Finding the best makeup artists in Tauranga starts with knowing whether you need a wedding team for a full bridal party, a school ball look, or a one-to-one lesson you can repeat at home. A good makeup artist in Tauranga will offer a trial, travel to your venue and tailor the finish to your skin and the photos, with studios and mobile artists working from Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Waitao, and one team splitting its time between Papamoa and Waihi. Beauty Tribe and Lipstick & Co are two of the names below.
1Beauty Tribe
Beauty Tribe is a hair and makeup collective founded by Sita, an international hair and makeup artist who previously worked as a Product Specialist for MAC Cosmetics in London and Austria. The team works from a studio on Maunganui Road in Mount Maunganui and also offers a fully mobile service, with enough artists to handle large bridal parties. It suits brides, ball-goers, brands needing shoot-ready hair and makeup, and anyone wanting to learn the craft.
Services
- Wedding hair and makeup for brides and bridal parties
- Special occasion makeup for balls, engagement parties, hens and work functions
- Editorial, film and TV hair and makeup in half and full day packages
- Private and group makeup lessons
- Headshot and branding makeup, plus a masterclass for new and working artists
Highlights
- Founder has worked with designers including Trelise Cooper, Moochi and Adrienne Winkelmann
- Work featured in New Zealand Weddings, Together Journal and Magnolia Rouge
- Team of head artists with backgrounds at Mecca, Shiseido and Lancôme
- Open seven days, 7am to 9pm
Location & Contact
Name: Beauty Tribe
Address: 276 Maunganui Road, Mount Maunganui 3116
Phone: 020 4114 5942
Website: beautytribe.co.nz
2Lipstick & Co
Lipstick & Co is a team of Tauranga-based makeup artists and hairstylists working across Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Rotorua and the wider Bay of Plenty. The team is fully mobile, carries a fully inclusive shade range and is experienced with Asian, Indian and Polynesian makeup and hair. It is a practical choice for brides who want hair and makeup booked together and a trial beforehand.
Services
- Bridal hair and makeup, including bridesmaids, mothers and guests
- Bridal hair and makeup trials
- School ball makeup and hair
- Special occasion and commercial makeup
Highlights
- Fully inclusive shade range
- Experience with Asian, Indian and Polynesian bridal looks
- Mobile service that comes to your getting-ready location
- Wedding prices published in NZD on the website
Location & Contact
Name: Lipstick & Co
Address: Tauranga
Phone: 020 408 79716
Website: lipstickandco.com
3Desiree Osterman Makeup
Desiree Osterman is a makeup artist and freelance hair stylist based in Waitao, Tauranga, who trained under Bobbi Brown and Shu Uemura in London. Most of her wedding work is around the Bay of Plenty, and she brings in a professional hair and makeup team when a bridal party needs it. Her background in fashion and television makes her a strong fit for brides who want long-wearing makeup that holds up in photographs and video.
Services
- Wedding day makeup and hair for the bride and bridal party
- Pre-wedding makeup and hair trials
- Ball and special occasion makeup and hair
- Day to night makeup lessons and pro artist upskill lessons
- Editorial, advertising and photographic makeup
Highlights
- London Fashion Week experience, and New Zealand shows for Karen Walker, Kate Sylvester and Trelise Cooper
- Kit includes Natasha Denona, Huda Beauty, Nars, Laura Mercier and Shu Uemura
- False lash strips, clusters or individuals included with wedding makeup
Location & Contact
Name: Desiree Osterman Makeup
Address: Waitao, Tauranga
Website: makeupartistdesireeosterman.com
4NKD Makeup
NKD Makeup is the freelance business of Natalie Dawson, a Tauranga makeup artist working across weddings, beauty, fashion and campaign shoots. She is fully mobile and will travel to you, or clients without a space can come to her home. Brides are encouraged to book a trial first so the look is settled well before the day.
