5 Minutes with Janine Tait, Founder of Bestow Beauty

With 30 years as a beauty therapist under her belt, Janine Tait re-skilled to study nutritional medicine and create Bestow Beauty, a range of organic superfood powders and oils that nourish the skin from within. She talks to PBS about the importance of looking at skin nutrition from within – and how it can make all the difference to your skincare therapy.

What is the philosophy behind the brand?

Bestow Beauty is a range of skin super foods, but it is much more than that. It is a philosophy and holistic approach for total skin and body well-being. We promote wellness in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of people’s lives. We support people in their positive lifestyle changes with skincare superfoods, self-care rituals and wisdom for healthy, beautiful living.

Why did you start Bestow Beauty?

Ten years into my career as a beauty therapist, I went through a crisis of confidence.  Despite using all the tools at my disposal I found that there were often times that I just could not get the results for my clients that I hoped for.  Skin disorders particularly became the elephant in the room that I didn’t want to mention, because I wasn’t confident that I could really make a difference. My frustration sent me on a quest for answers which led me to the woman who would become my mentor, Janice Sarre-Smith. Janice was decades ahead of her time in the way she treated skin holistically; she showed me the importance of working from within through skin nutrition and took a three dimensional approach to skincare which recognised that diet, environment, mental and emotional well-being were essential elements to consider alongside topical skincare and treatments. We now call this philosophy the ‘Slow Beauty’ way.

Is it true that our skin is a reflection of how we live our life?

The way your skin looks and feels reflects far more than the skincare products you use. Your skin also tells the story of the food you eat, the air you breathe, the alcohol you drink, the amount of stress in your life, your hormonal balance and the self-care practices you use to re-balance your mind and restore your soul. The journey to creating beautiful skin is actually a journey to creating a beautiful life.  

What are your daily rituals?

I meditate morning and evening for 30 minutes, which helps me to maintain a deep sense of balance and connection in the middle of my busy life.

I have a nourishing breakfast which always includes Bestow Beauty Oil. Most days I have a Bestow Anti-Ageing Smoothie which includes the following ingredients. 

• One fresh or frozen banana

• A small handful of spinach

• A sprig of mint

• 1 cup of coconut water

• 1 tablespoon of chia seeds

• 1 tablespoon of Bestow Beauty Powder

• 1 tablespoon of Bestow Beauty Oil

• A squeeze of lemon

Blend together. Optional - Decorate with toasted coconut, goji berries and chia seeds.

What is your personal favourite product from the range?

Together the Bestow Beauty Oil and Bestow Beauty Powder provide the key nutritional blocks for beautiful healthy skin.  I call them my Twin Skin Essentials and asking me to choose between them is like asking me which of my beloved nieces and nephews I love the most!

If pushed, I would say Bestow Beauty Oil is my favourite, simply because my skin just can’t cope without it. Bestow Beauty Oil offers a blend of cold-pressed organic flax seed and safflower oil, formulated to deliver the best balance of healthy fats for clear, glowing skin. It basically moisturises the skin from within. Whenever I have had to go for any length of time without taking Bestow Beauty Oil (which has only happened a couple of times) I start having all sorts of problems with eczema and other skin issues.

What has the feedback from salons been so far?

Therapists are excited to learn a new skill and to have another tool to help them treat their clients skins.  More and more therapists intuitively recognise that a holistic approach to skincare is really the only approach that works, so they are hungry for the knowledge and the tools that will help them to become the kind of skin health coach they desire to be.

Do you have any other tips?  

I’ve discovered that wellness rituals are just as important as wellness products. Unless you figure out how you are going to incorporate your Bestow skin food into your daily life, all that skin goodness will just sit on the shelf!  A daily smoothie is a great way to nourish your skin with raw food, leafy greens and your Bestow skin boosters all at once.

Like all wellness journeys, learning to live the Bestow way requires patience and dedication in the beginning, but it is truly a beautiful and rewarding way to live.

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Bestow Beauty offers a natural range of organic superfood blends which moisturise, nourish, purify and protect your skin from within. The skin needs a wide range of nutrients in order to thrive, heal and resist premature ageing. Bestow founder, Janine Tait, combined her two super-powers as a dermo-nutritionist and skin-health expert to develop the products and holistic skincare approach at the heart of Bestow.

To discover more about Bestow Beauty or to enquiry about becoming a stockist, click here.

Dermalux WINS ‘Energy Treatment of the Year 2017’ for the 5th Consecutive Year!

