LA Esthetician study materials
LA Esthetician study resources

LA Esthetician study plan

LA Esthetician · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 7 hours per week

Week 1

Infection Control, Sanitation, and Safety

  • Define the chain of infection and list at least three points in a salon service where it can be broken.

  • Distinguish cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization, and state which level of decontamination applies to implements that contact intact skin versus broken skin.

  • Compare the label claims and contact times of one hospital-grade disinfectant and one EPA-registered low-level product, recording the required immersion time for each.

  • Demonstrate the correct sequence for handwashing and for donning and doffing gloves before a facial.

Your checkpoint

A one-page disinfection protocol card listing the product, dilution, contact time, and disposal method for every reusable implement in a facial station.

Week 2

Infection Control, Sanitation, and Safety & Louisiana Cosmetology Law and Board Rules

  • Identify the safety hazards (electrical, chemical, ergonomic, fire) most likely in a facial room and write one control for each.

  • Explain Material Safety Data Sheet access requirements and where the sheet must be kept in the salon.

  • Locate the Louisiana Board of Cosmetology statutes and rules governing sanitation and summarize the specific requirements for towels, linens, and single-use items.

  • Differentiate a blood exposure incident from a routine service spill and outline the response steps for each.

Your checkpoint

A 15-question self-quiz on infection control and Louisiana sanitation rules, scored, with every missed item rewritten as a correct statement.

Week 3

Skin Anatomy, Physiology, and Histology

  • Label a hand-drawn diagram of the epidermis with all five layers and one function of each.

  • Trace the path of a keratinocyte from the stratum basale to the stratum corneum and describe what happens at each stage.

  • Describe the structure and function of the dermis, including collagen, elastin, and the roles of fibroblasts and mast cells.

  • Explain how the skin performs at least four functions: barrier protection, temperature regulation, sensation, and vitamin D synthesis.

  • Relate the anatomy of the hair follicle and sebaceous gland to the formation of comedones and acne lesions.

Your checkpoint

A labeled skin cross-section diagram (epidermis layers, dermis, hypodermis, follicle, gland, and vessel) with a one-sentence function written for each structure.

Week 4

Skin Anatomy, Physiology, and Histology & Skin Analysis and Conditions

  • Classify skin as dry, oily, combination, or normal using observable indicators, and justify each classification with at least two findings.

  • Perform a simulated client consultation that records skin type, Fitzpatrick phototype, sensitivities, medications, and contraindications.

  • Distinguish dehydration from dryness and describe how each presents and how each is addressed in treatment.

  • Recognize the visible signs of at least five conditions (acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation, seborrheic dermatitis, keratosis) and state when to refer rather than treat.

Your checkpoint

Three completed intake and skin-analysis forms for practice clients, each with a skin type, phototype, identified condition, and referral decision.

Week 5

Skin Analysis and Conditions & Facial Treatments and Client Care

  • Sequence a basic facial from consultation through cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, massage, mask, and finishing, stating the purpose of each step.

  • Select massage movements appropriate to the client's skin condition and explain the direction and pressure rationale.

  • Identify contraindications that require modifying or declining a facial, including active infection, recent cosmetic procedures, and certain medications.

  • Adapt a treatment plan for two different skin types and explain what you changed and why.

Your checkpoint

A written 60-minute facial protocol with timed steps, product categories, and a modification note for at least two contraindications.

Week 6

Facial Treatments and Client Care & Hair Removal

  • Compare soft wax, hard wax, sugaring, and threading on technique, appropriate areas, and skin sensitivity.

  • List the pre- and post-service instructions that reduce irritation and ingrown hairs after waxing.

  • Identify the contraindications to waxing, including isotretinoin use, recent exfoliation, and compromised skin, and state the action for each.

  • Demonstrate the sanitation steps for wax pots, spatulas, and linens between clients.

Your checkpoint

A hair-removal comparison chart covering four methods across technique, areas, contraindications, and aftercare, plus a timed waxing sanitation checklist.

Week 7

Makeup and Lash/Brow Services & Chemistry, Ingredients, and Product Selection

  • Match foundation shade and undertone to three different skin tones and explain the reasoning for each choice.

  • Describe the safe application and removal of strip and individual lashes, including patch-test and adhesive precautions.

  • Explain pH, acids, and bases, and describe how pH affects the skin barrier and product selection.

  • Read an ingredient list and identify humectants, emollients, occlusives, surfactants, and preservatives.

  • Explain why preservatives are required in water-containing products and how contamination occurs.

Your checkpoint

A product-selection sheet for three client profiles, each listing recommended cleanser, treatment, moisturizer, and SPF with an ingredient-based justification.

Week 8

Louisiana Cosmetology Law and Board Rules & Infection Control, Sanitation, and Safety

  • Summarize Louisiana licensing requirements, renewal cycles, and continuing education obligations for estheticians.

  • State the scope of practice for a Louisiana esthetician and identify services that require referral or a different license.

  • Outline Board inspection expectations and the penalties for sanitation violations.

  • Complete a timed mixed-domain practice exam and categorize every error by domain.

  • Build a final review list limited to the three domains where practice-exam accuracy was lowest.

Your checkpoint

A scored 100-question mixed practice exam with an error log sorted by domain and a prioritized final-week review list.

Milestones

Week 2: Score at least 80% on the self-written infection control and law quiz, and correctly state the contact time and dilution for every disinfectant in your protocol card without notes.

Week 4: Draw and label the skin cross-section from memory with all five epidermal layers and at least six dermal structures, then complete two skin analyses that match an instructor or answer-key classification.

Week 6: Deliver the 60-minute facial protocol and the hair-removal comparison chart from memory outlines, and pass a verbal check on five waxing contraindications and their required actions.

Week 8: Score at least 85% on the 100-question mixed practice exam with no domain below 70%, and have a written review list naming your three weakest domains with specific remediation actions.