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| What is Esthetics? |
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| The term esthetics means “of or relating to the appreciation of beauty.” As a professional practice, it is a branch of anatomical science that relates to the health and wellness of the skin. An esthetician is a state-licensed professional that provides preventative care and treatments that maintain the overall health and beauty of the skin. |
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| The practice of esthetics, self-grooming, and beautification has been an important part of human culture for centuries. The Egyptian, Roman, and Greek cultures all placed great value on cleanliness and beauty, often employing herbs, plants, and other natural ingredients to create cleansers, masks, and cosmetic lotions, creams, and oils. In fact, esthetics was often aligned with medicine, in order to meet grooming and medicinal needs simultaneously. As these cultures evolved and new ones flourished, the idea of what was attractive and the methods for achieving beauty changed; yet the practice of esthetics remained constant. |
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| Modern-day esthetics is said to have its foundation in the 1990s, with the rising interest in cosmeceuticals — products that have both beautifying and therapeutic benefits. Experts predict that the importance of youthful skin and its overall health to Americans will continue to grow as: |
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The average life span continues to increase |
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The typical lifestyle becomes increasingly faced-paced and stressful |
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The harmful effects of our environment on the skin continues to increase |
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Consumers continue to increase their knowledge about products and services available for treating the skin |
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| Experts also predict that esthetics and medicine will continue to merge. As our desire for youthful-looking skin intensifies, cosmetic manufacturers will continue to enlist the help of medical practitioners, in order to develop products with therapeutic benefits. These trends create a positive outlook for estheticians and the vast career opportunities available to them. |
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