Beauty is a Business
What every Esthetician and MUA Needs to Know
Once upon a time, in a kingdom graced with a thousand shades of concealer, someone decided beauty was big business. And I mean BIG. “Want to make your passion pay the bills?” they whispered. I want to be an esthetician they creied. Listen up—because this is not your average ‘build a portfolio, hope for the best’ blog post.
Let’s get right into it: Makeup is magic. But! Magic doesn’t pay unless you know how to bottle it. The truth? Beauty is a business.
A dazzling, unpredictable, capricious business that wants your best and will reward you for it, if you’re clever.
First, stop thinking inside the palette. Your brushes are not just tools—they are wands, swords, microphones. Ever turned a shy client into a smoke-eyed vixen in 10 minutes flat? Watch her transform, watch yourself become part therapist, part magician, part business mogul in a single swoop. Yes, that is the sound of coins clinking somewhere in the future.
But don’t rely only on the chair. There’s a buffet of routes to that glistening gold. Become the contour QUEEN of Instagram. Start bizarre, viral TikTok tutorials with cats and glitter, or become the local wedding whisperer who can airbrush all hangovers into oblivion. Don’t forget e-commerce! Your signature pinky-peach gloss can earn you while you sleep (or when you’re knee-deep in glitter on a Friday night). There are beauty boxes, online courses, affiliate links, pop-ups, subscription content, product launches, sponsored reviews, maybe even a book deal if that’s your jam. Endless. Truly endless.
But—don’t lose the plot chasing every dollar. The biggest income comes from this: understanding your client is everything. They want to be beautiful. More importantly, they want to be understood. Hear their stories. See their hang-ups as opportunities. Listen to the little things. Connect soul-to-soul, brush-to-cheek. That’s loyalty. That’s repeat business. That’s “can you do my cousin’s prom?” networking. Every face is a new door.
Here’s the secret. Ready?
People buy you, not your tools.
The smarter you are about branding yourself, building trust, and picking the path that fires you up, the more zeroes you’ll add to your invoice. Don’t be shy. Experiment. Niche down. Niche up. Make it weird! Your weirdness is your asset.
You’re not just a makeup artist. You’re a business artist. And that means that whether you're an MUA or esthetician you need business cards.
So pick a lane. Or ten. Make it yours. Charge accordingly. And let your passion fuel the empire you never knew was waiting.
That’s beauty. That’s business. That’s you, multiplied.
Go make some magic. And don’t forget: one swipe at a time, queen.