Chapter 1: History and Career Opportunities

1.  Kohl, berries, tree bark, minerals, insects, and herbs are some of the materials used by ancient people as color pigments in cosmetics.

2.  Ancient Hebrews used olive and grape seed oils to keep their skin healthy and moist.

3.  The word cosmetics comes from the Greek word Kosmetikos meaning "skilled in the use of cosmetics.

4.  Steam therapy, body scrubs, and massage were body rituals provided by ancient Roman bath-houses.

5.  Women in the Victorian Age used facial masks made from honey, eggs, mil, oatmeal, fruits, and vegetables.

6.  Retin-A, Botox, and alpha hydroxy acid were introduced in the late 20th century.

7.  Some career options available to estheticians in salons and day spas include: Performing facials, facial massage, waxing, body treatments, and doing makeup.  Estheticians can also make their way up to management & supervisory positions, or open/buy their own salon.

8.  Medical aesthetics includes both surgical procedures & esthetic treatments.  They can assist physicians by doing things such as patient education, marketing, buying and selling products, camouflage makeup, and some advanced treatments such as light and laser therapies.

9.  Makeup artists can be employed with photographers as assistants, doing makeup on models,  or doing makeup for film, movies and theater.  They can also do camouflage therapy or work in a mortuary setting.

10.  A manufacturer;s representative demonstrates how to use products to people in settings such as a salon or drugstore.  A cosmetics buyer keeps up with new trends and keeps records of what a store needs, buys, and sells.

11.  An esthetics educator can teach in a variety of schools, direct or own a school, or be a product education director for a company.

12.  The twentieth century brought about products and procedures that brought a lot of attention to skin care.  In the 21st century, nanotechnology made the future opportunities in skin care endless.  As people live longer, and more stress and demands are placed on our bodies, the need for esthetiticans will continue to increase.