All About Casting Beauty Models (Cosmetic Models)

👉Take 5 minutesto learn how
✔️ brands can efficiently cast beauty models.
✔️ models (or aspiring models) can learn how to make a living as a beauty model.

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You may have noticed that Korean K-beauty is incredibly popular and influential overseas. While K-beauty used to be an Asian phenomenon, starting with China, it has now spread to the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Naturally, the cosmetics market is getting more and more competitive, and many brands dream of going global. As a result, casting models to represent your products is a deliberate process for brands.

From cosmetics to hair and body, we're used to seeing beauty models showcasing these products in our everyday lives. When you walk down the street, you'll see more beauty models on billboards, posters in stores, or in ads when you're on your phone or watching TV than any other consumer product. In this article, we'll explore these beauty models. Here's how beauty models (including cosmetics models) are cast and what kind of modeling shoots they typically do.

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What is a Beauty Model?

In simple terms, these are the models that work for cosmetics brands like Estee Lauder, NARS, The Face Shop, and Hanyul that we use. Overseas, beauty modeling is often used interchangeably with face modeling, but I'll explain the term in Korean culture.

• Models used primarily to promote beauty-related products, such as cosmetics, hair, and body products.
• Commercial shoots, beauty shows, pop-up stores, in-store displays, etc.
• It's important to visually represent your look and style, and showcase your product.
• Model shoots that focus on "face" and "product," sometimes referred to as cosmetic modeling.
• A wide range of products and shots for foundation, color cosmetics, hair and body

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How are they different from fashion models?

Fashion models are often photographed on the runway or in brand lookbook campaigns, where the focus is on their 'body'. But for beauty models, it's all about the "face" and the product. As a result, fashion models have certain height and size restrictions and have a higher barrier to entry than other modeling categories. Beauty models (or cosmetics models) don't have those physical limitations. Instead, good skin and an attractive, symmetrical face are important. You need things like natural smiles and laughter and a universal aesthetic. Of course, depending on the shoot and brand, fashion models often become beauty models.

Preparing to become a beauty model

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• Clean headshot: Have a clean, moody headshot that shows off your face, including your skin texture, brow shape, lash length, eye color, and hair color. We recommend making the most of the face's position (orientation), lighting, and skeleton.

• Variety of expressions: Just as fashion models practice striking different poses, beauty models need to learn how to move the small muscles in their faces to create different facial expressions. Can you smile naturally and lighten up, or appear stern or serious in a moment? If you have trouble controlling or expressing your emotions on camera, you're going to have a hard time shooting any model, not just beauty models. Practice your facial expressions in the mirror.
• Practice taking photos and videos: It's good to have lots of photos and a portfolio. You should have the usual snapshots, but having a variety of headshots, close-ups, and half shots to show different moods can really help with model selection. It also helps when casting if you have footage of yourself holding or applying the product. Keep practicing taking photos and videos that might look different from different angles.

Headshot: A clear photo of the model's face (head) from the collarbone to the tip of the hair.

Close-up shot: A photo taken very close to the model's face.

Half shot: A photo of the top half of the model's body.

Want to be a beauty model?

Do you have all three of the above? If so, you're almost there. Bring a variety of photos from your shoots and a portfolio, and ask to be a model in the spotlight. With over 800 freelance and agency models listed, Spotlight is a great place to get started in beauty modeling and other types of modeling. Once you're a professional model, you'll get direct requests for home shopping, commercials, campaigns, cosmetics shoots, and more. Being able to take inquiries, deliver quotes, and communicate directly with clients makes the model casting process and post-finalization a breeze.

Need a beauty model?

If you're looking for professional beauty models, click on the "Beauty " category in the spotlight now! You'll find models with all kinds of beauty-related modeling careers right here. If you have other specific criteria, use the 'Filter' feature to find the model you're looking for with just a few clicks. Cast models more efficiently by communicating with models directly for quotes. Meet the professional models that will make your beauty brand blossom. Meet our spotlight beauty models today! Click on a model's photo or name in the body to view their profile directly.

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