Primary Duties

• An esthetician's primary work duties include performing a skin analysis of the client using a magnifying lamp. The esthetician steams the skin to prepare it for a facial treatment, administers facials to cleanse the skin, performs deep exfoliation treatments, administers facial masques, removes blackheads and administers chemical peels. The esthetician also can remove unwanted hair from a client's face, neck, chest or eyebrows; apply makeup based on the client's skin tone and skin type; and educate clients about proper skin care techniques and products.
  
  

Secondary Duties

• An esthetician's secondary work duties may include providing information about new product lines, selling skin care devices or at-home kits, placing orders for supplies and equipment with the spa manager or clinic supervisor, and providing training for other estheticians.
  
  Estheticians who work in a medical setting also may be required to prepare a client's skin before they undergo surgery, or provide after-care instructions after an aggressive skin treatment.
  
  

Skills

• Skills will vary depending on whether the esthetician works at a day spa or in a medical setting. According to Centennial College in Canada, esthetician training includes anatomy, physiology, business management, practical applications, sales techniques and product knowledge.
  
  GuinotUSA.com reports that some of the skills a medical esthetician may need include: patient relations; strong communication skills; ability to perform manual lymph drainage techniques on the face; ability to perform an acne assessment and outline a treatment plan; understand different methods of exfoliation; understand the wound healing process; and know which products are most appropriate for certain skin types and conditions.
  
  

Training

• Many of an esthetician's work duties and responsibilities are learned on the job, while others are taught as part of a formal school program. Esthetician training programs include a practical, hands-on component where students learn basic protocols for administering chemical peels, acne treatments and facial massage. These programs also teach students the basic administrative and client interaction processes and procedures they will experience when working at a spa or clinic.
  
  

Considerations

• Estheticians must be licensed by their state Board of Cosmetology before they are permitted to perform any work duties. After passing the licensing examination, the skin care professional will receive an official certificate of licensure. In order to maintain licensure, the esthetician must fulfill all continuing education requirements as outlined by the Board of Cosmetology.
  
  Estheticians may not perform duties beyond the scope of their license, which means that advanced procedures must be performed by a qualified dermatologist.