Makeup Application and Cosmetology
What this domain tests
Makeup questions test colour theory, undertone matching, product hygiene, corrective techniques, and occasion-appropriate looks. You must justify choices rather than just list products.
Core rules
- Identify undertone: warm (yellow, golden, peachy), cool (pink, red, bluish), or neutral. Match foundation to the jawline in natural light, not the hand.
- Prepare skin with cleanser, moisturiser, and primer; use sunscreen for daytime.
- Use clean brushes and disposable applicators; never double-dip mascara or share lip products.
- Apply thin layers and build coverage; blend edges.
- Correct with colour opposites: green neutralises redness, peach or orange corrects blue-purple under-eye circles, yellow corrects mild discolouration.
- Remove all makeup before sleep and cleanse the skin afterward.
Worked example
A client has a warm undertone and wants a natural day look. You choose a yellow-based foundation matched at the jawline, a peachy corrector only where needed, a warm brown eyeshadow, and a coral lip. You avoid a pink-based foundation, which would look ashy. You sanitise brushes, use a disposable mascara wand, and set with a light powder. Reasoning: undertone matching creates a seamless finish; corrective colour is used sparingly, not all over.
Traps that cost marks
- Testing foundation on the back of the hand.
- Using green corrector over the whole face.
- Pumping mascara or sharing eye products.
- Applying heavy foundation under harsh indoor light only.
- Forgetting to cleanse and moisturise before makeup.
Exam tip
Name the undertone, the correction colour, and the hygiene step in every answer.