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About This Quiz
Are you fluent in beauty lingo? We don't mean simple terms like lipstick, foundation or cleanser. We're talking about the slang that's spoken by the most devoted skin, hair and makeup mavens — words like "tightlining," "ampoule" and "3-free." Do you know what we mean when we say that our face is beat to capacity? Or what we're worried about when we complain that we're about to "hit pan?" If you have even the slightest idea of what we're talking about, you need to take this quiz.
The following questions will test your knowledge of in-the-know beauty lingo — those terms and phrases that all the top beauty editors, makeup artists and YouTube stars use daily. These insiders know how to talk the talk when it comes to hair, makeup and skin care slang — do you? Whether you're a product addict or an MUA-in-training, this quiz will tell you how you score when it comes to beauty slang.
So what are you waiting for? Put your best face forward and answer all of the following questions to learn your beauty vocabulary IQ. We have a feeling that your results will totally be "on fleek" and "give life" to your love of hair, makeup and skin care.
What does it mean to "strobe" your face?
To hydrate with a deep moisture mask before putting on makeup
To use a cream or powder to highlight areas of the face that naturally reflect light
The strobing technique leaves your skin with a radiant and dewy glow. Ideal areas on the face to highlight include the center of the nose, the cupid's bow, the tops of the cheekbones and the temples.
To make one side of your face appear brighter than the other
"Strobe" is just another word for "contour."
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Your BFF is complaining that they just "hit pan." What are they talking about?
They've run out of money for beauty products.
They can't find their favorite beauty product.
They're having an allergic reaction to a beauty product.
They've finished all the contents of a beauty product.
"Hitting pan" means that you've used up a powder-based beauty product such as an eyeshadow, blush, bronzer or highlighting palette. Because its contents are all gone, you can see the bottom of the pan (or other packaging) that it came in — i.e. you've "hit pan."
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Your best friend just scored an awesome KKW Beauty lipstick "dupe." What did she get?
A less expensive lipstick in a similar shade and finish
Short for "duplicate," this term refers to a reasonably-priced makeup item that offers results very similar to a high-end product. In addition to pigmented products like lip colors and eyeshadows, dupes can also refer to makeup tools such as brushes and blending sponges.
A second-hand lipstick that was actually used by Kim Kardashian
A KKW Beauty lipstick with extra moisturizing properties
A brand-new KKW Beauty lipstick for half the price on eBay
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People who follow the "no poo" method avoid which of the following things?
Toilet paper
Nail polish
Shampoo
People who go "no poo" (which is short for "no shampoo") believe that the cleansing agents in commercial shampoos are harsh, damaging and ultimately unnecessary. Most use natural products to wash their hair, such as baking soda or apple cider vinegar.
Deodorant
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You've finished getting ready for a big date and your best friend says that your face looks "beat." What do they mean?
Your makeup looks terrible.
Your makeup looks flawless.
"Beatdown" is a popular variation of "beat" and refers to the makeup application process itself. For example: " I have a really big date tonight, so I need to leave plenty of time for a long beatdown." When you create the most epic look ever, your makeup is "beat to capacity."
You're wearing too much makeup.
You're not wearing enough makeup.
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This semi-permanent beauty technique is popular with people who have sparse eyebrows.
Contouring
Threading
Microblading
Microblading is a form of semi-permanent makeup, similar to tattooing, that uses tiny needles to manually apply pigment to the eyebrow area. While the trend recently took the U.S by storm, it's been popular in Asia for more than 25 years.
Tweezing
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You're getting your nails done at the salon and want them to be filed square with rounded edges. What shape do you ask for?
Squoval
A hybrid of the words "square" and "oval," this manicure shape is one of the most popular. It's a good option for people who frequently use their hands, as its softer edges makes the nail less likely to snag or tear.
Almond
Squareletto
Coffin
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Your (very hip) mom just showed you her "HG" concealer. What did she share with you?
Her number-one favorite beauty product
An acronym for "holy grail," these are the hair, skin and makeup products that you just can't live without. Our HG products include dry shampoo and blotting papers — what are some of yours?
Her newest makeup purchase
A concealer she uses only for special occasions
A concealer she hates
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This process uses a natural gel to remove body hair from the root. What is it called?
Waxing
Shaving
Sugaring
Practiced for hundreds of years in areas like Northern Africa, Greece and the Middle East, sugaring is a gentler, less painful alternative to waxing. The gel used during the treatment is made of sugar, lemon and hot water.
Threading
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Do you know what "non-touring" means?
To create a natural, dewy look with minimal makeup
Unlike the makeup-heavy contouring technique, non-touring involves using primer, tinted moisturizer and highlighter to give skin a glowing, lit-from-within look. The goal is to make it appear as though you're wearing little-to-no makeup at all.
