Skincare is a big business that the whole world cashes in on to the tune of about 180 billion+ dollars per year. That number continues to move upwards as more people get wrapped into vanity, in no small part thanks to how much we are broadcasting our lives online.
If you've ever thought about upping your skin game, you may have done some research and found yourself confused by the classic aesthetician vs esthetician question. Contrary to some people's beliefs, many consider there to be differences between these two skincare professionals.
If you're looking for clarity on which of these two pros you need to see, keep reading. Below, we break down who these people are and what they do best!
What Is an Esthetician?
In exploring our aesthetician vs esthetician question, let's first break down what an esthetician is. An esthetician is a mostly surface-level skin professional. You'll likely find them working at a spa or beauty salon.
These pros are great at managing skin conditions that are cosmetic and generally, non-clinical in nature. Here are a handful of things estheticians are excellent at doing:
Facials
Dealing with acne? Have chronically dry and peeling skin? If that's your life and you're looking for a way to up your confidence, see an esthetician.
Estheticians are usually trained to conduct several types of facials built for a variety of skin types with the aim of reducing acne, lines, and discoloration.
Hair Removal
Many of us have experienced having hair in places where it's unwanted. Fortunately, hair removal is a common service that's carried out at most salons and spas. If you opt to get this service, chances are, it'll be conducted by an esthetician.
Estheticians will use lasers to manage their hair removal workflows. These lasers will be "low-grade" since higher-grade lasers require medical training in most states.
Facial Laser Treatments
Lasers don't only do a great job of removing hair from your body. They can also be used to improve skin tone, discoloration, and acne scar appearance.
Therein lies yet another service you'd hire an esthetician to manage.
Again, your run-of-the-mill esthetician will only be rated to use lower-grade lasers. Think lasers like the one used during Clear and Brilliant treatments.
Chemical Peels
Minor chemical peels are another service a trained esthetician can perform. Depending on your area, the level of acidity in your peel is what will determine whether or not you will need higher-level medical intervention to attain a particular peel product at an esthetician's office.
Be wary of peels administered by inexperienced estheticians as they can cause permanent damage.
Makeup Consultations
Being experts on cosmetic skincare, estheticians are wonderful at opining on what kind of makeup looks good and is healthy for your skin. We've seen many brides, prom-goers, and so forth consult with estheticians before their big days to make sure that they look and feel their best.
Some estheticians double as makeup artists, so, in addition to opining on makeup, they can also apply it.
What is an Aesthetician?
We've noted everything there is to know so far as services performed by estheticians are concerned. Now, let's talk about more medically-focused aestheticians.
An aesthetician is less concerned with topical vanity. These professionals typically have high-grade medical training and are more likely to be found in a burn unit than at a beauty salon.
Given the severity of cases most aestheticians specialize in managing, you probably won't need their services for your beauty needs. Here are a few cases, however, where it might be good to work with one of these professionals:
Remedying Burns
Serious burns have the ability to leave lingering redness and scarring on your skin. Working with an aesthetician, you can gradually move towards healing those damaged areas, to an extent. Treatments usually circulate around chemical exfoliation and moisture.
Aestheticians wouldn't perform primary care on a burn. Aftercare though, is more something that would fall into their wheelhouse.
Serious Scar Remediation
Not all scars come from burns. Some stem from other serious traumas incurred via accidents or surgeries.
Whatever your reason may be for sporting scars, aestheticians are qualified to provide the medical-grade support you need to have them fade after and between primary treatment.
Clinical Cosmetic Treatments
If you're planning on going into a health spa to get a high-level laser treatment, you're going to need to search "aesthetician near me" to find a clinically-trained aesthetician, nurse, or doctor to help. Some lasers (like Fraxel), tear deep into a person's skin, creating abrasions that will bleed.
That severity of abrasions makes it so precision and a deep understanding of medical complications are possessed by those carrying out services. High-grade acid peels are also services that would best be managed by a hired aesthetician.
Appreciate That the Aesthetician vs Esthetician Question Isn't Cut and Dry
As we wrap up this post, know that another level of confusion that's added to the aesthetician vs esthetician question is that many perform duties that are traditionally regulated to either party.
This happens more in the way of aestheticians performing esthetician work. Still, depending on the state you're in, you may receive something like a chemical-grade peel from an esthetician that in another area, clinical training would be required to issue.
Our advice to you is to always seek as well trained a person as possible when you're performing work. Especially work that could scar you or that presents serious health risks.
For more insight on all things beauty, we welcome you to explore additional content on our blog!
