Esthetics Practice Questions (2026) — Free Sample Questions with Answers

Answer: A

An occlusive: Correct. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant; in dry air it can draw water from the skin that then evaporates. An occlusive seals the surface and reduces transepidermal water loss.

A second humectant: Adding more humectant repeats the problem; without a seal, attracted water still evaporates in dry air.

An astringent: Astringents tighten and remove oil, which worsens dehydration.

A surfactant: Surfactants cleanse and strip lipids; they do not hold water in the skin.

Humectants attract water, emollients smooth, occlusives seal; in dry conditions, top a humectant with an occlusive to limit TEWL.

Answer: D

Tell the client it is melanoma: Estheticians never diagnose; naming a disease is outside scope even when signs are suspicious.

Note it and recheck next visit: Waiting delays medical evaluation of a lesion that already shows several warning signs.

Exfoliate around it and avoid touching: Avoiding the lesion during the service is fine, but saying nothing fails the duty to refer.

Recommend a dermatologist visit: Correct. Irregular border, uneven color and evolving size are ABCDE warning signs; the esthetician refers the client promptly without diagnosing.

ABCDE (Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving) changes mean a prompt physician referral; estheticians do not diagnose.

Answer: B

Grade I: Grade I is minor breakouts, mostly a few comedones with very few papules; this client has many closed comedones plus pustules.

Grade II: Correct. Grade II acne shows many closed comedones, more open comedones and only occasional papules and pustules.

Grade III: Grade III is red, inflamed skin dominated by many papules and pustules, not just occasional ones.

Grade IV: Grade IV involves cysts and scarring, which this client does not have.

Acne grades rise from comedones (I) to many comedones with occasional inflamed lesions (II), widespread papules/pustules (III), and cysts with scarring (IV).

Answer: C

Hirsutism; no physician evaluation needed: Wrong action: hirsutism can point to an underlying hormone problem, so referral is the appropriate advice.

Hypertrichosis; suggest a physician evaluation: Wrong term: hypertrichosis is excess hair in any pattern, in either sex; a male-type pattern in a woman is hirsutism.

Hirsutism; suggest a physician evaluation: Correct. Male-pattern terminal hair in a woman is hirsutism, which can signal a hormone imbalance. The esthetician may still offer hair removal but does not diagnose; she suggests the client see a physician.

Hirsutism; require a release before waxing: Right term, wrong action: hirsutism is not a contraindication to hair removal; the esthetician suggests a physician evaluation but does not withhold the service pending a release.

Hirsutism = male-pattern hair in women (often hormonal, refer); hypertrichosis = excess hair anywhere in either sex.

Answer: A

Barrier damage increasing water loss: Correct. A high-pH cleanser strips the intercellular lipids and acid mantle, so more water escapes through the skin (transepidermal water loss). Normal oil output points to dehydrated skin rather than oil-dry skin, so the esthetician suggests a low-pH cleanser and barrier-repairing moisturizer.

Sebaceous glands producing too little oil: Contradicts the stem: oil production is normal, so this is lack of water (dehydration), not lack of oil (alipidic dry skin).

Eccrine glands producing too little sweat: Wrong cause: reduced sweating is not what makes skin tight and flaky after harsh cleansing.

Dermal collagen breaking down: Wrong layer: collagen loss causes sagging and wrinkles, not surface tightness and flaking.

Dehydrated skin lacks water because of a damaged barrier and high TEWL; dry (alipidic) skin lacks oil.

Answer: B

frontalis muscle: Opposite action: the frontalis raises the eyebrows and forms horizontal forehead lines.

corrugator muscle: Correct. The corrugator draws the eyebrows down and inward, which creates the vertical frown lines between the brows.

zygomaticus major muscle: Wrong area: the zygomaticus major lifts the corner of the mouth in a smile.

orbicularis oculi muscle: Wrong area: the orbicularis oculi rings the eye and closes the eyelid, which forms lines at the outer corners of the eyes.

Corrugator = frown lines between the brows; frontalis = raised brows and horizontal forehead lines.

Answer: B

Resume extractions with fresh gloves: Wrong timing: the exposure must be handled before any service continues.

Clean, apply antiseptic, and cover: Correct. The client is cared for first: the area is cleaned, an antiseptic is applied and the area is covered; contaminated items, tools and surfaces are handled afterward and the incident is documented.

Apply disinfectant to the area: Wrong product: disinfectants are for tools and surfaces and can injure skin; antiseptics are used on skin.

Disinfect the tools, then the skin: Wrong order and product: the wound is cared for first, and skin receives an antiseptic, not a disinfectant.

Blood exposure principles: stop, glove, care for the wound (clean, antiseptic, cover), contain contaminated items, disinfect tools and surfaces, and document.

Answer: A

Discard the contaminated wax: Correct. Double-dipping transfers skin cells, oil and microbes into the pot; the contaminated wax is discarded, and the service continues with fresh wax and a new applicator each dip.

Raise the heat to disinfect it: Working wax temperature does not disinfect; heat in a wax pot is not an approved decontamination method.

Spray the pot with antiseptic: Antiseptics are for skin; spraying one onto wax does not decontaminate it and adulterates the product.

Use a new applicator from now on: A fresh applicator prevents further double-dipping, but the wax already in the pot is contaminated and must still be discarded.

