Why AI Will Never Replace Your Esthetician
Why I’ll Never Let AI Plan My Clients’ Skin Care
The other day, I ran a little experiment. I uploaded a client’s before-and-after photos into ChatGPT and asked it to create a skincare routine that would get the same results. The answer? A cookie-cutter plan that looked good on paper but completely missed the heart of what makes real skin transformations possible.
That’s when it hit me: this is exactly why AI skincare routines will never replace estheticians.
Because no matter how “smart” a machine sounds, it can’t see the way your skin reacts mid-peel. It doesn’t know the subtle difference between dry and dehydrated. It’s not watching your healing patterns week after week, or adjusting your plan when life stress, hormones, or seasons shift.
So let’s talk about why relying on AI (or even random advice from a Facebook group) can be risky, and why the human touch in esthetics will always win.
What an AI Skincare Routine Looks Like
So, what happens if you let AI plan your skincare? When I tested it, the “routine” it gave me looked like something you’d pull from a quick Google search. Cleanser in the morning, a serum or two, moisturizer, sunscreen. At night, swap the SPF for something “hydrating.” Maybe throw in a weekly exfoliant. On the surface, that doesn’t sound terrible. But here’s the issue: it could have been written for anyone.
There was nothing about:
The client’s actual skin type (she’s a Fitzpatrick IV)
The fact that she’d already had two chemical peels
Her history of barrier damage from overusing acids
The timeline we were working with to get her results
Without those details, a “plan” like this is just generic advice. When it comes to skin, generic just doesn’t work.
The Real Problem With AI Skincare Plans
At first glance, a plan like that might seem harmless. Cleanser, serum, SPF…what could go wrong? The truth is, a lot. I’ve seen clients come in with irritated, inflamed skin because they trusted tips from a Reddit thread or a TikTok video. AI falls into the same trap. It can spit out information that sounds smart, but it doesn’t know if your skin is sensitive, if you’re pregnant, if you’re using prescription meds, or if your barrier is already compromised.
Unlike an esthetician, AI isn’t asking you questions. It’s not sitting down with you and saying, “What products are you using at home? How much water are you drinking? Do you have stress or hormone changes showing up in your skin?” Those questions matter, because the answers shape every decision we make in treatment.
That lack of personalization is where the risk lives. Too much exfoliation on the wrong skin type can cause lasting damage. Skipping hydration because “AI didn’t mention it” can set back your progress for months. Even choosing the wrong strength of peel without considering skin history can lead to hyperpigmentation.
AI can’t replace years of hands-on training. It doesn’t read the tiny cues in your skin that tell me when to push harder and when to hold back. That’s the difference between a copy-paste routine and a transformation plan built just for you.
How to Use AI with Your Esthetician (Not Instead of One)
If you’re curious about AI, I get it. It can be fun to ask ChatGPT or another tool for skincare ideas. But here’s the key: use it as a starting point, not the final word. Here are a few ways to use AI in a way that actually helps instead of harms:
Bring it to your esthetician.
If AI suggests a new routine, show it to your esthetician so they can filter out what’s safe for your skin type and goals.
Feed it your real context.
The more info you give (your Fitzpatrick type, history of barrier damage, products you’ve tried), the more useful the output will be. Still, it won’t replace someone actually touching your skin.
Use it for education, not prescriptions.
AI is great at explaining ingredients or giving you general knowledge. Think of it as a study buddy, not your treatment planner.
Check for red flags.
If AI suggests harsh exfoliants when you know your skin is already sensitive, that’s your sign to pause and talk to a professional.
AI can support curiosity and learning, but it will never replace the nuance of human eyes, hands, and experience. If you want to actually see results, the smartest thing you can do is combine AI’s information with an esthetician’s expertise.
Why Estheticians Do What AI Can’t
When I’m working with a client, I’m paying attention to the details their skin gives me. How it reacts during a peel, how it heals between visits, and what shifts show up over time. Those details guide my choices. Sometimes I’ll move a peel series forward because the skin is thriving. Other times I’ll slow down and focus on hydration so the barrier stays strong.
AI can’t do that. It doesn’t ask about stress, sleep, or lifestyle changes. It doesn’t notice when redness means we need to pause or when hydration is finally holding. That mix of education, experience, and intuition is what creates long-term results, and it’s something no machine can copy.
Why You Need a Personalized Skincare Plan
If you’ve ever felt frustrated trying to piece together skincare advice from the internet, you’re not alone. Your skin deserves more than a generic plan. It deserves someone who listens, pays attention, and builds a treatment path that fits you.
That’s what working with a professional esthetician is all about. I look at your skin type, your lifestyle, your history, and your goals. Then I build a plan that changes as you do. That’s how real transformations happen!
If you’re ready to stop guessing and finally see results, book a consultation at Enlightened Beauty and get a personalized skincare plan made just for you.