Sarah Seguin

When a large part of your career involves touching someone else’s face, something like the novel coronavirus COVID-19 can appear disastrous to your livelihood. Here’s the thing: while it’s true that you should be keeping your distance from others right now, it does NOT mean that you can’t provide any services.

In fact, there are still plenty of beneficial services you can offer your clients! Your makeup career doesn’t have to suffer. Sure, you can’t necessarily do actual makeup on your clients’ faces. But you still have a lot of options that don’t involve coming into close, physical contact.

So what sort of options are currently available to you? How can you work remotely as a makeup artist and still make a liveable income? Keep reading to find out!

Option #1: Offer Consulting Services

This is a really great opportunity for you to build upon the services offered by your makeup business. For starters, adding additional services that go beyond makeup opens you up to an even larger clientele. It can also be used to increase your service rates and overall income!

How to Offer Consulting Services

There’s also a lot of wiggle room for what this can look like. You technically could provide consultation services in-person, though it’s not recommended at the current time.

Take into account where you live, how bad the coronavirus situation is in your area, etc. If things are still relatively safe, both parties have no symptoms, and the proper precautions are taken by you and your client, you might be able to get away with meeting in-person.

That being said, a safer alternative for now could be to offer virtual consultations. Skype, Uber Conference, Google Hangouts Meet are all examples of platforms you can use to hold online appointments with clients.

This way, you can provide the exact same service you would in-person – but from the comfort and safety of your own home.

Different Consulting Services to Consider

In terms of the types of consultation services you can provide, there is a lot of flexibility here as well. While you shouldn’t be applying makeup to your client’s face right now, you can still use your expertise to help guide her through doing the process herself.

Or maybe you can offer consulting services to help your client choose the type of makeup to buy. You can also offer skincare consulting, hair styling consulting, and even fashion consulting (just to name a few other possibilities).

Basically, if there’s a relative service you can provide clients, that can be done without having to physically touch them, go for it! The sky’s the limit if you’re willing to get creative!

Option #2: Teach Makeup Lessons

To build off of what we mentioned above, another service you can provide is to actually teach others about makeup artistry. This can be as in-depth as you want it to be!

For example, maybe you want to refer to your certified education, training, and experience to teach clients makeup theory, applications, and techniques. Alternately, perhaps clients would come to you with a given look, and you’d help teach them how to execute that specific look on themselves.

Depending on how complex you want your makeup lesson services to be, you can consider putting together some sort of outline, curriculum, and/or written text. Something tangible that can be provided to your clients before, during, or after the lesson(s). It could be as simple as a one-page document that summarizes what they learned during their lesson!

However, we need to clarify: in all likelihood, the lessons you’d be teaching wouldn’t be the same as what your client would learn from an accredited makeup school. You also wouldn’t be able to provide them with any sort of licensing or certification upon completion. So just make sure that your clients know this. This way, they don’t have any misinformation or unrealistic expectations.

Rather, makeup lessons (as taught by independent MUAs) are more often a fun, more laid-back learning experience offered to the client. They can help the client pick up some tricks of the trade, as well as tips for building upon their beginner skill level.

Option #3: Start Your Own Beauty Blog/Vlog

If you have a bit of extra time on your hands these days, what better way to take advantage of it than by starting your very own blog/vlog? You can choose to keep it strictly written, or film videos of yourself on a channel like YouTube. Maybe you want to do both!

Running your own beauty blog/vlog gives you the chance to get your name out there on a more global scale. While a large part of your audience may never turn into actual clients, it can still play a direct role in growing your clientele. The bigger your fan base and notability, the more likely that clients will hear of you and actively want to work with you. The same goes for other professionals within the industry!

That being said, creating a beauty blog/vlog can require a lot of time and effort, namely if you want to do it well. If you have any hopes of it potentially gaining traction and bringing in a large audience, it can’t be thrown together hastily. If you want to make this a part of your makeup career, be prepared to take it seriously.

