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Esthetician (NIC Theory Exam) · Skin Care and Services

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Esthetician (NIC Theory Exam) Facial Treatments and Exfoliation Summary

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About 14 of 45 Skin Care and Services questions (30%)

Steps of a facial, steaming, massage movements, masks, and chemical and mechanical exfoliation.

📖 See Facial Treatments and Exfoliation concepts →

Facial Treatments and Exfoliation: must-know points

  • A facial starts with cleansing and ends with moisturizer and sunscreen.
  • The massage movements are effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, and vibration.
  • AHAs and BHAs are chemical exfoliants; microdermabrasion and scrubs are mechanical.
  • Steam softens the skin but should be limited on couperose or rosacea skin.

Facial Treatments and Exfoliation: 10 sample questions

Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 1. What is the first hands-on step of a facial after the consultation?

  1. ① Cleansing
  2. ② Mask
  3. ③ Massage
  4. ④ Moisturizer
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Answer: ① Cleansing

Key point: Cleansing first

Cleansing removes makeup and dirt so later steps work well.

Wrong choices

  • Mask: The mask is applied later in the facial.
  • Massage: Massage comes after cleansing and analysis.
  • Moisturizer: Moisturizer is applied near the end of the facial.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 2. Which massage movement is a light, gliding stroke?

  1. ① Petrissage
  2. ② Tapotement
  3. ③ Friction
  4. ④ Effleurage
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Answer: ④ Effleurage

Key point: Effleurage = gliding

Effleurage is soothing and often used to begin and end a massage.

Wrong choices

  • Petrissage: Petrissage is kneading, not tapping.
  • Tapotement: Tapotement is tapping.
  • Friction: Friction is circular rubbing, not tapping.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 3. Which massage movement is kneading?

  1. ① Effleurage
  2. ② Petrissage
  3. ③ Tapotement
  4. ④ Vibration
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Answer: ② Petrissage

Key point: Petrissage = kneading

Petrissage lifts and squeezes the tissue.

Wrong choices

  • Effleurage: Effleurage is a light gliding stroke, not a tapping movement.
  • Tapotement: Tapotement is tapping.
  • Vibration: Vibration is shaking.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 4. Why is steam used before extractions?

  1. ① It tightens the skin
  2. ② It softens oil and debris in the pores
  3. ③ It closes the pores
  4. ④ It removes pigment
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Answer: ② It softens oil and debris in the pores

Key point: Steam softens

Warm moisture softens sebum and eases extractions.

Wrong choices

  • It tightens the skin: Heat relaxes and softens the skin; it does not tighten it.
  • It closes the pores: Warm steam helps open the pores; it does not close them.
  • It removes pigment: Steam has no effect on skin pigment.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 5. Which mask is usually best for oily skin?

  1. ① A rich cream mask
  2. ② A heavy oil mask
  3. ③ A warm wax mask
  4. ④ A clay mask
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Answer: ④ A clay mask

Key point: Clay for oily skin

Clay absorbs excess oil.

Wrong choices

  • A rich cream mask: A rich cream mask adds oils that oily skin does not need.
  • A heavy oil mask: An oil-based mask adds more oil and can clog pores.
  • A warm wax mask: A warm wax mask is rich and occlusive, and it is not chosen to absorb oil.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 6. What should a client use daily to protect skin after exfoliation?

  1. ① Broad-spectrum sunscreen
  2. ② An astringent
  3. ③ A scrub
  4. ④ A toner
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Answer: ① Broad-spectrum sunscreen

Key point: Sunscreen after exfoliation

Exfoliated skin is more sun-sensitive.

Wrong choices

  • An astringent: An astringent does not protect from UV.
  • A scrub: A scrub exfoliates but does not protect the skin from UV rays, and it can irritate fresh skin.
  • A toner: A toner freshens skin but does not block UV rays.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 7. How do alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) exfoliate?

  1. ① They cut away the dermis
  2. ② They add oil to the surface
  3. ③ They loosen the bonds between dead surface cells
  4. ④ They coat the skin with wax
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Answer: ③ They loosen the bonds between dead surface cells

Key point: AHAs loosen dead cells

AHAs such as glycolic and lactic acid dissolve the glue between dead cells.

Wrong choices

  • They cut away the dermis: AHAs work on the surface layer of dead cells and do not cut into the dermis.
  • They add oil to the surface: AHAs are exfoliants, not oils.
  • They coat the skin with wax: AHAs do not leave a wax coating; they dissolve the bonds between dead cells.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 8. Which chemical exfoliant is oil-soluble and good for congested skin?

  1. ① Glycolic acid
  2. ② Lactic acid
  3. ③ Hyaluronic acid
  4. ④ Salicylic acid (BHA)
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Answer: ④ Salicylic acid (BHA)

Key point: BHA is oil-soluble

Salicylic acid can get into oily pores.

Wrong choices

  • Glycolic acid: Glycolic is an AHA and water-soluble.
  • Lactic acid: Lactic acid is an AHA, which is water-soluble.
  • Hyaluronic acid: Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that holds water; it does not exfoliate.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 9. Which is a mechanical exfoliant?

  1. ① Glycolic acid
  2. ② Microdermabrasion
  3. ③ Salicylic acid
  4. ④ Lactic acid
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Answer: ② Microdermabrasion

Key point: Microdermabrasion is mechanical

It removes cells physically.

Wrong choices

  • Glycolic acid: Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant, not a mechanical one.
  • Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid is a chemical exfoliant, not a mechanical one.
  • Lactic acid: Lactic acid is a chemical exfoliant, not a mechanical one.
Practice questionReviewedSkin Care and Services › Facial Treatments and Exfoliation★★★★★

Question 10. Which condition usually means steam should be avoided or kept to a minimum?

  1. ① Normal skin
  2. ② Oily skin
  3. ③ Rosacea or couperose skin
  4. ④ Blackheads
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Answer: ③ Rosacea or couperose skin

Key point: Limit steam with rosacea

Heat can worsen redness and dilated capillaries.

Wrong choices

  • Normal skin: Normal skin usually tolerates steam well, so no special caution is needed.
  • Oily skin: Oily skin usually tolerates steam and benefits from softened pores.
  • Blackheads: Steam is commonly used to soften blackheads before extractions.

Test yourself.

Facial Treatments and Exfoliation: 5 questions →Skin Care and Services: 5 questions →