Charlotte Ravet, Author at QC Makeup Academy

Jul 15

Makeup artist jobs article, July 15 2021, Feature Image

The Ultimate List of DOS and DON’TS for Makeup Artist Jobs!

By Charlotte Ravet Career Advice, From the Experts, Your Makeup Career 2 Comments

Want to rock your makeup artist jobs each and every time? Then this list of DOs and DON’Ts was made especially for YOU!

Charlotte Ravet is the proud owner of her very own hair and makeup business, A Date with Charlotte. Her extensive resume includes working for Prada, L’Oreal, and even the cast of the hit show, Glee! A developer of educational programs, Charlotte has even been awarded Best Makeup Educator of the Year by the Australian Industry Makeup Awards.

From Makeup Training to Makeup Artist Jobs

After completing your makeup certification training with QC Makeup Academy, you’ll have learned all the skills and techniques needed to succeed in your dream career! From there, it’ll be time to find clients and start booking professional makeup artist jobs!

As much as you might feel confident in your makeup skills, you’re going to feel quite a bit of pressure when you go to your very first job. Don’t worry, this kind of anxiety is totally normal and to be expected. For instance, you might be wondering:

What should I wear?
Who should I talk to?
How should I speak with my clients?
What can I do to ensure a great first impression?

Professionalism is a universal concept. But when it comes to a creative industry like makeup, the rules can be slightly different. It can be tricky to understand what the right etiquette is when you’re on a job.

Luckily, I’ve got you covered! Here are 3 things you should never do during makeup artist jobs – and the 3 things you need to do instead!

3 DOs and DON’Ts for Makeup Artist Jobs

DON’T: Be late, wearing inappropriate clothing, and/or have a lousy attitude!

Let’s be real… Do I really need to explain why doing ANY of these things can majorly hurt your reputation?

DO: Arrive on time and make the best possible first impression at your makeup artist jobs!

Start with the basics! Arrive on time, with clean clothes and a clean makeup kit. Ensure that your breath is fresh, your nails are clean, and that there’s a smile on your face! It sounds simple, but these things alone make up a LOT of what people will expect from you right off the bat. First impressions always matter!

Firstly (and I can never stress this enough): always make hygiene your top priority! Looking professionally groomed and having a clean makeup artist kit is mandatory to ensure a successful start to your career. For example, imagine that you made an appointment at a hair salon, only to show up and discover that the place is filthy. Chances are, you’ll have a bad opinion of their services!

In the same way, both your kit and your appearance are the windows of your business. Since you’re working in an artistic industry, tattoos and colored hair are tolerated (sometimes, even common). However, personal hygiene is still a must!

Next, arriving on time is also extremely important. This is because the makeup artist is always the first one to kick off the day’s events, whatever they may be. Arriving late can delay a whole production or put the bride under pressure on her most important day. Moreover, showing up late will definitely make you appear unprofessional. In turn, this can negatively impact your ability to book future makeup artist jobs.

Last, but definitely not least, always remember to put a smile on! No one will want to work with a Negative Nelly. If, however, you’re known for your infectious smile, your friendly demeanor, and your positive outlook, everyone will want to collaborate and benefit from your expertise.

DON’T: Show up to makeup artist jobs unprepared!

Because you put the time and effort into your professional certification training, you’ll have learned everything you need to know about being properly prepared for makeup artist jobs. After all, if you arrive at a booking and don’t know what you’re doing, it’s going to be obvious to everyone around you. In turn, this is bound to make you seem unprofessional.

An unprofessional makeup artist isn’t a makeup artist that others will want to work with again. So, if you’re goal is to book as many clients as possible and sustain a thriving career, always ensure that you do everything you can to be as in the know as possible!

DO: Be as prepared as possible!

As part of your makeup training, you created face charts, conducted research, and explored the depths of your own creativity. The exact same goes when working on makeup artist jobs! Knowing who you should talk with, as well as who you will be applying makeup on, is very important.

Studio Makeup Artist Jobs

If you’ll be working in a studio, you’ll receive a call sheet with all the names of the talents and crew. Don’t simply take the call sheet and put it aside. Rather, go over it thoroughly and familiarize yourself as much as you can with everyone’s names! And if you haven’t been provided with that information? Research the previous work of the director and/or photographer! This will help you better understand the lighting, who the talents are, etc.

No, you won’t be expected to know everyone – but making a bit of conversation with the talents is always appreciated. Having a bit of history about them always makes it easier. Plus, by doing some research, you can also see previous examples of their makeup looks. Knowing the previous work from the photographer or the director will also help you to better understand the artistic direction of the project.

Private Makeup Artist Jobs

If you’re doing makeup for a private client, try setting up a client consultation before the appointment. This consultation will allow you to thoroughly know and prepare for the exact types of look your client is after. Do not hesitate to ask all the necessary questions prior to the makeup job! The more prepared you are, the smoother the day will be.

Moreover, always confirm with the team or the client that there are lighting and power sockets accessible in your workspace. Also, check the weather if you are doing hair in addition to makeup. Rain or humidity can ruin a hairstyle or makeup application all too easily! So, take it into consideration when creating the looks.

DON’T: Rely on a verbal agreement when deciding the budget for your services!

We are sometimes shy when it comes to talking about money. However, this is an absolute must! Of course, as a freelancer, the fear of losing a client because of the quote is very common. It’s always hard to know what your client is expecting to pay. Furthermore, if you’re bookings have been a little quiet, the pressure of not having upcoming work coming can make the temptation of working for less money that much stronger.

But that being said, it’s important to know your value and stick to your guns. Sure, some flexibility can be granted on a client-by-client basis – so long as you’re still getting fairly compensated for the work expected of you. Ultimately, though, your rates are set as they are for a reason: because they reflect your advanced skill-set, professional brand, and time spent getting trained to that high standard. The right clients will understand your value and be willing to pay for what you’re worth.

Lastly, never make the mistake of assuming all parties agree to your rates and rely solely on a verbal agreement. Otherwise, things can potentially get messy and/or complicated later on in the process.

DO: Get your budget approved in writing!

Once it has been determined what amount your client should be paying you for your work, ALWAYS get it in writing. Moreover, have the client read it over and sign it. That way, there’s a paper trail of the terms all parties have agreed upon. This will give you security in the unfortunate event that the client ever tries to pay you less when the time comes.

How to Negotiate the Budget During Makeup Artist Jobs

The truth is, negotiating is part of the job. If you don’t believe in yourself and set your prices with confidence, no one else is going to do it for you! So, here are a few tips to negotiate smoothly with your clients and secure your prices:

Always look busy. It doesn’t matter whether you’re totally booked, or you have no makeup jobs planned for the next 3 weeks. Always say, “Let me have a look at my calendar,” when someone calls you! Being busy tells others that you’re in high demand. As a result, people will want to work with you! From there, then you can negotiate…
Set your prices. Stop asking yourself what your client is willing to pay! Set your prices based on your experience, area, and the quality of the products you use. Then it’s just a matter of sticking with it! Whether you wish to list your service rates on your business website or not is up to you. But you should have a half-day and a full-day rate, along with individual prices for private clients. That’s it! If your client has a set price for the job which he/she communicates to you directly, it’ll then be up to you to take it, negotiate a higher rate, or decline the makeup artist job.
Again, confirm all agreements in writing. Once you’ve agreed on the makeup job requirements and fees, confirm everything by email. When the job is completed, send the invoice right away. What’s more – don’t forget to include terms and conditions for late payments in your contract. Unfortunately, the odd client will try to swindle you from time to time. Protecting yourself and being organized will avoid disappointments.

When you work as a freelance makeup artist, you are your own boss! While that is fantastic, it admittedly requires organization and professionalism at all times. Of course, we all learn from our mistakes – but setting up the correct rules from the start will help to start your dream job safely, navigate makeup artist jobs with success, and enjoy the experience to its fullest extent!

Prepare yourself to rock any and all makeup artist jobs by first getting professionally trained and certified! Enroll with QC Makeup Academy today and graduate in as little as 2-6 months!

Jun 10

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Makeup portfolio article, June 10 2021, Feature Image

Building Your Makeup Portfolio: How to Connect with Photographers

By Charlotte Ravet Career Advice, From the Experts, Your Makeup Career 2 Comments

Building your makeup portfolio for the first time? Professional MUA, Charlotte Ravet, is here with 5 tips to help you find and connect with photographers in your area!

Charlotte is the proud owner of her very own hair and makeup business, A Date with Charlotte. Her extensive resume includes working for Prada, L’Oreal, and even the cast of the hit show, Glee! A developer of educational programs, Charlotte has even been awarded Best Makeup Educator of the Year by the Australian Industry Makeup Awards.

