I’m Your Makeup Artist, Not Your Dermatologist.

As a makeup artist, it is my job to create an illusion of beautiful skin, not correct skin problems like acne, hyper-pigmentation, eczema, rosacea, etc. I direct all clients with skin issues to a dermatologist who can handle their needs. I’m not an esthetician or dermatologist, which means that I’m not a licensed professional who can treat skin issues. I know general information and because I read, research, ask questions, and genuinely care about the clients I work with, I like being informed and being able to offer assistance. There are some makeup artists who do double duty as licensed estheticians. Those artists are extremely qualified to help improve skin problems and I salute them!

Here’s the thing: some of us makeup artists who are NOT estheticians would love to help banish blemishes, add moisture to the skin, and provide products that even out skin tones, but we can’t, so we need to start directing clients to the appropriate sources. Makeup Guru Sam Fine discussed this very topic at The Makeup Show a few years ago. I can tell people all about how well a certain product works for my dry, eczema prone skin, but that doesn’t mean that the product will work for someone else. I don’t know what it feels like to have acne, but a relative does, and so, I turn to her for skin care advice that I pass on to others. As much as I enjoy helping others feel beautiful, I know when I need to stay in my lane. Recommending products to help recreate the illusion of good skin is okay, in my opinion, but you will never see me trying to TREAT a skin problem on a client. Again, that’s not my role. Sometimes, because we care, makeup artists can find themselves trying to solve a problem that only a licensed professional can fix, and that can’t be the focus of the appointment. When a client leaves my chair, and I see that happy smile on her face (sometimes “his” face), I know I’ve done the work that makes me proud, and that’s what matters in the end.