Turning towards sustainability in esthetics will help your business stay relevant in the future. Environmental changes and more industrial structures being built are contributing to environmental damage. Moving towards sustainable practices will limit your carbon footprint, make clients healthier and safer, and reduce resource depletion. Here is a deeper dive into sustainability and how to implement it in your esthetician business. 

What Is Sustainability?

Sustainable practices can refer to many things, including reducing plastic use, slowing the use of natural resources, and taking action to reduce climate change. Sustainability means meeting your needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs. You will need to consider environmental stability and economic development when implementing sustainable practices for your estheticians.

How Sustainability In Esthetics Aids Your Business

While estheticians aren’t the biggest contributors to climate change or natural resource usage, they still provide products and services that could contribute. Most esthetician studios or spas will carry skincare or cosmetic products that need plastic packaging, labels, and more. Looking for refillable or minimalistic packaging is one way that estheticians can reduce waste. The makeup and skincare industry as a whole contributes lots of waste to the environment with bottles and microplastics that end up in landfills. 

Products can contain microplastics that can get in your drains or in waterways. Products like facial scrubs, body scrubs, and toothpaste will contain microplastics. These small beads may not seem like a big deal, but they can hurt marine life, plant ecosystems, plumbing systems, crops, and much more. One of the first steps to embracing sustainability in esthetics is to reduce microplastics in the products you produce or sell. 

Choosing healthier products will help improve the lives of your clients and your estheticians. More sustainable products use natural ingredients and will have biodegradable packaging. Not only will it help keep the surrounding environment clean, but it will also encourage sustainable customers to purchase skincare products. 

Brands With Sustainable Product Offerings

If you are looking for products to carry in your studio that are sustainable, here are some common options that will best serve your customers. 

• Lush- makeup and bath bombs that need no packaging
• Herbivore- packaging is made from recyclable glass and products are produced without using fossil fuels
• Welda- 75% of their ingredients come from biodynamic or organic farming. None of their packaging contains plastic
• Ilia- Uses recycled aluminum and consumer-recycled paper. Their prints on the paper are created using vegetable dyes. 
• Activist Skincare- Women-led brand that ethically sources ingredients and partners with sustainably-minded suppliers. Their glass skincare bottles can be refilled with their low-waste pouches. 

Creating A Green Esthetician Studio

In addition to products, making your studio or spa more sustainable will help make your business more well-versed in the eco-friendly space. Ensuring your building can last in the future with fewer resources will help your business stay afloat. 

Energy efficiency through lighting, appliances, and HVAC timers can help provide sustainability in aesthetics. Proper lighting and temperature are crucial to a good esthetics experience, but there are tools that can help you utilize just the right amount. Timers can shut off heating and cooling when no one is in the studio. Energy-efficient bulbs will utilize less electricity and don’t require fossil fuels to be crafted. LED lighting will save you money on energy bills and provide adequate light to complete guest services. 

Another way to reduce waste in your studio is to opt for reusable tools. Hygiene is key when it comes to esthetics, but some tools can be sterilized and reused rather than throwing multiple in the trash each day. The packaging on single-use tools could also be recycled or reused for another purpose to prevent waste. 

Long-Term Benefits Of Sustainable Practices

Working to implement eco-friendly practices will help your business remain relevant in the coming years. As the world moves toward more sustainable products and packaging, the companies you work with may not be able to provide the packaging you are using now. Sustainability will lead to cost savings for a business over time. Sustainability in all different types of businesses will be beneficial if they can lower their energy bills or monthly expenses to produce products.

Recycling reduces the need to buy new packaging each time you restock a product and limits waste in the landfill. Sustainability in esthetics is important to help clients feel good about supporting your business.

The Skin Institute is working to teach students sustainability, customer service skills, as well as the skills needed to complete esthetics services. Learn more about our classes on our courses page and see when you can apply!

The world of esthetics offers diverse career paths, allowing professionals to tailor their skills to their personal interests, work environments, and client needs. From relaxing spa settings to clinical medical aesthetics, the options are varied, and each path has unique rewards and challenges.

