The Best Makeup Artists in Union City, NJ
We graded 8 companies on seven things customers actually report: satisfaction, reliability, workmanship, value, momentum, track record and how owners handle complaints.
From 21,884 Google reviews of 137 top-rated makeup artists nationwide; 8 of them in Union City, NJ. Updated November 5, 2026.
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Best makeup artists in Union City for special occasion makeup
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Vargas Beauty ArtsHow Job match is calculatedBuilt only from reviews Google tagged “Special occasion makeup”:Stars on this job 55%5.00★Number of such jobs 25%5Overall Experts Score 20%87Job match= 93Stars are pulled toward the category average (4.90★) when a company has few tagged jobs, so 3 perfect reviews don’t beat 80 great ones. 4.3★ scores 0, 5.0★ scores full. Volume is compared with the busiest company for this job.93Job match = this company’s ★ on reviews Google tagged “Special occasion makeup” (shrunk toward the category average when there are few), how many such jobs it has done, and its overall Experts Score.
What customers said about special occasion makeup
Vargas Beauty ArtsLet me start with Annabelle was a gem. Aside from loving my makeup and hair which held up all day, her energy while doing her magic was so calming. The 2+ hours flew by and made me feel like I was chatting with a friend. I highly recommend her.. you will be in excellent hands!!
Vargas Beauty ArtsAnabel is nothing short of amazingly talented! I hired her for both of my weddings ;) the civil and symbolic wedding! The courthouse one was last minute and she was so sweet to accommodate me on such short notice. She made me feel so beautiful, I just knew I'd be going back to her. She did my makeup and my mother…
Vargas Beauty ArtsI got my makeup done for my wedding back in 2021 with Anabel from Vargas Beauty. She was professional and made my dream hair and makeup come true. I would 100% recommend.
Vargas Beauty ArtsAnabel is one of the best makeup artist. As a middle age women she is able to always bring out the best version of myself. I have been her client for years . Highly recommended and a true professional. Marilyn
Vargas Beauty ArtsThey where the best I got my hair and makeup done by then and I loved it you guys make me look like a princess in my quinceañera i wouldn't change nothing you guys did amazing the best out here I will be working with them again for prom and my high school graduation pictures. Great prices and good on timing for a…
Overall ratings
Experts Score 0–100Experts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. and a letter grade per factor (A = top 20% of makeup artists).
| # | Company | ScoreExperts Score (0–100)Absolute quality first: recency-weighted star average (≈54%), share of 1–2★ reviews (≈24%), customers’ price verdicts (≈14%), owner replies to critical reviews (≈7%); minus up to 10 points each for complaints flagged in Google review highlights and for a real slide in recent ratings. Hover a company’s score on its page for the full breakdown. | FactorsFactor grades, in orderSatisfaction (54%): Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.Reliability (24%): How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.Craft & service (0%): Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.Value (14%): Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.Momentum (0%): Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.Replies to reviews (7%): How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.One letter per factor score: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39, F = below 20. | ★Google star rating as shown on Google Maps. | Typical billMedian bill customers of this company reported in their reviews (needs 3+ priced reviews). |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Tulsi Threading & Hair SalonUnion City, NJ | A 95How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%98+62.3Reliability 28%97+27.4Replies to reviews 8%60+4.9Experts Score= 95Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AB | 4.96 | $11 |
| 2 |  The Davmakeup StudioUnion City, NJ | A 89How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 69%91+63Reliability 31%85+26.2Experts Score= 89Not enough data for value, replies to reviews; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––A– | 4.94 | — |
| 3 |  Total Image Beauty AcademyUnion City, NJ | A 88How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%89+48.5Reliability 24%80+19.4Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Craft & service penalty93−0.7Experts Score= 88Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAAAAA | 4.88 | — |
| 4 | Vargas Beauty ArtsUnion City, NJ | A 87How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%94+59.7Reliability 28%91+25.7Replies to reviews 8%24+2Craft & service penalty99−0.1Experts Score= 87Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AAA–AD | 4.89 | — |
| 5 |  Lash Me Beauty StudioUnion City, NJ | A 82How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%85+54Reliability 28%78+22Replies to reviews 8%96+7.9Momentum penalty76−2.4Experts Score= 82Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AB––BA | 4.88 | — |
| 6 |  Piped By MartinaUnion City, NJ | A 81How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 64%86+54.6Reliability 28%81+22.9Replies to reviews 8%37+3Experts Score= 81Not enough data for value; its weight is shared by the others.Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AA––AD | 4.87 | — |
| 7 |  Amber Brows Beauty SalonUnion City, NJ | A 80How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%79+43.1Reliability 24%70+17Value 14%100+14.1Replies to reviews 7%100+7.1Craft & service penalty96−0.4Momentum penalty93−0.7Experts Score= 80Grade A: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | BBAAAA | 4.81 | $17 |
| 8 |  The Chique CollectiveUnion City, NJ | B 77How the Experts Score is calculatedEach factor is scored 0–100 on absolute terms (standing in the category can only raise it), then weighted; problems flagged in review highlights or a recent slide in ratings are subtracted:Satisfaction 55%93+50.7Reliability 24%90+21.8Value 14%36+5.1Replies to reviews 7%23+1.6Craft & service penalty79−2.1Experts Score= 77Grade B: A = 80+, B = 60–79, C = 40–59, D = 20–39. Needs 10+ reviews. | AABDAD | 4.87 | $76 |
What jobs cost
What customers paid, from the price Google asks reviewers to report.
