How Much Do You Actually Know About Beauty and Makeup?

By: Jane Andrews
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
How Much Do You Actually Know About Beauty and Makeup?
Image: Renzo79/E+/GettyImages

About This Quiz

People started using skincare products, makeup techniques, and hair care tricks to amp up their appearance long before beauty vloggers and Instagram influencers started schooling the world online. Did you know that the ancient Egyptians are believed to have created the first cosmetics? They made makeup from a mixture of copper and lead ore and ground minerals to create kohl for eyeliner. Nail polish is thought to have originated in China as far back as 3000 B.C., and women in ancient Rome reportedly used chalk to lighten and brighten their complexions. Clearly, humanity's obsession with beauty and makeup is nothing new, and today, there's no shortage of products for getting glam - from lipsticks, eyeshadows and foundations to serums, face masks and specially formulated shampoos.

How much do you know when it comes to the big wide world of makeup and beauty? Are you a casual beauty product user, or are you the queen when it comes to researching brands, trying new products and coveting the ones you love? Are you up on all the new trends and latest beauty blogger beefs? This quiz will tell us how much you really know about makeup, hair, nails and skincare - so get started and show us what you've got!

Q1 BB
Peopleimages/E+/GettyImages
Do you know what the "BB" in BB cream stands for?
Blemish balm
Beauty balm
Blemish base
All of the above
Q2 Prep
CoffeeAndMilk/E+/GettyImages
When prepping your skin for makeup, which should you apply first - moisturizer or serum?
Serum
Moisturizer
It doesn't matter.
You shouldn't mix moisturizer and serum.
Q3 Contour
pinkypills/Corbis/GettyImages
What is the point of contouring?
To give the face an even, bronzed glow
To make skin look less ashy
To accentuate and enhance facial features
To cover up blemishes

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Q4 Concealer
EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER/E+/GettyImages
When you need to hide redness and cover up blemishes, what color concealer should you use?
Yellow
Blue
Green
Peach
Q5 Foundation
fotografixx/E+/GettyImages
Where's the best place to test foundation?
Back of the hand
Nose
Jawline
Forehead
Q6 Jade
Mengwen Cao/Moment/GettyImages
What is a jade roller used for?
To purify skin
To keep skin clear
To even out skin tone
To decrease puffiness

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Q7 Kylie
Albuquerque/E+/GettyImages
What's the name of Kylie Jenner's makeup line?
Just Kylie
KKJ
Kylie Cosmetics
Kylie Color
Q8 Curler
Jupiterimages/Pixland / Getty Images Plus/GettyImages
Should you use an eyelash curler before or after you apply mascara?
After
Before
It doesn't matter.
Both before and after you apply mascara.
Q9 Cream
RUNSTUDIO/DigitalVision/GettyImages
What's the difference between a BB cream and a CC cream?
BB creams offer more skin care benefits, while CC creams are more for providing coverage and correcting skin problems.
BB creams have SPF; CC creams do not.
BB creams are more moisturizing than CC creams.
There is no difference.

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Q10 Non
Hiroshi Watanabe/DigitalVision/GettyImages
When a product says that it's non-comedogenic, what does this mean?
It's all-natural.
It's free of parabens.
It's specially formulated not to clog pores.
It does not contain gluten.
Q11 Primer
RUNSTUDIO/Photodisc/GettyImages
What is the purpose of a primer?
It cleanses the skin before makeup application.
It hides dark spots and blemishes.
It preps the skin so foundation and other makeup goes on smooth and lasts longer.
It moisturizes the skin.
Q12 Eye Cream
Image Source/Image Source/GettyImages
Which of the following methods is the best way to apply under-eye cream?
Blend the cream into your skin with a cotton ball.
Use your index finger and middle finger to rub the cream into your skin.
Use your ring finger to gently pat the cream onto your skin.
Slather it on and let it sit for five minutes, then wipe off the excess.

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Q13 Liner
Miguel Sanz/Moment/GettyImages
What is tightlining?
An eyeliner application technique
A mascara application technique
A foundation application technique
A technique for applying highlights to the hair
Q14 Mascara
CoffeeAndMilk/E+/GettyImages
How long should you use a mascara before replacing it?
Six months
Three months
A year
As long as it lasts
Q15 Banana
Anjelika Gretskaia/Moment/GettyImages
Do you know what banana powder is?
A setting powder
A highlighting powder
An illuminating powder
A priming powder

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Q16 Brush
luba/E+/GettyImages
How often should you wash your makeup brushes?
Every day
Every week
Every month
You don't need to wash them.
Q17 Which
Monica Rodriguez/DigitalVision/Gettyimages
Which should you apply first, foundation or concealer?
Foundation
Concealer
It doesn't matter.
They should be applied together.
Q18 K
Carol Yepes/Moment/GettyImages
What does the "K" in K-Beauty stand for?
Korean
Kilogram
Krazy
Kinetic

