IECP Program

Aliesh Pierce, LE is the author of Milady’s Aesthetics Series: Treating Diverse Pigmentation, a textbook educating estheticians about multi-ethnic protocols. She began her career in the beauty industry as a makeup artist in Milan. Moving back to the states, she attracted celebrity clients like Queen Latifah, India. Arie, Ming Na Wen, and the Obama family. However, when she wanted to get to the core of her client’s concerns, she turned to skincare and has been a licensed esthetician for 17 years.

Her aesthetics career includes holding positions as the Director of Education for DMK Skin Revision and Veria Ayurvedic Skincare, the Marketing Manager for R&E Cosmetics Labs, and the Product Training Specialist for Vitality Institute. She also had a hand in formulating products for Daily Concepts and the new Viola Rouge cosmetics line.

Aliesh has been the keynote speaker at conferences all over the United States, as well as Switzerland, Italy, and China.

She currently divides her time working as an independent consultant, creating courses for her e-learning platform AskAliesh.com, and offering transformative skincare services at her skin treatment studio in Philadelphia, PA.

Dr. Raja Sivamani is a board-certified dermatologist and practices as an integrative dermatologist at Pacific Skin Institute. He is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Clinical Dermatology at the University of California, Davis and Director of Clinical Research and the Clinical Trials Unit.He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the California State University, Sacramento and an Associate Professor of Dermatology at California Northstate University, College of Medicine.He engages in clinical practice as well as both clinical and translational research that integrates bioengineering, nutrition, cosmetics, and skin biology. With training in both Allopathic and Ayurvedic medicine, he takes an integrative approach to his patients and in his research.He has published over 100 peer-reviewed research manuscripts, 10 textbook chapters, and a textbook entitled Cosmeceuticals and Active Cosmetics, 3rd Edition with a passion for expanding the evidence and boundaries of integrative medicine for skin care.

Dr. Peter Lio is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Pediatrics at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, completed his internship in Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital, and his Dermatology training at Harvard where he served as Chief Resident in Dermatology. Dr. Lio is the founding director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center and has spoken nationally and internationally about atopic dermatitis, as well as alternative medicine.

After finishing Medical School and Dermatology Residency at the University of Wisconsin, Dr. Bodemer completed a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. She was the first Dermatologist to be board certified in both Dermatology and Integrative Medicine and currently is the only Dermatologist to serve on the Integrative Medicine Board. She has authored academic texts and curriculum and has spoken widely on a variety of topics related to Integrative Dermatology. She has always been drawn to exploring how lifestyle choices impact skin health and disease and feels that the most powerful role a physician can play is as an educator and guide, empowering people to get healthy and stay healthy.

The pioneer of integrating Tibetan and Indian Ayurvedic wellness techniques into the spa and beauty industry, Melanie Sachs has worked steadily over the last twenty-five years to bring the deep benefits of this sacred healing art to her students and clients worldwide. Through these efforts, Ayurveda is now listed as one of the ten spa trends. It is fully accepted and respected as a precious gem capable of transforming the spa experience into a journey toward beauty through balance. Through her writing and teachings, Melanie explains that it is by eating a healthy diet, participating in suitable exercise and regular spiritual practices together with a natural skincare regiment that we all can reach our goal and discover our own personal happiness and lasting radiance; a quality in Ayurveda beyond inner and outer beauty known as our secret beauty.
  
Melanie works closely with her husband, Robert Sachs. Founding Diamond Way Ayurveda in 1996, together, they provide excellence in education and pure Ayurvedic products to complement their unique spa treatments. Melanie and Robert have created.

Ayurvedic Beauty Care, Ayurvedic Spa (both books with Lotus Press), educational DVDs, and numerous articles for magazines. Melanie teaches worldwide, training individuals and spa teams in standard and signature Ayurvedic treatments using their organic essential oil blends, powdered herbs, and specialized Ayurvedic spa equipment they personally designed. She has designed both in-person and home study programs in all Diamond Way Ayurveda techniques, which have been instrumental in Ayurvedic therapies gaining acceptance and respect from AMTA ( American Massage Therapy Association) and NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork).
 
