SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Welcome to the Aesthetic Report, a podcast for skincare professionals who want to grow in their careers by hearing directly from the individuals who have been there, done that, and are paving the future of their industry. Join us for the latest in all things skincare, beauty, wellness, business, and more. From interviews with leading experts to the burning topics on your mind. The Aesthetic Report starts now.

SPEAKER_03: 0:34

Hello, hello, everybody, and welcome to the Aesthetic Report, a podcast by Dermoscope. I am your host, AIA President and Director of Education, Michelle D. Allard Brenner. And as all of you know who listen to us on a regular basis, and even those of you that are a little on the new side, the Aesthetic Report is for skincare professionals who want to learn more about how to make it in the industry by hearing straight from our industry leaders with one-on-one interviews about the latest dish on all things professional skincare, what's hot, what's new, and what's exciting. And today's guest is licensed aesthetician, educator, and CEO of Gina Marie and GM Revolution. With more than 36 years in the industry, she's dedicated to empowering aestheticians through education, innovation, and results-driven skincare. Please, everybody, welcome Gina Marie McGuire. Gina Marie, thank you so much for being here with me today.

SPEAKER_01: 1:38

Michelle, I am very excited to have this opportunity and to be able to have a real conversation about the industry and where it's going, etc.

SPEAKER_03: 1:47

Yeah, we've had a lot of tips and turns. And actually, it's funny as I was introducing you and saying over 36 years in the industry. I remember when I started out and I was speaking, and it was only like, you know, five years or six or seven years. And people would get on stage and they'd say, I've been in the business 15, 20 years. And I thought, someday that just sounded like so impactful. But now I'm with you. It's over 35 years. I just feel like it's way too long.

SPEAKER_01: 2:17

I can remember just being in classes and being one of the youngest people. And now, you know, I'm I'm I'm not.

SPEAKER_03: 2:24

Yeah, no. 15 to 20 years was impressive. 35 to 40 is like, oh. Exactly.

SPEAKER_02: 2:31

But it's a gift, right? It's a gift.

SPEAKER_03: 2:33

It is, it is, it is. But you know what? What that does too is this is a great conversation because you've also had the opportunity just to see so many different changes and how our entire profession has evolved. But you grew up in the skincare industry, but originally had no real interest in joining the family business. Tell me a little bit about that so our listeners can kind of gauge how what changed that for you?

SPEAKER_01: 3:01

Sure. So, yes, as you said, I grew up in it. The company was named after me. And I it's funny, I was thinking of this this morning, uh, how you take things for granted, you know, when you're younger and or just in life in general. I always wanted to be a teacher. So I worked in the business, you know, it was just part of my life when I was younger, working in the business, whether it be answering the phones, sitting at the front desk, shipping, all of that good stuff behind the scenes. But it never was a desire for me to be in Gina Marie. I always, like I said, always wanted to be a teacher. So I went off to college and went for elementary education. It wasn't until I had to do a communication class and I was petrified to speak publicly. Uh so it's just so interesting how things evolve, but truly petrified to speak publicly. And I had to do a two-minute speech. And what did I choose? I chose it on skin. It was something that I was comfortable with. I didn't know how much that I knew by just listening over the years. And so that was it. It was kind of that aha moment of wait, I can do this and I and I want to do this, and I know it, and I'm comfortable in it. And so I had moved back to Chicago, and we originally got our start in Naples, Florida. Moved back to Chicago and opened up a satellite skin clinic, which is crazy to think at 21, 22 years old that my mother allowed that. But it was it was that was the turning point. So education still was, it still is the foundation, but it just took a shift. So now I teach adults and work with adults, and I had children. So it evened itself out, if you want to.

SPEAKER_03: 4:46

There you go. That's perfect. That's a great story. And what I love, you know, as a as an educator and a school owner, I say to students all the time, although you're coming into the profession as an aesthetician, or that's your your thought process, you never know where you're gonna end up in this profession. There's so many different avenues. There's so many avenues. So in your decades of experience, and and this is sort of a broad question, but what do you see as the biggest gaps or struggles for today's aestheticians, both seasoned aestheticians and our newer estheticians?

