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Consulting a Skincare Specialist

A conversation with a skincare specialist or aesthetician about identifying skin type, addressing specific skin concerns (e.g., acne, aging, dryness), and recommending suitable products or treatments.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Emily (Female)
Hi John, thanks for seeing me today. I'm really hoping you can help me with my skin concerns.
2
John (Male)
Of course, Emily. That's what I'm here for. To start, could you tell me a bit about your current skincare routine and what you'd like to address?
3
Emily (Female)
Well, I cleanse and moisturize daily, but I've been struggling with persistent breakouts, mostly around my chin and jawline. My skin also feels quite oily, especially by midday.
4
John (Male)
Okay, that sounds like typical adult acne combined with an oily skin type. Have you tried any specific products to target the breakouts?
5
Emily (Female)
I've tried a few over-the-counter acne washes, but they either dry out my skin too much or don't seem to make a difference. I'm a bit lost on what to use.
6
John (Male)
I see. Based on what you've described, I'd recommend a gentle salicylic acid cleanser, a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer, and perhaps a daily niacinamide serum to help regulate oil production and reduce inflammation.
7
Emily (Female)
Salicylic acid and niacinamide, got it. What about treatments? Would something like a chemical peel be beneficial?
8
John (Male)
For sure. Once your skin's a bit more stable with the new routine, a series of mild chemical peels could definitely help clear up congestion and improve texture. We can discuss that in more detail during your next visit.
9
Emily (Female)
That sounds promising! Thank you so much, John. This is really helpful.
10
John (Male)
You're very welcome, Emily. I'll send you a detailed product recommendation list. Remember, consistency is key. Let's schedule a follow-up in about 4-6 weeks to see how your skin is responding.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

skincare routine

A daily or regular set of steps for taking care of your skin, like cleansing and moisturizing. Use this phrase when talking about your daily skin care habits.

breakouts

Sudden appearances of pimples or acne on the skin. Common in skincare discussions to describe skin problems.

oily skin

Skin that produces too much natural oil, making it shiny and prone to acne. Refer to this when describing your skin type to a specialist.

cleanser

A product used to wash the face and remove dirt or oil. It's a basic item in any skincare routine.

moisturizer

A cream or lotion that adds hydration to the skin to keep it soft and prevent dryness. Essential for balancing skin after cleansing.

serum

A concentrated liquid product with active ingredients for specific skin benefits, like reducing oil. Applied after cleansing for targeted treatment.

chemical peel

A skincare treatment using chemicals to remove the top layer of skin, improving texture and clearing pores. Discuss this for professional advice on skin issues.

consistency

The quality of doing something regularly over time. In skincare, it means sticking to your routine for best results.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Could you tell me a bit about your current skincare routine and what you'd like to address?

This is a polite question to gather information from someone. Use it in consultations to start a discussion. The structure uses 'could you' for requests and 'a bit about' to ask for some details, which is common in professional English.

I've been struggling with persistent breakouts, mostly around my chin and jawline.

This sentence describes a personal problem clearly. Useful for explaining symptoms to a doctor or specialist. 'Struggling with' shows ongoing difficulty, and 'persistent' means it doesn't go away easily; good for intermediate learners to express health concerns.

Have you tried any specific products to target the breakouts?

A yes/no question to check past actions. Helpful in advice-giving situations. 'To target' means to focus on solving a specific issue; practice this for conversations about trying solutions.

Based on what you've described, I'd recommend a gentle salicylic acid cleanser.

This introduces a suggestion politely. Use it when giving advice. 'Based on' connects to previous info, 'I'd recommend' is a soft way to suggest; important for professional recommendations and conditional grammar ('I'd' for 'I would').

What about treatments? Would something like a chemical peel be beneficial?

This asks for more options. Great for seeking further advice. 'What about' introduces a new topic, and the question uses 'would...be' for hypothetical benefits; useful in discussions to explore alternatives.

Once your skin's a bit more stable with the new routine, a series of mild chemical peels could definitely help.

This gives conditional advice for future actions. Use it to explain steps. 'Once...with' shows sequence, 'could definitely help' expresses positive possibility; helps learners understand future plans and modals.

Remember, consistency is key. Let's schedule a follow-up in about 4-6 weeks.

This reminds and plans next steps. Practical for ending consultations. 'Consistency is key' is an idiom meaning regularity is important; 'let's schedule' uses imperative for suggestions; key for time expressions and polite planning.