The Value of Your Makeup Portfolio

As a beauty expert, your makeup portfolio is critical! It’s just as important to you as a resume would be for someone working in the corporate industry. As such, the quality of the work you’re showcasing needs to just be exceptional as the work itself.

Sure, you can use your phone to take images of your clients when developing your portfolio. However, this isn’t the mark of a professional makeup artist. Particularly, if you have the desire to work in fashion, advertising, or commercials, you’re going to want to avoid using your phone’s camera.

Instead, it’s strongly recommended to have your makeup portfolio built with a creative team – including professional models, stylists, and photographers.

Let’s Start With The Basics…

In a nutshell, your makeup portfolio is a physical embodiment of the best work you’ve done in the past. It’s a visual representation of your talent and skill. Your portfolio gives potential clients a taste of what you’re capable of achieving for them. No successful makeup artist would be where they are today without a solid portfolio under their belt!

Generally speaking, the “no makeup” look is the most requested type of makeup by clients. So, this is definitely a look to include in your portfolio! Especially for editorial work, this is because the focus is NOT on the makeup itself. Rather, the makeup application you do is but one puzzle piece in a much larger vision. Furthermore, another advantage of showcasing the “no makeup” look in your portfolio is that it’ll be much easier for potential clients to imagine hiring you for advertising jobs, fashion brands, etc.

That being said, I would also advise you to create a body of work which reflects what you love, too. Most of my paid work is natural or glamor makeup. However, I still do what I love and showcase that in my portfolio as well. For years, I’ve been told my work was too colorful, too bold, too dramatic, etc. But that hasn’t stopped me from creating painted faces with fluo colors!

In fact, this type of makeup actually brought me a LOT of work once I made a name for it. The truth is, as the old saying goes, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day of your life.” So, it’s always best to create makeup looks for your portfolio that excite you!

Building Your Makeup Portfolio

It’s important to know that building your makeup portfolio is not going to bring you money in-and-of itself! In fact, some projects might even cost you a bit of money for specific products and material. However, don’t get it mixed up – this is absolutely a worthwhile investment!

Firstly, you’ll be developing a portfolio you’re truly proud of. Secondly, this portfolio WILL help you bring in money once it begins attracting clients your way. And lastly, you’ll then be able to carry this body of work with you throughout your career, and continue building upon it!

But when you’re brand-new to the industry, how exactly are you supposed to get started? How do you get professional photos taken, with the help of a professional creative team, if you don’t know anybody yet?

Collaborative Projects

Get involved in a collaborative project, such as a stylized photoshoot! While these types of projects are typically done on a free basis (meaning you won’t get paid for it), there are tons of other benefits that are just as valuable.

If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, then you’ll need to find people who want to work with you, too. Speaking from personal experience, the hardest part of building your portfolio is connecting with local vendors for the first time. Of these vendors, arguable the most important ones to connect are photographers. After all, in order to create beautiful images, you need a photographer.

Here’s the thing: great photographers receive COUNTLESS emails every single week from makeup artists asking them to work with them. So, how can YOU stand out of the crowd? What can you do to set yourself apart, so that the photographers you want to work with want to work with you back?

Here are 5 tips to help you get started…

Your Makeup Portfolio: 5 Tips for Connecting with Photographers

Tip #1: Make it easy!

When it comes to photoshoots, the biggest part is organizing the shoot with the team. This includes finding an idea, acquiring models, putting together a creative team, artistic coordination, etc. All of this is a lot of work!

Usually the photographer is the one putting the team together. But if you already come with suggestions of stylists and models wanting to shoot with you, you’ll make the work much easier. Thus, the photographer will likely be more inclined to partner up with you!

Tip #2: Share your ideas!

Before I connect with a photographer, I first do my research by looking over their work. Then I’ll formulate an idea and/or concept for the photoshoot that I think would match the photographer’s unique style.

Typically, I’ll establish contact through emails or social media. When reaching out, I’ll send a few moodboards which I believe they could be interested to shoot. You can create an amazing moodboard on platforms such as Canva and/or use Pinterest for your reference images.

Importantly, I don’t reach out to them and say, “I would love to shoot ‘something‘ with you…” Instead, I introduce myself and say, “I would love to shoot ‘this‘ with you!”

How has this worked out for me over the years? Well, I’ve pretty much had a 100% success rate so far, so I’ll let you be the judge! Moreover, this approach has even given me the opportunity to art direct some editorial shots.

Tip #3: Be persistent!

Sometimes, you’ll try to reach out to a photographer and not hear anything back. While it might be tempting to give up on this prospect entirely, I encourage you to try again! When it comes to networking, there is nothing to lose! So, if the photographer didn’t get back to you regarding a photoshoot? Kindly touch base again after a few weeks.

Remember: people sometimes get busy. But this doesn’t mean they are not interested!

Pro Tip: Just know when to draw the line. While there’s no harm in following up once or twice with a vendor who hasn’t gotten back to you, sending a million messages will likely put that person off and create a bad impression for you. Furthermore, if they do get back to you and decline your offer, respect their decision. Don’t keep pressing!

Tip #4: Keep in touch!

Let’s say that you’ve participated in a photoshoot that went very well. However, you haven’t heard back from the photographer regarding other projects. Why not add them to your newsletter and share your recent work?

(Not too often – but once a month, or once every two months, is enough!)

A simple newsletter that showcases your latest work is a great way to keep your network active and informed of what you’re doing! After all, you can’t only rely on social media to keep your network thriving. Newsletters are a great add-on for your business. Who knows – they could result in even more work to help strengthen your makeup portfolio further!

Not sure which platform to use for this strategy? Personally, I use MailChimp and I love it!

Tip #5: Make friends!

Reaching out to photographers can also come from word of mouth. You may befriend stylists, hairdressers, or models in the beauty industry who know the person you’re looking to connect with! So, make friends with those around you, always be professional, and never fail to do your best work. Your network could very well give you that foot in the door you’ve been needing! This has happened to me many times – often, without me even needing to ask for it!

Building Your Makeup Portfolio: Final Thoughts

Building your makeup portfolio and connecting with people can look a bit frightening at first. But like all the other steps you will undertake in your career, it’s really only the first step that’s the hardest to take! Once you get going, it’ll become easier and easier, I promise!

Plus, you’ll soon realize that the makeup industry is much bigger than it looks! If a photographer doesn’t get back to you, despite your efforts to connect, don’t beat yourself up. It likely has nothing to do with you. Just see it as a new opportunity to connect with a different photographer. Something amazing will ALWAYS be waiting for you around the corner!

Learn everything you need to know to build a strong makeup portfolio by enrolling in QC Makeup Academy’s Portfolio Development Workshop today!

May 14

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8 Sins You Shouldn’t Commit During Makeup Jobs!

By Charlotte Ravet Career Advice, From the Experts, Your Makeup Career No Comments

Charlotte is the proud owner of her very own hair and makeup business, A Date With Charlotte. From bridal to editorial, to film and television, and everything in-between – Charlotte’s extensive makeup training allows her to provide a wide variety of services that cater to ALL types of clientele!

Her extensive resume includes working for Prada, L’Oreal, and even the cast of the hit show, Glee! A developer of educational programs, Charlotte has even been awarded Best Makeup Educator of the Year by the Australian Industry Makeup Awards.

Planning to book makeup jobs this year? Then you’ll want to AVOID making these 8 critical mistakes!

Etiquette During Makeup Jobs

Experience teaches all. As a professional makeup artist, there’s a certain etiquette you always need to follow. This etiquette will help you ensure that you always provide clients with a safe and professional service. Over the years, I’ve learned quite a few things that I definitely recommend not doing during makeup jobs. Though some of them might seem like little things, I promise you that they make a big difference… and not in a good way!

Whenever you take on makeup jobs with clients, it’s important to remember that how you present yourself is EVERYTHING! The right impression can turn a one-time client into a devoted customer for life. The wrong impression, on the other hand, can result in a negative review that hurts your reputation.

We all have our sins. Sometimes, we don’t realize that these ‘sins’ can bother other people. Thus, it’s important to be mindful and avoid these mistakes during your makeup jobs. This way, you’ll better your chances of getting booked by your clients again in the future.

8 Sins You Shouldn’t Commit During Makeup Jobs

Sin #1: Having pointy nails

In my opinion, this is the number one thing to avoid when doing makeup jobs! Applying makeup with long, pointy nails can be dangerous. For instance, you could harm your client by accidentally poking or scratching their skin.

