Always Evolving

I have to say that I love my job. I am mentally and professionally challenged on a daily basis, work with a creative and talented team, and I have the pleasure of meeting with some very fascinating people, including industry legends.

I recently had the rare opportunity to meet face-to-face with Jutta Kleine-Tebbe, chairwoman of the administrative board of BABOR Cosmetics—a remarkable woman with a fascinating story to tell. I was eager to hear her angle on this industry’s growth, and where she feels it is heading.

Kleine-Tebbe, a licensed esthetician herself, learned much of the business from her father, Leo Vossen, MD, who pioneered the concept for natural, biomedical skin care through his association with Michael Babor, PhD. Vossen then bought the company in 1962. Vossen took his daughter under his wing at the tender age of 18, and for 44 years she has devoted her career to the company, which recently was recognized with A Life of Beauty award, presented to her at Beauty International in Düsseldorf. This award salutes individuals who have devoted their lives to skin care and cosmetics, and are recognized as industry trailblazers.

So, what does this trailblazer think about the industry as it stands today? “In the 1990s, the industry boomed,” she told me, adding that this was the beginning of what has become a leading industry.

She added that this led into a generation of people who are more interested in antioxidants, and what is going on inside the body. “Today’s consumer wants to know about the ingredients in a product. They see skin care as a necessity, not a luxury,” she relayed. “Today’s spa-goer is also more educated. People take better care of themselves and their families—looking, feeling and smelling good—it all fits together. People want to make changes to better themselves.

As for the future, “Preventive is the future,” she went on. “New technology makes it possible to make the creams more soft and usable than in the past. For each decade of your life, there are different creams to aid each step.”

“The future is booming, because we haven’t stopped progressing in regard to the holistic approach,” Klein-Tebbe said. “People need to socialize. The spa, and wellness, is somewhere that people can go to make something together. The baby boomers are a wealthy generation, and this makes them independent. Also attributing to this is the fact that health care is not what it used to be. Everyone needs to look out for their own health. People now can go to a spa and make a day out of it, and go home feeling better than ever before.”

Another trend that she sees is more personalized and adventurous treatments. “A spa can no longer have just a cabin,” she continued.

“Wellness just keeps evolving,” Klein-Tebbe told me as we ended our interview. “The next generation probably will live for 100 years or more because of all of the things that we now know.”

Change is good

As this industry evolves, so does Skin Inc. magazine. This year, you will see a bit more of an international flare both in the pages of the magazine, and in our conference program at Face & Body. Bi-monthly, we will feature an International Trends column, written by industry experts on different continents—watch for its debut in February. You’ll also see more series articles, so that we can get in-depth with a particular topic matter (be sure to read “The Differences Between Men and Women—Part I: The Brain and Personality Development” by Guy Lewis, PhD), and we also welcome back our Physiology of the Skin features written by another industry legend, Peter T. Pugliese, MD.

Look for our annual Buyer’s Guide this May, which also will serve as a tool for your 2008 planning. And be sure to mark your calendars for Aug. 26–28, 2007, as Face & Body returns to Moscone South in San Francisco to celebrate its 15th anniversary.

Introductions

It has been a season of change in Skin Inc. magazine’s editorial department. Abby Penning has joined our team as assistant editor. Abby is a fellow Iowa State University graduate, and recently served a yearlong apprenticeship with Country Home magazine, a Meredith Corp. publication. You’ll be seeing Abby throughout the year at industry events and shows, so be sure to say hello and welcome her to this wonderful industry.

Lois Hince is back as Allured Publishing’s senior managing editor, and will be working closely with the Skin Inc. magazine team to help ensure the level of quality and professionalism that you are accustomed to.

And, congratulations also goes out to associate editor/Web editor Cathy Christensen and her husband Terry on the birth of Samuel David on October 30. Sam joins big brother Jackson, who is now 2.

I’m excited about the New Year, and I hope you are, as well. Just think of the growth and potential that is out there just waiting to be discovered.

Until next month,

Melinda Taschetta-Millane

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