Parisa Burton 
As spring fills calendars with weddings, parties, and special events, a North Jersey-based professional makeup artist + educator Dawn Maloney will be bringing her Nutley-based studio, Dawn Til Dusk to Montclair, with a new space set to open at 209 Glenridge Avenue in early April. Keep reading to learn more about Dawn Til Dusk, a local woman-owned brand that features the makeup industry’s only patent-pending makeup technique in the United States.
About Dawn Maloney
Dawn Maloney founded MakeupClasses.com, an education platform dedicated to teaching an autonomy-based approach to makeup, in 1999. She grew up in Bloomfield and graduated from Montclair State University with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting and minor in Women’s Gender Studies, along with a New Jersey State Cosmetology License.
Dawn still resides in the Garden State today and continues to empower people through her specialized approach to beauty education using The Anatomical Makeup Method™. She has codified this approach in The Makeup Artist’s Design Book, which defines 50 face shapes, 36 lip combinations, and 32 eye combinations, totaling 57,000 ways to approach makeup. This method incorporates facial anatomy, lighting techniques, foundation matching, and color theory to ensure every application is uniquely tailored to each individual’s features.
Dawn has been in the makeup industry for over 30 years and brings more than 25 years of teaching experience. The name Dawn Til Dusk reflects both her name and identification of seven distinct lighting conditions, helping makeup look its best in any setting, from day to night.
“We are solving the problem of having product that you don’t know how to use or apply, and that has a lot to do with the The Anatomical Makeup Method, because women don’t understand what their anatomy is, and their anatomy tells the makeup artist or tells them exactly how to apply it for balance and symmetry,” Dawn said.
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Over 5,000 artists have been certified by Dawn under MakeupClasses.com. Her specialized approach has drawn a global community of students, from beginners to seasoned professionals traveling from nearly every continent for her expertise. Dawn says that despite teaching students from nearly all over the world, one continent has yet to be represented. “I always say if anybody in Antarctica would like to take my professional classes, that one’s complimentary,” she said.
The New Space In Montclair
Dawn previously operated several other brick-and-mortar studios across North Jersey over the past two decades, including locations in Nutley + Bloomfield, before opening her soon-to-be Montclair space. These spaces have always been focused on three things: education, services, and her makeup line, Dawn Til Dusk Cosmetics.
According to Dawn, she’s always believed that you “educate the customer first” and then present the product. “Although we sell products, we are education-driven,” she said.
Dawn’s major motivation for moving to Montclair was to become part of what she perceives as a thriving small business economy. She expressed that she feels welcomed by her new neighbors on social media, many of whom already expressed interest in collaborating.
The studio will continue running classes and services inside its new location at 209 Glenridge Avenue, kicking off April with everyday basics courses and curated beauty services like “Lash in a Dash,” designed for clients on the go looking for a beauty boost before a special occasion.
Dawn Til Dusk will also host Glamify starting in May, a transformational class specifically designed for transgender women wanting to explore feminization makeup techniques.
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“Dawn Maloney brings more than beauty to Montclair,” said marketing partner Jackie Apicella. “She brings heart, inclusion and community. I’ve seen firsthand her dedication to creating meaningful experiences like Glamify, a transformational makeup class that provides a safe and supportive space for transgender women to feel seen, confident, and empowered.”
In Dawn’s words, “I just feel like I’ve gotten a huge hug from Montclair, and I just want to give that hug back.”
Her studio is set to be open Monday to Friday from 11AM-7PM; Saturday, 9AM-5PM; and Sundays, 11PM-4PM. Makeup classes and services are available on her website MakeupClasses.com and her cosmetics line can be found at dawntilduskcosmetics.com.
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