London is and has always been one of the world’s most crucial meccas for fashion and beauty culture. It’s among the premier cities that set the stage for global style trends. That’s thanks in no small part to the fact that the capital of the UK is one of the world’s most diverse cities, and therefore makeup artists present a diversity of approaches to skincare and presentation. From natural contours to the brightest glam hues, these 10 best makeup artists in London are go-to’s to find out what’s trending in the current era of post-pandemic peacocking.
Most of these Londoners have started with a YouTube channel, gained thousands – or millions – of followers on multiple platforms, and ended up developing product lines. Others started apprenticing in retail and worked their way up the corporate chain, eventually branching out on their own and finding sponsors and red-carpet celebrity clients. Still, others have paired with fashion photographers and freelance out their skills to high-end magazines. Whichever path they walked to get to where they are now, these 10 reigning London MUAs are the ones to watch in 2023.
With two successful tutorial books under her belt and a highly ranked podcast, Lan Nguyen-Grealis is one of London’s best makeup artists as well as a phenomenal educator of amateurs and pros alike. Lan’s overarching editorial style is colorful, wild, and fearless in a veteran of the London makeup artistry scene. But to pull that aesthetic off, an MUA has to have true skill – and there’s never been a doubt that she does.
Hannah Martin has done a number of the royals’ wedding makeup, and therefore by default, she is one of the queens of London’s MUAs. Or at least princesses. Even though she’s worked on the most elite models in the world, she’s actually quite down-to-earth, with an easy approach to her art and a girl-next-door vibe. She’s a proponent of light eyeliner, lots of blush, and bronzer for brides, optimism, and positivity. She’s not only one of the best makeup artists in London,but all over the world.
Skincare specializing in Black beauty and flawless complexions. The words “natural,” “healthy,” and “dewy” come to mind when describing Adeola Gboyega’s personal style. You’ll seldom see her going in an outlandish direction. Like most MUAs, she’s a big proponent of SPF moisturizers and universally complementary hues, as well as frequent facials. She also swears by Funmi Fetto’s makeup tutorial text for women of color, “Palette.”
