I had a middle school gym teacher that would say “opinions are like assholes, everybody’s got one” kind of wild for 12 year olds but an important lesson nonetheless. Opinions are the general theme of this piece- I mean, part of why I am writing a blog at all is to share mine. But first, I think it’s necessary to backtrack a little, just to get more into the reasoning and motivation behind starting this blog to begin with.
How do we not start with Exhibit? Working somewhere like Exhibit Medical Aesthetics, and being a provider specifically, it was really important to me not to just coast on Nicole and Melissa’s success. I knew I couldn’t get the same online presence and notoriety as them overnight, but I knew I needed to do something to kind of up my game. I love to write (fun fact: I had actually purchased this laptop to write a book, let’s just say that project wasn’t as easy as I thought) so I felt like I could utilize this love of writing towards growing my career and reputation as an aesthetician.
I have talked about it before, but I have worked for so many companies and bosses that made me feel stagnant and uninspired. With that said, I am so thankful to work for people now who motivate me to be the best I can be, share the same visions, and spark my creativity. I see them constantly continuing their education and being active on socials, all while staying true to themselves and kicking ass in this field. It inspires me to stay sharp, participate in classes, attend conferences, etc.
I have seen how authenticity and hard work has really helped them shine and grow as providers, and it’s such a breath of fresh air. It has really helped me come out of my shell as a formerly (and still a little bit) of an introverted aesthetician. So being in this space where authenticity is king, I now feel comfortable and confident to create content and educate clients. Doing it while still feeling like myself has been a game changer. Case in point: this blog.
While I am still working out the kinks and aesthetics of it, writing this blog feels like me, and that is very important to me. In the past I have struggled with my social media, and I have struggled with feeling proud of my work. I am someone that needs to feel passionate about my work to feel fulfilled. Having my dream job at Exhibit, learning something new everyday, working alongside amazing women, and meeting the best clients, are all definitely enough to fill that cup- but it’s way cooler to be SO inspired that I actually want to take on other projects. I never want to be the girl that just clocks in and clocks out. This is my passion and I am proud, and I want to share it with people.
I really value transparency. This is why I have struggled years ago when working at franchises- with products I didn’t believe in, or working in environments that I didn’t feel had positive culture and leadership. All of these things trickle into your work, your experiences, and client interactions. Some people are great at hamming it up but that was never me. So what does that have to do with my decision to write a blog? I am somewhere now that puts the client first, paired with encouraging my education, involving me in product selection, and supporting my creative endeavors. It all enables me to use this blog to give clients and peers more insight and perspective about our industry. Especially for those new to the field, because there’s a lot of things I wish I knew beforehand, so I hope to be that person for someone.
Now how does this affect the way I approach skincare? I am always honest about the fact that this industry is very opinion based. Yes, we all have the same foundation of education but what’s more important than the textbook of knowledge? Experience. Facts are pretty indisputable but experience is what we base our opinions on. How I choose to treat someone, yes, is rooted by factual knowledge, but it’s heavily influenced by experiences. I have treated many skin types and conditions over the last 8 years… and guess what? Responses and results vary. All I can do is be honest about my experiences, what I have seen work for others with similar conditions, and what I believe to be the best course of action for YOU- while also taking into account what you’re willing to commit to fitting into your lifestyle.
For instance, there are so many strong opinions of acne medications. When I see providers post people with inflamed, severe nodulocystic acne ALL OVER their face and tell you, just use different skincare, ehhhh… Don’t get me wrong, yes, I have been witness to and contributed to skincare bringing down inflammation and controlling acne (remember we are controlling, not curing) but it’s usually pretty mild. Bear in mind, people’s idea of mild may be different but in my opinion, moderate to severe acne usually consists of around 50-100 whiteheads, blackheads, inflamed bumps, etc. My boss, some of my friends, and clients have participated in acne medications and guess what? It changed their lives. Trust me, I know there are side effects, and they absolutely aren’t for everybody… but to bash these medications, well I think is unfair and irresponsible.
And before anyone takes any of this the wrong way, if you are suffering from severe acne, I think you should see a dermatologist before an aesthetician.. And yes, try a proper regimen first. However, don’t let people make you afraid of these medicines. It’s easy for clear-skinned professionals to sway you away from this method but there is no reason you need to suffer physically and emotionally if you don’t have to. I have had clients on it that still continue to see me monthly and I have them on a compatible regimen to still support their skin barrier and hydration during treatment, so I definitely recommend monthly facials as well! Just some food for thought, while we are in a safe space lol.
That’s just the thing… sometimes there’s trial and error, sometimes other factors are at play, factors that can’t be controlled with topicals and monthly facials. Sometimes you need heavy hitters, microneedling, chemical peels, medical intervention, etc. On that note, I respect other providers’ opinions, we are all entitled to them. Hell, there are plenty of modalities, and gimmicky treatments I don’t love or believe in, but I CAN’T STAND when this is done in the form of bashing- especially by other professionals. There is one very popular modality for instance, that I f*&king hate but you won’t ever see me blast it all over my socials. If I truly believe something to be unethical, that’s one thing, but I prefer to just put what I love on blast rather than yuck anyone’s yum.
Unfortunately, social media is a double-edged sword in that way. I really love this community, as I have been lucky to make friends and acquaintances with some great people in the industry. I have learned a lot, shared ideas, and have had mutual support with many of them. One of the downfalls of aesthetics though is the cattiness and competition that takes place and sadly, social media makes that all too easy. I have been fortunate to not really experience that side of it but even witnessing it, is disheartening. I will say, I do believe the general tone and vibe of the industry has moved in a more positive direction because I think people are realizing it’s just not cool and collaboration is actually the key to success. But I want to do my part to be a positive and productive voice in the industry, promote integrity and unity.
In relation to the content aspect of it, this blog is a way for me to control my narrative in this space. While I love sharing ideas and being inspired, there’s a fine line between inspiration and imitation. Some people may say “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” but when it comes to work, I hate to say- it’s frustrating at times. I’m only speaking for myself and my work space, but there is so much thought and attention to detail in everything we do, as we are constantly adapting to differentiate ourselves from other practices. Product innovation, marketing, advertising, it can never be stagnant. My advice would be look at HOW your neighbor is doing it, not just WHAT they are doing. What works for one practice or provider won’t necessarily work for you. You have to keep things fresh but do it YOUR WAY because again, authenticity is how you’ll succeed.
In terms of sharing information, whether from a client or provider point of view, it’s tough because everyone is entitled to their opinion. With social media allowing everyone to have a voice there is so much misinformation. Some of this is detrimental to our industry with some negative connotations of products and treatments. A girl on TikTok has a bad reaction to something, and now you’re against it. A snarky provider/influencer bashes something for clickbait and now you’re having second thoughts. Take the information and where you are getting it with a grain of salt, advocate for yourself but do proper research. Especially in the practices and providers you plan to visit.
If you have specific skin goals, share them with your aesthetician. If a treatment plan doesn’t sit well with you, get a second opinion. Just remember, your aesthetician is only a piece of the puzzle. You have to commit to homecare to truly maintain and boost results- in terms of ANY AND ALL correction and prevention. All I can say is that I will be truthful about whether your expectations are realistic, and will do everything I can to help you achieve healthy, glowing skin.