aesthetician
Key facts
Transforming skin and boosting confidence – that's the power of an aesthetician. If you're passionate about skincare and enjoy helping others feel their best, this could be the perfect career for you.
As an aesthetician, you’ll focus on providing a range of skincare treatments designed to improve the health and appearance of your clients’ skin. Your days will involve assessing skin types, applying specialized treatments, and offering personalized advice to maintain healthy, radiant skin. You'll work directly with clients, creating a relaxing and professional environment while addressing their specific skincare concerns.
- • Applying facial treatments like lotions, scrubs, peels, and masks.
- • Performing hair removal on various body areas, including eyebrows and upper lip.
- • Providing facial massages and body treatments such as wraps.
Transforming skin and boosting confidence – that's the power of an aesthetician. If you're passionate about skincare and enjoy helping others feel their best, this could be the perfect career for you.
Could aesthetician fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Self-Control?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Concern for Others?
Future Outlook for aesthetician
The outlook for aesthetician is exceptionally stable. While AI tools will assist with daily tasks, the core of this role relies on human judgment, resulting in a high resilience score of 91.8%.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could aesthetician change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
How could aesthetician change as AI adoption grows?
Human judgement, trust, and context remain strong protectors for this role.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
This role remains strongly human-led where perform body wrapping depends on trust, nuance, and real-world judgement.
Where AI may become a co-pilot
AI is more likely to assist supporting tasks such as identify customer's needs, documentation, search, and workflow coordination.
Tasks most exposed to automation
Automation pressure appears selective rather than broad, with the strongest signal currently coming from Generative AI.
Detailed Analysis Vital Signs, AI Vectors & Megatrends
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Vital Signs, AI Vectors & Megatrends
Vital Signs
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Megatrend Signals
0-100%Model-derived scores. Indicates structural exposure to megatrends, not direct demand.
Technical Details
NexFuture™ v2.0 combines O*NET ability and activity profiles with ESCO skill group distributions and six global megatrend signals. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture™ Methodology White Paper for full details.
What people in this role usually do
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
A typical day as a aesthetician
09 09:00 · Morning perform body wrapping
10 10:30 · Mid-morning identify customer's needs
12 12:00 · Midday perform facial treatment
14 14:00 · Afternoon test make-up
15 15:30 · Late afternoon use hair removal techniques
17 17:00 · Wrap-up use laser therapy for skin conditions
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
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cosmetics
The various types of substances used to enhance the appearance of the human body.
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cosmetics industry
Suppliers, products and brands in the cosmetic industry.
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cosmetics ingredients
A variety of sources cosmetics are composed of ranging from crushed insects to rust.
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hydrotherapy
The practice used to treat diseases or maintain overall health using water.
- cosmetic skin treatment
- make-up techniques
- cosmetic manicure
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determine skin type
Determine what type of skin a person has in order to use the right make-up for that particular skin type.
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perform facial treatment
Perform 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.
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use laser therapy for skin conditions
Apply laser treatments to remove undesirable body hairs, to lighten or eradicate pigmented lesions, or to remove tattoos.
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use hair removal techniques
Use techniques and handle tools to remove hair from body parts, such as electrolysis, IPL, waxing, lasering, threading or plucking.
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work ergonomically
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
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give massages
Provide clients with head, hand, neck, facial or full body massages.
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test make-up
Perform routine tests to determine if make-up products are adequate.
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perform body wrapping
Wrap customers with plastic, mud or thermal blankets for de-stressing, rebalancing, firming skin, detoxicating and reducing cellulite.
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maintain equipment
Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
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identify customer's needs
Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
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maintain customer service
Keep 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 requirements.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
Take the free Career DNA assessment to see how aesthetician aligns with your interests, work style, and future path. In less than 10 minutes, you will get a personalized fit signal and a roadmap for what to do next.
Scan to continue on mobileGrowth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does aesthetician fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of personality traits are important for an aesthetician?
- Aestheticians benefit from being detail-oriented, patient, and having excellent communication skills. A genuine interest in skincare and a desire to help others feel confident are also crucial.
- Do I need specific training or qualifications to become an aesthetician?
- Training requirements vary by location. Generally, you'll need to complete a formal training program and obtain a license or certification to practice. Research the specific requirements in your area.
- Can I work as a self-employed aesthetician?
- Yes, while many aestheticians are employed in salons, spas, or clinics, it’s also common to establish your own self-business. This offers flexibility but requires business management skills alongside your skincare expertise.