AR Esthetician key terms

The lowest level of infection control, referring to cleaning and reducing visible soil and some microorganisms on surfaces, tools, and hands using soap, water, and mechanical action.

A process that uses chemical products registered with the EPA to destroy most harmful microorganisms, except bacterial spores, on nonporous implements and surfaces after they have been cleaned.

The highest level of infection control, using heat, steam, or chemical agents to destroy all microbial life, including bacterial spores, on implements and equipment.

A hospital-grade chemical product carrying an EPA registration number and label claims for killing specific pathogens, used according to its label dilution and contact time requirements.

The length of time a disinfectant must remain wet on a surface or implement to achieve the label's stated kill claims, typically stated on the product label.

An infection-control approach in which all blood and body fluids are treated as potentially infectious, so gloves and other barriers are used with every client regardless of known health status.

Infection-control practices combining universal precautions with additional measures such as hand hygiene, PPE, and safe handling of sharps and contaminated waste in all client interactions.

Barrier items such as gloves, safety glasses, masks, and aprons worn by the practitioner to prevent contact with blood, body fluids, chemicals, and other hazards during services.

The outermost, avascular layer of skin made of stratified keratinized cells, serving as the body's primary barrier against water loss, injury, and microorganisms.

The middle layer of skin beneath the epidermis, containing collagen and elastin fibers, blood vessels, nerves, glands, and hair follicles that support and nourish the epidermis.

The deepest skin layer, also called the hypodermis, composed mainly of fat and connective tissue that insulates the body, absorbs shock, and anchors the skin to underlying structures.

The outermost sublayer of the epidermis, consisting of flattened, dead keratinized cells that protect underlying tissue and help limit water loss through the skin.

A tough, fibrous protein produced by keratinocytes that forms the structural barrier of the skin, hair, and nails and helps make them water-resistant.

A pigment produced by melanocytes in the epidermis that gives skin, hair, and eyes their color and provides some protection against ultraviolet radiation.

A specialized cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that produces melanin and transfers it to surrounding keratinocytes.

An oil-producing gland usually attached to a hair follicle that secretes sebum onto the skin surface, helping lubricate skin and hair and contributing to acne formation when blocked.

An oily substance secreted by sebaceous glands that coats the skin and hair, helping retain moisture and maintain the acid mantle of the skin.

The slightly acidic protective film on the skin's surface formed by sebum, sweat, and cellular debris, which helps inhibit microbial growth and maintain barrier function.

The protective outer function of the skin, primarily the stratum corneum with its lipids, that limits water loss and blocks entry of irritants and microorganisms.

A fibrous protein in the dermis that provides strength and structural support to skin and is gradually reduced with aging and sun exposure.

A protein in the dermis that gives skin its ability to stretch and recoil, contributing to firmness and elasticity.

A classification of skin based on its oil and moisture balance, commonly described as normal, dry, oily, or combination, used to guide product and treatment selection.

A temporary or ongoing abnormality of the skin such as acne, dehydration, sensitivity, or hyperpigmentation that may require treatment modification or medical referral.

The central area of the face covering the forehead, nose, and chin, which often produces more oil than the cheeks and is used to identify combination skin.

A condition or circumstance that makes a service unsafe or inadvisable for a client, such as active infection, open lesions, or recent cosmetic procedures, requiring postponement or referral.

A structured pre-service conversation and assessment in which the practitioner reviews the client's health history, skin, goals, and contraindications and obtains informed consent before treatment.

A client's voluntary agreement to a service after being told its purpose, steps, risks, expected outcomes, and alternatives, documented before the procedure begins.

A small test application of a product on a limited area of skin, usually 24 to 48 hours before a full service, to check for an allergic or irritant reaction.

The first step of a facial, using a product suited to the client's skin to remove makeup, oil, and surface debris without stripping or irritating the skin.

The removal of dead cells from the skin surface by mechanical or chemical means to improve texture and appearance, performed with caution on sensitive or compromised skin.

Manual removal of comedones or trapped sebum from pores during a facial, performed only on suitable skin with proper technique and sanitation to avoid injury or infection.

A plugged hair follicle opening, either open (blackhead) or closed (whitehead), formed when sebum and dead cells block the pore.

A temporary hair removal method in which warm or hard wax is applied over the hair growth direction, allowed to set, and removed against the growth direction to pull hair from the follicle.

Reinserting a used wax applicator into the wax pot, which is prohibited because it can transfer blood and microorganisms between clients.

The repeating phases of hair development, including the active growth phase, a transition phase, and a resting phase, which explains why hair removal results vary between clients and sessions.

A tube-shaped pocket in the skin from which a hair grows, containing the root and bulb and connected to sebaceous glands.

The use of the color wheel to select and blend cosmetics, such as choosing complementary tones to neutralize unwanted color or enhance features.

Selecting a base makeup shade and undertone that blend naturally with the client's skin, tested along the jawline in natural light.

A cyanoacrylate-based product used to bond synthetic lashes to natural lashes, requiring careful handling, ventilation, and patch testing because of potential irritation and fume sensitivity.

A scale from 0 to 14 measuring the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, with 7 being neutral, used to match products to the skin's natural acid balance.

A molecule with water-loving and oil-loving ends that allows oil and water to mix, forming the basis of cleansers that lift oil and debris from skin.

A stable blend of two liquids that do not normally mix, such as oil and water, held together by an emulsifier and common in lotions and creams.

An immune response to an ingredient that may appear as redness, swelling, itching, or hives, requiring product discontinuation and, if severe, medical referral.

The state regulatory body that licenses estheticians and salons in Arkansas and enforces the cosmetology statutes and rules governing practice and sanitation.

The legal authorization to practice esthetics in Arkansas, granted after meeting education, examination, and application requirements and maintained through renewal.

The legally defined set of services and procedures an Arkansas-licensed esthetician is permitted to perform, with other services requiring referral or additional credentials.

The principles guiding honest, respectful, and confidential conduct toward clients and colleagues, including informed consent, accurate claims, and avoiding conflicts of interest.

The ethical and legal duty to protect a client's personal, health, and service information from disclosure without permission, except where required by law.

Advising a client on home-care products based on assessed skin needs, presented honestly with realistic expectations and without pressure or misleading claims.