Are you paying to work as a make up artist?

With fees being cut constantly and artists feeling like they have to reduce their rates it's probably time to really examine why you may feel no better off despite working your arse off!

Gone are the days when we got paid to work on editorial, weren't asked if we could reduce our rate due to 'budget issues' or worse still, could we do it for free for the exposure. I mean, why not! Father Christmas pays your bills and the honey monster puts food on your table... doesn't he?!

So let's get on with what it is actually costing you to do a make up, I mean, it's only make up right? It falls off trees and lands in that big ole make up kit of yours?! Another pressie from Father Christmas I have no doubt.

Let's start with the nitty gritty, the stuff clients like to forget about:

Public Liability Insurance & Car Insurance – let's average this to around €550 per year, just for sh@ts and giggles. This would mean your public liability Insurance and car insurance was basically costing €1.50 per day.

Car tax – lets say €300 a year, €0.82c per day.

Makeup Brushes – If you start with a very basic make up brush kit, you know, the kind you might buy when you're studying, you're probably talking 12 brushes and you'll probably pay around €95 for a decent enough set. Of course, if you are working the industry it's very likely you have multiples of each type of brush, often amount to anything from 50 to 100 brushes in your brush kit, an average of about €12-25 per brush? Pretty expensive eh? Yep, you get the picture.

Petrol – at an average of of about €1.52 a litre, so that job that's 'just down the road' (30 miles away) is going to add up pretty sharpish!

Training / workshops etc. - yep, they cost money too! And a decent one isn't cheap! You're talking anywhere from €1000 for a basic course up to €8000 for a really extensive one. 

Advertising / Social Media - Don't even get me started on this! Advertising on a well known bridal site for example can cost anything up to €900 for the year. Not to mention various bridal fares and events you might showcase at. As for social media, how time consuming is that? Just getting your name out there on social media is a full time job in itsself! 

Makeup – Now this is the tricky one! So I have based my pricing on brands which are inexpensive (for example Sleek Makeup) and brands which are more expensive (Mac Cosmetics) as a general guide to prices*. Then I worked out the average.

 * I am of course aware that there are artists using brands which are much, much more expensive than this listed which would easily render their price per face at least double of even triple what I have listed. So remember, this is a very basic guide!

Foundation – 30ml average size

average price €10 - €19 (€14.50)

average amount of faces approx 20

Cost per face = low end - €0.50

Cost per face = Mid range - €0.95

Average Cost per face = €0.73

Concealer (face) – average price €4 - €13 (€9)

average amount of faces approx 20

Cost per face = low end - €0.20

Cost per face = mid range - €0.65

Average Cost per face = €0.45

Concealer (eyes) – average price €8 - €13 (€10)

average amount of faces approx 20

Cost per face = low end - €0.40

Cost per face = mid range - €0.65

Average Cost per face = €0.50

Powder – average price €10 - €22 (€16)

average amount of faces approx 40

Cost per face = low end - €0.25

Cost per face =mid range - €0.55

Average Cost per face = €0.40

Blush – average price €6 - €16 (€11)

average amount of faces approx 100

Cost per face = low end - €0.06

Cost per face = mid range - €0.16

Average Cost per face = €0.11

 Eye shadows* - average price per shadow €4 - €11 (€8)

Average number of shadows used per eye make up approx 3

Average amount of application per eye shadow approx 100

Cost per face = low end - €0.04

Cost per face = mid range - €0.11

Average Cost per face = €0.08

*This of course does not take into account the ridiculous amount of shades, textures etc. of shadows any artist will have in their kit. Again, we are going all out basic on this.

Eye liner (Gel) – average price €7 - €11 (€9)

average amount of faces approx - 100

Cost per face = low end - €0.07

Cost per face = mid range - €0.11

Average Cost per face = €0.09

Mascara – average price €5 - €11 (€8)

average amount of faces approx - 30

Cost per face = low end - €0.16

Cost per face = mid range - €0.36

Average Cost per face = €0.26

False Lashes – average price €2 - €11 (€7)

average amount of faces approx - 1

Cost per face = low end - €2.00

Cost per face = mid range - €11.00

Average Cost per face = €7.00

Lip Pencil – average price €3 - €11 (€7)

average amount of faces approx - 50

Cost per face = low end - €0.06

Cost per face = mid range - €0.22

Average Cost per face = €0.14

Lipstick / Gloss – average price €5 - €12 (€9)

average amount of faces approx - 30

Cost per face = low end - €0.16

Cost per face = mid range - €0.40

Average Cost per face = €0.30

Low End Cost per face = €4.44

Mid Range Cost per face = €15.06

Average Cost per face = €10.06

Remember, I haven't taken into account puffs, sponges, mascara wands, loose pigments, glitters, brush and tool cleaner, skin care – cleanser, toner, moisturiser, cotton wool, cotton buds, airbrush equipment and make up, make up case/trolley and bags and the list goes on...

