Makeup Application
Domain 6 - Makeup Application
This domain checks sanitation of makeup and tools, color theory, and the ability to match and correct without promising what cosmetics cannot deliver.
Sanitation first
- Scrape product onto a palette with a spatula; use a clean brush or disposable sponge per client.
- Mascara and lip gloss are never double-dipped - use a disposable wand.
- Sharpen pencils before use; wipe tips with 70% alcohol.
- Wash brushes after every client and dry them flat. Never use saliva.
Color theory and matching
Opposites neutralize: green cancels redness, peach or orange cancels blue-grey, yellow cancels purple. Match foundation along the jawline in natural light, not on the back of the hand. Determine undertone: cool (pink or blue; silver jewelry suits), warm (golden; gold suits), neutral (both). Face shape - oval, round, square, heart, diamond - guides contour and highlight placement rather than 'correcting' a flaw.
Client safety
Patch test new products on sensitive clients, avoid shared lip and eye products, check expiry dates, and ask about allergies such as lanolin, fragrance and nickel in tools.
Worked example
A client wants full coverage over active acne. Heavy occlusive foundation over inflamed follicles can worsen breakouts and cross-contaminate. Use a light, non-comedogenic base with disposable sponges, work around the lesions themselves, and clean every tool afterward.
Traps
Testing foundation under fluorescent light shifts the match. 'Hypoallergenic' does not mean allergy-proof. One mascara wand shared between two clients is a contamination event, not a shortcut.