Put in the hard work! If you haven’t already done this, establish your brand. If you wish to be known for a particular niche, put in the leg work to figure out what this is and how you aim to achieve it. Create and publish quality content on a regular basis, and always try to stay current. (This will help you be relatable to your audience.)

Find ways to tie it in and promote it with your business’s social media channels. Market wherever you can! Trust us: your efforts WILL show in what you put out there, and people will appreciate you for it.

For more helpful tips on starting your own beauty blog/vlog, keep reading here!

Option #4: Further Your Makeup Education

As a makeup artist, there is ALWAYS more you can learn! We’re also willing to bet that because you love your craft so much, you’re always excited to expand your skill-set and soak up as much knowledge as possible. So why not utilize your time indoors by signing up for an online makeup class?

For those of you who are brand new to the industry, this is the perfect chance for you to enroll in an online makeup class and get the ball rolling. In light of the current pandemic, online makeup school is the safest way for you to learn how to do makeup.

Your learning experience will be just as thorough as it would be in-person. You’ll be able to do it on your own time, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home! For anyone starting their makeup journey at a beginner’s level, an all-encompassing makeup course, such as QC’s Master Makeup Artistry program, would be the most beneficial to your success.

There may be others reading this that don’t need to learn how to do makeup. But just because you aren’t starting from square one, doesn’t mean there isn’t something out there that you don’t already know yet!

For example, QC Makeup Academy offers a thorough Pro Makeup Workshop for MUAs already at an advanced level. It skips the basics (since you know all those already), and helps you build on and fine tune your current skills.

It doesn’t stop there, though! Have you ever considered branching out and exploring other areas of the makeup world? Imagine how impressive your resume would be if you had a certification in Special FX makeup or airbrush makeup!

Perhaps you want to learn more about the different makeup styles and trends from around the world. In that case, a class such as QC’s Global Beauty Workshop would be exactly what you’re looking for! Or, if you were interested in those consulting services we discussed in Option #1, you can take courses on topics like skincare, fashion consulting, etc.

Hair styling, for example, can easily become a regular, hands-on part of your makeup business, once the coronavirus pandemic subsides and things return to normal!

Taking this time to further your education (and even earn more accredited certifications) is only going to help your makeup career! It will strengthen your skill-set, improve your business, look great on your resume, and impress your clients. Plus, it’ll definitely help you stand out from the competition!

Making the best of a bad situation can come down to the way we choose to look at it. If you see our current circumstances entirely in a negative way, you’ll see negative results. But if you try to see things positively, you’ll realize just how many opportunities you still currently have at your disposal!

Use your time to your advantage, and keep your eyes on the prize! You’ve got this!

Want to know how to pass your online makeup course(s) with flying colors? Keep reading for 5 awesome tips!

It seems like everywhere we turn these days, there’s talk of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. While, of course, it is a very serious matter, there are some positives as of late. For starters, it’s been confirmed that over half of those diagnosed globally have since recovered. This is great news!

Moreover, while the coronavirus is still running rampant, it doesn’t have to be the end of service industry professions, such as that of a makeup artist. “But wait,” you might be thinking, “doesn’t my whole job involve having to touch someone else’s face? In a time where people are being warned not to even touch their own faces, how can that NOT hurt my business?”

Yes, there’s a heightened risk factor that comes with your particular career. A big part of your job is to touch your client’s face. That can’t exactly be avoided. Nor is it realistic for her to wear a face mask while you’re trying to do your job.

But you still CAN do your job! The important thing to understand is that there are still lots of safety precautions that can be taken. These precautions will not only allow you to keep doing your job, but also help keep both yourself and your clients safe from catching any unwanted germs!

So what are these safety measures? Let’s take a look!

1. Wash your hands.

As a professional MUA (and even just a regular, clean person), we hope this is something you’ve already been doing up until this point! But in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, it’s more important than ever. In general, you should make a point to wash your hands at any of the following times:

• Before and after you eat, or simply handle food
• After using the bathroom
• After handling an animal
• After holding or shaking someone’s hand
• After touching any heavily used surface like doorknobs, railings, elevator buttons, etc.

