Skin care and facial treatments
Skin care and facial treatments
This domain tests skin analysis, product selection, massage and hygiene in facials. The exam asks you to adapt a treatment to skin type and condition, and to recognise when not to treat.
Core rules
- Cleanse, analyse, exfoliate, massage, mask and moisturise in a logical sequence; adapt for sensitive skin.
- Identify skin type (dry, oily, combination, normal) and condition (dehydration, sensitivity, acne, pigmentation).
- Steam should be comfortable and not used on rosacea, broken capillaries or sensitive skin.
- Extractions only on non-inflamed comedones; never squeeze pustules or cysts.
- Massage movements follow muscle direction and lymphatic drainage; avoid overstimulating inflamed skin.
- Contraindications include active infection, open lesions, recent surgery, some medications and uncontrolled skin disease.
Worked example
A client has an oily T-zone, tight cheeks and visible dehydration lines. The therapist uses a gentle gel cleanser, light exfoliation, a non-comedogenic hydrating mask, and avoids heavy oils. Reasoning: oiliness and dehydration can coexist; stripping the skin worsens barrier damage, while heavy products add congestion. Record the skin analysis and products used so the next treatment is consistent.
Traps
Treating 'oily' skin with harsh scrubs; steaming rosacea; extracting inflamed spots; massaging over undiagnosed lumps; using the same mask for every client; skipping skin analysis.