Ep 349 – The Beauty Pendulum

Summary

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Episode Overview

Podcast: ASCP Esty Talk
Episode: Ep 349 – The Beauty Pendulum
Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Maggie Stasik (ASCP Program Director) & Ella Cressman (Licensed Esthetician, ASCP Content Contributor)

This episode explores the ever-shifting trends in the beauty and skincare industry—what the hosts call the "beauty pendulum." They discuss the cycles between embracing permanent cosmetic procedures and celebrating skin/body positivity and minimalism, the drive for instant results through products like compression creams, and the paradoxical cultural messages around self-acceptance versus self-improvement. The conversation tackles why these swings happen, introduces listeners to new trends, compares old and new technologies, and reflects on how both industry professionals and consumers navigate these contradictions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: The Wild Swings of Beauty Trends

• Pendulum Metaphor: The industry moves dramatically between extremes—permanent procedures (like CoolSculpting) to "skinmalism" and body positivity, now back to new quick-fix solutions like compression creams.
• Cultural Context: The hosts observe the return of traditional beauty standards after a brief embrace of diverse, body-positive imagery in advertising.

2. Compression Creams: The Latest Quick Fix

• What They Are: Compression creams are topical products that create an almost instant "pulled and tight" effect, mimicking the look of a cosmetic procedure but temporarily.

• How They Work: Utilize film-forming agents (like polymers and silicones) for the physical tightening effect, with supporting ingredients (caffeine, amino acids) for puffiness and smoothness.

• Pros & Cons:

  • Pros: Immediate, non-invasive, affordable, great for events.
  • Cons: Temporary, only visual—not actual long-term anti-aging or structural skin change. Potential for residue or discouraging real skincare investment.

  “Compression creams are like the industry’s duct tape, if you will. So it’s a quick fix, but there’s no structural repair.”
  —Maggie Stasik [07:19]

• Similar Trends: Discussion about other "quick fix" gadgets—like adhesive neck/eye lifts that physically pull skin for a temporary effect.

3. The Paradox of Self-Acceptance vs. Self-Improvement

• Cultural Contradictions: Beauty marketing sells both empowerment and improvement. Even inclusivity imagery is often attached to an "improve yourself" message.

  "We desire to love ourselves and accept ourselves, but we have such deep insecurity. And those insecurities are fed...by social media. People are posting filtered pictures or angled pictures...it makes me feel a little bit more real."
  —Ella Cressman [02:49]

• Consumer Psychology: Hosts reflect on their own experiences with wanting both acceptance and change—mirrors vs. photos, societal expectations, the draw of instant gratification.

4. Long-Term (but Less Gratifying) Solutions

• Microcurrent Devices: Require consistency for results but lack the "wow" factor or immediacy, leading to less consumer adoption.

• Radio frequency & Lasers: Once popular, but drawbacks include pain, inconsistent long-term results, and cost. The market now emphasizes newer, ingredient-driven technologies and less invasive solutions.

• Thread Lifts, Injections, Facelifts: Hosts discuss how surgical techniques have evolved—less invasive, subtler results—yet accessibility, cost, and fear remain barriers.

  "Laser had its moment and not anymore…maybe I don’t have to be so invasive. Maybe I don’t have to spend so much money. I can do some of these other things that are equally giving me the lift and tone.”
  —Maggie Stasik [12:41]

5. Accessibility, Knowledge, & Medical Tourism

• Barriers: High costs of surgical or in-office procedures (facelifts in Denver quoted at $36k+), lack of consumer awareness, and fear of post-procedure outcomes.

• Alternatives: At-home devices, topical products, and, increasingly, seeking procedures abroad ("medical tourism").

  “Plastic surgery, especially facial plastic surgery in Denver specifically, is outrageous...rhinoplasties are up closer to $20,000 now.”
  —Ella Cressman [15:29]

6. Personal Choices & Accepting the Pendulum

• Aging Acceptance: Hosts acknowledge they oscillate personally between wanting to accept aging and being tempted by new fixes.

• Spectrum of Choices: Open encouragement for listeners to find their own balance rather than feeling pressured toward any extreme.

