Want to take your makeup game to the next level? QC Makeup Academy‘s Student Ambassador, Veronika Kelle, is here with 3 life-changing makeup theory hacks that are guaranteed to do the trick!
Veronika is a graduate of QC’s Master Makeup Artistry Course, Pro Makeup Workshop, and Special FX Makeup Course. Connect with her on Instagram, as well as in the Virtual Classroom on Facebook!
Hi, my name is Veronika and I’m a Student Ambassador for QC Makeup Academy. Through QC, I am now a three-time certified makeup artist. I ran my own modeling agency for 15 years; organizing beauty contests and fashion shows. In addition, I worked alongside models, photographers, and MUAs. It was during this time that I fell in love with makeup artistry and decided to learn it professionally!
Becoming a Makeup Artist
Are you interested in entering the world of professional makeup? Would you consider yourself a makeup enthusiast? Do you love doing makeup, but you don’t know how to do it professionally? Have you been learning makeup through watching videos on YouTube – or have you been learning makeup through professional training?
These are all very good questions! And if you answered “yes” to any of them, then this article is definitely for you!
First of all, I can’t stress enough that the proper understanding of makeup theory is ESSENTIAL. It’s especially critical if you want to work as a professional makeup artist. In this article, I’m going to discuss why aspiring MUAs should have a proper understanding of makeup theory. Moreover, I’ll explain how your makeup applications can be hindered if you don’t understand it. Lastly, I’ll also list 3 makeup theory hacks that are guaranteed to improve your mastery.
(So, basically, you do NOT want to miss out on all of this golden nugget information!)
What is Makeup Theory?
Makeup theory is the heart and soul of your craft. It encompasses all of the knowledge, expertise, and essential techniques that allow you to apply a professional makeup look clients will be happy with.
In any profession, it’s important to know the theoretical foundations of that craft. The exact same thing applies to makeup! As an MUA, it’s critical that you learn and understand the proper makeup techniques, products, colors, shapes, shades etc. Moreover, you also need to know how to apply them professionally.
After all, clients will come to you for many different reasons. Every client has a different skin type, skin tone, and a unique face shape. You, as a beauty expert, have to choose the right products and know which ones will best match the client’s skin. Without learning makeup theory, you can lose a LOT of credibility in your work!
Learning Makeup Theory Through Professional Training
When you learn about makeup theory, your techniques become more flawless than ever! On top of this, you’ll also properly understand how skin works and how to work with different conditions. As a result, you’ll be able to provide clients with high-quality, professional services – as well as a much better experience overall!
As an MUA, the goal is to provide an experience so positive and unforgettable that your client would never be able to find it anywhere else. This is what will get you repeat customers, positive reviews, and countless referrals! And when it comes to learning how to do makeup to this standard, the key is to get a proper education.
Only through professional training can you gain a mastery of proper makeup theory, as well as the fundamentals needed to create any type of makeup look. Social media platforms may be useful for teaching you how to copy different looks or styles – but they don’t teach you how to master foundational techniques. They won’t teach you how to create looks that are 100% your own.
Once you’ve mastered the fundamentals, every look you create will be precise, symmetrical, and detailed. The best way to learn the basics of makeup and to understand makeup theory is to enroll in a professional certification course!
3 Makeup Theory Hacks to Improve Your Mastery
There are a LOT of makeup theory hacks out there, but I’ve picked 3 that I believe are the most important. Namely, because I learned these 3 theory hacks through QC Makeup Academy and they have allowed me to improve a LOT of my own skill-set as a makeup artist!
Makeup Theory Hack #1: Skincare First!
All beautiful makeup applications start with flawless, healthy skin. Skin is the canvas on which you’ll apply makeup, so always remember to prioritize skincare just as much as the makeup artistry itself. Good skincare is essential at any age, as it helps your skin to stay in good condition.
Our skin is the largest barrier against infection, virus, and bacteria. So, keeping our skin healthy and moist helps keep this barrier strong! An effective skincare routine can help prevent acne, treat wrinkles, and help the skin to appear more radiant and fresh. That’s why understanding different skin types, skincare products, ingredients, and their effects to the skin is all extremely useful. If you use products that are not suitable for the client’s skin type, the application won’t turn out the way you (or your client) want.
Worst case scenario, it will actually cause irritation, allergic reactions, etc. This is NOT the desired result, and you’ll likely lose the client’s trust.
Makeup Theory Hack #2: Learn About Color Theory!
Color theory is the foundation of a good makeup application. To avoid using the wrong colors or undertones for the skin, it’s very important to master your color theory! A basic understanding of color theory will give you the knowledge to evaluate your client’s skin tones. In turn, this will help you in color correcting, matching undertones, picking the right hues for the skin shade, and choosing the right colors for the applications.
Many of the principles of color theory are based on the color wheel. This easy-to-use tool is the basis for the infinite palette of colors you see around you, and will help you to use colors properly.
Makeup Theory Hack #3: Know Your Classic Makeup Techniques!
Classic makeup techniques are the bases of everything in makeup. Once you know the classics, you can create any kind of look! Over the years, there have been tons of viral makeup trends. Some of them have disappeared; some have come back into style. But classics makeup techniques are eternal.
By learning these staple techniques, you’ll be able to perfectly apply/create:
- Winged eyeliner
- Cat eye
- Smoky eye
- Red lip
- Glitter glam
- Well-shaped brows
- False eyelashes
- Natural and no-makeup looks
- And so much more!
One of the most essential classic techniques is contouring and highlighting. When applied correctly, this technique can minimize asymmetries, enhance bone structure, and actually make the look appear younger.
In short: understanding the classic techniques of makeup artistry will help you to enhance your client’s natural beauty. Moreover, combining these techniques will allow you to create any type of makeup look – from natural, to glamor, or even fantasy!
Why You Should Learn Makeup Theory with QC Makeup Academy
Do you want to avoid making mistakes in your makeup work? Would you like to truly be successful in the beauty industry? Then you MUST learn makeup theory through professional training! Practice your techniques, even when you’ve perfected them. Lifelong learning is also a major activity for a professional makeup artist. Updating your skills, learning new techniques, and expanding your knowledge will always pay off!
If you haven’t yet found the right makeup school to teach you professional makeup, look no further! I can recommend the best school for you: QC Makeup Academy!
QC provides a wide selection of makeup certification courses, provided through a unique, online learning system. Not only do you have the freedom to complete your training from home; you can do it at your preferred pace, too! I will forever recommend QC Makeup Academy’s online makeup classes to all aspiring and working makeup artists alike. Through this school, you’ll learn and understand makeup theory. By the time you graduate, you’ll be a master of all the professional, core techniques!
Food for Thought
In your opinion, what is the most important makeup theory?
I’d love to know your thoughts, so let’s discuss it in the comments section below! As always, thank you for reading! If you have any questions, feel free to connect with me in QC Makeup Academy’s Virtual Classroom on Facebook. I’m always happy to help you and answer your questions. 🙂
Well done! So important to have the proper education!
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Cheri! 🙂 Veronika definitely did a terrific job at breaking down 3 very important makeup theory hacks, and we certainly hope all of our readers find them just as beneficial as we do! <3
All the best,
The QC Team
I couldn’t Agree more that skin should always come first! And the basics of makeup should be engraved in our brains as artists!
Super informative Veronika! Well done X