California Esthetician — All Questions

Which statement about the skin's glands is accurate?

• a.Neither gland type is affected by hormones
• b.Both gland types produce only sebum
• c.Sebaceous glands regulate temperature and sudoriferous glands produce oil
• d.Sebaceous glands secrete sebum that lubricates the skin, while sudoriferous glands excrete perspiration that helps regulate temperature✓

Sebaceous glands are attached to hair follicles and produce sebum, and sudoriferous (sweat) glands excrete perspiration for thermoregulation and waste removal. Their roles are not interchangeable. Sebaceous activity is strongly influenced by androgens, which is why oiliness and breakouts often shift with hormonal changes.

A client with visibly oily skin complains that her skin also feels tight and looks flaky. How should the esthetician interpret this?

• a.The client has an oily skin type with a dehydration condition, since dehydration is a lack of water and can occur in any skin type✓
• b.The client has changed skin types permanently
• c.The client has dry skin and no oil production
• d.The client is mistaken, because oily skin cannot feel tight

Skin type reflects genetically determined oil production, while a condition such as dehydration reflects water content and can occur alongside any type. Oily, dehydrated skin is common and is treated with lightweight hydration rather than heavier oils. Skin type does not change from day to day, though conditions do.

A client's chin shows oozing blisters that have dried into honey-colored crusts and she says her child has the same thing. What should the esthetician do?

• a.Perform an enzyme mask to dissolve the crusts
• b.Provide a facial while wearing gloves
• c.Extract the lesions and apply an antiseptic toner
• d.Refuse the service, refer the client to a physician, and clean and disinfect any surface the client contacted✓

Honey-colored crusting that is spreading within a household strongly suggests a contagious bacterial infection, which is an absolute contraindication and a medical matter. The esthetician declines, refers, and disinfects contacted surfaces and non-porous items. Gloves protect the practitioner but do not stop contamination of linens, product, and the client's own skin, and extraction or enzymes would spread the infection.CCR Title 16

Which description correctly matches the condition?

• a.Milia are small, firm keratin-filled cysts trapped beneath the surface with no visible opening✓
• b.Telangiectasia is a keratin-filled cyst
• c.Sebaceous hyperplasia is a loss of skin pigment
• d.Milia are dilated capillaries visible near the surface

Milia are hardened keratin trapped under the epidermis and appear as firm white bumps with no follicular opening. Telangiectasia refers to dilated capillaries showing as red lines, and sebaceous hyperplasia is an enlargement of sebaceous glands producing small doughnut-shaped bumps. Correctly identifying each keeps documentation accurate without crossing into diagnosis.

Why does an esthetician avoid stripping the skin with a very high-pH cleanser?

• a.It disrupts the acid mantle, whose slightly acidic pH helps limit microbial growth and reduce transepidermal water loss✓
• b.It causes melanocytes to stop functioning
• c.It thickens the dermis and creates wrinkles
• d.It permanently removes the stratum basale

The acid mantle is a thin film of sebum and perspiration with a mildly acidic pH that discourages microbial growth and helps hold moisture in the skin, so highly alkaline cleansers leave skin tight, reactive, and prone to breakouts. Cleansers act on the surface and do not reach the basal layer or the dermis, and they do not shut down melanocytes.

A new client arrives for her first facial. What should happen before any product touches her skin?

• a.A consultation should be completed, including a health and medication history, allergies, prior treatments, and the client's goals and expectations✓
• b.The esthetician should choose a protocol based on the client's age
• c.The esthetician should begin cleansing and ask questions during the massage
• d.The client should be asked only whether she prefers a light or deep facial

A documented consultation identifies contraindications such as photosensitizing medications, recent procedures, or allergies before any product is applied, and it aligns the client's expectations with what is realistic and within scope. Asking questions mid-service is too late to prevent a reaction. Preference and age alone do not reveal the medical history that determines whether a treatment is safe.

At what point in a facial should the formal skin analysis be performed?

