How To Write a Makeup Artist Resume
Whether you’re an experienced artist or just starting your journey, a well-crafted resume is essential in showcasing your skills and securing opportunities in the competitive beauty industry. This guide provides real makeup artist resume examples, tailored advice, and expert tips directly addressing the unique needs of makeup artists. You’ll have the knowledge and strategies to create an impressive resume that communicates your unique skills and sets you apart as a talented professional.
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
1. Create a profile by summarizing your makeup artist qualifications
When crafting a resume profile, it’s essential to captivate readers with a concise yet impactful summary of what you offer. Using two to three sentences, begin by mentioning your years of experience and mastery of various makeup techniques, such as bridal, editorial, or special effects. Use industry-specific keywords and terminology to highlight your relevant knowledge and alignment with the role.
To make your profile even more engaging, consider incorporating an impressive stat or achievement, such as the number of satisfied clients, collaborations with renowned brands, or awards received. Your resume profile paragraph should focus on showcasing your expertise, passion for creativity, and ability to adapt to diverse styles and requirements. A well-crafted profile will leave a lasting impression, enticing employers or clients to explore the rest of your resume and portfolio.
Senior-Level Profile Example:
A seasoned makeup artist with over 10 years of experience working for TV networks, fashion designers, magazines, and well-known photographers. A proven track record of providing quality beauty services in fast-paced and high-pressure environments. Adept at communicating effectively with a wide range of clients.
Entry-Level Profile Example:
A creative makeup artist with three years of experience delivering high-end makeup services for clients. Advanced knowledge of a wide range of makeup application techniques. Adept at building rapport with clientele and educating customers on the benefits of at-home products.
2. Add your makeup artist experience with compelling examples
Crafting an accomplishment-driven professional experience section is crucial for your resume as it allows you to show your impact and demonstrate skills valued by employers. Start by quantifying your experience, providing the number of projects completed, events worked, or clients served. This numerical information adds credibility and provides a tangible measurement of your success.
Focus on featuring your ability to create diverse makeup looks, work with different skin types and tones, and adapt to specific client preferences. Highlight any notable achievements, such as working with celebrities, participating in fashion shows, or being published in reputable publications. Use action verbs as you list out your accomplishments. Start each bullet point with an action verb to bring a dynamic element to your resume and help describe your work effectively.
Senior-Level Professional Experience Example:
Makeup Artist, BYU TV, Provo, UT
January 2015 – February 2021
- Provided a range of makeup services suitable for onscreen looks for television programs and magazines, including airbrushing, body makeup, tattoo covering, and lashes
- Collaborated with other team members to constantly improve and expand the makeup services
- Ensured the continuity of hair and makeup throughout long days of shooting to teams of over 20
Entry-Level Professional Experience Example:
Retail Makeup Artist, Charlotte Tilbury, Los Angeles, CA
July 2019 – present
- Develop long-term relationships with customers, provide skin tone matching services, and communicate effectively to identify client needs, resulting in a 90% client retention score
- Provide education to customers on the benefits and application of at-home makeup products and achieve over 130% of annual sales quotas year-over-year
- Advise clients on skincare routines according to skin types and individual needs
3. Outline your education and makeup artist-related certifications
An academic background adds credibility, demonstrates your commitment to professional development, and shows hiring managers that you have the necessary skills and knowledge for the job. Employers in the beauty and cosmetics industry often seek makeup artists with a solid foundation in theory and technique. You can showcase your formal training and qualifications by listing your education, such as a diploma or degree in cosmetology or makeup artistry. Starting with your highest level of education, list the degree name, institution, location, and graduation date.
Beyond formal education, certifications are valuable additions to a makeup artist’s resume. These credentials validate your proficiency in specific areas, such as bridal makeup, special effects, or airbrushing. Create a separate section and format it similarly, providing the certificate name, issuing organization, and date received.
Education
Template
- [Degree Name]
- [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
Example
- Associate in Science in Cosmetology
- Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA, September 2005 – June 2007
Certifications
Template
- [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
Example
- Cosmetology License, California State Board of Cosmetology and Barbers, 2019
4. List makeup artist-related skills and proficiencies
As a makeup artist, your skills are the foundation of your craft, and they demonstrate your expertise and proficiency in various techniques and areas of makeup artistry. When including a key skills section on your resume, focus on those directly related to the position you’re applying for. Include both technical and interpersonal skills. You must be able to perform a makeup artist’s technical tasks and interact well with clients to meet their needs and preferences. Review our list of examples below:
| Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
|---|---|
| Airbrushing | Attention to detail |
| Color theory | Communication |
| Creativity | Critical thinking |
| Decision-making | Detail-oriented |
| Facial analysis | Fashion and editorial |
| Flexibility | Interpersonal skills |
| Leadership skills | Hairstyling |
| Prosthetics | Sanitation and hygiene practices |
| Special FX makeup | Tattoo coverage |
| Team-oriented | Time management |
5. Provide a portfolio of your work
Including access to your portfolio is vital for demonstrating your talent, creativity, and versatility. A portfolio allows potential employers to see visual examples of your work, giving them a glimpse into your unique artistic style and skills. There are several ways to present your work. Let’s take a look at a few of the most common strategies.