  “Beauty exists on a spectrum. It's okay to want a little of both, but accept yourself. And if a quick lift helps you feel bold today, that doesn't make you any less authentic.”
  —Maggie Stasik [16:46]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The Pendulum Summed Up:

  “I visualize...Miley Cyrus. It came in like a wrecking ball. ...I feel like we're supposed to love ourselves and like, find our beautiful parts. But we're also in this industry where we're identifying imperfections.”
  —Ella Cressman [02:49]

• Quick Fix or Deeper Commitment:

  "I think of this like wearing compression leggings while also still going to the gym."
  —Ella Cressman [07:43]

• On Technology Catching Up:

  "The science and technology behind ingredients like the serums you're talking about...is catching up to more invasive procedures like laser.”
  —Maggie Stasik [12:41]

• Instant vs. Real:

  “I felt so much prettier right now. … It's the same reason why we wear blush or lipstick. Those are tweaks, but it's a little bit of change. And it's instant.”
  —Ella Cressman [10:31]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:36–02:49| Setting up the “beauty pendulum” and recent industry swings | | 04:20–04:56| Discussion on body-positivity imagery and social media acceleration | | 05:56–07:19| Compression creams—what they are, ingredients, pros & cons | | 07:43–08:32| Other quick fixes: gadgets and tape-based lifts | | 08:32–09:29| The paradox of acceptance vs. self-improvement | | 10:00–10:28| Society’s barriers to long-term vs. instant solutions | | 10:48–11:54| Microcurrent: pro/con and use in the treatment room | | 12:11–13:37| Laser and radio frequency—evolving tech and decline in popularity | | 13:42–14:43| Thread lifts, injections, and changing facelift technology | | 15:29–16:35| High costs, accessibility, and the rise of medical tourism | | 16:46 | Summing up: personal balance on the beauty spectrum |

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Conclusion

This episode thoughtfully navigates the complicated, sometimes contradictory, attitudes and trends in the modern beauty industry. The hosts illustrate how quick fixes and long-term solutions coexist within the marketplace—and within each individual—and encourage listeners to find their own comfort spot along the ever-swinging beauty pendulum. The candid stories and hands-on industry knowledge make this a must-listen for anyone who wants to keep up with (or opt out of) the latest in beauty.

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For more information or to share your thoughts with the hosts, check the show notes or connect via ASCP social channels.

Transcript

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[Maggie Stasik]

Hello and welcome to ASCP's Bestie Talk. I'm your co host, Maggie Stasik, ASCP's program director.

[Ella Cressman]

I'm Ella Cressman, licensed esthetician, big fan of products and content contributor for ascp.

[Maggie Stasik]

All right, Ella, today's topic is all about our industry's wild pendulum swings. We've gone from permanent procedures to skinmalism, GLP1s and now compression creams.

[Ella Cressman]

Yeah.

[Maggie Stasik]

So let's set the stage. We've seen body contouring obsessions. This is procedures like cool sculpting, promising permanent fat reduction, skin and body positivity. This is celebrating individuality, minimal routines. We then shift to GLP1s, which we've talked a lot about, and pharmaceuticals for weight control or anti aging and. And now compression creams. So if you don't know, compression creams are now fresh to the market. This is topical products that give an almost immediate pulled tight effect. Have you heard about these?

[Ella Cressman]

Not in like a body cream. I'm kind of excited, I'm not gonna lie.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah, yeah. So we'll get to it in a minute. But this pendulum swing in my mind, it's like hitting rewind and fast forward at the same time. So one minute we want permanence and. And the next were flaunting imperfections. So why do you think the pendulum keeps swinging like that?

