1 / 25 Safety and infection control After makeup application, an esthetician removes visible pigment from a reusable makeup brush. What cleaning step is needed before it can be stored as clean? Choose one answer
A. Clean with a brush-cleaning agent, dry, then store covered as clean.B. Place the brush in the clean covered container while it remains damp.C. Mist only the handle with water because the visible pigment is gone.D. Set it aside for the same client without cleaning the bristles.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: A. Clean with a brush-cleaning agent, dry, then store covered as clean.
Option A · Correct answer: Correct. The makeup-brush rule calls for a cleansing agent after debris removal, followed by drying and clean covered storage.Option B: Drying is part of the required sequence; storing a damp brush as clean skips that step.Option C: Cleaning the handle with water does not clean the bristles with an appropriate agent.Option D: The rule requires cleaning a used brush before later use, even if it is reserved for one client.2 / 25 Consultation and skin analysis Two clients book the same facial, and neither has a contraindication. Before choosing products, what should the esthetician do? Choose one answer
A. Analyze each client’s skin, including lipid (oil) and hydration levels.B. Base the routine mainly on each client’s age.C. Use each client’s self-reported skin type without examining the skin.D. Use the routine listed on the service menu for both.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: A. Analyze each client’s skin, including lipid (oil) and hydration levels.
Option A · Correct answer: Correct. Even with the same requested facial, each client needs a skin analysis, including lipid and hydration levels, before product selection.Option B: Age alone does not establish the skin characteristics required for facial analysis.Option C: A skin analysis means examining the skin rather than relying only on the client’s own description.Option D: A menu routine does not account for each client’s assessed skin condition before product choice.3 / 25 Skin care A client asks an esthetician for a peel intended to remove living tissue below the epidermis. Which response fits California’s skin-exfoliation rule? Choose one answer
A. Use a stronger product for a shorter time to reach the requested depth.B. Decline; that depth exceeds what California allows estheticians to remove.C. Decline every facial, even a superficial one, until a physician approves.D. Proceed if the client has previously received a similar treatment elsewhere.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: B. Decline; that depth exceeds what California allows estheticians to remove.
Option A: Changing strength or time does not permit destruction of living tissue below the epidermis.Option B · Correct answer: Correct. California allows removal only of the upper skin layer for appearance and prohibits destruction of living tissue beyond the epidermis.Option C: The requested depth is prohibited, but the rule does not bar every superficial facial or require a physician’s approval for one.Option D: A past treatment does not change California’s limit on how deep exfoliation may go.4 / 25 Makeup A client asks the esthetician to use the client’s lip liner along the eyelid because its shade matches the look. What is the safer choice? Choose one answer
A. Use the lip liner after sharpening its tip.B. Use the lip liner with a disposable brush.C. Use the lip liner only at the eye’s outer corner.D. Choose a liner intended for the eye area.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: D. Choose a liner intended for the eye area.
Option A: Sharpening does not establish that a lip product is suitable for eye-area use.Option B: A new brush does not change the product’s intended area or possible color-additive limits.Option C: Moving to one corner still places a lip-intended product in the eye area.Option D · Correct answer: Correct. FDA cautions against using lip liner as eye liner because of possible mouth-area contamination and different color-additive approvals.5 / 25 Eyelash and eyebrow An esthetician uses a qualifying professional silver-nitrate brow tint for an adult client. Which application limit is in the federal color-additive rule? Choose one answer
A. Apply up to one minute, then remove it immediately.B. Apply up to one minute, then leave it to dry.C. Apply up to five minutes, then remove it immediately.D. Apply up to five minutes, then leave it to dry.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: A. Apply up to one minute, then remove it immediately.
Option A · Correct answer: Correct. 21 CFR §73.2550 limits application to one minute or less, followed by immediate removal; other product conditions also apply.Option B: The one-minute limit is right, but the rule calls for immediate removal rather than leaving the tint in place.Option C: Immediate removal is required, but five minutes exceeds the allowed application time.Option D: Five minutes exceeds the limit and leaving the product on also omits immediate removal.6 / 25 Hair removal A client used a glycolic-acid skin product on the upper lip this morning and now requests wax on that area. Which response matches the Board’s waxing safety tips? Choose one answer
A. Wax the area with cooler wax to avoid irritation.B. Do not wax that area today; offer to reschedule.C. Cover the area with a thin cream layer, then wax.D. Do one test pull, then complete the waxing service.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: B. Do not wax that area today; offer to reschedule.
