Natural Science
Not publishedof exam
Hygiene scienceMicrobiologyChemistryElectricityHeat safety
Anatomy and Physiology
Not publishedof exam
Skin and Dermatology
Not publishedof exam
Skin layersSkin cellsAppendagesLesionsContraindications
Cosmetic Science
Not publishedof exam
FormulationsIngredientsProduct functionspHSun protection
Aesthetic Treatments
Not publishedof exam
FacialsBody treatmentsElectrotherapyMassageHair removal
Business Studies
Not publishedof exam
ConsultationEthicsRecordsCostsClient care
Quick Facts
- Written format
- Multiple-choice questions
- Theory areas
- Six published areas
- Domain weights
- Not published
- School training
- 1,200 hours minimum
- Work experience
- 600 hours minimum
- Project length
- 2,500-4,000 words
- Project threshold
- 70% practical component
- Retakes
- Two within two years
- Written timing
- Not published
- Written pass mark
- Not published
pH Scale
Below seven acidic; above seven alkaline
Below 7Neutral 7Above 7
Cleaning vs Disinfection
Cleaning
- Physical soil removal
- Always performed first
- Soap and water
Disinfection
- Chemical pathogen reduction
- Follows complete cleaning
- Requires contact time
Cleaning always precedes disinfection
Hygiene Method Picker
- Visible soil remains→Clean first(Remove organic matter)
- Reusable nonporous implement→Disinfect after cleaning(Follow contact time)
- Heat-safe critical implement→Sterilize per protocol(Verify equipment cycle)
- Single-use porous item→Discard after use(Never reuse)
- Hands before contact→Perform hand hygiene(Before every client)
- Blood exposure occurs→Stop and protect(Follow exposure protocol)
Infection Control
- Cleaning
- Removes soil and debrisFirst
- Sanitation
- Reduces contamination levels
- Disinfection
- Destroys most surface pathogens
- Sterilization
- Destroys microbes including sporesHighest
- Cross-contamination
- Transfers contamination between sources
- Single-use item
- Discard after one client
- PPE
- Matches anticipated exposure
- Autoclave
- Pressurized steam sterilization
Chemistry and Electricity
- Acid
- pH below seven
- Neutral
- pH equals seven
- Alkaline
- pH above seven
- Conductor
- Allows current flow
- Insulator
- Resists current flow
- Direct current
- Flows one direction
- Alternating current
- Direction changes repeatedly
- Circuit breaker
- Interrupts unsafe current
Blood Vessel Direction
Arteries away; veins return home
Arteries: awayVeins: towardCapillaries: exchange
Body Systems
- Erythrocytes
- Transport respiratory gases
- Leukocytes
- Support immune defense
- Platelets
- Support blood clotting
- Arteries
- Carry blood from heart
- Veins
- Return blood toward heart
- Capillaries
- Exchange gases and nutrients
- Lymph nodes
- Filter lymph fluid
- Nephron
- Kidney functional unit
- Alveoli
- Pulmonary gas exchange
- Small intestine
- Main nutrient absorption
Head and Face Anatomy
- Frontal bone
- Forms forehead
- Occipital bone
- Forms posterior skull
- Mandible
- Movable lower jaw
- Frontalis
- Raises eyebrows
- Orbicularis oculi
- Closes eyelids
- Orbicularis oris
- Closes and purses lips
- Masseter
- Elevates mandible
- Trigeminal nerve
- Facial sensation and mastication
- Facial nerve
- Facial expression control
Epidermis Surface To Deep
Come Lightly, Get Sun Burned
CorneumLucidumGranulosumSpinosumBasale
Epidermis vs Dermis
Epidermis
- Outer epithelial layer
- No blood vessels
- Keratinocyte dominant
Dermis
- Connective tissue support
- Contains blood vessels
- Collagen and elastin
Barrier outside; support beneath
Client Safety Triage
- Open or bleeding area→Stop and protect(Follow exposure protocol)
- Contagious signs present→Defer treatment(Prevent cross-contamination)
- Changing unexplained lesion→Recommend medical referral(Never diagnose)
- Localized irritation→Avoid affected area(Document findings)
- Product sensitivity suspected→Patch test first(Follow product directions)
- No relevant contraindication→Proceed with consent(Record treatment)