SPEAKER_01: 5:25

Sure. So another thing that we also do is we teach continuing education to licensed professionals here in Illinois after, you know, for license renewal. So Illinois requires continuing education hours. So I have a really rare opportunity to see the industry once they graduate and see where these gaps are. And I can tell you, I mean, in decades when you say that, it has been decades. There is the gap of really understanding skin. It's it's the science of skin, it's the pH, why pH matters so much, and why maintaining it in the treatment room and out of the treatment room. I would say those are the two biggest things that that they lack. It's not on the product knowledge, yeah, it's in the foundation. Yeah. And that's the science part. And a lot of, as you know, being in that realm of the aesthetic industry, it's not the fun part. Most people don't go because they really love the science and the anatomy, but it is the foundation. So I think I would say it's that. It's just the foundation of skin.

SPEAKER_03: 6:37

I have to agree with you. I I find for myself talking to professionals, and as you said, even even seasoned professionals, skin physiology, analysis, consultation. There are those two big areas. But what I have always said in education is if you thoroughly understand the physiology of the skin and how it works, and you understand product ingredients, you can take care of anybody's skin. It just they go together, and you don't have to, you don't have to be married to one particular brand because our ingredients cross over the lines. You see a lot of them throughout there, but that foundational knowledge, just like you said, that science is so critical.

SPEAKER_01: 7:20

Well, and it's basing decisions on the truth.

SPEAKER_03: 7:23

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 7:24

So science doesn't change.

SPEAKER_03: 7:25

That's exactly right. It doesn't change. That's exactly right.

SPEAKER_01: 7:28

Basing it on the truth and not the trend.

SPEAKER_03: 7:31

Yeah. Yeah. So what small shifts could professionals make today to better bridge their own knowledge or business gaps? And I know you use I mean, obviously, continuing education is one of them. Do you feel that that's the most essential?

SPEAKER_01: 7:46

I do, but I think continu it depends on the state you live in.

SPEAKER_03: 7:50

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 7:50

So continuing education here in Illinois is a requirement.

unknown: 7:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 7:53

Which is great.

SPEAKER_01: 7:55

Well, it is, it definitely is. But they many times students, licensed students, take the classes because they have to.

SPEAKER_04: 8:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 8:04

Versus then want to. And I think that is another gap. And that's that can be improved, but they have to have the desire to want to learn.

unknown: 8:13

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 8:13

And to take classes, not in product, because anyone selling a product is going to tell you how great it is. It's taking classes in the areas where you need advancement, where where you're weak, right? Where we need to increase our knowledge, our education, and our confidence. So I think the biggest part is having that desire to take and invest in advanced classes.

SPEAKER_03: 8:38

You make two really strong points there. The investment part is a big one. I also often see on social media and things, there's, you know, where can I find free education? Where can I find inexpensive education? And for all of our listeners that are out there, I mean, even if you're one of those people that have said that, you know, that's the old adage of sometimes you get what you pay for. And that that education is really important because you're really investing in yourself.

SPEAKER_01: 9:07

That's right. And that's the only way we can grow. Otherwise, we stay stagnant. And I also think, just to piggyback on that, I I think if aestheticians or anyone in the industry can further themselves by thinking of being their client's full skin story. Not just parts, but the client's full skin story. And I think that's another gap in our industry is that it's about protocols, it's about this product, it's about this trend, but being the client's full skin story. And I think that that can bridge that gap.

SPEAKER_03: 9:42

What are your thoughts on continuing education, even in the areas that you think you know really well? You know, estheticians might say, well, why would I go back and go over the layers of the skin all over again? Or, you know, the the cycle of the skin cell and those types of things. What are your thoughts on going back to the basics and reviewing?

SPEAKER_01: 10:09

Michelle, I would say that would be the most important in any class that I teach. I always go back to the basics because that's the part I find that students seasoned, new and seasoned, forget. It's not the fun part. They memorize things, they partly remember it from the state boards, but that is that is lost in the treatment room. And I'm making a generalization, but being in the continuing education aspect of education, you know, of the industry, I I clearly see where pH is. Most aestheticians don't know the pH of skin. And if they do, they guessed it and they don't know why it is. So there's a gap there, and it it's going back to the basics and basing everything they do on, and I and I teach this as well. What are you doing? Why are you doing it?

SPEAKER_04: 11:03

Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 11:04

Is it working or isn't it working? And you base that on the foundation.

