“New Year, New Skin” by Joanne Berry

One of my favorite facials is the HydraFacial™. Being a guest educator for the Hydrafacial company and performing the treatments on clients and seeing amazing results, I have recommended it to many people as a superior facial treatment to experience.

It’s a new breakthrough in aesthetic technology. It takes its name from the root word Hydrate; “to cause to take up moisture.” This ability to moisturize the skin separates the HydraFacial™ from all other skin resurfacing procedures. The HydraFacial™ treatment removes dead skin cells and extracts impurities while simultaneously bathing the new skin with cleansing, hydrating and moisturizing serums. The treatment is soothing, refreshing, non-irritating and immediately effective. It can be used on all skin types and I recommend it as a “pre-party” or a “booster facial.”

It’s quick! For immediate results it can take as little as 15 minutes or you can have more of a “spa type” Hydrafacial which can take up to an hour. There is no downtime and your make-up goes on flawlessly afterwards. Results and hydration may last 5 to 7 days or even longer. One treatment per month is recommended for improving the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, hyper pigmentation, oily and congested skin.

I recommend that you try this facial and see how great your skin can really be!

ESTHETICS (SKIN CARE) EDUCATION

Our basic esthetician training program offers the most comprehensive professional training in all aspects of the esthetics industry, including skin analysis & conditions, facials & electrical facials, chemical treatments, skin treatments, hair removal & make-up application. In most academies this level of training is only available by taking “post-graduate” courses.

JOANNE BERRY, DIRECTOR OF SPA & WELLNESS EDUCATION

Joanne Berry has over 18 years of international experience in the luxury and medical spa industry. As the Director of Spa and Wellness Education, Joanne keeps our esthetic and massage curriculums on the cutting edge of industry trends. This includes creating and overseeing the ongoing development of an advanced course curriculum for our academies. Joanne also uses her connections and industry acumen to help place students in the spa and salon industry upon graduation. Her goal is to establish lifelong relationships with them for future job placement.

As a native of the United Kingdom, Joanne was trained in Europe and holds a BTEC National Diploma in Beauty Therapy and an IFA Diploma in Aromatherapy. In her early roles, she worked as an esthetician, massage therapist, aroma therapist, and body treatment specialist. However, Joanne was quickly drawn to the business side of the industry. She focused her career on management and sales where she could utilize her skills in beauty techniques while using her business savvy to: sell products, develop innovative marketing techniques, create strategic planning, and design unique signature spa treatments.

Joanne’s subsequent positions focused on business management and education in many different segments of the spa industry including: cruise ships, multiple day spas, resort/destination spas and most recently, medical spas. Joanne has conducted extensive training and product seminars, including training over 400 staff in all aspects of spa treatments and customer service while serving as the Education Manager with Steiner Day Spa Division in San Diego. She gained broad operational management experience overseeing spa services on 125 cruise ships with Steiner Management Services.

In addition to speaking at international conferences, Joanne keeps up with the ever-changing medical spa and luxury spa industry through attendance at conferences such as the ISPA and the AAD (American Academy of Dermatology) conferences. Joanne also contributes regular articles to Spa Business Magazine and other trade publications around the globe.

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The Perfect Holiday Look

This year for that perfect Holiday look go ahead and mix it up a bit. As we look at fashion over the years, it sometimes repeats itself with a twist of reinvention. Make-up is not in any way different. We used to say, “if you have a dark lip, light eyes,” not anymore folks. It’s time for our artistic freedom to shine through!

I personally like a dark sultry eye with violet hues and a dark rim around the eye with a beautiful pop of magenta or even red on the lip. If this is a little too seductive for you, then play it down on the lips with a nude lip.

Lipstick is very in this season.  It outlines the lip, gives a sultry look and there are so many hues and undertones to play with. A few of my favorite shades from MUD this year are definitely Black Berry satin lipstick and Voodoo eye shadow. If you are looking for a bit more red, then Lady Bug it is for the lips.

Make-up lovers while you are getting yourself or someone else ready for these RAD Holiday parties we all love so much, challenge yourself and try these looks!

XO-KM

Make-Up Artistry Education

Bellus Academy has partnered with Make-Up Designory to offer their 150-hour “Beauty Make-Up Artistry” training course. We are one of the only academies outside of New York and Los Angeles to offer a professional make-up course at this level.  To learn more about our Make-up Artistry program, click here

Kristina-Monique Cortez, Director of Make-up Artistry Programs

Kristina-Monique is a Professional Make-up Artist, who specializes in all aspects of Make-up Artistry, as well as, education. She is a published make-up artist and beauty editor whose work can be found in various fashion and beauty publications.  She has also worked in film and television for top production companies including FOX, Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures.

Kristina began her career with an opportunity to work behind the scenes at fashion shows in Mexico where she cultivated her make-up artistry skills. She moved on to the U.S. to work with celebrity stylists, hairstylists and photographers.  As the Make-Up Director at the Bellus Academy, she is able to share her knowledge of the industry and strive to educate and inspire future Make-up Artists.