There are plenty more instances where you should ensure to wash your hands, and a more complete list can be found here. But you’re a makeup artist, so there are also specific times when washing your hands is also critical. Some examples would be:

• Before and after setting up your equipment at a given job (especially if you’re working on location)
• Before and after handling makeup products
• Before and after working with a client and touching her face

When washing your hands, ensure to use soap and warm water. If you’re unsure how long you should be washing your hands, an easy trick is to hum (or sing, if you’d prefer) the Happy Birthday song from start to finish, twice. If you want some catchier tunes to help time you, here are some other suggestions!

If you’re in a place that doesn’t have easy access to soap and water, try to always keep some hand sanitizer on you. That can at least help sterilize things until you are able to wash them properly.

Lastly, but just as importantly: make sure that as much as possible, you don’t touch your own face!

2. Always keep your makeup products clean.

This is a big one, and again, something you should already make a habit of doing. Dirty makeup products are a big carrier of germs and other unwanted bacteria. Using contaminated products on a client would make it only too easy for them to catch some nasty bug and wind up sick.

If you want to know the horrifying truth about how easily makeup products can be bathing in bacteria, check out this previous article on the topic. (Just be warned: while informative, it’s also a bit graphic.)

Plus, you’re the professional! Your clients are counting on you to always use sanitized products on their skin. You always need to ensure that you properly and regularly clean your products. Never let anyone else use your makeup products, and when working on a client, never double dip any disposable applicators.

3. Reschedule if you’re sick.

Even if you just have a small cough or slightly runny nose, contact your client and ask to postpone the appointment to another date. It’s not worth the risk! While it very well may be nothing, you also can’t guarantee that. The coronavirus is extremely contagious even if you have very mild symptoms.

The last thing you want to do is show up anyways, put your hands all over your client’s face, and then pass along a potentially serious disease. From a business perspective, that’s a bad move. From a human perspective, that’s just inconsiderate.

Chances are, your clients will be more than understanding, given the circumstances. Yes, there may be cases where rescheduling isn’t possible, and the only option may be the cancel altogether. We know you and your client don’t want that. But at the end of the day, your health and the safety of your client comes first!

4. Encourage your clients to reschedule if they’re sick.

Granted, they’re not the ones touching your face or makeup products. But you can catch a lot of nasty bugs just by being within 6 feet of infected individuals. If you catch something from a client, you could then become potentially contagious yourself before you even show symptoms, and wind up getting other clients sick. Not to mention that your own health would be at risk!

Check your availability and offer sick clients a couple slots where you’d be free to reschedule. Chances are, she’ll be willing to do so.

That being said, some clients may not be able to reschedule. They may push to keep the appointment. Know that you do have the right to refuse service. You’re not obligated to work with a sick client. But should you choose to keep the appointment, make sure you take the proper precautions for your OWN health.

For starters, wear a face mask. While it can’t completely protect you from catching someone else’s germs, it could at least help your chances. Also, like we discussed above, wash your hands frequently. If the client came to you, make sure to disinfect the studio once she’s left.

Want to read a working MUA’s experience with how the coronavirus has affected her business? Check that out here!

What else can you do if business slows down?

Realistically, there is a chance that while the coronavirus is a hot topic, many people may not want to book makeup appointments for the time being. So what other things can you do with your business, or even just the down time, to keep yourself afloat?

There are a lot more options than you may realize! If you offer other types of beauty services as part of your business, you can use this time to focus more on those.

Consulting services, such as for skincare, fashion, and even hair styling, won’t necessarily require you to touch your client’s face. Makeup lessons would also be a great alternative for those wanting to hone their own skills, at the guidance of a professional.

For clients wanting to avoid contact with others, these are all services they could still be open to.

Start your own beauty blog!

If you have extra time on your hands, why not build on your online presence? Many MUAs also run their own beauty blogs (or vlogs), to get their name out to a wider, global audience. This could be a perfect project for you to take on!

If you’re unsure how to go about starting your own beauty blog, we’ve got an excellent How-To article for you to check out here!

