Body of Work
American Spa. By Sonya Dakar. Photo: Alex Bramwell. While the skincare industry has progressed tremendously in the past decade, many spa-goers still focus only on the face. For years, my philosophy has been to treat the body as a whole and not just the face. Common sense dictates that if the face requires special care, then the rest of the body should be lavished with the same kind of attention. The skin is one complete organ, and it is the largest organ of the body. Without proper care from head to toe, it can become discolored, lined, and aged before its time.
Though it does protect us from the elements, skin is vulnerable and is the first thing affected by the environment and lifestyle. Dry weather, sun, wind, pollution, and lifestyle choices, such as smoking and an unhealthy diet, can cause changes in the skin, which can lead to redness, irritation, dryness, signs of aging, and more. It is important to address and treat these conditions. The problems that people experience on their faces are often the same ones they have on their bodies, and every part of the body can give away a client’s age. Taking care of the entire body and making it part of your clients’ daily skincare regimens is key.
Mistakes to Avoid
The top three errors I see spa professionals make are not properly educating clients about bodycare, not carrying the right products, and not offering enough options when it comes to bodycare. As an industry, we need to make sure we offer a variety of treatment options for the body, such as peels, fanny facials, and thorough exfoliations. We also need to ensure that the body treatments we offer provide the same skin-saving benefits as those offered for the face.