Business, Arts & Entertainment, Design & Style

For Aspiring Makeup Artists

Bobbi Brown

Lesson time 11:27 min

Bobbi shares personal stories and lessons from her career as a makeup artist.

Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars

Topics include: Learning From Editorial Collaborations · Don’t Panic, Get Creative · Use Social Media to Market Yourself · “It’s not all Glamorous.”

Preview

[MUSIC PLAYING] - And now, for you aspiring makeup artists, I'm going to share some of the lessons I've learned from working on sets and the runways of Fashion Week. As a makeup artist, you almost have to be a little bit of a shrink to make sure that everybody is happy. So every time I would go to work, I would have a meeting with the photographer, the stylist, anyone around, and the actress or the person and discuss what we're doing today because, if you understand what you're doing, then, at least, it'll be easier. You won't have to change and fix things. So when you are working with an actress on a press tour or on the red carpet, it's usually she is the one that you have to please. Sometimes there's a stylist you have to please. I've been on shoots where there's a mother you have to please. I've been on shoots where there's a boyfriend you have to please. So you have to kind of work together. And if you are a makeup artist starting out, my biggest advice to you is show a mirror to the model. Make sure that they are happy with the way they look. - Oh, it does look cool. - You're going to get a lot better pictures for your portfolio. She likes it. Yay! - - So make sure that it's a team effort. And if you're struggling with something, because we all have bad days when we're doing makeup, just ask someone to step in and help. I am not good with putting false eyelashes on. My assistants, for years, have been doing the false eyelashes. And that just makes me realize what I'm good at, what I'm not good at. [MUSIC PLAYING] I've been really lucky in my career. I have worked with some of the best photographers. And I seem to work with them for different periods of time. Henry Leutwyler is someone I work with constantly. What I've learned working with him is how perfect the right lighting, the right team is to an amazing photograph. I was lucky enough to work with Bruce Weber a lot who didn't like makeup. And so I would do makeup so it didn't look like the girl was wearing it. I think that's where I learned a lot. I worked with a big "Vogue" editor who liked very beige-y lips and a certain creaminess. And she taught me how to use foundation mixed with things, how to change things on the face. Working with Arthur Elgort for so many years was amazing because, first of all, he's someone that, while you're doing the makeup, he's already done the shot. So he's quick. He's fast. And what I learned from Arthur, he would come in and describe how he wanted the girl to look, depending on some movie, French movie, Italian movie, "La Dolce Vita" I didn't know what he was talking about half the time. So I really had to figure out what he meant. And that's why I tell young makeup artists now, be well read. Watch old movies. Go look at beautiful actresses from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. When someone says we want a Clara Bow something, who is Clara Bow? Like you have to know who it is. I work with a younger p...

About the Instructor

Bobbi Brown’s philosophy is that makeup should be quick and natural, and it should enhance who you are. A beauty industry icon, Bobbi shares her expertise in step-by-step tutorials, using models with a range of skin tones. You’ll learn how to choose the right foundation, do a smoky eye and a statement lip, and take your look from day to night. But most of all, you’ll learn how to feel confident in your own skin.

Featured MasterClass Instructor

Bobbi Brown

Bobbi Brown teaches you the tips, tricks, and techniques for applying simple, natural makeup that makes you feel beautiful in your own skin.

Explore the Class
Get Up To 50% Off