Social ServiceISCO 5142

Aesthetician

Aestheticians offer skin care treatments. They apply various facial treatments according to their clients' needs and skin type, such as lotions, scrubs, peels and masks, in order to maintain the skin healthy and attractive. Aestheticians may also give neck massages and body treatments such as wraps. Aestheticians remove unwanted hair on different body parts like eyebrows, upper lip or the bikini area. They perform facial massage and apply make-up for various occasions.

Check yourself in a minute: aesthetician

Rate 5 of the 17 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

use laser therapy for skin conditions

give massages

test make-up

perform body wrapping

maintain equipment

About aesthetician

As an aesthetician, you will provide professional skincare and beauty treatments to clients seeking to maintain healthy, attractive skin and appearance. Your work involves assessing individual skin types, selecting appropriate treatments and products, and applying a range of procedures including facial treatments, chemical peels, masks, massages, and hair removal services. You will combine technical expertise with interpersonal skills, as much of your value comes from understanding client needs, providing personalised recommendations, and creating a welcoming, relaxing environment.

Your daily responsibilities include performing facial and body treatments, applying make-up, maintaining professional hygiene and equipment standards, and staying current with cosmetics trends and techniques. You will often educate clients about skincare routines, product ingredients, and proper usage to maximise results. The role demands physical stamina, attention to detail, and a genuine interest in helping clients feel confident and beautiful.

The beauty and aesthetics industry in Poland is thriving, with strong consumer spending on skincare and wellness treatments. Career prospects are promising, with opportunities to specialise in specific areas such as laser treatments, advanced facials, or make-up artistry. Many aestheticians advance to senior positions, open their own studios, or expand into related fields such as beauty education or product development. Client retention and reputation are key to building a successful, profitable practice.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a aesthetician.

1

Skin Assessment and Consultation

  • Assess client skin type, condition, and specific concerns
  • Determine suitability of treatments based on skin condition and client goals
  • Advise clients on appropriate products and skincare routines
  • Document client history and preferences for personalised service
2

Facial and Body Treatments

  • Perform facial treatments including cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturising
  • Apply chemical peels, masks, and serums appropriate for skin type
  • Perform massage techniques on face, neck, and body to improve circulation
  • Apply body wraps and specialised body treatments
3

Hair Removal and Make-up

  • Perform hair removal procedures on eyebrows, upper lip, bikini area, and other body parts
  • Apply professional make-up for everyday wear, special occasions, and events
  • Advise on make-up colour selection based on skin tone and features
  • Demonstrate make-up techniques and application for client home use
4

Laser and Advanced Treatments

  • Operate laser equipment safely for skin conditions and hair removal
  • Assess client suitability for laser treatments
  • Provide pre- and post-treatment care instructions
5

Client Service and Hygiene Standards

  • Maintain clean, sterile treatment environment and equipment
  • Follow professional hygiene and safety protocols
  • Provide exceptional customer service and build client loyalty
  • Manage appointments and client scheduling

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (17)

