If you’re going to one day become a top, in-demand makeup artist, you must first learn the basic rules of the trade. These basic skills are the groundwork every makeup artist must learn if they want to be the best.
The basics
As a qualified makeup artist, you will have to work well with people, products, tools, shapes and colors in order to achieve the desired results. This isn’t always as easy as it sounds. With that in mind, we’re going to go over some of the very basics of makeup artistry, including:
- Basic color theory
- The color wheel
- Skin tones
- Skincare basics
- The four skin types
- Choosing the right products and tools
- Basic color theory
Understanding basic color theory will give you a better understanding of how colors work. As well as how they complement each other, as well as their influence on a persons skin tone/eye color. You will often be asked which colors work best on a person, so it is important you become well-versed on color theory from the start.
The color wheel
For those wishing to master the basics of color theory, the color wheel serves as a helpful visual tool. It consists of:
- Primary (red, blue and yellow)
- Secondary (green, orange and violet)
- Tertiary (red – violet, yellow – orange, blue – green).
It can also help you learn about warm and cool colors.
Skin tones
People come in all shapes and colors, with a plethora of skin tones to work with – from alabaster to espresso. As you grow more experienced, you’ll become familiar with which make-up shades suit different skin tones and colors. In the mean time, familiarize yourself with make-up charts and practice.
The four skin types
When choosing the right makeup and products to use on a person’s skin, there are four main skin types you should be aware of. These are:
- Oily
- Dry
- Normal
- Combination
For example, someone with oily skin would probably benefit from an oil-free water-based moisturizer. Whereas someone with dry skin would thrive with a more intensive, creamy moisturizer. A client with acne-prone skin should avoid heavy foundations which could block their pores and potentially lead to more breakouts.
Choosing the right products and tools
Learning which products and tools work best for you is an important aspect of makeup artistry. In time you may develop a favorite brand that you’ll want to use again and again. As an artist, you will also need to invest to get the most back from your tools, and you will be able to choose from:
- Foundation brushes
- Concealer brushes
- Powder brushes
- Eyeshadow brushes
- Lip brushes
- Blending brushes
- Crease brushes and more
You may sometimes prefer to work with sponges, or learn how to use an eyelash curler to achieve the perfect look. With perseverance, you’ll learn how to use your tools in order to achieve a smooth, flawless look for your clients.
Contact us
To learn more about makeup artistry, why not sign up for a course at Avenue Five today?
