news & events

Over 100 Dermalogica tribe members from over 50 countries met in San Francisco August 18 through 20 for the 19th annual Distributor Head Meeting! This amazing three-day experience includes plenty of bonding through the Dermalogica brand. Presentations from Dermalogica Founder Jane Wurwand and the Dermalogica marketing team got the international tribe inspired to change skin care and empower women like never before.

Stay tuned for more details on how you can help Dermalogica empower women!

Over 100 Dermalogica tribe members from over 50 countries met in San Francisco

Categories: news

In any face-to-face exchange, we communicate with our eyes even more so than with words. To a large degree, this communication is out of our control: the pupil instantly constricts when we feel repelled, and dilates when we see something we like, making us seem receptive, sexy. To achieve this latter effect, women of the Renaissance courts flared their pupils with drops of Deadly Nightshade (the common name is “belladonna”, meaning “pretty woman”). And today, there’s the craze for the “Korean” contact-lens which gives us “Manga” eye, or “big eyes”, where a dark disc in the center of the lens gives the wearer the look of a very wide-awake cartoon character.

If you’re a fan of silent films, you’ll see that the actors and actresses use their eyes like chess-pieces. Rudolph Valentino often remarked that his famously darting, smoldering on-screen glances were learned in his hometown in Southern Italy, where inappropriately direct or lingering eye-contact with a young woman—nothing more—could result in a visit from the young lady’s father and uncles, followed by a prompt wedding to absolve the bride’s reputation.

Our eyes speak for us. And while some of their messages may be involuntary, correct skin care helps to keep this expressive hot-zone healthy. The skin around the eye-orbit is thin, and, compared with the rest of the face, poorly supplied with lubricating sebum. Free-radical assault, notably constant UV exposure, traumatizes this delicate tissue over time, and it just starts to lose its snap, tone, elasticity. Fine lines may appear here before they are visible anywhere else.

Also, as we age, our skin (everywhere) thins and becomes more transparent. Under the eyes, this can create an area which looks almost bruised, and definitely fatigued. No wonder blepharoplasty – lifting and firming the upper and lower eyelids—is perhaps the most common cosmetic procedure in the world.

Well, hold that scalpel (or laser). Dermalogica’s new AGE REVERSAL EYE COMPLEX addresses the most common complaints we have with our eyes, starting with that collapsed, fatigued look which results from the collagen and elastin passing their biological expiration-date.

One of the key actives, pure Vitamin A or Retinol, is used in a strength of 0.1%, which is sufficient to reverse UV damage and trigger epidermal cell proliferation, yet is more gentle than the aggressive concentration associated with retinoid dermatitis (scaling, redness, itching and photosensitivity). We’ve kept the pH in a comfortably acidic range. You see, many eye products use AHAs which are on the alkaline side, and this can irritate this rather finicky area of the skin with long-term use.

This formula combines Yeast Extract, Algae Extract and other non-sensitizing ingredients to gently microexfoliate the eye-area. You’ll experience more refined texture, along with a more robust lipid barrier—this means that your skin can keep itself better-hydrated. And, a stabilized Vitamin C derivative and antioxidant Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, protects skin from future free-radical assault. By speeding up the cell turnover process, stimulating collagen production and thickening the cell layers in this area, skin appears plumper, fuller and smoother, with fewer wrinkles, and consistent pigmentation distribution.

AGE REVERSAL EYE COMPLEX restores, refreshes, protects. You’ll still need those big, dark sunglasses for UV protection—you’ll just have less to hide.

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand, founder of dermalogica

Today in Claudia’s Closet on Sheckys.com, get the scoop on style in skin care when Claudia interviews Dermalogica Founder Jane Wurwand. Jane knows skin care is one’s greatest accessory, but shows philanthropy and entrepreneurial adventures make the outfit.

Read the article here.

Categories: news

I love a good irony. Here’s my favorite:

Economists generally agree on two things when it comes to women and money:

1. Women are not generally as financially literate as their male counterparts
2. Women are better-suited to dealing with finances than men

We have to ask how much of these truths is learned, and cultural, and how much of it is innate and biological. I think it’s a mix of both nature and nurture, as behavioralists describe it.

The bad news is that girls in our society, and in Western society at large, don’t seem to take as much of an interest as boys do in developing their personal finances. Is it the Y chromosome? Perhaps.

This is bad news because, among other reasons, the high divorce-rate suggests that many, even most, women will be on their own at some point in their adult lives, even if it’s just between husbands. And especially if there are children in the picture, managing a household budget can be a pretty shocking wakeup call if you haven’t been paying attention.

But here’s the good news. Many economists study women in action when they are exposed to financial education. And women seem to respond to the opportunity to manage money more effectively than men.

