Hi! Liza here, let’s talk about face charts today! More than once, when talking about the face chart book I’ve published, the question arises; "…a face chart?" uhmm, "What's a face chart?" And strangely enough that question often comes from makeup artists who have been in the business for years.

Blank face chart template by Liza Kondrevich ethnicity face charts

Okay, I'm not going to expect people who have absolutely nothing to do with makeup to ever understand it, but the fact that a fair number of makeup enthusiasts have never heard of a face chart is reason enough to dive a little deeper into it. I'm assuming you fall into the latter group, and you've been triggered by any aesthetically pleasing makeup related artwork you stumbled upon while scouring the internet for whatever, and wonder about their purpose. So to your questions: "What is a face chart" and "What are face charts used for" you will find the answer here. Read how you can get started for FREE as well.

*Face charts are powerful makeup tools, used by makeup artists. Click to visit* *makeupdesigner.ac* *online makeup design school.*

What is a face chart?

The term 'face chart' may not immediately ring any bells, but I think there is a good chance that you have walked into a MAC Cosmetics store at some point. Besides the desirable makeup palettes, brushes, and novelties displayed there, your eye has probably fallen for the 'makeup drawings' or 'prints' that are prominently present there.

Credits: buro247 | MAC Cosmetics makeup studio

They are found on counters, at the workplaces in front of the mirrors, and even in the shop window. Often there is a collection folder to browse through. They actually look like coloring pictures, if you wouldn't think further than that. Those face templates, those coloring pictures so to speak, are face charts. At MAC Cosmetics, they have understood its added value for a long time very well. Have you ever seen them there? These days, face charts are amply represented on social media, so you really can't have missed it. But that's why you're here now.

According to many pro artists, face charts in their simplest form emerged sometime in the 1980s, their popularity increased over the years, and they have barely evolved until recently. The MAC face chart has been the gold standard for years. Until soon, more on that later.

face chart with red lops for Sephora talking about a winged eye liner — Credits: Sephora | Face chart illustration used to display products

Basically, a face chart is a face template consisting of lines printed on special paper, intended as a tool for makeup artists.

But nowadays, there is much more than just that; you'll read about that later.

Dark skin ton face chart with male facial features and graphic or glue-on eye liner. By Liza Kondrevich

face chart by Liza Kondrevich, non gender defined NYX Cosmetics face chart

female looking face chart by Liza Kondrevich

Dark skin tone face chart with female facial features, red lip stick and graphic eye liner. By Liza Kondrevich

How do you use a face chart?

There are several ways in which a face chart is used, first, for business, skill-building, education, and now also for pure fun as a hobby.

How are face charts used for business?

To keep it easy, let's go back to that MAC store again. The makeup artists on the shop floor use this tool, among other things, to advise their customers. Which product in which color is applied where. The templates are filled with actual makeup, which color combinations work, and which do not. The products used are registered if desired. This is useful as a reference for both the customer and the counter staff.

Face charts are used as portfolio material to show the possibilities and show the makeup artist's professional competence. Customers get their inspiration from that. And in the quiet hours, the artists behind the counter can practice blending and work out new ideas.

Credits: Liza Kondrevich | Face chart used to showcase (NYX Cosmetics) collections

In the entertainment industry, or for video and photoshoots, it is a useful tool to design, plan, and register makeup looks in advance and show customers the various options. This saves a lot of time and eliminates the guesswork.

"Face charts are the blueprints of your appearance." –Liza Kondrevich Makeup & Face chart designer.

The upper row is the actual makeup look on a model, the lower row is the face chart design.

**WATCH FACE CHART VIDEOS ON** **YOUTUBE**

How are face charts for skill-building?

If I may reveal a secret to you that few know, this is it. This is where the direct profit can be made. Use the philosophy behind the face chart to improve your overall makeup skills. Once you know how and why, it all becomes clear. You can improve yourself in many areas if you practice on paper; some obvious examples of improvement are:

hand firmness, practice tight, steady lines.
fine-tuning the use of color (if you only knew what you could achieve with it)
blending techniques, face charting is an excellent system to learn how to blend perfectly
understanding of light and shadow, essential to any makeup artist if you ask me
understanding human facial features such as brows, lashes, and how these are build up.
endless creativity. There is more than just an black line on your lower eyelid. Encourage and challenge yourself to go beyond your creative limits–there aren't any.

Learn to blend makeup on paper. Visit Makeup Designer Academy to Become a Makeup Designer in no-time!

The 10,000-Hour Rule.

You know the saying 'it takes 10,000 hours to become a master in something? In the book "Outliers: The Story of Success" by Malcolm Gladwell, it is written that that is the minimum number of hours it takes to be a true master of a trade. This is a frequently mentioned topic and for a good reason. For makeup artists, too, the amount of knowledge, training, and practical experience gained determines whether the profession is mastered.

Credits: Liza Kondrevich | Practice on paper using face charts.

