Makeup Application
Core Concepts
Makeup application begins with skin prep and a clean workspace. Identify the client’s undertone-cool (pink/blue), warm (yellow/golden), or neutral-and match foundation along the jawline in natural light, then allow it to settle because many formulas oxidize. Choose formula by skin type: oil-free or matte for oily skin, hydrating for dry skin, and fragrance-free for sensitive skin. Color theory guides correction: green neutralizes redness, peach or orange neutralizes blue or dark circles, lavender neutralizes sallow yellow, and yellow can counter purple. Apply correctors sparingly before foundation.
Face shapes-oval, round, square, heart, diamond, and oblong-guide contour, blush, and highlight placement, but the goal is balance, not changing the client’s identity. Map brows using the brow bone and eye: start at the inner corner, arch near the outer iris, and end at the outer corner. Apply liner, mascara, lip, and blush with clean tools.
Sanitation is non-negotiable: wash hands, use disposable wands for mascara and lip products, scrape product onto a palette, never double-dip, sharpen pencils, and disinfect brushes. Do not share eye products. Ask about allergies, latex sensitivity, and contact lenses; keep adhesive and pigments away from the eye. For long-wear or special-event makeup, set with powder but avoid excessive layers that crease.
Traps
Questions often test incorrect undertone matching, testing foundation on the hand instead of the jawline, and using one mascara wand on multiple clients. Another trap is over-correcting, which can look gray or chalky.
Worked Example
If a client has cheek redness, apply a thin green corrector only on the red areas, blend the edges, then apply foundation over it. Use less corrector than you think and build slowly.