SPEAKER_03: 11:09

We do uh I often do an activity with students, and when I tell seasoned aestheticians and people that are doing this, they're like, it's almost like a light bulb goes off. But I say, take a very extensive consultation form, even if it's one that you don't use, and go through it and go through every single question that's asked, and then write a note what why am I asking this question and what does it mean to the client? So if the client were to say, well, why do you care if I have high blood pressure?

SPEAKER_01: 11:39

Right.

SPEAKER_03: 11:40

Answer that. And it's almost like light bulbs go out because they think, I don't know, why am I asking that?

SPEAKER_01: 11:47

And I it's we align so well here because that is what I teach as well. What are you doing? Why are you doing? No point in asking something if you don't know the answer, right?

SPEAKER_03: 11:56

That's exactly right. Yes. Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 11:58

And so it is, and those questions, those important questions, are the basis of what we do in the treatment room.

SPEAKER_04: 12:05

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 12:06

So that's lost too. Consultations. True, in-depth consultations are lost. Yes. And that will bridge the gap as well of elevating the industry if aestheticians took it beyond just the protocol for treating the symptom.

unknown: 12:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 12:21

Because it's easy to say, here's what I do, and here or here's how I do something, but to actually know what you're doing and why you're doing it. Is all the thing. So, Gina Marie, what changes have you observed from the individual who becomes an aesthetician today versus 20 or 30 years ago?

SPEAKER_01: 12:39

The average skincare company has over 52 products in their line.

unknown: 12:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 12:45

That's the average. Some have over 200.

unknown: 12:48

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 12:48

So the confusion of what products to use, how to use them, how to understand them, when remembering the aesthetician doesn't usually, okay, a generalization, doesn't have that strong science base.

SPEAKER_02: 13:00

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 13:01

So now we're trying to figure out what product do I use and who's telling us to do it.

unknown: 13:06

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 13:07

So it's the confusion and it is the amount of products and the opinions that are out there now that I think have been a detriment to our industry and to elevating our industry and then throw in medical aesthetics. That is a whole nother and a whole nother realm of changes happening. And change is good. We only grow through change and innovation. However, it's becoming more difficult and more confusing.

SPEAKER_03: 13:38

Well, and the first part of what you said ties back to a point that you made earlier, as well as, you know, knowing what you're using, what you're doing, and why. With product selections and and large choices out of even if it's just one product line that you're using, what I've often found is someone says, Oh, okay, you have oily skin, I just pick the oily skin products. You have dry skin, I pick the without truly knowing why. Why have you why have you done that?

SPEAKER_01: 14:10

And they don't. That that is the sad part. And I I always say this as well. Who's we are all teachers? Everyone is a teacher. You know, the moment you open your mouth as a professional aesthetician, you're teaching your client.

SPEAKER_04: 14:23

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 14:24

So are we teaching the right information or the wrong information? And who taught us? Right. You know, it goes into the case.

SPEAKER_03: 14:31

That's a great point.

SPEAKER_01: 14:32

Who taught us? And so going back a few questions, how do we bridge that gap? It's through education. We can't just say, well, my teacher taught me that. It's about figuring that puzzle out. Skin is a puzzle. A skin business is a puzzle. It's figuring those that puzzle out, taking those pieces, putting them together, and saying, okay, now what makes sense?

unknown: 14:56

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 14:57

Is this right? Is it not right? I think that the key is bringing it all together.

SPEAKER_03: 15:03

And I think what you just said definitely ties into, you know, what is right, what is not right, but asking those questions to whoever is educating you. You know what? If you're gonna tell me that, oh, this increases collagen production in the skin, if you really know how the skin functions, the question should be how does that work? And it'd be it's it's interesting to see some of the answers that you get, depending on who you're asking.

SPEAKER_01: 15:31

Right. As adults, we stop asking why.

unknown: 15:34

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 15:35

Children ask why all the time. That's how we learn is by asking why. As adults, I think that begins to wane a bit because we are not feeling the confidence. Yeah. So we pretend that we know what we're doing when we really don't or we're not quite sure. And what makes us feel relevant, so again, what lacks is relevancy and confidence in the industry. It's feeling that confidence. We're relying on other people to tell us what to do.