Option A: Lower wax temperature does not address the recently used acid product identified in the Board cautions.Option B · Correct answer: Correct. The Board’s consumer tips advise against waxing where glycolic-acid products were recently used; no universal wait time is supplied.Option C: A cream barrier does not erase the recent acid-use caution for the requested area.Option D: A small pull could still affect sensitized skin and is not the Board’s advised response to recent acid use.7 / 25 Safety and infection control An esthetician spills eyelash-adhesive remover on the counter and needs to know what to use to absorb it. Which SDS section should they read? Choose one answer
A. Section 4, first-aid measures for an exposed person.B. Section 7, routine handling and storage precautions.C. Section 10, stability and chemical reactivity.D. Section 6, accidental-release measures and cleanup materials.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: D. Section 6, accidental-release measures and cleanup materials.
Option A: Section 4 concerns first aid for people; it does not give the spill-containment method.Option B: Section 7 covers normal handling and storage, whereas a spill is an accidental release.Option C: Section 10 describes stability and reactivity, not the cleanup procedure for a spill.Option D · Correct answer: Correct. Section 6 lists precautions and methods or materials for containing and cleaning an accidental release.8 / 25 Consultation and skin analysis During skin analysis, an esthetician sees a fresh abrasion on a client’s cheek. The client asks for facial massage over it. What is the appropriate decision? Choose one answer
A. Massage the abrasion with less pressure than usual.B. Apply a thick cream, then massage the abrasion.C. Skip service on that spot; adjust or defer the facial.D. Proceed if the client signs that the abrasion is minor.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: C. Skip service on that spot; adjust or defer the facial.
Option A: Lower pressure does not remove California’s prohibition on service over broken skin.Option B: Cream does not make the broken surface eligible for the requested service.Option C · Correct answer: Correct. Section 984(e) bars services on broken skin; any facial plan must avoid that surface.Option D: A client’s signature does not waive California’s broken-skin restriction.9 / 25 Skin care A client asks about sun exposure while using a cosmetic facial product containing an alpha hydroxy acid. Which advice reflects FDA guidance? Choose one answer
A. Use sunscreen and protective clothing during use, then stop when use ends.B. Apply the product only at night; daytime sun precautions are unnecessary.C. Use sunscreen during use and a week after; skip clothing and sun limits.D. Use sunscreen, cover up, and limit sun during use and for a week after.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: D. Use sunscreen, cover up, and limit sun during use and for a week after.
Option A: FDA guidance continues sun precautions for a week after stopping the AHA product.Option B: Nighttime application does not remove the increased sun sensitivity that can persist in daytime.Option C: FDA also recommends protective clothing and limiting sun exposure, not sunscreen alone.Option D · Correct answer: Correct. FDA recommends sunscreen, protective clothing, and limited sun exposure during AHA use and for a week afterward.10 / 25 Makeup A client brings a labeled eyeliner called “kohl black” for eye makeup. What should the esthetician do first? Choose one answer
A. Check color additives for eye-area approval.B. Reject it solely because the name says kohl.C. Use it because it is sold as an eyeliner.D. Test a line on the back of the hand.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: A. Check color additives for eye-area approval.
Option A · Correct answer: Correct. FDA warns against traditional kohl but notes “kohl” can be only a shade name; the ingredient list and eye-area approval matter.Option B: The name alone does not establish that traditional unapproved kohl is present.Option C: An eyeliner label does not replace checking the actual color additives.Option D: A skin swatch cannot establish regulatory approval of eye-area color additives.11 / 25 Eyelash and eyebrow A client arrives wearing contact lenses for a lash lift. Which preparation is in the Board’s lash-perming best practices? Choose one answer
A. Keep the lenses in and close the eyes tightly.B. Keep the lenses in and add lubricating eye drops.C. Confirm that the client removes the contact lenses.D. Wait until the lifting product is removed to ask about lenses.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: C. Confirm that the client removes the contact lenses.
Option A: Closed eyes do not replace the Board’s advice to remove contact lenses.Option B: Eye drops do not replace the Board’s advice to confirm contact-lens removal before the service.Option C · Correct answer: Correct. The Board’s bulletin specifically advises confirming contact-lens removal before lash and brow perming.Option D: The contact-lens check belongs before the service, not after chemical application.12 / 25 Hair removal At the start of a wax service, an esthetician checked the wax temperature. Midway through the appointment, a coworker raises the heater setting. What should happen before continuing? Choose one answer
A. Rely on the temperature check made at the start.B. Re-test the wax temperature and adjust it as needed.C. Continue if the wax still looks fully melted.D. Apply a thicker layer to offset the setting change.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: B. Re-test the wax temperature and adjust it as needed.
Option A: The unit calls for testing and maintaining the wax temperature throughout the service.Option B · Correct answer: Correct. Because the heater was raised after the first check, re-testing and adjusting confirms a suitable application temperature for the rest of the service.Option C: Appearance does not confirm an appropriate application temperature; the procedure calls for testing and adjusting it.Option D: Layer thickness does not establish that the wax is at an appropriate temperature.13 / 25 Safety and infection control A client had a cold with fever and has been fever-free for 12 hours without fever medicine. When does the listed cold-with-fever exclusion period end under California’s disease rule? Choose one answer
A. Immediately, because the client already feels better.B. Once 24 hours have passed since the fever resolved.C. Only after written approval from a physician.D. After a negative respiratory test later today.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: B. Once 24 hours have passed since the fever resolved.
