Working with Jessica Mendoza on set for ESPN.
The beauty industry is undoubtedly a special place, and being a makeup artist is a super rewarding career. However, there are so many different facets to it, and getting a career underway can be somewhat confusing! This is the kind of career that can look really shiny and pretty from the outside, but can be difficult to navigate once you get started! I definitely believe that there is no substitute for hard work, but I also believe in helping out new artists as much as I can! There is room at the table for everyone who wants to fall in love with this career path. I have put together these three guidelines for your journey into makeup artistry, and then look out for more posts that dive deeper into the logistics of products, skills and tips for creating a career that you love. Check out my top tips for starting a career in makeup below!
#1: Ask Yourself Why You Want To Be a Makeup Artist!
This is the most important question to ask yourself, and it really needs a good answer! We are inundated with images of makeup artists seemingly living the good life, but the truth is that this career is not always a walk in the park. It might seem silly, but a conversation with yourself about your intentions is a really good thing. There’s no such thing as “the right answer,” but it is important to know what you really want out of makeup artistry. If your goal is to get free products, become a “celebrity artist” or an overnight sensation…you may need to reevaluate. This industry may look like a breeze, but ask any working artist…there’s a ton of work, time and dedication that must to be put in! You will find that being a freelance makeup artist comes with a lot of responsibility…and flexibility. Being your own artist, receptionist, accountant, marketing manager etc can take a lot out of you. However if your answer to yourself is positive and you are ready to put the work in, success is only a matter of time and effort!
Working on beautiful Deja
#2 Start Out With a Small and Multifunctional Kit!
Unlike the world of blogging and influencers, pro makeup artistry doesn’t immediately require you to have the most expensive makeup and gear. It’s a natural instinct to want to buy the newest and most beautiful products. However, the most important thing I can stress to those starting out is to have a small but multipurpose kit! That means that your focus should be on creating a kit that can be used in a lot of ways and for a diverse range of people. For example, instead of spending 50 dollars on one expensive foundation, look for a palette that has a range of colors. Rather than buying a palette full of shimmery eyeshadows, create your own palette of core skin tone and neutral shades. If all of this sounds like Greek to you, don’t worry! I am going to begin a series of kit focused suggestions of what to start out with really soon! It will help you to invest in the most pertinent items, then slowly build from that point.
Working with one of my favorite brands, BECCA Cosmetics on set
#3 Do As Much Makeup As Humanly Possible!
It drove them a little nuts, but every other night I would turn my mother and sister into my makeup guinea pigs. I did as many different looks and techniques as I could! From there, I started asking my friends and their friends, so on and so forth. Knowing how to do your own makeup is wonderful, but it is far more important to know how to apply makeup to other people. And I mean all other people. A big word of advice…work on as many faces as you can. People of all races, all skin tones, eye colors and face shapes… and preferably people who will extend grace and patience to you. Don’t get so excited to rush into a career that you skip over the learning process. Make all the mistakes you need to in this phase, that’s why I think it’s important to work with people who like and trust you! The best part about doing makeup is that it’s not that serious. Mistakes are unavoidable, but they will teach you everything you need to know as you’re moving toward making money. You might not completely know your style when you begin, that is totally okay. I can’t tell you how many random looks I created on my friends in the beginning. If it’s a mess, if you did it wrong…wash it off and start again! Remember that it’s only makeup. The trial and error is what you need to help you learn how to fix your mistakes and work with different people. It’ll also allow you to develop a style and a strong work ethic!
Working on set with Alexandra.
I hope these three tips help you in your journey into freelance makeup artistry! I am excited to bring you more information about what you will need to build your pro kits, as well as tips for working on set, securing jobs and finding your industry niche! If there are any other questions you have about getting your start in the makeup artistry world, leave them in a comment below so that I can answer them in upcoming posts! Can’t wait to chat again soon!
Love,
Morgan Teresa