When I received my esthetics license in 2008 I was so excited to proclaim my new title. Whenever someone asked me what my line of work was and my response was bold and assertive “I’m an esthetician!”. Then came the confused look and the question “An Esta- what??” From there I would go on and on about how I performed facials and enhanced eyelashes and specialized in Brazilian waxing. I became so accustomed to the confused stare that I decided to alter my title and just say skin care therapist to keep it simple. Now people frequently use the term and are familiar with the variety of services an esthetician provides and that makes me happy.

By definition, an esthetician is a person with special training in administering facials, aromatherapy, skin care and makeup, etc. My definition of an esthetician is a licensed professional that provides services that preserve and restore the appearance, vitality and overall health of the skin helping clients look and feel amazing. Estheticians are trained to provide skin care treatments on the epidermal layer of the skin ( we will discuss the skin layers in another entry) such as facials, hair removal and body treatments such as mud wraps for detoxification and body scrubs to remove dead skin and reveal a smoother, brighter skin texture. Coursework, scope of practice and licensing requirements for esthetician’s varies from state to state. One really cool fact about being an esthetician is you aren’t limited to just performing services in a spa or clinical setting. You can start your own practice, be a makeup artist, create skin care products or cosmetics or become a buyer for a larger company. You could also take your knowledge and share it with others that share your passion for skin by becoming an instructor.

Being an esthetician can be a very rewarding career choice because you get the opportunity to impact lives by encouraging a healthier way of life, solving skin care concerns and providing clients with results that boost confidence and self-esteem.