What Qualifications Do I Need To Become A Makeup Artist In Australia?

The beauty and personal care sector is thriving in Australia, and thanks to the popularity of makeup shows such as Glow Up, the makeup artist profession is gaining more recognition.

In fact, job opportunities in the space are projected to grow by up to 7.7% in Australia over the next five years.

So there’s never been a better time to become a makeup artist!

If you’re creative, meticulous, patient, and love to bring your ideas to life when designing and applying makeup, read on as we highlight the key responsibilities of a Makeup Artist and the key steps to take to land your dream job.   

What Does A Makeup Artist Do?

Makeup artists are professionals who leverage their in-depth knowledge of beauty and cosmetic products to apply makeup to customers and achieve their clients’ desired look.

They can either provide general makeup services and work for a retail beauty brand, a fashion brand, or a bridal company or specialise in prosthetic design for theatre or TV-related work.

Their duties in the general makeup service space include:

• Applying quality makeup based on clients’ requirements
• Assessing a customer’s skin and face shape
• Answering questions customers might have and educating them about the best beauty products based on their skin and features.
• Maintaining high safety and hygiene standards.
• Keeping up to date with the latest beauty trends and techniques

Some of their main responsibilities in the theatre and TV space include:

• Research: whether they work on wedding looks, period makeup, or special or casualty effects, Makeup Artists need to thoroughly research makeup trends based on the brief they’re given to be on point.
• Preparation: makeup artists need to ensure their supplies are ready at all times so they can handle any project that comes their way. They also need to prepare prosthetics, wigs or facial hair in advance.
• Review the script and get familiar with it to achieve the best makeup look possible based on characters and periods.
• Create the look based on the brief
• Maintain the look throughout the set or event
• Cleaning up models and tools

How To Become A Makeup Artist In Australia?

No formal qualifications or certifications are required to become a makeup artist in Australia. However, enrolling in a course and gaining nationally-recognised qualifications can significantly increase your chances of getting a job. And it’ll also help build credibility and establish trust if you want to start your own makeup artist business.

Here are some steps you can take to become a qualified and in-demand Makeup Artist in Australia:

• Practice on your friends, family, and even on yourself to gain first-hand experience. This will allow you to test new techniques and boost your creativity even more. Don’t forget to photograph every look you create to build a strong portfolio. Also, make sure to leverage your social media channels, as prospective employers will be checking these before calling you in for an interview. 
• Take a course such as the Certificate III in Make-Up. This four-month course will provide you with all the basic knowledge you need to design and apply makeup flawlessly and work across a wide range of industries, from media and entertainment to retail and beauty. Other courses you might want to look into, depending on what type of Makeup Artist you want to be, include Statement of Attainment In Makeup and Braiding and Diploma of Screen and Media (Specialist Make-up Services).

Want To Set Up Your Own Makeup Artist Business?

If you’ve gained enough experience, have developed a fantastic skillset, and believe you can build a solid base of loyal customers, starting your own business could allow you to earn a lot of money as a makeup artist in Australia. After all, some of the most experienced makeup artists earn over $163,000 a year, and that’s just a national average!

And if you do, don’t forget to buy business insurance. Client-facing jobs come with some risks, such as inadvertently applying the wrong product to your clients’ skin and hurting them. And this could lead to costly claims and destroy your business. You may also be required to hold certain types of insurance if you land a contract with a TV company for example.

So, to find the right policy for you, free instant quote generator, where you can get an estimate on market-leading insurance in seconds. 

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