If you’re considering a career in esthetics but aren’t sure what career is best for you, keep reading to learn more about what the industry has to offer. 

Spa Esthetician: The Art of Relaxation and Skin Care

A spa esthetician provides relaxing, rejuvenating treatments. These estheticians work in spa settings to enhance clients’ skin health and well-being, often focusing on hydration, exfoliation, and other nurturing treatments. This is the perfect career path for individuals who love quiet, calm services like facials. You will always leave work feeling calm and collected. 

Common services include:

• Facials and specialty skincare treatments
• Body wraps, masks, and scrubs
• Aromatherapy and relaxation techniques
• Exfoliating and hydrating treatments

Medical Esthetician: Bridging Beauty and Health

Medical estheticians work in clinical environments like dermatology offices, plastic surgery centers, or specialized skincare clinics. These professionals often handle more advanced treatments than spa estheticians and work closely with doctors to address skin issues that require medical insight. However, it is important to note that not all states allow estheticians to perform these services, so it is best to check local cosmetology laws. 

Common services include:

• Laser treatments for skin resurfacing and hair removal
• Chemical peels for acne, pigmentation, and texture improvement
• Microdermabrasion and dermaplaning
• Pre- and post-operative skincare

Waxing Specialist: Precision in Hair Removal

Not all esthetic services will offer upfront results; in many cases, it may take several months to see differences in a client’s skin. If you’re looking for a career path that offers instant gratification, waxing is the perfect job for you. In this position, you can focus on hair removal services, often in high-demand fields such as waxing salons and spas. Some estheticians make this their primary career path due to the specific expertise and client loyalty that come with mastering waxing.

Common services include:

• Eyebrow shaping and facial waxing
• Bikini, Brazilian, and body waxing
• Consultation on hair regrowth and post-waxing care

Lash and Brow Specialist: Enhancing Features with Expertise

Many aspiring estheticians may be drawn to the lash lift and eyebrow makeover videos on social media. If you love these videos, this may be your best career path. In lash and brow specialist positions, you can perform lash lifts and extensions and eyebrow waxing, lamination, and tinting to help compliment your client’s natural features. In many cases, this can be performed as a standalone service through a salon that only offers these specific services. 

Common services include:

• Lash extensions and lash lifts
• Brow shaping, tinting, and lamination
• Eyelash tinting
• Lash and brow aftercare guidance

Makeup Artist: Highlighting Beauty with Skill

If you love watching makeup tutorials, purchasing the newest products on the market, and creating beautiful makeup looks, becoming a makeup artist is a great career path. Makeup artists work across various fields, from bridal and special events to television, theater, and fashion. In many cases, esthetics training gives makeup artists an advantage, as they deeply understand skin health and how to prep it for flawless makeup application. 

Common services include:

• Bridal and special event makeup
• Makeup for photoshoots, films, and runway shows
• Personalized makeup consultations
• Corrective makeup techniques

Skincare Consultant: Educating Clients on Healthy Skin Practices

If you love working in a retail setting, with the constant flow of customers and the potential to reach a much larger audience, working as a skincare consultant may be the perfect career path for you. In a role like you, you will help clients choose the best products and routines for their skin type and goals. In addition to reaching more clients, this role allows you to learn about a wide range of skincare products and brands. 

Common services include:

• Skin analysis and product recommendations
• Routine development for specific skin needs
• Product education and demos
• Ongoing skincare consultations and follow-up

Beauty Educator: Training the Next Generation of Estheticians

While in school, you’re exposed to many beauty educators. From the people who teach you every day to brand representatives, each of these individuals plays a major role in shaping the esthetician you will become. In some cases, they may influence your career path upon graduation. Many aspiring estheticians find themselves drawn to this path, interested in sharing their expertise with students, teaching practical skills, and preparing them for successful careers in esthetics.

Common duties include:

• Teaching classes on skincare, makeup, waxing, and more
• Mentoring students through hands-on practice
• Keeping up with trends to teach relevant skills
• Preparing students for licensure exams

Entrepreneurial Path: Opening Your Own Skincare Business

Working for someone else isn’t always the best career path for new estheticians, which is why becoming an entrepreneur may be best for you. In many cases, estheticians will start their career by working in a salon or medical spa for someone else before embarking on a journey to open their place. Through the entrepreneurial path, you can offer whatever services appeal to you and may bring on estheticians under you to grow your business. 