Often, you’ll be required to use your hands to apply makeup on the face or body. Even if you’re used to wearing long nails, they can be quite inconvenient in this kind of scenario. Wearing long nails can also be unsanitary. After all, there’s a better chance that product build-up and/or bacteria will get stuck underneath your nails.

For this reason, clean, rounded short nails are the recommended shape to wear during makeup jobs.

Sin #2: Improper wardrobe

By this, I specifically mean:

High heels;
Uncomfortable clothing;
And/or colorful clothes.

During most makeup jobs, you’ll be standing on your feet for hours. If you happen to be working on set, you could be on your feet for most of the day. Sometimes, you’ll need to literally run on set. Therefore, wearing comfortable clothes and shoes is a MOST! Ideally, you should be able to move easily. This way, you can be ready whenever you’re called for emergency touch-ups.

Closed-toe shoes and a convenient outfit are what you need to wear at work. Now technically, there’s no ‘mandatory’ uniform for makeup artists. That being said, there’s an industry understanding that makeup artists working in a studio tend to usually wear all black. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, if you’re on set, you can be in the eye line of the actor. Bright colors can distract the eyes, which is the last thing you want to have happened. These days, cameras are so advanced that you could even be caught by the lens if you were standing by in the corner of the room.

Secondly, when working with makeup products, you can quickly get dirty. If your bright, colorful clothes look smudged, they won’t come off as overly professional. Black clothing, however, will naturally mask a lot of the flyaway debris.

Lastly, bright colors can also reflect on the complexion of your clients and mislead you when choosing your colors for makeup jobs.

Sin #3: Wearing full glam makeup

Unless you’re sporting your very own signature style, or your private clients come to get this specific look, I would recommend wearing a clean and fresh application while doing makeup jobs. You never know what your client is looking for. If they don’t want a full glam look, seeing it on you might overwhelm or intimidate them.

Sin #4: Smoking at makeup jobs

Avoid this as MUCH as you can! If you do choose to have a cigarette or puff on your vape during breaks, make sure you have gum and perfume handy. I used to be a heavy smoker, so I know it’s hard!

But now that I’ve stopped, I can actually smell when someone else smokes. I don’t say this to judge, but solely so that you’re aware: to non-smokers, the smell of second-hand smoke is disgusting. Since you’re working up close and personal with your client’s face, that odor can quickly become overwhelming.

As a makeup artist, personal hygiene is extremely important. So, always make sure you smell and look your best!

Sin #5: Being too chatty

Often, we’re the first person that clients or talents are spending time with before their big moment, wedding, live TV show, performance, etc. As such, it’s really important to make the person in your chair feel as relaxed as possible by the time they leave.

Asking too many questions – or questions that are too personal – is not always appropriate. In most cases, you won’t know the personal situation of the person sitting in front of you. Certain questions can quickly put them off, even if you don’t mean for them to. Instead, I recommend letting your client drive the conversation.

Most importantly, if the person DOESN’T want to speak, don’t force it! It’s not meant to be a slight against you. Often, your client’s lack of communication simply means that they might want to relax or focus, prior to a stressful time.

Sin #6: Acting like too much of a fan

The reality is: if your goal is to work as a celebrity makeup artist, then you eventually will meet famous people! But when you work with these stars, you NEED to act with professionalism at all times. Importantly, you have to remember that when they book makeup jobs with you, they want to be treated as a person.

Celebrities are often rushed by fans everywhere they go; getting requests for photos or autographs. This can become quite tiresome for them at times. As such, you should refrain from this same sort of behavior. It’s often seen as inappropriate and unprofessional. Of course, saying to someone that you love his/her work is fine! Just try to avoid the big fan moment during makeup jobs!

Sin #7: Being lazy with makeup sanitization

In my opinion, this is one of the most important sins to avoid committing! Under no circumstance can you skip important, hygienic steps. Cross-contamination, allergies, and negative skin reactions are real risks that we can expose our clients to during makeup jobs.

This is especially a threat if we’re not being careful with sanitizing procedures. Cleaning your brushes and products thoroughly is a must. If your client reacts or catches a virus because you didn’t properly sanitize your makeup items, it can (and likely will) cost you your career!

Sin #8: Being late to makeup jobs

I’ll make this as clear as humanly possible: you CANNOT be late! Full stop. It doesn’t matter if it’s just been 5 minutes – don’t do it. Oftentimes, makeup artists are the ones who get the day started. Our clients have a whole whack of others things they need to do once their appointment is done. Being late can impact the whole schedule of their day.

If you’re working on set, the consequences are even direr. If you’re late, the production might have to pay extra hours to the talent and crew who were there on time… I’ll let you imagine the result of this situation! Needless to say, don’t expect them to call you for any other makeup jobs again!

Working on Makeup Jobs: My Final Thoughts

As for makeup artists, we are very lucky to work in an industry that is both entertaining and – most of the time – relaxed. The downside, though, is that a chilled environment can sometimes lead us to be a bit less cautious if we’re not careful. Even if you are not caught in the act, your clients WILL notice these sins… and probably won’t want to book with you again.

This is why it’s important to maintain the right etiquette for all makeup jobs! Being irreproachable is not always easy, but being professional is accessible to anyone! Start by avoiding these 8 sins during your makeup jobs. Then make sure to always smile, exude positivity, and do the best work you can. So long as you do this, you’ll definitely have a successful career!

Become professionally certified and book makeup jobs in as little as 3-6 months by training with QC Makeup Academy!

Apr 21

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8 Items You DON’T Need in Your Professional Makeup Kit

By Charlotte Ravet Uncategorized One Comment

Building your professional makeup kit? Renowned MUA, Charlotte Ravet, reveals 8 items you can skip completely!

Charlotte is the proud owner of her very own hair and makeup business, A Date With Charlotte. From bridal, to editorial, to film and television, and everything in-between – Charlotte’s extensive makeup training allows her to provide a wide variety of services that cater to ALL types of clientele!

What You Want vs. What You Need

As makeup artists, we’re constantly looking for the right products for our professional makeup kit. When a new product launches, we always want to try it! But after a few years, I realized that many of my investments weren’t actually necessary.

For starters, it was taking me a lot of time to actually organize everything. Not to mention, we have to carry our kits wherever we go. The more products I bought, the less likely I’d be to transport all of these products to every job. However, there was one factor that was even more important: all of these products were costing me a lot of money!

It was time to rethink my strategy. So, I decided to downsize my professional makeup kit.

My Top Tip for Building Your Professional Makeup Kit

Over the years, I’ve followed a ton of makeup accounts and Facebook groups that offer awesome advice for organizing your kit. One such example is The Artist’s Arsenal. If you’re ever looking for tips and tricks, a little internet research never hurts!

Personally, the #1 piece of advice I often give to my students is to build your professional makeup kit according to the type of work you do – not according to what will gain you “Insta fame”. Prepare your kit in advance and tailor it to that specific job you’re about to do. If you want to keep your makeup kit uncluttered and organized, I also recommend focusing solely on the products you absolutely NEED to have.

Yes, this means that there are certain products you can avoid purchasing altogether! What are these products, you might be thinking? Here are 8 that I feel aren’t necessary…

8 Products You DON’T Need in Your Professional Makeup Kit

1 – Too many eyeshadow palettes

Look, I get it: it’s very tempting to buy every new eyeshadow palette that hits the market. After all, eyeshadow is one of the products that appeals to us most. It’s so satisfying to look at color combinations and imagine the makeup looks we can create with them.

But realistically, your professional makeup kit doesn’t need to be swimming with palettes. The fact is, you probably have very similar shades in your kit already. Remember: too many palettes can quickly become heavy and take a bunch of unnecessary space!

Personally, I have 3 large magnetic eyeshadow palettes: one with bright colors one, one with neutrals, and one with metallic colors. In my experience, I’ve found that this is more than enough! If I need colors that are not included in my palettes, I can create them by mixing the colors I do have.

Carrying around fewer eyeshadow palettes makes each job a lot easier and better organized. I also keep my metallics and mattes separate. This way, I can avoid having shimmer in my matte shades (as this can be an issue for film and TV makeup).

2 – Mineral foundations

You will almost never use mineral foundation for professional makeup applications. Yes, it can be a great, fun product for personal, everyday use. But mineral foundation doesn’t offer the right coverage. Moreover, its longevity is often not strong enough for the purpose of professional makeup applications.

3 – Mascaras with a fancy brush

For hygiene reasons, you absolutely CANNOT use any mascara wands directly on the eyes of your client. So, there’s no need to buy expensive mascaras with fancy applicators. When working on clients, you will strictly use disposable applicators or a little fan brush.

