Aesthetician

As an aesthetician you provide a wide range of professional skin care and beauty treatments to clients in beauty salons, spas, and medical aesthetic centres across Ireland. Your daily work involves analysing clients' skin types, carrying out facials, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, body wraps, and applying specialist masks and lotions tailored to individual needs. You also perform hair removal techniques such as waxing and threading, carry out facial massage, and apply make-up for special occasions or photographic work. You consult closely with clients to assess their skin concerns, recommend aftercare routines, and build lasting professional relationships. Maintaining hygiene standards, caring for your equipment, and keeping up to date with new product ranges and treatment techniques are all central parts of the role.

Most aestheticians in Ireland qualify through a QQI Level 5 Certificate in Beauty Therapy or a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Beauty Therapy, both offered through PLC programmes at Colleges of Further Education and ETBs nationwide. Leaving Certificate subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, and Home Economics provide a useful foundation in skin science and cosmetic ingredients, while Art supports make-up and colour work. Some practitioners progress to a Level 7 or Level 8 degree in Beauty and Spa Management at institutions such as TU Dublin or ATU, which opens doors to supervisory and clinic management roles. There is no statutory registration body specific to aestheticians in Ireland, but membership of professional associations such as CIBTAC or ITEC, and completion of accredited courses, are valued by employers. Ongoing continuing professional development (CPD) in areas such as advanced skin peels, LED therapy, and microneedling is increasingly expected, particularly in medical aesthetic settings.