We are delighted to announce that Dermalux® has once again won ‘Energy Treatment of the Year’ at the prestigious 2017 Aesthetics Awards. This exciting win continues a five-year winning streak at the London-based awards where the LED treatment won ‘Best New Treatment 2013’, and ‘Treatment of the Year’ in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Recognition for excellence in medical aesthetics is so important and the Aesthetics Awards acknowledges and rewards practitioners, companies and organisations that endorse best practice, deliver outstanding customer service, demonstrate unprecedented skill and who uphold robust ethics in the field of aesthetic medicine.

More than 800 guests gathered at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London on Saturday 2 December 2017, to celebrate the incredible achievements of brands, clinics, practitioners, treatments and distributors in 26 categories across the entire industry. 

Dermalux beat out other commendable finalists, including Endymed, ULTRAcel, Dermapen, Accent Prime and CoolSculpting to claim the incredible title for the fifth consecutive year.

‘Energy Treatment of the Year’ is awarded to those considered to offer the best energy treatment in the UK, including evidence of good safety and efficacy, optimum duration and tangible benefits over similar treatments on the market. Dermalux was selected carefully by a mix of Aesthetics reader votes and judges’ scores in order to choose the treatment that fares well to all, from users to professionals in the industry.

The continued popularity of Dermalux LED Phototherapy as a results driven, non-invasive treatment choice (available in salons worldwide) is primarily due to the clinical efficacy, versatility, safety profile and unrivalled profitability that our systems provide. 

Dermalux founders Louise Taylor and Huw Anthony are incredibly proud of their hard work in making Dermalux LED Phototherapy worthy of winning these prestigious awards. Together with their international partners, they are looking forward to an exciting 2018 to continue to develop and move the brand forward.

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Dermalux® the leading, non-invasive treatment that harnesses the power of light for visibly radiant, rejuvenated and refined skin. Voted ‘Energy Treatment of the Year’ for 5 consecutive years, Dermalux® combines proven wavelengths of light with the latest generation LED technology to deliver clinically safe and effective results for a wide range of skin conditions without discomfort or downtime.

If you would like to learn more about Dermalux contact us at 1800 625 387 or submit a form today: www.probeautysolutions.com.au/dermalux/

Reducing Salon No Shows and Last Minute Cancellations

No-shows and late clients are an inescapable fact of life in the salon. The good news is that you are not alone. It happens to the best of the best, and it’s a problem that every salon occasionally has to deal with. Thankfully, there are ways to help eliminate (or drastically reduce) the number of no-shows you have:

1. Set up the Groundwork
   It’s always best to think proactively and stop a problem before it starts. To do that, you should have a clear policy in place for handling problem clients before you need to use it. Make sure your policy is posted on your web page, Facebook page, and online bookings page and that your clients have read and understand it. Then, stick to it! It may be difficult to turn away a client who shows up late, but if you don’t enforce your policy it becomes meaningless. If you say on your website that you’ll refuse service to anyone who is more than 15 minutes late, then do it. Typically, you only have to enforce the policy once for the client to realise you mean business and start showing up on time.
   

2. Send a Reminder
   Once you have your policies in place, the next step to preventing no-shows is to have an appointment confirmation procedure worked out. There are 3 main ways to remind your clients: Appointment cards, Text messages, Phone calls.
   Text reminders are so common these days that they are expected good business practice and customer care. Salon software suppliers offer this facility as standard. It’s easy to set up and can save you a fortune on last minute cancellations and no shows. If clients don’t confirm their automated reminder, actually picking up the phone to give them a quick call can be key – particularly for those clients who have been unreliable in the past. You can also take this opportunity to upsell other treatments or products to them while you have them on the phone.
   

3. Offer a Discount for Pre-Paid Services
   You’ll be surprised how much better your client’s memory is once they’ve already paid for their service – offer them an incentive to do so in the form of a discount or special if they pay beforehand. As a bonus, you’ll find your clients are far more open to splurge on other services or retail products if they’ve put the bulk of the payment behind them by the time they’ve walked through the salon door.
   

4. What to do When Clients Fail to Show Up
   If despite all of your efforts to confirm the appointment, a client still doesn’t show up, it’s important to contact them. This accomplishes a few things: first, you can make sure they’re all right and show them that you care for their well-being. Clients are less likely to no-show in the future if they feel they have a relationship with their service provider. Secondly, it can help diffuse any embarrassment they might feel if they simply forgot their appointment, especially when you tell them “I’m just happy you’re OK.” Then, after you’ve reassured them, you have an opportunity to reschedule the appointment and not miss out on the potential for future revenue. However, if you don’t make that call, chances are you’ll lose the client forever.
   