More traditionally, you could attach a physical portfolio with high-quality photographs or prints of your makeup artistry. This option can be particularly impactful during in-person interviews. Whether or not you include a physical representation of your work, provide a link to your digital portfolio or website. Online portfolios allow you to feature a broader range of examples, give more details about each project, and potentially include client testimonials. Provide access to your social media platforms as well, such as Instagram or YouTube, if applicable and up to date.
How To Pick the Best Makeup Artist Resume Template
The purpose of a resume template is to provide a visually appealing framework that effectively presents your qualifications and experiences. The best resume template for a makeup artist has a simple design, classic fonts, and well-structured sections. Choose one that complements your creativity while maintaining a clean and organized appearance. While a resume template can be visually appealing, it’s essential to balance aesthetics and professionalism. Stick with something well-structured and organized, avoiding overly flashy templates that could distract from your content.
Makeup Artist Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples
- Entry-level
- Mid-career
- Senior-level
Angela Cornes
(845) 234-8273
[email protected]
77 Lake Avenue, Los Angeles, California, 90027
Profile
An innovative Makeup Artist with six years of experience delivering cosmetology and makeup services to modeling agencies and magazines, including Bridal Monthly. A proven track record of executing complex makeup looks and styles, including prosthetics, special effects makeup, and hair styles.
Professional Experience
Freelance Makeup Artist, Self-employed, Los Angeles, CA
May 2018 – March 2021
- Provide a wide variety of makeup services for notable TV networks, photographers, fashion designers, and magazines, including Bridal Monthly, Fox, and CNN
- Provide makeup services to runway models in fast-paced environments and maintain 95% client satisfaction
- Delivered makeup services such as airbrushing, prosthetics, and continuity provision for a 20-person cast of a recent feature film on Netflix
Makeup artist, Today’s Bride San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
November 2015 – May 2018
- Executed bridal makeup and hair looks for more than 10 models per day and coordinated with magazine editors and photographers to define makeup looks prior to shoots
- Improved the appearance of makeup by introducing new advanced preparation techniques such as exfoliation and extraction and built positive business relationships with clients
Education
Qualification in Cosmetology
American Beauty College School of Cosmetology & Barbering, West Covina, CA, September 2014 – September 2015
Key Skills
- Airbrushing
- Prosthetics
- Special Effects Makeup
- Bridal Makeup
- Hairstyling
Certifications
- Certified in Special Effects Makeup by the Cinema Makeup School, April 2018
Frequently Asked Questions: Makeup Artist Resume Examples and Advice
What are common action verbs for makeup artist resumes?-
Action verbs impact your resume, showcasing your active role in creating stunning makeup looks. By incorporating these verbs, you infuse your resume with energy and drive, demonstrating your ability to transform clients' appearances and meet their needs. Consider using some of the words below on your makeup artist resume:
| Action Verbs | |
|---|---|
| Adjust | Apply |
| Collaborate | Communicate |
| Conceal | Consult |
| Coordinate | Correct |
| Create | Determine |
| Direct | Enhance |
| Examine | Help |
| Improve | Maintain |
| Monitor | Prepare |
| Style | Visualize |
How do you align your resume with a makeup artist job description?-
Employment for barbers, hairstylists, and cosmetologists (makeup artists included) is projected to see a much faster-than-average growth of 11% between 2021 and 2031. Over the decade, 65,000 new jobs will be added to the workforce. As makeup artists compete for current and forthcoming positions, they'll need a resume that shines. The best way to stand out in a crowd of applicants is to align your resume with the job you're applying for.
If you have a specific makeup artist job opening in mind, it's especially crucial to tailor your resume to enhance your chances of standing out as an ideal candidate. Start by carefully reviewing the job description and noting the key skills, qualifications, and requirements the hiring manager or client seeks. Then, incorporate these elements into your resume by highlighting relevant experiences, emphasizing matching skills, and aligning your achievements with the role's needs.
What is the best makeup artist resume format?-
When choosing a resume format for makeup artists, reverse chronological is often the most suitable. This format emphasizes your work history and showcases your artistic career progression. It also lets you feature your most recent experience, projects, and accomplishments in the beauty industry toward the top of your resume.
For entry-level job seekers, feature your relevant skills, training, and education more prominently in your document. That said, still provide detailed bullet points for previous work experience, even outside the beauty industry. Although these jobs won’t be fully relevant to your current career goals, this provides you with an opportunity to highlight transferable skill sets and experience, such as client relations, communication, and customer service.
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