• a.Before cleansing, so the esthetician can see the client's makeup routine
• b.At the end of the service, after the mask has been removed
• c.After cleansing, using a magnifying lamp and appropriate eye protection✓
• d.Only at the follow-up appointment

Makeup, sunscreen, and surface oil hide the true condition of the skin, so analysis is performed after cleansing, with a magnifying lamp and eye pads or goggles to protect the client's eyes from the light. Analyzing before cleansing gives a false reading. Waiting until after the mask or until a later visit means the treatment plan was never based on the skin's actual condition.

Which pair correctly describes mechanical versus chemical exfoliation?

• a.Mechanical exfoliation uses acids and chemical exfoliation uses friction
• b.Mechanical exfoliation physically lifts dead cells with friction, such as a scrub or microdermabrasion, while chemical exfoliation dissolves the bonds between cells using acids or enzymes✓
• c.Chemical exfoliation is a mechanical process performed with a machine
• d.Both types remove tissue from the dermis

Mechanical methods work by physical abrasion, including scrubs, brushing, and microdermabrasion, while chemical methods use acids or enzymes to loosen the intercellular bonds holding dead corneocytes together. The two definitions are not reversed. Neither method performed by an esthetician removes dermal tissue, since esthetic exfoliation is limited to the epidermis.

What is the correct approach to extractions during a facial?

• a.Squeeze with bare fingernails for better control
• b.Continue extracting until every visible lesion is cleared, regardless of time
• c.Soften the skin first, use gentle even pressure with covered fingers or a clean extractor, limit the total extraction time, and stop if the skin becomes traumatized✓
• d.Use a lancet to open the skin so the contents release easily

Extractions are performed on softened skin with gentle pressure through clean gauze or a disinfected extractor, kept brief to limit trauma and post-inflammatory pigmentation. Clearing every lesion in one visit causes bruising and scarring. Puncturing skin with a lancet breaks the skin barrier and is outside an esthetician's scope, and bare fingernails cut skin and transfer bacteria.CCR Title 16

During an extraction a closed comedone will not release after several attempts. What should the esthetician do?

• a.Use a needle to open the surface
• b.Apply a strong acid directly to the spot to dissolve it
• c.Stop working on that lesion, move on, and schedule a follow-up visit after further softening and home care✓
• d.Increase pressure until it releases

Forcing a stubborn lesion ruptures the follicle wall into surrounding tissue, causing inflammation, pigmentation, and possible scarring, so the correct choice is to stop and address it at another visit. Puncturing the skin is outside scope. Spot-applying a strong acid without control of depth or contact time risks a chemical burn.

Which mask selection best matches the skin condition?

• a.Any mask can be used on any skin type since masks stay on only briefly
• b.Clay mask for dry, sensitized skin and a heavy occlusive balm for oily skin
• c.Clay or kaolin mask for oily, congested skin, and a hydrating gel or cream mask for dry or dehydrated skin✓
• d.A strong drying mask for rosacea-prone skin to reduce redness

Clay and kaolin absorb excess sebum and are suited to oily, congested skin, while gel and cream masks deliver water and emollients to dry or dehydrated skin. Applying a drying clay mask to already dry or reactive skin worsens barrier damage, and occlusive balms on oily skin encourage congestion. Contact time does not make an inappropriate mask harmless.

Which massage movement is a light, gliding stroke used to begin and end a facial massage?

• a.Friction
• b.Effleurage✓
• c.Tapotement
• d.Petrissage

Effleurage is a light, continuous gliding stroke that relaxes the client and distributes product, which is why it opens and closes a massage sequence. Petrissage is kneading, tapotement is a light tapping or percussion movement, and friction is a deeper rubbing pressure, all of which are more stimulating and are used within the body of the sequence rather than at the transitions.

A client requests a full facial massage but has inflamed pustular acne across both cheeks. What should the esthetician do?

• a.Omit massage over the inflamed areas, since massage over active inflamed lesions can spread bacteria and worsen the condition✓
• b.Massage the area longer to increase circulation and speed healing
• c.Perform vigorous petrissage to break up the congestion
• d.Massage only with a heavy occlusive oil

Massage over inflamed pustular acne spreads bacteria across the face and increases inflammation, so those areas are avoided while unaffected areas may still be treated gently. Vigorous kneading and prolonged manipulation compound the damage. Heavy occlusive oils add follicular congestion to skin that is already impacted.