Option A: Feeling better after 12 hours does not meet the 24-hour interval after fever resolution.Option B · Correct answer: Correct. Section 984(b) bars service on a client with a transmissible infection; subsection (c) lists a cold with fever until 24 hours after the fever resolves.Option C: Clinician examination and approval are specified for purulent conjunctivitis; the cold-with-fever item instead sets a 24-hour interval.Option D: A negative test does not replace the specific fever-resolution interval in this rule.14 / 25 Consultation and skin analysis While applying strip lashes, the client reports burning where the lash adhesive was placed. What should the esthetician do? Choose one answer
A. Finish the lashes, then record the reported burning.B. Use more adhesive so the lashes set more quickly.C. Continue after the client closes the eye firmly.D. Stop and remove the adhesive; suggest a doctor if it persists.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: D. Stop and remove the adhesive; suggest a doctor if it persists.
Option A: Finishing would continue exposure after the client reports irritation.Option B: More adhesive could increase exposure to the product causing the reaction.Option C: Closing the eye does not address irritation from the product already applied.Option D · Correct answer: Correct. FDA advises stopping an irritating eye cosmetic immediately and seeing a doctor if irritation persists.15 / 25 Skin care During a cosmetic facial, an electrical device visibly contracts the client’s cheek muscle without breaking skin. What should the esthetician conclude? Choose one answer
A. Stop that use; visible contraction is listed as invasive.B. It is allowed because the skin remains intact.C. It is allowed if the client signs a consent form.D. Continue, but note the contraction on the client record.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: A. Stop that use; visible contraction is listed as invasive.
Option A · Correct answer: Correct. California §991(b)(1) treats electricity that visibly contracts muscle as an invasive procedure.Option B: The California invasive-procedure list separately includes electricity that visibly contracts muscle.Option C: Client consent does not change the Board’s invasive-procedure definition.Option D: Documenting the contraction does not make a listed invasive procedure permissible.16 / 25 Makeup A client requests makeup for an evening event. After assessing the client’s skin, features, and preferred colors, the esthetician has two suitable looks. What is the next planning step? Choose one answer
A. Apply the more dramatic look immediately.B. Choose the look with fewer products.C. Present both looks and confirm the client’s choice.D. Repeat the skin assessment.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: C. Present both looks and confirm the client’s choice.
Option A: Occasion alone does not settle the client’s preferred plan.Option B: Product count is not the stated design or client-confirmation criterion.Option C · Correct answer: Correct. A plan built on the occasion and color analysis is confirmed with the client before application.Option D: The assessment is already complete; repeating it does not resolve the two suitable choices.17 / 25 Eyelash and eyebrow A client arrives for a lash lift with mascara and oily eye cream on the lashes. What should happen before the lifting product is applied? Choose one answer
A. Apply more lifting solution over the residue.B. Cleanse away makeup, dirt, and oil gently.C. Exfoliate the eyelids before applying product.D. Brush the lashes apart, then apply the product.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: B. Cleanse away makeup, dirt, and oil gently.
Option A: Adding chemical product does not remove makeup, dirt, or oil.Option B · Correct answer: Correct. The California Board’s lash/brow bulletin calls for gentle removal before this service.Option C: The Board specifically advises against exfoliating ingredients or methods before lash/brow perming.Option D: Brushing does not remove mascara or oily cream from the lashes.18 / 25 Hair removal After a wax pass, an esthetician sees some wax left on the skin and a few unwanted hairs. Which finishing action matches the cited technique? Choose one answer
A. Remove residue, then re-wax the area for the stray hairs.B. Cover the residue with aftercare product.C. Tweeze stray hairs, then leave residue under aftercare product.D. Remove the wax residue; tweeze stray hairs if needed.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: D. Remove the wax residue; tweeze stray hairs if needed.
Option A: The cited technique uses tweezers as needed for remaining hairs; it does not call for another full wax pass to catch a few strays.Option B: Aftercare does not replace removing residual wax from the skin.Option C: Tweezing may address stray hairs, but the cited unit also says to remove all wax from the skin.Option D · Correct answer: Correct. The cited Australian training unit describes removing all residual wax and using tweezers only as needed for remaining hairs. In California, reusable tweezers must be cleaned and disinfected between clients (§979).19 / 25 Safety and infection control An esthetician removes the used paper sheet from a treatment table after a facial. How should it be handled? Choose one answer
A. Keep the paper and turn it over.B. Keep it if it is not torn or stained.C. Put it in the closed soiled-linen bin for laundering.D. Discard it after this single use.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: D. Discard it after this single use.
