For an effective makeup artist resume, focus on your relevant skills like skincare prep, contouring and highlighting, or client relations. Give examples of your success as a makeup artist or in similar roles, and show your knowledge base by citing any training or certificate programs you’ve done. This guide provides expert tips to help you create a resume showing your best makeup artist qualifications.
Key takeaways:
- Use bullet points to display your achievements. Start each bullet point with a strong verb like “Created” or “Enhanced.”
- Spell out the results of your past work as a makeup artist. Describe how your efforts helped clients or organizations achieve their goals.
- Follow the combination resume format to provide all required information while positioning yourself for makeup artist jobs that interest you.
Most Popular Makeup Artist Resumes
Freelance Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this freelance makeup artist resume example is strong:
Isabelle’s resume highlights her ability to work independently and build a loyal client base. Her focus on editorial collaborations and self-management shows a clear, organized professional path. She also uses targeted skills to align with industry terms, which helps her pass resume keyword screenings.
Beginner Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this beginner makeup artist resume example is strong:
April’s resume shows initiative and a thoughtful path to building professional skills. She clearly outlines hands-on experience while still in training. For those starting out, this format demonstrates how to build a strong resume with no experience by showcasing practical learning.
Bridal Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this bridal makeup artist resume example is strong:
Sarah’s resume is tailored to her niche, with responsibilities and accomplishments directly tied to weddings. Her ability to coordinate with clients and vendors stands out. The structure of her resume follows a clean and effective resume format that prioritizes recent relevant work.
Celebrity Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this celebrity makeup artist resume example is strong:
Michelle’s experience working with high-profile clients is front and center. She uses job titles and action words that reflect discretion and high standards, helping her stand out in an elite market. This resume demonstrates an effective career-focused summary and consistent progression.
Film Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this film makeup artist resume example is strong:
Jimena’s resume demonstrates niche expertise in film and FX work. Her experience supports both creativity and continuity, which are essential in film production. The layout reflects a clear grasp of how far a resume should go in documenting relevant work.
Hair And Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this hair and makeup artist resume example is strong:
Tyrese’s resume shows how combining skill sets adds value. By including both styling and makeup credentials, it appeals to employers who need full-service professionals. This structure also reflects strong job title alignment throughout the resume.
Makeup Artist No Experience Resume Example

Why this makeup artist resume with no experience example is strong:
Elena’s resume focuses on training and volunteer work to compensate for limited job history. The use of coursework and community engagement demonstrates dedication and growth. It’s a great example of how to build a resume with no experience.
Self Taught Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this self-taught makeup artist resume example is strong:
Kiana’s resume shows initiative and marketing skill. By using a freelance structure and highlighting digital growth, she presents a complete professional image—even without formal education. It reflects strong use of transferable skills and hustle.
Special Effects Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this special effects makeup artist resume example is strong:
Marcos’s resume emphasizes the technical and creative sides of FX work. His ability to manage high volume alongside artistic precision speaks directly to the demands of live and filmed horror. It’s an excellent display of a role-specific resume job description.
Creative Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this creative makeup artist resume example is strong:
Jazmin’s resume is focused and visionary. She emphasizes her artistic range and collaboration with photographers and stylists. The details in her experience convey a designer’s mindset and align perfectly with an impactful resume personal statement.
Editorial Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this editorial makeup artist resume example is strong:
Caleb’s resume prioritizes creativity and teamwork in the editorial space. His ability to visually interpret themes and adapt to art direction makes him an asset on any shoot. The resume layout also follows best practices for a modern, professional resume format.
Runway Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this runway makeup artist resume example is strong:
Lina’s resume highlights speed, pressure handling, and high-volume styling. Her runway-specific experience and use of high-energy key terms match the expectations of live fashion productions. This resume clearly understands how many jobs you should list to keep it focused and impactful.
Theatrical Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this theatrical makeup artist resume example is strong:
Marcus’s resume aligns perfectly with the needs of live theater. The skills and roles emphasize technical mastery and creative storytelling. It also models how to build around a specific career job description for performance-focused work.
TV Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this TV makeup artist resume example is strong:
Nora’s resume demonstrates how to blend artistry with technical know-how. Her understanding of camera lighting and fast-paced environments helps her stand out in media. This resume also reflects a smart resume summary that captures her strengths in one line.
