Unit Specification
UBT194M - Facial treatments
Unit reference number: Y/615/0645
Level: 2
Guided Learning (GL) hours: 50
Overview
This unit will enable learners to provide facial treatments to clients, working on the required areas of
the face, neck and decollete. Learners will develop the knowledge and skills to prepare for and
provide a professional treatment whilst at the same time developing their understanding of possible
contra-indications, along with indications for, and benefits and effects of professional facial
treatments.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this unit, learners will:
- LO1 Know the salon requirements for facial treatments
- LO2 Understand the effects and indications for facial treatments
- LO3 Be able to prepare for facial treatments
- LO4 Be able to provide facial treatments
Version 6
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Unit content
LO1 Know the salon requirements for facial treatments
Learners must know how to set up the work area:
Taught content
- Prepare the work area to allow for
- Ease of access and free movement around the couch/chair
- Effective lighting
- Hygienic set up of chair, couch and trolley
- Selection of products and equipment to meet the needs of the client
- Ensure a safe working environment
- Clean and hygienic work area
- The use of a suitable sterilisation and sanitisation for equipment
- Effective positioning of couch, trolley and stool to allow ergonomic and safe practice
Learners must know how professional beauty therapists present themselves:
Taught content
Clean professional uniforms create a positive impression of the beauty therapist and the salon.
Uniforms should be made from a comfortable fabric to facilitate the stretching involved in the
treatment
. Beauty therapists should wear closed in footwear, no jewellery, no piercings, hair neatly tied
back, and any fringe secured, nails well-manicured, short and free of varnish
. Personal hygiene and cleanliness including showering, covering cuts and abrasions, wearing
deodorant or antiperspirant, oral hygiene, including clean teeth, fresh breath, are all
important elements of professional presentation
Learners must know the salon requirements for record keeping:
Taught content
- Accurate appointment systems, stationery, loyalty, rewards, acknowledgement of occasions
- How to establish and record clear information that is accurate and in logical order, how to
refer to existing records
- Skin sensitivity tests, adaptations and modifications, recommendations
- Treatment planning and how to update records at the end of the treatment, update at each
visit, maintained electronically, paper records
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Learners must know the importance, purpose and methods of patch tests:
Taught content
- A patch test is designed to alert the therapist to any pre-disposed skin sensitivity on the
client's behalf. Any active, new or known ingredient that can potentially produce a reaction is
usually patch tested 24-48 hours before treatment. All patch tests provided need to be noted
and recorded, listing all products, where patch test took place on the body and, if appropriate,
client signature and date
- Patch testing would include all active or new products to be used within the treatment such as
the massage medium and general products. Client records need to be updated with results.
Conducted to ascertain suitability of products and sensitivity of the client
- Patch test application techniques:
- Cleanse area (either crook of elbow or behind ear)
- Apply product to the area with a brush
- Allow to dry
- Leave on for a minimum of 24 hours
- Explain positive and negative reactions
- Complete record card with results, products used and where placed
Explain how to interpret results of the patch test:
Taught content
- Positive - red, itchy, irritated, swelling, sore
- Negative - no change to skin
Learners must know the correct procedure to take when a contra-action occurs:
Taught content
- An allergic reaction to eye products - the client may experience sensitivity or a burning
sensation. Remove all products immediately, apply a cold compress, if product enters the eye,
flush with an eye bath, record the information on the client's record card; seek medical advice
if symptoms persist
- An allergic reaction to skin products - the client may experience redness, itching, swelling,
rash, burning or stinging, blistering. Remove all skin products immediately with suitable
remover, clean the area with cool water, apply a cool compress, record information on record
card and seek medical advice if symptoms persist. Recommend hypo-allergenic products
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Learners must know the insurance requirements for the delivery of treatments:
Taught content
- As a minimum a salon should hold where applicable, employers insurance as well as public
liability insurance and professional indemnity
Learners must know the legal requirements for providing treatments to minors:
Taught content
- The age at which an individual is classed as a minor and how this differs nationally
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LO2 Understand the effects and indications for facial treatments
Learners must know the benefits and effects of the different massage techniques used
