Face Paint is a historical look at how we have used makeup to represent ourselves and understand each other socially. Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority by Melissa Schweiger A lot of the books on the list above show you completed looks and explain in text how to accomplish these ‘looks’. I teach you how to select the right products for you and where to apply them (through graphs) Reyna has created a series of makeup chart books, but this is the only other one I will mention here (they’re all good, though). You will learn how to mix flesh tones using only primary colors, you’ll find out the reason for variations in skin colors and undertones, and you’ll be able to identify flattering shades for the eyes, lips, and cheeks for all skin tones. I really feel that anyone who wants to learn more about color theory and how it affects the quality of your makeup should own this book.

Makeup Books: 21 Must-Reads for Aspiring Makeup Artists

Plus, Robert Jones covers makeup for all ages, even giving specific ways that more mature makeup lovers can continue to get their best face as they age. We've offered a few criticisms here, but that's not to say it isn't an excellent book. If you're interested in a career in makeup artistry---as opposed to just learning a few new ideas---this is an excellent choice. This is another book that focuses on the business side of makeup. We've included it because it's a more "nuts and bolts" approach to the career, and discusses building a kit, training, and portfolio building. Their book, Makeup Is Art: Professional Techniques for Creating Original Looks, is how you'd hope a makeup artistry book would look: gorgeous full-size color photos of models wearing avant-garde makeup, close-ups of skin treatments and masks, and detailed images of how-to techniques. The content starts with the basics (eyes, lips, cheeks, etc.) but moves to some interesting places: there's a discussion of the different types of professional makeup application (namely, advertising, editorial, and live events / catwalk / red carpet), but the book also discusses body art, underwater makeup, and (gasp!) makeup application on men. It's kind of silly that more books don't include men as a makeup topic. Sadly, Aucoin died very young---he developed a type of brain cancer called a pituitary tumor, and began severely abusing pain medication. In 2002, he died of kidney and liver failure related to his drug use. His story is both very sad and very inspiring.

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Another great book, this one much more of a step-by-step tutorial for someone who wants to see the craft of makeup application broken down into bite-sized steps.

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This is another must-have book in my opinion. Kevyn Aucoin, America’s preeminent makeup artist on the 1990s, shares his secrets on the basics of makeup application and technique and how to use the fundamentals to create a wide range of different looks. The sister duo who are the team behindPixiwooscreated this great makeup manual that links directly with the looks they create in the videos. I really like the Chapman sisters’ approach to makeup: they demystify the processes and techniques, and, like Sali Hughes above, have a really affordable approach to the brands they recommend. This would be a great gift for makeup-loving friends of all ages. Art and MakeUp by Lan Nguyen-Grealis So, if you were sitting there thinking, "These all sound like great books about makeup, but I'm looking for something written by a woman who is English royalty," then Jemma Kidd Make-up Masterclass: Beauty Bible of Professional Techniques and Wearable Looks is your book. According to Jolene, to eat pretty is to choose delicious, healthy foods that help you look and feel better. To eat pretty is also to live well, optimizing your health and happiness with a balanced, beautifying lifestyle. She includes a helpful A-to-Z directory of more than 150 radiance-boosting foods that you can start working into your diet.If you want to go more natural and avoid chemicals, this is the perfect guide! The recipes are super easy, and there are lots of them, so you can spend a lot of time going through this book. Working on eye looks is a practice all its own, so this chart book dedicated to just eyes is a great way to practice. Covering the face with products or substances from nature is an ancient custom that is practiced in various forms in different parts of the world. With our compendium of the best makeup books in PDF format you can take a tour of its origin and the various techniques to cover the imperfections of the face. Today, the makeup artist’s trade has a lot of prestige and, as a business, the cosmetics sector is quite profitable. But, this book is about so much more than just choosing the right makeup and learning how to wear it. It is a comprehensive makeup guide for makeup beginners, created for everyone, gender-neutral, and that considers every skin tone. Besides, Be Your Own Makeup Artist is full of beautiful pictures and sketches to help you understand everything, even if you’re a true beginner. What Makes Be Your Own Makeup Artist Different From The Rest?

