Dr. Partee, the dean of our cosmetology program (and acting Vice President of Continuing Education Division) visited our class tonight!  The class invited Dr. Partee to discuss our ideas on fieldtrips and other ways to enhance the experience of our clients.  We were so enthusiastic and passionate about sharing our thoughts and ideas with the Dean!  We look forward to working as a team to better our clinic and school and make it even more wonderful than it already is!

Our class had the pleasure of meeting Jenefer Palmer, the founder of Osea skincare from Malibu.  Jenefer shared her passion for natural skincare through stories of her German ancestry … her grandmother (first female chiropractor in U.S.!) who swam in the ocean to experience it’s healing properties!  Osea’s products are completely natural — with the main, active ingredients being different types of algae.  Jenefer shared her knowledge of ingredients, product labels, costs in production and pricing and myths in advertising.  We loved her products and she showed us the actual algae used in the products.  Jenefer — we really enjoyed your enthusiasm, inspirational stories and your products of course!

Dr. Paveloff, an ophthalmologist and also medical director of Sbia, a medical spa in Santa Barbara, gave a presentation on eye muscles, bones, nerves, disorders and eye cosmetic surgery (blepharoplasty and eye brow lid.)  With charisma and a vast knowledge of the eyes, Dr. Paveloff explained in detail the facial bones and muscles, all the while giving us the funny faces to demonstrate different muscles — the platysma funny face was the best.  Knowing this information is not only important for taking the State Board Exam, but being a better and more knowledgeable esthetician.  As Dr. Paveloff reminded us, more and more estheticians are assisting and working side by side with plastic surgeons of different specialties so it’s important that we understand the facial muscles and bones.  Thank you Dr. Paveloff for visiting our class and sharing your wisdom!

Julie from Skin Essentials in Montecito visited our class and did a demonstration of her Ultrasonic and oxygen machines — it was so interesting!  Heidi, a day esthetician student, was the lucky candidate to experience the facial and her skin looked fantastic post facial.  Julie has been an esthetician for 20 years and knows so much about the industry.  She is also having an advanced esthetics class in August teaching new estheticians about the newest technologies.  Julie’s spa in Montecito is a medical spa offering more medical type treatments like botox and fillers, but as the esthetician, she focuses on microdermabrasion, peels and effective facials.  Thank you Julie for visiting our class — we learned so much and really enjoyed listening to your wisdom!

A very good friend and my former esthetician classmate, Maggie Lang, demonstrated an Aveda style facial to my class!  Maggie works as an esthetician and massage therapist at the Walter Claudio Aveda Salon and Spa downtown and she talked about the Aveda products and philosophy.  I think our favorite part was the aroma journey and some new face massage techniques.  Maggie says of the Aromatherapy, “Opening and Closing Rituals: Aveda uses aroma to customize and connect with the client and set the tone and intention for the treatment: relaxation and healing.  The closing ritual gives a feeling of completion and prepares the client to re-enter a more energetic state of being. ”

Now Maggie gets to visit again, this time getting a facial and sharing feedback with her student esthetician!  Thank you Maggie for your warm, caring and funny demeanor as you taught us some cool tricks of the trade!  Next time can you bring us some of that yummy Aveda Tea?

After studying skulls, we needed something a little lighthearted … we made homemade body scrubs!  Only in esthetician school can you go from studying the facial skeleton to making body scrubs!  It is school, but hey…it’s beauty school and sometimes it’s just down right fun!  Our classroom smelled like a spa with all of the essential oils floating in the air from the scrubs.  We used jojoba oil, glycerin soap, sugar and an array of essential oils from ESPA (I got from Italy!).  Each student went home with a uniquely made body scrub!  Part of the activity was also to name the scrub based on it’s scent and students came up with great names! These are some of my faves …

Janel — Red Bliss                    

Kiz — She Wore Lemon

Chantrell — Seductive Nature

Serina — Malakai

The Esthetician Class would like to THANK Professor Blake Barron at SBCC!  He’s loaning model skulls and arms to our class as we learn the anatomy of the face, neck and arms and hands.  Having these models helps the learning process so much and we have to know this stuff for State Board!  At this point, I think you could quiz my class on the Cranium and Facial Skeletal Bones of the Face and they would Ace the quiz!  Despite it’s reputation for being one of the hardest and longest chapters … we are really enjoying learning about the bones and muscles in the face!  This is the coolest stuff!  For the next few weeks we will be “dissecting” the anatomy chapter, bit by bit, memorizing all!  July 21st Dr. Paveloff will be speaking with the class about Blepharoplasty and eye muscles and bones and July 28th Dr. Aguilar is visiting the class to discuss science and technology in relation to skin and Dr. MacKenzie will be visiting our class in August to discuss facial anatomy and pre and post op for plastic surgery students.  In June we had the extreme pleasure of meeting Dermatologist Dr. Stewart who lectured on skin diseases — it was so fascinating and helpful in understanding the skin!  Thank you Docs for your wisdom and taking the time to share with us!

Last week, our class had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Louise Stewart, who is a well-known dermatologist in Santa Barbara.  She was extremely knowledgeable and delightful.  She presented on skin disorders  and skin cancer.  She had great illustrations/pictures also which were quite helpful!  She explained the differences between Acne, Rosacea, eczema and Psorias all of which can look the same if you don’t know what to look for.  Remember though, Estheticians don’t diagnose, we refer to Derms! … but it is credible and more beneficial to understand these conditions clearly!  Thank you Dr. Stewart for your time and passion with this science!

The class is currently learning about electricity and electric facials.  Last night Thea and Sujata from Mesoderm spoke in our class about the treatment.  The Mesoderm is a more modern version of the Galvanic and helps increase penetration of products and temporarily can decrease fine lines and wrinkles and hydrates beautifully.  The Mesoderm was developed by a doctor in Italy! and in Santa Barbara, it’s only available at Evolutions Medical Spa.  I have tried the treatment and love it!  Estheticians can administer this treatment, but the equipment must be purchased by a doctors office and the esthetician must be under the supervision of a doc.  Thank you Thea and Sujata for visiting our class!

I got an email today from Barbara that I thought was so funny (and yet so true) of the setting of Stateboards.  (And yes, she PASSED!) As far as her career path, let’s just say I think Barbara will be well-known for her facials in Hollywood amongst celebrities! Here is her funny letter describing her day at Stateboards:

Hi Melissa,
 Wow what an experience that was yesterday!!!!  At times I felt like I was getting in line to the gas chamber, especially when my model put on her gown!!!!  And then waiting for an hour and a half in a windowless room with no air (it was 100 in Glendale) for our results!!  I called the school to say I passed, it was sheer pleasure to do so. Barbara!