To apply bronzer to a clean, foundation-less face
To contour without using a highlighter
To be anti-contouring
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This technique involves drawing eyeliner carefully inside the lash line, along the waterline. Do you know what it's called?
Floating
Wiring
Tracing
TIghtlining
In addition to making your eyes look bigger, tighlining gives your lashes a thicker and fuller appearance. While most makeup artists deem the technique safe, it's best to avoid if you wear contacts or have very sensitive eyes.
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What does the "K" in "K-beauty" stand for?
Kick ass
Korean
"K-beauty" is a general term for skin care products that come from South Korea. Promoting healthy, hydrated skin, they've become hugely popular in the U.S. in recent years, and include popular products such sheet masks and serums.
Killer
Koala bear
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Do you know what a "lob" is?
An eyeshadow technique
A bronzing trick
A type of haircut
Short for "long bob," a lob refers to a hairstyle that's cut just above the shoulders, just below shoulders or right at shoulder level. It's a universally flattering style that compliments all face shapes.
An intense face mask
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You're layering loose powder over your makeup and letting it absorb for a few minutes before dusting it off. What are you doing?
Toasting
Contouring
Crisping
Baking
Sometimes referred to as "cooking," this popular technique takes advantage of your skin's natural heat to help your makeup sink in and leave your face with a creaseless, flawless finish.
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When you apply a light shade of eyeshadow all over your lid, then add a darker shade just above your lid's line to create contrast, what are you doing?
Cutting the crease
First made popular in the 1960s, a cut crease is a popular technique for small, deep-set or hooded eyes. It give the eyes depth and dimension and creates a widened, doe-eyed effect.
Smudging the edge
Lining the lid
Shading the socket
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Similar to contouring, this technique uses blush in lieu of contour powder.
Baking
Strobing
Draping
While this technique for creating chiseled cheekbones has been used for decades, the term "draping" (also referred to as "blush bomb") became trendy after Rhianna sported the rosy look at the 2017 Met Gala.
Non-touring
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You just bought a nail polish that says it's "3-free." What does this mean?
It's non-toxic.
Nail polishes that are 3-free contain no formaldehyde, toluene or dibutyl phthalate, which are three nail polish ingredients that are thought to be harmful. Green beauty lovers can also find 5-free, 7-free and 9-free formulas that omit even more questionable ingredients.
It's a combination of three shades.
It's a gel formula.
It's peelable.
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In the world of skin care, what is an "ampoule?"
A thick moisturizer
A potent facial serum
A K-beauty staple, ampoules are supercharged serums packed with with highly concentrated ingredients designed to target specific skin care concerns such as dryness, dark spots and redness.
A hydrating cleanser
A creamy under-eye treatment
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When you want your complexion to look photoshop-level smooth in real life, which of the following products should you reach for?
Toner
Face oil
Blur cream
Blur creams are formulated with line-filling ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and micro-filling pearls to hide imperfections (i.e. blur them out) and give your complexion a soft, pore-less finish.
Sunscreen
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When eyeliner is drawn along the crease of the eye, rather than the lash line, what's the technique called?
Floating
Though this trendy look just recently starting taking over our Instagram feeds, floating eyeliner is nothing new. The technique was first made famous in the 1960s by the supermodel icon Twiggy.
Winged
Tightlined
Nude
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Your best friend loves going to bed with a "sleeping pack." What is she doing?
Using a sleep apnea machine
Wearing an overnight face mask
Another K-beauty import (masks are called "packs" in Korea), sleeping packs are mega-moisturizing face masks that hydrate your skin while you sleep. Used just once or twice a week, formulas vary depending on skin type, but typically feature skin-saving ingredients like peptides, essential oils, hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
Wearing an overnight hand and nail mask
Using a skin-friendly silk pillowcase
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While we're on the subject of face masks, what's the term for using two or three masks at once, but on different areas of the face?
Triple-masking
Puzzle-masking
Multi-masking
Multi-masking is great when you want to address more than one skin concern. For example, you can apply a clay mask to your T-zone to sop-up oil while using a hydrating mask to plump your checks and smooth your forehead.
Layer-masking
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This technique involves applying self-tanner to the areas of your face where you would normally dust on bronzer. What's it called?
Baking
Tan-touring
The tan-touring technique is a great way to give yourself a natural-looking bronzed glow that lasts for a number of days. Just make sure you know how to properly apply the self-tanner (try following a YouTube tutorial); otherwise you'll have to live with a bronzed blunder for a few days.
Bronze-touring
Cooking
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What does it mean to "double-cleanse?"