Consider what financial scholar Dr. Annamaria Lusardi has to say on the subject. This Princeton-educated economist is currently a professor of Economics at Dartmouth College, is a former visiting scholar at Harvard Business School, and is the recipient of the Fidelity Pyramid Prize, which is dedicated to educating the public in financial well-being.

Lusardi comments: “One reason that women might be better financial decision-makers than men is that women know what they do not know. This demonstrated lack of overconfidence may prove helpful in financial decision-making and in avoiding financial mistakes, and this awareness may help women to take action…The fact that women make decisions with the well-being of others in mind, that they steer clear of excessive risk, and that they do not consider themselves ‘financial geniuses’ or ‘financial wizards’ are characteristics that have not been fully exploited.”

Okay, so women’s compassion and humility – “feminine” qualities so long scorned by men as signs of weakness—are actually strengths. Uh-huh. Lusardi concludes:

“Interestingly, women are often brought in when there is a financial crisis and confidence needs to be restored…Perhaps one of the ways to ensure the smooth functioning of financial institutions and contracts is to have more women in charge.”

I’m banking on women for the future—starting right now. How about you?
Source: http://annalusardi.blogspot.com

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand, founder of dermalogica

Categories: news

Gupta, Korkki and Galifianakis—don’t you just love saying that?—are not a law firm. But they know why you may not want to go to work in the morning.

Recently I read in The New York Times (July 9, 2010) the article titled, “An Entrepreneur Who Took A Chance on Herself”, written by Prerna Gupta about her own unlikely entrepreneurial path.

She describes her supposed dream-job, “fresh out of Stanford with a degree in economics”, which bored her silly and left her dreading each day. Desperate for change, she thought that perhaps a new career in venture capital would fan her flame. But after six weeks at a new position in that arena, she was, again, by her own description, “miserable”.

So she quit, because she had an idea. She’s now the queen of “reverse karaoke.” Her iPhone music app, called LaDiDa, creates background music when you sing into a microphone. It even seems to correct the howling of bad singers.

Her Times piece is far from sugary. She states flatly, “My future is perhaps more uncertain than it has ever been. But the realization that I face a high likelihood of failure is not enough to send me back into the corporate cubicle.”

A few days later, also in The New York Times (July 16, 2010), an article titled “The True Calling That Wasn’t” by Phyllis Korkki discusses why many people are dissatisfied with their jobs. Some of the reasons cited include that parents, peers and teachers may influence our choices early in life, before we’re sure about who we really are. Especially if a job delivers prestige or a fat wage, we may find ourselves stuck, unwilling to leave it. But the fact that the job doesn’t click with our authentic selves leads to disillusionment.

Okay, doesn’t “reverse karaoke” sound made up to you? Like a joke? Just the idea reminds me of comic Zack Galifianakis’ hilarious description of his dream-job as “Vice President of Eternal Frisbee.” Remember that this is the man who starred in the dark comedy, Visioneers, as a successful executive destined to literally, spontaneously self-combust—i.e. burst into flames—because he is so mindlessly productive.

Gupta, Korkkii and Galifianakis are unlikely birds of a feather. What they seem to be telling us is that it doesn’t matter what other people think about your work and career. What matters is what you think. This is the essence of the entrepreneurial spirit, but also the key to satisfaction if you work for someone else.

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand, founder of dermalogica

OH, BEHAVE! Keeping Manners In Mind
by Annet King

The skin therapist has chosen a career in a service profession. This means that the skin therapist must ALWAYS be courteous. As with a wait-person in a restaurant, an airline reservations associate, or a hotel employee…regardless of how flippin’ rude a customer gets, the service professional must never, ever respond in kind. Tempting though it may be. (I will say this, however: if your airline luggage is forever being misrouted to, say, Sydney…you may need to ask yourself why.)

And, as a professional skin therapist who trains other skin therapists worldwide, one of my most deeply held beliefs is that courtesy is a two-way street. I am always coaching my fellow skin therapists on how to show the client respect. And—as a client—you must do the same!

The industry standard is now that the skin therapist or other pro will call you to confirm. As part of my trainings, I advise that the pro always leave a phone message or send the client a quick text confirmation. Likewise, I advise that clients put the appointment right into their “crackberry” or iPhone calendar on the spot! It is also industry standard to charge you for a missed appointment.

For this reason, and for common decency, always show respect for the therapist’s time. Realize that if you arrive more than 15 minutes late for an appointment, you’ve really done some damage to the day’s bookings. Whenever possible, call ahead when you’re stuck in traffic or running late for whatever reason—sometimes we can shuffle the calendar around to accommodate everyone.

And if you just simply show up late, do show sensitivity and offer to cut your visit short so as not to completely twang the timing of the next client. And, add an additional 5% to the tip. Call it guilt-money. Whatever, luv, just do it!