What depth of chemical peel may a licensed esthetician in California perform?

• a.Superficial peels only, which affect the epidermis and do not remove living tissue below it✓
• b.Deep phenol peels under a physician's general instruction
• c.Any depth, as long as the client signs a consent form
• d.Medium-depth peels reaching the papillary dermis

An esthetician's practice is limited to the non-living surface of the skin, so only superficial exfoliating peels acting on the epidermis are permitted. Medium and deep peels wound the dermis, are considered a medical procedure, and must be performed by or under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. A signed consent form does not extend a license's legal scope.CA Business & Professions Code

A client asks the esthetician to perform a 35 percent TCA peel she saw advertised online. How should the esthetician respond?

• a.Perform it but shorten the contact time to make it superficial
• b.Perform it if the client signs a liability waiver
• c.Explain that a peel at that depth is a medical procedure outside esthetic scope, and refer her to a physician✓
• d.Perform it on half the face as a test

A peel at that strength is designed to reach the dermis and is outside an esthetician's scope regardless of technique or paperwork; the correct response is a clear explanation and a physician referral. Reducing contact time does not reliably control depth on a medical-strength agent. A waiver cannot authorize unlicensed practice, and a test area is still the same prohibited procedure.CA Business & Professions Code

A client is scheduled for her first superficial AHA peel. Which combination of steps is most appropriate?

• a.Instruct the client to use a retinoid the night before to enhance penetration
• b.Perform a patch test, start at a low strength and short contact time, watch the skin's response, and instruct the client on daily broad-spectrum sun protection afterward✓
• c.Advise the client to tan beforehand so the skin is conditioned
• d.Skip the patch test and begin at the highest available strength for faster results

A first peel is patch tested and begun conservatively, with close observation during the service and strict sun protection afterward because freshly exfoliated skin is highly photosensitive. Starting at maximum strength invites burns and pigmentation. Tanning beforehand and layering a retinoid the night before both sensitize the skin and increase the risk of injury.

Which client is the poorest candidate for microdermabrasion?

• a.A client with occasional closed comedones on the forehead
• b.A client with mild surface roughness and dull tone
• c.A client with mild uneven texture from past sun exposure
• d.A client with active inflamed acne, a rosacea flare, or recent isotretinoin use✓

Microdermabrasion is mechanical abrasion of the stratum corneum, so it is contraindicated over inflamed acne, an active rosacea flare, or skin fragile from recent isotretinoin use, all of which can be torn or severely irritated. Dullness, mild roughness, and non-inflamed comedones are exactly the concerns superficial mechanical exfoliation is designed to address.

A client discloses that she has been taking isotretinoin (Accutane) for four months and requests a facial wax. What should the esthetician do?

• a.Perform the wax but use a gentler hard wax
• b.Decline the waxing service, explain that the medication makes skin fragile and prone to lifting and scarring, and rebook only after the client is off the medication for the period her physician specifies✓
• c.Perform the wax on a small test area first
• d.Perform the wax and apply a soothing gel afterward

Isotretinoin thins the epidermis and weakens its attachment, so wax can strip living skin and cause tearing, prolonged healing, and scarring; the service is declined and rebooked after the client's physician clears her, commonly around six months off the drug. Hard wax, aftercare gel, and a test patch do not change the underlying fragility of the skin.CCR Title 16

What is the correct technique for soft wax removal?

• a.Apply thickly in any direction and peel slowly for less discomfort
• b.Apply the wax in the direction of hair growth, hold the skin taut, and remove the strip quickly against the direction of growth, close and parallel to the skin✓
• c.Apply against the growth and remove in the direction of growth
• d.Apply and remove in the same direction, pulling straight up away from the skin

Applying with the growth coats each hair from base to tip, taut skin prevents lifting and bruising, and a fast removal against the growth close to the skin snaps hair out at the root. Pulling straight up or slowly increases pain and breaks hairs at the surface. Reversing the application and removal directions leaves hair behind and increases the chance of ingrowns.

Which of the following is a contraindication to waxing?

