The Difference Between Make-Up Artistry and Beauty Therapy

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We sometimes receive enquiries about makeup artistry courses, and there’s a perception amongst some people out there that makeup artistry and beauty therapy are interchangeable terms; however, there are differences between what the two industries entail, and, while they are related, they are not the same.

Makeup artistry involves covering up skin blemishes and correcting imbalances in facial structure through using makeup.  A good makeup artistry course will cover subjects like makeup for special occasions, film, TV, catwalk and modeling.  It also includes prosthetic work, like wounds, scars, fantasy and science fiction work, along with wigs and other facial hair.  If you are interested in this sort of field, the Design and Arts College of New Zealand offer a Certificate of Makeup Design and Production.

Beauty therapy involves quite a few different subjects, but whereas makeup artistry looks to cover up skin blemishes, the facial therapy aspect of beauty therapy seeks to correct those blemishes through the use of manual (using one’s hands), electronic, chemical or a combination of two or more methods, therapies.  While our students do learn makeup, this is a small component of the course — approximately 50 hours out of 1200 hours in total, or 4% of the course — and is strictly limited to day-to-day makeup, makeup for some special occasions and night-time makeup.  The primary focus of beauty therapy is on holistic treatment.

Hopefully this has shed a little more light on the difference between makeup artistry and beauty therapy, but, as always, if you have any further questions, as always, feel free to contact us during our office hours, and we will be more than happy to assist.

Scott Fack is the Director of Operations for The National School of Aesthetics, the South Island’s leading beauty therapy, nail technology and spa therapies training provider.