The makeup brands created by *actual* makeup artists

We’re totally into celebs launching makeup brands. But you know who has even more cred and appeal than them? The ones making said celebs look a million bucks IRL: their makeup artists. 

Who better for the job of crafting a collection of makeup products that actually work and that you will religiously use than the pros who rely on great makeup day in and day out? No-one, in our opinion. 

Besides the greats like Bobbi Brown, François Nars and Laura Mercier who have been in the game for a long time, there is a new wave of modern MUAs determined to inspire your daily makeup routine and ensure it’s well-equipped to take on the latest trends. These are the makeup brands by celebrity makeup artists that you need to know about - and stock up on.

Patrick Ta

Be still our makeup-obsessed hearts: Patrick Ta is FINALLY blessing us with his own makeup brand. If you're not familiar with Patrick Ta, he's the artist behind almost all of Shay Mitchell's best makeup looks, like this one and all of these; he has a knack for making skin glow on a whole other level (case in point below); and his Instagram account is a scroll-fest of stunning makeup on ALL your favourite celebrities. His upcoming makeup line has been in the works for two years (you can’t rush perfection) and the only info we know at the moment is that it’s going to cover off face, body and lips. We’re also predicting a whole lotta glow in our future. “I like makeup that is able to be worn on a red carpet, but also worn walking down the street,” said Patrick when describing his makeup style in an interview with Rose Inc. He also revealed that his makeup kit isn’t complete without highlighter, so you know he’s got to have an epic one in his own range. We cannot wait!

Pat McGrath

Ah, the Backstage Queen. Pat McGrath has worked at ALL the fashion week shows (she directs about 80 shows every year!) and has created some of the most inspiring, inventive and downright stunning makeup looks of all time. She is a legend in the industry and Anna Wintour dubbed her as “the most influential makeup artist in the world”. No big deal. Pat launched her Pat McGrath Labs beauty brand in 2015, and in 2017, it launched in Sephora Australia so we could get in on the cult action. “These are the very real products that I have been using backstage, on every photo shoot and every location throughout my entire career. It is me unzipping my 87 suitcases and sharing the secrets of a lifetime on set and backstage along with how to create those looks with the real products I custom-made for myself and my team,” Pat said of her makeup brand in an interview with Vogue Italy. Her statement lipsticks and colour-rich eye palettes are definitely at the heart of her brand (she updates them regularly to match the season’s hottest trends) but her Skin Fetish radiance-inducing highlighting stick is a must-have for anyone wanting to recreate that elusive backstage glow we can’t get enough of season after season.

If you buy just one product, make it the...Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Highlighter & Balm Duo

Sir John

Sir John is Beyoncé’s main makeup man. Chrissy Teigen and Priyanka Chopra are kinda big fans, too. Smoky eyes and ‘24 Carat’ glowing skin are his trademark. And just recently, Sir John dropped a bombshell - he’s launching his own makeup brand. When asked by WWD recently if he would ever do his own makeup brand, he responded, “That’s totally happening now. I have two licensing deals. Some things are coming out this year.” He’s still keeping tight-lipped about the deets, but he did hint to partnering with someone unexpected… given Beyoncé would be an obvious choice, we’re racking our brains trying to figure this one out. We guess only time will tell. As for what we can probably expect, we’re thinking some epic eye makeup palettes have surely got to be in his collection. “I love statement eyes, if you know anything about my work and the people I work with, you’ll know I love light-reflective eyes with massive impact,” Sir John told Glamour UK. We love them too, Sir John. 

Charlotte Tilbury

Chances are you are very familiar with the name Charlotte Tilbury. Between being a makeup artist to all the stars, a regular fixture backstage at the top international fashion shows and Contributing Beauty Editor for British Vogue, Charlotte somehow finds time to concoct, create and deliver cult makeup products that the world can’t get enough of (celebs like Kylie Jenner and Martha Hunt are obsessed with this one product in her range). She is the go-to for the beauty greats of this world (Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss) as well as all the ‘It’ girls (Irina Shayk, Suki Waterhouse), and she does bombshell beauty like no other in the biz.

If you buy just one product, make it the…Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick in Pillow Talk

Mario Dedivanovic

In August last year, Mario Dedivanovic (you know, the guy who is always doing Kim Kardashian’s makeup) announced that after nearly 19 years as a makeup artist, he was *finally* ready to launch his own makeup line. And that's exactly what he's doing. While we are still waiting for more details - come on Mario, the anticipation is killing us! - we can assume the collection will be small but universal and timeless - “Maybe then it will be about quality and not quantity”, Mario said of the collection in an interview with WWD. What are we hoping for? An all-in-one versatile eyeshadow palette that has you covered for EVERY look with both neutrals and bold hues (similar to the one he created for KKW Beauty), a nude lippie, an illuminating cream to replicate that glowing look he loves creating on Kate Bosworth, and something to nail his trademark contouring look. 

Want to know what the top trends will be for 2019? Read our beauty trend report here.

Are you excited for any of these upcoming makeup artist brands to launch? Are you a fan of any of the ones that have already launched? Share your thoughts with us below!

Main image credit: @makeupbymario
Inset image credits: @patrickta; @patmcgrathreal; @sirjohnofficial; @ctilburymakeup; @makeupbymario