4 – Glass bottle packaging

I definitely recommend decanting your liquid foundations and creams into smaller containers. Similarly, you should also depot any powdered products in a similar fashion. The one thing to remember is that you shouldn’t transfer your products into glass containers. They’re clunky and when added up, can become a bit heavy in your kit.

Small, airless, plastic bottles (capable of holding up to 10 mL) are typically the types of packaging most recommended. You can easily find and purchase them online. These small bottles can hold a surprisingly large amount of product. Plus, they’re very convenient and light to carry.

Simply use a label maker to label your products accordingly. This will allow you to easily find them within your professional makeup kit. If you want to decant your lipsticks, your best bet would be to transfer them into clear, plastic palettes.

5 – Tinted moisturizers and cushion foundations

For the same reasons I listed above in #2, you would not use these products in your professional makeup kit.

6 – Blending sponges

Here’s an exception: blending sponges can be a worthwhile investment only so long as you’re buying them in bulk – and at a good price.

That being said, blending sponges come with their own hygiene and safety concerns as well. This is especially the case if you’re using them on clients. Sponges should have a unique usage, so you’ll only be able to use them on one client at a time – and that’s it.

As you can imagine, this can quickly become super expensive! If you’re adamant about using sponges, stick to latex ones. Buy them in bulk and search around for a good bargain. Single use latex sponges are usually the makeup artist’s choice.

7 – Expensive skincare products with active ingredients

A common misconception is that you need to have expensive skincare products as part of your professional makeup kit. I can see why you’d think this way. After all, when applying makeup, skin prep is critical! It’s the key to ensuring a long-lasting application, as well as radiant skin.

Here’s the thing, though… Hydrating oils, serums, and creams should definitely be part of your kit. But you don’t actually need to go further than this. This is because we often apply makeup for one-wear instances. However, most of the active ingredients within high-quality skincare products are not effective unless used continuously.

If your client has skin issues, this is where proper skincare training and a certification will come especially handy! Not only will you be able to take care of their immediate goals; you can also assess their skin and recommend a long-term skincare routine that’ll benefit them well after their appointment!

Pro Tip: Always avoid products that contain perfumes and/or have zero active ingredients. This will help limit the risk of allergies and adverse reactions!

8 – Liquid eyeliner

Generally speaking, this is a product that can be difficult to use on individuals. Liquid eyeliner is also considered unhygienic for professional use. After all, using the same brush on different clients – especially so close to the eyes – is strongly recommended against!

Now, liquid eyeliner can be acceptable for creative applications. For instance, you could use this product on ONE specific client during that one job. I did this for some of my own creative shoots. Personally, I absolutely love the vinyl finish of liquid eyeliner.

However, I’ve also discovered that eyeliner is best applied on clients when using a tiny wheel as the applicator. This will give you a perfect, straight line. Plus, it’s fantastic for photoshoot applications especially!

Building Your Professional Makeup Kit: My Last Piece of Advice

When building your professional makeup kit, here’s one final thing to keep in mind: limit yourself to the essentials for each category. For example, you don’t need a lot of different creams! A lightweight, rich moisturizer is often enough.

The more products you add to your kit, the harder it’ll become to find the products you need during the job. In fact, after a few years, you’ll likely start noticing certain products that you never use at all. Sometimes, you’ll have to throw away barely-touched products because they’ve exceeded their expiry date. This can be pretty frustrating – but it’s also a good learning experience.

As you begin building your makeup kit, remember: your kit will be unique to YOUR business. It might not look like any other MUA’s kit out there, but this is okay! This is what makes us all unique: our technique, the products we use, and our love of the craft!

Did you know that when you enroll in QC’s Master Makeup Artistry Course, we’ll provide you with the core products needed for your professional makeup kit? Learn more here and get started today!

Mar 18

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4 Business Choices That’ll Hurt Your Makeup Artist Salary

By Charlotte Ravet Career Advice, From the Experts No Comments

Building your makeup career? Renowned MUA, Charlotte Ravet, shares 4 business mistakes that you need to avoid!

Starting a new career can be very exciting! But that excitement can also quickly turn into a need of creating income. If you’re not careful, rushed decisions or the fear of missing out, can lead you to make mistakes that can impact your salary as a makeup artist.

Here are some mistakes that you should avoid!

1. Undercut Your Rate

The best way to set your rate is to search online or ask forums and dedicated groups what the recommended rates are for your area. Makeup rates are common discussion topics and any experienced makeup artist will happily answer this question.

You can base your rates depending on your location, your experience, the products you use, and what you include in your service packages. You will need to have a full day rate for studio work such as fashion or film work, as well as a client rate which you will charge per face.

When working for film or in fashion, you should not charge per talent. Instead, you should charge per day as you will often need to stay on set to do touch-ups. Companies and brands might try to negotiate the rates with you, but you should set a limit on how much you’re willing to lower your rate.

If you’re just starting out and work for a small brand, you can set a rate a bit lower than the usual full-day rate in your area, but do not accept a price that is too low. If you under-price yourself, it will be much harder for you to increase your rates afterward to reflect the true value of your work!

Other makeup artists in your area will not appreciate it if you undercut your prices, as it is bad practice for both the competition and industry! By offering cheap prices, you can drive down the overall makeup artist salary in your area.

Remember, your salary expectation will be the same after 30 years. Make sure that you respect the work previously done by experienced artists.

1. Not Considering All Your Costs

Let’s break it down. Your makeup artist rate should cover time, experience, education, products, and all other costs related to your business. Let’s say you spend XXX in marketing each month, plus XXX hours each week on your social media and admin tasks. Then these costs should be reflected in your salary.

Very often, your clients would try to push down your price by arguing that they just “want a simple makeup”. But they may not realize how much effort and investment you have put in to create this simple makeup. At the end of the day, remember that they need YOU and YOUR SKILLS to do it!

A bit of diplomacy and explanation will often help your clients understand your point of view. Don’t be afraid to turn down work if you don’t think the client is a good fit, or if the client is not willing to accept your prices.

Remember, working undercutting your prices not only decreases your salary but also your self-esteem.

3. Being Too Precious With Work Opportunities

If makeup is your job, then you might need to make some choices in order to have a sustainable income. It is important to be realistic about your career and remember that it may take years before your land your dream job. To reach your goal, you may need to do accept other types of work. Let’s take a classic example:

Your dream is to become a fashion makeup artist represented by an agency. To get there, you will need to build your portfolio and will have to do countless unpaid photoshoots to build your network. In order to maintain a stable salary to support yourself whilst working on your more creative projects, you may have to branch out into different areas of makeup artistry.

Being a bridal makeup artist or working for a makeup brand may not be what you want to do, but it can be a good source of income. And you never know! You might find out that you love doing bridal work or find wonderful job opportunities with a cosmetic brand.

Don’t start closing doors. The wonderful thing about being a makeup artist is the fact that there are countless work opportunities once you have the skills!

I personally specialize in makeup education and I love it! I started training for a makeup academy, and since then, have developed a variety of training programs and even help train for brands. Today, I love makeup as much as educating.

4. Being Disorganized

Not keeping track of everything can cost you quite a bit at the end of the year! When you work as a freelance makeup artist, you are responsible for your own salary, expenses, and… taxes!

Make sure that you keep receipts of what you can claim on taxes, invoice your clients on time, and keep track of your payments. You don’t want any bad surprises at the end of the year when you realize you have to pay more taxes than you were expecting. Planning is key when you work as a freelancer.

Remember, do what you love and you will never work a day in your life!

My number one rule of being a makeup artist is to enjoy what you do! From experience, being stressed about the lack of work does not bring in more money. Instead, take a step back, breath, and make sure you don’t burn out. Take the time to improve your skills, work on your portfolio, or network!

But even during your best months, you never know what might come up, so try to keep some savings!

After working in the industry for a while, you will start to get a better idea of what your annual salary will be. There might be months where you’re earning a lot, and there will also be quiet months. It is important that you identify these periods of rest time to avoid stress and financial difficulties.

Did you know that all of QC Makeup Academy’s courses include FREE business training? Start your makeup journey today!

Feb 19

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What NOT to Do in Your Editorial Makeup Portfolio

By Charlotte Ravet From the Experts, Your Makeup Career No Comments

Building your editorial makeup portfolio? Renowned MUA, Charlotte Ravet, reveals 5 mistakes you need to AVOID making!

Building Your Editorial Makeup Portfolio as a Newbie

As an MUA, you will build your makeup portfolio over the years. Now, starting your portfolio from scratch might sound overwhelming at first. But with the right strategies, you’ll quickly build relationships and take part in jobs that’ll provide you with quality photos of your work.

