Your FREE Esthetician Flashcards 2026 – 100+ Cards

Sanitation, then disinfection, then sterilization — increasing control over microorganisms.

The lowest level of decontamination; cleaning that reduces the number of germs but does not kill all pathogens. Always the first step before disinfecting.

Kills most pathogens on hard, non-porous surfaces with an EPA-registered, hospital-grade disinfectant; does not destroy all bacterial spores. The salon standard for multi-use tools.

The highest level of decontamination; destroys all microbial life, including bacterial spores, typically with an autoclave.

A device that uses pressurized steam and high heat to achieve true sterilization of implements; not used for porous, single-use items.

Clean first, then disinfect, then sterilize if required. You cannot disinfect a dirty tool.

Must be EPA-registered and hospital-grade — labeled bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal.

Wax sticks, cotton pads, and sponges are discarded after one use and never reused.

Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.

A virus is much smaller, is not a complete cell, and must invade a host cell to replicate; bacteria are single-celled organisms that reproduce on their own.

Infection-control practices that treat all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious because carriers can't be identified by sight.

Stop, apply gloves, and follow the exposure-control procedure for bloodborne pathogens.

Handwashing — the hands are the main route germs travel from surfaces and people to a client's skin.

To protect against contact with blood and body fluids; gloves supplement handwashing but never replace it.

A disinfectant labeled this way kills bacteria, viruses, and fungi — the level required for salon implements.

Porous, single-use items can't be effectively sterilized and reused; they are discarded instead.

To prevent transmission of bloodborne pathogens between the esthetician and clients.

The epidermis (outer, avascular) and the dermis (thick, living layer with collagen, vessels, nerves, and glands).

The outermost layer of the skin; has no blood vessels and contains five sublayers, with new cells made in the deepest and shed from the surface.

The thick living layer beneath the epidermis containing collagen and elastin, blood vessels, nerves, glands, and hair follicles.

Stratum germinativum (basal), spinosum, granulosum, lucidum, and corneum.

The outermost epidermal layer of flat, dead, keratin-filled cells (corneocytes) continually shed by desquamation — the skin's protective barrier.

The deepest epidermal layer, where mitosis generates new keratinocytes; it also houses the melanocytes.

The process by which epidermal cells fill with keratin and die as they move from the basal layer to the surface, forming the horny layer.

The main epidermal cell, which produces keratin and forms the protective barrier as it matures and rises to the surface.

A cell in the basal layer that produces melanin, the pigment that colors skin and helps protect it from ultraviolet light.

The pigment made by melanocytes that gives skin, hair, and eyes color and absorbs UV light; more is produced with sun exposure.

A fibrous dermal protein made by fibroblasts that gives skin strength and firmness; declines with age and sun damage.

A dermal protein fiber that gives skin elasticity — the ability to stretch and snap back; its loss causes sagging.

A dermal cell that produces collagen and elastin, maintaining skin structure and resilience.

The basic structural and functional unit of all living tissue, including skin; directed by its nucleus.

The part of a cell that directs its activities and contains the genetic material.

An oil-producing gland connected to a hair follicle that secretes sebum to lubricate skin and hair; most numerous on the face, scalp, and back.

The oily secretion of the sebaceous glands that lubricates skin and hair and contributes to the acid mantle.

A sweat gland that excretes sweat to help regulate body temperature and eliminate some waste; a skin appendage.

The thin, slightly acidic film of sebum and sweat on the skin's surface that inhibits bacteria and fungi and supports the barrier.

Slightly acidic, about 4.5 to 5.5 — the range of a healthy acid mantle.

A scale from 0 to 14: below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, above 7 is alkaline (basic). Healthy skin is slightly acidic.

Premature skin aging caused primarily by cumulative ultraviolet (sun) exposure rather than chronological age.

UV exposure drives most collagen and elastin loss (photoaging); daily broad-spectrum sunscreen prevents it.

A water-soluble exfoliating acid (glycolic, lactic) that loosens dead surface cells; best for dry, sun-damaged, and aging skin.

An oil-soluble exfoliating acid (salicylic) that penetrates into the follicle to clear congestion; best for oily, acne-prone skin.