Halloween Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this Halloween makeup artist resume example is strong:
Andre’s resume is full of energy and creativity. It highlights seasonal high-volume work, niche themes, and quick turnaround times. It’s a great example of how to list extracurricular experience and seasonal gigs with impact.
Commercial Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this commercial makeup artist resume example is strong:
Janelle’s resume makes a clear case for how makeup supports brand storytelling. Her client types, media settings, and aesthetic strengths align with the goals of commercial work. It’s an example of a sharp, professional-looking resume that’s also creative.
Drag Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this drag makeup artist resume example is strong:
Zee’s resume is expressive yet professional. It reflects transformation, storytelling, and stage readiness—key in drag artistry. This is a great model of how to build a resume that reflects personality while staying job-specific.
Makeup Instructor Resume Example

Why this makeup instructor resume example is strong:
Nadia’s resume blends teaching and artistry, with clear progression from practice to instruction. It emphasizes mentorship, classroom leadership, and technical mastery—key traits for educators. It also shows how to list your education on a resume in a clear, professional way.
Mobile Makeup Artist Resume Example

Why this mobile makeup artist resume example is strong:
Shayla’s resume clearly focuses on mobility, reliability, and preparation—traits essential for this job. Her self-employment experience shows independence and professionalism. It’s a great example of how to format a resume with clear contact information for mobile service roles.
Makeup Counter Artist Resume Example

Why this makeup counter artist resume example is strong:
Devon’s resume shows how artistry meets sales in a retail setting. He blends product expertise with measurable outcomes like client retention. It’s a strong reflection of retail-focused roles that benefit from core resume competencies.
Makeup Artist Text-Only Resume Examples and Templates
How To Write a Makeup Artist Resume
Your makeup artist resume should usually include these sections:
- Contact information
- Profile
- Key skills
- Professional experience
- Education and certifications
Below are tips and samples to help you organize each resume section.
1. Share your contact information
Give your full name, phone number, email address, location, and links to any online professional profiles. Ensure your contact information is current so employers can reach you for an interview.
Example
Your Name
(123) 456-7890 | [email protected] | City, ST 09876 | LinkedIn
2. Summarize your makeup artist qualifications in a dynamic profile
You can impress a potential employer at the top of your resume by giving the three to five primary reasons you’ll excel as their next makeup artist. Tailor the reasons to the job to which you’re applying. This is easily done by reading the job posting carefully for desired skills, personality characteristics, level of experience. These key selling points may include your:
- Years of related career experience
- Work style or approach (efficient, diligent, collaborative…)
- Advanced degrees or certifications in your field
(Note: Most job seekers find it easier to write their profile last.)
Example:
Makeup artist with 12 years of experience in film, TV, and fashion. Skilled in HD, prosthetic, and airbrush techniques. Collaborated with production teams on 40+ projects, including commercial campaigns and red carpet appearances. Known for attention to detail and speed under pressure.
3. Add your makeup artist experience with compelling examples
For each recent job you’ve held, specify your title, company name, location, and work dates. Then, flesh out your description of each role to the extent it speaks to your target job. Give just a brief overview of any unrelated jobs, even ones you held a long time. And provide a detailed account of any highly related jobs, even ones you held only briefly. Far from misleading, this approach gives hiring managers the clearest measure of your background relevant to the role they hope to fill.
Example:
Mobile Makeup Artist, Self-Employed, Tampa, FL | June 2018 – present
- Serve 20+ monthly clients across the Tampa area with full-service makeup sessions
- Maintain and transport sanitized equipment and lighting for remote sessions
- Build long-term relationships with clients through consistent, flexible service
Resume writer’s tip: Quantify your experience
When possible, use relevant performance data to measure the results you’ve achieved as a makeup artist. Hard numbers like percentages and dollar amounts put your work in context and give recruiters a better sense of your impact.
Do
- “Created high-definition looks for 15 TV episodes, reducing makeup application time by 20% and minimizing on-set touch-up needs”
Don’t
- “I was responsible for doing makeup on a TV show”
Resume writer’s tip: Tailor your resume to each application
Before sending your resume, review it carefully against the job posting. Delete any details that don’t speak to the requirements, and consider using that space for more information about your relevant experience. This process takes extra time, obviously. But it can shorten your overall job search by giving you an edge over the many applicants who send a more general, less convincing resume.
