But facials and skin-rejuvenating treatments aren’t the only services your skin care specialist can offer. She also can guide you through the maze of “beauty” gimmicks and trends in an attempt to create manageable skin care goals you can easily continue at home.

Your diet, water consumption, daily oil production, and long- and short-term goals help skin care specialists (also known as estheticians) formulate your home skin care regimes. “To get better skin, you have to choose better products, and you need the help of a professional more and more,” says Dennis Gross, a New York dermatologist. “It’s a quandary. My clients are smart, intellectual people, and they were clueless about which skin care line to use.” 

And it’s no wonder. Some promises are difficult to discern from truths. 

Antioxidants, fatty acids, and bioflavenoids improve the skin from the inside out by bolstering cellular membranes and producing clear, glowing skin, professionals say. Minerals and vitamins A, C, and E affect the connective tissues of the skin, which translates to overall health and the minimization of pores. For those who do not eat vitamin-rich foods, some companies make supplements to address a variety of needs from moisture and antioxidant replenishment to acne. 

There is a lot of information and knowledge an esthetician can offer when it comes to healthy and logical skin care.