How to pick the best skin care line????? does anyone test professional lines?
I have done lots of research on different companies. the problem is, unless you know ingredients like the back of your hand, its hard to tell.
is their a company that tests and rates professional lines? if not , how do we tell?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marty Glenn on
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Mariah
You don't need to know ingredients like the back of your hand. It would help but...
Here are some pointers:
1. Look at their cleansers. If they have cleansers that have vitamins and or anti aging properties question it. You cannot have those ingredients with a soap, it is against chemistry.
2. Look for a line that does not do everything under the kitchen sink. Say has 4 - 6 active ingredients in one product.
3. When a skin care groups an entire product line based on one active ingredient, that is a warning sign that the lign is marketing driven.
4. Look for non fancy packaging. Packaging is expensive and if they have expensive ingredients then marketing is driving the line and maybe not so much the belief in the product line.
5. If there are over 40 ingredients and a lot of strange ones then it is private label most likely and maybe stay away.
6. If your just starting out look to the major players to start out with.
7. No minimum order. A skin care line that has no minimums cares about you and if not then they care about money. I do not bend on that and really believe that.
8. Ask if the line can be used with other lines, and they say NO, then think before taking the line on.
9. Free samples. Any line that cares will offer free samples to a specific point and will bend over backwards to help. There is no such thing as we are too big to offer help and support to the little guy.
10. Make sure they offer chemical peels as well. You want to develop a relationship that can carry you through your experience levels but this one is not a must have just an idea.
I hope these help. I could go on but maybe this is enough.
Marty
SkinCareScience.com
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Permalink Reply by coldsalineplexus on
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Hi Marty! As usual I agree with most of what you say here.
BUT I want to point out an unpopular opinion that sometimes a line having minimum orders can benefit their accounts. I don't think the $2k+, pre-recession minimums really benefit estheticians and spas any more, however as a business owner, I am attracted to lines that have a reasonable minimum opening order. For me that is $300-$500. I expect a line like this to still allow me to place a sample order first so that I can familiarize myself with the line before buying in. I also respect lines that have a minimum number of pieces per order or a minimum number of pieces per SKU. When there is absolutely no minimum of any sort, those tend to be the lines that I start seeing pop up in the lower-end salons, nail shops, and the like. Usually I will see 3-5 products from these lines on the shelf, sometimes only one or two pieces of each product displayed. What is happening here is that the hairdressers and nail techs who have no training in skin analysis or composing a homecare regimen are picking their favorite couple of products and selling them as a miracle cure for all of their clients. Without the help of an esthetician to evaluate the skin, select the proper products, and form a cohesive home care routine and instruct on usage, usually these products will fail to deliver, and clients will associate the line with disappointment, ultimately making it hard for me to sell. Not to mention the concern of having credibility lowered by virtue of product exposure in low-end establishments.
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I also disagree that a company must either care about customers or care about profits. In any industry, businesses exist to make money. Taking care of customers is imperative to turning a profit. Companies should want to help customers, not out of an altruistic sense of helpfulness (if that was their motive, they'd be volunteering at a soup kitchen instead of running a company), but because offering good service and developing good relationships with customers is profitable. In many cases, having no minimum order, no barrier to entry, can pull the rep's attention in too many different directions, ultimately hurting the amount and quality of attention that serious customers get.
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Christine
Your answers or thoughts I should say are based on your experience as a skin professional and not from the inner workings of a manufacture. Me not better then you but just life experiences.
Minimum orders within the skin care industry are to COMMIT you to the line. Nothing more...
Allow me to add - I have a policy of 9 months - 12 months for the period of time from Mfgr / FIll to end user empty bottle. This is VERY hard to do and I could go way off subject to make other points but let me be direct to yours:
If I make you buy a minimum you WILL have to buy what you cannot sell within your supply chain and it will sit. No matter what in most cases this is true. Although you have stated a $300 - $500 minimum as being ok but if I look at my most basic professional order $300 is easy to get to so is that really a minimum at all?
Allow me to go further: Most skin care lines to NOT manufacture for shrinkage. I do but it is a delicate balance. Shrinkage is what I call it when a liquid (creams especially) lose their water content and 'shrink' into the container. I am sure you have seen it. So while you are showing a great retail 'fronted' look, your products might be sitting longer then they should but again I am speculating so please don't shoot the messenger. This manufacture detail also must fall in line with the 9 - 12 month rule (This includes sitting on the distributors shelves as well).