What if you have no experience as a makeup artist?
Writing a resume can be hard if you don’t have real-world experience. But remember, you still have valuable skills and knowledge from your education and training. Include any relevant coursework you’ve completed or certifications you’ve earned. Also, describe volunteer roles or internships you’ve completed in your field, and emphasize your work ethic and willingness to learn. By focusing on these qualities, you can show you’d be an asset to any team.
4. Include makeup artist-related education and certifications
With the education and certifications sections, you can show you have a strong knowledge base in your field. Each degree or credential also serves as a formal endorsement of your skills and professionalism. Following are templates to help you organize this information on your resume (note, years are optional).
Education
Template:
[Degree Name], [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]
[Relevant honors, coursework, or activities]
Example:
Diploma in Makeup Artistry, Blanche Macdonald Centre, Vancouver, BC
Certifications
Template:
[Certification Name], [Awarding Organization] | [Completion Year]
[Description if the credential is lesser-known but relevant]
Examples:
MAC Cosmetics Certified Artist, MAC Pro | 2022
5. Include a list of skills and proficiencies related to makeup artist
A separate skills section lets you quickly display the (possibly various) ways you can add value to an organization. Below, you’ll find some key terms and skills to consider for this section:
Key Skills and Proficiencies | |
---|---|
Airbrush makeup | Bridal and formal styling |
Client relations | Color correction |
Contouring and highlighting | Editorial makeup |
Eyelash application | High-definition (HD) makeup |
Hygiene and sanitation protocols | Prosthetic application |
Skincare prep | Special effects (SFX) makeup |
Tattoo coverage | Time management |
Trend forecasting | Wardrobe and styling coordination |
Resume writer’s tip: Use common action verbs
Start each bullet point with a strong action verb. Dynamic verbs help you keep the hiring manager’s attention and tell a compelling story about your experience.
The following list can help you find a good mix of action verbs for your makeup artist resume:
Action Verbs | |
---|---|
Applied | Collaborated |
Conceptualized | Created |
Decreased | Designed |
Enhanced | Fostered |
Generated | Grew |
Improved | Increased |
Innovated | Introduced |
Lowered | Maintained |
Managed | Prepared |
Presented | Prevented |
Ranked | Reduced |
Streamlined | Styled |
Transformed | Updated |
Won |
How To Pick the Best Makeup Artist Resume Template
Choose a template that’s clear and straightforward, and avoid any template with elaborate graphics or various colors and font styles. Simple resume design helps a hiring manager scan for relevant information. It also helps you tailor the document to each job application and make updates to your work history going forward. (Tip: When given the option, save and submit your resume as a pdf file to preserve formatting across screens and systems.)
Frequently Asked Questions: Makeup Artist Resume Examples and Advice
Focus on editing your skills section. With just a few quick changes to this section, you can further hone your resume and help it get past screenings by applicant tracking systems (ATS).
First, take a close look at the job posting and highlight any skills required. Then, compare those highlighted terms against your resume's existing skills section. Delete any skills from your list that don't appear in the job posting, and add any missing skills of yours that do.
Most makeup artists should use the combination (or hybrid) format. True to its name, this format combines two important features of other resume formats: the chronological format's experience section and the functional format's profile section. (The resume examples on this page all use combination format.)
A combination resume offers the best of both worlds by fusing these two features. The experience section lets you outline your recent work history - essential information for most employers. At the same time, the profile section enables you to display your career highlights at the top, whether they're from that work history or another part of your background.
As a result, you can present yourself both clearly and strategically. With this format you give hiring managers the best view of your experience and relevant strengths so they can decide to call you for an interview.
Include a cover letter with your resume
A good cover letter sharpens your job application by saying directly why you’re interested in the organization or job opening at hand. When possible, quote or paraphrase text from the job posting and explain why it caught your attention.
Check Out Related Examples
Resume Templates offers free, HR approved resume templates to help you create a professional resume in minutes. Choose from several template options and even pre-populate a resume from your profile.