Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Coconut Oil

Is Coconut Oil Right for YOU?

Every few months we see news of the latest ingredient. Coconut oil is the latest on the news But how
do you know it is the right or even safest ingredient for YOU?
They hire great marketing agencies to tout their new product… one they have invested a lot to develop.  But there is a gap between the market hype and consumer best choice. Here’s my insider scoop on what you’re being sold.
There are two different type of product companies.  Those who develop blends to solve different problems. And those who base all of their products on a KEY ingredient.  Right now that ingredient is coconut oil.

But is coconut oil right for you?

Coconut oil is a tropical oil obtained from the nut of a palm tree. The jar of coconut oil in your cupboard validates that this oil solidifies at room temperature.
In comedogenicity tests that date back to the 1960s which are the gold standard for products produced since, it was shown to be a comedogenic ingredient – meaning those oils tend to clog pores. If you are using a product with coconut oil in it and noticing more breakouts…it’s probably your product.
If it is only on your skin temporarily, as in a makeup remover, it’s probably fine.  But it shouldn’t be left on your skin.  People who use it as a hair conditioner should keep an eye on scalp or hairline breakouts it could trigger.
If you bleach or color your hair or it is weather damaged from time in the sun, coconut oil might be a fine conditioner, but try to keep it off your scalp.
If you have fine, thin, dry, sensitive skin, you might be okay with it.  But a product with jojoba oil might be a better choice.  It is an ingredient that doesn’t solidify at room temperature.  Its comedogenicity rating is nil.  It actually has the ability to emulsify sebum so helps acne clients rather than aggravates their skin.
So when the next…newest and greatest ingredient shows up in marketing…save yourself some money.  Investigate the ingredient first to see how it might work with your skin.
If you need help trying to sort through all the products on the market and their hype…speak to a trained qualified esthetician who has taken the advanced classes to help you make smart decisions.

Monday, November 19, 2018

5 Ways to De-Stress Your Holidays

Plan to de-stress...

The winter holiday season can mean you're super busy not only at work but at home. Did you know we women are more prone to depression than men are? And the winter season with shorter periods of daylight can bring on depression.

Research studies have shown death rates peak in December and January across the US, regardless of what part of the country you live in. Stress is a key part of those numbers.

There are dozens of ways to make holidays less stressful, but here are 5 easy favorites.

  1.  Dump the expectations!
It's super easy to take on more than even Wonder Woman could accomplish. Think about the things that are your favorite parts of the holidays and focus on those.  Delete those things that create more angst for you.  


If that means cutting out long-distance travel, do it.  If it means buying cookies for an event instead of baking them...do it.  
If work gets stressful and overwhelming with clients asking for extra hours...set boundaries and stick to them.  
If it means limiting your social engagements to a "doable" level, that's a good thing.
      
     2. Make it a family team effort.

Get the kids and spouse involved. Delegate so everyone gets a part of the workload and more engaged in the fun. Delegate set priorities and simplify.

Make NEW traditions that focus on involvement, relaxing and having fun.  

If that means less decorating or less than perfect decorating or gift-wrapping...go for it.  
Maybe it means getting a grip on the spending and setting limits on the quantity and price of purchases.  

Maybe it means teaching kids the benefits of helping others.  One less gift for themselves and the opportunity to pick out something for someone less fortunate.

     3. Get active...

When we get busy and stressed, often the first thing to go is the exercise routine. Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise makes a huge difference. Take the kids and the dogs and get out in the fresh air for a walk.

Weather too lousy for outdoors? Walk at the mall. Or move exercise into your living or family room. Kids love games and videos - dig out the PlayStation, Xbox, Wii or Nintendo. There are great exercise games available for all of them. Let everyone join in and it becomes playtime.
Studies have shown video exercise games are just as effective as a gym workout or a 30-minute walk.

     4. Start early 

If you wait until the last minute, it will always be more stressful. Starting early can make all the difference. Shop early, bake early (and freeze), and decorate in stages. If you mail out cards or write a holiday letter... get them ready to go now.