Recently I quoted for a job which was 'just a few hours' and was asked to reduce my rate. The 'few hours' was actually 10 hours and I had 15 faces to do, yep, 15! I got a train there and back as I had no car at the time, the train cost me €28 return. I had a big ole heavy kit to carry which meant I had to get a taxi, from my house to the train station (€8 going to the train station and €8 returning), then another taxi from the train station to the job (€6 to the job and €6 back to the station).

So I think we can safely take it that in all, that job I reduced my rate for actually cost me at least €206. Yes, you read that right! €206!

So I ask you all, next time you consider working for free, at a reduced rate or for next to nothing because 'it's a friend of a friend of a friend' please think of your cost, not to mention your bills, you career and your dignity!

This Sh@t Costs Money!

Ah yes, long gone are the days when money crossed palms without any question, query or rhyme. In the good ole days giving a quote or getting paid a proper rate was never an issue but now it’s all ‘will you do it for a credit?' or ‘You’ll get great exposure?’... blah, blah bloody blah!

Let’s face it, the only people that look at those credits are our competitors and as for exposure… if I want to expose myself I’ll streak across a football pitch, neither of which will pay my bills!

Has everyone forgotten that it costs money to work as a professional makeup artist? I know some people have the notion that ‘it’s only makeup…’, ‘sure I do my own makeup all the time…’ etc. etc. but let me just break it down a little here in the hope of shedding some light on this financial situation which is making us all grit our teeth right now.

So you want me to come to your house to do your makeup? Great! Well my vroom vroom costs money to run and the petrol prices, as you know, are crazy, oh and I also have insurance and tax to pay on my car. Oh and least I forget, I have to pay my AA Insurance which is vital. After all, if I do break down/get a flat tyre on the way to your house it means I can get that sorted so I don’t let you down… yay!

So you have sensitive skin and I can’t use facial wipes and you require a particular type of cleanser – hypo-allergenic? Suitable for sensitive skin? No problem! I carry a range of skincare products to suit the majority of skin types. Hey it’s all part of the service.

You get kinda’ oily and are worrying about that makeup stuff slipping off your face? No worries, I have primers that work like magic. They are expensive but you are so worth it!

You get dry lips? Yep, that will be the cold weather, sure I have a great lip balm that’s an industry fave and I am never without it in my kit.

You want to be airbrushed? Giving you a flawless complexion and a long lasting finish? No problem! I trained in Airbrush makeup doncha' know! Yep, it was an expensive course and I also like to keep up to date with new techniques so I tend to do workshops on it every now and then, just so I can always offer my clients the best of the best! Oh and did I mention I also carry spare airbrush guns? Just in case I have a lot of faces to make beautiful, because most of you ladies don’t have time to wait for me to clean out an airbrush gun. 

What’s that you say, will I have a shade that suits you? Sure, I carry at least 6 – 8 shades of airbrush makeup and I also have an even larger selection of cream makeup’s in case you prefer the look, feel or finish of those. You lucky, lucky duck!

You have some blemishes and are concerned about those dark circles under your eyes? Don’t fret! I have just about every kind of concealer you can think of, all the best brands of course!

Now let me set that beautiful base with a gorgeous and lightweight powder, can’t have your makeup not lasting all day/night long now can we.

As an artist I also love to put the contours back into your face after I've made that canvas of yours all even and flawless, so I have a gorgeous array of bronzer's to suit and some cute blushers to add that pop of colour back into those cheeks of yours.

You want a smokey eye? A natural eye makeup? A classic contoured eye? Something bright and colourful? Excellent! My selection of shadows covers every need, want and desire. I have matte, cream and metallic textures coming out of my … so I know I’ll have exactly what you need.

You want a little sumin' sumin' to make those gorgeous eyes of yours pop? Cool! I have so many loose pigments and glitters it’s just not funny.

You love that flick of eyeliner? I do too! What colour would you like?

You wear contact lenses and have very sensitive eyes? Poor baby :/ I have a great selection of mascaras and you know these babies only last about 3 months once opened? Yep, that means I have to replace them on a regular basis but hey, the hazards of the job right?

And eyelashes? Yep, I have those. Plenty of them. I use only 100% human hair lashes and to stick them on, I have every kind of glue… oh wait, you’re allergic to latex? No problem! I have latex free glue just in case!

Pencils, pencils, pencils… You don’t want that heavy lip line and want me to make sure the lip pencil matches your lipstick or gloss? Sure! I have that covered so don’t you worry your little head.

You like lipstick rather than gloss? You want a nude shade… oh wait… a cool shade? Oh and you don’t have one for touch ups so can you have mine? Hmmm

Sorry? What’s that you say? You can’t pay me but you’ll tell all your friends what a great job I did and they might book me to do their makeup? Woop de do! So you know what I’m thinking, in order to keep this bartering system going I’m thinking next time I go to restock my kit I’m gonna’ ask if I can have everything I want and need for free too and in return I will tell everyone how great the shop/brand/sales person is… that will work right?!?!