Even as an industry professional, I am constantly building my makeup portfolio. As the standard, I make sure to include important publication work, as well as looks I’m especially proud of. On top of that, I also try to display my most recent work. For me, this means it’s 3 years old or less.

Here’s the problem: if you don’t know what you’re doing, it can be all too easy to put together a BAD makeup portfolio. The key to avoiding this is to not make amateur mistakes. It’s natural to have a few hiccups in the beginning (that’s what learning is all about, after all). But you can bypass a lot of these common errors by following the tips I’m about to discuss.

So, here are a few things I have learned throughout my career that can help you today. In fact, these are all things I wish someone has told ME not to do in my makeup portfolio when I first got started!

Photo by Anniss+Barton Photography.

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Editorial Makeup Portfolio

1. Choosing the Wrong Model

Your best friend might be stunning, but that doesn’t mean she’ll be a great model on camera. One of the most important parts of your makeup portfolio is showcasing the right models. So, you’ll need to choose them wisely!

The quality of editorial work is largely based on the model and how they portray your makeup look. When seeking out models, remember: “photogenic features” does not simply mean the person is pretty. Rather, it also means interesting and unique. Your model should also know how to pose (and have more than one pose in their arsenal).

How to Choose the RIGHT Model

So, how should you go about finding the right models for your makeup portfolio? Start by taking a look at their portfolio of work!

You’ll want to see variety in their photos. Take a close look at their poses and expressions. Keep an eye out for any singularities, too. For example, do they have freckles? Curly hair? A cute gap between their tap? It’s never a bad thing to have a model with discernable features that help them to stand out!

Your model needs to best suit the makeup you will create. If you’re going for something creative, you might be looking for specific features in your model. Good skin is also really important, since blending needs to be flawless (and with a light coverage) for editorial work.

Photo by Anniss+Barton Photography.

2. You Only Showcase ‘Creative’ Looks

Creative makeup is very popular amongst MUAs. After all, it’s one of the best ways we can express ourselves. You might love using bright colors, glitters, and textures. (I do, too!) However, your makeup portfolio shouldn’t only demonstrate creative looks.

If it does, you might put off potential clients. It could also give the wrong impression: that this type of makeup is all you can do. Clients will seek out makeup artists who can bring their visions to life. If you only show one specific style and it doesn’t align with theirs, you’ve just missed out on a booking opportunity.

How to Showcase Variety

Your makeup portfolio should display a variety of different looks and styles. For example, the most requested look tends to be the “no makeup” look. If you do editorial makeup, chances are good that you’ll work for fashion labels and skincare brands. Look at the advertisements to get a proper idea of what’ll be expected from you.

You’ll notice that very often, the model’s makeup is quite natural. Even if it’s not what excites you the most, this is the type of makeup which can give you regular, paid work. This is just one example, of course. But it illustrates the importance of showcasing different sides of your makeup skills in your professional portfolio.

If you want to broaden your range and master many different types of makeup, professional training is the best recommendation I can give you. So, get certified and learn the skills needed to create ANY type of editorial look!

Photo by Anniss+Barton Photography.

3. You Don’t Understand the Story

An editorial series is often created around a story. The story is the actual mood; the link between the looks you’ll create. For example, an editorial series could be ‘80’s makeup with a modern twist’ or ‘colorful summer outwear’. If you don’t understand the story behind the series, your makeup won’t reflect the message your client is trying to get across.

It’s very important to clearly identify the expectation of your client and/or the photographer. Your makeup might not be the focal point of the image. Plus, the makeup will also need to work with the hairstyle, the lighting, the clothes, and the model themselves. If the looks needs to be more natural in order to create a beautiful image, that’s just the way it is!

I’ve often worked for hairdressers, creating a collection for awards. Very often, the hair is creative and colorful. While the makeup can be slightly creative, too, the focus is meant to be the model’s hair. As such, it would be a mistake to create overly avant-garde makeup for this type of shoot.

How to Understand the Story

Communicate with the client and/or the photographer! If the story behind the shoot is unclear to you, don’t be afraid to ask questions. It’s better to admit you need some guidance than it is to stay silent and produce the wrong results. The latter will just waste everyone’s time and give off a bad impression on your part.

Photo by Anniss+Barton Photography.

4. Your Editorial Makeup Portfolio Lacks Editorial Looks

It’s sometimes hard to explain what editorial makeup is. After all, you can find a lot of different styles which will work well when photographed. There’s no “one-size-fits-all” definition.

Still, the whole purpose of your editorial makeup portfolio is to display, well, editorial makeup. You’ll need to showcase at least some of the standard techniques/elements within your work. And it shouldn’t just be one technique used on a bunch of different models either. There are tons of different techniques you can demonstrate, so take advantage of that!

How to Create an Editorial Makeup Style

Here are a few tips for creating an editorial look in your makeup portfolio that’s suitable for magazines:

Keep the skin natural! Use color correction, skincare, and cream contour for the most natural result. Avoid thick foundation and apply powder very lightly.
Be careful with concealers! It’s easier for a photographer to edit a small breakout with no makeup than trying to correct layers of concealer. If your model has a small breakout, you can leave it with no makeup on.
The foundation color matches both the face and body perfectly! You’ll notice that very often, the skin on the body is slightly more yellow than the face. If you create a pink complexion on the face, but then your model rests her face on her shoulder, the difference WILL be noticeable.
Be careful with the eyebrows! Filling up all of the model’s eyebrows with product is not going to work for editorial makeup. Instead, focus on creating natural eyebrows by using feathering movements with an angle brush. You can also conceal the eyebrows using a bit of concealer and a mascara wand.
Play with texture! Shimmer products are not the only way to create highlights. A lip balm applied on the cheekbones will create a beautiful glass skin effect.

5. You’re Not Prepared

Beautiful images for an editorial makeup portfolio require work and preparation. Before applying makeup on your model, you should have a clear idea of what the lighting is, what the editing will look like, and what the final images should (ideally) look like. I have also learned that reaching out to photographers with some ideas is a great way to build a relationship and begin a collaboration.

How to Go Into a Job Prepared

Instead of simply sending a link to your website and asking for a meeting, share the moodboards you’ve created with the photographers you want to work with! Great photographers are often busy. If you want to get their attention, show them that you’re also a trustworthy professional who has ideas!

Then, once you’ve discussed and finalized a moodboard, you can plan your looks ahead of time, in preparation for the shoot. That way, when the time comes, you’ll be fully prepared and ready to do your best work!

My Final Advice for Your Editorial Makeup Portfolio

When working on photoshoots and building up your portfolio, remember to always be yourself! Be unique and love what you do. Exposing yourself artistically is also exposing yourself to criticism – and that’s fine! You can’t please everyone and this is okay. Always reach for the best you can do, be organized and professional, and enjoy every minute of the creative process.

Ultimately, this will be your key to a strong makeup portfolio – and your career’s success!

QC Makeup Academy’s Portfolio Development Workshop will teach you everything you need to know about building your makeup portfolio. Take your career to the next level by enrolling today!

Jan 20

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7 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Starting a Career in Makeup Artistry

By Charlotte Ravet Career Advice, From the Experts No Comments

Thinking of pursuing a career in makeup artistry? Professional MUA, Charlotte Ravet, is here to reveal 8 critical things she wishes she had known before launching her own career!

Before starting my makeup training, I remember how excited I was. I imagined nothing more than a world of glitters, colors, and travel; doing makeup for TV shows and celebrities. Now that I’m well-established within the industry, I’m here to tell you the truth…

A career in makeup artistry looks a lot like what I just described, yes. But it also takes time, trials, mistakes, and a TON of hard work.

As a makeup artist, I’ve changed in many ways over the years. I have been fortunate enough to meet some amazing MUAs who’ve shared with me their best advice and tips. If I could go back and speak to my younger self, I would definitely have some key advice to share.

Since I can’t do that, I figured I could do one better and share this advice with YOU! 💕

Your Career in Makeup Artistry: What Being a “Freelancer” Really Means

To start, working as a freelance makeup artist doesn’t simply mean that you are own boss, can set your own schedule, and do whatever you want. On the contrary, it actually means that you’re operating a very real business. This means that on top of doing your clients’ makeup, you’ll have a bunch of other responsibilities to take care of, too.

Marketing, invoicing, and other admins tasks are just as important as doing the makeup itself. You will need existing and potential clients alike to be able to find your business. So, good organization skills are critical! After all, you’ll need to be able to keep track of your payments and accountability, as well as do your taxes correctly and on time.

Of course, you can delegate and pay other people to do it for you. But in the beginning, your business will likely be a one person operation, so this is a legitimate budget to consider when crunching the numbers!