Services
- Wedding makeup and bridal trials
- School ball makeup
- Special occasion and event makeup
- Editorial, fashion, commercial and TV makeup
- Personal and styled photo shoot makeup
Highlights
- Fully mobile, with an option to have makeup done at her home
- Portfolio spanning fashion, campaign, beauty and styled shoots
- Bridal trials of one to two hours to plan the look around the dress, hair and wedding style
Location & Contact
Name: NKD Makeup
Address: Tauranga
Phone: 021 349000
Website: nkdmakeup.co.nz
5Lillybeth: A Beautiful Education
Lillybeth is a makeup artist and educator based in Waihi and Papamoa, offering wedding makeup and hairstyling in Waihi and Tauranga through a small team of stylists. She qualified in Fashion and Photographic Makeup in Tauranga in 2008 and runs hands-on lessons where clients apply their own makeup. It suits brides who want one point of contact through the booking process, and women who want unbiased advice on what suits them.
Services
- Bridal makeup and hairstyling for the bride, bridesmaids and mothers
- Hands-on makeup lessons and full makeup consultations
- Ball, event and headshot makeup
- Print, film and commercial makeup
- Face painting
Highlights
- Top Rated on Weddingwise seven years running
- Qualification through the London CIBTAC authority
- Replacement stylist from the team if your artist has an emergency
- Vegan-friendly kit available on request, with no product sales pressure
Location & Contact
Name: Lillybeth: A Beautiful Education
Address: 38 Johnston Street, Waihi (home studio by appointment), also based in Papamoa
Phone: 021 150 1605
Website: lillybethmakeup.com
Makeup Artists in Tauranga at a Glance
| Business | Highlight |
|---|---|
| Beauty Tribe | Founder has worked with designers including Trelise Cooper |
| Lipstick & Co | Fully inclusive shade range |
| Desiree Osterman Makeup | London Fashion Week experience, and New Zealand shows for Karen Walker |
| NKD Makeup | Fully mobile, with an option to have makeup done at her home |
| Lillybeth: A Beautiful Education | Top Rated on Weddingwise seven years running |
How to Choose the Right Makeup Artist in Tauranga
- Book a trial: a bridal trial lets you test the look, check how it wears and adjust before the day.
- Check hair and makeup together: if you need both, a team that offers hair and makeup keeps the morning on one timeline.
- Ask about team size: large bridal parties may need two or more artists to finish on time.
- Look at shade range and experience: ask to see work on skin tones and features similar to yours.
- Confirm travel and deposit terms: mobile artists often charge travel, and most need a deposit to hold a date.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tauranga Makeup Artists
How far ahead should I book a wedding makeup artist in Tauranga?
Popular summer dates fill early, so it pays to secure your makeup artist as soon as your date and venue are set. Most artists need a deposit or booking fee to hold the date.
Do I need a makeup trial before my wedding?
A trial is strongly recommended. It usually takes one to two hours and gives you time to try options, match the look to your dress and hair, and see how the makeup wears through the day.
Will a makeup artist come to my venue or accommodation?
Most wedding makeup artists in Tauranga are mobile and travel to homes, Airbnbs and venues across Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Papamoa. Travel fees are commonly charged by distance, so give your getting-ready address when you ask for a quote.
Can I get school ball makeup and hair done by the same person?
Many artists offer both, either from a studio or as a mobile booking. Ball season is busy, so book early and ask whether lashes are included.
Are makeup lessons worth it?
A one-to-one lesson teaches techniques for your own face and products, which is useful if you want an everyday routine or a reliable evening look. Group lessons also work well for hens parties and birthdays.
Where are makeup artists based around Tauranga?
You will find a studio on Maunganui Road in Mount Maunganui, plus mobile artists based in Papamoa, Waitao and wider Tauranga, with some also covering Waihi, Rotorua and the rest of the Bay of Plenty.
What are my rights if a booked makeup service goes wrong?
Services must be carried out with reasonable care and skill under the Consumer Guarantees Act. Read the artist’s booking terms before paying a deposit, especially around cancellations and non-refundable fees.
How We Chose the Best Makeup Artists in Tauranga
Every business in this guide was found by searching for makeup artists in Tauranga, then checked against its own website. Names, addresses and phone numbers are taken from the business’s own site rather than a directory feed, so what you see here is what they publish themselves. We also check that each one is actually based in or genuinely serving Tauranga, rather than a national operator running a local landing page. A business with no website of its own is not listed, because there is no primary source to verify it against.