OK Esthetician flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Acid mantle
- The slightly acidic film on the skin surface, about pH 4.5 to 5.5, formed by sebum and sweat; it inhibits bacteria and supports barrier function.
- Fitzpatrick scale
- A six-level classification of how skin responds to ultraviolet light; types I and II burn easily and carry the highest risk of photodamage and skin cancer.
- Effleurage
- A light, gliding massage stroke applied with palms and fingertips; it opens and closes a facial massage and moves in the direction of lymph drainage.
- Petrissage
- A kneading, lifting, or rolling massage movement that compresses soft tissue; used on the cheeks and jaw to stimulate circulation without dragging delicate skin.
- Alpha hydroxy acid
- A water-soluble acid such as glycolic or lactic that loosens bonds between dead surface cells, exfoliating the skin and improving texture and tone.
- Beta hydroxy acid
- Oil-soluble salicylic acid that penetrates sebum-filled follicles; used on oily and acne-prone skin to exfoliate inside the pore and reduce comedones.
- Extraction
- Manual removal of comedones after the skin is softened with warm steam; it is never performed over inflamed pustules, cysts, moles, or broken skin.
- Clay mask
- A mask containing kaolin or bentonite that absorbs excess oil and temporarily tightens the appearance of pores; best suited to oily and combination skin.
- Anagen phase
- The active growth phase of the hair cycle, lasting roughly two to seven years; anagen hairs have a root bulb and are the target of laser hair removal.
- Depilation
- Removal of hair at or just below the skin surface without pulling the root; examples include shaving and chemical depilatory creams.
- Epilation
- Removal of the entire hair from the follicle, including the root; examples include waxing, tweezing, threading, sugaring, and laser hair removal.
- Sugaring
- Hair removal with a paste of sugar, lemon juice, and water; applied against the growth and removed with it, it is water-soluble and gentle on sensitive skin.
- Ingrown hair
- A hair that curls back or grows sideways beneath the skin and forms a bump; prevented by avoiding tight clothing and exfoliating about 48 hours after waxing.
- Isotretinoin waxing rule
- The oral acne drug isotretinoin thins and dries the skin; waxing must wait at least six months after the last dose because skin can tear.
- Oval face shape
- A balanced face shape used as the esthetic reference point; makeup aims to preserve its proportions rather than add width or heavy contour.
- Green corrector
- A color-correction product applied over redness such as blemishes or broken capillaries, because green sits opposite red on the color wheel.
- Foundation shade test
- Three shades are striped along the jawline and viewed in natural light; the one that blends invisibly into the neck is the correct match.
- Contour and highlight
- Dark shades recede and light shades advance; contour beneath the cheekbone and along the jaw, then highlight the cheekbone top and brow bone.
- Eyebrow mapping points
- The brow starts above the inner eye corner, arches above the outer edge of the iris, and ends on a diagonal from nostril past the outer corner.
- Disposable mascara wand
- A single-use applicator taken from a clean container; mascara is never pumped or applied directly from the tube to a client to prevent contamination.
- Disinfection
- Use of an EPA-registered hospital-grade product that destroys most bacteria, fungi, and viruses on nonporous surfaces, but not bacterial spores.
- Sterilization
- Complete destruction of all microorganisms including spores; in esthetics it applies to implements that may contact blood and is done with an autoclave.
- Safety Data Sheet
- A standardized document supplied with each chemical product listing its hazards, first aid, storage, and safe handling; formerly called the MSDS.
- Universal precautions
- Treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious; gloves are worn and hands washed whenever contact with fluid is possible.
- Single-use items
- Porous or absorbent items such as cotton, sponges, buffers, and wooden applicators cannot be disinfected and must be discarded after one client.
- Handwashing rule
- Wash with liquid soap and warm running water for at least 20 seconds before and after every client and after removing gloves.
- Stratum corneum
- The outermost epidermal layer of flattened dead keratinocytes; it limits water loss and is the layer most exfoliants and moisturizers act upon.
- Melanocyte
- A cell in the basal layer of the epidermis that produces melanin, the pigment giving skin and hair color and helping screen ultraviolet radiation.
- Trigeminal nerve
- The fifth cranial nerve and main sensory nerve of the face, with ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular branches; the seventh cranial nerve is motor.
- Masseter muscle
- A thick muscle at the angle of the jaw used in chewing; it is worked during facial massage to relieve tension in the jaw area.
- Humectant
- An ingredient such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid that draws and holds water in the skin, improving hydration of the stratum corneum.
- Scope of practice
- The legally defined services an esthetician may perform under a state license; anything beyond it, such as diagnosing disease, must be referred to a physician.