Software That Can Make Your Life Easier

These days, there are all sorts of free online software (or available for a small subscription fee) at your fingertips. This type of software can really help you keep track of all your administrative tasks. Plus, they can also help your marketing so your business can look more professional.

Zoho: An online software which can be used for free under a certain number of clients. Zoho allows you to keep all your accountability in one convenient place; from invoicing, to record expenses with receipts, to creating reports, etc. I have tried a few business software apps and this was my favorite for invoicing. Plus, it’s one of the cheapest options!
Canva: An amazing resource for creating all of your marketing material. From Instagram posts, to flyers and presentations – Canva has been a life-changer for me! It’s very easy to use, too. Simply upload your images and create professional-looking designs.
Wix: A very popular site builder to help you create your very own business website. Since Wix offers pre-designed templates, it’s extremely user-friendly!

7 Things to Know Before Starting Your Career in Makeup Artistry

Let’s count down my Top 7 things to know before you launch your exciting career! These are all things I personally wish I’d known myself, and have learned through years of experience.

7. Prioritize paying jobs.

Even if makeup is your passion, keep in mind that it’s also what pays the rent! I still do unpaid collaborations and editorials with photographers, but I secure my paid work first.

Admittedly, when first starting your career in makeup artistry, it can sometimes feel hard to prioritize what you ‘should’ be doing. After all, you need visibility and images to build a makeup portfolio and get paid work. In the beginning, paid work might not yet be an option.

In this case, that’s totally okay! Photoshoot collaborations are a great way to build your network, gain hands-on experience, and build your portfolio – even if it’s being done for free. But once paying clients start coming to you, they should take priority.

Exceptions to the Rule

Sometimes, however, you have to trust your gut. You might have a paying client booked, only to be offered a proposal for unpaid work that could actually prove to be more beneficial to your career. In a situation such as this, I would strongly advise that you first look at the work of the people wishing to collaborate with you. See if it fits your needs and artistic direction.

For example, let’s say that a big-name photographer asks you for unpaid editorial work. They want to schedule it on the same day that a client is asking you for one makeup look only. In the long run, the unpaid editorial work might actually get you more paying jobs in the future, thanks to wider exposure this job will most likely give you.

On the other hand, if you have a collaboration project planned with someone you work with regularly, and you’ve been offered a full-paid job on the same day, photographers usually understand that you need to take the paid job. Just be careful, give plenty of notice if you decide to take the job, and always find a replacement. Be professional!

6. Competition is hard.

This is just the honest truth. The makeup industry is extremely competitive, and the only thing that can save you is a strong work ethic. The pressure to find work as a freelancer can be challenging. Sometimes, you’ll have to face some difficult moments and be met with disappointment.

We all have days where we feel a bit flat and want to take a break. But this is proper to any creative industry. Doing work with your heart and soul takes a lot – but when you do something you love, NO day really feels like ‘work’ anymore.

Want some tips so you can stand out from the competition? Keep reading here!

5. Elevate your career in makeup artistry by finding your niche.

When I started my career in makeup artistry, I dreamed of working in fashion. I did wind up doing that for a bit, but it was mainly TV gigs that gave me well-paid work. So after that, I started working on creative projects. Now I specialize in education and creative makeup!

Finding your own niche will take time, and this is okay. You’ll need to explore different opportunities and figure out what you really love to do. It doesn’t mean that you need to do one type of work only. Rather, it means that you will probably prioritize one type of work over another.

Very often, your niche will help you build your clientele. People will naturally contact you more to do one specific type of work if you prove to be really good at it. The fabulous thing about your career in makeup artistry is that you’ll continuously explore diverse opportunities and create different types of looks!

4. Look after your health.

Standing on your feet all day for long hours, carrying your makeup kit, using your hands… This can all take a negative toll on our bodies over time. In turn, this can also bring down our mental health if we’re not careful!

To have a professional career in makeup artistry, you’ll need to be in good physical health. Be careful with manual handling and your body posture. It’s pretty common for makeup artists to have back and hand issues after a few years. So, adopting the right habits from the start is essential.

Just as importantly, don’t forget to take time for yourself! As much as possible, try to leave work at the proverbial door once your day is done. Allot time in your schedule to decompress, relax, and clear your brain of any stressors. This alone will have a BIG impact on your well-being!

3. Look after your network.

Even if you haven’t worked with someone in a while, remind them of you and your business! Send your updated portfolio in a newsletter to your clients and past vendors, using services like Mailchimp. Don’t hesitate to give a follow-up call either.

Do you have a potential new project you’d like to collaborate with someone on? Ask them to have a coffee with you! You can outline your idea and together, you can decide if this is a project you’d both like to take part in.

Simply put, make sure people don’t forget about you. This way, when an opportunity arises, you’ll be fresh in peoples’ minds. This will increase your chances of being the one they contact for the job!

2. Don’t give up.

It might take more time than originally anticipated to get your first well-paid job. But if you keep doing the right things, work will come to you. Things are not always totally within our control – last year proved that better than anything! 2020 was nothing short of a challenging year for many creative industries.

There will be times where you might have less work. Other times, you’ll suddenly feel like you’re swimming in client bookings. The key is to keep pushing forward through both the highs and the lows. Personally, I have seen plenty of people whose career in makeup artistry just couldn’t seem to take off – and now they’re working for high fashion runways!

Just be patient, and be kind to yourself. The best things take time.

1. Take time off.

In my experience, this is the most important piece of advice I can offer you. Should you choose a career in makeup artistry as a freelancer, the fear of not getting work can be stressful. As a result, you might begin to overcompensate without even realizing it. Between marketing, working on your social media channels, taking part in photoshoots, and trying to build your clientele, you can very quickly forget about making time for yourself.

Fall into this trap and you’ll burn out before you know it.

It’s essential to have at least one day off per week. On this given day, you do NOT work at all! Use it to properly take time for yourself. Over-stressing about getting more work is not going to bring you more work if you’re spread too thin. Having a clear state of mind is what will bring you the right answers.

The makeup and beauty industry is evolving every day. When I first started my career in makeup artistry, things were very different. I have learned how to manage my stress and take things one day and a time. Through experience, I’ve also discovered that at the end, everything will be okay.

As artists, we are lucky to be able to choose a career we are truly passionate about. Even if you face some difficult times here and there, you’ll one day look back on your successful career and know that you every moment – good or bad – was all worth it. Personally, I wouldn’t have done anything differently!

Start your career in makeup artistry with a professional certification to add to your resume! Click here to learn all about QC Makeup Academy’s wide variety of online courses!

Dec 03

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How I’ve Found Makeup Jobs During a Global Pandemic

By Charlotte Ravet Career Advice, From the Experts No Comments

Trying to find alternate ways to books makeup jobs during COVID-19? Professional MUA, Charlotte Ravet, is here to tell you how she’s been finding clients during the pandemic!

Before COVID-19, I could not have imagined a day where I wouldn’t be able to do my actual job. I think we can all agree that the beauty and makeup industry have definitely been impacted. From here on out, whenever we think about the way the beauty industry exists, there will be a “before” and “after” COVID.

I have personally lived this pandemic in two different countries: France and Australia. Both have been impacted at different levels. But all over the world, beauty professionals have all been in the same boat about one very important thing: once we understood the true extent of the pandemic, we very quickly realized that working as a makeup artist would have to be done differently.

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Maximizing Social Media to Find Makeup Jobs

For the first time, even I have created makeup on myself and posted images on my social media. You see, I love doing makeup on models, but I always get a bit annoyed doing my own makeup! So, it was a new move for me. But during the lockdown, it was the only way to keep up with my creativity. I’ve also used this time to create a new website and think about my next projects.

Many makeup artists have created a strong online presence. It’s true that nowadays, it’s considered harder to get noticed as a beginner. Still, many artists have seen their followers increasing during the pandemic, due to an increase in traffic across most online platforms. For some, this has led to an opportunity to collaborate with brands.

Additionally, I’ve also participated in doing live streaming and makeup tutorials for the brand’s social media. We have quickly realized that social media was the most effective way to continue being active and expressing ourselves.

I was working as an international trainer before I quit my job to return to Australia. When the pandemic hit, I continued my services by offering my training online, rather than doing it physically. This adjustment allowed me to work from home and continue earning an income during an uncertain time.

One perk about having so much free time these days is that there are ample ways to use it productively!