My personal favorite part of this is shopping. When we go on vacation...regardless of what time of year that is, I look for gifts that the recipient will love and allow them to share something from our experience. Be sure to put them where you'll be able to find them months later and label them with the recipient's name.

     5. Entertaining? Get guests involved.


Instead of trying to do it all, make it a potluck and let each guest contribute. Guide them with choices so you get a nice diversity not six of the same thing. To minimize party stress, keep it relaxed and casual.

Monday, November 12, 2018

Tips to Grow Your Profits

 P= S-E
sad_businesswoman_help.jpg
 PP = S-E
This formula is all about your business success. Work the formula and you'll have amazing profits. Ignore it and your business can go under quicker than you ever imagined.

It's a simple formula - one I can't take credit for. But I've seen it in action over and over and it's never wrong.

P= S-E stands for profits equals sales minus expenses. Sound simple enough? It is, but there are tons of business out there who are failing because they ignore the equation. Others struggle along unsure why they are having so much trouble. Let's look at it.

P for Profits isn't the amount of money you bring in. It's the amount you have left over after you've paid out all your expenses.

S = Sales or revenues. It's all the ways you bring money into your business. Product sales, services, training - whatever you offer. You can make more money by generating more sales.

E = Expenses. This is the magic area that makes or breaks you. If you can control or reduce expenses you increase your profit margin. Many businesses do things in an expensive way - or a non-profitable way. You want to maximize sales and minimize expenses. If your expenses are greater than your sales - you may have lots of money coming in, but you're not making any money. You may actually be bleeding it out.

So how do you control expenses? Starting at the beginning is the easiest. When you build your business right with a profitable strategy plan, it will flourish.  
If you already have a business but see a low-profit margin it will be harder... but it's not impossible to fix.

Here are some considerations:

  • Location - Is your rent/lease going to eat all your profits? Is there a way to control or reduce it?
  • Pricing - Price products and services based on your location and the kind of client you want to appeal to. If you're looking at a high-end location but a budget or modest client base that's a giant red flag. Either raise your prices or change your location.
  • Labor - staff is your most expensive overhead. Don't add more staff members until the existing staff cannot keep up with the demand. Book farther out instead of adding more staff. Make sure your pay scale is within your budget. You may need to nudge prices up to make labor costs fit into your cost-of-goods-sold formula.
  • Consider virtual assistants or freelancers for bookkeeping, web related work, or legal services. They have their own office space, supplies and equipment. And you only pay them for services rendered.
  • Be very aware of marketing costs. Marketers are always happy to help you. You need to know where/how clients find you and focus on those. People get duped into adding every paid form of web support out there: Yelp, Google, Facebook, etc... It gets expensive fast.
  • Focus on evergreen content. This is marketing information you can use, cross-post and re-use.
  • Consider investing in a Key Message Copy Platform. This document provides you with a diversity of customized messages. It may include articles, emails, etc that you can implement into your marketing. You buy it once and can use and re-use.
  • What will it do for me? Ask yourself this for any upgrade or purchase. How will it enhance your profit margin? A fancy new home office isn't going to do a thing to bring more clients in your door.

Focus

Focus on building the sales and controlling the expenses. The enhanced profits will surprise and delight you.

Sunday, July 8, 2018

Skin Microbiome Divulges Secrets Behind Skin Problems

Clients with Sensitive skin?

The study of the skin's microbiome is revealing fascinating new information. Research that may allow manufacturers to create targeted products that make a difference.

Most of us are seeing more and more clients with sensitive skin. Redness, dryness, breakouts, irritation and increased reactions to products. The skin's microbiome may be the answer.

So what is the skin's microbiome? The top layer of the skin, the stratum corneum is our barrier of defense. It has the job of keeping the outside world out, and our inside system protected. When we wound it... burns, cuts, abrasions, harsh chemicals, over-exfoliation), we run the risk of an infection. But the "why" is a little more complex.

The surface of the skin doesn't exist in a vacuum. Research shows it's covered with several hundred various microorganisms. These include bacteria, yeasts, fungi. Some of these are healthy, some are disruptive if given the opportunity. They share space with fatty acids, moisture levels, temperature levels and genetic material. What is there, depends on the body area.

