Makeup: The Ultimate Guide by Rae Morris

The Makeup Artist Handbook by Gretchen Davis

Makeup Makeovers: Weddings by Robert Jones
Pro Makeup: Salon Secrets of the Professionals by Kit Spencer
About Face by Scott Barnes
Plastic Surgery Without the Surgery by Eve Pearl
Facing the Mirror with Cancer by Lori Ovitz
Asian Faces by Taylor Chang-Babaian
Designing your Face by Way Bandy
Beautiful Skin of Color by Jeanine Downie
1. Dick Smith’s Monster Make-Up Handbook — This book is written by Dick
Smith, a legendary special effects makeup artist considered by his peers to be the
“Godfather” of special effects makeup. Including makeup techniques ranging
from the basic to the advanced, this is the book that inspired many of today’s most
successful makeup artists.
2. Special Makeup Effects for Stage and Screen — With this full-color book
you’ll learn exclusive tips and techniques from seasoned makeup artists. It’s jam
packed with amazing information that would normally take you years to learn.
Featuring a recipe-style approach as well as the how’s and why’s of special
effects makeup and prosthetics, this book also contains a DVD with step by step
tutorials that make it easy to learn these techniques.
3. Grande Illusions — Written by Tom Savini, a top special effects makeup artist,
this book walks you chronologically through his films up to 1982. In this book he
describes his love for the art and how he developed his interest in special effects
makeup. It includes many how-to examples and rare photos.
4. Grand Illusions (Book 2) — This sequel to “Grande Illusions” covers Tom
Savini’s films from 1983 to the present. It has even more full color pictures and
detailed instructions of Tom’s amazing special effects work. A must-have for any
beginner or advanced special effects artist!
5. The Monster Makers Mask Makers Handbook — This in-depth manual
teaches you step-by-step how to make custom latex rubber masks. A fully
illustrated book with many tips and tons of information on materials and
techniques. A fantastic resource!
6. Prop Bulders Molding and Casting — If you are looking to increase your
knowledge of molding and casting compounds then this is the book for you!
Covers everything from neoprene latex to silicone,  including a section on
vacuforms and plans to help you build your own vacuform machine.
7. A Complete Guide to Special Effects Makeup: Conceptual Artwork by
Japanese Makeup Artists — A completely up to date guide written by some of
Japan’s most talented and up and coming makeup artists. Features step by step
instructions with full color pictures for everything from basic techniques to masks
and full scale prosthetics. Dozens of projects for you to follow along with!
8. Special Effects Make-Up — Written by European special effects makeup artist
Janus Vinther, this how-to book explains the techniques behind creating life like
imitations of body parts, monsters, and bloody wounds. Features more than 300
gory full color photos. This is a great book for beginners!
9. Special Make-Up Effects — This book concentrates on the horror and special
creations genre. It gives useful information on materials, techniques, and tips to
create unique makeup effects. Offers a large amount of information and fills in the
holes other books have often left out.
10. Techniques of Three-Dimensional Make-Up — This fully illustrated guide
offers more sophisticated techniques used for stage and film. Features all the steps
of aging an actor, making positive and negative molds, making foam latex
appliances, casting hands and special features, and duplicating natural features.
11. Making Faces, Playing God: Identity and the Art of Transformational
Makeup — This well-written book explores the psychology of physical
transformation. The author also talks about how we as an audience and society
view physical transformation of actors. This is the book for anybody interested in
visual arts, film, theater, and in philosophical problems of transformation.
12. The Face Is a Canvas: The Design and Technique of Theatrical Makeup — A
revolutionary book written by Irene Corey that treats the study of makeup as a
creative art form. She approaches the face as if it’s a canvas. She writes of her
methods and techniques and includes photos, illustrations, and paintings.
13. The Makeup Artist Handbook: Techniques for Film, Television,
Photography, and Theatre — This gorgeous full color book is for film, theater,
and television makeup artists who need to know the basics on how to create
flawless makeup. Includes tips and techniques from many professional makeup
artists and includes a full reference section.
14. Stage Makeup: The Actor’s Complete Guide to Today’s Techniques and