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The New Normal for Makeup Jobs: Virtual Services

A new service I’m also now offering for my clients is online consultations. Despite not being able to leave the house, many women are still interested in learning how to do their own makeup. A lot of people are using platforms like Zoom or Google Meet for business and personal video calls. When everyone has to be face-to-face with their own reflection so many times in a day, it’s only natural that they might want to look their best – even if they’re not actually leaving the house.

The amazing thing about online consultations is the fact that I can help clients from literally anywhere. Without any physical limitations, the doors automatically open to a LOT more potential makeup jobs. Throughout 2020, for example, I’ve worked with clients from Europe, the United States, and Australia. I have helped women learn how to create their own makeup.

As part of this virtual service, I simply offer them a way to connect with me for a special hour, using a digital platform. Together, we go through all of the steps involved in creating a day and/or evening makeup look. They follow my guidance, using their own makeup products. On my end, I have my own makeup kit ready, too. This way, I can demonstrate some of the application tips on myself, if needed.

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Assisting the Stars

A friend of mine also taught TV presenters how to create their own makeup through online consultations. Most TV channels still have presenters – the only difference is that now these people are recording the news from home or in the studio, as opposed to together on set.

As a result of the lockdown, television hosts, journalists, and celebrities everywhere have had to create their own makeup… and quickly realized that TV makeup is not the same as an everyday makeup look. It actually requires a lot of professional training, techniques, and skill!

(Can we all take a moment to bask in this a little? While there’s nothing positive about COVID-19, it is kind of nice that more and more people are understanding just how much hard work and effort goes into what we do for a living!)

Becoming a Beauty Writer

Another option for possible makeup jobs is to start your own blog, or even write beauty content for other businesses. This year, I’ve started write training programs for brands and academies, and I have decided to look into writing for magazines as well.

I first create illustrations (another passion of mine). Then I write step-by-step guidelines on how to use and apply the products being discussed. I have created face charts and illustrated makeup looks. I’ve even designed new and upcoming collections for different brands. Turns out, I actually really enjoy this new way of working. It’s a cool way to be able to express myself in the makeup industry!

Another way I’m able to get writing jobs is to do translation for beauty brands, from French to English. When it comes to translating beauty tips, knowing the language is one thing. But it is also important to truly understand the subject. A translation is never literal. Sometimes, words need to be changed or put in a different way in order to have the right meaning.

I can definitely say that, for me, the biggest lesson of 2020 is this: as makeup artists, we can always diversify ourselves to be able to work in the industry – regardless of the circumstances!

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Reshaping the Way We Find Makeup Jobs

Over the years, I have worked in many different industries: bridal, TV, fashion, education, etc. However, this pandemic has given me the opportunity to consider my work from a different angle.

How can we work as makeup artists if we cannot work directly with people? The answer is simple: if everyone goes online, we can go online, too!

I’ll admit, finding work as a makeup artist has never been an issue for me, even during the pandemic. It has been stressful, for sure. But once I thought about ALL of the skills I have, other types of makeup jobs and work opportunities became clearer to me.

For areas where I struggled a bit, I also used my newfound time in order to get better. For example, marketing my services is often the part where I run into difficulties. So, I have devoted the time to better understanding marketing. This has allowed me to take a step back and formulate different, potentially stronger marketing strategies for my career.

I have also enjoyed this time to watch makeup artist masterclasses and learn new tips and tricks. Building on your skills is always a smart idea. To build off of that, my next project is now to learn photography, too. This way, I can build my online presence more and take my own images of my work.

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Final Thoughts

Where I’m based, cases of COVID-19 have decreased dramatically, so work is pretty much going back to normal. We can provide makeup services with high standards of hygiene. All of the weddings and private events that were postponed to 2021 are now being booked, and production work is starting to pick back up again.

2020 has been a year to learn and grow – not just personally, but professionally as well. I have learned that there are many ways to work as a makeup artist, even during a global pandemic. As artists, creativity is second nature to us. So, creating new opportunities for makeup jobs is also a part of what we do.

Personally, I reflect upon this past year and see it as an evolution of my work. Going forward, I think I’ll be able to provide even better services to my clients, thanks to all of the skills I acquired and discovered during the pandemic.

Having a professional certification is a guaranteed way to land more makeup jobs. Enroll with QC Makeup Academy today and get certified in as little as 3-6 months!

Nov 05

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5 Mistakes That’ll Decrease Your Makeup Artist Salary

By Charlotte Ravet From the Experts, Your Makeup Career No Comments

Want to know 5 common mistakes that can decrease your makeup artist’s salary? Professional MUA, Charlotte Ravet, is here to tell you!

Do makeup artists make good money?

Understandably, this is one of the first questions that might come to mind when thinking about undertaking makeup training. Without ample research, pinning down the makeup artist’s salary can be a bit tricky. The good news is, it’s absolutely possible to earn a sustainable income with makeup as your primary career!

Admittedly, when I first started studying makeup, I was a bit worried about the money I could earn. Living in capital cities is very expensive, and with the cost of products and education, I was conscious that I needed to make good money quickly.

However, within two years, I was earning more than my friends who had a Master’s degree!

Let’s be realistic: earning proper money exclusively as a freelance MUA can take a bit of time. After all, you’ll need to build your network first and gain hands-on experience. But there are plenty of work opportunities which shouldn’t be ignored!

Doing a part-time job for a brand while building your freelancing business is an excellent option. Weddings and photoshoots are definitely well-paid, too. But to avoid decreasing your makeup artist salary, there are a few mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

Let’s take a look at 5 of them!

5 Mistakes That Can Decrease Your Makeup Artist Salary

Time is Money!

This definitely applies when it comes to makeup. If you are charging your client per face, imagine the difference you could earn by doing makeup on three clients instead of just one!

It’s okay to take your time when you just start. In fact, it’s recommended that you never rush. This way, you can provide the best service possible. But after a few years, you should be able to work faster and deliver the same high-quality results in a shorter timeframe.

The best way to achieve this? Remember to stay focused! Put a routine in place that will help you strengthen your time-management skills. Before you know it, you’ll increase your number of clients – which means a better makeup artist salary overall!

Over-Pricing or Under-Pricing

Establishing your rates can be a challenge at first. If you charge too much, you might lose some bookings. But if you don’t charge enough, you won’t get the money back on your investment (i.e. your products and time).

So, how should you set your prices? The answer is to charge what you are worth!

Doing a bit of research in your area is probably a good idea. Depending on your location and experience, the prices might vary. Don’t be afraid to ask others with more experience for the advice! There are plenty of Facebook groups where you can ask for advice on how to set up your pricing. (QC Makeup Academy’s Virtual Classroom is an excellent example!)

In the long run, it’s better to be a bit patient and get the bookings you deserve. Starting on the lower end and working your way up can prove to be a great strategy. However, setting your prices on the higher side is also not a bad thing – so long as your work is worth the price!

Personally, I’ve noticed that my regular and most easygoing clients are often the ones who are not discussing prices. The right clients will understand the cost and value of a professional makeup service.

Neglecting the Importance of Proper Training

Before you go investing money into marketing your makeup services, you should first make sure you’re providing a service that lives up to the standards you are promoting.

But they’ll only benefit your makeup artist’s salary in the grand scheme of things!

If you’re just starting out in this industry, the best advice I can give would be to keep training and practicing your craft, obtain a professional certification, and then invest in marketing and business education on top of that. Yes, you’ll need to put money into these endeavors.

So, invest in makeup training to boost your skill-set to the highest level. The right courses will ensure to provide you with ample business training as well. For example, QC Makeup Academy’s courses come with an optional Business Unit that I strongly recommend taking advantage of.

Remember: while word-of-mouth is an excellent way to get booked (at no cost to you), you’ll need to be great at what you do in order for others to start recommending you. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: the single most effective way to become a true expert is by getting professional training!

Not Investing in Your Makeup Kit

Your makeup kit and the products you use are the first things your clients will be looking at. You could be absolutely brilliant as a makeup artist – but providing services with only drugstore makeup products will drastically decrease your makeup artist salary.

While there are definitely budget-friendly items you can afford to save money on, there are also products you should be willing to invest a little more into. Makeup can be expensive, but there are reasons behind the costs!

The quality of the pigments, the ingredients, and their longevity are all things you should take into consideration when building your makeup kit. If you want to charge more for your services and boost your makeup artist’s salary, you will need to justify your prices to your clients.

Providing great service is definitely one way to do this – but this includes investing in your kit and working with professional, high-end cosmetics brands.

Only Working In Your Business, and Not On Your Business

All of this will help you better determine your service fee to clients, and add to your makeup artist salary in the long run!

Focusing one to two days per week towards this behind-the-scenes stuff is realistic. As much as we love providing makeup services, you can’t have a successful career based on this alone. Building your profile, creating a newsletter, maintaining a social media presence, and keeping records of your accounts and taxes are also things you need to factor into your business.

