Esthetician (Esthetician License) study plan

Draw and label the five epidermal strata from stratum germinativum to stratum corneum and state the primary function of each layer.

Describe the papillary and reticular dermis, naming the roles of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans in firmness and hydration.

Trace melanin production from melanocyte to keratinocyte and explain its role in UV protection and post-inflammatory pigmentation.

Compare the locations and secretions of sebaceous glands, eccrine glands, and apocrine glands, and predict how each affects skin behavior during a facial.

List the skin's six functions (protection, sensation, heat regulation, excretion, secretion, absorption) and give one concrete example of each.

Differentiate primary lesions from secondary lesions and name at least six of each with a one-line description.

Sort bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections into treatable-in-salon versus refer-to-physician categories and justify each placement.

Distinguish skin types (normal, dry, oily, combination) from skin conditions (dehydration, sensitivity, aging, acne) using observable evidence.

Identify pigmentation and vascular disorders (melasma, vitiligo, telangiectasia, hyperpigmentation) and state the esthetician's scope for each.

State five written criteria for stopping a service and referring a client to a physician.

Define sanitation, disinfection, and sterilization and classify at least eight salon implements by the level of control each requires.

Demonstrate the correct handwashing sequence and glove donning/removal, narrating each step aloud.

Read an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant label and extract the contact time, kill claims, dilution instructions, and safety data sheet location.

Write and rehearse the bloodborne-pathogen exposure procedure for a cut during a waxing service.

Separate porous from nonporous implements and state which may be reused, which must be discarded, and why.

Sequence a standard facial from pre-service consultation through post-service home-care recommendation, timing each phase.

Select cleansers, toners, and exfoliants for dry, oily, sensitive, and mature skin profiles and defend each choice by ingredient function.

Compare physical and chemical exfoliation on mechanism, appropriate candidates, and contraindications.

Apply massage manipulations during a facial in the correct direction and pressure for the stated skin condition.

Execute disinfection of the station between clients without missing a surface.

Build a written intake and consultation form capturing medications, allergies, prior services, and lifestyle factors that change treatment decisions.

Conduct a full skin analysis on two volunteers using visual inspection under magnification and a Wood's lamp, and record findings in objective language.

Convert analysis findings into a treatment plan with a stated goal, product selection, and rebooking interval for each client.

Flag contraindications from completed intake forms and rewrite the service plan to remove the risk.

Draft three measurable home-care recommendations a client can follow and self-check for a week.

Demonstrate five classic massage manipulations (effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, friction, vibration) with correct direction, pressure, and rhythm.

List at least eight massage contraindications and explain what to do when one appears on an intake form.

Sequence a 15-minute facial massage that supports the treatment goal established in the consultation.

Compare hard wax, soft wax, and sugaring on application temperature, hair length required, and suitable body areas.

Execute a patch test, hair-growth direction check, and clean waxing setup, then demonstrate underarm and lower-leg waxing with no double-dipping.

Interpret an ingredient label from the top five ingredients down and identify the surfactant, humectant, emollient, and preservative system.

Explain the pH scale and the acid mantle, then predict how a high-pH cleanser changes skin barrier function.

Classify the electrical modalities used in facials and state one safety rule and one contraindication for each.

Apply color theory to identify warm, cool, and neutral undertones and select a matching foundation for each.

Use complementary colors to correct redness, sallowness, and dark circles on a face chart.

Distinguish superficial, medium, and deep chemical peels by acid, pH, and expected downtime, and list indications and absolute contraindications for each.

Explain Fitzpatrick skin typing and why it governs peel and microdermabrasion parameters.

Describe microdermabrasion and one device-based treatment, including pass limits, endpoint, and aftercare instructions.

State your state's licensing, sanitation, and scope-of-practice requirements and identify at least three tasks an esthetician may not legally perform.

Complete two timed 100-question practice exams and review every missed item to its source domain.