Facials, Makeup and Hair Removal — practice questions

8% of the exam ≈10 real questions 14 free questions here

16% of the theory exam, about 10 questions. Skin types and skin conditions, basic facial procedure, corrective makeup theory, and the line between temporary and permanent hair removal. Contraindications carry more weight here than technique — most items are asking whether the service should happen at all.

Where people lose points

• Depilation removes hair at or above the skin's surface — shaving, chemical depilatories. Epilation removes it from the follicle — waxing, tweezing, sugaring, threading. The exam uses both words in the same item and the answer turns on which one is which.
• Electrolysis is the only method that permanently destroys the follicle, and in Florida it requires its own license. A cosmetology license does not authorize it, so "perform electrolysis" is always the wrong answer on this exam.
• Waxing contraindications are absolute, not judgment calls: recent isotretinoin or topical retinoid use, a recent chemical peel or microdermabrasion, sunburn, open lesions, or skin lifted by any prior service. Waxing over any of these removes skin, not hair.
• Skin type is what a client is born with — dry, oily, combination, normal. A skin condition is acquired and changeable — dehydration, sensitivity, acne. Products are chosen for the condition, and the exam will offer you a type when it wants a condition.
• In corrective makeup, highlighting brings a feature forward and shadowing pushes it back. Every corrective question reduces to those two sentences applied to a face shape, so learn the principle rather than a table of face shapes.

Questions and answers, explained

All 10 questions above, with the correct answer and why it is correct. Everything here is on facials, makeup and hair removal.

1. What is the difference between a skin type and a skin condition?

   • AA skin type is inherited; a condition is acquired and can changeCorrect
   • BA skin type changes with the season; a condition does not
   • CA skin type must be diagnosed by a physician
   • DA skin type describes color; a condition describes texture

   Why: Type — dry, oily, combination or normal — is largely genetic and describes baseline oil production. Conditions such as dehydration, sensitivity or congestion are acquired and respond to products, environment and care. Products are chosen for the condition, and the exam offers a type when it wants a condition. Neither describes color, and identifying a type is within a cosmetologist's scope.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; skin types

2. What is the first step of a basic facial?

   • ACleansing the skinCorrect
   • BApplying a treatment mask suited to the skin type
   • CExfoliating to remove dead surface cells
   • DApplying a moisturizer to protect the skin barrier

   Why: Cleansing comes first — makeup, oil and environmental residue have to be removed before the skin can be assessed or any product can work on it. Exfoliation follows cleansing, treatment products and masks come after that, and moisturizer closes the service.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; facial sequence

3. Which massage movement is a light, continuous stroking used at the beginning and end of a facial?

   • AEffleurageCorrect
   • BPetrissage, a kneading and lifting of the tissue
   • CTapotement, a rapid tapping or percussion movement
   • DFriction, a deep rubbing movement over a small area

   Why: Effleurage is the light gliding stroke used to begin and end a massage and to transition between movements. Petrissage kneads, tapotement is percussion, and friction is deep localized rubbing — all of them more stimulating than effleurage, which is why none of them is used to open or close the service.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; massage movements

4. How would corrective makeup make a wide jaw appear narrower?

   • ABy applying a darker shade along the outer jawlineCorrect
   • BBy applying a highlighter along the outer jawline
   • CBy applying the same shade evenly over the whole face
   • DBy applying a highlighter to the center of the chin only

   Why: A deeper shade along the outer jaw makes that edge recede, which narrows the apparent width. Highlighting the same area would advance it and widen the jaw further. Even coverage makes no corrective change at all, and highlighting the chin center lengthens rather than narrows.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; corrective technique

5. Where should the inner edge of a naturally proportioned eyebrow begin?

   • AIn line with the inner corner of the eyeCorrect
   • BIn line with the center of the pupil
   • CIn line with the outer corner of the eye
   • DWherever the natural growth happens to stop

   Why: The classic guide places the brow's start above the inner corner of the eye, the arch near the outer edge of the pupil, and the end at a diagonal from the nose past the outer corner. Following natural growth alone produces no shape at all, which is why the guide exists.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; eyebrow shaping

6. Why is sun protection advice part of a facial service?

   • ABecause ultraviolet exposure is the largest controllable factor in skin agingCorrect
   • BBecause facial products cannot be applied to tanned skin
   • CBecause sunscreen is the salon's highest-margin retail item
   • DBecause state rules require the advice to be given at each visit

   Why: Cumulative ultraviolet exposure drives most visible skin aging and is the one major factor a client can act on, so the advice materially affects the results of every future service. Products can be applied to tanned skin, retail margin is not a professional reason for advice, and no rule mandates it.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; sun protection

7. How is the wax strip removed from the skin?

   • AQuickly and close to the skin, parallel to the surfaceCorrect
   • BSlowly and steadily, straight up away from the skin
   • CIn a rolling motion from one corner to the other
   • DQuickly, at ninety degrees to the skin's surface

   Why: The strip comes off in one fast movement kept close and parallel to the skin, which extracts the hair cleanly with the least trauma. Pulling straight up or at a right angle lifts the skin with the strip and hurts considerably more. A slow pull gives the hair time to break rather than release.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; strip removal

8. A client reports stinging and visible redness minutes after a depilatory is applied. What is the immediate action?

   • ARemove the product at once and rinse the area with cool waterCorrect
   • BLeave it for the remaining time, since stinging is expected
   • CApply a soothing balm over the product to calm the skin
   • DReduce the remaining time by half and watch the area

   Why: Stinging and redness mean the skin is reacting to a strongly alkaline product, and it comes off immediately regardless of the hair result. Leaving it on for any further time extends a chemical injury. Applying anything over active product protects nothing that is already underneath it.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; adverse reaction

9. Which gland produces the oil that keeps skin and hair lubricated?

   • AThe sebaceous glandCorrect
   • BThe sudoriferous gland, which produces perspiration
   • CThe lymph gland, which drains fluid from the tissue
   • DThe thyroid gland, which regulates metabolic rate

   Why: Sebaceous glands are attached to the hair follicles and secrete sebum, the oil that determines whether skin reads as oily or dry. Sudoriferous glands produce perspiration and regulate temperature. The lymph system drains fluid, and the thyroid is an endocrine gland unrelated to skin lubrication.

   Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; skin glands

10. How are tweezers handled between clients?

    • ACleaned of debris and then disinfectedCorrect
    • BWiped on a clean tissue and returned to the tray
    • CDiscarded, since they contact skin directly
    • DRinsed in warm water and dried before the next client

    Why: Tweezers are non-porous, so they are cleaned of hair and skin debris and then immersed in disinfectant for the label's contact time. Wiping and rinsing remove visible material without killing anything. They are durable reusable implements rather than single-use items, and tweezing can draw blood, which makes proper disinfection more important rather than less.

    Reference Theory domain: facials, makeup and hair removal; implement disinfection

Topics inside this domain

• What a Florida cosmetology license covers
• Patch tests and strand tests
• Waxing contraindications and safety

Drill other domains

• General Safety and Sanitation Procedures (17%)
• Client Services (12%)
• Manicuring and Pedicuring (8%)
• Professional, Legal and Ethical Practice; Laws and Rules (5%)
• Hair Coloring and Lightening (19.5%)
• Permanent Waving and Chemical Relaxing (17%)

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