| Job | Low25th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid less than this. | TypicalMedian of the bill customers reported in their Google review (Google asks reviewers for a price range; we use the middle of each range). | High75th percentile: 1 in 4 customers paid more than this. | FairOf customers who rated the price, the share who chose “Great price” or “Reasonable” rather than “Overpriced”. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haircut | $30 | $43 | $58 | 100% |
| Hairstyling | $41 | $53 | $82 | 0% |
| Hair coloring | $111 | $155 | $214 | 100% |
| Makeup services | $118 | $141 | $179 | 0% |
| Eyelash extensions | $93 | $126 | $148 | 0% |
| Hair highlighting | $185 | $246 | $371 | 0% |
| Blowouts | $35 | $52 | $94 | 100% |
| Shampoo & conditioning | $55 | $130 | $214 | 0% |
| Bridal services | $124 | $185 | $282 | 100% |
| Eyebrow threading | $3 | $5 | $11 | 0% |
| Eyebrow shaping | $3 | $8 | $23 | 0% |
| Manicure | $53 | $71 | $89 | 100% |
Makeup Artists in Union City, NJ at a glance
How the 8 makeup artists we rated in Union City, NJ compare, and what customers praise most.
Experts Score grades
A = score 80+, F = below 20.
- Grade A788%
- Grade B113%
- Grade C00%
- Grade D00%
- Grade F00%
Google ratings
Average stars per company.
- 4.90★ and up225%
- 4.80–4.89★675%
- 4.60–4.79★00%
- Below 4.60★00%
What customers praise
Share of Google review highlights.
- Quality2,04329%
- Professionalism2,13130%
- Responsiveness00%
- Punctuality1,45221%
- Value1,41820%
Was the price fair?
All price verdicts left with reviews.
- Great price23071%
- Reasonable8827%
- Overpriced52%
- Not sure31%
Price verdicts by year
Share calling it great / reasonable / overpriced.
How we grade
Satisfaction (54%) — Recency-weighted star average (2-year half-life), shrunk toward the category mean by review volume; the company’s own lifetime average as the prior; absolute: 4.0★ = 0, 5★ = 100.
Reliability (24%) — How rarely jobs go badly: share of 1–2★ reviews — 60% the last 24 months (or the 20 newest if fewer), 40% all-time; 0% = 100, 15%+ = 0; the category percentile can only raise it.
Craft & service (penalty, up to −10) — Google review highlights: Quality, Professionalism, Responsiveness, Punctuality — how rarely reviewers flag them as a negative, per review since highlights began; 0% = 100, 5%+ = 0. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in — clean highlights are the norm, not a bonus.
Value (14%) — Customers’ own price verdicts (Great / Reasonable vs Overpriced) and Value highlights; 65% absolute (all “reasonable” ≈ 80, “great” = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.
Momentum (penalty, up to −10) — Penalises only a real slide: last-12-month average below lifetime (−0.5★ = 0). Still 4.8★+ over the last year, or steady/improving = 100. Subtracted from the score (up to −10), never averaged in.
Replies to reviews (7%) — How often the owner publicly replies to reviews under 5★ (1–4★). Needs 3+ such reviews, otherwise not counted; 65% absolute (80%+ replied = 100), the category percentile can only raise it.