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Professional Beauty
Professional Beauty


3 mins

Ask the experts

How can I make my beauty salon or spa more sustainable?

During my time working in the beauty industry, it became apparent early on that I was generating a lot of waste that would go straight into landfill. When I thought about all of the other salons generating the same amount of waste as me, day in, day out, it all started to feel very worrying. I wondered how on earth we were going to change this.

Like other salons, I had to close my doors when the pandemic began, and although there were very few benefits to this break, the main one was time to think about things. I knew I was going to reopen with eco-friendly changes already in place. The more I read up on the subject, the more I realised that becoming sustainable is not as impossible as it seems. I realised that it is better to start in a small way than not to start at all, and if everyone in the industry took small steps, this would make a huge difference collectively.

The perfect place to start is by joining the Green Salon Collective, as this allows for the recycling of materials used in treatments. The initiative recycles items such as used tint tubes and foil from gel-polish removal, and 100% of profits raised from recycling these raw materials goes to charity.

I’ve also changed from standard waxing to sugaring, which is entirely biodegradable, and the pots can be refilled rather than sent to landfill . And I've switched to biodegradable towels to reduce the salon’s laundry footprint. They are made from wood fibres and can go straight in to the bin, making it more hygienic for clients, while also preventing the towels from being washed at 90ºC. We also stock sustainable brands , such as Medik8.

No matter how daunting the task, it is better to change in small ways than to not change at all.

Liana Pert is owner of Liana’s Beauty Company in Cheltenham in the UK, and a member of the Green Salon Collective. She has more than 10 years’ industry experience.

What happens to the skin when it’s stressed and how can I treat it in salon?

Stress has a profound impact on the skin; when we are going through a stressful time, we see this physically reflected in the look and feel of our skin.

Evolving research is revealing a close relationship between the brain and the skin. When our bodies experience stress, the brain triggers the release of a specific set of hormones. The skin not only responds to the hormones released elsewhere in the body, but it also secretes them itself in response to the stress. Stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline act directly on the skin and can alter skin cell growth, increase sebum and inflammation, and impair skin immunity.

In the short term, stress hormones can be beneficial, helping us deal with perceived threats efficiently. However, with prolonged exposure to stress, the whole system becomes dysregulated.

One of the impacts of this is the sustained production of cortisol. Compounded over time, this can result in a dull, fatigued appearance and aggravated signs of ageing such as lines, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. It has also been directly linked to both the development and flare-ups of skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis.

Stressed skin can be soothed with relaxing treatments to help the mind unwind at the same time, but therapists and clients should combine active skincare products with targeted ingredients that treat the visible signs of stress. Antioxidants are crucial in helping to protect the skin from free radical damage and environmental aggressors. The new Environ Focus Care Youth+ Malachite-NP Complex Seriénce Night Serum is formulated with a powerful antioxidant, malachite extract, which is proven to boost skin immunity and defend against environmental stressors.

Incorporating specific peptides into a skincare routine can also help combat the visible signs of stress. Peptides in combination with antioxidants and de-stressors used at night can be an effective way to soothe stressed skin so that your clients wake up refreshed and radiant.

Dr Des Fernandes is the founder and scientific director of professional skincare brand Environ, where he researches and develops new products.

This article appears in the September/October 2021 Issue of Professional Beauty & HJ Ireland

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  COPIED
This article appears in the September/October 2021 Issue of Professional Beauty & HJ Ireland