HOW TO HIRE · BEAUTY & GROOMING · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a mobile makeup artist in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A mobile makeup artist in Ireland costs €60–€200 per booking, typically around €100. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a mobile makeup artist in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers mobile makeup artist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — special Effects Makeup — for those looking to stand out, some mobile makeup artists specialise in special effects makeup for events like Halloween or theatrical performances.
- How does artist's experience change the price?Reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does complexity of the makeup look change the price?The more decisions involved, the longer the job runs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does location of the service change the price?A provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Mobile makeup artists generally focus on makeup application and may not provide services like skincare treatments or hair styling unless specified — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobile makeup artist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO HAIRDRESSERS, BARBERS, BEAUTICIANS OR NAIL TECHNICIANS. Anyone may trade. The line that does exist is medicines: anything involving a PRESCRIPTION-ONLY MEDICINE — botulinum toxin above all — may only be prescribed by a registered prescriber, and that is a medical matter rather than a beauty one. A clinic offering injectables with no named prescriber is the single clearest warning sign in this family.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
For injectables, WHO PRESCRIBES — a named, registered prescriber who has seen you, not a prescription arranged remotely for someone they have never met; For any treatment that breaks the skin, what is single-use and what is sterilised; A patch test before colour or lash work, and enough time before an event; The training and the insurer for the specific treatment, not the salon generally; What the aftercare is and who you call out of hours if something goes wrong; Photographs of their own work on hair or skin like yours.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect treatment-specific professional indemnity — a policy for facials may exclude needles entirely. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers mobile makeup artist work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — special Effects Makeup — for those looking to stand out, some mobile makeup artists specialise in special effects makeup for events like Halloween or theatrical performances.
A good answer: Reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The more decisions involved, the longer the job runs. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Mobile makeup artists generally focus on makeup application and may not provide services like skincare treatments or hair styling unless specified — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a mobile makeup artist job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect treatment-specific professional indemnity — a policy for facials may exclude needles entirely — makeup Lessons — many mobile makeup artists also offer one-on-one makeup lessons, teaching clients how to apply makeup effectively.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the mobile makeup artist starts, and an itemised invoice after — makeup Lessons — personalised tutorials to teach clients how to apply makeup effectively for themselves.
Getting the quote right
- Artist's experience — reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much.
- Complexity of the makeup look — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs.
- Location of the service — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work.
- Products used — specialist products cost more than the everyday equivalent.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: artist's experience — reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much
- They will not talk about it: complexity of the makeup look — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs
- They will not talk about it: location of the service — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work
- A price for the mobile makeup artist before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the mobile makeup artist has begun
What a mobile makeup artist costs: €60–€200 per booking
The figures are for the job, per booking, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Bridal makeup and Special occasion makeup each carry their own band. Mobile Makeup Artist price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Mobile makeup artists near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstArtist's experience — reputation is the reason two quotes for one job differ so much — that is what the mobile makeup artist is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneComplexity of the makeup look — the more decisions involved, the longer the job runs — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfLocation of the service — a provider coming to you charges for the journey as well as the work — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherProducts used — specialist products cost more than the everyday equivalent — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the mobile makeup artist is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, makeup artists should have relevant qualifications and experience in various makeup styles.
- Makeup Lessons
- Many mobile makeup artists also offer one-on-one makeup lessons, teaching clients how to apply makeup effectively.
- Special Effects Makeup
- For those looking to stand out, some mobile makeup artists specialise in special effects makeup for events like Halloween or theatrical performances.
- Bridal Makeup
- Specialised makeup application for brides, focusing on long-lasting looks that photograph beautifully.
- Everyday Makeup
- Casual makeup application for daily wear, enhancing natural features.
- Call-out
- A fixed charge for turning up, separate from the work itself. On a short mobile makeup artist job it is often most of the bill, so ask whether the first hour is inside it.
- Scope
- Exactly what is and is not being done, written down before anyone starts. Two quotes for a mobile makeup artist are only comparable when they are quoting the same scope.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a mobile makeup artist: questions people ask
The cost can vary based on the artist's experience, the complexity of the makeup look, and the location of the service. Additional factors include travel expenses and any special products requested by the client.
A standard mobile makeup session usually lasts between 1 to 2 hours, depending on the look being created. Bridal makeup may take longer due to additional services like trials and touch-ups.
While most mobile makeup artists are skilled professionals, specific services like special effects may require someone with specialised training. It's advisable to check the artist's qualifications for more complex looks.
Many mobile makeup artists offer same-day bookings, but availability can be limited, especially during peak seasons like weddings or holidays. It's best to reach out as early as possible to secure a spot.
Yes, many mobile makeup artists can provide multiple services, such as hair styling or makeup for a group. This can often result in a discounted rate compared to booking separate professionals.
Mobile makeup artists generally focus on makeup application and may not provide services like skincare treatments or hair styling unless specified. Always clarify the scope of services before booking.
MORE GUIDES