After the facial: turning a treatment into a routine

A client leaves a facial feeling good about their skin. The days after the appointment decide whether that feeling lasts, and a short take-home routine gives them a way to keep going. It also gives you an honest reason to talk about retail.

Keep it to three steps

Six steps is a lot to remember at home. Three is easy to remember and easy to write on a card. The routine below uses two guaiazulene products and one hydrating toner, all with no added fragrance.

1. EGF Blue Youth Activating Drop, first after cleansing. A watery serum with 10 ppm EGF, 10 ppm FGF, guaiazulene and adenosine at pH 5.5. It is made for visibly calmer-looking skin in about three minutes, a useful point for clients whose skin tends to look pink after a service.
2. Supple Preparation Unscented Toner, patted on after the Drop. Light, layerable hydration with centella asiatica, panthenol and sodium hyaluronate.
3. Midnight Blue Calming Cream, last. A lightweight gel-type cream with guaiazulene, centella asiatica and ceramide NP. Thin layers are enough.

In the morning, clients repeat the same three steps and finish with an SPF.

Before and after: how the conversation changes

Before: "We have a lot of great products up front if you want to take a look." The client hears a pitch and says no thanks.

After: "Your skin looks comfortable today. For the next week, I'd keep it simple: these three steps, in this order. I've written them on your card." The client hears advice from the person who just spent an hour with their skin.

Five habits that keep it helpful

1. Your aftercare comes first. Follow your own post-service protocol. This routine is for everyday care in the days that follow.
2. Ask before you recommend. "Would a simple routine for this week help?" gives the client an easy yes or no.
3. Write it down. Put the product names and the order on your aftercare card. Clients forget names by the time they reach the car.
4. Offer a starter size. The Drop comes in 10 mL ($12.99 MSRP), the toner in 30 mL ($13.00 MSRP) and the cream in 20 g ($12.00 MSRP), so a first try is a small step. Full sizes are 50 mL ($39.99 MSRP), 180 mL ($30.00 MSRP) and 60 g ($31.00 MSRP).
5. Check in at the next booking. Ask what they used and how their skin felt. That is your natural moment to restock.

If a client describes a skin concern that keeps coming back, refer them to a dermatologist and keep your own recommendation cosmetic.

Set up the room

• Keep one of each product on a small tray in the treatment room so you can show them at the end of the service.
• Pre-print the three steps on your aftercare card with space for your notes.
• Stock the same three together on the retail shelf, in routine order, so the front desk can find them fast.

At the counter: "For the next week, keep it to three steps: the blue drop first, then the toner, then the cream. I've written the order on your card."

Ready to build your take-home tray? Apply for a wholesale account or see case packs in the catalog.