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Celebrated, fearless, and endlessly creative — these makeup artists are transforming faces into unforgettable works of art.
I’ve always seen makeup as a form of art — and the people behind the brushes as real artists. Their ability to transform a face, enhance someone’s natural features, and give them a level of confidence that literally radiates is no small feat. It takes great skill, patience, and a deep understanding of both technique and individuality.
From mastering different face shapes to knowing exactly which products will bring a vision to life, the craft of makeup is all about constant learning and experimentation. Today, makeup artists continue to set the pace for the next beauty trends . Their influence stretches across bold runway looks to the content filling our social feed every day.
What starts as an experimental idea quickly becomes the everyday glam we all want to try. Behind every flawless beat is an artist who has spent years refining their craft, and I’m constantly captivated by how they continue to evolve the world of beauty.
To celebrate the craft, we’ve put together a list of makeup artists whose works are currently defining the culture and keeping my saved makeup folder full.
Read also: Bold eyeshadow is officially making a comeback, and these are the looks to try this year
Pat McGrath
Pat McGrath via Pinterest (original creator unknown). If this is your work, please contact us for proper credit. There’s a reason the beauty world calls her Mother. With a career spanning over 25 years, Pat McGrath has become one of the most influential makeup artists of our time. Among her many achievements, she launched her own brand, Pat McGrath Labs, became the first makeup artist to be appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and serves as Creative Director of Cosmetics for La Beauté Louis Vuitton.
Maison Margiela 2024 beauty look by Pat McGrath via @64mag on Instagram Pat’s genius lies in her range. One moment, she delivers the most ethereal, flawless skin; the next, she’s layering feathers, metallic foils, pearls, and crystals into jaw-dropping, avant-garde looks. She has an uncanny ability to make even the most experimental creations feel essential — looks we didn’t know we needed until we saw them. Pat’s work is the ultimate reminder that, at its highest level, makeup is pure storytelling.
Chelsea Uchenna
Chelsea Uchenna via @makeupbychelseax on Instagram If you’ve spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you’ve definitely seen Chelsea Uchenna’s work. Known for her Bratz-coded aesthetic, she has become the favourite artist for the industry’s coolest It-girls like Doechii, Tyla, and Ayra Starr. Uchenna’s work feels young, bold, and incredibly current.
Doechii in makeup by Chelsea via @makeupbychelseax on Instagram Her style is all about precision and being extra, in the best way possible. think sharp liner, vivid colourful eyeshadows and a lined, frosty, or ombré lip that feels very nostalgic but also very 2026. She loves working with a glowing base and knows exactly how to make melanin glow, giving it the best matte finish. She continues to be an innovator, particularly for black women, by encouraging unapologetic self-expression.
Esther Edeme
Esther Edeme via @paintedbyesther on Instagram When it comes to flawless makeup, Esther Edeme is the one to follow. She has mastered the art of high-glam makeup that looks like a real-life filter. Known for her signature bright under-eye and perfectly sculpted matte skin, Esther’s work is all about structure and sophistication.
Model with makeup done by Esther Edeme via @paintedbyesther on Instagram Edeme helped spark the blush renaissance and shows, time and time again, that black women can own playful makeup looks. She’s the go-to for anyone who wants to look dreamily exquisite and feminine. Her clientele includes numerous celebrities such as Olandria, Anok Yai, SZA, Tyla, Naomi Campbell, and many more.
Read also: The 2026 beauty go-to list: Makeup, skincare, and fragrances we’ll definitely be using this year
Sophia Sinot
Sophia Sinot via @sophiasinot on Instagram Sophia Sinot is a Netherlands-born, London-based celebrity makeup artist championing the industry’s bold, more-is-best era. She’s played a key role in the return of bold, colourful pop-star makeup, most recently seen on icon and artist Zara Larsson.
Makeup by Sophia Sinot for Zara Larsson via @sophiasinot on Instagram As the creative mind behind Zara Larsson’s viral tour looks — and some of Doja Cat’s most daring beauty moments — Sophia is making makeup feel fun again. Her aesthetic blends Y2K nostalgia with a futuristic edge, favouring vibrant pastels, bold neons, and rhinestones placed to give the eyes an almost galactic finish. Known also for her viral lip moments on herself and stars, she’s the queen of a perfectly lined, ombré lip. Sophia consistently creates striking, unforgettable beauty moments.
Kayla Perez
Kayla Perez via @kaylaaperez_ on Instagram Kayla Perez is a master of high-definition glam that feels like second skin. Widely known as the artist behind Tems’ most iconic looks, her work is a masterclass in making full glam appear effortless, weightless, and absolutely indestructible.
Makeup by Kayla Perez for Tems via @kaylaaperez_ on Instagram Her techniques are designed for longevity. Be it a world tour or an extended award show, her beats hold up flawlessly for hours on end. She has a distinct gift for enhancing deeper skin tones, using warm undertones and rich textures that make her clients look like they are glowing from within.
