4. Skin Analysis & Conditions (13%)

Every esthetic service starts with a client consultation and skin analysis. Before you touch a client, you need to know what you're working with — the skin's structure, its current condition, any relevant history, and whether there are any reasons not to proceed. This phase gives you the science behind the skin you'll be assessing, and the professional decision-making framework for what to do with that information.

The exam tests both the anatomy (layers, glands, structures) and the clinical application (identifying conditions, consulting with clients, recognizing contraindications). These go together — you can't make sound decisions about skin without understanding what healthy skin looks like and how it functions.