Educate yourself!

If business is a little slow, another excellent idea is to use this time to get some additional training and build on your current certifications! As a makeup artist, you can never be too educated. There’s always more for you to learn! So research into different makeup schools and sign up for a class or two.

Sign up for free webinars online, and watch tutorials to keep your skills up. You can expand on the skill set you already have, and even branch out into new areas you don’t know already.

When your business starts picking back up, you’ll be armed with an even better resume to impress clients and get even more bookings!

Just because the coronavirus is a thing, doesn’t mean your makeup business or livelihood needs to suffer. Just make sure you take all the necessary safety measures, and you AND your clients will have the best chances possible at staying safe!

And should your bookings take a bit of a temporary hit, there are plenty of other ways for you to still advance your talents and your business. You’ve got this!

If you aren’t already a certified makeup artist, why not use this time to check this off your bucket list? Enroll in QC’s leading Master Makeup Artistry course, and take your resume to the next level!

As an up-and-coming MUA, your makeup portfolio and overall business website will be two of the most important aspects of your business. Together, they make your online resume! They will publicly showcase your work, your services, your overall business, and most importantly: YOU!

Your makeup portfolio should live on your business website. Importantly, this website can’t be hastily thrown together! It will require lots of time and effort. You’ll need to build everything from the ground up, make it the best it can look, and then regularly fine-tune up whenever possible. It’s not a one-and-done process, but an ongoing one. So we hope you’re willing to put in the work!

Your website and makeup portfolio can be the deciding factors in whether a potential client chooses to work with you or not. After all, they set the standard and make the first impression.

So if you’re unsure about what to do, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Keep reading to see 3 awesome examples of makeup portfolios, and the awesome websites they live on!

What should a good makeup website include?

You not only want your website to look good and showcase your brand, you want it to also include as much business information as possible for any interested customer. If you think the common client will want to know it, put it in there! It’ll look better if the information is already available to her, without her having to ask for it first.

Things you should include on your business’s website are:

• Some info about you and your company. You want your clients to get to know you a bit, so a rapport can be established from the get-go.
• List of your services.
• Your current prices for your services. This information can be combined with the list of services, if desired.
• Contact information. At the very least, include a phone number and email address for clients to reach you. If you have a physical address for your business, include that as well.
• Reviews. In the beginning, you may not have any – and that’s okay. But as they start coming in (even from family and friends), include them on your site. Potential clients want some sort of proof that you’ve not only done legitimate work before, but that there’s tangible evidence your work is of good quality.
• An image portfolio. Most importantly, you NEED high quality images in a well-rounded portfolio that show off your makeup skills. Whenever possible, have the photos professionally done. The floor is yours here to showcase your wide range of talents! Be as diverse as possible; display different skin colors, textures, etc. Show clients of different ages, sexes, and ethnicities.
  • It’s always a good idea to show clients that you can do an abundance of different makeup looks and styles. Here are 5 looks every MUA should try to have in their makeup portfolio! If you have a specific, preferred niche (such as bridal makeup), then try to spice up the different kinds of looks you do within this category. Throw in some focused application shots, like of the eyes or lips!

Now that we have the basics covered, let’s check out some examples that demonstrate the above flawlessly!

1. Alluring Makeup Artistry by Katey

QC graduate and professional MUA, Katey Stevens, is an absolutely rock-star! Not only are her makeup skills killer, and her freelance business successful – her online presence is something that every aspiring makeup artist should look up to.

On top of posting great content regularly on her social media pages, Katey’s business website and makeup portfolio are totally solid. The homepage of her site checks off all of the boxes we’ve listed above, but there’s also a navigation menu that allows you to go directly to each specific section, as desired.

Her Contact Us page not only includes all necessary details to reach her, but even embeds a map to her business location. She couldn’t possibly be making things any more convenient for her clients if she tried!

