How to become a makeup artist
Official title: Makeup artist (stage/film/studio)
Also called: Fashion makeup artist, Makeup artist (film), Makeup artist (stage and studio), Makeup artist (stage), Makeup artist (studio), Makeup consultant, Makeup specialist, Makeup stylist, Special effects makeup artist, Make-up and/or Hair Artist, Make-up and/or Hair Designer, Special effects makeup artist
Makeup artist (stage/film/studio) applies makeup to faces of actors and other performers to improve or alter their appearances for studio or stage productions. He/she examines casting list and prepares wigs, beards and other materials needed. He/she uses grease paint, rouge, lipstick, face powder, wigs, and beards to impart the desired facial characteristics or expressions to the actor or actress. He/she also issues instruction to hairdresser as to the style of hairdressing required.
Main tasks
- Applying makeup to clients of a beauty parlour or to actors and other performers
Ways in
- Polytechnic or ITE: ITE course (Nitec or Higher Nitec). Related ITE courses: Higher Nitec in Film & Video Production. Peernovo matched these from course names; ITE does not publish which jobs each course leads to.; Polytechnic diploma. Related diplomas: Diploma in Digital Film & Television (Temasek Polytechnic). Peernovo matched these from course names; polytechnics do not publish which jobs each course leads to.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a makeup artist?
Ways in include: ITE course (Nitec or Higher Nitec); Polytechnic diploma.
Will AI change the work of a makeup artist?
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
Updated 4 October 2026