• a.Recent sunburn, an active chemical peel, or topical retinoid use in the treatment area✓
• b.Client anxiety about discomfort
• c.Hair that is at least one quarter inch long
• d.Coarse terminal hair on the upper lip

Sunburned skin, recently peeled skin, and skin treated with topical retinoids are all compromised and can lift or tear during wax removal, so those areas must be avoided until they recover. Coarse hair and adequate hair length are normal indications for waxing, not contraindications, and client nervousness is addressed with explanation and technique rather than by canceling the service.

Before applying wax to a client's skin, what must the esthetician do with the wax temperature?

• a.Ask the client to touch the wax pot to judge the heat
• b.Assume the thermostat setting is accurate and begin
• c.Heat the wax as hot as possible so it spreads more easily
• d.Test the temperature on her own inner wrist or another approved test site, and confirm it is comfortable before contact with the client✓

Thermostats drift and wax heats unevenly, so a temperature test on the practitioner before every client is the safeguard against burns. Trusting the dial alone has produced many injuries. Asking the client to touch the pot exposes her to the burn risk directly, and deliberately overheating wax is the most common cause of thermal injury during hair removal.CCR Title 16

A client requests a lash and brow tint. What is the correct precaution?

• a.A patch test should be performed at least 24 to 48 hours in advance, per the manufacturer's directions, and the service refused if any reaction occurs✓
• b.A patch test is needed only for clients who report allergies
• c.The tint should be tested on the lash line itself
• d.No precaution is needed because tints are cosmetic products

Lash and brow tints and adhesives are common sensitizers that can cause severe reactions near the eye, so a patch test placed away from the eye and read 24 to 48 hours later is standard practice for every client. Self-reported allergy history does not identify first-time sensitization. Testing on the lash line defeats the purpose by exposing the eye to the very product in question.

Two days after a lash extension service a client calls reporting a swollen, red, painful eyelid with discharge. What should the esthetician advise?

• a.Tell her the reaction is normal and will pass in a week
• b.Tell her to come in for a fill and the irritation will settle
• c.Tell her to apply an over-the-counter steroid cream to the lid
• d.Tell her to stop using the lashes, seek medical evaluation promptly, and document the incident✓

Swelling, pain, and discharge around the eye suggest an infection or a significant allergic reaction and require a physician or eye doctor, not an esthetician; the incident should also be documented. Recommending a medication is prescribing, and applying more product or dismissing the symptoms delays care and can lead to permanent eye damage.CCR Title 16

Which combination of makeup practices is both technically and sanitarily correct?

• a.Blow on brushes to remove excess powder before applying
• b.Dip the applicator directly into the jar and use green concealer to cover dark under-eye circles
• c.Scrape product from the container onto a clean palette, use disposable or freshly disinfected applicators, and use a green-based corrector to neutralize redness✓
• d.Use a lip brush directly from the client's mouth back into the lipstick tube

Product is decanted onto a palette with a clean spatula so the bulk container is never touched by a used applicator, and single-use or disinfected applicators are used for each client. In color theory, green sits opposite red and neutralizes redness, while peach or yellow tones counter bluish under-eye shadows. Double-dipping and blowing on brushes both contaminate product directly.CCR Title 16

A client asks her esthetician to tattoo her eyebrows for a permanent result. What is the correct response?

• a.Perform it using a topical numbing prescription
• b.Perform it if the client has had it done elsewhere before
• c.Perform it, since brow shaping is within an esthetician's scope
• d.Explain that permanent makeup involves puncturing the skin and is not authorized by an esthetician license, and refer the client to an appropriately permitted practitioner✓

Tweezing, waxing, and tinting brows are within esthetic scope, but permanent makeup penetrates the skin with a needle and is regulated separately from the esthetician license, so it must be referred out. Prior experience elsewhere does not authorize the service, and obtaining or applying a prescription numbing agent is itself outside scope.CA Business & Professions Code

What is the purpose of properly draping a client and covering the eyes during a facial?

