Cleansing, Exfoliation, and Facial Treatments
What this domain tests
This domain tests cleanser selection, exfoliation method and strength, and safe facial sequencing.
Core rules
- Cleansers: surfactants lift oil and debris; syndets are milder than true soaps; the skin's acid mantle favors a low-pH cleanser. Match cleanser to skin type and remove makeup before treatment.
- Exfoliation: mechanical methods such as scrubs and brushes remove cells physically; chemical methods such as AHAs, BHAs, and enzymes loosen desmosomes or dissolve sebum. AHAs are water-soluble and surface-focused; BHA, salicylic acid, is oil-soluble and useful for oily, congested skin.
- More is not better. Over-exfoliation causes redness, stinging, barrier loss, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
- Steam softens sebum but should be comfortable, not hot. Extractions are limited to visible, ready comedones and are avoided over inflamed lesions.
- Masks and finishing products should match the analysis; sunscreen is the final daytime step.
Worked example
An oily, congested client with no allergy wants a facial. Choose a gentle gel cleanser, a low-percentage BHA, limited extraction of open comedones, and a noncomedogenic moisturizer with SPF. Reasoning: BHA penetrates oil-filled pores, while scrubbing inflamed skin would increase irritation.
Traps
Using a high-strength AHA on sensitive skin; extracting pustules; steaming a rosacea-prone face; forgetting that salicylates can trigger allergy; skipping sunscreen after exfoliation.