esthetician essay

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BSPA-111-ONB

Physiology of the Skin

Tuesday April 7, 2020

 

“Esthetics is a branch of anatomical science that deals with the overall health and well-being of the skin, the largest organ of the human body” (Standard Esthetics 5). In the world of esthetics, it is more than just performing a service in the spa or clinic. It is a career dedicated to continuously learning new techniques and being trained on the next best product or service. It is our goal to keep clients feeling attractive while having healthy skin.

Being an esthetician is like working as a jack of all trades. There are many components that go into the job and it never stops. It’s our job to know the when, why, how of a skin condition, what has been used and will be used. Keeping track of client records, allergies, preferences all while continuing to learn how to better all of the concerns. It’s about learning not only techniques physically, but the anatomy behind the body’s substances and structures. A key element of an esthetician may be evolving. Through all the learning and training we take part in there are many opportunities and different levels to the job.

Upon entering the industry, demonstrating professionalism is a skill I will continue to practice. Setting professional boundaries is important when working with clients that you have built personal relationships with or relationships with family. Special treatment or home services will not be offered to friends and family outside of the spa setting, this would be deemed as dis service. Also, it is my job to obey rules of the spa or clinic I may work in when it comes to discounts on products and packages. Giving out discounts on products to family who have never booked or even to loyal clients is unprofessional, unless of course promotions are being offered to all clients. Through knowledge of what has been taught and studied in school all clients are treated with the same level of professionalism and respect. Keeping these boundaries will allow me to do my job effectively in the spa setting.

From facials to laser hair removal clients will always have a hundred questions to ask. It will be my job to educate clients with the correct information when answering all of their questions and or concerns. An example would be, if a client brings to my attention that she read that coconut oil is good for substituting moisturizer, I would explain that this information is incorrect and go into detail using my knowledge of the history and physiology of the skin. I will ensure to keep myself up to date and current with new and evolving treatments. For example, attending workshops with hands on training during spa hours and continuing to learn on my own time in order to offer the best service to my clients. Offering clients comfort and safety with every treatment big or small is important because they are in a vulnerable state. I would do this by keeping a low tone of voice, removing any safety hazards i.e. Equipment when not needed, and asking if they feel comfortable prior to service starting i.e. music, bed adjustment, room to cold or too warm.

Clients may compare estheticians building a homecare routine at a spa to products being recommended to them at a cosmetic counter. However, they are very different roles, salespersons at a retail cosmetic counter are trained on the products they have to sell because the end goal is to sell, sell, sell and make money for the retail store they work at. Also, any background knowledge they give is based off personal experience and how it reacted on their skin. again, they will hardly ever tell you it’s bad or an ineffective product. Estheticians have more background knowledge about ingredients, skin conditions, how to properly analyze, and how skin will react to certain extracts, oils, etc. They also see up to 5-7 different skin types daily and work with the products the service tailored to you and your skin condition. Overall the most prominent difference is being treated as a customer vs being treated as a client.

In conclusion, all different service levels within a spa setting whether it be performing, selling, or building are complex. Esthetics will give me the power to help clients feel their best and look their best not only physically but mentally. Our determination in helping clients is what separates us from retail salespersons. The end goal is to always benefit the client.

References

Deitz, Sallie (Ed.). (2019). Milady Standard Esthetics(12th ed.). Cengage.