Makeup Artist Career, Training, Job Description & Salary Info

You’ve watched a ton of instructional videos of your favorite makeup artists religiously, practiced your emerging skills on anyone who would let you, and you’re 100% positive you could do this for a living. You could become the world’s next top makeup artist. You just need the right makeup art training and an excellent webcam.

History of Makeup Art

It’s important to understand the hows and whys of makeup and makeup artistry, to truly appreciate its art form, as well as its present-day prominence. Various types of makeup have been around for thousands of years, and its evolution is nothing short of fascinating. Women and men have been enhancing their facial features with products made from copper and lead ore, to powders dusted with arsenic and other such poisons depending on when and where they lived.

The early 1900s Max Factor and Westmore forever reshaped glamor when they became relevant in Hollywood. Movie stars used makeup even before that, but it would take hours to get them ready for their closeups, using the thick greasepaint products available. These products never seemed to look right on film until the 1930s.

Makeup became readily available to the masses, and the women eagerly swooped them up in an attempt to reproduce the looks of their favorite film stars. Cosmetics and the way they’re used have gone through multiple series of evolution, and will continue to do so as trends in makeup and looks change. But, one thing is for certain, the love of makeup and the fascination with the makeup artists isn’t going away anytime soon. Find a local makeup artist program.

Makeup Artist Careers

What you’ll do as a makeup artist will depend on what part of the industry you go into. There are two main genres of makeup artists, cosmetic and theatrical or film. Cosmetic or fashion makeup artists are hired to work their magic on fashion models to entire wedding parties. Theatrical makeup artists can use their skills to completely transform the look of an actor, taking them from one extreme to another using cosmetics and prosthetics. But, there are other types of makeup artists:

• Clinical Make Up Artist: The clinical makeup artist is usually working at hospitals, plastic surgery clinics, and medispas. They use their cosmetic know-how to help lessen the effects of minor facial deformities such as scars, birthmarks, and burns so their client can feel more confident and ‘normal.'
• Film, TV, and Theatre: Performing actors are usually the clients of this type of makeup artist. The Film, TV, and Theatre makeup artist needs to understand lighting and how it affects the looks of the character actor. Also, Special Effects artistry falls under this category, which is a higher paying, more advanced field.
• Cosmetic: Cosmetic makeup artists work behind the counter at retail stores demonstrating how to use a particular brand’s makeup.
• Fashion: Preparing models to walk the runway, as well as applying makeup for head-shots is what a fashion makeup artist does. Their career is very versatile.
• Personal Care: Very often, a celebrity will hire their own personal makeup artist as part of their entourage.
• Special Occasion: Weddings, red-carpet or corporate events, the special event makeup artist knows their clients want to stand out dramatically and they aren’t afraid of a smoky eye and bright red lip. Also, mortuary makeup artists fall into this area. They make sure that the deceased looks presentable.

Benefits of a Makeup Art Career

• Travel: Whether it’s just once in awhile or a constant, many makeup artists get to travel for their job. And most often the expenses are covered.
• Behind the Scenes: A career as a makeup artist can take you backstage at a fashion show, or an elite award show while rubbing elbows with the famous.
• Loads of opportunities: You don’t have to be in the corner of a salon; you can decide where you want to work. Being a makeup artist means you’re your own boss, and you can create your own opportunities.
• Variety: Presumably you’ll be seeing client after client throughout a day. That’s a broad range of people you’ll get to meet. You’ll get to hear so many different life stories!

Keep in mind, makeup artists find themselves among fierce competition. You have to find a way to stand out, whether it’s your work or your personality or a fabulous combination of both.

How to Become a Makeup Artist

In many states, it's actually a requirement to have a cosmetology license to be working as a makeup artist. And, in the states that it's not a requirement, it's still preferred if you want to find a job in spas or salons. To work as a freelance makeup artist, you just need to do a lot of practicing and portfolio updating.

Going to cosmetology school is a great way to learn not only the skills you will need to become a makeup artist, but the skills you need to be a well-rounded cosmetologist.

• After you complete an accredited cosmetology program, you’ll take the licensing exam. You’ll need to pass that and most schools help you with the studying aspect of it.
• Watch tutorials and apply those techniques to your friends and family.
• Keep practicing all your skills. Offer free services to people who are heavily connected. Keep seeking out opportunities that will give you more experience and exposure.
• A portfolio goes beyond a resume. You’ll want to have online access, like Instagram and a blog, but you’ll also want to have photographs placed inside a physical portfolio.
• Freelance or find work in the industry, whether it’s behind a makeup brands counter at the mall, or at a small salon (or a big one, it doesn’t matter!).
• Advance your skills through classes, seminars, makeup manufacturers, etc.
• Broaden your network, and market yourself steadily.

Curious? Then read a day in the life of a makeup artist.

Cosmetology vs. Makeup Art

Instead of explaining it, here's a side-by-side comparison highlighting the difference in cosmetology versus makeup artistry.

A Makeup Artist Portfolio

You’re an artist, and it's a visual field, so you’ll need to fill your portfolio with a few of your best pieces of work. You’ll need to be able to show off the range of your talent to a potential employer, and that’s what you need to keep in mind when choosing what pictures to include. Models of multiple ethnicities, skin tones, and types, and ages are important to include to show your diverse range of expertise. It's also a good idea to keep both a physical portfolio comprised of photos and digital portfolio on a website or a social media platform.

Makeup Artist Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the 2023 average salary of makeup artists was $68,590, with the top ten percent earning closer to $141,060 or more. Salaries do range, and depend on which part of the industry you work in. For example, makeup artists in motion picture and video industries earned an average of $119,940 in 2023.

Our hair stylists and makeup artists are usually on the top 10 list of personal favorite people. If you're interested in finding out what being a makeup is really like, then check out our expert interview: Career Talk!