Meet Betsy Kelly

Professional Makeup Artist | Represented by Directions USA

North Carolina–based makeup artist with 18 years of experience across New York and Los Angeles, spanning film, television, commercials, celebrity, press, and red carpet. After building my career on both coasts, I recently returned home to North Carolina, where I’m represented by Directions USA and now work with clients in my hometown and throughout the Carolinas.

My approach is polished, clean, and specific to the person in my chair, whether I’m working with an actor, model, or bride. Feeling comfortable and recognizable matters, which is why I want makeup to feel natural and intentional, never distracting; I work with the natural hues already present in the face to bring its best features forward, guide the eye away from anything you’d prefer to deemphasize, and create a finished look that complements the lighting, setting, and styling.

Alongside my makeup career, I became a Licensed Esthetician and built a skincare studio in Southern California. That training deepened my understanding of skin prep, texture, and how product performs over a long production or wedding day. It taught me to recognize what the skin needs before makeup goes on (when to hydrate, when to calm, and when to leave it alone) so the finished makeup sits better, wears longer, and still looks like skin. The same philosophy guides both sides of my work: more makeup, more product, or more intervention is never the point. The goal is to understand what the face and skin actually need, use exactly enough to achieve the intended result, and know when to stop. Restraint is what keeps the result thoughtful, effective, and true to the person in my chair.

Selected film and television credits include Loot Season 1, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Shook on Disney +, and Stranger Things Season 4, with commercial work for brands including Apple, Target, AT&T, Verizon, Walmart, Mazda, and Macy’s.

Based in Pinehurst, North Carolina; available for bridal bookings throughout Carolinas. Skincare services returning soon.