CIBTAC Beauty Therapy Diploma (Ireland) key terms

Any condition, medication, or circumstance that makes a treatment unsafe or inadvisable for a client. Therapists must identify these during consultation and either adapt the service or decline to proceed.

The structured conversation before a treatment in which the therapist gathers the client's history, expectations, and lifestyle details, then agrees a plan and records consent.

A small controlled application of a product, usually on the inner forearm, performed ahead of a treatment to check whether the client reacts adversely to an ingredient.

The written or electronic document holding a client's consultation answers, treatment details, products used, and consent signature, retained securely in line with data protection rules.

A client's clear agreement to a treatment after being told what it involves, its expected benefits, and its possible risks, given freely and without pressure.

The outermost, avascular layer of skin that renews itself continuously and provides the main barrier against water loss, irritants, and microorganisms.

The living layer beneath the epidermis containing collagen, elastin, blood vessels, nerves, glands, and hair follicles, giving skin its strength and elasticity.

The uppermost part of the epidermis, made of flattened dead cells rich in keratin, which limits water loss and resists friction and mild chemical attack.

A tough fibrous protein that fills skin, hair, and nail cells, making them hard-wearing and water-resistant.

A structural protein in the dermis that forms strong fibres supporting the skin, with production declining gradually from the mid-twenties onwards.

A springy protein in the dermis that lets skin stretch and return to shape, contributing to firmness and a smooth surface.

A gland usually attached to a hair follicle that secretes sebum, an oily substance lubricating skin and helping to keep the surface supple.

The oily secretion produced by sebaceous glands that coats the skin surface, reducing moisture loss but potentially contributing to congestion in oily skin.

A blocked pore containing sebum and dead skin cells. It may stay open as a dark plug or closed as a pale bump beneath the surface.

The controlled removal of comedones or milia from pores using gentle pressure, performed only on suitable skin and with hygiene measures in place.

The removal of dead cells from the skin surface by mechanical or chemical means to smooth texture and improve the absorption of products applied afterwards.

A galvanic current technique that softens sebum and loosens congestion in oily skin before extraction, often used during a deep-cleansing facial.

A direct electrical current used in facial work, applied either to drive water-soluble products into the skin or to draw impurities outwards depending on polarity.

The use of a low-level direct current to encourage water-soluble active ingredients to pass into the upper skin layers during a facial treatment.

A treatment using a glass electrode that delivers a mild alternating current, producing a violet glow and ozone, commonly applied to blemished or oily skin.

A sequence of light, rhythmic massage strokes that encourages lymph movement through the superficial vessels, often used to reduce puffiness and support circulation.

A smooth, gliding massage stroke performed with relaxed hands in the direction of the muscle fibres, used to apply product and link other movements.

A group of kneading and compression massage movements that work on muscle and deeper tissue, used after the area has been warmed with gliding strokes.

A brisk percussive massage movement using the hands or fingertips in alternating light blows, typically applied briefly near the end of a body massage.

A six-point classification of skin colour and its typical response to ultraviolet exposure, used to judge sun risk and select appropriate treatment intensity.

Premature skin ageing caused by cumulative ultraviolet exposure, showing as pigmentation changes, coarse texture, and loss of elasticity.

A tendency for skin to react quickly with redness, stinging, or tightness to products, friction, heat, or environmental change, requiring gentler product selection and shorter treatments.

The visible hard keratin structure covering the nail bed, protected at its free edge and bordered at the base by the cuticle and nail fold.

The thin layer of dead skin sealing the base of the nail plate against the nail fold, which should be softened and pushed back rather than cut aggressively.

A small strip of torn skin beside the nail, often caused by dryness or rough handling. It should be trimmed carefully and never pulled, to avoid infection.

A warmed wax application to hands or feet that holds heat against the skin, softening dry skin and easing stiffness before removal.

A treatment that dyes the eyelashes to darken them for several weeks, requiring a patch test and careful protection of the eye area throughout.

A warm wax applied thinly and removed with a fabric strip, suited to larger areas and finer hair growth.

A thicker wax applied in a layer and removed once set without strips, gripping coarser hair and often chosen for sensitive or smaller areas.

The repeating sequence of growth, transition, and rest that each hair follicle follows, explaining why waxing needs regular repetition to catch hairs at the right stage.

The transfer of microorganisms from one person, surface, or tool to another. Prevention relies on hand hygiene, clean linen, and correct tool decontamination.

A process that destroys all microorganisms, including spores, on reusable tools. It is required for items that may contact broken skin or body fluids.

The standard reference stance with the body upright, face forward, arms at the sides, and palms facing ahead, used to describe locations and directions consistently.