Option A: Turning over used paper does not change its single-use status.Option B: Table paper is single-use even if it appears intact and unstained.Option C: Used towels or sheets go to a closed container; single-use table paper must be discarded instead.Option D · Correct answer: Correct. California requires immediate disposal of treatment-table paper after one use.20 / 25 Consultation and skin analysis Before a lash lift, the esthetician sees swollen, red eyelids. The client asks to continue. What is the best decision? Choose one answer
A. Use half the usual solution amount.B. Switch to a different lift product.C. Shorten the chemical processing time.D. Postpone the lift while swelling persists.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: D. Postpone the lift while swelling persists.
Option A: Reducing product quantity does not clear a visible contraindication.Option B: Changing products does not remove visible redness and swelling.Option C: A shorter exposure does not make the inflamed eye area suitable for service.Option D · Correct answer: Correct. The Board says not to perform the service when redness, swelling, or irritation is present; California also bars service on inflamed skin.21 / 25 Skin care During a facial massage, a client says the repeated movement is uncomfortable. What should the esthetician do? Choose one answer
A. Keep the same rhythm because the routine has already begun.B. Increase pressure so the client feels the technique more clearly.C. Adjust the rhythm or movement and continue monitoring comfort.D. Apply more massage medium and keep the same movement.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: C. Adjust the rhythm or movement and continue monitoring comfort.
Option A: The routine should adapt rhythm and movements to the client while monitoring reactions.Option B: More pressure is not the response specified to discomfort; the technique should be adjusted to the client.Option C · Correct answer: Correct. Because the repeated movement is uncomfortable, changing the rhythm or movement and continuing to check comfort responds to the client.Option D: More product does not change the rhythm or movement the client finds uncomfortable; the technique should be adjusted to that reaction.22 / 25 Makeup The evening makeup is complete and the client asks how to remove it later. Which reply fits professional post-service care? Choose one answer
A. Leave it until it wears off by itselfB. Scrub every area with the same abrasive padC. Explain removal steps and a suitable removerD. Use lash adhesive remover on the entire face
Answer and explanations Correct answer: C. Explain removal steps and a suitable remover
Option A: Makeup should be removed rather than left to wear off.Option B: An abrasive, one-size method is not a suitable removal recommendation.Option C · Correct answer: Correct. Clear removal steps and a suitable remover help the client care for her skin.Option D: A lash-adhesive remover is not a general face-makeup remover.23 / 25 Eyelash and eyebrow A 15-year-old requests a lash tint using a professional silver-nitrate gel that otherwise meets the federal conditions. What is the correct decision? Choose one answer
A. Perform it with parent permission.B. Use the gel for half the normal time.C. Do not apply this tint to the client.D. Apply it only to eyebrow hair.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: C. Do not apply this tint to the client.
Option A: Parent permission does not waive the federal under-16 restriction.Option B: A shorter application cannot override the age restriction.Option C · Correct answer: Correct. 21 CFR §73.2550 excludes use of the qualifying silver-nitrate product on anyone under 16.Option D: The age restriction applies to the professional eyebrow-and-eyelash color additive use.24 / 25 Hair removal After removing stray hairs, an esthetician needs the same reusable metal tweezers for another client. Which overall sequence matches California’s rule? Choose one answer
A. Remove debris, wash, dry, then immerse in EPA-registered disinfectant.B. Remove debris, wash, dry, then store in a clean cabinet without disinfecting.C. Remove debris, rinse, dry, then spray with plain water.D. Remove debris, wash, then use tweezers while still wet.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: A. Remove debris, wash, dry, then immerse in EPA-registered disinfectant.
Option A · Correct answer: Correct. Section 979(a) requires soap or detergent and water, complete drying with a new clean paper towel, then full immersion in an EPA-registered bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal disinfectant according to its label.Option B: Cleaning and drying do not replace the required disinfectant immersion before another client.Option C: Plain water is not an EPA-registered disinfectant and does not complete the required sequence.Option D: The rule requires drying and disinfectant immersion before use on the next client.25 / 25 Safety and infection control An esthetician has a small noninfected cut on a hand. The client’s treatment area is intact. What does California require if the esthetician provides the service? Choose one answer
A. Wear gloves while performing the service.B. Apply lotion to the cut instead of gloves.C. Use a clean brush to avoid touching the client.D. Wash the cut once and then work barehanded.
Answer and explanations Correct answer: A. Wear gloves while performing the service.
Option A · Correct answer: Correct. Section 984(e) requires gloves when the worker’s hand skin is broken.Option B: Lotion does not replace the glove condition for broken hand skin.Option C: A brush does not remove the glove requirement while performing the service.Option D: Washing does not replace gloves while the hand skin remains broken.