in facial massage:
Taught content
- Effleurage is usually repeated several times over the same area on the body and is a basic
massage movement. It is often used as a linking movement transferring from one movement
or area of the treatment to the next. The benefits and effects of effleurage:
- Soothes the nervous system
- Increases the venous and lymphatic flow
- Relaxes contracted tense muscle fibres
- Introduces the therapist's hands by applying the massage medium
- Petrissage is a compression movement performed using intermittent pressure, with one hand,
both or parts of the hands. It consists of grasping or compressing a muscle group, a muscle or
part of a muscle and applying pressure then releasing the pressure, progressing to an adjacent
area and repeating the process. The benefits and effects of petrissage:
- Increases venous and lymphatic flow
- Aids desquamation
- Eliminates muscle fatigue
- Improves skin texture
- Tapotements are movements which may be referred to as percussion manipulations. They
consist of a series of brief, rapidly applied contacts of the finger tips or hands in alternating
movements. The hands must be kept loose and mobile so that all the movements produced
are springy and stimulating. The benefits and effects of tapotement:
- Stimulates nerve endings
- Causes a local rise in skin temperature and an erythema is produced
- Produces a stimulating effect on the circulatory and muscular systems
- Frictions are concentrated movements exerting deep controlled pressure on a small area of
the surface tissues, moving them over the underlying structures. The movements are applied
in a circular manner, using the pad of the thumb, fingers or pad of the palm. Friction
movements may also be applied along a muscle and are then referred to as transverse
frictions. A steady, even pressure is maintained across the muscle fibres and its purpose is to
produce a stretching, releasing effect on the tissues. The benefits and effects of frictions are
that they:
- Break down adhesions freeing stiff joints
- Loosen and stretch scar tissue
- Produce a localised erythema
- Vibrations are shaking or fine trembling movements performed with one or both hands. The
tips of the index fingers, the first two fingers or the distal phalanx of the thumb may be used.
The muscles of the forearm are contracted and relaxed rapidly, so a fine, rapid trembling is
produced. The benefits and effects of vibrations are that they:
- Gently stimulate the nerves and clears nerve paths
- Relieve muscle pain as they have a sedative effect
- Can be used to help to loosen old scar tissues and to stretch adhesions
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Learners must know the safe application of facial massage techniques:
Taught content
- To avoid discomfort or possible injury pressure must not be applied over bony areas, the
carotid artery, the sternocleidomastoideole or trachea
- Adaptations to massage techniques to meet the needs of the client, for example a client with
mature skin may need lighter pressure to avoid pulling the skin
Learners must know the contra-indications to facial treatments:
Taught content
- If a client presents with symptoms that are not identifiable the learner must refer the client to
a health care practitioner for appropriate care and diagnosis. Therapists are not qualified to
diagnose diseases and disorders but can refer the client directly to general practitioners.
- Examples of contra-indications that may prevent treatment (absolute contra-indications)
- severe asthma, contagious skin diseases and disorders, bacterial (impetigo), viral (herpes
simplex), fungal (tinea), parasitic infestations (scabies), systemic medical conditions, eye
infections, acne, boils, severe skin conditions, recent scar tissue, any undiagnosed lumps or
swellings, cancer treatments, product allergies
- Examples of contra-indications that may restrict treatment (relative contra-indications)
- anyone undergoing medical treatments, anxiety, medication, for example acne medication,
retinols, steroids, epilepsy, diabetes, pigmentation disorders, micropigmentation, botox,
dermal fillers, recent dermabrasion or medical peels, IPL or laser and epilation, metal pins and
plates, sunburn, psoriasis, eczema, cuts and abrasions, bruises, broken bones, recent scar
tissue, hyperkeratosis, skin allergies, styes, respiratory conditions, heart disorder/disease,
pacemaker, history of thrombosis or embolisms, high or low blood pressure and pregnancy
- Examples of possible contra-indications to steaming - vascular skin disorders, respiratory
problems, claustrophobia, broken capillaries, diabetes
Learners must know the possible contra-actions that may occur during or after a facial
application:
Taught content
- Contra-actions and responses - erythema, inflammatory and cleansing response from
products, temporary pustules or papules
Learners must know how to effectively respond to contra-actions:
Taught content
- Establish if it is an expected reaction or a contra-action
- In the case of expected reactions, provide immediate and home care advice
- In the case of a contra-action discontinue treatment, take remedial action, record
contra-action, advise on home care and how to access remedial medical care if required
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