I’ve loved makeup since I was a little girl. There’s something about discovering a new lipstick or eyeshadow that makes you kind of giddy (especially when it comes to drugstore brands, which can sometimes be a surprise). At one point, I even thought I wanted to be a MUA because I love it SO much, so I’m always flipping through books and scouring the net for tips and tricks to try on both myself and other people when needed. Below are some of my favorite beauty books; they each serve a different purpose.
Kevyn Aucoin | Making Faces
The moment you decide you’re interested in pursuing this artistry, pick up this book. Kevyn was truly a master at his craft, and Making Faces gives you so much insight on the fundamentals of makeup and application techniques. This is a really good starting point.
Kevyn Aucoin | Face Forward
An extension of the last part of Making Faces, Face Forward focuses on celebrity transformations while still giving tips on how to apply makeup. Techniques from the late 90s, early 2000s were a little different from now (it was aaaall about a matte face), so if you’re interested in learning more about say, contouring but still making the skin not look too flat or hard, this is a good book to have.
Jemma Kidd | Make-up Masterclass: Beauty Bible of Professional Techniques and Wearable Looks
This has been my absolute favorite book for the last few years. It covers all of the basics, but Jemma’s focus is on creating flawless skin first, so all of the looks, from natural-beauty to high drama, feature skin that looks healthy and fresh. Making skin look good without piling on the product (especially in photos) isn’t as easy as it looks, so I tell everybody to read this book if they really want to try that “no makeup” makeup look. Knowing how to to do a cut crease is great, but if you really learn how to make skin look alive? You will be in business forever.
Scott Barnes About Face | Amazing Transformations Using the Secrets of the Top Celebrity Makeup Artist
I’ve been obsessed with Jennifer Lopez since she was a Fly Girl, so when she first introduced the “J.Lo Glow” during her J. Lo era (remember the My Love Don’t Cost a Thing Video?!) I was like um, yea, her MUA is the bomb. Scott Barnes was the creator of the glow (and I’ve yet to see anyone really recreate it like him), so About Face is a cool read if you want to learn more about how the right highlighting + contouring can transform your face, and to also see his work on some of his A-list clients.
Bobbi Brown | Living Beauty
Bobbi Brown is a guru when it comes to natural beauty. She really started the trend of women pursuing a more natural look with their makeup but still having fun with it. Her technique is all about becoming the best version of yourself, so this is a great reference tool for those who want to wear a little makeup but still look as natural as possible. If you have maturer skin, this book will help you with figuring out the best products to use as well.
Rae Morris | Beautiful Eyes: The Ultimate Eye Makeup Guide
This book is sheer fun. It’s all about the eyes, and there are so many different looks to try out if you want to be more creative with your work but need a little push. One of the things I really like about this book is not only does it have pictorial step by steps, but it also shows you the shadow fallout/cleanup process. Some people get discouraged when they start learning to do makeup bc it doesn’t look perfect from the start but in actuality, makeup is messy, and there are very few people who can apply makeup on other people without getting a little dirty. I loved that honesty.
There are many, many, many more books to read, but these are just some of my faves. Once my collection grows a bit more, I’ll do a part 2.
What’s your favorite Beauty Book? Why? Comment below!