Make-up Artist
What the work is
Designs and applies make-up products and techniques to transform or enhance the features of individuals.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Designs make-up looks that align with clients' requests, events or themes
- Prepares clients' skin by cleansing, moisturising and using appropriate primers
- Chooses make-up shades that complement clients' skin tone, eye colour and outfits
- Applies make-up products such as foundation, concealer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara and lipstick
- May create special effects or creative designs using prosthetics, scars and other effects to transform an actor into a character
- May perform basic hairstyling, such as arranging hair for a specific look, or building, styling and fitting wigs
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a small studio that does make-up for weddings and film shoots, and body art by appointment. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A bride sees herself in the mirror and goes quiet in the best way
- A design that started as a sketch on a napkin turns into something someone loves
- A film set where your make-up holds up under hot lights for a whole day
Hard days
- A client who changes their mind about the design after it's been drawn
- Standing and leaning over a client for hours with a steady hand
- Early starts on a film set, with make-up to redo after every take
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 461232, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.