The name “Diamond Way” comes directly from the Tibetan tradition and means that our path to the highest joy is through helping others. It is this core belief is the fuels the energy behind this determined individual. 

At age 16, geek4beauty founder Chandra Bredel began her journey in the beauty industry. It took less than a moment and she knew this was the start of something pivotal!

As an apprentice makeup artist working with drag stars and performers in the Manhattan cabaret scene, life was about covering up and enhancing “the look” vs. proper skincare to achieve the ultimate natural beauty. Hours of makeup application became the literal foundation of her knowledge – seeing the result of endless layers of stage makeup without proper skincare was the edge that she needed to propel and further her interest in the world of beauty – specifically the science of skin and ultimately skincare! 

Within the multi-channeled beauty industry and its’ every changing landscape, Chandra knew that education was her guiding principle and the key to her future success. Esthetics to her was not just an art, it was an art of science and skin. She continued her studies with the wellness movement and was one of the pioneers evangelizing the concept of blending eastern and western methodologies in the treatment room for ultimate results.

Over the next 30 years, Bredel studied science and skincare formulation while honing her esthetic skills in the treatment room with some of the most sought after dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons – a dynamic career in the beauty industry was in the making. Today she is an accomplished esthetician, international esthetic educator, published author, product development consultant and connoisseur of all things beauty - from ingredients and formulation to final product- she is known as an the Esty’s best friend and the Geek4Beauty in the social circles.

Pamela Springer’s knowledge has given her the recognition as a leader in aesthetics education. She is highly sought after professional speaker for TV, medical conferences and aesthetics tradeshows. She has appeared on Oprah, as well as a skincare expert on local stations, such as FOX, NBC and ABC affiliates.

Pamela began her career in the beauty industry as a National Training Director for a major skincare company. She soon discovered the industry’s lack of information on the skin care needs of the ethnic market. This encouraged her to complete her licensing goals as an Aesthetician and also, as an Aesthetics Instructor.

Though her initial training in aesthetics allowed her to know the skin and its treatments of various skin conditions, there was no training in the nuances of ethnic skins.

Searching for this training, she was introduced to a well-known board certified dermatologist and medical school professor who specialized in Ethno Dermatology and was given a 9-month internship. Pamela realized the importance of this untapped market and founded The Skin & Makeup Institute of Arizona, offering studies in the anomalies seen in skin of color.

In 2009, Springer introduced Global Skin Solutions, a corrective PRO skin care product line. Global Skin Solutions is formulated to reflect the unique challenges consumers face in today’s diverse ethnic market. For more information or a personal consultation, send an email to [email protected].

Vaidya Ashlesha Raut is a third generation Vaidya (Ayurvedic Physician) practicing Ayurveda for 20 years and has been an integral part of the Global Holistic healing community with a mission towards providing a Holistic Path for Wellness and Optimal Health through Ayurveda and integrative medicine. Dr. (Vaidya) Ashlesha Raut is passionate about teaching and has taught in various Ayurvedic colleges in multiple states in the USA and continues to serve as faculty in various universities.

She strongly believes spreading Ayurveda consciousness is a global need today for achieving “Health For All” and this can be seeded and spread through research. Currently, as a founder and Director at Ayurveda For Healing Inc., Vaidya Ashlesha Raut maintains an Ayurveda Wellness and Panchakarma center where she practices Ayurveda in Bloomington, Chicago, IL and the Midwest region.

Jenny’s background and experience are rooted in Traditional East Asian Medicine, Ayurvedic Healing and the Yogic Lineages.