They call these microorganisms environmental species. When they live harmoniously with each other and cooperate with our skin functions... the skin is healthy.

Healthy skin works well. It has good autoimmune defenses. It repairs itself. We see and feel smooth texture, good hydration and proper skin turnover.

Scientific studies reveal when there is an imbalance... the function of the microbiome goes haywire. An excess of one of the organisms can trigger this. Or there could be an invasion by a bad bacteria. Weather changes or moving to a different part of the country can disrupt it.

Internal factors like aging, hormonal changes, diet or stress disrupt it. The result...acne, dry skin, redness, irritations, and sensitivites.

No two people have identical skin microbiomes. Just like fingerprints and DNA, we are all unique. There is no microbiome necessary in the womb. It starts development at birth. Research has shown that even "how" you are born makes a difference. It makes a difference whether you are a normal vaginal delivery or a C-section. This sets up your microbiome for life both internally and externally.

The new findings mean it may be possible to affect the skin's microbiome. We'll read about technologies to influence skin health and keep the microbiome balanced. Digital skin evaluation tools are constantly evolving. Used together this could lead to customized topical products.

It's an exciting time. And the beauty therapy industry is aligned to be at the epicenter of these changes. Watch for new products designed to protect and care for the skin's microbiome. We'll guide clients to healthier skin and they'll love us for it.

Want to read the nitty-gritty scientific details?  Visit this government health website: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535073/

Friday, June 8, 2018

Are Your Towels Ending Up in the Food Chain?

The war to protect our oceans seems to be coming to our laundry rooms...

Who knew those wonderful super soft microfiber towels we bought for our spas would end up with their fibers in the ocean and inside seafood?  UGH!

And they're being found in all sorts of other fabric blends. Research taught me that there is no perfect fabric fiber.  Everyone has a different tradeoff or cost tagged to it. But there is a bright side!!!  They are finding ways to reduce the problem. Here are some key tips I learned from Patagonia's research and Google searches.

Shocking news: One study found that a single fleece jacket could shed as many as 250,000
individual fibers per wash.

Starting with the fabric industry Patagonia is leading the way... looking at all the different places where water and soil contamination can occur and how to reduce it. You're going to see washer manufacturers get involved and lots more.



Key takeaways you can use now:

1. Cheaper products shed more and don't last as long.  Avoid cheap poorly made fabric.

2. Quality products last longer and shed less over time so a win-win. Buy quality.

3. Wash less often. Especially outerwear. Try spot cleaning before you resort to the washing machine.

4. Invest in a front loading washer. In tests, a jacket washed in a top-loader shed about seven times more microfibers.

5. Companies like Guppy Friend now sell fiber collecting bags to wash microfiber garments in.
You can find them online and soon in local stores.

6. Consider having a septic-safe permanent washing machine filter installed.

7. Try a Cora Ball. (Currently online but expanding.) It duplicates the action of coral in the ocean. Put it in the washer with your clothes and it collects microfibers too small for you to see. 
Easy to use and clean. Be sure to put the fibers in a covered trash so they can't float off in the
air. (Tip do not use with anything lacy or that has fringe or spagetti straps!) Clean only when the collected lint is large enough to easily grab.

8. Cold water washes with fabric softener in a front-loader generate the least fiber loss.

Please join in, the environment needs our help.

Monday, May 7, 2018

Let's fight melanoma!

They've found us... and want our help!


All those who are licensed in our state recently got an email from Oregon Health Sciences University, (OHSU).  

The dermatology department recognized that while they are the doctors... no one sees more skin than we do!  So they reached out to us.

They want to partner with all of us in an effort to make consumers more aware for cancer prevention.. and early detection.

They are having a BIG EVENT in Portland on May 19th, and I urge anyone who can make it to attend.  Here's the link to their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/OHSU.Dermatology/

But... why stop with Oregon?  Let's all help out.
If you click on the IMAGE it will download the PDF poster.  Print it out and hang it in your reception and or treatment rooms.  Maybe even in the bathroom?  

