The Virtual Skin Consultation Intake Form: What to Ask

A good intake form saves the first 15 minutes of every consultation and catches the issues that change your advice. Send it at booking and review it before the call.

Contact and logistics

• Name, email, phone
• State or country where they'll be during the call
• Preferred pronouns and name
• How they heard about you

Goals

• Top three skin concerns, in their words
• What a great result looks like in three months
• Budget for products per month

Current routine

• Every product used morning and night, with brand names
• How often they exfoliate and with what
• Daily SPF use
• Recent professional treatments and dates (peels, microneedling, laser, waxing)

Health screening

• Current medications, including oral or topical retinoids such as isotretinoin or tretinoin
• Pregnancy, trying to conceive or breastfeeding
• Allergies and sensitivities, including fragrance and ingredients
• Diagnosed skin conditions and whether a physician is treating them
• History of cold sores, keloids or hyperpigmentation after irritation

Lifestyle

• Sleep, stress, sun exposure, exercise and sweating
• Smoking
• Recent changes such as a move, new job or hormonal changes

Photos

Ask for three photos in daylight facing a window, no makeup: straight on, left side and right side. Add close-ups of specific concerns.

Consent

End the form with your consent and policies so the client signs before the session. See Consent, privacy and recording rules for what to include.

Frequently asked questions

Should I charge if a client doesn't complete the intake form?

Set a policy that the form is due 24 hours before the call. Many estheticians reschedule if it isn't completed, because the session will be weaker without it.

How long should an intake form be?

Long enough to screen for safety and capture the routine. Most clients finish a well-designed form in about 10 minutes.

This guide is general education, not legal advice. Esthetics rules are set state by state and change. Check with your state board of cosmetology or esthetics, and a licensed attorney, before making decisions for your business.

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