Makeup Books EVERY Makeup Lover Needs to Own - Natalie Setareh Makeup Books EVERY Makeup Lover Needs to Own - Natalie Setareh

Anyway, the Marchioness of Douro writes a pretty good book about makeup. She goes deep on a lot of topics that many cosmetics books ignore, and discusses makeup for various skin tones (porcelain, fair, light olive, dark olive, and deep), age (she splits it up into teen to early 20s, mid 20s to 30s, mid 30s to 40s, 40 to 50, 50 to 60, and 60 and beyond), and the facial shape. She then goes into different looks AND how to work different looks in different light (ie, daytime, nighttime, flash photography, and so on). No makeup book collection is complete without this book. I guarantee you’ll first be drawn in by the beautiful cover (I sure was), but it goes so much deeper than just great visuals. It’s full of amazing inspiration and ideas for different makeup looks and styles!If you love makeup and want to learn as much as you can about it, I promise you… these are the only makeup books you will ever need. You can trust me on this, because I’ve read them all and I definitely have my favorites! In addition to tutorials, the Makeup Manual also has the “top beauty secrets only artists know, essential equipment to keep on hand, how to break into the business, and how to work with photographers and celebrities.” (source) Regardless of whether you want to do bridal makeup or not, if you'd like to get into makeup as a career, this is a great book to have. The business principles that the author discusses are relevant to ALL makeup artists, and not just the ones who work on brides. Plus, to do all this research online would take you hours, if not days---but most (not all, but most) of what you need to know is right here. This is another book that doesn't really provide techniques or glossy how-to photos; if that's your interest, you should look at the Kevyn Aucoin book and the Chris Scott book above. How to Be a Professional Makeup Artist: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners provides just that: a kind of road map to a makeup artistry career. Did We Miss Any?​

Makeup Formulated for Older Women Look Fabulous Forever | Makeup Formulated for Older Women

After all, he’s really the father of the contour and highlight trend as we know it. The Art of Makeup Can Be Studied: Classic Beauty is a bit more comprehensive than Face Paint, and I consider it to be a great reference book. It shows how history has molded accepted beauty rituals and patterns and the changes in cosmetics over the years. I don’t know about you, but I find that kind of thing SO fascinating! Wild Beauty is the perfect book if you want to try to DIY your own makeup and products. I always turn to it whenever I want to play around and get creative with making my own blends. It has tons of recipes for using essential oils to make perfumes, room sprays, lip balm, face and body oils, bath salts, juices, tonics, and more. Classic Beauty: The History of Makeup” is an enchanting expedition into the captivating tale of cosmetics. It presents a mesmerizing voyage through diverse cultures and ages. Crafted by Gabriela Hernandez, this book chronicles the potent evolution of makeup, unearthing its roots from ancient societies to contemporary trends. Through compelling narratives and arresting imagery, readers are immersed in the artful heritage and cultural resonance of cosmetics, making it an essential addition for those enamored with the enduring charm of beauty traditions. This is a great book with practical andaccessibleadvice for creating effective eye makeup for botheverydayand fancy nights out. This has helped me loads as I try to explore more creative uses of theeleventymillion eyeshadows I own. Pretty Iconic by Sali Hughes

Barnes followed up About Face’s success with Face to Face, another equally tantalizing makeup tutorial featuring the incomparable, Kim Kardashian, on the cover. Make-Up Designory's Beauty Make-Up is pretty straight-forward---base, brows, eyes, cheeks, lips---but it includes sections on applying makeup to mature models, applying makeup via airbrush, and working with brides. You get the sense that they borrowed from their live classes to write the book, and that's a good thing. There's a (very) small chapter on actually working in the beauty biz, but it's not long enough for us to include it in our section titled... Books for Aspiring Makeup Artists​ and the Business End of Things Last, but not least, here’s my favorite makeup book of all times: Be Your Own Makeup Artist . I am so proud to have written and published this book, and am SO honored that it has made it’s way into cosmetology school curriculum.