Want to take it a step farther?  An app has been created for smartphones to help people identify and track potential problems. It's part of their Mole Mapper Melanoma Study.  You can find that link here.

Please join us and let's fight melanoma.  Protect your family, protect your clients!

Monday, April 2, 2018

Tips to improve your website UX


12 Tips to Improve Your Website


Your website is often your first connection with a prospective new client. In today's world, it needs to engage them and get them to take the next step. They might sign up for your newsletter, or schedule an appointment or shop. There are some very important considerations to get them to take that step.


1. Your website must be guest-centric.

It must immediately show them how you can help them... from their point of view.
What problem or need do they have you can solve?  Your website needs enough information to help them understand what you do, how you help and proof that they can trust you.
It needs to be expressed in customer-focused language that explains the unique benefits of your products and services... a reason to choose you.  Testimonials from former clients, success stories and your credentials are the proof they can trust their decision to contact you.

 2. Invite them to share.

Invite every visitor to share your site with others and to join your Facebook Fan Page, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. Make it easy!  The easier you make it, the more people will do it.  Make it clear whether you are taking them to a "follow-you" page, or a share page.

3. Keep content fresh.

It's important to keep your content fresh and current. It needs to be topical and timely to their interests and needs. If an event or offer is over... change it. Give the reader a reason to come back for new information... maybe monthly specials or combo offers.

4. Optimize for mobile.

Take a look at your website on a tablet and smartphone. How easy is it to read. Can you navigate it EASILY or at all? Can you schedule an appointment? If it's not optimized fix this first. Tracking shows over 65% of page views are now from mobile devices. If you aren't optimized for these views you are losing appointments.

5. Key information on the top or left.

Your company name and logo need to go in the upper left-hand corner. When smaller screens crop they crop off the right. Keep important info to the left.
Tabs for pages need to be across the top or down the left, never on the right. Have enough tabs to do the job but avoid too many choices.  It may be more effective to have some topics clustered under an easily identifiable heading.

6. Make it easy to connect with you.

Have an easy way for clients to get more information from you.  An opt-in form to gather their email is essential to guide them through the purchasing or contact you process.  People love to get something free. 
This makes the easiest way to connect is to offer them free information, a report or other helpful item in exchange for their name and email.  Don’t ask for more than minimal information or you won’t get as many responders.  First, they need to get to know and trust you.
Your free information should be followed by a series of 3-7 autoresponders that offer them additional useful information.  This is also where you need to connect them to a product or service you have for sale.  Be sure to ask for the purchase.  Once this series is set up, it will work for you while you focus on the clients.

7. About you

This tab is essential but often misunderstood.  Its focus should be on what you can do to help them…not a brag sheet about you.  Credentials are important proof that are included to show you have the background to do what you say you can do.  Keep it focused on the client.

8. Shopping cart...

If you have a shopping cart, place its access button on the upper right-hand side. Do a test order to make sure it is easy to do on a cell phone or tablet. It's also valuable to make sure it functions well for both ios and android systems and on a desktop, laptop and mobile devices.

9. Navigation

Group similar items together and place pages in a logical order guiding them forward. You want to help them get acquainted with you, build trust, show your problem solutions and ask them to book. Use page names that clearly state content. Clever names may be confusing. Confusion leads to clicking off your site.


10. Graphics

Images should show experiences, people having a fabulous time. Empty rooms are not as inviting and don't communicate what they will feel when there. Photos should always relate to the content, not be filler. Make sure their size is appropriate and not slowing down the load time.

11. Animation / videos

Avoid flash. It slows down loading and people also click off. iPads don't support flash so it will be invisible to the visitor. If you have any animation or video it should always default to the off position. Let viewers have the option of playing it. Have a clear PLAY button. Even better offer a MUTE button for sound... you never know where they are when visiting you. Sounds may not be appropriate.

12. SEO

Many websites foundations like WordPress help you with this via a specific plug-in. But, you want to make sure your tech team has the behind-the-scenes elements are in place. Tags, keywords, title lengths, and alt tags are all key elements so search engines will help clients find you. Make sure any keywords/key-phrases are ones your guests would use in searching.


