The Illusion of Informed Consent in the Beauty Industry

…and why it should make you pause before your next product or procedure

There’s a value I hold in every single part of my life, but especially in my work as an esthetician: informed consent.

And not just the check-the-box, sign-the-waiver version of consent. I’m talking about the kind of consent that actually means something—where the person receiving a treatment or buying a product understands what it is, how it works, what it contains, and what the long-term effects are on the body. That’s not happening in the beauty industry. Not really. And I think we need to talk about it.

This blog isn’t a takedown. It’s not about fearmongering or shaming people who get Botox or buy expensive peels. It’s about truth-telling. Pulling back the curtain. And giving you a glimpse into just how murky this industry really is—both as a consumer and as a licensed esthetician who is still (always) learning.

Consent Without Clarity

In aesthetics, consent is usually just a form. You sign it before a facial or a peel or a procedure. You agree to the service. You trust the provider. But what if the provider isn’t being fully informed either?

Because here’s the thing no one wants to admit: many estheticians are working with partial knowledge at best, and dangerous misinformation at worst.

That’s not always their fault. Aesthetic education is wildly under-regulated. In most states, esthetic school gives you just enough to pass a licensing exam—but barely scratches the surface of real skin science, product chemistry, or the interaction between topical ingredients and internal health.

And once you’re licensed? You’re mostly on your own. Continuing education is expensive. Conferences, certifications, books, case studies—it adds up fast. There’s no centralized body keeping us all updated on new findings. Most of the time, we’re patching together our knowledge late at night after long days in the treatment room, trying to stay ahead of a moving target.

And unfortunately, the loudest voices offering “education” are often product reps whose primary job is to sell—not to educate.

You Think You Know What You’re Buying? Think Again.

Let me give you a couple examples from my own practice.

There are two high-end peel companies I’ve researched that refuse to give ingredient lists until you purchase the product. Let that sink in. You get to see the before-and-after pictures, the marketing materials, the price sheet that tells you how much you can charge… but you can’t know what’s actually in the peel. No full INCI list. No acid percentages. No pH. Nothing.

That means I wouldn’t know how the product works. I wouldn’t know if it’s safe for someone with a compromised barrier, or if it contains ingredients contraindicated for certain medications or skin conditions. And that’s supposed to be okay?

Another brand pitched me a very slick-looking peptide patch that supposedly feeds peptides into the skin over several hours. Sounds amazing—except they won’t tell anyone what peptides they use because it’s “proprietary.” Not all peptides are the same. Some do absolutely nothing. Some can trigger reactions. Some are only effective under specific delivery conditions. If I don’t know what it is, how can I ethically recommend it?

This kind of vague, intentionally obscured language is rampant in the skincare world. And it’s not just with products.

The Machine May Not Be What You Think It Is

Let’s talk about aesthetic devices—radio frequency, microcurrent, LED, ultrasound, and all the other machines now flooding spa rooms and online shops.

Many of these machines are imported, often from manufacturers with no FDA oversight. The marketing is slick. The promises are bold. The science is often… absent.

There’s a particularly dangerous overlap between radio frequency (which heats tissue and reduces fat) and microcurrent (which tones muscles and supports facial volume). I’ve seen multiple machines labeled as “microcurrent” that are actually using radio frequency currents.

That may not sound like a big deal, but it is—especially if I’m working on someone who’s lost volume in their face due to weight loss or aging. Using radio frequency in that case could worsen the issue by further reducing fat in areas where we’re trying to preserve it.

The problem? Once you buy the machine, there’s often no clear way to verify what current it actually uses—unless you can feel the heat, or you’ve already done harm. And if the device is imported and falsely labeled, there’s no recourse. No refund. No lawsuit. No protection. You’re on your own.

The FDA Regulates Language, Not Truth

You might think that with all the regulation in health and wellness, skincare must be under some sort of oversight. It’s not. Skincare products aren’t drugs. That means they’re not required to prove that they do anything. They’re not required to tell you how they work, or even test the claims they make. And if they do make strong claims, they risk being shut down by the FDA for making “drug-like” statements.

Here’s what that means in practice:

I’m not allowed to say that raspberry seed oil protects against UV rays, even though multiple studies support that claim.

I can’t legally tell you that chamomile oil has anti-inflammatory properties comparable to over-the-counter hydrocortisone—even though that’s what research shows.

On the other hand, a product full of lab-made silicones and undisclosed fragrance chemicals can say it “improves the appearance of fine lines” without proving a thing.

That’s the loophole. Companies can say their products “visibly reduce” or “diminish the look of”—but never that they “treat” or “heal.” And if they’re using herbs? Even more limits apply.

What About Injectables?

This is where it gets especially heated. And again—this is not judgment. I’ve worked with clients who use Botox or fillers and love their results. But let’s be real about what they are and what they do.

Botox causes muscle atrophy. That’s literally how it works—it paralyzes the muscle so it can’t move. Over time, this can lead to more visible sagging or wrinkling once the Botox wears off, because the muscle has weakened. That doesn’t mean it’s “bad”—it just means you deserve to know.

Fillers don’t fully break down. The body tries. It really does. But research now shows that filler material can remain in the body up to 20 years later. It can migrate. It can build up. And it can cause unexpected effects that we’re only just beginning to understand.

Shouldn’t that be something we’re told before we agree to have them injected?

We’re Not All Just Trying to Make a Sale

I know some consumers think estheticians are just out to push products and make a quick buck. And to be fair, there are some who are. But there’s a big difference between someone who joined this industry because it looked like an easy way to make money—and someone who truly, truly loves this work.

For me, this is sacred work. It’s nervous system work. It’s science. It’s ritual. It’s a lifelong learning path. There’s a running joke that if you gave a Ravenclaw a massage table and had her read PubMed at night for fun… that’s me. And it’s not a joke.

I don’t have all the answers. I’m still learning. Every week I change something based on new research, a new case study, or something I witnessed in practice. But the difference is: I’m willing to ask the questions. I don’t just trust what a product company says. I dig. I research. I ask better questions so I can give better care.

---

You Deserve to Know

Informed consent shouldn’t be optional. You have the right to know what you’re putting on and into your body. You have the right to ask what a machine does, what a product contains, what the research says, and what the long-term effects might be.

Not every practitioner will be able to answer. But the good ones will try.

If nothing else, I hope this blog gives you permission to be more curious. Ask more. Slow down. And remember: just because it’s labeled “clean,” “natural,” or “professional” doesn’t mean it’s safe—or effective.

This industry can do better. And I’ll keep doing everything I can to be part of that shift.