She has worked extensively as an Ayurvedic Postpartum doula supporting mothers in their recovery from childbirth since 2012. Jenny has been teaching Yoga in the Long Beach community since 2006, and leads workshops and retreats with the aim of empowering folks to take control of their health and well being. She co-founded Sacred Roots Holistic Healing in 2013, a community wellness and education center located in Long Beach, Ca.

Jenny’s work is centered around preventative healing, using a trauma informed lens, and an understanding that wellness is interconnected to the health of the planet and society as a whole.

Hi, I’m Jewellee, I hail from the city of Philadelphia. My love for beauty started very early on, from watching my Mom (who sold Avon on the side) get ready for work every morning, never leaving the house without eye-shadow and lipstick (still to this day), to making sure her hair and nails were/are done every two weeks. My mom showed me the importance of self-care and self-maintenance, and despite all the hours she worked, she still found time to make sure she looked and felt good. I studied Criminal Justice at Temple University, but after 4 years of studies, I realized that was not my passion. I swiftly changed course and applied to be a Flight Attendant where I also spent 4 years before realizing again, I still haven't found my passion. Fast forward a few months, I found myself working part-time at a Lash Salon as a receptionist. Watching the girls work and seeing how happy the clients were, I then had my “AH-HA!” moment. My passion was to make people happy and to make people feel amazing about themselves. I realized through the Beauty Industry I could do just that. I could help others, just like my mom.


I enrolled at The Jean Madeline Aveda Institute, where I earned my Esthiology diploma and went on to take my state boards to become a Licensed Esthetician in PA. Now every day I wake up, I get to say that I am doing something I love. Something that matters. More importantly, something that empowers people. I have found passion in one of the most rewarding industries, and I am beyond thrilled to share that passion with you all. My goal is to bring comprehensive skincare and product education to all of my clients so that while both in the treatment room and at home they feel confident in their self-care routine and life. My passion from teaching comes from my love of sharing my knowledge and life experiences to help inspire others to do the same.

His passion for having people embrace their individual beauty and skincare led to a 20+ year career working in cosmetics and product development with Neiman Marcus, Chanel, Saint Laurent, Tom Ford, Bobbi Brown,

MAC Cosmetics, and many, many other high-end brands. Lashelle empowers his clients with easy, effective, and accessible skin care treatments that result in healthy-looking skin and effortless self-confidence. Lashelle is trained in oncology skin health and has created workshops and course curricula on The effects of cancer on the skin with Cancer Tower Research center, in Beverly Hills as well as Cancer support LA. His Purpose is the education of normalizing men's skin health through the mindset of self-care. His Goal is to inspire more wellness practices that enable men to be empowered to stay on the path of a lifelong journey of optimal health and well-being, as well as have skin health practices seen as a vital part of integrative healthcare.

Dr. Olivia Hsu Friedman holds a Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, completed an additional diploma in Traditional Chinese Medicine Dermatology and is a NCCAOM board licensed Illinois acupuncturist. She is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats dermatology patients in office and via video conference using only herbal medicine. Outside of the office, Olivia serves as a Board Member for the American Society of Acupuncturists and as faculty for the Chicago Eczema Support Center.

Dr. Fuller understands his purpose is to heal and help other heal. He realizes the importance of treating the whole person not just disease. He studied Psychology and received his BA from UCLA He is a certificated massage therapist with over 20 years of experience. Rufus is a certified yoga instructor (200Hr). He received both Masters of Traditional Chinese Medicine (MTOM), and Doctorate of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (DAOM) from Emperor's College.

Dr. Fuller teaches yoga three times a week online and in person. He is the Academic Director of Panacea Holistic Institute where he also teaches integrative approaches. He owns and operates SOTAS Integrative Medicine and Acupuncture in Long Beach California.