• a.It allows the esthetician to skip the consultation
• b.It protects the client's clothing and hair, maintains modesty and comfort, and shields the eyes from steam, bright lamps, and LED or other light sources✓
• c.It substitutes for cleaning the treatment bed between clients
• d.It is only a matter of the salon's visual presentation

Draping keeps product off clothing and hair, preserves the client's comfort and dignity, and eye protection prevents injury from steam, magnifying lamps, and light-emitting devices. Draping is a hygiene and safety measure, not decoration, and it never replaces cleaning and re-covering the treatment bed with fresh linens or a consultation.

How should a facial steamer be positioned and used during a treatment?

• a.Aimed directly at the eyes to hydrate the delicate area
• b.Placed as close to the face as possible for maximum penetration
• c.Used for the entire duration of the facial for best results
• d.Positioned an appropriate distance from the face, aimed so the vapor is comfortable, used for a limited time, and never directed at a client with a rosacea flare or heat sensitivity✓

Steam is kept at a comfortable distance and duration so it softens the skin without burning or overheating the client, and it is omitted entirely for rosacea flares, heat-reactive skin, and asthma-triggered clients. Close positioning and extended use cause thermal injury and excessive vasodilation, and aiming steam at the eyes is never appropriate.

Three minutes into a superficial peel the client reports intense burning and the esthetician sees blanching. What is the correct action?

• a.Add a cool towel over the peel and continue
• b.Apply a second layer to even out the result
• c.Remove or neutralize the product immediately per the manufacturer's directions, cool the skin, and document the reaction✓
• d.Reassure her and complete the full timed application

Intense burning with blanching signals that the peel is going deeper than intended, and the correct response is immediate removal or neutralization per the manufacturer's protocol, cooling, and documentation. Continuing the timed application or covering it while it keeps working allows further injury, and a second layer increases depth on skin already showing a warning sign.

What is the most important home care instruction after a superficial exfoliating treatment?

• a.Avoid all moisturizer so the skin can breathe
• b.Use a facial scrub twice daily for a week
• c.Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily, avoid additional exfoliants and heat exposure for several days, and keep the skin hydrated✓
• d.Exfoliate again at home that night to extend the result

Freshly exfoliated skin has a thinner protective layer and is highly susceptible to UV damage and pigment changes, so daily broad-spectrum sun protection plus a pause on other exfoliants and heat is the core aftercare. Additional scrubbing compounds the exfoliation and damages the barrier, and withholding moisturizer slows barrier recovery.

A client asks her esthetician for a dermal filler injection to soften a nasolabial fold. What is the correct response?

• a.Perform it and record it as a 'volumizing facial'
• b.Perform it if the esthetician has completed a manufacturer's training course
• c.Perform it under a physician's telephone instruction
• d.Decline, explain that injections penetrate the skin and are a medical procedure outside esthetic scope, and refer the client to a licensed medical professional✓

Any procedure that injects a substance beneath the skin is the practice of medicine and can never be performed under an esthetician license, regardless of manufacturer training, remote instruction, or how the service is labeled on a receipt. The correct response is a clear explanation and referral to a licensed medical professional.CA Business & Professions Code

A product label states a pH of 3.5. What does this tell the esthetician?

• a.The pH value describes the product's thickness, not its acidity
• b.The product is alkaline and will soften the acid mantle
• c.The product is acidic, and because the scale is logarithmic it is significantly more acidic than a pH 5.5 product✓
• d.The product is neutral, like pure water

A pH below 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and above 7 is alkaline, and each whole number represents a tenfold change, so pH 3.5 is roughly a hundred times more acidic than pH 5.5. That difference matters because low-pH exfoliating products act more aggressively on the skin. pH describes hydrogen ion concentration, not viscosity.

Which statement about emulsions used in skin care is accurate?

• a.An emulsion is a mixture of oil and water held together by a surfactant, and it may be oil-in-water or water-in-oil✓
• b.All emulsions are water-in-oil and feel heavy on the skin
• c.An emulsion is a single pure substance with no separate phases
• d.Emulsions do not require an emulsifying agent

An emulsion suspends one immiscible liquid inside another, and a surfactant or emulsifier keeps the droplets dispersed so the product does not separate. Oil-in-water emulsions feel lighter and are common in lotions, while water-in-oil emulsions are richer and more occlusive. Without an emulsifier the phases separate, and an emulsion is by definition a mixture, not a pure substance.