AHAs are water-soluble (surface, dry/aging skin); BHA (salicylic) is oil-soluble (penetrates pores, oily/acne skin).

Lactic acid — often chosen for sensitive or dry skin.

A gentle chemical exfoliation using enzymes (papain, bromelain) that digest keratin (dead protein) on the surface.

A moisturizer ingredient (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) that attracts and binds water to hydrate the skin's surface.

A moisturizer ingredient (petrolatum) that forms a surface film to prevent transepidermal water loss, sealing in moisture.

A moisturizer ingredient that smooths and softens the skin by filling gaps between surface cells.

A blend of two normally unmixable liquids (oil and water) held together by an emulsifier; most lotions and creams are emulsions.

An ingredient that allows oil and water to mix and stay blended in an emulsion.

Ingredients (vitamin C, vitamin E) that neutralize free radicals, limiting the oxidative damage that ages skin; often paired with sunscreen.

Unstable molecules, generated by UV light and pollution, that damage skin cells, collagen, and DNA and accelerate aging.

Describing a product that tends to clog pores; non-comedogenic products are chosen for acne-prone skin.

The fifth cranial nerve — the chief sensory nerve of the face and the main motor nerve for chewing; has three branches.

The seventh cranial nerve; the main motor nerve controlling the muscles of facial expression.

It boosts circulation, increasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients and aiding the removal of waste.

A clogged hair follicle filled with sebum and dead cells — the basic lesion of acne.

A whitehead is a closed comedone (covered by skin); a blackhead is an open comedone, dark from oxidation of exposed material — not trapped dirt.

A chronic inflammatory condition of persistent central-face redness, visible capillaries, and flushing; avoid heat and harsh, stimulating treatments.

Darkening of the skin from excess melanin, appearing as spots or patches; worsened by sun exposure.

A common hyperpigmentation of symmetrical brown patches on the cheeks, forehead, and upper lip, often triggered by sun and hormones.

A loss or absence of melanin producing lighter patches of skin (e.g., vitiligo), the opposite of hyperpigmentation.

Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter over ~6 mm, and Evolving — warning signs to refer to a physician.

The most serious, potentially life-threatening form of skin cancer; estheticians recognize warning signs and refer — never diagnose.

A category of fungal skin infection (e.g., ringworm); contagious, so it contraindicates service and warrants referral.

A contagious viral lesion; an active outbreak contraindicates facials and waxing over the area until it heals.

Primary lesions (macule, papule, vesicle) appear first; secondary lesions (crust, scar) develop later from primary ones.

A small, elevated, solid skin lesion (such as a small pimple) without fluid.

A small, fluid-filled primary lesion (blister), such as those of herpes simplex.

A flat, discolored spot on the skin with no elevation, such as a freckle.

A chronic condition marked by red patches covered with silvery-white scales, from rapid skin cell turnover.

An inflammatory condition causing dry, itchy, red, irritated skin; not contagious.

Diagnosis is outside an esthetician's scope and is a physician's role; the esthetician recognizes conditions and refers.

A classification of skin into six types (I–VI) by response to UV light, from always-burns/never-tans to never-burns; gauges sun sensitivity and treatment risk.

Very fair skin that always burns and never tans — the highest sun sensitivity.

Deeply pigmented dark brown to black skin that never burns.

Higher Fitzpatrick types (IV–VI) have a greater risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from aggressive peels, lasers, or microdermabrasion.

To identify medications, allergies, conditions, and contraindications before service so the esthetician can plan a safe treatment.

A magnifying lamp with UV light used in skin analysis to reveal oil, dehydration, and pigmentation not visible in normal light.

A condition that makes a treatment unsafe, so the service must be modified, postponed, or declined.

A contraindication — the medication thins and weakens skin, so waxing can lift or tear the epidermis. Decline waxing.

Sunburn, open lesions or broken skin, recent retinoid use, and isotretinoin (Accutane) use.

Reconsider galvanic/electrical current and certain essential oils as a precaution; a gentle basic facial is generally fine.