Materials — This is a wonderful, all purpose, “how-to” guide for theater
makeup. It explains all the basic techniques including putting together a makeup
kit, analyzing facial features, creating a picture file, caring for skin, and using a
color-mixing chart. A must have resource for theater actors and makeup artists!
15. Theatrical FX Makeup — A practical hands on guide to the art of using makeup
to create visual effects. Theatrical FX is a thorough resource of tips, tricks, and
techniques used by talented makeup artists. Includes many step by step
instructions and a supply list.
16. Men, Makeup & Monsters: Hollywood’s Masters of Illusion and FX —  A
dozen of today’s most talented makeup professionals explain how they
accomplished their most notable effects in this in-depth book. Whether you are
looking for a career in the industry or just want to know “how did they do that?”,
this is the book for you.
17. Behind the Mask — This book is jammed full of color pictures of the greatest
monsters and the men that brought them to life. Includes many never-before-seen
pictures and information from The Terminator, The Exorcist, Star Wars, and
more. A fantastic reference for hobbyists, up and coming makeup artists, not to
mention horror movie fans!
18. Kryolan Makeup Manual by Arnold Langer — A wonderful source full of
information and inspiration for professional theatrical makeup application.
Includes sections on laying crepe wool, 3D materials, and bald caps. Covers
everything from aging to zebra makeup!
 19. Stage Makeup by Richard Corson — This book is widely referred to as the
bible of stage makeup! It addresses principles and techniques in the use of
makeup for the contemporary performer. This easy step by step guide has 20
comprehensive chapters covering all aspects of stage makeup application.
20. Stage_Makeup_Step-by-Step — This book uses a clear and logical format to
answer hundreds of questions pertaining to makeup for stage and television. It is
broken down into sections on small stage, medium stage, and large stage makeup.
Also covers makeup for Afro-Americans, Orientals, and Hispanic actors.
21. The_Complete_Make-up_Artist:_Working_in_Film, _Television,
_and_Theatre — Contains everything a student needs to know to embark on a
career in media makeup. This book provides a wealth of information, activities,
and advice. Features step by step color illustrations throughout!
22. The Silicone_Art_Book — This book covers the materials, methods, and
techniques for coloring, painting and finishing silicone rubber. Has loads of
information on rapid catalysts, the different types of silicone, coloring, and
seaming.
23. Make-up_Designory’s_Character_Make-up — This book is a step by step
guide for those wanting to create character based makeup. It explains techniques
ranging from simple effects to complex prosthetic makeup. Full color photos
accompany each step to offer easy to follow instructions.
24. A_Consumer’s_Dictionary_of_Cosmetic_Ingredients — Take the guesswork
out of finding safe and effective cosmetics! This book helps you sort out the good
ingredients from the bad. Virtually every chemical found in cosmetics, shampoos,
soaps, perfumes, shaving creams, etc. is evaluated in this book.  Alphabetical
arrangement makes it easy to look up any ingredient.
25. Books about Animation, Makeup and Special Effects — These books cover
the basics of amateur animatronics, robotics, and techniques of three dimensional
makeup. Learn fantastic information on creating a life mask, molds, casting, foam
latex, and more!
26. The Big List of Makeup Books — A comprehensive list of must have books for
any aspiring special effects makeup artist. These are the books that you will refer
to over and over again!
The Professional Make-Up Artist Volume I Joe Blasco and Vincent J-R Kehoe.
. Designing Your Face: The Illustrated Guide to Using Cosmetics by Way Bandy
 Way Bandy was the original celebrity makeup artist
whose work epitomized the glamour of New York fashion in the 70’s and 80’s. I
searched high and low for his books for years after learning that Kevyn Aucoin stole a
copy of Designing Your Face from his public library as a kid and still had it (autographed
no less) in his possession at the time of his death. If you are able to get your hands on a
copy, you may smile at the rudimentary hand-drawn illustrations. More importantly, you
will notice that Bandy had an eye that was ahead of his time. As you become immersed in
his techniques for creating a glowing complexion, you may forget that you’re reading a
1977 title and not the latest issue of Allure.
2. Styling Your Face: An Illustrated Guide to Fifteen Cosmetic Face Designs for
Women & Men by Way Bandy