She does the 90s to early 2000s lip (dark liner, soft centre) with utmost perfection. Her contouring is also very structured, giving an effortlessly lifted look. For anyone who wants their makeup to look just as flawless at midnight as it did at midday, Kayla is the ultimate reference point.
Raisa Flowers
Self Makeup by Raisa Flowers via @raisaflowers on Instagram Raisa Flowers is a makeup artist who isn’t afraid to experiment and push boundaries. Her fearless approach has earned her collaborations with some of the most expressive artists in the industry, including Rihanna and Rosalía. Flowers’ work spans beyond celebrity makeup to high-fashion runway shows, including LaQuan Smith AW26 and CrishaBana SS26. Before establishing herself, she honed her craft as an assistant to legendary artist Pat McGrath.
Flowers is known for her innovative aesthetic — often featuring mismatched coloured lenses, bleached brows, and neon pigments that challenge traditional beauty standards. While she can embrace minimalism when the moment calls for it, her signature style is unapologetically evocative, making her one of the most exciting creative forces in makeup today.
Naezrah Desir
Self makeup by Naezrah Desir via @naezrahlooks on Instagram Another popular pioneer of maximalist makeup, Naezrah Desir, is the face of whimsical, otherworldly makeup styles. She famously started the trend of using bright, neon colours on the lower lash line, also known as the rainbow under eye look.
As seen through her work, she treats the face like a canvas for drawing. Her work often features designs and outlines that feel more like painting than standard makeup. She is amazing at colour theory, especially at figuring out what looks best on black skin. Through her makeup, she confidently blends and pairs unexpected elements. colours or hyper-bright pigments that are sure to make a statement. She continues to tackle beauty conversations around black beauty creators and black skin tones by proving that vivid, unconventional colour belongs on every skin tone.
Isabelle Ikpeme
Self makeup by Isabelle Ikpeme via @isabelleikpeme on Instagram A Gen Z fan favourite, Isabelle Ikpeme is a makeup artist who refuses to be limited by trends. An avid anti-clean girl makeup advocate, she embraces full maximalism, pushing the confines of what beauty can be. On social media, she’s celebrated for her vivid, imaginative looks — daring eyeshadows, intricate pearl designs, and the prettiest lip combinations — all inspired by a wide range of pop culture characters.
Ikpeme’s creativity extends beyond makeup: her love for music is central to her work. In her series “Beauty and the Beat”, she produces a song and then creates a look inspired by it. Through her artistry, she continues to encourage people of colour to never blend into the background, but to always claim their place in the spotlight where they belong.
Danessa Myricks
Danessa Myricks via @danessa_myricks on Instagram As long as you’re a beauty enthusiast, there is no way that you haven’t heard of the Danessa Myricks brand. Behind this brand is makeup artist, photographer and founder herself, Danessa Myricks. Myricks is unique because she isn’t just an artist; she’s both self-taught in makeup artistry and photography, fully controlling every product she uses to change the game.
Her style is hyper-glowy skin that looks like it’s reflecting light from every angle. She is also famous for using balms, oils, and creams rather than just powders.
Makeup by Danessa Myricks on a model via @@danessa_myricks on Instagram Her one product fits all system creates seamless looks that feel very modern. In tune with the ongoing metallic trend, she has mastered the use of chrome and prismatic finishes to create that sparkly, shiny finish. She built her entire brand on the idea that every product should work on every skin tone, from the fairest to the deepest.
Sheika Daley
Sheika Daley via @officialsheiks on Instagram Sheika Daley is a well-known celebrity makeup artist known for her luminous approach to beauty. She has become the primary architect behind the viral looks of stars like Zendaya. As a true veteran in the industry, Sheika is the master of Hollywood glamour for the modern age. Her style is all about balance, creating picture-perfect makeup and eyes that are always perfectly defined.
Makeup by Sheika Daley for Anok Yai via @officialsheiks on Instagram Another alumnus of Pat McGrath, she worked under her, even becoming her personal makeup artist as well as assisting with product development. With clients like Yara Shahidi, Anok Yai, and Kelly Rowland, she has mentioned that she never repeats a look for any client, actively aiming to create unique looks that bring out each person’s individual features.
The future of the beat
These makeup artists are visionaries and trailblazers for our current generation. Maximalism or sleek high-glam alike, their creations prove that makeup is as much about art as it is about authentic representation. Through their work, inspiring the next viral look, redefining beauty standards, or giving us the confidence to stand out, they are shaping the way we see and experience beauty today and for the future. Their relentless pursuit of perfection pushes us to try new things and find our own signature face beat.
Read more: These are the beauty looks you need to know from this Fall/Winter 2026
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