If your goal is to have your own business, then you’ll be required to spend time doing some administrative work. After all, it takes strategy and hard work to get noticed. From there, business smarts and marketing knowledge are also needed to keep you in contact with current clients, while also introducing your services to potential future clients.

What does that mean? Well, as all makeup artists will tell you, applying makeup is only part of the job. You’ll also need to market yourself to current and future clients, stay on top of invoicing, and constantly prepare and maintain your products.

Food for Thought: Increase Your Makeup Artist Salary By Diversifying Yourself!

With the skills you possess as a makeup artist, there are a thousand jobs you can do. Even if you dream about a career in editorial makeup, don’t ignore the opportunity to earn some money at the start of your career in other areas as well. For instance, weddings are a very lucrative industry that will give you the possibility to choose when you want to work or not.

Weddings can also be very creative. You will quickly realize that you can expand your network significantly with the clients you meet on the job. One happy bride can spread the word and share your details with lots of her friends! The need for bridal MUAs is huge, and always will be!

I have been extremely lucky in my career. In the 15 years that I’ve been doing makeup professionally, I’ve never found myself out of work. I have always made good money. I’ve worked for various industries – from fashion and TV, to education.

What’s fantastic about doing makeup is the fact that when one job is over, another opportunity always comes along! Every day is different. I remember when I chose this career, some of my friends and family were worried that I might not earn a good makeup artist salary. But they soon realized that I was actually making a decent income doing my dream job.

With the right attitude and work ethic, know that you can, too!

Boost your makeup artist salary by becoming professionally trained and certified! Click here to discover the wide variety of courses offered at QC Makeup Academy!

Oct 29

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Makeup Training: Contouring and Color Correction for Darker Skin Tones

By Charlotte Ravet From the Experts, Makeup Tips and Tricks, Your Makeup Career No Comments

Australian MUA, Charlotte Ravet, is the proud owner of her very own hair and makeup business, A Date With Charlotte. From bridal, to editorial, to film and television, and everything in-between – Charlotte’s extensive makeup training allows her to provide a wide variety of services that cater to ALL types of clientele!

Today, she reveals her top tips and tricks for contouring and color correcting darker skin tones!

The most important skill all makeup artists should master is the ability to create the perfect complexion for ALL skin tones. When it comes to color matching and/or correcting, proper makeup is crucial. This is the single greatest way to understand color theory. Knowing color theory will help you to create colors and custom foundations for all of your clients.

Let’s start with a quick recap on color theory and color correction…

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One of my favourite from @morganrichards__ @toniandguymcmahonspt collection. 📸 @annissbarton Makeup by me:)

A post shared by Charlotte Ravet (@charlotteravetmakeup) on Jul 24, 2018 at 7:11pm PDT

Makeup Training: The Basics of Color Theory

The primary colors are blue, yellow, and red. When you mix these colors together in different combinations, you can create all of the other colors on the color wheel!

Here’s an excellent exercise to train your eye to identify colors and undertones: swatch a bit of foundation on a piece of paper and then use proper paint to recreate that exact same color. For example: start by mixing red and yellow together. Afterwards, add a bit of blue and white for the lightness. Adjust your color until you obtain the perfect shade.

When I did my makeup training, we created makeup for two whole months using nothing but primary colors and white mixed together. This has definitely opened my eyes to the potential of all colors and their diversity!

Makeup Training: Cool vs. Warm Undertones

The undertone of your client’s skin will play a major role in how you should apply makeup on them – and which products to employ!

For those new to their makeup training, here are the basics:

Cool undertones can be identified as pink undertones;
Skin with warm undertones, on the other hand, will tend to look more yellow;
Skin with an olive undertone might look a bit more green;
A neutral skin tone is when the skin doesn’t have any predominant color (neither pink nor yellow).

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My favourite image of 2019 and which has been shared the most. Thanks for the love! Happy new year! @flavialazarus_ @annissbarton . . . . #editorialphotography #editorialmakeup #print #magazine #makeupartist #illustration #blackgirlmagic #model #create #love #creativity #work #lovemyjob

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When it comes to deeper skin tones, the same rules apply. For instance, Middle Eastern and Indian skin tones will often have an olive undertone.

Warm and neutral skin tones can be easily observed in deeper skin tones: for example, Beyoncé has a warm skin tone. As such, she will perfectly suit all golden and bronze tones. On the other hand, Halle Berry has a skin tone that’s more neutral. Their skin intensity is pretty similar.

African skin tones can present red and blue undertones, which are identified as ‘cool’ undertones.

The Colors I Recommend for Deeper Skin Tones

Middle Eastern and/or Indian Skin Tones

Here’s one of my best-kept secrets: for these types of skin tones, I tend to mix a pure orange to my existing foundation.

I often find that foundations containing too much pink wind up turning gray on these skin tones. Alternately, too much yellow increases the olive tone and can make the client look sallow. By mixing a bright pure orange to the foundation, I manage to adjust the shade and brighten complexion. I also recommend using tones of warm bronze or gold to create highlights, as well as an ashy shade for the contour.

Warm or Neutral Skin Tones

These skin tones are rather easy to work with, but I often observe that the chest of my model can be slightly lighter than the face. Remember to always check the chest of your client in order to perfectly color match!

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A few years ago... shot by the talented @jarredstedman Love the colours of this image. . . . . ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ . . . . . #art #fashionshoot #photo #portrait #vintage #streetstyle #editorial #fashioneditor #fashionblogger #editorialstyle #editorialstyling #picoftheday #editorialphoto #photooftheday #beauty #makeup #editorialphotoshoot #editorialmagazine #photography #creative fashion #model #instagood #photographer

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Depending on the undertone, I highlight using gold for warm undertones, or with a deep champagne/peachy shade for neutral skin tones. Contour can be done with a middle brown shade that has a blue undertone. A peach will help to remove pigmentation and dark circles.

Red/Blue Skin Undertones

As I mentioned earlier, red and blue are considered to be cool undertones. As part of your makeup training, this is really important when it comes to color combinations, correction, and contour! You will notice that deep blue, purple, and bright pink hues look wonderful on these skin tones.

There’s a common misconception that deeper skin tones are ‘warm’. As such, many will mistakenly use gold highlights. Yes, a gold highlight is going to catch and reflect the light – but it’s not going to best enhance the features of skin tones with blue and/or red undertones.

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My favorite from this editorial:) ・・・ VELVET NOIR - featured on the latest issue of @ellementsmagazine - #makeup @CharlotteRavetMakeUp #Style Eloise - designer @dontdopretty #Model @rjdradi @duval.agency #photo @annissbarton #retouch @cristalprod / #finishing @annissbarton #makeupartistsworldwide #fiercesociety, #wakeupandmakeup #liptrends #makeupaholic #beautyinspiration #butteryskin #blendwithtrend #temptu #nothingisordinary #postitforaesthetic #amazingmakeupart #thebabeface #lunarimakeup #muastars #muaawsome #bestmua #sigmabeauty #topthatpose #sigmapro #parismakeupartist #makeupinsider #instamakeup #instamua

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I would recommend a cool bronze. You can also play around with the complementary pigments mentioned above for a creative effect. I sometimes use pure yellow to create stronger highlights. For the contouring, I recommend a deep, blue-based brown, as this will create a natural shadow on the skin.

These skin tones often have pigmentation around the eyes and lips. I use a pure orange to conceal these unwanted undertones. You will also notice that the middle of the cheeks and the forehead are often slightly lighter. Use these areas as natural highlights – and do NOT use thick coverage if your model has good skin!

Last But Not Least: Powders

In theory, a loose translucent powder should be suitable to set makeup on every skin tone. But in reality, you would have to select one with a very thin texture, and apply with an incredibly light hand, in order to avoid creating ashy tones on deep skin tones.

Applying powder is always the moment we fear that our makeup will change color. If you aren’t using the correct product, it can ruin all your hard work. For a light application, I sometimes use a bright, loose pink powder. This helps to soften a blue undertone – although most of the time, I like to enhance it.

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When I started my makeup training 15 years ago, we barely learned about global skin tones. I had to do a lot of research and teach myself how all skin tones actually work. I was working for one of the most important African TV channels in Paris, and I discovered a lot during those few months. The TV host shared with me their favorite makeup tips, and it was definitely a great experience!

It’s important to regularly update your makeup training. As professional artists, it’s our duty to be able to work in all skin tones, all ages, and all genders. Mastering the art of making the most of everyone’s natural beauty is our everyday challenge!