Skin Structure and Cells
- Stratum corneum
- Outer keratinized barrier
- Stratum lucidum
- Thick skin only
- Stratum granulosum
- Keratinization progresses
- Stratum spinosum
- Provides epidermal strength
- Stratum basale
- Mitotic basal layer
- Melanocyte
- Produces melanin
- Langerhans cell
- Immune surveillance
- Papillary dermis
- Superficial dermal layer
- Reticular dermis
- Dense collagen and elastin
- Hypodermis
- Subcutaneous support layer
Skin Type vs Condition
Skin type
- Baseline sebum pattern
- Usually more persistent
- Dry, oily, combination
Skin condition
- May affect any type
- Can change quickly
- Dehydration or sensitivity
Condition changes; type persists
Appendages and Lesions
- Sebaceous gland
- Secretes protective sebum
- Eccrine gland
- Produces cooling sweat
- Apocrine gland
- Empties into follicles
- Hair papilla
- Supplies growing hair
- Macule
- Flat color change
- Papule
- Solid raised lesion
- Pustule
- Pus-filled raised lesion
- Vesicle
- Small fluid-filled lesion
- Scale
- Flaking keratinized cells
- Fissure
- Linear skin crack
Skin Analysis Markers
- Skin type
- Baseline oil pattern
- Dehydration
- Temporary water shortage
- Sensitivity
- Heightened reactivity signs
- Comedone
- Blocked follicular opening
- Milia
- Small keratin cyst
- Telangiectasia
- Visible dilated vessels
- Hyperpigmentation
- Localized pigment increase
- Photoaging
- UV-driven extrinsic aging
AHA vs BHA
AHA
- Water soluble
- Surface exfoliation
- Assess irritation risk
BHA
- Oil soluble
- Follicular affinity
- Assess sensitivity risk
Water pathway versus oil pathway
Product Function Picker
- Dehydrated skin→Humectant(Bind surface water)
- Oil-poor dry skin→Emollient plus occlusive(Support surface barrier)
- Oily congestion→BHA or clay(Assess sensitivity first)
- Surface dullness→AHA or enzyme(Control exfoliation strength)
- Reactive skin→Simple soothing formula(Minimize irritants)
- Daytime UV exposure→Broad-spectrum sunscreen(Follow label directions)
Formulation Functions
- Solution
- Uniform dissolved mixture
- Suspension
- Dispersed insoluble particles
- Emulsion
- Oil-water phase mixture
- Surfactant
- Lifts oil and soil
- Emulsifier
- Stabilizes mixed phases
- Humectant
- Attracts and binds water
- Emollient
- Smooths surface roughness
- Occlusive
- Reduces water loss
- Preservative
- Limits microbial growth
- Antioxidant
- Limits product oxidation
Humectant vs Occlusive
Humectant
- Attracts water
- Supports hydration
- Example: hyaluronic acid
Occlusive
- Slows water loss
- Supports barrier
- Forms surface film
Bind water; then limit loss
Ingredient Categories
- AHA
- Water-soluble exfoliant
- BHA
- Oil-soluble exfoliant
- Enzymes
- Protein-based exfoliation
- Hyaluronic acid
- Water-binding humectant
- Niacinamide
- Vitamin B3 derivative
- Vitamin C
- Antioxidant ingredient
- Retinoid
- Vitamin A derivative
- Zinc oxide
- Mineral UV filter
- Clay
- Absorbs surface oils
Common Massage Movements
Effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, vibration
GlideKneadRubTapVibrate
Effleurage vs Petrissage
Effleurage
- Smooth gliding
- Introduces touch
- Links massage movements
Petrissage
- Kneading and lifting
- Works deeper tissues
- Avoid fragile areas
Glide first; knead deeper
Electrotherapy Modality Picker
- Congested oily skin→Galvanic desincrustation(Negative pole protocol)
- Charged compatible product→Galvanic iontophoresis(Match product polarity)
- Surface drying needed→Direct high frequency(Use trained protocol)
- Muscle stimulation goal→Faradic or EMS(Allow rest phases)
- Drainage treatment goal→Vacuum suction(Keep cup moving)
- Controlled tissue warming→Infrared lamp(Test heat sensation)
- Electrical implant present→Defer electrical modality(Check device guidance)
Facial Treatment Sequence
- Consult
- Review history and goals
- Cleanse
- Remove makeup and soil
- Analyze
- Assess skin characteristics
- Deep cleanse
- Exfoliate as appropriate
- Electrical modality
