Basic Make-up Application and Grooming
Basic Make-up tests skin preparation, product order, colour matching and hygiene. Expect questions on foundation undertone, face shapes, tool cleaning and grooming for professional presentation.
Core rules
- Prepare skin: cleanse, moisturise and use primer where suitable.
- Match foundation to the jawline in natural light, not to the hand or wrist.
- Consider undertone: cool, warm or neutral; choose a shade that blends rather than changes colour.
- Apply concealer only where needed and blend edges.
- Set with powder lightly; over-powdering emphasises dryness and fine lines.
- Eyes, brows, blush and lips follow in a balanced order; blush should flatter the face shape.
- Sanitise brushes and use disposable applicators for mascara and lip products.
- Remove make-up fully at the end of the day and advise aftercare.
Worked example
A foundation looks orange on a client's jawline. Reasoning: the shade is too warm or too dark for the skin. Remove it, test a cooler or lighter shade along the jawline in daylight, and check the blend at the neck. Do not simply add powder, because that changes texture, not undertone.
Traps that cost marks
- Testing foundation on the hand.
- Sharing mascara wands.
- Using dirty brushes on acne-prone skin.
- Over-powdering dry skin.
- Ignoring grooming and professional presentation.