[Ella Cressman]

I visualize right now Miley Cyrus. It came in like a wrecking ball. That's how I feel. And I love what you said about their rewind and the fast forward at the same time because I feel it. I feel like we're supposed to love ourselves and like, find our beautiful parts. But we're also in this industry where we're identifying imperfections. So it's natural to identify in myself too. Trust me, I have plenty. But it's something that personally, I struggle with. The pendulum of acceptance versus wanting to change so many things. I don't know. I think it's. Why do we do this? I feel like it's because we are. We desire to love ourselves and accept ourselves, but we have such deep insecurity. And those insecurities are fed. Used to be they were fed by the magazines. Like, this was the paradigm of which we were supposed to live up to the Hollywood life. Right. But now we see it so much every day on social media, which gets a bad rap. But it's so true because people are posting filtered pictures or angled pictures that they're taking were the best parts of their life. I always stop on the videos where people are hot messes, they're upset what their kids did, you know, like, things like that. Because it does make me feel a little bit more real. But I also do the stink face to people I graduated high school with that I see are just, oh, my gosh, my life is perfect and I'm amazing. You know, I think that's normal, right? Yeah, yeah, totally.

[Maggie Stasik]

There was a period in time I noticed, you know, surfing the Internet or, you know, shopping online, you would notice, or I would notice at least very quickly. Ads changed out all of their models for things that were much more inclusive, much more body positive. And you even had models that were, you know, like in wheelchairs, for instance.

[Ella Cressman]

Right.

[Maggie Stasik]

And it lasted for, I don't know, a year, let's say. And then it was almost like overnight they were gone and it was back to that typical model type.

[Ella Cressman]

Right, Totally.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah. So very interesting. I think that social media's acceleration of trends has something to do with it. I think that the beauty industry selling this idea of both empowerment and improvement at the same time. You know, even though you may have this inclusive imagery, that inclusive imagery is selling anti aging. It's selling improve yourself. It's selling wear this outfit. Right, right, exactly. So let's go back to compression creams for a second. Basically, it's smoothing and sculpting with like this invisible sheet over the skin. And if you guys have ever seen, there's this commercial, I don't know if it's still on, but it was an eye cream. And they would apply this eye cream to this gentleman that had terrible under eye bags, and within seconds they would shrink after applying this cream, that's basically what a compression cream is doing. It's toning, tightening, lifting your face the second you apply the cream. But it's temporary. This is not permanent anti aging.

[Ella Cressman]

I just wanna point out that you were attracted to an ad about eye cream. Again, I'm never gonna forget that.

[Maggie Stasik]

You know what? I was fascinated by the immediate lift.

[Ella Cressman]

Yeah, I think that's the key thing. I used to have a nurse that worked for me and she brought this in. It was part of this MLM that she was involved in. She's like, look at this, it's amazing. And I was like, for how long? Same thing. But this was a while back. It was that probably that exact same eye cream or not, but I was skeptical. What was that, seven years ago?

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah.

[Ella Cressman]

Now I'm interested if it's the whole body and I'm especially interested if it's on the neck. Oh yeah, give me some.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah, totally. So usually the ingredients are going to be these film forming agents like polymers, again creating this visible tightening. But it's temporary. You may also have additional ingredients that may have some lasting effect, but not immediate. It's going to be caffeine, it might be amino acids, things that are stimulating circulation, things that are targeting puffiness, and then also things like silicones that are giving a smoothing or, or film forming effect. So benefits, again, immediate tightening. It's affordable, it's non invasive. But drawbacks, it's not permanent, it's a visual effect. So it might be before a big event, let's say. And there's potential for stickiness or residue or transfer. It could discourage long term skincare routine investments. And we could say compression creams are like the industry's duct tape, if you will. So it's a quick fix, but there's no structural repair.

[Ella Cressman]

I think of this like wearing compression leggings while also still going to the gym. So if this is something you wanted to pursue, you can still layer it over. Good skin care, right? Yeah. But the other thing I wanted to just on first of all, sign me up, I want some. Second of all, did you see this one product that they're advertising now? Oh, you're going to love it. It's this along the same thought, I guess, but it's this piece of like plastic with a sticky adhesive side to it that's like butterflied almost in two. You put one side on the back of your neck and then you pull the other side on the back of your neck and you slap it down like duct tape and it pulls Your neck from the back so you have to wear your hair down. But can you believe that?

[Maggie Stasik]

I totally believe it. I think they have things like that for the eyelids, like a little eye lift.

[Ella Cressman]

That is so. Yeah. Like the ones you put underneath and you pop it in. Yeah.

[Maggie Stasik]

There's this paradox of self acceptance. I feel like we preach this body neutrality, self love, but we keep chasing these tweaks. I mean, why is that?