All of your website components should work to get the viewer to take action. You want them to book or call. Help them see the great experience they will have with you. Let them meet the friendly team who will be caring for them. Make choosing you their best possible decision. Easy, smart, a no-brainer.

Friday, January 19, 2018

Skip the Resolutions

Skip the Resolutions... try this instead

Every year millions of us make resolutions designed to make our lives better. Every year, most of
those resolutions get abandoned. Not because we didn't want them. Some are unrealistic, others not measurable.

If you're like me, maybe those resolutions try to achieve too much, too fast. A few months into the year with at least one of those resolutions missed, we simply forget the rest.

This year, try something different. I've found it works much better and is easier to stick with.

Instead of resolutions, try goals.
These goals create a plan that's designed to ensure success. These aren't just any goals... they are SMART goals.

SMART is an anacronym for five things that make a goal strong... Specific, Measurable, Action-Oriented, Realistic and Time-bound.

SMART goals clarify your ideas and focus your efforts so you have a better chance at achieving them... and getting the rewards you want.

SMART goals meet five criteria:

Specific... Your goal must be clear and specific. Not that you want to make more money next year. Instead, set a goal to add 5 new clients per month for repeat services. Maybe they buy a package of treatments or services and get a bonus.

Measurable... Your goal should be measurable by an explicit quantity. It can be in dollar amounts, percentages or number of clients. The example above includes a specific number of clients and a package each would buy. The revenue from the package gives us a specific dollar amount.

Action-Oriented... It must be achievable, realistic and not overly ambitious. Winning $100K in Vegas is not an attainable, actionable goal. But winning five new clients each buying a package each month is.

Realistic... Five new clients each month buying the designated package may be aggressive. But it is possible. Landing five clients each week is not as realistic. Some months or weeks you might manage it, but keep it attainable and enjoy the bonuses.

Time-bound... You need a fixed starting and ending date, or something done over a specific period of time. Consider 30, 60, 90, or 180 days time frames. A goal of five new clients in 30, or if you choose, 60 days is specific and a SMART goal.

Once you have defined your smart goal.... write it down. Put it on your calendar. Post it on your bathroom mirror.

Next break your goal into small objectives.

To achieve your goal may need little steps that will take you closer to your goal. Write down these objectives in the order they need to be completed and assign each one a deadline... put them on your calendar.

Let's use our five new clients with a special five treatment package. Do you know how to perform that treatment? If so, great. If not... that becomes objective number one and needs a specific deadline.

The next objective might be... How are you going to bring these new clients in? Are you going to email clients who have gone dormant?

Are you going to target specific groups in your area who might like that specific treatment? Will you visit them and do a presentation? Invite them in for a private event? Join a networking group? Are you going to do a social media promotion? What, how, when. Be specific and put it on your calendar.

What can you offer?

Are you a wax diva? Do you specialize in Cirepil wax experiences? Maybe you avoid being the cheap quicky waxer that send clients out the door red and sticky.

Lash specialist? A peel queen? Is microdermabrasion is your thing. Your package will be most effective if it relates to what makes you unique. You need to be special from everyone else out there. Your package needs to be something that will catch their attention.

It doesn't matter what kind of calendar you use. A wall calendar, a desk calendar, your cell phone calendar. I use Google Calendar. You just need to identify each step, give it a deadline and get it posted.

Make sure your calendar is easily accessed. Check your tasks every day and your objectives every month to make sure you are on track. If you need to adjust a deadline, do it. But don't let yourself make excuses for not sticking to your plan.

What SMART goal will you achieve in 2018?

Take some time today to think about it, write it down. Note the objectives it will take to achieve it. Remember to make your goal SMART: specific, measurable, action-oriented, realistic and time-bound.

Take some time this week to jump-start your year. Set one goal, start at least one action toward achieving your goal. Don't let time slip away and months pass by leaving your dreams in the dust.

What is one thing you can do right now to jump-start your year? I hope you have an incredible 2018!!!!