Thank you to everyone who took the time to stop by the DERMASCOPE booth at the recent Dallas International Congress of Esthetics and Spa to say hello and catch up. This year, I had the opportunity to go out on the floor and shop our amazing vendors. My favorite new picks were the gold, sulfur, and aloe masks. I also noticed that our clients are excited about our new add-on services. I always love bringing something new into the salon. This year's event took place right on my birthday. Turning 44 has brought many changes to my skin and body. I share many of the same concerns as my clients. Over time, our bright, tight, smooth skin begins to show the signs of ultraviolet damage and environmental or biological factors, presenting us with sun spots, fine lines, wrinkles, skin laxity, and uneven tone. So, where do we start? Getting back to the basics is always a good idea. Refresh your process periodically. Simple adjustments can make big differences. Look at how you can renew your consultation process. Discover new ways to analyze your client's skin. Find new add-on treatments that will spice up an older relationship and bring about new conversations. These basic steps will allow you to start your client with products that will further your treatments success. Starting with a fresh approach will allow you to set the stage for a complete treatment plan. Remember double cleansing? We still need to be doing it! Cleaning our impurities and irrigating our pores will not only allow our products to penetrate into the tissue where they were designed to go, it also allows our treatments to properly target our client's individual needs. It is imperative to renew your commitment to prevention and protection. Each year our skin gets thinner. Hormonal changes decrease oil production and our glycosaminoglycan depletion leaves us feeling as though our products are not doing their job. With age, we lose the ability to retain moisture. We must look at our skin on a cellular level to provide treatments and products that leave long-term results. Further, we must understand and adapt to the changes we go through. Check with clients periodically to make sure they are following their treatment plan. Aging is inevitable. We are skin care professionals and we must make every effort to provide our clients with the tools for success. Summer is here, so start now with specials and treatments to assist with the summer skin battle. Michelle R. De LeonAIA Ambassador Want to read more? Subscribe to one of our monthly plans to continue reading this article.