cosmetic skin treatmentcosmetic skin treatmentThe aesthetic care of the skin, such as facials, including exfoliation, facial masks, peels, steam, and extraction.cosmeticscosmeticsThe various types of substances used to enhance the appearance of the human body.cosmetics industrycosmetics industrySuppliers, products and brands in the cosmetic industry.use laser therapy for skin conditionsuse laser therapy for skin conditionsApply laser treatments to remove undesirable body hairs, to lighten or eradicate pigmented lesions, or to remove tattoos.work ergonomicallywork ergonomicallyApply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.give massagesgive massagesProvide clients with head, hand, neck, facial or full body massages.test make-uptest make-upPerform routine tests to determine if make-up products are adequate.perform body wrappingperform body wrappingWrap customers with plastic, mud or thermal blankets for de-stressing, rebalancing, firming skin, detoxicating and reducing cellulite.maintain equipmentmaintain equipmentRegularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.advise customers on usage of cosmeticsadvise customers on usage of cosmeticsProvide advice to customers on how to apply various cosmetic products such as lotions, powders, nail polish or creams.use hair removal techniquesuse hair removal techniquesUse techniques and handle tools to remove hair from body parts, such as electrolysis, IPL, waxing, lasering, threading or plucking.cosmetics ingredientscosmetics ingredientsA variety of sources cosmetics are composed of ranging from crushed insects to rust.make-up techniquesmake-up techniquesThe various techniques and tools for applying make-up.identify customer's needsidentify customer's needsUse appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.maintain customer servicemaintain customer serviceKeep the highest possible customer service and make sure that the customer service is at all times performed in a professional way. Help customers or participants feel at ease and support special requ...perform facial treatmentperform facial treatmentPerform all kinds of treatments to improve the health and attractiveness of the facial skin, such as facial masks, scrubs, eyebrow tinting, peels, hair removal and make-up.determine skin typedetermine skin typeDetermine what type of skin a person has in order to use the right make-up for that particular skin type.
Optional (23) — show
cosmetic manicurecosmetic manicureVarious elements of a manicure, such as the cutting and shaping of toe- or fingernails, removing excess callouses and cuticle around nails, and applying a protective or decorative coat of nail polish.hydrotherapyhydrotherapyThe practice used to treat diseases or maintain overall health using water.order suppliesorder suppliesCommand products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.offer free samples of cosmeticsoffer free samples of cosmeticsDistribute to the public samples of various cosmetic products you are promoting so that prospective clients can test them and then buy them.manage a small-to-medium businessmanage a small-to-medium businessManage the organisational, financial and day-to-day operation of a small-to-medium enterprise.apply permanent make-upapply permanent make-upUse needles to apply the pigment into the top layer of the skin in order to perform cosmetic tattooing on specific parts of the face such as the lips or the eyebrows.maintain relationship with suppliersmaintain relationship with suppliersBuild a lasting and meaningful relationship with suppliers and service providers in order to establish a positive, profitable and enduring collaboration, co-operation and contract negotiation.offer cosmetic beauty adviceoffer cosmetic beauty adviceProvide customers with advice and beauty tips for creating a new look.monitor stock levelmonitor stock levelEvaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.manufacture cosmeticsmanufacture cosmeticsPrepare cosmetic products, possibly customised for customers with specific needs, such as lotions, soaps, face masks or salves.support individuals on nutrition changessupport individuals on nutrition changesEncourage and support individuals in their strive to keep realistic nutritional goals and practices in their day to day diet.sell cosmeticssell cosmeticsSell a variety of cosmetic products such as lotions, soaps, lip sticks, hair removers, perfumes, tooth pastes, face masks, nail polisher and deodorants.maintain professional administrationmaintain professional administrationFile and organise professional administration documents comprehensively, keep customer records, fill in forms or log books and prepare documents about company-related matter.recommend cosmetics to customersrecommend cosmetics to customersRecommend and provide advice on cosmetic products based on the customer's personal preferences and needs and on the different product types and brands available.keep personal administrationkeep personal administrationFile and organise personal administration documents comprehensively.comply with legislation related to health carecomply with legislation related to health careComply with the regional and national health legislation which regulates relations between suppliers, payers, vendors of the healthcare industry and patients, and the delivery of healthcare services.process paymentsprocess paymentsAccept payments such as cash, credit cards and debit cards. Handle reimbursement in case of returns or administer vouchers and marketing instruments such as bonus cards or membership cards. Pay attent...treat facial hairtreat facial hairShape, trim or shave beards and moustaches, using scissors and razors.issue sales invoicesissue sales invoicesPrepare the invoice of goods sold or services provided, containing individual prices, the total charge, and the terms. Complete order processing for orders received via telephone, fax and internet and...train employeestrain employeesLead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the perform...manage indoor tanning sessionsmanage indoor tanning sessionsDetermine the customer's skin type, advise on the type of sunbed, adjust the tanning time and inform on the health risk and safety measures.keep up to date with spa productskeep up to date with spa productsKeep up to date with new spa products such as certain oil and nail products being introduced by the market, and implement their benefits in the company or facility.communicate with customerscommunicate with customersRespond to and communicate with customers in the most efficient and appropriate manner to enable them to access the desired products or services, or any other help they may require.

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

Frequently asked questions

What does an aesthetician do?

Aestheticians offer skin care treatments. They apply various facial treatments according to their clients' needs and skin type, such as lotions, scrubs, peels and masks, in order to maintain the skin healthy and attractive. Aestheticians may also give neck massages and body treatments such as wraps. Aestheticians remove unwanted hair on different body parts like eyebrows, upper lip or the bikini area. They perform facial massage and apply make-up for various occasions.

What skills does an aesthetician need?

An aesthetician needs 17 essential skills, including cosmetic skin treatment, cosmetics, cosmetics industry, use laser therapy for skin conditions, work ergonomically.

Will AI replace aesthetician jobs?

The AI disruption score for aesthetician is 31/100 (low risk). Skills most exposed to automation: monitor stock level, issue sales invoices, process payments. Most resilient: give massages, perform facial treatment, apply permanent make-up.

AI Replacement Risk

31/ 100
Low Risk
Low riskHigh risk

Quick Facts

ISCO GroupPersonal service workers
Essential Skills17

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