5. Know Your Rules
   You have to have a standard set of rules that you can’t break for any one client. If your policy is to charge no-shows, add the fee onto another bill or simply reschedule, consistency is key. You’ll lose credibility if you do something for one client, and something else for another.
   Remember that whatever policies and procedures you ultimately put in place, the best way to prevent no-shows and late arrivals is through outstanding customer service and quality. If you are known for the amazing work you do and the way you respect both your time, you’ll build a clientele that is loyal and respectful.

Salon of the Month - Narrogin Beauty Clinic

Congratulations to Amanda Gooley and the team of five beauty therapists at Narrogin Beauty Clinic for being awarded our Salon of the Month for December. Located in the country town of Narrogin, Western Australia, Narrogin Beauty Clinic offers a wide range of treatments including, facials, clinical peels, LED, tanning, makeup, manicure and pedicures, as well as waxing.

At Narrogin Beauty Clinic, it is their belief that everyone deserves to take time out from their busy lives and enjoy a moment to themselves, whether it be an indulgent treatment or regular maintenance.

“We strive to offer the best possible services and treatments in a relaxing environment”, explains salon owner, Amanda Gooley. “When you walk in the door, it becomes our mission to give you the best professional advice on quality skincare and all your beauty requirements.”

Having first stocked Youngblood 8 years ago, Amanda has since gone on to add Sunescape, Image Skincare, Cherry Blooms, Bestow, Wotnot and Dermalux LED which she describes as one of the BEST decisions they’ve ever made!

“Being from such a small community town, our clients have become like a family. We try our best to offer services and brands, previously only available in the city which is a 3 hour drive away. We believe and stand by everything that we offer in the salon and our clients see this and trust that we are providing them with the best products available. PBS has made it easy for us!”

On how to excel in customer service, Amanda and the team at Narrogin believe in continuous education and training, ensuring they offer the very best in client treatments and up-to-date customer education.  In addition to this, they try to have a point of difference in all treatments that they offer. “By going just that little bit further can really enhance your clients experience and can turn a simple brow wax into something special” says Amanda.

They also look after their regular and loyal clients by offering regular incentives, VIP clubs and pop-up ‘surprise & delight’ offers when they visit the salon. This has assisted them in keeping a loyal clientele base, encourages more frequent visits, plus increases customer referrals!

What makes Narrogin Beauty Clinic stand out from the rest are the VIP days and make up classes they run.

“We have recently hosted a number of Youngblood makeup classes where we gave all attendees a FREE Make Up Brush Roll. Our Youngblood sales after this were amazing! Our clients raved about the classes and are still asking when I will host another.”

In addition to this, Dermalux Package deals (including 3, 6 or 10 treatment options) have been hugely successful for the salon and have boosted their Dermalux sales immensely this year! 

Congratulations once again to Amanda and the team at Narrogin Beauty Clinic for your innovative events, packages and services you provide to the clients in your area. Here’s to your continued success in 2018!

7 Things to Look For in a Tanning Brand

Does one tan stand out above the rest? In Australia, spray tans are a sure thing, just like summer barbeques and day trips to the beach. But, with so many spray-tanning brands on the market, it can be difficult to narrow down which one to choose that you love. When your clients have a big event on the horizon, you don’t want to put your (and their) trust in the wrong tan!

Wouldn’t it be great to find your ultimate go-to brand that ticks all the boxes and achieves a flawless tan every time? Here are seven things to consider when looking for a tanning brand:

1. Does it contain natural DHA?
   The chemical DHA is used in tanning products to achieve a realistic bronze without the sun. But there are different types on the market, meaning your tan can differ depending on what you use. Inhaling DHA over time is not idyllic, so look for a brand using organic DHA as a safe option. Sunescape only uses natural DHA for our professional and retail formulas, providing a healthy tan for your client, and a safe environment for your salon.
   

2. Is the scent enticing or pushing people away?
   Is it possible to get the faux glow without the classic strong smell? Many tans can smell pretty overpowering. Not a great experience for you or your client! One of the key features with Sunescape is its signature lush coconut vanilla scent, developed to conjure thoughts of the perfect tropical escape.
   

3. Does it offer a complimentary range of products?
   Clients often book in for a spray tan for a special occasion or event, but what about the times in between appointments? Offering a take-home retail range allows your clients to keep that glow 24/7, and keep coming back for more. Sunescape’s range extends beyond professional tanning solutions to include Self-Tan Mousse, plus prep, prime and maintain products which include Exfoliating Body Polish, Hydrating Body Butter, Gradual Tan Extender and a wash off range.
   