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How to go from loving to teach to helping fellow beauty professional grow their business.

By Doug Smith

If you’ve always loved sharing your passion for new technique and product knowledge – you may be a perfect candidate to partner with a Professional Beauty Product Manufacturer as an Education Representative. The road to the front of the classroom may seem a bit daunting, but with drive and commitment you could find yourself traveling to top salons in your area, nationally and maybe even around the globe. Here are a few tips that may help you reach your goals as a top educator.

1. Find a manufacturer that shares your same style and product enthusiasm.

You are probably working in the salon with a product company you love. If that’s the case, you already have a great head start. If you don’t love the products you’re
currently working with do some research. A simple web search can help you learn about a company’s full range of products, education and philosophy. Start with Google and search products you think might fit your needs.

Once you’ve found a few products you think may be a good fit to your passion, make sure you attend every class you can at your local distributor stores or salons in your area. Don’t rest until you feel like you know the product as well as the instructor teaching the class.

Another great way to find out more about a company and their product is to attend a trade show where you know they’ll be exhibiting. Gather as much collateral and samples as you can and then take them home and get to know their story.

2. Once you narrow down the candidates, make the connection.

Get to know the local educators and become familiar with their skills. Every educator started out where you are right now and most would be more than happy to share their passion and story.

When you’re ready to get the ball rolling, fill out the manufacturer’s educator application and be sure to emphasize your similar interests. For example, if a company states that they are committed to growing the salon professional’s career through quality products that are easy to retail, be sure you write in the application about your passion to helping salon professionals ensure their clients hair will always look fabulous with at home beauty products custom recommended by their stylist. If you take the time to think about your answers to the questions on an application, you will see how easy it is to make sure they get a sense that you are familiar with their philosophies, and share their passion. It’s also helpful to keep these philosophies in mind when you get to the interview process.

Mary Kinnebeck of USP LLC; parent company to Enjoy Professional Hair Care states that when looking for educator candidates, Enjoy Professional Hair Care seeks people who have a: “Burning passion and love for the beauty industry and have a desire to help people become their best.”

Danielle Devine, Education Director for CND states: “Our best educators are those who were inspired in the classroom. They so much loved what they learned, and whom they learned from they wanted to become part of the team. When choosing a manufacturer to represent, take your time to find the right team to join. Make sure you find a company that inspires you.”

Both are great words of advice! Good luck finding the right company that inspires you and be sure to always love what you do!

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Hello my fellow makeup lovers. As seasons change so do the makeup trends and this year let me tell you how I started it off and maybe you will too.

Now it does get a little toasty out there and sometimes we don’t want to wear all those layers of loveliness. This summer prance around with clean brows, nude eyes, a set of lashes, bronzed skin and a bright lip. One of my favorite foundations during the summer is La Bella Donna, not only is it a mineral based product with the ability to give a sheer to full coverage but it has SPF (which we all need). While bronzing the skin lightly, dust it on the areas of the face where the sun would naturally hit (forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin).

For your lips, I like to use a matte color or a lip moisturizer that has an SPF and a touch of color such as Baby Lips from Maybelline. Keeping up the brows especially if you like to color them can be challenging, especially in the sun. Using Chella Brow products has been my go to this summer. Last but not least my favorite, EYELASHES!!!

So, while you’re sitting poolside or hanging out at a backyard boogie try all of these or one of them this summer. –XO KM

Tip: Glosses have reflective qualities and may bring a little to much attention from the Sun.

Tip: For a waterproof eyelash experience, try using synthetic lashes with glue that you would glue extension tracks in your hair with. Works just like lash glue with a longer lasting effect.

Kristina-Monique
Bellus Academy Makeup Department
“Make-up, It’s Art”

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When a customer enters the inner sanctum of a spa, there is a feeling of calmness, peace and serenity.  They are envious of all who work in such a beautiful and serene sanctuary.

It is important to know that this atmosphere is created by a myriad of employees who work hard BEHIND the scene to create this ambiance. The spa/salon spaces are continually cleaned throughout the day, there are mountains of towels to be folded, the music chosen, the candles lit, treatment tables prepared with fresh linens between clients, hair swept up at the styling stations, client cards to be filled out, phones answered, hydrotherapy tubs to be wiped to a high shine, retail shelves to be dusted.

BUT it is not all drudgery!  You will be working with like-minded professionals who enjoy giving great customer service in luxurious and relaxing surroundings.  And, how many other jobs offer immediate rewards such as “you have changed my life today” and “thank you for making me feel better about myself.” Can you think of another career that you are able to receive INSTANT gratification about your work?

And then there are the discounts and treatment ‘trades’ with your co-workers….sigh….yes, a great place to work.

~Catherine Swinscoe, International Spa Consultant

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