SPEAKER_03: 16:04

And why do you think that why do you think that is? Because you would almost want to assume that the the older we get, the more mature, sophisticated, whatever it may be, that we should be, we should rely more on ourselves, we should feel more confident. I'm with you. I I am with you. Why are we, why are we not asking the questions? Why are we not feeling that confidence? What are your thoughts?

SPEAKER_01: 16:29

We're too busy, there's too much noise. There's too much noise out there, and we want to do the right thing, I believe. And I can include myself in this. You know, you want to take the time, you want to learn more, you want to advance yourself, but we are extremely distracted, extremely busy, and it takes discipline and commitment. And I believe that all of us want that. Every aesthetician, you don't go to school, you don't open a business, etc., without having that desire, but we're pulled in many different directions. So it's it's really refining yourself and working on yourself to uh become the best version of yourself, right?

SPEAKER_03: 17:12

Right, right.

SPEAKER_01: 17:13

And then we teach that to other, we teach that to our clients.

SPEAKER_03: 17:16

Absolutely. Absolutely. Yeah. You know, and I was gonna ask you, you know, or I was gonna make the statement, but I think you just tied that in there as well. Everyone's looking for a quick fix or a quick answer. You know, I want to be trained, but I want to do it in 30 minutes. I want something quick and easy. And I, you know, I was gonna say, you know, where does that come from? But I think you nailed it with we're so busy and there's so much noise. There's so much going on that when was the last time you sat down and opened a skin physiology book and read a chapter?

SPEAKER_01: 17:47

And pay and can pay attention to it.

SPEAKER_03: 17:49

And can pay attention to it, yes.

SPEAKER_01: 17:50

Throw that in too. Yeah. The ability to be able to focus.

SPEAKER_04: 17:55

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 17:56

It's it's difficult. And it goes back to that relevance, right? What's making our industry relevant? Is it social media books? That's right. It is, and so when the aesthetician, this licensed professional, finds their relevance by what social media is saying, and there's pluses to social media, of course. But when they are finding their relevance there, how how can you compete with that? Yeah, and how can you feel confident? Yeah, because there's so much noise.

unknown: 18:24

Yep.

SPEAKER_03: 18:24

I recently had a conversation with a young aesthetician. She's been out of school, not very long. I'm I'm maybe six months. And she's like, I just, you know, I'm on Instagram, I'm on Facebook, I'm doing all these things, and I'm just not building my business. And I looked at her and I said, You are not going to build your business on social media. That is not how you build an aesthetics business. And you know what? Gina Marie, she literally stared at me like, Well, what do you mean? That's that's what everybody does. I'm like, no, that's that's not. And so for all of our listeners that are out there, it's it's almost like back to old school. It's it's personal connections.

SPEAKER_01: 19:02

It is back to old school, and it's so funny. I was talking with a seasoned aesthetician last week, and she said that. She said, it's just going back to old school. And I said, That's that's the phrase. So it's funny we should say that today. Yeah, it is, and no one really likes that because we don't think of ourselves as advanced.

SPEAKER_03: 19:20

Correct.

unknown: 19:21

Correct.

SPEAKER_01: 19:22

Then they think, oh, we're old-fashioned, oh, we're not trendy enough, we're not innovative. No, the old school is once again the science of skin.

SPEAKER_02: 19:30

Right. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 19:31

It's the science of skin. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 19:33

Yep. I heard uh I was at a presentation over the weekend, and one of the speakers, she was talking about all her in her treatment room and her consultations and how she does everything digitally and on her iPad and all this stuff. And I'm thinking to myself, gosh, we're still using consultation forms that you're right on.

SPEAKER_01: 19:52

I mean, we screenshot them and we save them, but I'm like, oh my gosh. It changes. And you know, we need to change, but there's something about a consultation too, that going back to how do we bridge that gap, that knowledge of sitting across the table or the desk or whatever with the client and having that conversation versus them laying on a treatment table and asking them very quickly. It's having that dialogue, making that connection with the client, right? And saying, okay, tell me what's happening here.

unknown: 20:26

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 20:27

What are your concerns? What's your health? What's your lifestyle like? And let's put this all together and figure a plan out. Be that client's, again, that client's full skin story.

unknown: 20:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 20:39

And that's a that's a communication issue in general. Yes. The ability to make eye contact, to look at somebody in the face and and have a conversation with them. I feel that I can't stand my paper, people say, oh, COVID, oh COVID, the whole COVID era. Right. It's hard to believe it was five years ago. But our ability to communicate shifted dramatically. And for our younger aestheticians and newer aestheticians, some of them went to school and learned on mannequin heads. Exactly. I mean, talk about a bridge to gap right there. That's a huge one.