A client with dehydrated skin should look for which type of ingredient to attract and bind water in the skin?

• a.A humectant such as glycerin, hyaluronic acid, or sodium PCA✓
• b.An abrasive such as aluminum oxide crystals
• c.A strong surfactant such as sodium lauryl sulfate
• d.A denatured alcohol

Humectants attract and hold water in the stratum corneum, which is exactly what dehydrated skin lacks. Strong surfactants strip the barrier lipids, denatured alcohol increases evaporation and irritation, and abrasives are exfoliants that provide no hydration. In low humidity, humectants work best when paired with an occlusive or emollient to seal the moisture in.

How do alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) differ functionally from beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid)?

• a.Neither affects the skin's pH
• b.AHAs are water-soluble and work mainly on the surface, while salicylic acid is oil-soluble and can penetrate sebum inside the follicle✓
• c.Both are oil-soluble and both dissolve only surface cells
• d.AHAs are oil-soluble and salicylic acid is water-soluble

Glycolic and lactic acid are water-soluble AHAs that loosen bonds between surface cells, while salicylic acid is a lipid-soluble BHA that travels into sebum-filled follicles, which is why it suits oily and acne-prone skin. The solubility descriptions are not reversed. Both act at a low pH and both increase photosensitivity, so daily sun protection is required.

A client develops itching, redness, and small bumps only where a new serum was applied, appearing about a day after use. What is the most likely explanation and correct action?

• a.A sign the product is working; the client should apply it twice as often
• b.A normal purging response; the client should keep using the product daily
• c.A likely allergic contact dermatitis; the esthetician should discontinue the product, note the ingredient list in the client's record, and refer the client to a physician if symptoms persist✓
• d.A bacterial infection; the esthetician should recommend an antibiotic

A delayed, itchy, well-demarcated reaction limited to the application area is characteristic of allergic contact dermatitis, and the response is to stop the product, document the ingredients so it is avoided in future, and refer if symptoms continue. Continuing or increasing use worsens sensitization. Estheticians do not diagnose infections or recommend antibiotics.

An esthetician plans a galvanic desincrustation treatment. Which statement is correct?

• a.Desincrustation uses the positive pole to force product into the skin
• b.Desincrustation and iontophoresis are the same procedure
• c.Galvanic current is safe for all clients, including those with a pacemaker
• d.Desincrustation uses the negative pole with an alkaline solution to soften sebum and debris, making extractions easier✓

Galvanic desincrustation uses the negative pole and an alkaline solution to saponify sebum and soften follicular debris before extraction, while iontophoresis uses matched polarity to drive water-soluble products into the skin. Galvanic current is contraindicated for clients with a pacemaker, metal implants in the treatment area, epilepsy, pregnancy, open lesions, or a lack of skin sensation.

Before using a high-frequency device, which precaution is most important?

• a.Having the client hold a metal object to complete the circuit
• b.Keeping alcohol and other flammable products away from the electrode, and screening for contraindications such as pregnancy, a pacemaker, epilepsy, or asthma✓
• c.Using it over open, bleeding extraction sites for a germicidal effect
• d.Applying an alcohol-based toner right before contact to boost conductivity

High-frequency electrodes produce a spark, so flammable alcohol-based products must be removed from the area first, and clients who are pregnant or who have a pacemaker, epilepsy, or asthma should not receive the service. The device is used on intact skin with a light germicidal and drying effect, not on open bleeding sites, and no metal object is held by the client.

A client booked for microcurrent mentions that she has a cardiac pacemaker. What should the esthetician do?

• a.Perform the service at the lowest intensity setting
• b.Perform the service after asking the client to sign a waiver
• c.Decline the microcurrent service and offer a non-electrical alternative such as a manual facial✓
• d.Perform the service but avoid the neck only

Electrical modalities including microcurrent, galvanic, and high frequency are contraindicated for clients with a pacemaker or implanted electrical device because of the potential to interfere with it; the safe choice is a non-electrical service. Lowering the intensity, limiting the area, or obtaining a waiver does not eliminate an absolute medical contraindication. Other common contraindications include pregnancy, epilepsy, and active cancer without physician clearance.