Two highlights of her makeup website are her Services pages, and her FAQs section. Firstly, Katey has worked hard to build on her skill set and offer MANY different services for her clients. In addition to her partial and full makeup services, she also offers (for example) tattoo coverage, groom touch-ups, Special FX makeup, photo shoots, makeup lessons, etc. Each and every service is listed all on one neat page, with rates clearly displayed, too.

Katey’s also clearly taken the time to research frequently asked questions, as well as take into account inquiries she personally receives often from her clients. She’s added an FAQs page to her makeup site so that potential clients can have these questions answered – before they even think to ask them! This is an awesome business decision, and make for a really strong online presence!

2. Gabrielle Eula

Created by QC Student Ambassador and certified makeup artist, Gabrielle Rivera, this makeup website and portfolio is another exceptional example we recommend taking a look at. Notice how Gabrielle’s business site maintains the same header image, regardless of which page you go to. Similarly, there’s a footer image throughout her whole website, displaying her contact info and links to social media.

There’s also a consistency in her font choices and color schemes. It all adds together to form a brand image, and give you a vibe of what Gabrielle’s about. This is an awesome example of incorporating your brand into your portfolio!

Like with Katey’s makeup site, Gabrielle’s website also ensures that all relevant and needed information about herself, her business, her services, her rates, and her reviews are all included in a clear and concise way.

Gabrielle also has a broad portfolio to showcase her past (and best) work, which is neatly categorized into 4 different areas:

1. Bridal
2. Special Occasion
3. Modern Art & Photography, and
4. Special FX & Body Painting

If I were a client looking for a skilled makeup artist, I’d be instantly impressed at how flexible her skills are. It’s clear that Gabrielle knows many different makeup techniques and applications. The professional quality of her photos lets me see all sorts of sides to her.

If I were a potential customer, Gabrielle’s portfolio would definitely assure me that she would be a reliable and professional MUA to book with!

Two awesome things stand out to me when looking at Gabrielle’s website. Firstly, she has a Book Online feature that allows clients to view Gabrielle’s availability. From there, they can schedule an appointment without needing to deal with any phone calls or emails.

Eliminating this back and forth hassle not only saves all parties time, it caters in favor of the client. This sort of thing doesn’t go unnoticed, trust me!

The other fun thing that Gabrielle’s worked into her makeup site is a live chat option. Should there be clients who can’t find something, or they simply wish to speak to a real person, they’ll benefit from having this option available to them. Gabrielle has really covered all the important aspects in her website!

3. Jacquie K.

This Ottawa-based makeup artist stands out to us for many reasons, but the biggest one has to be that she is the PERFECT example of what it means to find your own unique niche and then completely corner that market in the industry.

How does Jacquie do this? No, it’s not because all of her products are cruelty-free (although that’s a bonus for sure). It’s because she’s known for her converted school-bus-turned-beauty-bar.

Yeah, you heard us. Go to her website and see what we’re talking about. Pretty gorgeous, right?

This definitely makes her stand out from the competition. In a city as big as Ottawa, that’s an impressive thing to accomplish! Not only is the bus a unique factor on its own, it also allows Jacquie and her team to travel directly to clients and rent out their services. Can you think of a more convenient freelance makeup business?

In terms of the way Jacquie’s makeup website looks, it’s hands-down one of the most beautiful examples. It works in all the needed information effortlessly, has a smooth flow from page to page, and showcases her brand to perfection.

Her portfolio is also jam-packed with quality content. It ranges from various images of makeup looks to hair styling. Jacquie’s even branched out into creating her very own makeup, which customers can choose to buy online from her website. Cool!

Note: It’s worth noting that another fantastic thing all 3 examples have in common is that they all outline reservation and cancellation policies directly on their websites. This detail can sometimes be forgotten, but it’s important that you remember to include it when outlining your services on your website!

Want to become even more of an expert at creating and building your portfolio? Enroll in QC’s Portfolio Development workshop today, and WOW your clients with images that clients won’t be able to ignore!

One of the best ways to impress clients is by being professionally certified. Enroll today in QC’s leading Master Makeup Artistry course and earn your certification in as little as 6 months!