There's more to

makeup

artistry than knowing how to blend the perfect foundation. A professional makeup artist provides specialized services that help people look and feel their best.

Foundational Skills
With makeup artist training, you'll learn all aspects of the art, theory, and application of makeup, and you'll acquire tools and techniques to practice makeup artistry with ease. You'll become confident in evaluating, preparing, and choosing the proper products for all skin tones, for every occasion. Your education will combine theory, demonstrations, and hands-on training to prepare you for a glamorous career as a makeup artist.

Before you embark on your makeup artist career, you'll need to acquire some basic skills. Beginning makeup artist training includes coursework in skin care and nutrition, facial architecture, creating beauty, corrective techniques, histology of skin, product knowledge, sanitation, draping, consultation and analysis, eyebrow grooming, color theory and selection, principles of application, full face application, shading and contouring, custom blending and camouflage, current looks and trends, history of makeup styles, makeup chemistry and skin types, and fashion and makeup personality.

Advanced Techniques
Once you've mastered the basics, get ready to apply your makeup artist training in more advanced settings. These may include makeup for mature women; airbrush makeup; glamour and evening makeup; special occasion makeup; camera-ready makeup for the traditional, modern, natural, or classic bride; media makeup; and character makeup.

Media makeup encompasses makeup application for both black & white and color print photography work. When you study to be a media makeup artist, you'll learn how to create clean beauty, basic beauty, fashion, and high fashion makeup looks for commercial, fashion, and editorial work. And, you'll be trained in boudoir and body makeup, media lighting, and period makeup.

Character makeup is another fun application of makeup artistry, as your work helps bring on-screen characters to life. Courses in this career track may include character design and execution, working with various types of hair, application of bald caps, breaking down the script, character aging, and injury simulation.

The Business of Beauty
In all the gloss and glitter, don't forget about a crucial aspect of your career -- the business of makeup artistry. With professional makeup artist training, you'll learn all about portfolio designing; evaluating your portfolio; becoming a freelance makeup artist; creating comp cards; working with agencies, photographers, and directors; self-marketing; clientele building; business promotions; and sales.

And, your attention to the business side of beauty will pay off. According to 2006 figures from the New York State Department of Labor, for instance, theatrical/performance makeup artists earned a median annual salary of $35,010.

With the right makeup artist training, you'll learn everything you need to know to become a true artist.