How Makeup Artistry Prepares me for a Career in Nursing

This week I’ve got 2 days of makeup jobs for film, a fashion shoot scheduled for Saturday, another film job in the works for the following weekend, and negotiations with a bride for a wedding next month. Before I started my accelerated program, business hadn’t been this good, so now I have to decide how best to spend my time. Well, I decided that I would like to take advantage of these opportunities. In fact, I decided that my Certified Makeup Artistry (MUA) activities are very much in line with my plans to become a nurse one day. Do you agree? Take a look at my usual dialogue with a client on the set of a film:

 “Hello, my name is tia,” I state with a sweet, glaring smile. I squirt some sanitizer in my palms and twist my hands together, eyes remaining on my client while exuding confidence.

“I’ll be your makeup artist for today. What’s your name?”…

“Jane”; what a lovely name. So glad to meet you, Jane. What is your role today?…

“Now to get started, please tell me a little bit about your skin, Jane. Is it oily, dry, or a combination? Do you find that you are oily in the t-zones; or do you have dryness in certain areas? What do you usually do to treat your acne?”…

Okay, great; so I’ll start you off with a cleansing wipe. This will remove excess oil.” As I wipe down her facial skin gently, I educate.

“Next I’ll use an oil control lotion all over your face, so as to address your oily skin. This should keep you shine-free all day.”

Using my disposable sponge and scraping off product instead of “double-dipping”, I use the “aseptic techniques” that I learned in Makeup School.  As I apply product, I assess her skin:

“I notice that you have a few blemishes on your forehead. I will pat in a concealer to cover up those areas.

However, I won’t tamper with your freckles; they’re cute and bring out your personality!

Now when choosing a foundation, you want to choose a shade that matches more closely with your neck…”

Being an MUA has helped me to be open to serve different types of people even if I don’t necessarily agree with what they do. I have needed to put my preferences aside and treat people with kindness and dignity. It has definitely been the space where I’ve been challenged the most regarding what I value.

When it comes to men, it’s my duty to help them feel comfortable about having makeup services, so I spend time explaining in detail how my services are basic and normal for gentlemen. Most times as I educate while applying, he would express how he trusted me to do an excellent job without explaining. I always feel flattered when I am told this, and it helps me to be even more confident in my craft/skills. I have to work in people’s personal space as an MUA, and some clients share some of their makeup insecurities with me and ask for advice. They actually take my recommendations and appreciate them! I have the power to make an impact on their lives!

After an entire three months of tackling Level 1 of nursing school, I appreciate the level of trust between patient and nurse, one I’ve experienced similarly between myself and a client. It is the responsibility of both professionals to practice hand hygiene including clean and sterile technique to avoid contamination or infection; to obtaining a focused history in order to tend to current needs; and to educate throughout the interaction. Both have the ability to care for and fulfill the needs of others. As I prepare for the profession of nursing, I take my other professional interactions with people and use them to relay dignity, respect and care in a new setting. Overall, the level of profuse thanks that i have received as a Student Nurse in the clinical setting proves to me that being an MUA has prepared me well.

-tia