Consult/analyze, cleanse, exfoliate, steam and extractions, massage, treatment mask, then tone, moisturize, and protect (sunscreen).

A light, gliding, stroking massage movement used to begin and end a facial massage; soothing and relaxing.

A kneading massage movement that lifts, squeezes, and presses tissue to improve circulation.

A light tapping or slapping massage movement; the most stimulating, used with caution or omitted on a relaxing or reactive facial.

Generally from the center of the face outward and upward, following muscle and lymphatic flow.

Softens debris, hydrates, and opens follicles, easing gentle extractions.

To prevent mineral buildup that can clog and damage the steamer and impair its function.

Performed gently over softened skin with gloved, cotton-wrapped fingertips using even pressure to clear comedones safely.

An absorbent mask best for oily, congested skin — it draws out oil and impurities.

A mask best for dry, dehydrated skin — it adds and seals in moisture.

A constant, direct current used in facials for desincrustation (negative pole) and iontophoresis (product penetration).

A galvanic step using the negative pole to soften and emulsify sebum and debris, easing extractions.

The use of galvanic current to drive water-soluble products into the skin.

Anaphoresis (negative pole) softens and opens; cataphoresis (positive pole) soothes, firms, and closes — used to finish a galvanic treatment.

Valued for its germicidal, drying effect (useful after extractions on oily skin); avoid metal jewelry and alcohol-based products with it.

Blue light targets acne-causing bacteria; red light promotes anti-aging, healing, and circulation.

Limited to superficial (epidermal) depth, using AHAs or BHA; medium and deep peels are outside scope.

Mechanical exfoliation using crystals or a diamond tip with suction; contraindicated over active, inflamed acne.

A BHA superficial peel often chosen for oily, acne-prone skin because salicylic acid is oil-soluble and clears congestion.

A small test application of a product 24–48 hours before service to check for an allergic reaction (e.g., before tinting or a first peel).

Applied thin and removed with a fabric strip; efficient for large areas like legs and arms.

Applied thick, hardens, and is pulled off without a strip; gentler for sensitive areas (face, bikini) and grips coarse hair.

Apply wax in the direction of hair growth; remove against the direction of growth.

Reusing the applicator in the wax pot spreads contamination between clients (cross-contamination).

A hair-removal method using natural sugar paste applied against the growth and removed with it; adheres to hair, not live skin.

Hair removal using twisted cotton thread to trap and lift hairs; no wax or chemicals touch the skin — ideal for sensitive or retinoid-using clients.

Removing individual hairs by the root with tweezers; used for shaping brows.

The only hair-removal method recognized as truly permanent; destroys the follicle's growth cells with electric current, one hair at a time.

Depilation removes hair at/above the surface (shaving, depilatory creams); epilation removes the whole hair with the root (waxing, tweezing). Both are temporary.

Forms when a regrowing hair curls back or grows sideways into the skin instead of out; gentle exfoliation after waxing helps prevent it.

The brow generally starts in line with the inner corner of the eye (the side of the nose).

Required 24–48 hours before tinting to check for an allergic reaction near the sensitive eye area.

A green-toned corrector neutralizes red or rosy complexions (complementary colors cancel each other).

Use a peach or orange corrective tone to neutralize the bluish discoloration.

Foundation is matched to the client's undertone (warm, cool, or neutral) so the color looks natural.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which reacts with amino acids in the skin's surface layer to produce a temporary brown color.

Little to none — a sunless tan is cosmetic only, so the client still needs sunscreen.

A body wrap mainly hydrates, softens, or detoxifies the skin; a body scrub mainly exfoliates dead surface cells.

Broad-spectrum sunscreen — it protects freshly treated skin and preserves the result.

Protects the client's privacy and modesty while allowing access to the treatment area.

Applied after cleansing to remove residue, rebalance the skin's pH, and prep it for treatment products.

Serums have smaller molecules and a thinner consistency, allowing active ingredients to reach the skin more readily.

Verify the client has no allergy or sensitivity to the essential oils before use.

Apply thinnest to thickest — for example, toner, then serum, then moisturizer, then sunscreen for daytime.