Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1545716
12 ASCP Skin Deep Summer 2026 WHEN I FIRST STARTED my career as a bright-eyed beauty writer in New York City, I faced the perilous problem of being overrun by product samples. It sounds like a wonderful issue to have. But what started as excitement to try everything new on the market turned into a compromised skin barrier from too many harsh ingredients and an overfl owing bathroom cabinet. I couldn't use product fast enough, and too much of it went to waste. Over the years, I've taken a page from the books of the skin care pros I admire and learned to pare down my product shelves to the essentials and the occasional skin care launch (like the body scrub below!). I think of this as the way you should treat your backbar: Keep only the best products, the ones that are tried and true, along with a fresh launch for limited-time specials. The way you curate your backbar refl ects your expertise as a professional. In this issue, we're celebrating a decade of your favorite products that have earned their spot on your backbars. On page 62, you'll fi nd our 10th annual ASCP Skin Deep Readers' Choice Awards winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions. Then, fl ip to page 74 to fi nd out how you can better optimize your backbar to improve your business's bottom line. Learn more about why your professional backbar formulas make a lasting diff erence in your client's skin (page 54), and beware of the sudden rise in tool and product dupes that are fl ooding the industry (page 82). Your backbar is a haven. It's where you start every service, and it should represent your values and skills. The products you stock should tell your clients a story about how you care for their skin. Don't make the mistake I did early in my career—more is not always better. JEN ANDERSON editor@ascpskincare.com MY SUMMER PICK FARMHOUSE FRESH BLOOD ORANGE GLOWRITA This tequila- and orange liqueur-infused body scrub leaves my body feeling baby soft and leaves my bathroom smelling divine for hours. farmhousefreshgoods.com ELLEN JASKOL PHOTOGRAPHY Back to the Backbar FROM THE EDITOR