Hello Melbourne! My name is Jennifer and I recently relocated to the area in January from Maryland. Hoping to begin a whole new career path in medical skin care, I lucked out and got a position here at Millefiori. I cannot believe how lucky I am to be put smack-dab in the exact arena I am curious about pursuing.
Up until this point skin care has always been a personal hobby– ok maybe personal obsession is more accurate. The obsession began around the age of 22, when adult acne struck with vengeance. Not just adult acne, but also cystic acne. For those of you who have experience with this, you know how absolutely miserable it can be. The cystic acne was painful and the other acne caused a different kind of pain. Not only did I feel embarrassed and quite frankly ugly; for me I also began to feel some-what ashamed for being “vain” or “superficial”. And so my quest for knowledge began. Six years later I came in for my first day of training with Iris here at Millefiori. I arrived confident and excited to impress my new boss with my “expert knowledge”. I have now realized that this thinking was delusional, but a month ago I really did believe that I knew so much. I have tried every over-the-counter line from drugstores to department stores to the big beauty stores, every natural remedy, every concoction, I even sacrificed a lamb to the almighty skin gods– ok not that last one, but I truly believed I was knowledgeable. Within fifteen minutes with Iris my mind was blown. Most of us know that protecting our face, neck, and hands from sun exposure is muy importante. So we justify spending $50 on sunscreen (I won’t name names, but it rhymes with Shmeralogica). We wait the recommended time after application before going out, we re-apply right on schedule, we are diligent and vigilant. But did you know that sunscreen is just that? A screen. It doesn’t actually do diddly-squat to protect your skin from UV damage! The only thing that will protect the skin is sunblock; which comes in the form of zinc oxide or titanium oxide. Ok, now that you have run to the bathroom and scanned the ingredients label of your sunscreen; you are probably not seeing either one of these ingredients. Which means you have spent all that time being so good and it’s all been for nothing. Depending on the ingredients you may in fact have done your skin more harm. Using a sunblock– like Skinceuticals– that contains zinc oxide and/or titanium oxide will protect your skin from 80% of damage caused by solar radiation exposure! Not good enough? When you combine a sunblock with an anti-oxidant like C.E. Ferulic, your skin is 100% protected!
Fast forward to my second week on the job. Having never had a facial myself, I was forced to get one so that I would be able to tell patients what to expect. I know tough, right? Having to go to the spa on my day off to get a facial. Honestly though, I was a tad nervous. I had heard tales of horrible breakouts of pimples. I was assured this was one of the many skincare urban legends. So I bravely submitted and all I can say is wow! Here’s what I learned: a facial is similar to going to the dentist. Just like you need to go to the dentist to have your teeth, enamel, and gums looked at and also have the plaque removed using medical tools by a medical professional a few times a year; the same is true for the skin. Getting a facial is part of routine healthcare for your body. Think about it, your skin is the largest human organ; it is constantly exposed to external environment; it is the protective barrier from contaminants and pollutants; and it has pores, so it is constantly absorbing all that grossness. When you think about your skin as major organ that is completely vital to your health and survival, taking good care of it makes sense and definitely a priority. Unlike the dentist, and most doctor’s appointments (which are unpleasant to say the least), getting a facial was um… AMAZING! I had no idea how relaxing it was going to be. Being that I was there for strictly business purposes, I tried my best to stay alert and pay attention to each step. But with the aroma-therapy and massage…. I was so relaxed I had to literally fight to stay awake.
It’s safe to say I’ve drank the Kool-Aid and I can’t wait for my next facial.
If you are a newbie like me and un-sure of your skin and how to take care of it professional, Millefiori in Melbourne, FL has all the answers. From the skinceutical products, to spa facials, and even laser and injectables these are the experts to call. All consultations are complimentary so you have nothing to lose, call today and make an appointment, I promise you will not regret it!
