DEVELOPING & STOCKING the PROFESSIONAL
A good makeup kit contains all the products and tools you need to do your work. The appearance and organization of your kit are a big part of the first impression you make when you show up for a job. No one wants to work with a makeup artist whose kit is dirty and disorganized.
One of the best ways to carry your supplies is in a small rolling suitcase. (A shoulder bag or backpack will be too heavy and not good for your back.) Organize all your equipment and supplies in containers. Zip-top plastic bags, palettes, vitamin boxes, brush rolls, small makeup bags, and dop kits are all excellent tools for keeping everything in its place. To make it easy to find what you need, label each container clearly so you know what’s inside without having to open it. A helpful trick is to transfer makeup into smaller containers to save space. Create a complete foundation palette by taking slices off your stick foundations. Pour liquids into smaller jars. Create a palette of multiple corrector and concealer shades. Arrange slices of lipsticks as well as balm in a lip palette. The more organized your kit is, the more efficient you’ll be as a makeup artist.
After each job, take the time to put everything back in its place. Clean any tools you used, sharpen pencils, spray cream products with alcohol, wipe off powder shadows, and replace products as needed. That way, your kit will always be ready to go, and you won’t have to scramble when you get a call to do a job at the last minute.
You never know what you will encounter when arriving on a job, so it makes sense to have all your supplies with you. Since that means toting around hundreds of products, it pays to organize them in categories. A checklist for everything you need to complete a professional kit follows.