Make-up artist

Over time, makeup enthusiasts have made up a large part of make-up artists. These self-taught artists use themselves as their own canvas or work freelance within their community, often in areas that may not have access to renowned make-up artists. Many have found their way into the industry through this enthusiasm.

Makeup techniques

Fashion

Fashion makeup is used in magazine photography as well as on the fashion runway. Avant-garde makeup is also an applicable technique used for projects that require experimental themes. Fashion makeup is also commonly used in television and film ranging from the natural prime look to more sophisticated applications such as color balance.

Theatrical makeup

Stage makeup is used as a method in conjunction with stage lighting to highlight the actors' faces in order to make expressions visible to the audience from moderate distances. This often includes defining the eyes and lips as well as the highlights and lowlights of the facial bones.

Special make-up effects (FX makeup)

The use of special effects techniques enhancing physical features to exhibit metaphysical characteristics as well as fantasy makeup. The use of prosthetics and plaster casting are also required for projects that entail non-human appearances. Accents such as theatrical blood and ooze are also techniques applicable to this type of makeup.

Airbrushing

An airbrush is a small air-operated device that sprays water-based makeup by a process of nebulization. Airbrushed makeup was used in Hollywood movies at least as early as the 1930s. Monte Westmore is sometimes credited with developing the technique for Gone With the Wind, but his brother Wally was using it at least five years earlier in Pre-Code films such as Murder at the Vanities. It has recently been re-popularized by the advent of HDTV and digital photography, where the camera focuses on higher depths of detail. Liquid foundations that are high in coverage but thin in consistency are applied with the airbrush for full coverage without a heavy build-up of product.

High definition

High-definition makeup involves the use of light reflectors and ingredients such as minerals to give the skin a flawless finish. It was developed in response to the advancement of high-definition media and the cost of airbrush makeup.