[Ella Cressman]

I wish I knew, but I'm chasing them too. Like I need to change my shoes. I feel like Forrest Gump. I was running. Like I will chase this. But I also, I will also say that sometimes my mirror and somebody else's pictures don't agree. Like I did not look like that. I did not look like that.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah, it's ruthless, right? I mean and cultural messages around beauty are omnipresent and we've already said. But you know, there have been messages about self acceptance all while at the same time saying you need to improve.

[Ella Cressman]

Yeah, you're great. Almost. Yeah. I don't know, I think it's a cultural thing. I think, I don't think it's going away either. So I feel like self acceptance is a choice.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah.

[Ella Cressman]

And I think you can still accept yourself and want to tweak because I accepted myself at 35 and I look a little bit different than I did then. Yeah. You know what I mean?

[Maggie Stasik]

I do, yeah.

[Ella Cressman]

Interesting.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah. There's a conflict between wanting to feel confident now and knowing that deep changes take time. I think. And maybe that's why too people are drawn to things like a compression cream which is temporary and immediate versus going after more lasting long term treatments.

[Ella Cressman]

Well because the perception is their marks unaccessible, inaccessible. Excuse me, that those are too much money or too much downtime. So I'm just going to do this quick fix tape on the back of my neck if you will. Or low. Have you heard like the low pony, low tight pony gives you like a faux facelift. Because I don't have the time or the money to afford a facelift. I'm going to do low tight pony. Hahaha.

[Maggie Stasik]

Okay. Yeah, I'm going to try the low tight pony.

[Ella Cressman]

Don't put that thing on the back. Try the eye cream too.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah, it's instant gratification. Also there's something to be said about.

[Ella Cressman]

Right, yeah, for sure. I would definitely do that. But it's the same reason why we wear blush or lipstick. You know, it's a little bit, those are tweaks, but it's a little bit of change. And it's instant. I felt so, so much prettier right now. You're right.

[Maggie Stasik]

You made a point that I didn't even think about.

[Ella Cressman]

Oh my gosh, here I come. That's amazing.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah, absolutely. There are alternatives for long term results. Like for instance, microcurrent. This is consistent lifting and toning with continued use. What's your feeling about microcurrent?

[Ella Cressman]

I love it. I hated it. I love it. But I'm doing it different. You know, I do everything different.

[Maggie Stasik]

I do, I do a hundred percent. I see that microcurrent is effective, but it takes multiple treatments. You have to be consistent with it. It's not immediate gratification and for that reason I can't get behind it.

[Ella Cressman]

Well, can you get on my table? I'm gonna show you something. So I use it a little bit different. I don't sell it that way. Like, oh, it's permanent. Cause I agree with you. I feel like it's permanent. Ish.

[Maggie Stasik]

Right.

[Ella Cressman]

It's like, it's a lot of work. But the way that I use it in the treatment room is I use it to infuse serums.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah, okay.

[Ella Cressman]

It's so cool. And then there is that instant gratification. Then I show em while they're still laying down. I make em feel one side versus the other so that they feel really. I know it's me, the modality. I'm the modality that's moving stuff around. It's that my choice of serums to apply that makes the difference. But they're feeling the twitching muscles, right?

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah.

[Ella Cressman]

So I do like it. I really like it a lot. In fact, I really like what I'm using right now. I like playing with it. You know, I don't think it's a permanent solution for skin laxity or muscles. I just think it's another thing that I use like oh my goodness moment in my treatment.

[Maggie Stasik]

What do you think about like radio frequency and laser?

[Ella Cressman]

Oh geez. Laser. I feel like laser is interesting. I have seen a lot of when it goes wrong, like everything goes right for the first year. It's like healing how it's supposed to. And then, and I'm talking specifically about fraxel, but then I would see like two or three years later you could still see the dots, the placement, the specific areas. So when I think about specifically that, I don't see as much of that anymore. Do you?

[Maggie Stasik]

No. I feel like laser had its moment and not anymore. And it's not that it's not effective. I think that the science and technology behind ingredients like the serums you're talking about that you're able to infuse with microcurrent, for instance, that is catching up to more invasive procedures like laser. And I think people are realizing maybe I don't have to be so invasive. Maybe I don't have to spend so much money. I can do some of these other things that are equally giving me the lift in the tone.

