Today, October 15, the world marks International Estheticians Day, a day dedicated to the professionals, the treatments, and the people who know exactly how to make your skin glow. But behind the masks, serums and laser devices lies a fascinating industry, packed with history, strict regulations, and no shortage of drama.
When did skincare become an official profession?
The culture of skincare has accompanied humanity since ancient Egypt, but as a recognized and institutionalized profession it only gained momentum in the 20th century. In 1946, Switzerland saw the founding of CIDESCO, the International Committee of Esthetics and Cosmetology. The establishment of the organization marked the official starting line that rescued the field of cosmetics from amateurism and turned it into a professional, academic and researched discipline with strict international standards.
Beautiful conditions: what's required of future estheticians?
To become licensed and professional estheticians, it's not enough just to "love skincare." The field demands a precise combination of three basic requirements:
Anatomical and dermatological knowledge: deep understanding of skin structure, types of lesions, allergies and chemical processes.
Certification and practical training: mastery of treatment techniques, proper work with advanced equipment, and providing first aid when necessary.
Hygiene and sterilization at a medical level: working in an environment that maintains strict disinfection of tools to prevent infections and contagious diseases.
Is a degree or certificate mandatory?
It depends where you live. In many countries around the world, such as the United States and parts of Europe, the law is draconian and does not allow opening a clinic without a formal state license (Cosmetology License) that requires hundreds to thousands of hours of study and government exams.
On the other hand, in certain countries, including Israel in some situations, the field sometimes suffers from a lack of uniform regulation, which allows anyone to define themselves as a "facial stylist" or "beauty consultant." However, in recent years there has been a global trend toward advanced dermo-cosmetic studies and recognized certification degrees.
The major dramas and scandals
Beyond the known dangers of radiation and chemicals in gel polish, the celebrity cosmetics industry has provided us with no shortage of major scandals:
Celebrity blood treatments: extreme facial treatments using one's own blood ("vampire treatment") that went wrong in luxury clinics and led to serious infections and criminal investigations.
Fake injection materials: estheticians to Hollywood stars who got into trouble after injecting their clients with industrial silicone and unapproved substances that caused severe disfigurement.
Pyramid schemes and fraud: leading estheticians worldwide who were exposed as having marketed "miracle products" for hundreds of dollars, which turned out in hindsight to be basic, cheap creams simply repackaged in luxurious, branded packaging.
It's definitely not just a women's business!
If you thought cosmetics and skincare belong only to women, global data shows that's a serious mistake: over 30% of clinic clients today are men, and the number keeps rising.
This of course brings us back to the unforgettable Hollywood/Israeli classic: the wild comedy "You Don't Mess with the Zohan." Jewish comedian Adam Sandler played a sworn Mossad agent with superpowers who decides to abandon fighting and combat and flees to New York to fulfill his true life's dream: to become a hairstylist and skincare expert. Apparently, in the end, no matter how tough you are, when faced with a pampering facial or a perfect blowout, even the greatest warriors surrender!
