Eyes on the Eye Area
The skin around the eye area is the thinnest on the body and can become easily dehydrated or wrinkled. Dark circles may begin to appear as capillary leakage becomes visible through this delicate skin. By addressing these concerns, clients may see a vast improvement in their overall appearance. Lymphatic drainage can ease puffiness and bags by encouraging stagnant waste and accumulated fluid to get moving. A potent, multi-tasking eye cream can do wonders to address issues found in the eye area. Choose one that targets concerns specific to your client. For example, some eye creams will focus more on dark circles while others might address sagging in the eyelid area. An eye cream that includes light reflecting properties can be particularly popular because it provides an immediate cosmetic effect while active ingredients go to work providing long-term benefits.

Chemical Exfoliation
As clients age, they accumulate visible damage in the form of hyperpigmentation brought on by sun exposure as well as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne blemishes and other causes. Additionally, their cell renewal process slows dramatically. This decrease in cell turnover creates a dull complexion overall and any accumulated damage becomes glaringly visible on the skin’s surface.
A series of chemical peel treatments will help skin attain healthy cell turnover which encourages a dewy, glowing complexion while helping to fade visible age damage. Plus , clients struggling with acne breakouts or skin congestion will see an improvement as pores are cleared and debris can exit more easily.
While chemical peels are not appropriate for everyone, there are several options available today. Now, even clients who may not have been candidates in the past can enjoy the benefits of chemical exfoliation. Look for peels that are tailored to the unique concerns of your client. For example, sensitive clients may prefer a peel that contains low percentages of high weight alpha hydroxyl acids like lactic and mandelic acid. These high weight molecules will penetrate more slowly, helping to reduce irritation. For acneic or oily skin, look for peels that fight acne bacteria with ingredients combined with salicylic acid to exfoliate both topically and within the follicle.
Be sure chemical peels are adequately spaced. Even if your client does not experience irritation, receiving peels too frequently can result in barrier impairment and dryness. While every client is unique, a good rule is to recommend chemical exfoliation no more than every 14 to 30 days depending on the strength of the peel.

Barrier
We have all heard (and seen) that clients who complained about how oily their skin was in their youth often have less severe damage than those who have spent their lives plagued with dry skin. This is especially true for fine lines and wrinkles. The presence of oil is a sign of a healthy, protected skin. Regardless of prior oil production, the vast majority of clients will experience a decrease in oil as they age. Depending on what they started with, this may mean that they are now in the normal range or it may mean that they are severely oil depleted and desperately in need of a man-made oil barrier. A healthy barrier is key to ageless skin so if a client’s barrier is not adequate, a cream should be recommended to provide hydration and protection. A healthy barrier, natural or man-made, is especially important for those clients who receive regular chemical peels to ensure that the skin does not become compromised.

Home Care
The final step in ensuring that your client’s skin remains youthful is to be sure that they are consistently using home care products that are targeted to their unique concerns. Explain the importance of using sunscreen each day in order to protect their skin from further damage and depletion. While professional facial treatments are invaluable and should be continued, cumulative results will be driven at home. If they hired a personal trainer once a month but then never worked out in between, they would not be surprised when they did not reach their fitness goals. The same holds true for their skin care goals. Begin with a thorough skin analysis to identify gaps in their regimen, determine what is working, and decide what should be replaced. Be sure to explain what you are recommending, what it will do for their skin, and the result they should expect to see. Finally, make sure they understand when and how to use the product so that they can achieve the beautiful, lasting results they are looking for.