From The Editor

As we step into the close of another powerful year in esthetics, our December issue celebrates a theme that feels especially aligned with the season of reflection and renewal: the Glow Up.
But this year, we’re widening the definition. A glow up is no longer just about bright, illuminated skin, it’s about evolution. It’s about intention. It’s about elevating every layer of our craft, from the ingredients we trust and the techniques we refine to the way we care for our clients’ inner and outer well-being.
In Brightening Trends Estheticians Need to Know for 2026, we explore the innovative shifts shaping next year’s approach to luminosity—biotech brighteners, barrier-first philosophies, and the return of hands-on circulatory work. And in Before & After Breakdown, we pull back the
curtain on the artistry behind capturing radiance in photos, revealing why authentic glow is equal parts biology, lighting, and esthetic technique.
But a true glow up extends far beyond the treatment room. It happens within the business itself.
This month’s feature, Glow Up in Business: How Estheticians Can Transform Their Success in 2026, invites you to reimagine how you lead, grow, and structure your practice in the year ahead. It’s a reminder that sustainability, intentional systems, and purpose-driven branding are just as essential to your evolution as any brightening serum. As you read this issue, I hope you feel inspired to embrace glow in every form, on the skin, in your craft, and within your business.
Here’s to stepping into 2026 with more clarity, more radiance, and a glow that reflects everything you’ve worked so beautifully to build.