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Q19 Rihanna
Wiki Commons by SIGMA
What makes Fenty Beauty, Rihanna's makeup line, so special?
It's all-natural.
It's very inexpensive.
It features 50 shades of foundation.
It's designed for acne-prone skin.
Q20 Basecoat
ayala_studio/E+/GettyImages
Do you know what a basecoat is?
A layer of pre-foundation primer
A hair gloss used before applying highlights
A priming coat of mascara
A clear layer of polish applied before nail color
Q21 Acid
Peopleimages/E+/GettyImages
What are alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs)?
Exfoliating microbeads used for facial peels
Plant- and animal-derived chemical compounds used in skin care products
An ingredient used in hair dye
Synthetic chemicals used for laser hair removal

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Q22 D Cream
Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Moment/GettyImages
What is a depilatory cream used for?
Hair removal
Skin hydration
Acne prevention
Oil reduction
Q23 Exfoliate
Shana Novak/DigitalVision/GettyImages
Epidermabrasion is the technical term for which of the following skin care techniques?
Intensive hydration
Exfoliation
Lymphatic face massage
Blackhead removal
Q24 Matte
Kristina Strasunske/Moment/GettyImages
If you're wearing lipstick with a matte finish, what does this mean?
The lipstick is very shiny.
The lipstick has no shine.
The lipstick is translucent.
The lipstick is the same shade as your lip's natural color.

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Q25 Manicure
CoffeeAndMilk/E+/GettyImages
What's a gel manicure?
A manicure that involves the use of a special peel-off polish
A manicure that involves the use of a special type of long-wear polish cured under UV light
A manicure that is squishy to the touch
A manicure that involves the use of a special gel to moisturize hands and nails before polish application
Q26 Bal
Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
Do you know what balayage is?
A technique used to highlight hair
A full-body mud wrap
A skin-tightening procedure
A type of manicure
Q27 Eyeliner
Ingolf Hatz/Cultura/GettyImages
Which of the following types of eyeliners provide the strongest pigment?
Pencil
Gel
Kohl
Liquid

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Q28 Cupid Bow
CoffeeAndMilk/E+/GettyImages
Do you know what your cupid's bow is?
The double curve on your upper lip
The area just under your bottom lip
The space in between your eyebrows
The tip of your nose
Q29 Threading
Flashpop/DigitalVision/GettyImages
What is threading?
A hair-cutting technique
An eyebrow-shaping technique
A special type of manicure
A special type of facial
Q30 CoWash
MarsBars/E+/GettyImages
If someone says they co-wash their hair, what do they mean?
They get their hair washed at a salon weekly.
They only wash the very bottom ends of their hair.
They shampoo their hair but use no conditioner.
They skip shampoo and only use conditioner to wash their hair.

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Q31 Tzone
Alex Minkin/Moment/GettyImages
Where is your T-zone?
On the nose and chin
On the forehead, nose and chin
On the chin and neck
On the neck
Q32 Store
mikroman6/Moment/GettyImages
Which of the following is not a nationwide beauty store chain?
Sephora
Ulta
Sally Beauty
Michael's
Q33 Storage
Photo Agnes Elisabeth Szucs/Moment/GettyImages
Where's the best place to store a makeup kit?
In a cabinet under the sink
In a cool and dry place in your room
On a top shelf of your closet
Under your bed

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Q34 Pineapple
Peopleimages/E+/GettyImages
If someone is about to pineapple their hair, what are they going to do?
Rinse it with pineapple juice before bed
Pull their hair into a high pony tail before bed
Braid their wet hair before bed
Cover their hair with a shower cap before bed
Q35 Honest
Unsplash by The Honest Company
Which celebrity owns the Honest Beauty brand?
Gwyneth Paltrow
Drew Barrymore
Jessica Alba
Kim Kardashian
Q36 Bottle
Carol Yepes/Moment/GettyImages
If you see a nail polish with a "3-free" label on it, what does this mean?
The formula is free of three toxic ingredients that polishes frequently use.
The formula contains three nail-nourishing essential oils.
The polish can be applied in three different ways.
The polish should be applied in three coats.

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Q37 Split
Jupiterimages/Pixland / Getty Images Plus/GettyImages
What's the best way to get rid of split ends?
Use a special conditioning treament
Get a trim
Wash your hair more frequently
Wash your hair less frequently
Q38 Sulfate
gilaxia/E+/GettyImages
If a shampoo is "sulfate-free", what is it missing?
Harsh foaming agents that facilitate cleansing
Additives that might change the color of your hair
Additives that might change the texture of your hair
Ingredients that are known to cause frizz
Q39 Dry Shampoo
JPM/Image Source/GettyImages
What is dry shampoo?
A dry cleansing powder that's applied in the shower
A cleansing spray or power that's used on wet hair
A cleansing spray or powder that's used on dry hair
All of the above

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Q40 Light
AleksandarNakic/E+/GettyImages
What are ring lights?
A circular hair accessory that lights up
An app you can download to enhance the look of your phone's flashlight
A type of light that's used in photography and video
A brightening under-eye cream