To wash your face two times in a row with the same foaming cleanser
To wash your face with an oil-based cleanser, then follow it with a foaming cleanser
Double-cleansing is a K-beauty method designed to deep-clean the skin. The oil-based cleanser is used first to dissolve oil-soluble makeup such as mascara and eyeliner, giving the cleanser that follows a better ability to provide thorough clean.
To exfoliate with a scrub before washing your face
To wash your face morning and night
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FOTD is an acronym for what common beauty term?
Fleek of the Day
Fingers of the Day
Face of the Day
"Face of the Day" (a.k.a. #FOTD) is an Instagram hashtag staple. Derived from the fashion-focused "Outfit of the Day" (#OOTD), it's used to flaunt daily makeup looks. It can also be used in conversation, for example: "I woke up late and had no time to get ready, so mascara and tinted lip balm will have to be my FOTD."
Foto of the Day
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"Sandbagging" is a relatively new beauty term. What does it mean?
To exfoliate your skin with sand
To add glitter to your foundation
To soak up slick, greasy areas on your face with loose powder
In everyday life, sandbags are used as barricades to protect areas from flooding. The term works in beauty because the technique involves using loose powder to sop up moisture in sweat- and grease-prone areas such as under the eyes and lips.
To use a lot of bronzer
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If you're getting a negative space manicure at the salon, what does this mean?
You're only getting a clear top coat.
You're getting nail art that incorporates your natural, un-colored nail into the design
A recent runway trend, negative space manicures are a nail art lover's dream. In addition to creating a one-of-a-kind design, they typically last longer than standard manis since much less polish is used.
You're getting gel polish on just a portion of each nail.
You're getting your nails done in an anti-gravity chamber
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What is balayage?
An intensive hair-repair mask
A hair-highlighting technique
When you get balayage at the salon, highlights and lowlights are strategically hand-painted onto your hair to create natural-looking lightness. The result is a head full of highlights that look sun-kissed rather than salon-treated.
A deep conditioning treatment
A hair texturizing treatment
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Instead of using a brush to pull your hair taught when you blow dry it, you use your fingers to move and manipulate your hair while you blow it dry. What's this technique called?
Free-drying
Rough-drying
Rough-drying creates big, bouncy hair, as well as lifted roots and amped-up volume all around. It can also help cut down drying time, especially if you know the technique. Just watch a YouTube tutorial to make sure you get it right.
Finger-drying
Brush-free-drying
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Do you know your alphabet creams? What does BB stand for?
Big Beauty
Botox Base
Beauty Balm
Also known as "Blemish Balm" in some areas, Beauty Balms are multitasking skin care creams that do a little bit of everything — hydrate, even out skin tone, protect against sun damage and give skin a luminous glow via light-reflecting pigments.
Bold Beauty
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How about CC creams? Do you know what the CC stands for?
Color enhancing
Color smoothing
Check color
Color correcting
Color correcting creams, sometimes referred to as complexion corrector creams, offer more coverage that BB creams. While they do contain beneficial ingredients and are lighter than liquid foundation, their main purpose is to disguise imperfections like dark spots and redness.
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If you're sporting a "naked" face, what are you doing?
Wearing no makeup at all
Wearing a BB or CC cream only
Wearing makeup that's specifically designed to make you look like you're not wearing makeup
Unlike going "nude" or "bare-faced," which means you're wearing no makeup at all, "naked" refers to the no-makeup makeup look. It actually takes a bit of work (and makeup) to give the fresh-faced illusion that you're wearing none.
Wearing sunscreen only
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At a party, your best friend rushes to the bathroom to fix some bad "bleed." What's the problem?
Their eye makeup is running.
Their lipstick has smudged.
It's hard to keep a bold red lip in place. One of the best tricks to prevent lipstick-smudging bleed is to blend concealer around corners of your lips, then line your lips with a lip liner.
Their collar is noticeably stained with foundation.
Their nail polish has chipped.
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Your fashion/beauty vlogger friend asks you to go with her to shop for ring lights. What will she be buying?
Light-up jewelry
A special type of brightening under-eye cream
An selfie-friendly light
Most beauty vloggers and YouTube stars can't live without ring lights, which give skin an instant, camera-ready glow. They're also great for photo shoots and selfies — with no filter required!
A lamp that holds jewelry
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When someone tells you your brows are "on fleek," what do they mean?
Your eyebrows look amazing.
Originally a phrase of praise for perfectly arched brows, "on-fleek" has evolved to describe any makeup look that's fierce and fabulous. It's also sometimes used as a general, non-makeup term for anything that's on point.
Your eyebrows look too thin.
Your eyebrows look too thick.
Your eyebrows need to be groomed.
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