younger, healthier-looking skin via a progressive, not aggressive, mindset.

Before PHA                           After PHA

  

Learn more about Ultraceuticals exfoliating products, along with its full range of skin care products, by visiting ultraceuticals.com/us.