Common services include: 

• Spa or clinical esthetics services
• Product line development or partnerships
• Personalized skincare consultations

Explore Every Career Path at The Skin Institute

No matter what career path is best for you, our team at The Skin Institute is here to support you through your education and licensing process. Through our comprehensive basic and master esthetic courses, you can explore every path possible. We’re confident that when you choose to begin your journey with us, you’ll find your perfect career. If you would like to learn more about our courses, fill out our online contact form or call us at 435-429-2200.

Creating a soothing and relaxing esthetician studio can enhance the service experience. Estheticians already do their best to provide a relaxing experience, but making a calming studio can help new and returning clients feel serene. In this blog, we will share some tips on how you can create a studio that fits your personality but provides stress relief for all clients.

1- Find A Soothing Color Palette

Most spas or studios will choose a neutral color palette to create a relaxing space. Choosing a soothing color palette will make your customers feel safe, calm, and invited. Some color options that are best for promoting relaxation include baby blue, muted greens, earth tones, or other pastels. 

2- Incorporate Sound And Music

Nature sounds, white noise, and instrumental music are a great way to elevate your esthetician studio. Not only playing sounds in the lobby but also using spa music or nature sounds during a service will help to relax your clients. When getting a facial or massage, soothing music may be just what they need to put them deeper into relaxation mode or put them to sleep.

3- Natural Elements

Helping your esthetician studio to feel like an extension of nature can be done by including plant life, natural stone elements, wood, or natural-smelling essential oils. The last thing you want is for your studio to feel industrial or stuffy, so including natural elements will help it to feel like an extension of the outside world. Water features are also a great way to increase tranquility with their soothing sounds. 

4- Set The Mood With Lighting

Proper lighting is important for a home, workspace, or esthetician studio. Using natural light and artificial light to your advantage will help you manipulate the atmosphere of the space. Especially in a tranquil setting, using natural light in combination with soft light will put our minds and eyes at ease. 

Most esthetic services can be done with low lighting or almost in the dark. Using soft lighting lamps, string lights, salt lamps, candles, or small lighting can give you enough light to perform the surface while keeping the client in a relaxed state. 

5- Maximize Space With Proper Storage

Storage solutions are important for all businesses, but estheticians can benefit from good storage for products, tools, and sanitary equipment. Keeping the studio clutter-free will also contribute to the relaxing vibes you are hoping to achieve. A clutter-free space helps us to have a clearer mindset, which will make a spa or esthetician treatment more immersive. 

Hidden storage or modular storage are great options for an esthetician studio. Mobile storage will help you to have a more flexible work environment, and only bring along what you need. Using the right storage options helps transform a compact room into an attractive space, without compromising functionality. 

6- Incorporate Products As Decor

You likely have multiple products that you sell in your esthetician studio, so finding a creative way to display them can add the the decor. Instead of searching for art pieces or vases, try styling your products on the shelves or walls of the studio. This is also a great marketing tactic to help make the products more visible to clients. Seeing a product with appealing packaging could increase the likelihood of a purchase. 

7- Temperature Control

While it may not be possible to find an ideal temperature for everyone, there are ways to help keep everyone comfortable when visiting your studio. Maintaining a medium room temperature of around 69-72 degrees Fahrenheit will be appropriate for most people. You can keep blankets, space heaters, and warm towels around to accommodate clients’ needs as you provide them with a service. 

Start Your Esthetician Career At The Skin Institute

The Skin Institute In St. George, UT is the leading provider of new estheticians in the state. We accept Utah-based and out-of-state students who want to learn about the esthetics field. We take multiple cohorts each year in both basic and master esthetics. Come learn from some of the best about how to treat skin conditions, provide stress relief, and run a quality esthetician studio.
Whether you are looking to start your education, or just want to get a service done from one of our students, The Skin Institute is the place to be. Learn more about the services we offer to guests or when to apply to our next batch of classes.