SPEAKER_01: 21:17

And social media. Right. It's called social, but really it's antisocial.

SPEAKER_02: 21:22

Right, right.

SPEAKER_01: 21:23

So again, I'm not against social media. There's so much value to it in many ways, but the ability to communicate that that is lost.

SPEAKER_04: 21:32

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 21:32

And and it's very hard to succeed.

SPEAKER_04: 21:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 21:35

And keep another problem is keeping that client retention if the communication skills are not solid.

SPEAKER_03: 21:42

No, in our profession, I mean the greatest form of communication is human touch. And that's what we do. That's what we do. That's I mean, that's what our business is all about. So we we've got to get back to that. We've got to get back to that, all those forms. Yeah. Did you know that Dermoscope is celebrating 50 years this year? Founded in 1975, Dermoscope has been bringing skin professionals the best in continuing education for half a century, with more to come. Follow us on social media at Dermascope on all platforms. Subscribe to the print magazine at www.dermoscope.com backslash subscribe and tune in to the aesthetic report weekly to stay in the know on our semicientennial calendar. Celebrate 50 years with Dermoscope in 2025 and join us as we usher in 50 more of the best generic, non-branded education in the industry. So let's talk a little bit about the skin. It seems like new, I guess, quote unquote, poreless skin trends pop up every day. But you define healthy, resilient skin a little differently. What do professionals sometimes misunderstand about supporting skin health?

SPEAKER_01: 23:04

Well, we're going back to trends. So, you know, the idea of being all natural, inner beauty, that's kind of gone to the wayside now. Now we use other words, poreless, glass skin, flawless skin. Well, flawless has been around for a while, but the poreless, the glass skin, although they may be the same thing in theory, and I've given a lot of thought to this because it's very trendy right now. I believe that it creates confusion. It's a way to market. That's the part. So now everyone wants glass skin, poreless skin. So now it's it's another way to market products in there and more products. Remember, the average skincare company has over 50 products. So now we need A, B, C, D, and then we do this, and then we do that, and then once a week we do this. There's no such thing as in science, poreless skin, glass skin. I I know what they mean by that, but there's no such thing. We skin is a reflection of everything happening internally. So that's where for aestheticians, licensed professionals, we need to differentiate ourselves. And I I think that is a huge problem. We can't keep up with that. We have to be able to say, I understand, I hear what you're saying, and I know what you want, and we're gonna work on that. But we also have to explain to them, you know, what they're saying is natural beauty. Well, we all want that, but natural beauty is how healthy we are.

unknown: 24:37

Right.

SPEAKER_03: 24:38

And that can become that can become an issue for a professional if their training comes from someone who says, This is glass skin, this will give you glass skin, these products will give you glass skin.

SPEAKER_01: 24:51

So it becomes about products, not about skin.

SPEAKER_03: 24:54

Right.

unknown: 24:54

Yep.

SPEAKER_01: 24:54

There's the difference. That's the thing.

SPEAKER_03: 24:56

Yep. And you you said a statement earlier that I say all of the time, the science doesn't change, the physiology of the skin has never changed, it will never change. It just is what it is. I mean stick to that. That's right.

SPEAKER_01: 25:13

So you stick to that, you can't go wrong. No, that's exactly right. You deviate from that, now we risk compromising and contraindications. Yep. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 25:22

We could go back and pull up our old aesthetics textbooks, and I guarantee you the physiology chapter is exactly like the new ones.

SPEAKER_01: 25:29

The same skin chart, and they don't have one for a man, one for a woman, one for a baby, one for your face, one for your same.

SPEAKER_03: 25:37

Right, right, right. That's so true. That's so true. So, Gina Marie, the skincare line, yes, has stayed intentionally small in terms of product count. What advice do you have for aestheticians who feel pressured to do it all, carry it all, you know, in and involve themselves and enthrall themselves in these 52 count product lines?

