How to Run a Virtual Skin Consultation, Step by Step
Consistency is what turns a one-time video call into a client who rebooks. Use this 45-minute structure and adapt it to your style.
Before the call
- Intake form and photos received at least 24 hours ahead
- Health screening reviewed for anything that changes your advice
- Questions noted
Minutes 0–5: Welcome and expectations
Introduce yourself, confirm the client's location, explain how the session works and restate that it's educational guidance, not medical care.
Minutes 5–15: Goals and routine audit
Ask what's bothering them most and what success looks like. Go product by product through their routine. Most clients are using too many products or the wrong order.
Minutes 15–25: On-camera assessment
Ask them to face a window, move close to the camera and turn left and right. Look at texture, congestion, redness, dryness and pigmentation. Narrate what you see in plain language.
Minutes 25–40: Build the plan
- Morning routine
- Evening routine
- What to stop using
- What to introduce, and how slowly
- Lifestyle tips that matter for their concerns
- Any referral if something is outside scope
Minutes 40–45: Next steps
Book the follow-up before you hang up. Four to six weeks is typical for routine changes.
After the call
Send the written plan within 24 hours, including product links and a check-in date. Clear deliverables are what clients pay for.
Frequently asked questions
How many follow-ups should I include?
Many estheticians sell an initial consult plus one or two follow-ups as a package, because routines need adjusting once the client starts.
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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