Syfy’s original Face Off series has been having a great season, bringing better numbers than the make-up show did in season one. The cable channel has rewarded the series with a third season.

The next season will once again have 10 episodes and pit special effects make-up artists against one another in weekly challenges. Production will begin in the spring and Face Off will return to the schedule during the summer months.

Syfy has also announced that LeVar Burton, well known for his time on Star Trek: The Next Generation, will be a guest judge on February 22nd, the seventh episode of the season. Season two is slated to finish airing on March 14th.

Here’s the season three press release:

SYFY RENEWS HIT COMPETITION SERIES “FACE OFF” FOR A THIRD SEASON

Second Season Premiere of Face Off Shattered Series Records With 2.5 Million Total Viewers, 1.5 Million Adults 18-49 and 1.3 Million Adults 25-54

LeVar Burton Appears in an All-New Episode of the Hit Reality Competition Series, Airing Wednesday, February 22 at 10 p.m. ET/PT

NEW YORK, NY – February 7, 2012 – Syfy announces that its critically acclaimed reality competition series Face Off will return for a 10-episode third season of special effects competition, offering a new group of rising SFX make-up artists with the opportunity to showcase their imagination and creativity. Production on season three will commence this Spring for a Summer 2012 premiere.

Season two of Face Off currently airs Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT and broke series records with its debut on January 11, transforming 2.5 million total viewers, 1.52 million Adults 18-49 and 1.31 million Adults 25-54 based on Live +7 data. Last week’s episode on February 1, including only Live + Same Day playback, delivered 1.175 million Adults 18-49 and a series-high of over two million total viewers. In its first two episodes with Live + 7 viewing, Face Off has earned its most watched episodes to-date, currently topping the first season average by 51 percent among viewers 18-49 and 56 percent among total viewers.

Dwight D. Smith and Michael Agbabian of Mission Control will return as executive producers for the third season. Casting for trained and self-taught special effects make-up artists is underway. Interested applicants can go to http://www.syfy.com/faceoff/casting to download the online application form.

Actress Vivica A. Fox (Independence Day, Kill Bill) and Being Human’s Sam Huntington will make a special appearance in this Wednesday’s all-new episode at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Syfy also announces that LeVar Burton (Star Trek: The Next Generation) will guest judge in an all-new episode airing Wednesday, February 22 at 10 PM ET/PT. In the episode, the contestants learn that for their Spotlight Challenge they will be working with a client, none other than creature designer, director and series judge, Patrick Tatopoulos. Each of the artists must select one of Patrick’s sketches to serve as the inspiration for an original alien creation. On the Face Off reveal stage, the contestants are elated to see guest judge Burton but quickly grow concerned when they learn that two artists will be sent packing this week.

Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. Judging the Face Off competition are some of the most renowned names in the SFX world — three-time Academy Award winner Ve Neill, famed special make-up effects artist Glenn Hetrick and director/creature designer Patrick Tatopoulos. Together, they make a panel that is tough, smart and direct.

The Face Off artists are whittled down week by week as they compete to outshine their competition. The winning SFX artist will earn $100,000 in seed money to help encourage their special effects career, a year’s supply of Alcone make up products, a Reinvented 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid and the coveted exposure to help launch a career.

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)

What do you think? Do you like Face Off? Have you been watching? Will you be looking out for season three?

Image courtesy Syfy.