SPEAKER_01: 26:01

My advice is you cannot do it all. That is the truth. You can't. Um, you can carry a variety of different product lines, you know, a multiple amount of products. It will never, and these are strong statements, it will never set you up for success. The consumer is already confused. The professional is confused. And so when you add those two together, we lose our credibility. Now remember, we're licensed, right? I mean, these we are the experts. We should be the masters in skin, the experts in skin. We lose our credibility, our clients don't trust us, we cherry pick, it makes no sense. And you mentioned like ingredients, I'm gonna use hyaluronic acid because that's such a it's such a great ingredient, I feel, from a product developer standpoint. But formulations are made to work together. And although one brand might have hyaluronic and we might have hyaluronic, it doesn't mean that there cannot be contraindications. So it's not about sales, it's really about understanding how a product line works. Less is better. And so I just think that we can't compete.

unknown: 27:20

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03: 27:21

You said also, you know, the consumers confused, the professionals confused, and that started, that is 100% true. But what I noticed, and I'm gonna say 20 years ago, 15, 20 years ago, the consumers' marketing in skincare like blew up. And this was not even just professional skincare. This was, you know, what was the, you know, the beauty magazines and Skin Beauty and Cosmo and Vogue and so and advertising on TV. So consumers became so savvy. And that I remember at that point still even being in the treatment room a little bit, and more often with with students and with clients, and consumers coming in and telling me what? Let me tell you. You know, they thought they knew more than we knew all the time. And you just hit the nail on the head. So that was an early shift, and now we've gotten to the point where they may know if we're not educating ourselves properly, but now everybody's so overwhelmed that we've kind of created this chaos on both sides. We need to settle down, settle down, and kind of pull it back in a little bit.

SPEAKER_01: 28:33

And I and there's one word that we use, and that's called simplify.

unknown: 28:37

Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 28:38

There is not a person out there, Michelle, I believe, in any aspect of our life that doesn't want a simpler life in today's world. All of us desire that. So for a licensed professional, that to me should be our number one goal is to help our clients meet their skin wellness goals in a way that is simple, truthful, and easy. Not just simple in the line, but that makes it doable. And although the client is so tempted to keep trying new things because we're inundated with this noise, this is where the communication comes in from the professional, is to keep letting them know why they're doing this, why we have value to them, why they need us, and how we're gonna help them along this journey. Skin is going to change. So we're here. We're here to help you step at a time, and this is how you do it.

SPEAKER_03: 29:33

And I I want, I would like to stress on that for all of our listeners, all of you that are out there listening and thinking to yourself that there, you know, you're caught in those areas. Oh my gosh, there is so much. What Gina Marie just said, what you just said about simplify. It's almost like I hope everyone listening just took a deep breath and and and gets that feeling that oh, I don't have to be everything and chaotic and crazy. I need to simplify. I need to simply know what I'm doing, and I need to take care of my client's skin.

SPEAKER_01: 30:04

That's absolutely it. Be able to communicate, know it, do it, communicate. That's perfect.

SPEAKER_03: 30:11

I love that.

SPEAKER_01: 30:12

It is. And and we will all feel less pressure. And even though we're afraid, the industry is afraid to do that because they feel they won't have that relevancy to keep up. You can never keep up. So if we can understand that you can have such a successful business.

SPEAKER_03: 30:30

Because what that will also do is build your confidence. Yes. So the keeping up part, don't worry, you won't even worry about it. It's going to build your confidence in what you do in your space.

SPEAKER_01: 30:40

Right. You can't, they don't even know what I am supposed to use this for, what ingredient is in here, what is this skin type? It's confusion. And that's back to the cherry picking.

SPEAKER_00: 30:49

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 30:49

And that opens up skin problems. So, you know, it's I always say we don't have a skin problem issue right now. We have a product problem.

unknown: 30:57

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 30:58

And that's a great statement. That's another thing. Yeah, we that's a whole nother thing. The sensitized skin, all that's taking place with problematic skin, it really, in my opinion, is a product problem.

SPEAKER_03: 31:08

Yeah, that's a great statement.

SPEAKER_01: 31:09

Too much.

SPEAKER_03: 31:10

Yep.

unknown: 31:10

Yep.

