Michelle D'Allaird-Brenner has been in the beauty business since 1988; as a licensed cosmetologist, aesthetician and CIDESCO diplomat she has pooled all of her knowledge and expertise into education and raising the bar for professional aestheticians around the world. Michelle is the owner of Aesthetic Science Institute, a NYS licensed aesthetics school in Latham, N.Y. She is a regular contributing author for DERMASCOPE and Les Nouvelles Esthetique & Spa magazines, a speaker and host for aesthetics conferences across the U.S. and has co-authored two major industry textbooks. Michelle is a consultant for an International cosmetic company having provided education in over 18 countries around the world. She is also the educational director for the Aesthetics International Association.

I have been in the aesthetics industry since 1988 … I like to tell people I started when I was five! Throughout the years I have been an aesthetics director for a chain of skin care centers, a school owner, educator, author, speaker, host and consultant. A great deal of my time has been spent writing curriculum for aesthetic education – leading to me having the first NYS approved paramedical program and laser program approved by the department of education. Hands down I believe that education and customer service are what separates the best clinics from the rest? Which makes it important for aestheticians to be able to cut through all the marketing propaganda to find the skin care line(s) that are right for them? Education is how they can do this! When one is truly knowledgeable about the physiology of the skin and product ingredients they will be able to ask the right questions and easily rule out fact from fiction. It amazes me the amount of aestheticians that do not perform a proper consultation, or do not even review consultation forms from prior visits. How can they possibly deliver results without a proper consultation and evaluation of what is currently happening with the skin? Consult, consult, consult – it is the key to success. By far being an educator has taught me the most and has had the most impact on my life. It has taught me about myself, my profession, the quality of education, and about the individuals entering the skin care field. I came to realize the deep passion I had to learn as much as I could about everything to do with skin; but I also recognized how desperately I wanted to share my knowledge and my passion with others. Thus, a theme for my career was born: The desire to know it all and to be the best; but knowing that there will always, always be more to learn and others' that are better. Which means my journey will never end; and I love that! Do I have any regrets? I think we all do, success is a learning experience. But my travels have taken me from my children and family at times that I feel as a "mom," I should have been there. Do I regret it? A bit; but I also know that my accomplishments have instilled a motivation and passion for life into my children, and it has strengthened my partnership with my best friend … my husband.