CA Esthetician flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

California esthetician training hours

In California, an esthetician license requires completion of 600 hours of instruction at a Board-approved school, a minimum age of 17, and 10th-grade education or equivalent.

Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

California's licensing agency within the Department of Consumer Affairs that licenses estheticians, cosmetologists, barbers, and establishments, adopts sanitation regulations, and inspects businesses.

Posting your license

A current individual license must be displayed at the workstation or establishment in a conspicuous place, and the establishment itself must hold a separate current license.

Unannounced board inspections

Board representatives may enter and inspect a licensed establishment during business hours without prior notice, checking sanitation practices, licensing, and compliance with regulations.

Esthetician scope limits

Estheticians may perform skin care, makeup, and hair removal by wax, tweezers, depilatories, or threading, but not electrolysis, laser treatments, or medical diagnosis, which require other licensure.

Disinfection

Use of an EPA-registered, hospital-grade product to destroy most bacteria, fungi, and viruses on nonporous implements, but not bacterial spores; implements must be cleaned of debris first.

Sterilization

A process that destroys all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, typically using an autoclave; it is required for items that penetrate skin or contact blood and body fluids.

Double-dipping

Re-inserting a used applicator into a product container, which transfers contaminants; instead use a spatula to dispense product or a fresh single-use applicator for each dip.

Blood spill procedure

Stop the service, put on gloves, absorb the spill, clean the area with a tuberculocidal disinfectant or a 1:10 bleach solution, and double-bag contaminated waste.

Pathogen types

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites are the four microbial groups of concern; hepatitis B and C and HIV are bloodborne viruses, and ringworm is a fungus.

Facial treatment sequence

A standard facial flows from consultation and cleansing through skin analysis, exfoliation, extractions if appropriate, massage, and mask, finishing with moisturizer and sunscreen.

Effleurage

A light, gliding massage stroke applied with the palms and fingers that begins and ends most facial massages, warming tissue and aiding product absorption.

AHA versus BHA

Alpha hydroxy acids such as glycolic and lactic acid are water-soluble and work on the skin surface; beta hydroxy acid, salicylic acid, is oil-soluble and penetrates pores.

Facial steam distance

Steam is held roughly 12 to 18 inches from the client's face for about 5 to 10 minutes to soften comedones before extraction, with the eyes protected.

Mask selection rule

Choose clay masks for oily or congested skin, creamy hydrating masks for dry or mature skin, and gel masks for sensitive or overheated skin.

Anagen growth phase

The active growth phase of the hair cycle, lasting about two to six years; waxing is most effective when hairs are in anagen and at least one-quarter inch long.

Epilation versus depilation

Epilation removes hair from the root, as in waxing, tweezing, threading, sugaring, and electrolysis; depilation removes hair at the surface, as in shaving and chemical depilatories.

Waxing contraindications

Avoid waxing on clients using isotretinoin or topical retinoids, or with recent chemical peels, laser treatments, sunburn, varicose veins, or a history of keloids.

Hard wax

A strip-free wax applied thicker than soft wax and removed once set; it grips hair without adhering strongly to skin and suits delicate areas.

Neutralizing redness

Green is opposite red on the color wheel, so a green corrector cancels redness from blemishes or flushing before foundation is applied.

Brow mapping points

The brow starts above the inner eye corner, peaks over the outer edge of the iris, and ends on a diagonal from the nostril past the outer eye corner.

Tint patch test

A small amount of tint applied behind the ear or in the elbow crease 24 to 48 hours before the service, with results documented, to detect an allergic reaction.

Mascara sanitation

Mascara must never be shared or double-dipped; use disposable wands, never return a used wand to the tube, and discard product about three months after opening.

Stratum basale

The deepest epidermal layer, where keratinocytes divide; it houses melanocytes that produce melanin and Merkel cells involved in light touch sensation.

Collagen and elastin

Dermal proteins made by fibroblasts: collagen provides strength and structure, while elastin allows skin to stretch and recoil; both decline with age and sun damage.

Functions of skin

Protection, sensation, heat regulation, excretion, secretion, absorption, and vitamin D synthesis are the skin's seven primary functions.

Eccrine versus apocrine

Eccrine sweat glands are distributed over most of the body and regulate temperature; apocrine glands are limited to the underarms and genital area and activate at puberty.

Skin thickness variation

Skin is thinnest on the eyelids, around 0.5 millimeters, and thickest on the palms and soles, which affects product penetration and the caution needed during treatment.

Intake form

A client questionnaire documenting medical history, medications, allergies, prior skin reactions, and pregnancy, used to identify contraindications before any service is performed.

Informed consent

The client's documented agreement to a service after being told the technique, products, expected results, and possible risks; it is obtained before treatment begins.

Scope of practice referral

Estheticians do not diagnose skin disease; suspicious moles, persistent rashes, and infected lesions should be documented and referred to a physician.

Active listening

A consultation skill using open-ended questions, paraphrasing, and undivided attention to confirm the client's goals and expectations before recommending a treatment plan.