BTEB Beautician Exam cheat sheet

Service sequence: consultation, skin analysis, cleansing, treatment, finishing, home-care advice, record update.

Skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, sensitive; skin conditions (dehydration, acne, couperose) are assessed separately from type.

Facial massage movements follow the direction of muscle fibres and lymph drainage: outward and upward on the face, downward on the neck.

Contraindications to facial and body treatments include open lesions, recent surgery, active infection, fever, and undiagnosed lumps.

Manicure order: sanitise hands, shape nails, soak, cuticle care, exfoliate, massage, polish; file in one direction to avoid splitting.

Waxing: hair must be at least 5 mm long; apply wax in the direction of hair growth and remove against it, holding skin taut.

Makeup colour theory: complementary colours neutralise (green cancels redness, peach/orange corrects blue-grey); warm and cool undertones guide foundation choice.

Patch testing is required at least 24-48 hours before tinting, lash and brow colouring, and chemical hair removal, with the result recorded.

Epidermis layers from deepest to surface: stratum basale, spinosum, granulosum, lucidum (palms/soles only), corneum.

Skin pH is mildly acidic at about 4.5-5.5; alkaline cleansers disrupt the acid mantle and increase moisture loss.

Hair shaft layers: medulla (centre), cortex (pigment and strength), cuticle (outer protective scales); damage to the cuticle causes dullness and breakage.

Hair growth cycle: anagen (growth, years), catagen (transition, weeks), telogen (rest, about 3 months), then exogen shedding.

Skin ageing: collagen and elastin production decline, cell turnover slows, and hyaluronic acid and sebum levels fall.

Sun protection: UVB causes burning and DNA damage, UVA penetrates deeper and drives photoageing; SPF 30+ broad-spectrum is the baseline.

Hair porosity determines product uptake: low porosity resists moisture, high porosity absorbs and loses it quickly.

Skin analysis uses observation, palpation, and client history; magnification lamps reveal texture and pore condition.

Sterilisation destroys all microorganisms including spores; disinfection reduces pathogens but may not eliminate spores; sanitising lowers counts to safe levels.

Single-use items (wooden spatulas, cotton pads, disposable razors, wax strips) are discarded after one client and never reused.

Tools contacting skin or blood require disinfection with an approved hospital-grade product; porous items that cannot be disinfected are discarded.

Hand hygiene: wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, then alcohol-based sanitiser; perform before and after every client.

Electrical equipment must be visually checked and PAT tested per local regulation; damaged cords are removed from service immediately.

Wax pots are kept at controlled temperature (approximately 38-42 °C for warm wax) and tested on the therapist's inner wrist.

Waste streams: general waste, sharps in rigid containers, and contaminated waste in sealed bags per local rules.

Incident reporting: any cut, burn, allergic reaction, or slip is recorded, the client is attended to, and the manager is notified.

Consultation captures allergies, medications, pregnancy, skin conditions, previous treatments, and expectations, and is signed by the client.

Informed consent is obtained before any treatment; the client is told the purpose, steps, risks, and alternatives in plain language.

Contraindication decision rule: if a medical condition is present and its status is unknown, defer treatment and request a GP letter.

Confidentiality: client records are stored securely and shared only with consent or where law requires disclosure.

Professional boundaries: no treatment outside the trained scope, no diagnosis of medical conditions, and no guarantees of results.

Record keeping includes date, products and batch, timings, patch test results, observations, and aftercare advice given.

Complaint handling sequence: listen without interruption, acknowledge, investigate, propose remedy, record the outcome.

Scope of practice: a beautician may beautify and care for skin and hair but must refer suspected infections, moles, and lesions to a medical professional.