Most commonly reported Work Activities

•   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
•   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
•   Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
•   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
•   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
•   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
•   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
•   Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
•   Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
•   Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Working Life

The Makeup Artist/Designer is a key creative figure on a film/TV production, applying cosmetics effectively while also contributing to the look of a film, bringing the period and its characters to life. 

Role and Responsibilities 

• Researching the period and story and creating a look relevant to the characters and production.

• In pre-production, they must liaise with the director to understand the creative vision for the characters and collaborate with the costume and hair departments to deliver a complete look and test looks and products on actors.

• Make up several actors daily in accordance with the director’s vision to a busy production schedule.

• They may need to work with prosthetics and special effects make up.

• Responsible for stocking the make-up truck, ordering supplies, managing the budget, planning staffing levels, and facilities to budget and schedule.

Works with

• Director
• DOP
• SFX Artists
• Art Director
• Costume Designer
• Costume Supervisor
• Hair Designer
• Actors

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Apply makeup to enhance or alter the appearance of people appearing in productions such as movies.
• Select desired makeup shades from stock, or mix oil, grease, and coloring to achieve specific color effects.
• Duplicate work precisely to replicate characters' appearances on a daily basis.
• Cleanse and tone the skin to prepare it for makeup application.
• Assess performers' skin type to ensure that makeup will not cause break-outs or skin irritations.
• Study production information, such as character descriptions, period settings, and situations, to determine makeup requirements.
• Alter or maintain makeup during productions as necessary to compensate for lighting changes or to achieve continuity of effect.
• Analyse a script, noting events that affect each character's appearance, so that plans can be made for each scene.
• Confer with stage or motion picture officials and performers to determine desired effects.
• Establish budgets, and work within budgetary limits.

Further Information

• A Step-by-Step Guide - Make-up Artist- from: QC Make-up Academy
• Make-up Artist- from: N.C.S. [UK]
• Make-up artist- from: GradIreland
• Make-up Artist- from: Gradireland
• Make-up Artist- from: Makeup Artist - Career Insights

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

 Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

 Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Education Route: A Qualification in makeup design is beneficial.

Career Path to Make-up Artist/Designer: There are no usual career paths for the make-up designer. Often, they would have worked their way through the makeup Department starting as a trainee. 

Career Path from Make-up Artist/Designer: Senior Makeup Artist, Head of Department.

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €26k - €34k

Salaries vary by employer, location, experience, and duties.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Indeed

Last Updated: March, 2024

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Artists, Authors, writers and translators, Actors, entertainers and presenters, Dancers and choreographers, Musicians, Arts officers, producers and directors, Photographers, audio-visual and broadcasting equipment operators, Graphic designers, Product, clothing and related designers.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2024).

Employment growth was almost on a par with the national average for this occupation; employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022 but declined slightly thereafter. Based on the CSO Census data, over a quarter were graphic designers, with other key roles including actors, authors/writers, photographers, artists and arts officers.

Employment permits issued in 2023 were primarily for roles in animation, film and TV. Online job adverts (Eurostat/CEDEFOP) related mainly to graphic designers. At present, the data does not indicate that issues exist in sourcing skills for this occupation.

• SIPTU (Arts Culture Print and Media Sector)

  • Liberty Hall, Dublin 1
  • (01) 8586300
  • Click Here

• Irish Film and Television Network

  • First Floor, Palmerstown Centre, Kennelsfort Road, Dublin 20
  • 01 905 3595
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• National Association of Screen and Make-up Artists and Hairdressers

  • Click Here