Best Books for Aspiring Make-up Artists

Hello, make-up addicts (I know you’re out there!) ;)…this brings me to the question below:

“Could you suggest any makeup artist books to me? I really want to start learning a lot more.”  -Nicole S

It is always so refreshing to hear people wanting to learn more about make-up!  Make-up is such a wonderful subject and there is always something to learn…that’s a big part of why I love my profession…it always brings new challenges and allows me to express my creativity to its full potential.  I also just love being able to make people happy and give them the look they want to achieve.

For starters, I teach private make-up lessons (typically on a one-on-one basis although I don’t mind working with small groups).  I always lend my students Bobbi Brown’s most current book, Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual:  For Everyone from Beginner to Pro.  To be completely honest, I have not read the entire book; I’ve only skimmed certain sections but I highly recommend it as I love how the book is structured and the overall layout of the material.  It really breaks it down for beginners in terms of make-up application, while also providing great insider tips on how to break into make-up on a professional level.

Another confession, the only reason I purchased this book was because I got an amazing opportunity to meet Bobbi Brown in NYC at her book signing when this came out last year.  It was an invite-only event for make-up artists and I have to say I’m thankful to have been able to go and pick up a personally signed copy of the book.  Not only is it a great read, it also provides a little something for everyone!  It was also wonderful to meet an artist who has made such an impact on the make-up world.

Other amazing books I own and recommend:

• Face Forward by Kevin Aucoin – This was one of my first make-up books and it’s a must-have for anyone that loves experimenting with make-up and trying out new things.  I keep this on my coffee table in my living room and look at it whenever I need a source of inspiration.  To this day, the photos in this book captivate me and it is amazing to see Kevin’s ability to really transform a face.  Besides providing beautiful photos of his work (mainly celebrities), there are instructions on how to re-create the looks.

• The Beauty of Color:  The Ultimate Beauty Guide for Skin of Color by Iman –  Although Iman is not a makeup artist, this is still a great book to own and really study because it illustrates make-up styles on all different skintones.  The book is filled with celebrity images and make-up styles that are all very interesting to look at.  It also provides how-to’s for the looks created but I honestly just like to look at all the pretty pictures, they mesmerize me.

• Glamour Gurlz:  The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to Great Makeup and Gurl Smarts by Joanna Schlip –  This book is definitely written for a younger audience, such as a young teen just beginning to use make-up.  Joanna Schlip is a famous celebrity make-up artist and I  got to meet her at a make-up workshop she taught at The Make-up Show.  Besides being extremely talented, Joanna has an amazing heart and energy which I find to be so important in a make-up artist.  I bought this book AFTER meeting her because she touched my soul and I learned some really great make-up artistry tips from her!If you already have a good understanding on make-up, you may want to pass on this book altogether but it is definitely worth looking at.

Enjoy my booklist!  If there are any others I think of that would be of interest, I will be sure to share them in my blog.