What’s the Secret to Being an Efficient and Fast Makeup Artist?

Here’s a topic that’s all too familiar for all makeup artists alike: getting caught up in the minutiae. We’ve all been there – obsessing over that perfect winged eyeliner or the precise blending of prosthetic edges – only to find ourselves stuck in a beauty routine rut, and unable to move forward.
Stay with me as I’ll share my own experiences and challenges with perfectionism in makeup artistry, offer practical tips for prioritizing the bigger picture, and introduce some time-saving techniques to keep your creative flow going. So, if you’re ready to stop sweating the small stuff and boost your productivity, stay tuned!

What’s the Secret to Being an Efficient and Fast Makeup Artist?

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In This Episode We Cover:

• How prioritizing tasks and setting time limits can prevent tiny details bogging you down, and make you more efficient.
• The importance of periodically stepping back to evaluate your work from a distance.
• Maintaining positive momentum by staying organized and thinking ahead during the makeup application process.

Episode 88: Show notes

Ah, makeup – a world where creativity flows and beauty blossoms.
But if you’re like me, you’ve probably faced the age-old challenge of getting caught up in the tiny details.
Trust me, it’s a common hurdle, especially when that perfectionism kicks in. But I want to share some wisdom and tips on how to shift your focus from those minute details to the bigger picture, so you can enhance your makeup game.

And when you think about it, us working makeup artists find ourselves in unique situations within the workplace.
We have to create looks, images from scratch. But within a very short time limit. So it’s important that the first step is always simply being aware that time is money, and that your working time is precious.

Ready to dive in? Let’s go!

The Perfectionism Trap

When I first started out in makeup artistry, I would easily get stuck on the little things.

Maybe it was an unruly lip line, a smudged winged eyeliner on an eye makeup, or even the fine detail work in prosthetics.

One tiny hiccup and I would hit a mental block. Get completely fixated on that one thing. And not be able to move forward.

I guess they call it analysis paralysis?

But guess what? This obsession often derails your flow, increases stress, and can even stifle your creativity.

The Impact of Obsessing Over Details

When you’re hung up on minute imperfections, the hard and fast truth of it all is you’re losing valuable time.
You may spend five, ten, or even fifteen minutes trying to fix something that, in the grand scheme, doesn’t matter that much.
This not only hampers your productivity but also impacts your ability to see the bigger picture.

Imagine working on a full-head cowl in a prosthetic makeup look and getting fixated on an edge that’s going to be entirely covered by a wig anyway!

Time Management and Prioritization

One of the crucial aspects in overcoming this fixation is time management.

I set myself time limits for each task to avoid overworking specific areas. Setting time limits can make a world of difference. Also, it’s important to identify which details are critical to your look and which can be let go if needed.

I find this is such a good idea and one of the best ways to keep yourself accountable, in check. And make sure that you’re constantly moving forward and always thinking about the next step, not just the one you’re on.

I’ve even crafted a free guide to help you with time management techniques! You can grab it at themakeuprefinery.com/save-time.

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Valuable Tips and Tricks

Step Back and Evaluate

Periodically step back and evaluate your work as a whole. Sometimes, all you need is a new perspective to realize that those tiny imperfections are hardly noticeable.

Seek Constructive Feedback

Get feedback from others.

Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes can offer insightful perspectives, and sometimes, a perspective totally different to yours. Doing this can help you focus on what truly matters.

Use Tools and Techniques Efficiently

Efficiency is key.

For instance, having a cordless hair dryer can be a game-changer when you’re doing stretch-and-stipple makeup. It lets you be mobile, drying and powdering simultaneously, thus saving precious minutes.

And if your budget isn’t stretching to a new, cordless hairdryer anytime soon, even simply enhancing your kit a little bit with something as simple as an extension cord so you can walk around the makeup chair with the cable out of the way, can be a huge factor in improving your work flow and efficiency.

These are just a couple of specific examples of thinking logically about methods of improving how you work, and ways of contributing towards saving time in your makeup routine.

Think Big Picture

I often compare this to sculpting prosthetics, where I focus on the overall form before fine-tuning the details.

By concentrating on the bigger picture first, you can lay down a solid foundation before refining it.

And honestly, this may well be the crux of one of the biggest reason we have a hard time finishing makeup looks in the alotted time. Simply spending too much focus on the small details in the first place.

Stay Ahead of the Game

Keep your makeup products in order.

Always think ahead. For instance, as soon as you finish one step, set that product aside and bring the next one forward.

This keeps your workflow smooth and uninterrupted.

Embrace the Bigger Picture

So, to sum up, don’t let the small stuff hold you back.  Just like they say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff,” right?

Practice focusing on the broader context, and you’ll notice your efficiency and creativity soar. I hope these tips help you have more fun with your next makeup project, appreciating it from a new or slightly different point of view.

The good news is that I truly believe this gets easier the more you are aware of it. And if you can start each makeup with a gentle reminder to yourself that you do have enough time, and that you will do great work, that you can acquire focus one small thing at a time.

Click here to listen to this episode!

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