3. Foundational knowledge

Now that you have a solid grasp of the basics, we can now begin to unpack all of the essential theory components you will need as an MUA. Some of the information in this module may be a refresher for you, and other sections could be a totally new learning experience! Before we can begin practising and refining our makeup application skills, we must understand why we do things a certain way. Gorgeous makeup applications do not happen by chance – there are a lot of factors that sit behind achieving the perfect looks for our clients.

As a skilled MUA, you will need to have a thorough knowledge of:

  • The anatomy of the skin
  • Anatomy of the face
  • Face shapes
  • Eye shapes
  • Natural lash curls
  • Lip shapes
  • Colour theory and the impact on selecting base colour products for clients
  • Skin types and tones
  • Common ingredients in cosmetics
  • How oil and water react in products
  • Contraindications and when to refuse service
  • How to identify contra-actions and ways to reduce them
  • Patch testing 

As you can see from the broad range of knowledge areas above, our job is not as simple as picking up a beauty blender and applying some foundation! In this module, you will learn all of the theoretical concepts and principles that underpin what we do day in and day out as makeup artists. As you work through each lesson in this module, be sure to take plenty of notes so you can refer back to them later.

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