Which statement about LED light therapy as used by estheticians is accurate?

• a.LED is a non-thermal, non-ablative light, with blue light commonly used for acne-causing bacteria and red light for stimulating and calming; eye protection is required✓
• b.LED light burns away the outer layer of skin like a laser
• c.LED has no contraindications of any kind
• d.LED is a laser device that estheticians may operate freely

LED panels emit low-level, non-thermal light that does not ablate tissue, with blue wavelengths targeting acne bacteria and red wavelengths used to stimulate and calm, and clients and practitioners should wear eye protection. LED is not a laser, and lasers are outside esthetic scope in California. Contraindications include photosensitizing medications, seizure disorders, and recent eye surgery.

Which practice reflects correct electrical safety in a treatment room?

• a.Handling a plugged-in device with wet hands after removing a mask
• b.Leaving all devices switched on and plugged in overnight for faster warm-up
• c.Inspecting cords for fraying, plugging one appliance into one outlet, keeping cords out of walkways, and unplugging by grasping the plug rather than pulling the cord✓
• d.Running several devices through one outlet with a daisy-chained adapter

Cord inspection, one appliance per outlet, clear walkways, and grasping the plug prevent shock, fire, and trip hazards, and equipment should be unplugged when not in use. Overloading an outlet is a leading cause of salon electrical fires. Touching a plugged-in device with wet hands risks electrocution, and leaving units powered overnight is both a fire and an energy hazard.Cal/OSHA

Which of the following is outside the scope of practice of a California licensed esthetician?

• a.Applying a superficial exfoliating product to the epidermis
• b.Operating a laser to remove hair or pigment✓
• c.Removing hair with wax or tweezers
• d.Applying makeup and performing a lash tint

Lasers and other light-based devices that alter living tissue are considered medical procedures and may not be operated under an esthetician license. Superficial exfoliation of the epidermis, temporary hair removal by waxing or tweezing, and makeup and lash services are all core esthetic services. The dividing line is whether the procedure affects living tissue below the surface.CA Business & Professions Code

A client asks her esthetician to administer a neuromodulator injection because 'a nurse taught you how.' What is the correct response?

• a.Perform it if a nurse is present in the building
• b.Decline, explain that administering injections is the practice of medicine and outside esthetic scope, and refer the client to a licensed medical professional✓
• c.Perform it and describe it as a spa service on the receipt
• d.Perform it, since the esthetician has been trained

Injecting any substance into the skin is a medical act, and training, proximity of a licensed professional, or creative wording on a receipt does not extend the legal scope of an esthetician license. Performing it exposes the licensee to discipline and the client to serious harm. The correct action is to decline and refer to a licensed medical professional.CA Business & Professions Code

What are a California esthetician's basic obligations regarding her license?

• a.It may be transferred to another licensee if the original holder stops working
• b.It may be kept at home as long as a photocopy is in the salon files
• c.It must be renewed on the Board's schedule with the required fee, and the current license must be displayed at the licensee's work station or in the establishment where clients can see it✓
• d.It never expires once it has been issued

California licenses are issued for a fixed term and must be renewed with the required fee before expiration, and the current license must be posted where the public can view it. A license never expires only if it is renewed. It is personal to the individual and cannot be lent, transferred, or represented by a photocopy filed away out of public view.CA Business & Professions Code

A Board inspector arrives at a skin care establishment during business hours without an appointment. What is the correct response?

• a.Ask the inspector to wait outside until all clients have left
• b.Refuse entry until the owner returns and schedules an appointment
• c.Permit the inspection, cooperate, and provide access to the premises, licenses, and equipment✓
• d.Ask the inspector for a warrant before allowing entry

Inspections of licensed establishments are unannounced by design, and licensees must permit entry and cooperate during business hours; obstructing an inspector is itself a violation. Demanding an appointment, delaying entry, or requiring a warrant for a routine regulatory inspection of a licensed business are all improper responses that can result in citation.CA Business & Professions Code

Which requirement applies to a licensed skin care establishment in California?

