Beauty Therapy study guide
Beauty Therapy · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
Beauty Therapy is a vocational credential for people who provide skin care, hair removal, nail, lash and brow, makeup, and body treatment services under the standards set by a licensing or awarding body. Candidates usually come from one of three routes: a formal beauty therapy qualification, an apprenticeship, or recognition of supervised salon experience. The Beauty Therapy study guide has 12 sections and about 3,949 words.
01Professional Standards, Ethics, and Legislation
This domain tests how you practise lawfully and ethically: scope of practice, informed consent, confidentiality, record keeping, insurance, and the consumer-protection rules that govern selling and advertising in the treatment room. Perform only treatments you are trained, assessed and insured for.
375 words, about 2 min02Health, Safety, and Infection Control
This domain tests the chain of infection, hand hygiene, PPE, the cleaning–disinfection–sterilisation hierarchy, waste handling, COSHH, RIDDOR, electrical safety and management of contra-actions in the salon. Wash for 20–30 seconds with soap and water when hands are visibly soiled; use 60–70% alcohol gel when they are not.
356 words, about 2 min03Anatomy and Physiology of the Skin and Hair
This domain tests the structure and function of skin and hair, and your ability to link that anatomy to what a treatment can and cannot achieve. Epidermis - avascular, built from keratinocytes.
362 words, about 2 min04Client Consultation, Skin Analysis, and Treatment Planning
This domain tests whether you can gather information safely, analyse skin accurately and convert both into a defensible, client-centred treatment plan. Greet and confirm identity, obtain consent, then take a structured history: medical conditions, medications (prescribed, over-the-counter and topical), allergies, pregnancy, implants, epilepsy, diabetes, autoimmune disease, recent surgery, tanning and previous treatments.
343 words, about 2 min05Skin Care and Facial Treatments
This domain tests facial routine design, product selection by skin type, exfoliation science, massage and extraction technique, and the safe use of facial electrical equipment. A professional facial typically follows: cleanse, analyse, exfoliate, tone, massage, mask, moisturise and protect with SPF.
282 words, about 1 min06Hair Removal Techniques
This domain tests methods of hair removal, waxing technique and temperature control, patch testing, contraindications and aftercare. Temporary - warm (strip) wax, hot (non-strip) wax, sugaring, threading, depilatory creams, shaving and trimming.
323 words, about 2 min07Manicure, Pedicure, and Nail Services
This domain tests nail anatomy, contraindications, tool hygiene, filing and cuticle care, polish and gel application and safe removal. Nail plate - keratinised, translucent, on the nail bed.
318 words, about 2 min08Lash and Brow Services
This domain tests lash and brow anatomy, patch testing, extension and tinting technique, adhesive control and contraindications. The upper lid has roughly 90–150 lashes and the lower 70–80.
320 words, about 2 min09Makeup Application and Colour Theory
This domain tests colour theory, undertone identification, foundation matching, correction and concealing, hygiene and adapting looks to lighting and skin condition. Primary colours (red, yellow, blue) mix to secondaries (orange, green, violet).
304 words, about 2 min10Body Treatments and Massage Techniques
This domain tests classical massage movements, direction and pressure, draping and consent, body treatment products, and the contraindications that must stop a treatment. Effleurage - gliding strokes, superficial or deep, used to open and close a sequence and to link movements.
321 words, about 2 min11Product Knowledge and Cosmetic Chemistry
This domain tests ingredient function, formulation types, pH, actives, preservatives, sun protection and how to read a label so you can select and combine products safely. Humectants - glycerin, hyaluronic acid, sorbitol and urea draw water into the stratum corneum.
316 words, about 2 min12Client Consultation, Skin Analysis, and Treatment Planning
This section covers the planning and communication skills that turn consultation findings into a safe, realistic and reviewable treatment programme - the part of the qualification where examiners look for clinical reasoning rather than product knowledge alone. A defensible plan states the concern in the client's words, the objective findings from skin analysis, the proposed treatments and homecare, the expected number of sessions and interval, the risks and alternatives, and the review date.
329 words, about 2 min