SPEAKER_03: 31:11

So what is next for Gina Marie and for your work in 25 and 26? What do you have going on?

SPEAKER_01: 31:19

Well, so I can't believe we're almost at the end of 2025. I know. It's it's almost here. So we launched our science, simply science, skin and business mastery assessment program, if you will. And it's something that we created, my team, in having professionals, licensed professionals, fill out an assessment in the skin entity and in their business entity, and rating themselves of how they feel they're doing in certain areas. One being really needs improvement. Five, they're thriving. So in key areas such as analyzing skin, consultations, uh, retaining clients, mission statements, putting a business plan together. So we created this, the or two separate assessments, and then the professional submits it. We give them some tips on where to improve in those areas, and we have now offered 30-minute free coaching. And so this is kind of my baby, Michelle. This is what I love, like this next chapter in my business and in this industry is I think coaching is what is needed based on truth. They need help, new and seasoned, they need help, and with medical aesthetics coming in in a very strong way. It's been around for a long time, but it's shifting with nurse practitioners, and I'm not saying this is good or bad, but we better elevate ourselves.

SPEAKER_03: 32:50

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_01: 32:51

Okay. States are changing what's allowed, what aestheticians are allowed, because now nurse practitioners, our ends, are coming in. So the exciting part is we created this assessment. It is a lot of information for us to see where the industry is at. Some incredible feedback of where people are struggling. And moving forward to 2026, which I am so incredibly excited, we are launching our Simply Science Skin and Business Mastery Conference for licensed professionals. And my goal is this will kick off in January. Uh, my goal is to have it be a two-day, one day in skin mastery. So they get personalized coaching, they put a plan into action, they get some hands-on, they get to be with like-minded individuals so they have that support. And then the second day is the business mastery, which is a whole nother entity that is lacking because we didn't go to school for business, right? Most people. So they're trying to blend those. And then I feel very confident that within those two days we can give them something solid, practical, and strategical that they can go off and make a great career.

SPEAKER_03: 34:09

That is so I am excited for you. That's fantastic. That's fantastic. I can't even tell you. You know what else? I what I really love about this too, and and you clarified it, in a sense, you know, we keep throwing around, you know, there's a lack of accountability and people looking inward, and not even just in our business, just in life in general. Just in life in general. And with both of your assessments, you're making people look inward. First at them, at their their knowledge, their their skin, you know, that component, second at their business themselves. But now what you're doing is you made the comment that, you know, the conference will be, you know, they're with like-minded people, but even more importantly, they're in a safe environment. Right. Because they're coming to you because they don't know. They they need that information. So there are other people there, and it's it takes away that that feeling of, oh my gosh, am I good enough for this? Or what do I do? It's a safe place to say, you know what, I'm not aces. I need some help with this. Right.

SPEAKER_01: 35:14

And I think we get to a point in life where, and I maybe as we age or how badly we want something that says, okay, I'm gonna ask why.

SPEAKER_04: 35:24

Yes.

SPEAKER_01: 35:24

And I I also say this, Michelle, how do we know where to go if we don't know where we are?

unknown: 35:28

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 35:29

We have to be able to sit and think, where am I at and where is it that I want to go? People went into this industry with a dream.

SPEAKER_04: 35:38

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 35:39

With a dream of succeeding, with a dream of helping people feel good, look good, whatever it was. And I can tell you through these assessments and continuing education, and wait, and decades of experience. Yeah, yes, we're decades, yeah, that they're lost.

SPEAKER_04: 35:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01: 35:58

So many are lost, and I think it's incredibly sad that all their hopes and dreams are just kind of like I have to get a real job. Right. I can't afford to make it in the industry. I do it part-time, I keep up my license, but I just can't do it. Yes, yes, I want to change that. I and I feel and I we've been doing this, but I really am excited about 2026. I don't like for time to go fast, but I'm ready for January. I can tell you that.

SPEAKER_03: 36:25

That's it. Congratulations. That is that is really, really exciting.

SPEAKER_01: 36:28

I'm hopeful people will want to invest, though, right? That that's the other part in that education and advancement.

SPEAKER_03: 36:34

So that's fantastic. Good for you. I'm excited for you. That's great. And I'm excited for all of our listeners that are listening. So, Gina Marie, how do people find you? If we've got listeners out there that are like, oh my gosh, I I need her. I need her. How do they find you?

