Make-up artist

Career path and progression

Many make-up artists work freelance and develop their career by building a network of contacts and receiving recommendations from clients.

With experience, you could become chief make-up artist or make-up designer. You could also develop specialist skills, for example applying body art, or making facial or body moulds for creating and fitting prosthetics.

You could move into areas like:

• fashion and photography
• print and digital media
• special effects

You might also work in medical aesthetics, using make-up techniques to cover scars and skin conditions to help improve a client's psychological wellbeing and confidence.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

• design skills and knowledge
• the ability to work well with your hands
• artistic and creative flair
• the ability to work well with others
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• to be flexible and open to change
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Related subjects

Most relevant

• Art and Design - Make-up artists use colour theory, composition, and visual design skills every day when creating looks for performers. They need to understand how light, shadow, and texture work together to achieve specific effects on camera or on stage.
• Design and Technology - Make-up artists create prosthetics, facial moulds, and body casts using materials like silicone, latex, and plaster. Understanding how to work with different materials and follow a design process from concept to finished product is central to special effects work.
• Drama - Make-up artists work closely with actors, directors, and production designers to bring characters to life on stage and screen. Understanding how a production comes together – from script to performance – helps them design make-up that supports the story and the performer's role.
• Film Studies - Make-up artists on screen productions need to understand how lighting setups, lens choices, and colour temperatures affect the look of skin, prosthetics, and special effects. Film Studies helps them grasp concepts like mise-en-scène and continuity, so their work supports the visual storytelling across every shot.

Also relevant

• History - Make-up artists research the styles, fashions, and beauty standards of different historical periods to create authentic looks for period dramas and productions. Understanding social and cultural history helps them design make-up that is accurate and convincing on screen.
• Chemistry - Make-up artists work with a wide range of cosmetic products, adhesives, and prosthetic materials, and need to understand how these interact with skin. Knowledge of chemistry helps when mixing colours, selecting safe products, and creating special effects materials like fake blood or ageing effects.
• Biology - Make-up artists need to understand skin types, allergies, and how the skin reacts to different products and adhesives. Knowledge of human anatomy – especially facial structure and musculature – is also important when sculpting prosthetics or creating realistic ageing effects.
• Business - Make-up artists often work freelance, which means managing their own finances, marketing their services, and building a client base through networking and recommendations. Understanding how to run a small business is important for sustaining a career in this competitive industry.