Arden Shippy
age 42 | single with one son | medical aesthetician | Dallas, TX
If you suddenly found $1,000 spare cash, how would you spend it? If I suddenly found $1,000 spare cash I would shout “yippee” and purchase a CD from my bank for my son Brylee (who is only four) to help with his college education because I know how important education can directly affect ones life.
How many hours do you work a week? I work as many hours as it takes to get the job done. Honestly I enjoy my job so much that the time flies by and before I know it the week is over.
If you could only have one product in your bathroom, what would it be? If I could only have one product in my bathroom it would be SkinBorn® Vitamin A Anti-Oxidant Therapy. It is easily absorbed into my skin and is converted into Retinol, which increases the cellular turnover rate plumping the skin while increasing the collagen production revealing radiant healthy looking skin.
In your business, where do your best referrals come? In my own business, I get referrals from word of mouth. This has been my greatest ally because my philosophy is searching out the ultimate truth and not doing something because of the hype.
How have you stayed motivated throughout your career? I have stayed motivated in my career by working in a variety of different areas of the industry. I started as a makeup artist at Bloomingdales, then worked doing facials in a spa. I started doing laser hair removal when it was first introduced to the industry, went on to become a spa director, and at that time microdermabrasion was brought to the U.S. so I was trained and started doing it at the spas as well. Now I am the National Instructor for Aesthetics Medical where I train physicians and aestheticians.
What inspires you to continue working in the aesthetic industry? Being able to change people’s lives has inspired me to continue working in the aesthetic industry. When I started, I never dreamed of all the changes that have come about in the last 20 years. A basic facial was the premise of the business. Today, we have laser, microdermabrasion, microcurrent with LED, and huge advances in skin care that will actually reverse the signs of aging.
How many conferences/trade shows do you attend annually? Five or six years ago, I was averaging 40 trade shows per year. However, because of my busy schedule, I attend only attend six or seven shows a year.
Do you double dip? Double dipping is something that I would never do. Safety and sanitation is very important to me, and everyone should strongly abide by the sanitation rules.
Do you feel it is appropriate to perform bikini/Brazilian waxes in the spa? Yes, I do feel it is appropriate to perform bikini/Brazilian waxes in the spa. Aestheticians need to use good sanitation and have the proper training along with professionalism. I don’t see why this would be inappropriate to perform, after all this is a high demand service in the industry.