If a skin therapist, hairdresser or other pro keeps you waiting more than 15-20 minutes, you’re well within your rights to leave. Don’t storm out, just tell the receptionist and then leave. The forfeit of the appointment and its revenue should be enough to send a very clear message to everyone involved. The marketing-savvy professional will call you in the morning with the offer of a comp service—“comp” in this case meaning to “compensate”. If not, then you are well within your rights, from any etiquette standpoint, to take your business elsewhere, without apology or explanation.

Categories: guest blogger

OH, BEHAVE! Keeping Manners In Mind
by Annet King

Please allow me to introduce myself. I’m Annet King, Director of Global Education for the Dermalogica brand, and for The International Dermal Institute.

I’ve been a professional skin care educator for 20 years, and I’ve worked with students and professional skin therapists around the world. One thing I know for certain is that first impressions are indeed lasting impressions, and being introduced properly to someone else is the best way to start things off on the right foot, both professionally and personally.

A proper and courteous introduction is the foundation to a comfortable social relationship. And that’s exactly what this new blog is all about: forming and maintaining mutually beneficial social relationships.

If you’re a client at a skin care center, a salon, or spa, you should never be accosted by the receptionist or other employee asking, “Are you my 4:00 o’clock?”. If this happens, you have every right to slowly lower your copy of whatever you’re reading, glower icily across the room, and say in measured tones, “Well, I’m not certain about your schedule. But my name is Mildred.”

The bloody, bloomin’ flippin’ nerve, really! I feel the same way when friends and I are shopping, or seated for a nice dinner, and a wait-person or other employee asks brightly, “How are you guys doing?”, as though we were all being hosed down in a communal shower-pit and might need more soap. Whatever happened to “Good afternoon,” or “Good evening, and welcome” ?

Yes, I am English, but that’s hardly the point. Do British people have better manners than Americans? In general, perhaps. But trust me, this is a learned skill.

In more formal times, people in polite society literally did not speak to one another socially until they had been properly introduced by a trusted associate. No need to go quite that far. But with so much talk these days of technology eroding our language and communication, I do feel that the very humanity of human interaction itself may be restored if we make more of an effort to be simply courteous to one another.

We cannot exactly demand good manners from others. We can only lead by example. Starting today.

Try out a “please” or a “thank you” where none has gone before. Instead of grunting the usual monosyllabic responses “Yup”, or “Nope”, try answering a question with a complete sentence, as in, “Yes, it is”, or “No, it is not.” This becomes habit-forming, and the next thing you know, you’re no longer a rude person.

In which case, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Categories: guest blogger

Yeah, you hipsters out there know that’s the name of Jack Black’s band. But Dermalogica is truly the most tenacious “D” of them all, as evidenced by the actor/singer’s devotion to the brand.

On location in British Columbia, filming his upcoming movie release “The Big Year,” Jack Black made a “love” connection with Dermalogica through his makeup artist, Lisa Love. Jack’s fave’s include PreCleanse and Active Moist. He even visited Shifeon, a nearby Dermalogica account on Robson Street, to snap up his own skin care supplies. Now, that’s a pick of destiny. Rock on, Jack!

Categories: news

Are any of you out there reading this old enough to remember this song? Ever even hear of Dr. Hook?

Well, if not, it’s okay. And my picture is not on the cover of ROLLING STONE magazine, but it’s even more amazing than that.

I was just in New York where I was photographed by Annie Leibovitz, my new BFF. Perhaps I exaggerate. But it is no exaggeration to say that Annie is considered the most influential editorial portrait photographer of the past half-century. She did indeed put lots of people’s pictures on the cover of the ROLLING STONE – she was that magazine’s house photographer for the first ten years of its publication. And she’s created many of the most iconic, unforgettable images, mostly of celebrities, many for VANITY FAIR and other magazines.

Many of these images, for me, have a lot to do with skin. She likes to get people naked. She photographed Bette Midler naked, covered in heaps of long-stemmed red roses. One of the rumors, perhaps true, about this photo is that Annie, being a bit of a stickler, had assistants remove all of the thorns so as not to prick Ms. Midler.

Annie photographed Whoopi Goldberg roaring up from the depths of a deep, old-fashioned bathtub filled with milk—surely Cleo herself would have been jealous. She famously photographed a very pregnant Demi Moore naked. You can almost feel the double heartbeat in that image.

Those are three of thousands of pictures Annie has taken that we can’t forget. And, she just photographed me for a forthcoming book about the politics of women’s sexuality. I was lucky enough, earlier in the summer, to participate with Gloria Steinem (ooops—and I told Gloria she was my BFF — hope she doesn’t get mad!) in a roundtable hosted by STEP UP WOMEN’S NETWORK and Bayer Healthcare, addressing, among other things, the 50th anniversary of the Pill. And this roundtable formed the content for the book, which will be published in 2011.

Did I get naked for Annie? Wait and see.

Categories: under my skin with jane wurwand, founder of dermalogica