SHB Specialist Makeup Services study guide
SHB Specialist Makeup Services · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The SHB Specialist Makeup Services credential is a professional certification for makeup artists who want to demonstrate competence across the full range of specialist services, from bridal and occasion work to editorial, photographic, and special effects artistry. It suits working artists, salon and studio practitioners, and freelancers who already hold foundational makeup skills and are ready to show they can consult with clients, design looks to a brief, work hygienically, and deliver consistent results under professional conditions. The SHB Specialist Makeup Services study guide has 7 sections and about 2,816 words.
01Client Consultation and Makeup Design
A consultation is not small talk before the kit opens; it is where the design is decided. Work through four stages: gather information, analyze, propose, and confirm.
434 words, about 2 min02Skin Preparation, Priming, and Color Theory
Skin prep follows a logical order: cleanse or refresh, exfoliate only if the service plan and skin tolerance allow, tone if appropriate, treat with targeted serum, hydrate, and protect. Allow each layer to absorb before the next; layering wet products causes pilling under foundation.
424 words, about 2 min03Bridal and Special-Occasion Makeup
Bridal and occasion makeup must survive tears, hugs, heat, and long hours while reading well in person and on camera. Build in layers: prep, primer, thin foundation layers, cream color, powder only where needed, then setting spray.
410 words, about 2 min04Editorial, Fashion, and Photographic Makeup
Editorial makeup is designed for a specific image, not for the street. Understand the brief: mood, styling, lighting, lens, and final output.
392 words, about 2 min05Special Effects and Character Makeup
Character makeup starts with the story: age, species, era, health, occupation, and emotional state. Research references and sketch the design before touching the face.
397 words, about 2 min06Sanitation, Safety, and Professional Ethics
Makeup artists work with broken skin barriers and shared tools, so hygiene is a professional duty. Know the difference between cleaning (removing visible soil), sanitizing (reducing microorganisms), and disinfecting (destroying most pathogens).
393 words, about 2 min07Makeup Tools, Products, and Application Techniques
Know the brush families and what each does: foundation brushes (flat, buffing, stippling), concealer brushes (small flat, tapered), powder brushes (large fluffy, tapered), blush brushes (angled, domed), eyeshadow brushes (flat shader, blending, crease, pencil, smudge), liner brushes (angled, fine point), and lip brushes. Synthetic fibers suit cream and liquid products; natural fibers suit powders.
366 words, about 2 min