Dr. Julie Greenberg is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and Registered Herbalist RH(AHG) who specializes in integrative dermatology. She is the founder of the Center for Integrative Dermatology, a holistic clinic that approaches skin and hair problems by finding and treating the root cause. Dr. Greenberg holds degrees from Northwestern University (BA), Stanford University (MBA) and Bastyr University (ND). Her research on the gut microbiome of acne patients has been published in a leading peer-reviewed clinical dermatology journal. While at naturopathic medical school, Dr. Greenberg received training with leading experts in dermatology at the University of Washington Medical School Dermatology Clinic and Seattle Children’s Hospital Pediatric Dermatology Clinic. She lectures at naturopathic medical schools and speaks at conferences across the U.S. on the topics of hair, skin and nails.

Rachael Pontillo is a holistic skincare formulator, educator, conscious beauty brand and marketing consultant, healthy skin media expert, and licensed aesthetician. She teaches skincare makers, founders, and practitioners to create innovative plant-based formulations, develop launch + growth solutions, and supports their continuing education in plant-based skincare formulation, and authentic online business and marketing with the Create Your Skincare Pro online courses and in her consultancy. She offers integrative skin wellness training and certification to aestheticians, health coaches, and other beauty and wellness pros through her professionally accredited Certified Nutritional Aesthetics Practitioner® Training Program.

Rachael is the author of two best-selling books -- "Love Your Skin, Love Yourself" and "The Sauce Code. She serves on the Advisory Boards of organizations such as Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® and Made Safe™. As the president and co-founder of The Nutritional Aesthetics Alliance, she serves as the curriculum developer + chief instructor of the Certified Nutritional Aesthetics Practitioner Training Program. Rachael is also a regular on-air contributor speaking on skincare, plant-based beauty products and DIY, and skin-healthy lifestyle choices for Cheddar News, ABC’s Good Morning Washington, ABC’s Good Morning CT at Nine, ABC’s Outside the Classroom, PHL17’s Morning News, Fox’s Good Day NY, and more.

All of Rachael's efforts stem from her passion for ethical and sustainable practices to promote healthier and more inclusive standards of beauty (for all people of all ages, skin types, tones, textures) while supporting the skin as the whole, living, miraculous organ that it is!

Linda Bertaut is a pioneer in the Beauty Industry. She brought Reiki and energy healing to esthetics over 20 years ago. Linda is a Milady author, national speaker, award-winning esthetician, and Reiki master teacher.

Linda is the healer's healer, teaching others how to embrace and utilize their healing abilities. She is the inventor of Energy Make-Overs and gemstone treatments. Linda founded Chakralicious to help people find meaning and purpose in life.

Millicent Russo, LE LEI CLT LSO WFR is on a mission to elevate the aesthetics industry. She founded the Integrated Aesthetics Institute and the Integrated Aesthetics Association. Both provide high quality aesthetic education and business building opportunities. She is know for her well researched, through and detail oriented presentations. Millicent provides a boutique style - world class educational experiences in an engaging atmosphere.

Her alumni are some of the most successful in the industry. She is a consultant for physicians, nurses and aesthetics schools. She lectures around the country and trains educators of professional skin care brands. She was named a ‘Top 20 Entrepreneur of 2022’ by Phoenix Magazine. She will be hosting the 2023 Men’s Esthetics Conference and will be a Skin Games judge in 2023.

Elisha Reverby’s career in organic beauty and wellness span over 25 years. She has been mentored by some of the most esteemed chemists and beauty industry experts and is a pioneer in natural skin care, formulating and manufacturing her own skin care products at a time when there were no labs to do it for her.

