Makeup Application and Brow/Lash Services
Makeup application and brow/lash services tests color theory, foundation matching, sanitation with shared products, and the boundaries of eye-area services.
Color and foundation
Undertone is cool (pink/blue), warm (yellow/golden), or neutral. Match foundation along the jawline in natural light, not on the hand. Complementary colors neutralize: green reduces redness, peach or orange reduces blue/purple, yellow reduces purple. Use correctors sparingly under foundation, then set with powder if appropriate. Face shape and eye shape guide contour, highlight, and liner placement, but the exam focuses on principle, not trend.
Sanitation
- Do not share mascara or use a wand on more than one client.
- Use disposable applicators or a clean spatula to take product onto a palette; never dip fingers into a jar.
- Sharpen pencils before use, clean brushes after each client, and sanitize palettes and handles.
- Label and date products; discard expired or separated products.
Brows and lashes
Brow mapping uses three points: inner corner, arch, and tail. Tinting requires a patch test 24–48 hours before service and careful timing. Waxing and threading follow hair-removal contraindications. Lash extensions require specific training, isolation of one natural lash, and attention to adhesive fumes. Eye infections, recent eye surgery, and allergies are contraindications. Oil-based removers degrade extension adhesive.
Worked example
A client with ruddy cheeks wants full coverage. Choose a yellow-based foundation and a thin layer of green corrector only on the redness; a pink-based foundation would emphasize red. The reasoning is complementary color neutralization plus a match to the neck and jawline.
Traps
- Matching foundation to the hand or testing only on the cheek.
- Sharing mascara or double-dipping into creams.
- Skipping a brow or lash tint patch test.
- Using oil-based cleanser on lash extensions.
- Applying extensions to lashes that are not isolated.
- Treating an eye infection as a styling problem.