How I Curate Skincare Products for Myself and Clients
As an esthetician, I don’t just strive to bring balance to my clients’ skin but promote wellness, and doing that comes from the products and brands I use. When curating products, I wanted the brands to resonate and connect with myself and my clients. Ingredients and scientifically-backed products are so vital to me.
Being California-based, these brands and their products must be formulated and produced in California by small business brands led by women.
When it comes to formulation, I want these products to have ingredients that are kind to our skin and our environment. Certain ingredients in skincare products can end up in our waterways and soil for a long time, harming fish and wildlife. I want to do my part in taking care of our planet and finding the brands that are sustainable and eco-friendly.
Many products can be confusing as to how they balance skin and often can mislead the buyers. The products should be effective in bringing balance to our skin, backed up by scientific research and positive user reviews. These brands should know what they’re using in their products and how they can be the most effective for skin.
I ensure that I understand and have used these products long enough to prove the safety and see the maximum benefits for reactive and aging skin like mine. I have to believe in the products I use on clients and love for myself as well.
Another great way I determine products is by making sure the founders or customer reps are accessible and are genuinely happy to help whenever needed. This customer service is beneficial for me as an esthetician and, in turn, significant for my clients.
Here are my favorite brands that I have been working with for myself and my clients!
Sonage
I discovered Sonage while still in esthetician school. They had samples of nearly empty bottles in the classroom (the school gave Dermalogica a more established brand priority), and I decided to learn more about the brand on my own. It turns out, they are a local brand (in San Fernando Valley at the time) and were offering 72 hours of classroom hours to learn more about their products and, most notably to a student like me at the time, to help kickstart a career in esthetics.
I still use their products to this day, and so do my family and clients. A few favorite products are the non-foaming cleansing creams, the Glow-To-Go glycolic acid peel pads, and Botanica Soufflé Creme.
Le Mieux
This SoCal-based (Pasadena and Baldwin Park) was another brand introduced to me during my training. My peers and I enjoyed the demos and couldn’t get enough of their quality serums. We just had to get our hands on the Hyaluronic Serum by the bucketloads. Years later, I’m still a huge fan. I rave about the Derma Relief Serum to whoever would listen!
Le Mieux also offered continuing education to licensed estheticians, and it is where I acquired the Gua Sha facial massage techniques that my clients love.
Salud
What’s not to love about Salud? Environmentally friendly, they are hand-poured in glass bottles, thoughtfully formulated using organic ingredients free of synthetic colors and fragrance. Oh, but they smell amazing! This brand is what’s in my medicine cabinet right now. Twice daily, I spray on the Lavender Rose Mist and gently pat on the Face Oil Serum full of botanical ingredients like organic rosehip seed oil and pomegranate seed C02.
Diana Ralys
Diana’s Compress Solution is what helps set the mood at the start of each facial at my studio, as each warmed towel is soaked in this lovely formulation, available only to pros. As a great alternative to a microdermabrasion treatment with a machine, I love the Charcoal Microfoliant and Enzyme Refresher. The Speciality Blend treatment oil is a favorite to use in my Gua Sha facials, lightly scented with organic blossom extract, and neroli essential oil.
Free Flow Botanicals
I’ve been a long-time fan of blue tansy with its antioxidant properties in skincare products. May Lindstrom, I will always love Blue Cocoon, but I can’t blow my budget on you every time. When I discovered Calm by Free Flow Botanicals, I was over the moon. Best body moisturizer ever.
I was happy to discover that their super clean, super effective yet gentle cleansing oil, face oil, and facial mist are all fantastic. Free Flow Botanicals founder, Patty Liu, has impressive credentials as a scientific journalist and a certified herbalist based in Santa Cruz, CA.
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Each person’s skincare journey is unique! Book a facial treatment to know which products are right for your current skin condition.