Do you know your contouring from your strobing? Where do you stand on gloss versus glitter? Do you find yourself wondering how to achieve the look of a particular character in a TV program or film? Why not become a makeup artist with one of our professional beauty therapy courses.

Are you looking for an exciting and potentially lucrative career? Working as a makeup artist offers flexibility, the chance to be your own boss, travel the world and mingle with the stars whilst earning money doing something you love.

If the answer to the above questions is “yes,” a career as a makeup artist might be right for you.

What does a makeup artist do?

A makeup artist uses cosmetic treatments and techniques to create the desired look. Makeup artists are continually in demand, whether you are working within the wedding industry, on the cutting edge of fashion, or within TV and film. This career can be very rewarding, as you will get to put your creative skills and knowledge into practice.

This career is about much more than making an individual look beautiful; it is also about working to a specific brief, which can include using makeup prosthetics to create a particular look for a TV show or applying specialist makeup to assist people who have burns or scars.

Skills and Knowledge To Become A Makeup Artist

Whether you are working on a big-budget film or have been booked for a bride’s big day, there are some common skills required, including:

  • Up-to-date knowledge of makeup trends and techniques.
  • Ability to negotiate.
  • Knowledge of skin conditions.
  • Excellent interpersonal qualities.
  • Creativity
  • Confidence
  • Ability to work under pressure.

Being a makeup artist will also mean working in a more flexible manner since 9-5 hours in this job role is very uncommon.

Makeup Artist Working Environment

Needless to say, makeup artists do not work in a traditional manner, and the majority work on a freelance or self-employed basis. You are likely to work long hours, with a lot of time spent on your feet. If you are working on a film or TV show, you will probably start work very early in the morning.

You could be working on TV sets, backstage in a theatre or at a large event. You may also need to travel to various locations and stay away from home for a while.

How to become a Makeup Artist

There are several different training routes that lead to you becoming a makeup artist. However, often the best way to begin is to familiarise yourself with makeup techniques and start practising. Perhaps you have a friend who does not mind being your makeup guinea pig.

It is a good idea to gain as much practical experience as possible, as this will help build your knowledge and develop your techniques. This experience will also allow you to compile a visual portfolio that you can then show to prospective employers/clients. You could gain this experience through volunteering for local theatre productions or shadowing an experienced makeup artist.

Available Makeup Artist Courses

Oxbridge offers a course specifically for aspiring makeup artists. The course will teach you the basics of skincare and makeup application, and you will also learn the business skills needed to succeed within this career, take a look at our Starting Your Own Business Level 2 course, you could study this alongside the MUA course.

Now you know how to become a Make Up Artist and once you have completed this course, if you wanted to you can progress onto further training; such as specialisms or teaching.

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