4. What is in the formula and what if left out?
   The ingredients that many use to get that gorgeous glow are not always good for the skin. Ultra-dark formulas look good, but can also wreak havoc on the skin, causing it to dry out quicker. Some tanning ingredients used in Australia are even banned overseas! Sunescape is known for its attention to skincare, the rich, ultra-hydrating formula that focuses on nourishing ingredients like coconut oil and vitamin E and leaves out ingredients that are less than desirable, drying and flaky.
   

5. Is it cruelty-free and does it have vegan ingredients?
   Cruelty free, vegan and natural products are a growing trend in the industry. A brand that avoids chemical nasties and uses vegan ingredients to nourish the skin is ideal. Not to mention one that is certified cruelty-free, as well as being free of parabens alcohol and petrochemicals.
   

6. What’s the rate of tan development?
   It’s often difficult to judge the results of a tan, so look for a brand with a two-hour rapid tan that continues to develop over the next eight hours. Sunescape’s spray tan formula gives you a guide bronze. That way, you can get a sense of the final outcome, and your client can rinse off while still allowing the tan to develop.
   

7. Does it fade naturally?
   One of the biggest woes about faux tans is accelerated, uneven fading! All regular tanners dread the snakeskin look, and hate it even more when it happens a few days in. If a tan fades naturally, your client will get more bang for their buck, and loyalty to your salon. Steer clear of solutions that streak, saving hours of concern over unreliable spray tans from drying formulas.

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Sunescape Tan is formulated to give you a natural looking and feeling tan. They provide salons and consumers with a safe, ultra-moisturising bronzed glow; one that smells amazing, fades evenly, and is long-lasting. Their products are focussed on treating the skin with care, containing added vitamins, antioxidants and oils to nourish skin, as well as hydrating ingredients to leave skin smooth. The proprietary formula is certified approved natural DHA, not tested on animals, and free from alcohol, parabens and petrochemicals.

Get that tropical bronzed glow with Sunescape!

To enquire about becoming a Sunescape salon or for more information, call 1800 625 387  or visit www.sunescape.com.au. 

Promote Black Friday + Cyber Monday in your Salon

Black Friday (24th Nov) and Cyber Monday (27th Nov) are two of the BIGGEST shopping days of the year with 137 million shopping over the weekend in 2016, and an estimated $682 billion to be spent this year in the USA alone. If you are currently thinking “Woah that’s amazing!”, it’s time for you to enter the fold and craft unique promotions to get your clients coming into salon to try services or new products.

Promoting Black Friday is a great salon marketing tool when used properly. This shopping day can boost a potential quiet month in salon – in the lead up to Christmas, November can be slower – as well as encouraging clients to spend more money in order to get a good deal.

Here are some quick promotion ideas to market your salon in the Black Friday craze:

1. Market Season-based Services.
   Brand your services uniquely themed to the season with modifying your classic treatment names to spring up holiday feelings. Why not surprise your loyal clients with a surprise complimentary holiday service? It is not only a great way to say thank you, but also draws attention to your creativity and brings to the forefront of their mind their need to rebook before the Christmas period.
   

2. Gift Cards!
   This idea can be hugely successful at this time of the year, and it’s fantastic to promote on Black Friday with 63% of Black Friday purchases being gifts for others. It is effective to offer your client a gift card and something in return, such as ‘purchase a $100 gift card for a friend, and receive your own $25 gift card free’. This is something special that they know is a rare promotion, and will feel rewarded by you. And when they return, they are likely to use this card on a special treatment to pamper themselves, which means a happy client and more business for you.
   

3. Run Black Friday discounts on social media and on your website.
   Stress your time-limited sale or exciting promotions on social media to encourage people to pop in. It is even great to invest in some Facebook advertising to reach a greater audience and boost your organic posts. But remember, advertising any sale or discount in advance works much better than posting on the day.
   

4. Shift older salon stock.
   A quick dash around your salon will yield a surprising haul of forgotten items. Turn these items into hot sellers with a great, compelling price and beautiful packaging! Even bundle a few items together in an organza bag and create your own beauty, skin or tanning kit that’s appealing to the eye to move through your stock. Clients will suddenly feel they are getting value. It’s the one weekend when discounts are expected and work well, remember to price each item individually and show the discount to boost your cash flow.
   

5. Run a Black Friday competition.
   A great way to get engagement to your salon’s pages is by running a competition on your Facebook leading up to Black Friday, or over the weekend, with a prize is a service that must be taken up in January or February, when you will be much quieter.

Only just realised that Black Friday is only a few days away? Research shows that the best way to promote your discounts, services or gift cards in salon is through e-newsletters or text. These are effective, inexpensive ways to reach your whole salon database to shout about your last-minute beauty bargains and treats.