CERTIFICATION

EXAMINATION

The certification is based 20% on continuous assessment and 80% on practical certification exams in front of a jury:

• 1 TV Makeup evaluation
• 1 Beauty Makeup evaluation
• 1 Demonstration and Sales Makeup evaluation
• 1 evaluation on analyzing and creating cinema makeup with imposed script constraints
• 1 evaluation based on a synopsis where the candidate provides a detailed character description according to the story

At the end of their training, students present a photo portfolio of their makeup work at the exam, created by our team of professional photographers.

The validation of this portfolio by a jury of professional makeup artists leads to the awarding of a Level 4 RNCP Professional Certificate (RNCP40587 by decree of 04/30/2025, valid for 5 years until 04/30/2030).

The exam regulations for the Professional Makeup Artist certification are available here.

For more information about the exam procedures, feel free to ask us questions - Contact us.

CERTIFIED SKILLS

• Define your entrepreneurial project by identifying working conditions, legal statuses, and payment methods to provide makeup services.

• Design a mood board by selecting models, styling, and scenography to offer high-quality editorial images and assert your artistic approach.
• Create a photo portfolio by selecting images that showcase makeup skills to enhance a commercial approach or job search.
• Build an online commercial profile by creating a personalized identity and showcase of your work to expand your activity to a wide network, including audiences with disabilities.
• Analyze client needs by assessing work time and resources required to propose a personalized makeup service that respects any client disabilities.
• Define a budget for materials and products by identifying essential resources, suppliers, and issuing detailed quotes to conduct commercial negotiations with the client and finalize the service order.
• Organize your service by ergonomically preparing necessary materials and products to increase efficiency and speed during the makeup service and ensure the model's comfort.
• Choose appropriate products and tools considering the request and weather conditions to guarantee a personalized, high-quality service with long-lasting makeup results.
• Execute personalized makeup based on morphological and colorimetric identification, considering the model's skin type, complexion, eye, and hair color to offer a tailored service result.
• Perform makeup for TV set recordings by controlling complexion work, intensities, and finishes to adapt to technical conditions of a TV recording for a natural on-screen result.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills by adopting a professional appearance and clear oral communication to facilitate interaction with clients, service providers, and models.
• Perform in a work collective by identifying your tasks and those of other group members, adapting your posture and behavior to situations, locations, teams, and models, and identifying the requirements and constraints of different stakeholders to contribute to delivering an optimal service.
• Specialization in beauty makeup for sales and consulting: Execute personalized makeup based on morphological and colorimetric identification, considering the model's skin type, complexion, eye, and hair color to offer a tailored service result.
• Advise individual clients/prospects by leveraging a deep understanding of your audience to meet their expectations.
• Sell makeup services by tailoring your pitch to your target audience (store clients) to meet the prospect's expectations.
• Understand the role of a director of photography on a film set to analyze the impact of lighting on the makeup result on screen.
• Analyze the film's story, script, and context to create makeup that fits the needs of the scenario.
• Identify the physical and colorimetric characteristics of actors and adapt makeup to their complexion, morphology, skin type, eye, and hair color to achieve a realistic makeup result compatible with high-definition cameras and withstand weather conditions (rain, heat, etc.) for a long-lasting effect.
• Prepare a continuity bag by selecting appropriate products and tools for cinema to be quick and efficient during makeup touch-ups on set.
• Apply makeup for indoor and outdoor shoots by adjusting complexion work and finishes to adapt to all contexts, ensuring high-quality makeup results regardless of execution conditions.
• Perform maintenance and touch-ups on makeup by making necessary adjustments to ensure optimal makeup quality throughout the entire duration of the shoot or filming.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TRAINING DETAILS

PREREQUISITES:

Students are selected based on their application (administrative file and an Inspiration Book/Moodboard* (click for more info) reviewed by the faculty) and an individual interview with an Academy representative who assesses the candidate's motivation and artistic sensitivity, regardless of their diplomas and experience. 

^{*The Book/Moodboard aims to showcase your passions, inspirations, interests, and creations, whatever they may be. You should present them creatively and attach a brief note of intention to each: Collages, photos, paintings, drawings, dance, baking, sewing—there are no limits to the content of this book or moodboard as long as your creativity shines through. There is no specific or mandatory content to present, so you can freely compile your selection to reflect your personality, even if you have never done makeup before.}

All admitted candidates must be 18 years old by the start date, or for candidates aged 16 and 17, parental consent with a parent's ID will be required.

It is recommended to have a recent tablet or smartphone.

FIELD PRACTICE

Throughout their training, students will engage in numerous field practices in various domains such as television, theater, dance, events, etc., to gain initial experience, build a network, and facilitate professional integration. Examples: The Voice, Jardin d'Acclimatation, the Who’s Next Salon, Institut Français de la Mode, ...

REGISTRATION DETAILS

• No application or registration fees
• Deposit payable upon registration to confirm the training: €4,200
• First payment in mid-September: €4,200
• Second payment in mid-December: €2,800
• Third payment in February: €2,800
• Additional fees: Beauty Kit (Products & Brushes): €900 incl. VAT* + Hair Kit: €243.42 incl. VAT* + Cinema Kit: €372.20 incl. VAT* ^{(*2025 prices are indicative and subject to change depending on training options)}

Accepted payment methods: credit card (online or on-site), bank transfers. Failure to pay the full tuition 14 days before the start of the training will result in the cancellation of the registration.

ADMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

Students with disabilities who wish to enroll at the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy are advised to contact the disability advisor beforehand. The disability advisor is the main contact for students with disabilities.

To validate the registration, a preliminary interview is organized between the disabled student and the disability advisor to determine if the nature of the disability is compatible with the successful completion of the training program.

If the disabled student is deemed able to follow the training and confirms their registration, the disability advisor will be responsible for organizing all tasks related to their reception and ensuring coordination with the teaching and administrative teams.

Candidates with disabilities (according to Article L.114 of the Social Action and Family Code) presenting for exams may benefit from accommodations such as:

• The conduct of exams (material conditions, accessibility of premises, etc.).
• The duration of the exams can be extended by up to one-third of the normal time allocated for the exam, without altering the content of the exams, to maintain the required exam level, provided that the request and medical advice are presented at the time of registration.

The disability advisor will inform about the specific conditions for exam accommodations.

Disability Representative: Léa Bougon / Educational Coordinator / bougonl@makeupforever.fr

PROGRAM & TEACHING METHODS

PROGRAM

9-MONTH TRAINING PROGRAM:

From September to February:

• 6 months: Beauty/Fashion/TV & Hairdressing

From June to August:

• 3 months: Cinema & Special effects

BEAUTY / FASHION / VISAGISM

• Roles and qualities of the makeup artist
• Essential skin knowledge
• Beauty makeup, visagism (morphological study)
• Corrective makeup (contouring, sculpting, etc.)
• Bridal makeup (Western and Eastern)
• Ethnic makeup
• Fashion makeup (studio photos, runway, etc.)

AUDIOVISUAL

• Makeup for Television (corrective makeup, news, talk shows)

HAIRDRESSING

• Hairstyling techniques (blow-drying, braids, buns, updos, period hairstyles)

CINEMA SHOOTS (PERIOD AND CONTEMPORARY)

• Makeup for fiction (period films, aging, makeup/no makeup)
• Reading, understanding, and breaking down a script
• Roles of the makeup artist and head makeup artist on set
• Film industry productions
• History of Cinema / Image and lighting

SPECIAL EFFECTS

• Creating wounds, patinas, bruises, hematomas...
• Airbrush (creating and camouflaging tattoos, special effects, trompe l’œil)

PROSTHETIC CREATION

• Introduction to transfer and flat prosthetics
• Creating custom small prosthetics: molding and sculpting
• Casting, applying, and makeup of prosthetics

ADDITIONAL TEACHINGS

• Art culture classes, taught by a certified lecturer at the Louvre Museum - 20 hours

TEACHING METHODS

The training is delivered continuously, alternating between phases:

From 09:00 to 10:30:

• Theoretical: These are visual and interactive classes that teach theoretical concepts such as morphology, skin types, colorimetry, case studies on photos/videos, etc.

From 10:45 to 12:30:

• Demonstrations: The professor performs a makeup demonstration to teach the necessary techniques and gestures for executing a proper corrective beauty makeup.

From 13:30 to 17:00:

• Practical: The trainee practices executing a makeup look on a model (or on themselves if applicable) following a subject given by the professor. Practical workshops allow mastering makeup techniques and product usage.

Students also benefit from the following:

• Corrections provided by a professor during practical workshops;
• Group and/or individual debriefs of each participant's work;
• Evaluation: Professional simulation in front of a validation jury.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE:

• 1000 m² of training space, including a fully equipped professional photo studio (backgrounds, light boxes, etc.);
• Makeup stations (portable makeup cases), field practice kits, hairstyling heads, clamps, mannequins, etc.;
• Professional makeup products provided and replenished throughout the training;
• Face, Eye & Body Charts included;
• SONY HXR 4K high-definition cameras and large OLED screens used during demonstrations;
• Ergonomic workstations equipped with a high chair, mirror, and adjustable lighting;
• Variable intensity and color temperature LED panels used during makeup demonstrations and available for participants to photograph their work.

EXAM SESSION 2026 / 2027

The upcoming practical exam sessions will take place at MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy, 110 avenue Victor Hugo, 92100 Boulogne Billancourt:

PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP ARTIST SPECIALIZATION IN CINEMA AND SPECIAL EFFECTS MAKEUP

2026

• Wednesday, February 18, 2026 – TV Makeup Evaluation
• Thursday, February 19, 2026 – Beauty Makeup Evaluation
• Friday, February 20, 2026 – Sales Evaluation
• Tuesday, August 25, 2026 – Cinema Makeup / Image Rendering Evaluation
• Wednesday, August 26, 2026 – Cinema SFX / Image Rendering Evaluation

Expected number of candidates per session: 15

Session Coordinator: Léa BOUGON

2027

• Wednesday, February 17, 2027 – TV Makeup Evaluation
• Thursday, February 18, 2027 – Beauty Makeup Evaluation
• Friday, February 19, 2027 – Sales Evaluation
• Tuesday, August 24, 2027 – Cinema Makeup Evaluation
• Wednesday, August 25, 2027 – Special Effects Evaluation

Expected number of candidates per session: 15

Session Supervisor: Léa BOUGON