Most OTs Say Makeup Matters. So Why Do One in Three Rarely Ask About It?

Ask an occupational therapist whether makeup matters and most will say yes. Ask whether they bring it up in an assessment and the answer changes.

What do OTs say about makeup?

In our survey of 1,147 qualified OTs (December 2025 to July 2026), 68% called makeup an activity of daily living (40%) or a meaningful daily activity (28%). Another 31% said it depends on the client.

How often do they ask?

We asked whether they ask about makeup or grooming during functional assessments:

• Yes, regularly: 34%
• Sometimes: 33%
• Rarely: 20%
• Never: 13%

So two in three ask at least sometimes, and one in three (33%) rarely or never does.

How confident are OTs?

26% feel very confident assessing makeup or grooming as part of daily living. 58% feel somewhat confident, 15% feel not very or not at all confident, and 1% are unsure. Put another way, 74% are not fully confident.

One caution: this is an early-career group. 52% of the OTs have been practising for two years or less, and only 53 have more than ten years. That is too few to compare how experience changes the answers, and it may mean these numbers say more about newer OTs than seasoned ones.

What could change?

• Add one open question to an ADL assessment, such as: "Is there anything about getting ready that you would like to be easier?"
• Ask about makeup the way you ask about hair, teeth or dressing.
• Know what tools exist. 74% of the OTs we surveyed have never used or created an adaptive method for makeup.

If you want to keep doing your makeup

You can raise it yourself. Telling your OT that getting ready matters to you is enough to put it on the plan. If a grip would help, Betty and Margie slide onto the makeup you already own. ByStorm grips sit within the NDIS low-cost assistive technology range (under $1,500 per item) and may be claimable when they link to your goals. Your support coordinator or OT can help you frame it. See how it works.

Quick answers

How often do OTs ask about makeup?
In ByStorm's survey of 1,147 qualified OTs, 34% ask regularly, 33% sometimes, 20% rarely and 13% never.

Do OTs think makeup is part of daily living?
68% called it an activity of daily living (40%) or a meaningful daily activity (28%), and 31% said it depends on the client.

Source: ByStorm Accessible Beauty Clinician Survey, December 2025 to July 2026. 1,706 responses, of which 1,147 are qualified occupational therapists. Percentages are rounded.