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Please welcome our brand partner, Debi Griffith from All Aglow Skin! We're honored to have Debi share her inspirational journey to becoming an esthetician.
Hello, I am Debi Griffith, a vegan and holistic esthetician. I went to school at the Southwest Institute of Natural Aesthetics. My studio is in a beautiful Spanish style building at the base of Piestewa Peak in Phoenix AZ.
What inspired you to become a holistic esthetician?
Well, it’s kind of a long story. I was going through breast cancer treatment. During that time I felt pretty awful. I was bald and nauseous most of the time and basically I was just trying to get to the finish line of treatment. Something in me decided that it was important to get a facial. So I booked an appointment and that treatment was so healing. To have a person care for my skin and bring me back into my body for that short time reminded me that I was still me, I was deserving of care. At the time I didn’t realize the seed was planted. I was still in the chemo fog and just trying to survive but about a year later I decided to make a leap. To become that healing space for someone else. I have discovered a lot about myself during this journey and I am so grateful for my esthetician for starting me on the path.
What’s something most people don’t know about you?
Honestly, I am kind of an open book. I curse a lot. My clients probably don’t know that about me. I am PG-13 in the office. I also eat way more chocolate than is probably prudent.
Could you walk us through a typical holistic facial treatment and what to expect?
When you come into my office you will feel at ease pretty quickly. My space is full of light and peaceful energy. I will most likely offer you some tea. It’s my own blend of skin health supporting herbs. It’s created by Cha-cha’s tea here in Phoenix. We will sit and chat for a little bit about your skin, your routines, your goals and any questions or concerns you have. I will pull some products and start formulating your treatment. After I do your cleanse I will take a look at your skin under the mag light and just make sure my plan is the right plan. A typical treatment will include a cleanse, scrub, enzyme, facial massage, mask, serum, moisturizer and SPF. Each of those things are then customized for you. I work in different modalities depending on what your skin needs. I can use high frequency, microdermabrasion, derma-planing, cupping, cold globes, reiki and chakra balancing. At the end of your treatment I close the session with singing bowls or tingsha bells to bring your vibrations into harmony. When you emerge from my space you will be walking on clouds and your skin will be radiant. 
What question related to skin care do you get asked most often?
Why does my skin feel so dry even though I am putting tons of moisturizer on? My answer is, exfoliate. It’s simple, but it feels counterintuitive to a lot of people.
What do you consider to be the fundamentals of a skincare routine and why?
Cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate and protect. It does not need to be complicated or time consuming to be effective. My skincare routine takes me 3-5 minutes tops. Get the basics down and then if you want to you can get fancy with serums, toners, masks etc.
What are your top 3 ingredients that you look for in a skincare product and why?
This is a tough one. It depends on what I want to do. My goals for my skin often change so these ingredients change. Right now I like licorice root for brightening, Vitamin C as an overall brightener and tightener and I also like pomegranate extract as a tightener. There are so many great ingredients out there. The key is to read the label. See where your active is showing up, it needs to be in the top 5.
What are 5 skincare ingredients you would never use on your skin?
There are a lot more than 5 since I am vegan. I don’t use any animal products. Lactic, lanolin, any kind of dairy, goat’s milk, some squalene, any kind of parfum or fragrance. The list can be quite extensive and I have become an ingredient detective. It’s pretty fascinating. I am really encouraged to see so many brands taking care to move away from animal products and there are so many new product lines coming out that are focusing on plant based ingredients and cruelty free practices. Those are two different things. Plant based does not always mean cruelty free and cruelty free does not mean no animal products.
Why did you choose to retail and incorporate Blue Haven Holistic products into your treatment room?
I had another esthetician introduce me to the magical elixir that is the Blue Tansy Balm and the rest is history. The Blue Tansy Balm is my favorite product, hands down. It is healing and hydrating. It has a delicious scent. The texture and color are beautiful. Every client that tries it loves it. It doesn’t cause break outs and it really keeps the glow going for my clients. I personally use this product every day.
Do you have anything else you would like to share?
If you are struggling with your skin cut yourself some slack. Our skin cycles. The face you have today won’t be the one you have tomorrow. Our skin constantly changes so try to take a breath and ride the wave. Know that it’s going to change and it will be ok.
Debi is based in Phoenix, Arizona - check her out if you’re in the area!
All Aglow Skin
Instagram: @allaglowskin
Facebook: @allaglowskin
Phone: 602-432-7174
Email: allaglowskin@gmail.com