Would you like further evidence that Way Bandy was

ahead of his time? Read that title again. Who would have thought that in 1981, a makeup
artist would include men in his book on makeup, let alone incorporate men into the
book’s title? Much respect. What I love about each of his fifteen “face designs” is that
they are built around an entire concept that he describes in vivid detail, down to the hair
and wardrobe. His understanding of a look in its totality makes him a man after my own
heart!
3. The Art of Makeup by Kevyn Aucoin
 Kevyn, Kevyn, Kevyn…I probably would not be a
makeup artist today had I not seen his work in my Mom’s early issues of Allure when I
was still in elementary school. Of his three bestselling books, this one by far relies most
on its massive photographs than it does on written content. Aucoin briefly outlines the
basics of makeup tools and application techniques, then indulges readers in an entire
segment of the signature makeup styles from the 20’s to the 90’s. The second half of the
book features before/afters and celebrity portraits. It’s huge format and artful photos still
make this one of my favourite coffee table books to date.
4. Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin

Now we get into the meat and potatoes of makeup artistry

as the magician starts to reveal his secrets! With the same high quality photographs that
became standard for all his books, Aucoin goes into much more detail on how to work
with various types of products, and his trademark highlighting and contouring techniques
which are undoubtedly inspired by Way Bandy’s Designing Your Face. All of Kevyn’s
books I hold with near biblical reverence, but I will say if I had to pick my favourite, this
one would be it.
5. Face Forward by Kevyn Aucoin
 The most inspiring thing about this book for me as a
makeup artist is seeing how Kevyn truly connected with his clients. Of course, each
portrait is accompanied by step-by-step how-to’s, but each portrait is also accompanied
by a thoughtful tribute to the person behind the maquillage. As an artist, he had an
unparalleled Michelangelo-like ability to “chip away the stone that is not David” to
reveal people at their most beautiful while preserving their uniqueness. In this book
Aucoin also stretches the reader’s imagination further, taking famous faces and
transforming them into icons of previous eras. Who else could morph Martha Stewart
into Veronica Lake?
6. FINE Beauty: Beauty Basics & Beyond for African American Women by Sam
Fine

My love of makeup artist Sam Fine is no secret. I’ve sang

his praises and the praises of his book before and I probably will again! Whether you’re a
woman of colour looking for expert advice or a makeup artist looking to expand your
skills, this book is essential to understanding the specific needs and considerations for
making up deeper skintones.
7. The Beauty of Color: The Ultimate Beauty Guide for Skin of Color by Iman
 Iman knows a thing or two about the trials and tribulations
of being an ethnic beauty with limited makeup choices. Arriving in Manhattan from
studying Political Science at Nairobi University in 1975 to model, she would repeatedly
encounter makeup artists who were confounded by her rich skintone. In her book, she
teaches women of all races how to look their best so they can unabashedly celebrate their
exotic features and skin colours. Brainy, beautiful, and a lover of diversity? I need a
moment to bow down to Iman’s greatness.
8. The Beauty Manual: How to Look Your Best Ever by Sandra Morris

I admit that one of the reasons I adore this 1999 title is

because it features images of the great supermodels of the 90’s on nearly every page.
Don’t let it’s diminutive size fool you. This is a little hardcover wellspring of beauty tips
that cover a huge range of topics in addition to makeup such as skin care, body care,
fitness, aromatherapy, nutrition, hair care, personal style, and…the beauty benefits of
sex?
9. Makeup: The Ultimate Guide by Rae Morris
 The first book by Australia’s top fashion and celebrity
makeup artist Rae Morris is an ambitious, comprehensive guide to fashion makeup with
captivating photography by Steven Chee. Her clean and creative applications make it
easy to see why she was named Australian Makeup Artist of the Year four times over. In
addition to the standard chapters on makeup techniques for each part of the face, Morris
also includes chapters dedicated to makeup for Asian eyes and makeup for women over
40.
10. The Lighting Cookbook for Fashion & Beauty: Foolproof Recipes for Perfect
Portraits by Jenni Bidner & Eric Bean

Seeing repeated recommendations for this book by

artists with absolutely breathtaking portfolios was more than enough to convince me to
pick up a copy of this book. The detailed technical explanations of lighting and
photography will arm makeup artists with the knowledge necessary to become a highly
valued contributor to the team on a photo shoot.

Glamour in 6 dimensions by Judith brown