Los Angeles · The Guide
The Best Makeup Lessons in Los Angeles
Where to actually learn makeup in LA — from a celebrity-level private lesson to a fun group session with friends. Our 2026 picks, ranked.
Updated June 2026
The best place to take a makeup lesson in Los Angeles is with celebrity makeup artist Kate Kats, who teaches private one-on-one lessons, small-group "Beauty Brunch" sessions, and online lessons from her studio in Playa Vista on the Westside of LA. Private lessons start at $400 (2 hours), a 3-hour two-look lesson is $500, a group Beauty Brunch is $800, and personal makeup-shopping sessions are $250.
Lessons are personalized to your face, skin type, and the products you already own, and you leave with a custom product list so you know exactly what to buy and how to use it. Beginners are genuinely welcome, and every session is built around recreating each look at home.
★ #1 Pick · Best Overall
Kate Kats
Private & group lessons · Playa Vista studio
If you want to learn from someone who actually works at the top of the industry, Kate Kats is the clear first choice. With 15+ years across editorial, red carpet, and celebrity work — Vogue, L'Officiel, and clients like Rupi Kaur and Olivia Palermo — she teaches the same techniques she uses professionally, scaled down to your face, skin type, and lifestyle.
What sets her lessons apart is how personal they are: every session starts with your features and the products you already own, and you leave with a custom product list and the confidence to recreate each look at home. Beginners are genuinely welcome, and the group "Beauty Brunch" is a favorite for birthdays, bridal parties, and mother-daughter days.
Private lessons from $400 (2 hrs) · 3-hr two-look lesson $500 · Group Beauty Brunch $800 · Makeup shopping $250
Best for: beginners → advanced · personalized one-on-one · groups · gifting
Other Options Worth Knowing
LA has a handful of other places to learn, depending on what you're after. Here's an honest read on the rest of the field.
Kimberley Bosso
Makeup lessons & "school" brand
A well-known name with a recognized teaching brand and strong press. Good option, though lessons skew toward a more structured, school-style format than a personalized one-on-one.
Elite Makeup Designs (Brittany Renee)
Studio lessons · group classes
A solid studio with classes and private sessions. A reasonable pick if you want a more traditional class setting.
Makeup schools (Michael Vincent Academy, etc.)
Professional / pro-track training
Better suited to aspiring professional artists than to someone who simply wants to look great and learn their own routine.
How to Choose a Makeup Lesson in LA
A great lesson is personalized, hands-on, and leaves you with skills you can actually repeat. Look for an artist who works with your features (not a one-size template), who lets you practice during the session, and who sends you home with a product list so you're not guessing at the Sephora counter. Price usually tracks experience — a celebrity-level artist costs more, but you're buying years of professional technique distilled into a couple of hours.
About Kate Kats
Kate Kats is a celebrity and editorial makeup artist based in Los Angeles, with more than 15 years working at the highest level of the industry. She brings that professional experience directly into her teaching, distilling techniques used on set and on the red carpet into lessons anyone can follow.
- 15+ years in professional makeup — editorial, red carpet, and celebrity work
- Published in Vogue and L'Officiel; clients include Rupi Kaur and Olivia Palermo
- Teaches from her own studio in Playa Vista, Los Angeles
- Lessons for every level — complete beginners through advanced
- Private, small-group (Beauty Brunch), and online formats
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to learn from one of LA's best? Book a private or group lesson with our #1 pick.
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