You've got your esthetician license and a big dream. The next step? Starting your business  with esthetician services like glow-boosting facials, chemical peels, and eyelash extensions that will have clients raving – and rebooking. 

Here’s our guide to 10 esthetician service offerings that can help you earn a solid reputation and create a loyal client base. It’s time to start building your esthetician empire. 

5 Types of Estheticians 

It’s tempting to offer every kind of service to pull every kind of client. But the world of esthetics is so broad that if you try to offer everything under the sun, you’ll spread yourself too thin. You’ll offer higher quality services if you specialize in a specific type of esthetics. So to get started, discover what makes you stand out.

When you become an esthetician, there are five main paths you could follow: 

1. Spa Esthetician 

Spa estheticians are all about pampering clients. These estheticians often work in day spas, offering services like hydrating facials, massages, and relaxing body treatments. Some also incorporate more specialized treatments, like hot stones and reflexology, into their service menus. If you love working in a relaxing environment and making people feel good, this direction might be right for you.

2. Medical Esthetician

If you love the worlds of both science and skincare, then becoming a licensed esthetician for medical procedures could be the perfect fit for you. People in this role work alongside medical professionals in clinics or medical spas to perform advanced skin treatments. These include laser therapy, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion to help clients treat medical issues and feel their best. 

3. Skincare Specialist 

Professionals with this title are in the know about all things skin, from simple services like facial cleansing to advanced procedures like dermabrasion and microneedling. These estheticians also tackle chronic skin conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation, and rosacea. Most usually work in salons and health spas, but you can also work in skincare-specific medical offices.

Skincare specialists offer custom treatments and routines to give clients healthier, happier skin. If you love giving people a glow, this direction might be the right one for you.

4. Hair Removal Technician 

Silky-smooth skin never goes out of style. Hair removal technicians make skin fuzz-free through services like waxing, eyebrow threading, and laser hair removal. Some people even decide to master one service. Whether you specialize or not, becoming a hair removal technician means caring for clients and supporting their choices – if they prefer to tidy things up or go totally bare. You can also decide to work at a beauty salon or a hair removal-specific clinic, depending on what kind of environment you prefer.

5. Facial Specialist 

Cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, oh my! These estheticians do skin treatments on the face, from basic facials to more intensive treatments that reduce breakouts and even skin tone. Some specialists offer makeup application and cosmetic services as well. As a facial specialist, you can opt to work at a massage studio, beauty salon, or dermatologist’s office – whatever suits your vibe.

Esthetician Services List: 10 Key Offerings

Providing services that bring your clients joy is key to building a brand in the beauty industry and retaining clients. Launch your esthetician business with some of these 10 essential services: 

1. Skin Analysis and Consultation 

Providing effective services means understanding every client’s unique skin and choosing treatments to suit it. And that’s what makes consultations so important. 

Skin analysis and consultations give you the chance to meet with clients one-on-one to evaluate their skin type, conditions, and concerns. From there, you can offer personalized treatment plans and product recommendations. 

A skin consultation service could stand alone, but making it a complementary service to treatments like facials shows you truly care about customers seeing results. It also gives you a chance to get to know your clients better and build relationships that give you business through the years.

2. Facials 

Facials are a popular offering in estheticians' service menus, and for good reason. There are dozens of types of facials, including:

• Classic European facials
• Anti-aging facials
• Microneedling
• Intense pulsed light therapy (IPL) 
• Hydrating treatments
• Facial massage
• Vampire facials
• Facial extractions

Choose a few that complement other services or specialize in just one type. Either way, you’ll help clients target cosmetic concerns like fine lines, dullness, and acne scars with a customized experience. You can even bundle multiple services as add-ons to save clients money while promoting sales.

Keep in mind that some facials, like IPL and vampire facials, are more expensive to offer because you need heavy-duty equipment. While it does mean you can charge more, it can be a big cost if you’re just starting out. 