Elisha’s passion for skin nutrition began in the home with a mom whose core values were rooted-in health and using food as medicine. These directly influence how Elisha lives her life and how she advises her clients. She has transformed the most troubled skin and unhealthy lifestyles with a straight-forward, loving and easy-to-digest approach that combines nutrition, lifestyle medicine and her signature Simple Beauty skin care routine. You can email Elisha at [email protected]

Elisha is a serial entrepreneur. Apart from being CEO of Elique Organics, she owned Get Waxed, an nationally recognized organic waxing & skin care boutique in Venice Beach. Get Waxed was recognized as the Best in LA by Allure, LA Weekly and InStyle magazine and has been featured on ABC News, Z Living Channel and Vogue magazine. Elisha has created Limited Edition collections for Crosby Street Hotel and ABC Home, both in New York City and Elique has been featured in WWD, CNN, Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, Lucky Magazine, Jewish Woman magazine and Edible Westside. She is a CA and NY State Licensed Esthetician, Dr. Vodder Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapist, Certified Ayurvedic Wellness Educator and Chef.

Elisha is a philanthropist and creates wellness days for those less advantaged and with the help of her clients she distributes homemade food and other essentials to the homeless community in Los Angeles. Personally, she relishes in a good who-dunnit and one day dreams of a mountain property where she will grow plants, distill hydrosols, host retreats and give a home to any animal that needs one.

Dr. Aastha Kalra is an internal medicine specialist in Newport News, VA and has been in practice for more than 11 years. She received her medical degree from Lake Erie College Of Osteopathic Medicine in 2008 and specializes in Internal Medicine.

Dr. DeJarra K. Sims, known by her patients as Dr. DJ,  is a Naturopathic Doctor, published author, and prolific speaker. She received her Bachelor's in Biology from Prairie View A&M University, in Texas, and she completed her doctorate at Sonoran University of Health Sciences in Phoenix (formerly SCNM). She has served as an Assistant Professor and Core Faculty at Bastyr University California teaching Dermatology and Business Practices and as a former Adjunct Clinical Professor at Sonoran University. 

Dr. DJ established her virtual clinic Superhero SkinCare to remind women of their identity and bring out the adventurous, gorgeous superhero that exists within them. To do this, she provides personalized treatment plans to improve the skin, reset the liver, balance hormones, and support digestion.

Dr. DJ is a well-known keynote speaker, who has given talks at medical conferences and even Comic-Con! Her training in improvisational comedy at The Finest City Improv in San Diego and The Second City in Hollywood has helped her create lively and energetic presentations that keep audiences engaged as they learn. 

My passion has always been to perform clinical result-based treatments with a spa-like feel. My goal is that every patient leaves my treatment room with not just glowing skin, but a glow from within that comes from a feeling of rejuvenation and renewed confidence.

I have been a licensed esthetician for over a decade and many of those have been spent in a medical setting. I am forever a student with a passion for aesthetics. I am always seeking out new training and education to continually deepen my knowledge and improve my talent and skills in order to provide my patients the best care and information possible.

Meet Mila Grass, the dynamic beauty guru with a heart as adventurous as her spirit! With a whopping 18 years of experience in the beauty industry, Mila is no stranger to the world of skincare and wellness. Armed with dual licenses in esthetics and cosmetology, as well as being a certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and esthetics educator, Mila is the ultimate beauty powerhouse.

Currently, she's at the helm as the director of the Integrative Esthetician Certificate Program at Learn Skin, where she's shaping the future of skincare professionals. But that's not all - Mila independently offers a holistic Ayurvedic approach to skincare, concocting custom blends of herbs for everything from oils to masks, all while dishing out sage advice on lifestyle and nutrition.

But Mila's not just about beauty; she's a firm believer that health and beauty go hand in hand. With her trademark compassion and boundless enthusiasm, she's on a mission to empower her clients to look and feel their best from the inside out.

When she's not busy revolutionizing the beauty industry, you'll find Mila satisfying her wanderlust, rocking out at concerts, or fearlessly diving into new experiences. And let's not forget her generous spirit - Mila's dedication to organizations like NAMA, CAAM, Yoga Gives Back, and Lupus.org, among others, showcases her commitment to making the world a more beautiful place, inside and out.

So, if you're ready to unlock the secret to radiant beauty and holistic wellness, look no further than Mila Grass - because when you meet her, you're in for a treat!