Makeup Application and Color Theory
What this domain tests
Makeup questions test color theory, foundation matching, sanitation, and client safety.
Core rules
- Color wheel: primary colors mix to secondary; complementary colors sit opposite and neutralize each other. Green neutralizes redness; yellow neutralizes purple; peach or orange can correct blue undertones.
- Undertone is not the same as surface color. Warm undertones lean yellow or peach; cool lean pink or blue; neutral is balanced.
- Match foundation in natural light along the jawline, not on the hand. Test a few shades and blend.
- Sanitation: never share mascara, use disposable applicators, sharpen pencils, and discard products after infection or expiry. Do not use products on broken skin or active infection.
- Consent and hygiene: wash hands, drape, and ask about allergies and contact lens use.
Worked example
A client has visible redness on the cheeks. Use a green corrector sparingly, then a foundation matched to the jawline. Reasoning: green is opposite red and reduces the appearance of redness; heavy green alone would look chalky.
Traps
Treating complementary colors as the same color; matching foundation to the hand; sharing mascara; applying makeup over conjunctivitis; ignoring warm versus cool undertone.