[Ella Cressman]

Yeah, for lift and tone. Same with radio frequency. FA hurts.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah.

[Ella Cressman]

It's not comfortable. So if you can get something different, or maybe it's a longer road, but tackled in a different way. The longer road has the longer results. But I still think there's a place for like IPL or hair removal, because I think those. When they're looking at like vascular stuff.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ella Cressman]

It can make a big difference for sure.

[Maggie Stasik]

And there's other things on the market. I know some of them you've tried like pdo, thread lifts.

[Ella Cressman]

Oh, yeah, I've tried that.

[Maggie Stasik]

And of course injections or I mean, even facelift. I don't know if facelift is still a thing.

[Ella Cressman]

They're doing like lower facelifts now and not full facelifts. They're doing it in a different way. They're pulling in a different direction. The technology of that or the technique of facelifts have definitely changed. I remember 20 years ago having a client, like helping with her post care was just like a big incision in front of the ear. You could definitely see the scar years later. And now, I mean, I've had some clients that have like undetectable work done. So very interesting.

[Maggie Stasik]

So even though we have these more advanced treatments, a lot of people don't go this route. Could be time, it could be financial constraints. And then also, again, they want that immediate gratification. They're happy to apply their compression cream instead.

[Ella Cressman]

And then I'll swing the pendulum the other way. Some are like, this is me. This isn't how I'm aging, Grace. This is how I'm gracefully or not. This is how I'm aging. And I'm accepting it. I don't like it, but I'm accepting it.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah.

[Ella Cressman]

Do you think you'll get anything done?

[Maggie Stasik]

I have had radio frequency microneedling. I've done ipl. I have done microcurrent, which I don't want to waste my time on that. Maybe if, you know, I was at home with my microcurrent gloves.

[Ella Cressman]

I love those too.

[Maggie Stasik]

You know, fine. But to pay to go into an office week after week, no, that's not for me.

[Ella Cressman]

That's how I feel about led. Like, I would never go somewhere and pay to have an LED treatment specifically. But I'll do it at home. Yeah, I will get some stuff done.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah. Do you think that the consumer just doesn't have the knowledge or they have fear about doing some of these other procedures, but they're fine to just apply a cream?

[Ella Cressman]

Yes. I think it could be really scary. I think there's the perception of how they're going to look after. I think there's a cost like plastic surgery, especially facial plastic surgery in Denver specifically is outrageous. Especially for what it used to be. Five years ago, I think somebody's facelift, they were quoted $36,000 and rhinoplasties are up closer to 20 now in Denver. I mean, I think when I was looking, I'm not, I don't want to know. So I'm just saying, like, I was like, what? No way. What else is out there? So for me, like, that's not as accessible for everybody, but some people will find that somehow, some way. And then you also have the tourism, medical tourism, too. Have you? But I do. See, you don't know Darcy and Stacy. Oh, I'm going to show you a picture. You guys check out Darcy and Stacy from 90 Day Fiance. They went to Turkey.

[Maggie Stasik]

Wow.

[Ella Cressman]

Not everybody's going to come back looking like them, but you can get a lot of stuff done there. Mexico salon. I'm not endorsing it. I'm just saying, like, I don't know, I think long time ago, back when I was young, young, it seemed like a service only for the rich.

[Maggie Stasik]

Yeah.

[Ella Cressman]

So I feel like perhaps people of my generation might still feel that way or maybe younger generations see it as fixes and it might be more accessible for them.

[Maggie Stasik]

Beauty exists on a spectrum. It's okay to want a little of both, but accept yourself. And if a quick lift helps you feel bold today, that doesn't make you any less authentic listeners. We want to hear from you. What's your beauty pendulum? Do you trust in beauty in minutes or do you embrace the long game? Share with us on social media through Instagram, Facebook or by emailing getconnectedscpskincare.com thank you for listening to ASCPSDtalk. And as always, for more information on this episode or for ways to connect with Ella and myself, or to learn more about ascp, check out the show notes.