More than just pretty faces

Ever since I decided upon Beauty as my course of study, I have received criticism and ridicule. Things such as, "So, you want to do makeup for the rest of your life?" Well, sure, make-up is a part of beauty; however there is so much more to it. So, I thought, why not start a blog so that people can understand what beauty truly means and is. I will be posting helpful information for those who would like beauty for their future career choice. I want to get out any of the misconceptions that beauty therapists, or beauticians don't do or know much. 

Firstly, a beautician and beauty therapist, or aesthetician  are completely different things. A beautician is, in Australia, qualified at a certificate 3 level in beauty services. So a beautician is qualified to perform make-up, waxing and tinting, mini/demo facials, manicure and pedicare (never call it a pedicure, podiatrists don't like it), as well as artificial nails, if they so choose. There are also optional courses that fall under the beautician banner, being intimate waxing (Brazilians), spray tanning, ear piercing, and lash extensions. So when you truly think fluffy, maybe this is what you are thinking. What you may not know is that to obtain this certificate, you have to have knowledge of the skin, all of its layers and all the nerves, capillaries and all of the hidden extras (melanocytes, lymphocytes, etc). The bones, muscles, veins, arteries and capillaries of the arms and legs are also a need to know. Besides that, Beauticians also study colour.

Now a beauty therapist, or aesthetician, as some prefer to be called, are quite a bit more knowledgeable. To earn the beauty therapist title, one must complete a certificate 4 or diploma level of study. During the course of the certificate 4, extensive knowledge of the skin, bones, muscles, and many more things is developed. To add to the skills already earned upon the completion of the certificate 3, certificate 4 gives its students the competency to perform body massage (for relaxation - we specialise in Swedish-therapeutic massage), body wrap & slimming treatments and to perform facials as well as to use electricity in beauty therapy, such as the vacuum, brush machine, spray machine (these three don't take a genius), galvanic Iontophoresis and Disincrustation, Direct and indirect high frequency, G5 machine, EMS machine and Faradic machine. In order to perform facials, we need to have an extensive knowledge of the skin, beyond what was learnt during certificate three. All of the chemicals of the skin need to be learnt and the role that they play within the skin. Beauty therapists are also required to understand the cosmetic chemistry of ingredients we are using, and are taught with high quality ingredients that simply aren't available on the supermarket shelves. As a certificate 4 student, we also need to learn the many forms and grades of acne, as well as all primary and secondary lesions of the skin. We learn many disorders, and how to spot them; however are unable to diagnose a condition without a PhD.  We also are required to understand the various systems of the body, including the digestive, endocrine, excretory, lymphatic and cardiovascular systems. We are required to know the muscles, bones, veins, arteries and lymph vessels and nodes of the body. We also  learn about nutrition, being the guidelines of vitamins, minerals and energy requirements of necessary nutrients. Still sound fluffy? 

Upon my blogging, I wish to inform my readers of many useful articles and even some of my own essays. I want to change the world's view on Beauty therapy - it is so, so much more than make-up and looking good. It's about getting results from the inside out. Working in conjunction with doctors, dietitians/ nutritionists, podiatrists and dermatologists, in order to achieve results. Being healthy, looking after yourself. After all, the skin IS the body's largest organ. We should really be called skin therapists. Would we then be taken seriously? In a world where health is more and more becoming a centre focus, and people are becoming more aware of what they are putting into and onto their bodies, I feel it is necessary for the general public to have an understanding of our body's first line of defense - the skin.