Never double-dip: use a new applicator for every dip, and discard wax that has been contaminated.

Answer: B

easier to kill and shorter-lived: Opposite: HIV is the more fragile virus outside the body; HBV is the hardier one.

harder to kill and longer-lived: Correct. HBV is far more resistant than HIV and can survive in dried blood on surfaces for about a week, so the extractor must be cleaned and then disinfected or sterilized per protocol.

spread mainly by airborne droplets: Wrong mode: both HBV and HIV are bloodborne pathogens, not airborne.

removed by sanitation alone: Wrong level: soap-and-water cleaning removes debris but does not reliably kill HBV; disinfection or sterilization must follow.

HBV is a hardy bloodborne virus that survives on surfaces far longer than HIV; any tool exposed to blood is cleaned, then disinfected or sterilized as protocol requires.

Answer: D

Quickly, with growth, close to skin: Wrong direction: pulling with the growth breaks hairs instead of removing them from the follicle.

Slowly, against growth, straight up: Wrong speed and angle: slow, upward pulls lift and bruise the skin and increase pain.

Quickly, against growth, straight upward: Wrong angle: pulling up away from the skin can lift skin and break hairs.

Quickly, against growth, close to skin: Correct. Soft wax goes on in the direction of growth and the strip comes off quickly against growth, pulled close and parallel to the skin, to remove hair at the root with less discomfort.

Soft wax: apply with growth, remove quickly against growth, parallel to the skin, holding the skin taut.

Answer: B

Mint or pale green: Wrong complement: green neutralizes red, such as blemishes or rosacea.

Peach or orange: Correct. Peach and orange sit opposite blue on the color wheel, so they neutralize blue-purple under-eye shadows on medium skin.

Bright opaque white: Category error: white lightens but does not neutralize, so it leaves an ashy, gray cast over dark circles.

Lavender or violet: Wrong complement: lavender cancels yellow, sallow tones and would add to the purple cast.

Neutralize blue-purple shadows with peach (light to medium skin) or orange (deeper skin) before concealer.

Answer: C

Use high frequency, omit galvanic: Ignores the contraindication: high frequency is still electrical current and is avoided with a pacemaker.

Use galvanic at a lower setting: Ignores the contraindication: lowering the intensity does not make galvanic current safe for a client with a pacemaker.

Omit all electrical current: Correct. A pacemaker contraindicates all facial electrical current, so the esthetician omits both modalities and substitutes manual techniques, noting the change on the client record.

Use only the positive galvanic pole: Ignores the contraindication: either pole still passes current through the body.

Pacemakers, metal implants, epilepsy and (per protocol) pregnancy contraindicate electrical facial treatments; do the service manually instead.

Answer: C

drying clay mask: Clay absorbs oil and moisture and tightens, which further dehydrates and irritates sensitive skin.

warm paraffin mask: Paraffin warms the skin, and heat increases redness in sensitive skin.

hydrating gel mask: Correct. Gel masks deliver water-based hydration and a cooling, soothing effect without heat or drying, which suits dehydrated, sensitive skin.

thermal setting mask: Thermal setting masks generate heat as they set, which aggravates reactive, reddened skin.

Gel masks hydrate and soothe; avoid heat-producing and drying masks on sensitive, dehydrated skin.

Answer: B

switch to a comedone extractor: A metal extractor adds focused pressure to a lesion that already will not release, raising the risk of bruising and rupture.

stop and retry at a later visit: Correct. A comedone that will not release after a few gentle attempts is left alone; further pressure risks bruising, broken capillaries, rupture into the dermis, and scarring. It can soften over later treatments.

wrap in cotton and press firmer: Cotton wrapping protects the skin, but firmer pressure still forces a stubborn lesion and can rupture the follicle wall.

re-steam it and keep pressing: Repeated pressing after re-steaming still traumatizes the area; the limit on attempts applies.

Limit extraction attempts; if a lesion will not release with gentle pressure, stop and let later treatments soften it.

Answer: C

Glycolic acid: Glycolic acid is an AHA unrelated to aspirin; it is a reasonable alternative here.

Mandelic acid: Mandelic acid is an AHA with no salicylate structure, so an aspirin allergy does not rule it out.

Salicylic acid: Correct. Salicylic acid is a salicylate, chemically related to aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), so an aspirin allergy contraindicates it; choose a non-salicylate option such as an AHA or enzyme.

Bromelain enzyme: Bromelain is a pineapple enzyme, not a salicylate; it can be used if there is no pineapple sensitivity.

An aspirin (salicylate) allergy contraindicates salicylic acid; check the intake form before choosing a BHA.

Answer: D

Daily sunscreen alone, no exfoliation: Sunscreen is essential, but without gentle exfoliation the uneven pigment fades slowly; the best plan combines both.

A weekly microdermabrasion series: Frequent abrasion and suction inflame type V skin and can trigger the very hyperpigmentation the client wants to fade.

Strong exfoliation repeated weekly: Frequent strong exfoliation is the classic trigger for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation in darker skin types.

Gradual, gentle exfoliation plus SPF: Correct. Higher Fitzpatrick types carry a greater risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from aggressive exfoliation or heat, so a gentle, gradual series plus daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is safest.

For Fitzpatrick IV–VI, avoid aggressive exfoliation and heat; go gradual and stress daily broad-spectrum SPF to prevent PIH.