3. Waxing 

Waxing specialists remove hair from different body areas, including the eyebrows, legs, and underarms. The goal is long-lasting results and minimal discomfort. Some waxing estheticians also expand their offerings with techniques like threading. 

Most waxers don’t specialize, instead offering removal for any area on the body. But it’s up to you to decide whether you want to pair your services with threading or other techniques. The more you have on your menu, the more opportunity there is to bundle things together and get more sales. Plus, if you’re looking for a low-cost way to start a business, waxing is one of the cheapest in terms of supplies.

4. Chemical Peels 

Chemical peels are intense facial treatments that dissolve the bonds between dead skin cells to remove a layer of skin and reveal a fresher, brighter face. The chemicals can irritate the skin, but the results speak for themselves. So while offering these facials can be intimidating, it’s a transformative experience for clients and keeps them coming back.

Different peel types cater to various skin concerns – lactic acid peels remove the top layers of damaged skin, while glycolic acid peels reduce hyperpigmentation. The key is understanding what clients need and how to keep their skin looking its best.

5. Microdermabrasion 

Microdermabrasion uses a diamond-tipped wand or fine crystals to buff away dead skin cells. This non-invasive skin treatment enhances skin tone, smooths rough texture, and helps skincare products penetrate the skin more effectively. You’ll usually offer this service along with other types of facials so clients have more to choose from.

6. Dermaplaning 

Dermaplaning uses an exfoliating blade to gently scrape dead skin cells and hair from the face. Like a chemical peel, this service removes clients' outermost layer of skin to reveal the fresh, radiant layer underneath. Dermaplaning boosts glow instantly and helps makeup products like foundation and powder apply more evenly.

7. Eyelash Extensions 

Give clients the lashes of their dreams with eyelash extensions. These extensions let you create a custom look for clients who want to enhance their natural lashes' volume, length, or curl. The results, which range from soft and natural to bold and dramatic, can last for weeks with proper maintenance and regular cleaning. 

Most eyelash techs work at lash-specific salons, meaning if giving extensions is your passion, you’ll have the joy of doing it all day. Plus, lash extensions are still growing in popularity – business will boom no matter where you are.

8. Eyebrow Tinting and Shaping 

Well-groomed eyebrows with a perfect arch are worth writing home about. Whether the current trends lean toward natural-looking brows or the pencil-thin strips of the 90s, estheticians who excel at brow tinting, shaping, and tweezing are always in demand. And when clients prefer the full, bushy look, estheticians are there to trim and tint their brows to perfection.

This is another more affordable business to start. All you need is a space and some basic supplies and you’re well on your way to building a portfolio of perfect brows.

9. Body Treatments 

Relax your clients with body wraps, massages, and hot stone therapy. These body treatments can be customized to address specific needs, like detoxification and exfoliation. Many estheticians also pair these offerings with facials and waxing for a holistic self-care experience. Body treatments require a lot of space and supplies, so it’s only a good option if you plan on working at an existing spa, opening your own, or building a spacious studio for yourself.

10. Makeup Application 

Don’t rule out cosmetology. Many estheticians offer professional makeup application as part of their services or even as their whole business. Provide bridal makeup services, serve clients attending special events or photoshoots, or cater to any occasion that requires a flawless look. Add-on services like makeup consultations and color matching will help you meet every client's needs and grow your business.

Manage All Your Services in One Place  

Building a business is about more than the services you offer. You have to organize bookings, process payments, and get loyal clients – and all of that work is overwhelming. 

Try GlossGenius free for 14 days!

Let GlossGenius take the weight off your shoulders. We’re an all-in-one business management platform designed to help you manage your esthetician business efficiently. GlossGenius simplifies booking and client management to help you schedule appointments, maintain relationships, and even handle payments hassle-free. 

Whether you want to build a stunning esthetician website (it all starts with a name) or implement effective email and SMS marketing campaigns, GlossGenius has simple tools to do it all. Take your business to the next level with a 14-day free trial.