SPEAKER_01: 36:51

So they can go to our website and learn about us, which is Gina Marie Products with an SFPN.com. Perfect. Our social media certainly can message us there at Gina Marie Skincare.

SPEAKER_03: 37:03

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

SPEAKER_01: 37:05

And then they can call us and set up a time to talk.

SPEAKER_03: 37:08

Oh, and actually talk to somebody.

SPEAKER_01: 37:10

They can talk to somebody.

SPEAKER_03: 37:11

I love it.

SPEAKER_01: 37:12

We do answer our phones and we do return phone calls.

SPEAKER_03: 37:15

Yes. So before I end my podcast, we do have a game to play, but before we move on to that, is there anything that we did not talk about? Is there anything that I missed in questioning or asking you that you want our listeners to hear or to know?

SPEAKER_01: 37:31

Well, I think I think we covered everything, but I would like just to reiterate that you can simplify your treatment room and be successful. Don't be afraid. Clients will tell you what they want. Well, that's why they're coming to us. We have to listen. It's our job then to tell them what they need. And part of that that we did not touch upon is home care. And that's really a whole nother entity. But we our industry is not very good at retail, never has been.

SPEAKER_02: 38:01

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 38:02

And I don't know how anyone can improve the health of their skin without taking care of it at home. So we need to step up our game and our industry and say, okay, prescribe. Not recommend. Not try to sell. We're not salespeople. Right. And no one should ever be pushy. We're licensed.

unknown: 38:22

Right.

SPEAKER_01: 38:23

We're licensed professionals. We need to guide, we need to lead our clients and work with them along that journey.

SPEAKER_03: 38:30

Absolutely. Absolutely. That's awesome. That's wonderful. Okay, so our game is called Industry Mad Libs. Remember Mad Libs.

SPEAKER_04: 38:40

Oh my God.

SPEAKER_03: 38:42

See, I just I dated both of us just now by saying that. And I never was doing that with my kids in the car. So please. I know. So I've got I have I have six questions. So I'm gonna start the sentence, and there's there's one or two empty blank spots. And your job is to fill in that spot as quickly as you possibly can without giving it much thought. Okay. I know I I I love this end of this because I'm not the one put on the spot. It's always you.

SPEAKER_02: 39:12

It takes me time, and I'm really competitive. Oh no. It's like, let me get it. Don't cut me off. But all right, we might be here for a while. So let's do my question number one.

SPEAKER_03: 39:23

The most overrated skincare trend right now is Well, I'm gonna say glass skin. Okay. Number two, every aesthetician should invest in blank before they splurge on blank.

SPEAKER_01: 39:40

I'm going to say a simplified product line. Lots of words there, but a product line.

SPEAKER_03: 39:46

No, yep, before they splurge on the other. Got it. The industry would change overnight if more professionals. Oh, went back to the basics. I I could answer that one for you, yes. If I could ban one thing from the skin world, it would be scrubs. The quickest way to earn client trust is communication and knowledge. And the future of aesthetics depends on education. Yeah. Education. Look how fast you answered those. See, you did it. You got this. Thank you. Yes. Gina Marie, thank you so much. This was has been just a fantastic 45 minutes together. And um, for all of our listeners out there, I I know we say we're old school and and we are, but things are changing. And as fast as they change, some things say exactly the same. And that's what we're going back to. And take a deep breath, everybody out there. Simplify, get some solid education, and um reach out to Gina Marie if you need some support. Gina Marie, thank you. Thank you so much for your time. This was wonderful. Thank you so much. All right, everybody. Thanks for being with us. This is Michelle Deallard Brenner and another issue or session of the Aesthetic Report. We'll talk to you real soon. Take care.

SPEAKER_00: 41:07

Thank you for listening to the Aesthetic Report. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts so you'll never miss an episode. If you love the show, leave a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and tell all your SD besties to give us a listen. And don't forget, the education doesn't stop here. The Aesthetic Report is one of many platforms offered by Dermascope. Visit Dermascope.com for more education and industry news from the Authority on Professional Skin Care. Stay tuned and we'll see you next time for another episode of the Aesthetic Report.