Skincare specialist essential career information:
- 2012 median pay: $28,640
- 2010 number of jobs: 47,600
- Employment growth forecast, 2010-2020: 25 percent
- Entry-level education requirements: Post-secondary non-degree award
Skincare specialists; what they do:
Few, if any, people are completely happy with their appearance, especially their skin, a victim to age, weather, allergies, the environment and other factors. That’s why skincare specialists have a growing niche in today’s society, offering skin improvement procedures and techniques as well as good old-fashioned pampering.
A dermatology specialist career includes cleansing and beautifying clients’ skin to improve the way they look and feel about themselves. Treatments vary widely and can include electrolysis and hair removal. Skin specialist careers include providing facials, full-body treatments, and head and neck massages. Many skin specialists also sell products.
As with many personal care services, demand has increased for in-home services, such as facials, thus many skin specialists have expanded their offerings.
Skincare specialist duties:
- Evaluating clients’ skin condition and appearance
- Cleansing clients’ skin
- Discussing treatment options and products
- Recommending cleansers, lotions and creams
- Removing unwanted hair, using laser or wax treatments
- Performing simple extractions to remove blackheads
- Using specialized peels or masks to maintain and improve the appearance of facial skin
- Determining which products improve a client’s skin color and appearance
- Staying up on industry trends, products and research
- Demonstrating how to clean and care for skin
- Referring clients to medical professionals after detecting a serious problem
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Skincare specialists job titles:
- Aesthetician
- Clinical esthetician
- Esthetician
- Facialist
- Lead esthetician
- Medical esthetician
- Skin specialist
- Skincare technician
- Skincare therapist
- Spa technician
- Dermatology specialist
Skincare Specialists Education, Certification and License Requirements
People interested in a skincare specialist career can receive vocational education during or after high school. States require dermatology specialists to have a license, which involves taking a written and practical exam after completing a skincare specialist program. On-the-job training and continuing education frequently follow formal education.
In addition to education and licensing, skincare specialists may find greater success if they hone their interpersonal skills and work on their ability to sell products or influence clients to trust their expertise.
Skincare Specialists programs cover subjects such as:
- Bacteriology, anatomy and physiology
- Laws and regulations
- Safety procedures
- Hair removal
- Makeup application
- Administering facials
- Disinfection and sanitization
- Chemical depilatories
- Massage
- Theory of electricity
- Eyebrow arching and tweezing
- Reflexology
- Spa services
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Skincare Specialists Job Outlook
Forecast: 25 percent employment growth for skincare specialists from 2010 to 2020. The demand for dermatology specialists has grown as more men and women seek to fight the signs of aging. The increasing number of spas and salons increases job opportunities for skin specialists.
Skincare Specialists Salary
- 2012 median annual wage: $28,640
- 2012, workers at the 75th percentile annual wage: $38,550
- 2012, workers at the 25th percentile annual wage: $19,770
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Major Employers

- Personal care services
- Physicians’ offices
- Amusement and recreation industries
- Traveler accommodations sector
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