Top 12 Aesthetician Skills to Put on Your Resume

In a crowded aesthetics market, your resume has to carry real weight. It should broadcast skill, safety, and finesse at a glance. Spotlighting the right aesthetician competencies shows range and readiness, helping employers see you as the pro who can step in, deliver results, and keep clients coming back.

1. Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a noninvasive exfoliation that sweeps away dull, dead surface cells to smooth texture and brighten tone. With consistent sessions, it can soften the look of fine lines, superficial scars, and discoloration.

Why It's Important

It jump-starts cell turnover, primes the skin for better product penetration, and can nudge collagen activity over time—solid, dependable results with minimal downtime.

How to Improve Microdermabrasion Skills

Sharpening results takes intention and detail:

Know your devices: Master both crystal and diamond-tip systems, including pass count, pressure, and suction control.
Prep like a pro: Pause retinoids and exfoliants beforehand, cleanse thoroughly, and assess sensitivity before the first pass.
Customize every step: Adjust intensity by zone; cheeks tolerate more than the periocular area. Sensitive skin gets fewer, lighter passes.
Hygiene never slips: Meticulous disinfection, single-use tips or properly sterilized components, and consistent PPE.
Aftercare that works: Calm, hydrate, and protect with SPF. Clear guidance prevents irritation and extends glow.

Do the small things right and clients notice. Their skin does, too.

How to Display Microdermabrasion Skills on Your Resume

2. Hydrafacial

Hydrafacial blends cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, hydration, and targeted serums into one streamlined treatment—fast, comfortable, and friendly to most skin types.

Why It's Important

Clients love the instant clarity and plumpness, with essentially no downtime. As a service, it anchors memberships and pairs easily with other treatments.

How to Improve Hydrafacial Skills

Make each session feel tailored, not templated:

Dial in boosters: Choose serums to match the goal—brightening, calming, refining—based on a real skin assessment.
Technique matters: Even, overlapping passes; steady vacuum control; gentle approach near the eyes and lips.
Layer strategically: Follow with LED or a soothing mask when appropriate to amplify outcomes.
Comfort and cadence: A calm setup, clear step-by-step communication, and a consistent visit rhythm (every 4–6 weeks) keep results steady.
Home care: Recommend a simple regimen to maintain the post-treatment glow and support barrier health.

How to Display Hydrafacial Skills on Your Resume

3. Chemical Peels

Chemical peels use controlled acids to lift dead cells, refine texture, even tone, and soften signs of aging. Depth ranges from superficial to medium in spa settings; deep peels are typically medical.

Why It's Important

Peels do heavy lifting on hyperpigmentation, roughness, and fine lines. They’re workhorses—when chosen and timed properly.

How to Improve Chemical Peels Skills

Safer, smarter, better outcomes come from precision:

Assess thoroughly: Skin type, sensitivities, medications, recent procedures, and sun habits all shape your choice.
Pick the right formula: Glycolic for brightness, lactic for gentleness, salicylic for congestion, TCA blends for texture—always within your scope.
Prime the skin: Introduce sunscreen, gentle actives, or pigment suppressors pre-peel when indicated; discontinue irritants per protocol.
Time and observe: Watch for frosting or erythema patterns; neutralize correctly; never rush.
Post-care is mandatory: SPF, barrier repair, and a pause on strong actives. Set expectations about flaking and timelines.
Document and plan: Track responses and build a series with adequate spacing.

How to Display Chemical Peels Skills on Your Resume

4. LED Therapy

LED therapy delivers specific wavelengths—blue for acne, red for rejuvenation, near-infrared for deeper healing—to coax calmer, clearer, more resilient skin.

Why It's Important

Noninvasive, painless, and versatile. It layers beautifully with other services and adds value without adding downtime.

How to Improve LED Therapy Skills

Turn the lights into results:

Match wavelength to need: Blue for breakout control, red to support collagen, near-infrared for recovery and inflammation.
Prep the canvas: Clean skin, no occlusive products that block light. Eye protection on, always.
Stack wisely: Pair after peels, microdermabrasion, or Hydrafacial to soothe and enhance outcomes—if the skin is stable.
Consistency wins: Build short, repeated sessions for cumulative benefit.
Quality equipment: Use devices with verified irradiance and safe output. Maintain them on schedule.

How to Display LED Therapy Skills on Your Resume

5. Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning uses a sterile blade to skim away built-up dead cells and fine vellus hair, leaving skin smoother and makeup-ready.

Why It's Important

It instantly improves texture and helps skincare absorb more evenly. No downtime, big payoff.

How to Improve Dermaplaning Skills

Refinement shows in the details:

Technique, angle, pressure: Keep a steady 45-degree angle, short strokes, and light tension on the skin.
Blade quality and sterility: Fresh, professional blades; strict aseptic setup; safe disposal every time.
Know when to pause: Avoid active acne, inflamed skin, or recent sunburns and peels.
Pair with care: Follow with calming serums or LED; avoid strong acids the same day on sensitive clients.
Clear aftercare: Hydrate and protect with SPF; skip exfoliants for several days.

How to Display Dermaplaning Skills on Your Resume

6. Microneedling

Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries to stimulate collagen, refining texture, softening scars, and easing fine lines.

Why It's Important

It’s a collagen-forward option with meaningful improvements and relatively quick recovery when performed correctly.

How to Improve Microneedling Skills

Precision and safety drive outcomes:

Scope and settings: Follow local regulations on allowable needle depths. Adjust depth by zone and concern—more conservative for thin areas.
Sterility is nonnegotiable: Single-use cartridges, disinfected work surfaces, and proper PPE to reduce infection risk.
Thoughtful pairing: Use sterile, fragrance-free serums compatible with needling; avoid harsh actives during the session.
Pre and post care: Pause retinoids pre-treatment; after, lean into hydration, sunscreen, and gentle cleansers. No workouts or heat exposure for 24–48 hours.
Document progress: Photos, settings, needle depth, and client feedback guide future sessions.

