Celebrity Makeup Artists

Multi Talented, Multitasking, Style Makers...

First of all, what makes professional makeup artists, celebrity makeup artists?...

There are professional makeup artists that are hired by a production company to work "on set", and there is a tier of talent above this group.  These pro makeup artists may work on set, but they are also hired outside of this realm...personally, by the celebrity themself.

These individuals are a select, experienced and talented group with a reputation for producing brilliant work under tremendous pressure. In a sense they are the stars of their industry.

These standout artistic talents primarily come via the fashion industry, establishing themselves with photographers, magazines and designers. Their art, showcased on the pages of major fashion magazines like Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar and the runways of Paris and New York.

 

Celebrity makeup artists are even hired to help with the design and development of star "brands"...

What does that mean?  James Kaliardos is one such giant talent out of the fashion world whose client list includes Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Gwen Stefani, to name a few. He made an interesting comment that really brought home to me, just how valuable the service of talented professional makeup artists' is, to a celebrity client. He referred to makeup artists actually helping celebrities develop and perfect a 'brand' ... a " look" that is distinctly that individual's. He gave as an example Angelina Jolie...a very distinctive way she wears eyeliner and does her famous lips;

"I thought it was so smart for her to design her face so you know that's Angelina Jolie."¹ James Kaliardos

From the world of fashion, to the fashion famous, to the film famous, to just plain ol' famous themselves.

"the catwalk has collided with the red carpet, and now the fashion and showbiz worlds are inseparable."² - Paul Starr

Eventually standout professional makeup artists achieve a level of prestige and exposure that attracts a much larger audience realm; private projects with celebrities, key design roles in cosmetic companies, writing books and even launching their own cosmetics brands; Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, Kevyn Aucoin, Julie Hewitt, Jillian Dempsey, Paul Starr... more on celebrity makeup artists and their entrepreneurial ventures

Successful working relationships have lead to many friendships, even marriage as with Jillian and Patrick Dempsey (Founder Delux Beauty and Grey's Anatomy Star).

"The relationship between a makeup artist and his or her muse is very close. Its like we're the team behind the illusion."³ - Paul Starr

Here is a small sample list of celebrity makeup artists with *BIG talent (there are actually many more) and just a snippet of what they have been and/or, are involved with :

(*I did mention talented multitaskers in my title above, in reference to celebrity makeup artists, and this is an understatement for most of these busy bees....if you 'Google' any one of these you will easily see what I mean).

Billy B

Music video Destiny's Child, Pink, Mary J. Blige, Major Fashion Magazine Covers and Editorials for Harper's Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Elle, Marie Claire, massive celebrity client list Sharon Stone, Sandra Bullock, Pink, and Beyonce.  Plus he has developed a beautiful line of makeup brushes, he is sought after key note speaker on the fashion industry, and provides makeup style expertise at welovebeauty.com.

You can find his beautiful brushes, part of the Master Paint Brush Collection, at his website billbbeauty.com.

Bobbi Brown

Runs a mega empire premiere prestige cosmetics line Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, has written multiple books on her beauty philosophy and know how; Living Beauty, Beauty Evolution, Teenage Beauty  and Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual.   Bobbi has also developed into quite a philanthropist helping many causes related to supporting women.

Jillian Dempsey

She is high demand Hollywood celebrity makeup artist that launched her own very successful prestige beauty brand, Delux Beauty, and is presently consulting for Avon and its new makeup line, Mark.  Jillian is married to Grey's Anatomy star and leading man Patrick Dempsey ( yes, they met on set...).

Pati Dubroff

Pati is an extremely popular and talented celebrity makeup artist with many of Hollywoods major beauties and trend setters Jennifer Anniston, Jennifer Connelly, Gwyneth Paltrow, to name a few.  She continues to work for top fashion magazines; Vogue, Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar; plus do Music Videos for Britney Spears, Hillary Duff.  AND does consulting work for prestige cosmetics company Dior Cosmetics.

Julie Hewitt

One of a handful of acclaimed celebrity makeup artists within the motion pictures industry, Big Sreen work Ocean's 11, 12 &13, Pearl Harbour , works with A-list stars like Nicole Kidman and launched her own cosmetics line Julie Hewitt (very popular and featured in lots of fashion magazine beauty editorials).

James Kaliardos

James has worked for top fashion and beauty magazines like Vogue and Allure; has developed catwalk makeup strategies for design houses like Jill Stuart, Zac Posen and Anne Klein; has provided services for celebrity music icons Madonna, and Lenny Kravitz, AND co-founder of fashion and art magazines V and Visionaire.  Oh yeah, he is the international makeup artist for L'oreal.

Pat McGrath

She works for top fashion magazines like Marie Claire, Vogue etc. and has an extensive list of the 'whose who' of top chic design houses, where she did backstage work; Calvin Klein, Gucci, Mui Mui, Prada....Pat  is also a top pick among Hollwood's most chic, style maven celebrities Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Sarah Jessica Parker even Oprah!;   Pat is also the Global Color Cosmetics Creative Design Director for Procter & Gamble ( Max Factor).

Laura Mercier

Brilliant artistic talent in the fashion industry working major fashion magazines Elle, Glamour, Vanity Fair, Seventeen, Allure, W; contracted by Elizabeth Arden to do their makeup looks and hired by Chanel to do their beauty campaigns in France.  Laura is founder of powerhouse prestige cosmetics company Laura Mercier (Her makeup is on the short list of every 'beauty editor's best' and in every professionals' and celebrities' makeup bag...its that good).

The New Beauty Secrets by Laura Mercier

Paul Starr

Another amazing talent with fine art beginnings, who has worked with the "top" talent of every media; fashion, photography, print, motion pictures, actors, musicians...he has a pretty extensive, not too mention impressive, resume...and he has also written a well received book Paul Starr On Beauyt By Paul Starr : Conversations with Thirty Celebrated Women.

Elke Von Freudenberg

Talented artist and entrepreneur with designer Campains Dolce & Gabana, Calvin Klein, Work with super models like Kate Moss, Magazine work Allure, Rolling Stone, her own beauty blog, guest lecturing, to her popular e-book The Makeup Course.

Last word on celebrity makeup artisits, as you can see, these individuals are not short on energy, talent, or ways to fill their time. 

Reference:

James¹ james-kaliardos-makeup-artist-to-the-stars-797481.htmT
² http://www.paulstarrmakeup.com/scene_heard/in_the_press/lg/
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³ http://www.paulstarrmakeup.com/scene_heard/in_the_press/lg/
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