Aesthetician jobs can be broken down into two main categories: the aesthetician and the medical aesthetician. An aesthetician typically works in a beauty salon, health spa, or department store and may also be called a skin care specialist or personal appearance worker. Medical aestheticians work in a health-care setting and are also known as skin-care therapists.
The common thread running through all aesthetician jobs is skin care. Aestheticians are concerned with the beauty and health of all skin, but focus mostly on the face. Skin-care specialists and therapists analyze skin condition and recommend ways to achieve and maintain healthy skin. Aesthetician jobs also include appearance enhancement along with make-up advice and application.
An aesthetician working in a beauty environment focuses more on the skin's appearance. This includes beautifying skin-care techniques as well as makeup application and instruction. Workers in salon aesthetician jobs are called on to perform a variety of techniques with the goal of boosting appearance. Treatments can include body wraps, facials, hair removal, and applying regular or permanent makeup.
Personal-appearance aestheticians study skin tone, type, and condition when preparing to treat a customer. Once the skin is evaluated, the aesthetician treats, instructs, and makes suggestions on how to maintain healthy, attractive skin. Beauty aestheticians choose makeup colors and styles after analysis and treatment. Makeup application and lessons on how to get the same look at home are often included in a session with a salon aesthetician.
Medical aestheticians usually work in a plastic-surgery office, health-care clinic, or hospital. Clients can include people who want to change their appearance in some way and patients who have suffered skin damage from a burn, injury, or illness. Cancer victims may visit a medical aesthetician while undergoing chemotherapy to learn how to deal with hair loss and treat damage caused by the harsh chemicals.
Skin-care therapy involves both health and beauty. Skin damaged by cancer treatment or a burn requires extra care to stay healthy. Special moisturizers, makeup, or nutritional products can vastly improve the condition, feel, and appearance of damaged skin. Medical aestheticians teach clients about skin health and help them achieve an attractive and comfortable appearance. Instruction can include covering scars or naturally re-creating eyebrows that have fallen out.
Most aesthetician jobs require specialized training or certification from an accredited school. Each state has its own particular requirements, but a license is needed in all states to become an aesthetician. A state board of cosmetology typically provides accreditation to schools that meet certain criteria.