- Match indication and safety
- Massage
- Use suitable movements
- Mask
- Match skin needs
- Finish
- Moisturize and protect
- Aftercare
- Explain home precautions
Desincrustation vs Iontophoresis
Desincrustation
- Softens sebum
- Congestion focus
- Uses alkaline protocol
Iontophoresis
- Moves charged product
- Product delivery focus
- Polarity must match
Same current; different goals
Massage and Body Methods
- Effleurage
- Smooth gliding strokes
- Petrissage
- Kneading and lifting
- Friction
- Focused rubbing movement
- Tapotement
- Rhythmic percussion
- Vibration
- Rapid trembling movement
- Body analysis
- Guides treatment planning
- Body exfoliation
- Removes surface corneocytes
- Body wrap
- Creates temporary occlusion
- Lymphatic drainage
- Light rhythmic pumping
Electrotherapy Modalities
- Desincrustation
- Softens follicular sebum
- Iontophoresis
- Moves compatible charged products
- Direct high frequency
- Surface ozone application
- Indirect high frequency
- Client holds saturator
- Faradic or EMS
- Stimulates motor nerves
- Vacuum suction
- Controlled tissue suction
- Infrared lamp
- Provides radiant warmth
- Rotary brush
- Mechanical cleansing
- Magnifying lamp
- Supports skin analysis
Hair, Nails, and Makeup
- Depilation
- Removes surface hair
- Epilation
- Removes hair from root
- Soft wax
- Uses removal strip
- Nail matrix
- Produces nail plate
- Eponychium
- Living proximal seal
- Cuticle
- Dead tissue on plate
- Complementary colors
- Opposites neutralize
- Contour
- Visually recedes features
- Highlight
- Visually advances features
Client Care Order
Consult, assess, consent, treat, record, aftercare
AskCheckAgreeTreatDocumentGuide
Contraindication vs Contra-action
Contraindication
- Known before treatment
- Prevents or modifies
- Found during consultation
Contra-action
- Occurs during treatment
- Requires prompt response
- Must be documented
Screen before; monitor throughout
Consultation and Ethics
- Medical history
- Screens relevant risks
- Informed consent
- Documents voluntary agreement
- Contraindication
- Prevents or modifies treatment
- Contra-action
- Reaction during treatment
- Patch test
- Screens product sensitivity
- Scope of practice
- Defines professional boundaries
- Referral
- Transfers concern appropriately
- Confidentiality
- Protects client information
- Treatment record
- Tracks products and reactions
Business Operations
- Direct cost
- Changes with service volume
- Fixed overhead
- Persists despite volume
- Gross profit
- Revenue minus direct costs
- Retention rate
- Measures returning clients
- FIFO
- Oldest stock used first
- SDS
- Explains chemical safety
- Inventory control
- Tracks stock movement
- Rebooking
- Schedules future service
Common Traps
Project Threshold Is Not Written
Project practical value: 70% ≠ Written pass mark unpublished
Training Hours Are Not Timing
School training: 1,200 hours ≠ Written duration unpublished
Recognition Is Not Licensure
CIDESCO recognition is international ≠ Local rules may still apply
Cleaning Is Not Disinfection
Cleaning removes visible soil ≠ Disinfection follows cleaning
Type Is Not Condition
Type reflects sebum pattern ≠ Dehydration affects any type
Recognition Is Not Diagnosis
Describe visible characteristics ≠ Refer suspicious lesions
More Intensity Is Not Better
Match intensity to tolerance ≠ Check contraindications first
Steam Is Not Universal
Heat may worsen vascular sensitivity ≠ Modify or omit safely
Last Minute
- 1.Confirm six theory areas
- 2.Treat weights as unpublished
- 3.Review anatomy by system
- 4.Separate skin type and condition
- 5.Match ingredient to function
- 6.Match device to indication
- 7.Check every contraindication
- 8.Clean before disinfection
- 9.Protect client privacy
- 10.Document products, settings, reactions
- 11.Remember project practical threshold
- 12.Verify local licensing rules
- 13.Practice MCQ elimination
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