How to Display Microneedling Skills on Your Resume

7. Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal targets pigment in the follicle to achieve long-term hair reduction. Not permanent removal—reduction—with maintenance often required.

Why It's Important

Efficient, fast, and precise on larger areas. It smooths grooming routines and, when settings are right, works across a wide range of skin tones.

How to Improve Laser Hair Removal Skills

Better comfort, better outcomes:

Assess carefully: Use Fitzpatrick typing, hair color/diameter, and body area to select wavelength and parameters.
Choose the right tool: Alexandrite for lighter skin; diode for versatility; Nd:YAG for deeper skin tones. Eye protection for everyone.
Prep clients: Shave 24 hours prior; avoid tanning, waxing, and plucking before sessions.
Tune your settings: Balance fluence, pulse duration, and spot size; use effective cooling (contact, cryogen, or air) to minimize discomfort and risk.
Aftercare and cadence: Cool the skin, calm with gentle topicals, enforce SPF, and schedule sessions according to hair cycle.

How to Display Laser Hair Removal Skills on Your Resume

8. Electrolysis

Electrolysis uses a fine probe and electrical current to destroy the growth center of individual follicles. It’s the only method recognized in the U.S. as permanent hair removal.

Why It's Important

Works on all hair colors and skin types, including light or gray hairs that lasers can’t effectively target.

How to Improve Electrolysis Skills

Comfort and precision define success:

Master all modalities: Galvanic, thermolysis, and blend—know when each shines.
Targeting and insertions: Refine probe angle and depth to match follicle direction for cleaner releases and fewer misfires.
Device calibration: Keep equipment serviced; verify timing and intensity routinely.
Client comfort: Numbing options, steady pacing, and cooling gels help longer sessions feel manageable.
Skin shepherding: Strict hygiene, gentle post-care, and spacing sessions to avoid irritation.

How to Display Electrolysis Skills on Your Resume

9. Lymphatic Drainage

Lymphatic drainage is a gentle manual technique that encourages lymph flow, helping reduce puffiness and bringing a fresher, less congested look.

Why It's Important

It supports detoxification pathways, can ease swelling after procedures, and complements many facial services.

How to Improve Lymphatic Drainage Skills

Light hands, thoughtful rhythm:

Learn precise mapping: Work along lymph pathways with feather-light pressure and deliberate, repeated strokes.
Sequence matters: Clear the main nodes first, then move distally to proximally to encourage flow.
Supportive habits: Encourage hydration, gentle movement, and deep breathing for carryover benefits.
Pairing: Combine with de-puffing masks or cool globes to amplify soothing effects.
Contraindications: Be cautious with acute infections, active cancers without clearance, or uncontrolled cardiac issues.

How to Display Lymphatic Drainage Skills on Your Resume

10. Ultherapy

Ultherapy uses focused ultrasound to heat precise tissue depths, stimulating collagen for a lifted, tighter look over time.

Why It's Important

It’s noninvasive and FDA-cleared to lift and tighten areas like the brow, under the chin, and neck, and to improve lines on the décolletage.

How to Improve Ultherapy Skills

Map, measure, and manage expectations:

Targeting with intent: Use real-time visualization (when available) and follow treatment lines to hit the right depth and layers.
Customize energy delivery: Adjust transducer depth and energy based on tissue thickness and client tolerance.
Comfort planning: Discuss analgesic options; pace the session; employ cooling and breaks as needed.
Combine thoughtfully: Sequence with microneedling, peels, or neuromodulators on an appropriate timeline for synergy without irritation.
Set the timeline: Results build gradually over 3–6 months; one session may suffice for some, while others need staged plans.

How to Display Ultherapy Skills on Your Resume

11. Cryotherapy

Aesthetic cryotherapy applies controlled cold to calm inflammation, tighten temporarily, and refresh the skin’s look and feel.

Why It's Important

It’s quick, soothing, and pairs well with other treatments to reduce post-procedure redness and puffiness.

How to Improve Cryotherapy Skills

Safe chill, real benefit:

Screen first: Avoid use with cold sensitivities (like Raynaud’s or cold urticaria) and poorly perfused areas.
Control exposure: Keep contact times short and even; never linger on one spot to prevent cold injury.
Right tools: Maintain devices correctly; monitor temperature output to stay within safe ranges.
Use it smartly: Slot it after stimulating treatments to settle skin; follow with hydration and SPF.
Feedback loop: Check sensation during use and adjust immediately if discomfort spikes.

How to Display Cryotherapy Skills on Your Resume

12. IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

IPL sends broad-spectrum light into the skin to address pigment, redness, and textural irregularities, and it can be configured for hair reduction.

Why It's Important

Versatility is the draw—photo-rejuvenation for spots and vessels, plus selective hair reduction with appropriate filters.

How to Improve IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Skills

Precision keeps it safe and effective:

Know the skin: Fitzpatrick type, tanning history, and target chromophore (melanin vs hemoglobin) drive filter and fluence choices.
Protect and prep: No recent sun; shave hair areas; strict eye protection with appropriate goggles or shields.
Set smart parameters: Select the right cutoff filter, fluence, pulse duration, and pulse trains to minimize risk while hitting targets.
Test spots first: Especially on higher Fitzpatrick types or reactive skin, then reassess in 48–72 hours.
Aftercare: Cool the skin, avoid heat and actives for a couple of days, and emphasize sunscreen.

How to Display IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Skills on Your Resume

Top 12 Aesthetician Skills to Put on Your Resume