Your paragraph below is in tune with honest business practices but here is something your missing: 80% if not more of all skin care companies are private label. The reason is it costs to much to develop a product line, have it mfgr'd, then have it sit on a shelf in a warehouse. Its chicken before the egg issue here.
Allow me to explain: What do you get first? The skin care professionals or the distributors? And how do you get either without a full fledged company? Think about all that goes into a MD / Professional line... All that has to be created before one single product is sold...Right? Most cut so many corners that it is impossible to care about the customer before the money in those cases.
Your last sentence in the above (directly above this post) post rings true to me and I would like to say that this is exactly the reason I say the skin care professionals need to take back their industry and not buy any lines that sell retail / sell online or private label.
If I am unclear on any points let me know. I will explain further.
Marty
SkinCareScience.com
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My cancellation policy exists to COMMIT my clients to my business. Does that mean I care more about my bottom line than I do about my clients? No, I care about both, which is why it is my responsibility to ensure that my time is being respected and compensated, so that I have what I need in terms of time and resources to deliver a high-quality experience to all those who do show up for their appointments.
You'd be amazed at the tacky little places that manage to get two or three professional items on the shelf and ruin a decent line for the rest of us. No, $300-$500 is not a hard order to make if you are actually a professional, running a business. BUT it weeds out people who are using their manicure license to get products for their mom'n'em without knowing how to even use them.
I do agree that in an ideal world I would be able to fully stock my studio with only products that are manufactured by the company, stripped of unnecessary ingredients, and only available through professionals. However we do live in a world now where many of our suppliers sell online. I think it's better to have a supplier who sells online at full MSRP and does not discount frequently, than one who allows their product to be all over Amazon and everywhere else at a huge discount. I actually prefer, if it's going to happen, that the manufacturer keeps it controlled and limited to their own site. Another thing I have been pushing for in the industry is MSRP's that are 120%-130% of cost, rather than the traditional keystone markup. I believe that the 100% markup is outdated in the world of post-recession increased expenses and decreased revenues.
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Permalink Reply by Tracy Hopkins on
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Could you please give a few examples of what you consider to be "true" professional lines of product? And do 80% of product lines come from these lines? When a product is private labeled is the formulation altered at all or is it the exact same product with a different label on it?
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Tracy
Who is the question for?
Marty
SkinCareScience.com
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OH! Anyone who'd like to reply. But I was hoping that specifically you would reply Marty. Thank you!
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Permalink Reply by DENISE BARBOSA on
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Hi Marty, great summary on skincare, I just learned a lot, what line would you recommend.to start.? Thank you
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Thanks Marty, That does help allot.
I have been using Dermalogica. I put in my opening order two years ago. I though I would be opening last year.
When I went to reorder they said I was welcomed to place it at salon services at the non member price 25% off retail. I had ordered things here and their through out the last 2 years but , not over 1000$ worth.
She said that I have to order 4000$ worth a year to get it at the 50/50 price. When I did the open order the sales lady said that it wouldn't be a problem if I wasent able to do the 4000$ and not to worrie. That was when the economy was really in the tank. Now that things are better they basically kicked me to the curb. I do like their products and the access to training. I do have a big problem with holding one person shops to a box store level. She new regardless of when I opened I would not be selling large amounts.
I like what you said about the thing a caring company would do. Dermalogica obviously dosent care about us, just the $.
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SKIN SCRIPT....best line as far as good basic products, no minimum, always get free testers with each item you order, free education....Always have little specials...always 5 bucks priority shipping...I do add from other companies like Control Corrective...Like to have "Super Star" products and "splash retail"....A lot of the big names are just that-all marketing with no care for the esthetician.....ALOT IS TRIAL AND ERROR, TESTING THE PRODUCTS ON YOURSELF AND OTHERS BEFORE ORDERING OPENING ORDER....
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Permalink Reply by Jodi on
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Choosing a line is trial and error...find what you want to treat/specialize in and go from there. If I could choose the line I use, I would pick Circadia hands down. I'm all about anti-aging and these products get the job done, and the education is superior. The treatment options are unique and effective as well. The retail products are results oriented. I know they have no minimum order. For now, I work for someone else, and am using a line I like for basic skin care, but feel isn't great for aging, which most of my clients want. Good luck in picking something you love!
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