• a.An establishment license may be shared among several unrelated business locations
• b.Running water is required only if chemical peels are performed
• c.It must hold a current establishment license and provide hot and cold running water and clean restroom facilities, and may not be used as living quarters with a direct opening into the service area✓
• d.Services may be performed in any private residence without a separate establishment license

An establishment must be separately licensed, maintain hot and cold running water and sanitary restroom facilities, and be physically separated from living quarters. A residence used to provide services must meet the same establishment requirements. Water is fundamental to sanitation for every service, not just peels, and an establishment license applies to one specific location.CA Business & Professions Code

An esthetician realizes her license expired two months ago but she has continued taking clients. What is her situation?

• a.She has been practicing without a valid license, must stop immediately, and must complete renewal before providing any further services✓
• b.She is fine, because the Board allows a one-year grace period during which practice may continue
• c.She is fine as long as she pays the renewal fee before the end of the year
• d.She may continue practicing while the renewal application is in the mail

Practicing after a license expires is unlicensed activity regardless of intent, and it exposes the licensee to citation, fines, and discipline. There is a period during which an expired license can be renewed, but that is a renewal window, not permission to keep working. Services must stop until the license is restored to active status.CA Business & Professions Code

Which record-keeping and posting practice supports compliance in a skin care establishment?

• a.Recording only the services that generated the largest revenue
• b.Keeping current licenses posted, product and disinfectant manufacturer directions and Safety Data Sheets available on the premises, and maintaining client consultation and service records✓
• c.Keeping the Board's health and safety rules in the owner's home for safekeeping
• d.Discarding all product labels to keep the dispensary tidy

Posted licenses, on-site manufacturer directions and Safety Data Sheets, and client consultation and service records let an inspector verify compliance and let the licensee demonstrate that products were used as labeled. Discarding labels destroys the use directions and hazard information required to use a product legally, and off-site or selective records are of no use during an inspection.CCR Title 16

A salon owner asks an unlicensed receptionist to perform a quick brow wax because the esthetician is running late. What is the correct response?

• a.It is unlawful, since only a person holding the appropriate current license may perform services for compensation, and both the individual and the establishment can be cited✓
• b.It is acceptable if the client is told in advance and does not object
• c.It is acceptable because brow waxing is a minor service
• d.It is acceptable if the licensed esthetician watches from across the room

Performing licensed services without a license is unlawful, and the establishment and owner who permit it are also subject to citation and discipline. The simplicity of the service, casual observation by a licensee, and client consent do not create an exemption. Only students and apprentices in an approved program may practice, and only within that program's supervision requirements.CA Business & Professions Code

A client calls the day after a wax reporting a blistered, painful patch where the wax was applied. What should the esthetician do?

• a.Advise the client to seek medical care, document the incident and the products and temperatures used, and cooperate fully if the client files a complaint with the Board✓
• b.Tell the client it is a normal reaction and offer a free service
• c.Diagnose it as a burn and prescribe a topical antibiotic
• d.Delete the client's service record to avoid liability

A suspected thermal or chemical injury is referred for medical care, thoroughly documented, and handled honestly, since clients may file a complaint with the Board and accurate records protect everyone involved. Dismissing the injury delays treatment, altering or destroying records is misconduct, and diagnosing and prescribing are outside an esthetician's scope.CA Business & Professions Code

Which summary best describes the boundary of esthetic practice in California?

• a.Estheticians work on the surface of the skin using cosmetic preparations and approved devices, and may not diagnose or treat disease, penetrate the skin, inject, use lasers, or perform medium or deep peels✓
• b.Estheticians may perform medical procedures if a physician is on the premises
• c.Estheticians may perform any service a client requests and consents to in writing
• d.Estheticians may perform any procedure taught in a manufacturer's certification course

Esthetic practice is limited to beautifying and caring for the surface of intact skin with cosmetic products and approved equipment, and it excludes diagnosing or treating disease, penetrating living tissue, injecting, operating lasers, and performing peels that reach the dermis. Private certification courses, a physician's presence, and written client consent cannot expand what a license legally authorizes.CA Business & Professions Code