"Only one who devotes himself to a cause with his whole strength and soul can be a true master. For this reason, mastery demands all of a person." – Albert Einstein

The paved road to the next level in makeup skills:

Gain knowledge, regardless of what level you’re at, this is the foundation you build on.
Don’t be arrogant and dare to learn from knowledgable people.
Practice as much as possible and learn from your mistakes.
Invest in teaching materials. Take courses, attend master classes, and read books about your passion.
Persevere in your goals. Do!
Never give up.

If you haven't stopped reading yet, anxious and sweating with this vision of the future ahead of you, have no fear, the art of face charting shows amazing results very quickly. What I'm saying with this is that if you want to become a master in makeup, you need those hours.

Of course, real live models are always preferable to practice your techniques on, and face charting alone won't teach you any skin appliance, and it only covers part of the spectrum. Face chart techniques, once mastered, can be used to master any aspect within the artistry of makeup. Wether it’s blending techniques. color theory, drawing realistic eyebrows, lip art, or how to implement and create the illusion of light and shadow, all are fundamental to any makeup artist.

Another big plus is; face chart templates are available 24/7, possibly disposable in case something goes wrong, and you can practice on them whenever and wherever you want! You won't be able to do most of that with live models.

Read about Ten Secret Face Chart Advantages Every Makeup Artist Can Benefit From here.

For example, you can work through an evening, work out different eyeliner ideas, and several eye makeup looks, plus matching lip makeup, on 5 different types of models. To set an example. The possibilities are endless. Here’s a short action video that shows part of the process.

Face charts used for education.

Reputable makeup schools (House of Orange for example) almost all have at least one section dedicated to the face chart. Some more, some less, and often they start talking about it in the basics at the beginning of the training. While I believe it has been given ample attention, it captures its essence – it is a fundamental skill at the foundation of solid makeup education.

Corporate Masterclasses for Artistry trainers By Liza Kondrevich

Often separate incentives are linked to the training. For example, I myself offer tailor-made programs for schools and major cosmetic brands, where I give one or multiple day masterclasses to supplement the teaching material, or setting up training programs for artistry teams.

Step by step guidance during a face chart master class by Liza Kondrevich for Kiko Milano

Face chart art as a professional hobby:

Where the implementation of the face chart in the business or educational field (not for skill-building) is often quite simple, with only filling in some colors, exclusively with makeup products, in recent years, we have seen complete works of art appearing that pass for face charts. Realistic-looking portraits with the most frantic makeup creations, or just genius through simplicity, but artistic delights. An entire community rises out of nowhere, and its level and quality are increasing gradually. So you may be wondering why there are so many makeup drawings appearing on social media. And the answer is simple: it's hot and happening!

It's fun, and if you are passionate about makeup, this makes a deep connection with yourself, providing another way to express yourself creatively. Hours fly by when you're doing this. And you don't think about anything, no daily worries but are in pure focus. "it is mesmerizing, blending and creating for hours with my favorite products and brushes, hours of spending 'my' time."

Credits: Marco Pena (Copy)

Credits: Brezas Stavros (Copy)

Credits: Biii_bii_makeup (Copy)

Credits: Dana Hexx (Copy)

Aren't face charts obsolete in this digital age?

You might have noticed the many digitally created face charts on social media. What do you think of that? Personally, I find digitally processed face charts less relevant for several reasons from my makeup-loving point of view. First of all, you notice at a glance that it has been made digitally; there is no soul in it (with a few exceptions.) Then there is also no makeup involved, not even the smallest particle of powder, no pigment, nothing, not even a brush. Therefore, it is most certainly not suitable for learning how to blend makeup. However, purely as a quick overview or to give a color idea to a customer, it might still make sense, although you still have to find corresponding colors in your makeup stock.

Of course, producing digital face charts is also a fun way to get busy, and you can pop dozens of designs in no time. But, in my humble opinion, it is a bit too far from the beautiful makeup artistry. What it does serve the purpose, I think, is to inspire people. People love to recreate face charts. Some of the well-known accounts that bring digital face charts into the world non-stop are definitely worth a look.

Like makeup artists will not soon be replaced by a digital variant, the same applies to the face charts. So my humble conclusion is: handicraft and true skill are becoming more and more valued and desired.

the Mac face chart template pdf, ripped apart, and below a Liza Kondrevich warm skin tones face chart with blue and orange eye makeup, pink glossy lips, and a dotted eye liner in black. — *Credits: www.facechart.art* | A page from the Facechart Book

Earlier I mentioned coming back to the evolution of the face chart, which has recently started. For a long time, the MAC facechart, which is still iconic, was the standard. The ugly, grumpy-looking, un-desirable design has earned its place, but now they're really outdated. The massive shift in the industry is mainly due to the release of the FACECHART book, in which all knowledge is shared and all secrets are revealed, and the vision shift of the prominent brands. NYX Cosmetics is currently leading the way, and many are following.