Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1544125
12 ASCP Skin Deep Spring 2026 FROM THE EDITOR GLYMED PLUS HYDRATING LIP BALM This is my ultimate secret for repairing dry, cracked lips after a long winter. glymedplus.com S crolling through my social media news feed, I recently came across an ad for a local spa that was off ering a too-good-to- be-true deal on an express facial. It promised to get you in and out of the treatment room in less than 30 minutes, "perfect" for a lunchtime treat. As appealing as it sounds to repair my skin during a single lunch break, this quick-fi x approach is fundamentally changing the way we view skin care. For many estheticians, skin care is not merely an item to check off a to-do list. There is so much rich history in skin care and how it's been used over centuries to reset from everyday life. As Dasha Saian Marchese writes in "From Treatment to Ceremony" on page 68, "Long before electronic devices became the centerpiece of treatment rooms worldwide, skin care was rooted in touch, intention, and multisensory immersion." From the ancient Greeks meticulously lathering their skin with olive oil to Japanese onsen culture that off ers a connection between the body and nature, it's clear that skin care is a ritual. As you navigate the pages of this issue, I hope you fi nd yourself wanting to pause, refl ect, and embrace the ritual of skin care. As Crystal Ngozi Ochemba mentions on page 52, the key is to slow down in the treatment room so your clients get the care and attention they need. You can also take a cue from Ayurvedic traditions with herbal allies for skin care (page 76). Finally, meet this year's ASCP Esty of the Year, Armenthia Carr, whose passion for skin care education shines through her work in inspiring the next generation of pros (page 58)—she even has a couple of rituals to share that help her slow down when she's not embracing her roles as business owner, infl uencer, esthetician, and mom. If you're wondering, I passed on the 30-minute express facial. There's something extremely comforting in taking a long break from the stressors of the real world. As humans, we crave connection to others, but we also crave connection to our inner selves. And I'd like more than 30 minutes to do so. JEN ANDERSON editor@ascpskincare.com MY SPRING PICK