As estheticians, we know that the winter months can be incredibly harsh on our clients’ skin—especially on the lips and hands, which are often more exposed to the elements. During this time, it’s crucial to offer specialized care for these vulnerable areas to help your clients maintain healthy, comfortable skin throughout the season.
Let’s dive into some effective professional treatments, product recommendations, and educational tips to ensure your clients’ lips and hands stay hydrated, protected, and nourished all winter long.
The Importance of Lip Care in Winter
Lips are particularly susceptible to dryness in colder months because the skin here is much thinner and lacks oil glands to retain moisture. This can lead to chapping, cracking, and even peeling, which can be uncomfortable and make clients self-conscious.
Professional Lip Treatments You Can Offer
One way to help your clients keep their lips soft and smooth is by incorporating lip care into your facial treatments:
-
Lip Exfoliation and Hydration: Consider adding a gentle lip scrub as part of your facial routine to remove dead skin cells and create a smooth surface. Follow this with a hydrating lip balm or mask that includes ingredients like shea butter, beeswax, or hyaluronic acid to deeply nourish the lips.
-
Lip Masks: Hydrating lip masks, rich in occlusive ingredients like lanolin and ceramides, are also great for locking in moisture. You can offer these as part of a lip treatment during facials or as an add-on service.
Product Recommendations to Share with Clients
-
Lip Balms with SPF: Even in the winter, the lips need protection from UV rays. Encourage your clients to use lip balms that provide both hydration and SPF to guard against sun damage, which can still be an issue on bright, snowy days.
-
Hydrating Balms: Look for lip balms that are rich in moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, vitamin E, and coconut oil. These will provide deep hydration and prevent lips from becoming cracked and dry.
Educating Your Clients
Beyond treatments, it’s important to educate your clients on proper lip care at home. Advise them to:
-
Apply lip balm regularly throughout the day, especially before heading outdoors.
-
Avoid habits like licking their lips, which can further dehydrate the skin.
Why Hand Care Needs Extra Attention in Winter
Frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizers, and exposure to the cold air can wreak havoc on the skin of the hands. This often results in dry, chapped, and sometimes even cracked skin. To help combat this, your treatments and product recommendations should focus on deep hydration and protection.
Professional Hand Treatments to Offer
Consider adding some indulgent hand treatments to your service menu:
-
Hand Masks and Wraps: Offer hand masks that are applied and wrapped in warm towels or mitts. These treatments allow the product’s hydrating ingredients, such as glycerin, natural oils, and vitamin E, to penetrate deeply into the skin, restoring moisture and softness.
-
Paraffin Wax Treatments: For a luxurious touch, consider offering paraffin wax treatments. The heat from the wax opens the pores and allows hydrating ingredients to sink in more effectively, leaving hands smooth and nourished.
Product Recommendations to Share with Clients
-
Rich, Non-Greasy Hand Creams: Recommend hand creams packed with ingredients like shea butter, urea, and hyaluronic acid to deeply hydrate. Emollients like squalane and occlusive agents like petroleum are excellent for sealing in moisture and protecting the skin from environmental stressors.
-
Overnight Hand Treatments: Suggest applying a thick hand cream before bed and wearing cotton gloves to lock in moisture overnight. This method is perfect for clients with severely dry or cracked hands.
Educating Your Clients
Clients should also understand the importance of consistent hand care during the winter:
-
Remind them to apply hand cream after each wash and before heading outdoors to shield their hands from the cold, dry air.
-
Encourage them to wear gloves when outside, especially when temperatures drop, to minimize exposure to wind and harsh elements.
Final Thoughts: Helping Your Clients Thrive in Winter
As estheticians, we have the unique ability to guide our clients through the challenges of winter skincare, ensuring their lips and hands stay hydrated and healthy. By offering specialized treatments and sharing valuable product recommendations, we can help our clients maintain soft, comfortable skin—even during the harshest winter months.
Make sure to remind your clients of the importance of self-care and consistent routines, and they’ll thank you for the relief and protection you’ve provided them all season long.