Esthetics is the application of various treatments to the skin’s epidermal layer. In other words, esthetics is all about healthy skin. Some of the techniques used by estheticians—or skin care professionals - include facial steaming, wrapping, exfoliation, waxing, pore cleansing, extraction, and chemical peels. Professionals give personal guidance on the latest in skin care maintenance and excel at helping clients apply makeup skillfully to conceal scars and imperfections. Central to this specialty is the use of creams, lotions, wraps, clay or gel masks, and salt scrubs. Some technicians may also utilize machines to help deliver high-tech services. Esthetic practice is different from dermatology in that it specifically excludes diagnosis, prescription, or any other service, procedure, or therapy that requires a medical license. If you’re being treated by a dermatologist, your esthetician will provide complementary and support therapies. In addition, estheticians are trained and licensed to recognize early signs of many medical conditions, including skin cancer, and will refer you to a dermatologist in such a case.
Skin care professionals are experts trained in skin wellness, helping their clients balance oil and moisture content and achieve a healthy, youthful complexion. A variety of treatments and products are used to protect skin from environmental hazards and combat fine lines, wrinkles, and a dull, uneven skin tone. Estheticians are also skilled in managing conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, and dry skin, to name just a few. Through specialized
therapies and remedies, a skin care professional can help ease the burdens such conditions can cause. Furthermore, skin care treatments are wonderfully relaxing and rejuvenating. If smooth, healthy skin is your aim, a skin care professional can benefit you.
During your first appointment, your skin care professional will discuss your skin care issues and goals. Once the practitioner has evaluated your skin, the two of you will work together to determine a course of action to achieve those goals. This plan will likely include treatments, home care, and follow-up appointments.
In addition to providing face and body treatments for personal use, skin care professionals educate clients on proper cleansing, exfoliating, hydrating, and stimulating regimens for homecare support between visits. Estheticians may also supply you with information on lifestyle choices, such as nutrition and exercise, to further support your skin health.
| Chemical Peel |
An exfoliation process usually used to minimize fine lines and wrinkles. |
| Exfoliation | Removal of dead skin cells, manually or using chemical peels. |
| Extraction | Proper pore cleansing, the removal of blackheads, whiteheads, and blocked pores. |
| Facials | After analysis, cleansing, and preparation, a mask is applied to the face. Therapeutic ingredients vary based on skin type. |
| Microdermabrasion | A technique utilizing a machine to exfoliate the uppermost layers of the skin. Used to treat hyperpigmentation and uneven surface texture. Some states require that estheticians who perform microdermabrasion meet certain requirements, be supervised by a physician, or that the technique is performed only by a physician. |
| Waxing | Hair-removal technique. Warm wax is applied to the skin, allowed to cool, then removed. |