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What with weddings, fashion shoots, and West End shows, the makeup artist’s life can be both exciting and rewarding. But if things don’t go to plan, you need to make sure you’re covered with the right business insurance for makeup artists.

What with weddings, fashion shoots, and West End shows, the makeup artist’s life can be both exciting and rewarding. But if things don’t go to plan, you need to make sure you’re covered with the right business insurance for makeup artists.

Written by
Mubina Pirmohamed
Business and landlord insurance expert
Last Updated
17 MARCH 2023
4 min read
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What insurance do makeup artists need?

Being a makeup artist might not be as risky as say, working in construction. But if you’re freelance or run your own makeup artist business, it can be a good idea to protect your income with the right insurance.

As professional as you are, accidents and mishaps happen, so you need to make sure you’re protected.

What does makeup artist insurance cover?

You can tailor your makeup artist insurance to suit your needs. As a makeup artist, you might want to consider the following insurance to protect your business:

  • Public liability insurance
  • Product liability insurance
  • Employers’ liability insurance
  • Tools and equipment cover

What is public liability insurance for makeup artists?

Makeup artists work with the public all the time. While this can be fulfilling, it potentially leaves you open to legal action should anything go wrong. If you have a salon or take a mobile kit out with you, it’s worth considering makeup artist public liability insurance. This covers the cost of defending a claim if your negligence causes a client to suffer an injury.

The right insurance can also cover the cost of making good any damage. Say you spill makeup on a client’s carpet and stain it, having insurance in place means you can cover the cost of professionally cleaning or replacing it.

Or if a customer develops an allergic reaction to a product you’re using, minutes before they’re due to head down the aisle. They’re furious and want to bring legal action. Public liability insurance can cover your legal costs and compensation.

What is product liability insurance for makeup artists?

As a makeup artist, you may need product liability cover. This covers you if you use a product that’s defective because of a manufacturing fault. If your client holds you responsible, your policy could cover your legal costs.

Remember, product liability insurance won’t cover you if apply a product incorrectly. If a situation arises due to your own negligence, it could be covered under treatment liability insurance. Some specialist makeup artist insurance policies include this as standard. If not, you may be able to add it as extra cover.

What is employers’ liability insurance for makeup artists?

Employers’ liability insurance protects you if your employees are injured or fall ill as a result of their work. It's a legal requirement in the UK for anyone who employs staff – even if that’s just one person. This includes temporary, part-time workers and students, but you could be exempt if you only employ immediate family members. However, if you're a limited company with multiple directors, you'll always be legally required to have employers' liability insurance coverage.

What is tool insurance for makeup artists?

Makeup artists require all sorts of tools, from brushes and palettes to laptops and phones. If the tools you need to work are damaged, lost or stolen, replacing them is likely to be expensive – and if you can’t afford to do it quickly, you could end up losing business.

Business equipment and tools insurance covers the cost of replacing or repairing essential equipment, so you can get back to making your clients look their best.

What other cover should makeup artists consider?

Each makeup artists faces their own risks. That’s why it’s important to figure out what you’d like your insurance to cover before you start comparing policies. If you’re looking for comprehensive cover, you might want to consider the following:

  • Treatment risk cover – this protects you if you make a mistake and a customer is harmed or injured as a result. You can add this to specialist makeup artist insurance.
  • Business interruption insurance – this protects you from loss of income if you can’t work for certain reasons.
  • Cyber insurance – if you hold your clients’ personal details, you might want to consider adding protection in case there’s a data breach and that information falls into the wrong hands.
  • Money cover – if you run a mobile makeup artist business and deal mostly in cash, you may want to insure your company money, as well as your tools.
  • Stock insurance – if you store large amounts of makeup and products, this can cover you against loss, damage or theft.

How can I protect my business as a makeup artist?

No matter how much you prepare, mistakes and accidents can happen. But there are ways to reduce the risk of having to make a claim:

  1. Make sure your clients’ expectations are clear and agreed – be honest about what can and can’t be achieved. Record this on email in case you need to rely on it later.
  2. Be diligent about hygiene and make sure your sponges and brushes are sanitised between customers to reduce the risk of breakouts, illness, or allergic reactions.
  3. Take out insurance cover to protect you and your business. As well as making commercial sense, this can give you valuable peace of mind.

How much does makeup artists’ insurance cost?

How much you pay for your makeup artist insurance will depend on a few factors, including the size of your business, your experience, and how much cover you want. To find the right deal for you, shop around and compare different policies and prices.

Compare prices and get insurance

Finding professional liability insurance for makeup artists isn’t complicated – you can do it right here, right now. Search for quotes with us and we’ll help you compare makeup artist business cover from different insurance providers.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get insurance as a mobile makeup artist?

Yes, you can find makeup artist insurance that covers you wherever you’re working. Just tell us the kind of work you do and where, and we’ll help you compare policies.

Can I get cover for mobile makeup artist work abroad?

You should be able to find policies that cover you outside the UK. Always read the policy terms carefully to make sure you’re covered to work abroad.

Do I need to be a qualified makeup artist to get insurance?

Some policies insure self-taught makeup artists. Others may say you need a certain qualification or level of experience. As always, check the terms before buying any policy to make sure it works for you and your business.

Does makeup artist insurance cover doing permanent or semi-permanent makeup?

You’ll need to check any policy to see what’s covered as standard. If you’re applying semi-permanent or permanent makeup, doing microblading and eyelash extensions, or offering treatments like waxing, manicures and spray tanning, you may need to arrange extra cover.

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Mubina Pirmohamed - Business and landlord insurance expert

With almost 15 years’ experience in the insurance industry, Mubina is an expert from one end to the other. From leading the introduction of new products, marketing them, innovating them, all the way to handling claims with customers. At some point in her career, she’s done it all.

Learn more about Mubina

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