For decades, the beauty industry centered its spotlight on models, celebrities, and brand founders while often overlooking the artists responsible for shaping the looks that defined entire eras. Behind the most iconic red-carpet appearances, runway moments, editorial covers, and global campaigns are makeup artists whose technical skill and cultural perspective have quietly changed the direction of modern beauty.
Black makeup artists, in particular, have played a critical role in expanding shade ranges, improving complexion techniques for deeper skin tones, and redefining what luxury beauty looks like. Their work pushed the industry toward inclusivity long before it became a marketing strategy. From editorial innovation to celebrity glam, these artists built the foundation of today’s beauty standards.
Here are the hands behind the glam.
Sam Fine—The Makeup Master
Sam Fine is widely recognized as one of the most influential Black makeup artists in modern beauty history. Born and raised in Chicago, Fine began his career working at cosmetic counters before assisting established artists and building his own clientele in the early 1990s. At a time when professional makeup artistry for deeper skin tones was underdeveloped in mainstream beauty, Fine focused on mastering complexion work for Black women.
He became known for his refined, skin-focused approach that enhanced natural features rather than masking them. His client list has included Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Iman, Queen Latifah, Vanessa Williams, and Whitney Houston. In an era when shade inclusivity was limited, Fine educated both consumers and brands on undertones, highlight placement, and foundation matching for darker complexions.
Fine made history as one of the first Black spokespersons for major cosmetic brands, including Revlon and CoverGirl. He became the Global Creative Makeup Artist for Fashion Fair Cosmetics, a legacy brand founded specifically for women of color. His book, Fine Beauty: Beauty Basics and Beyond for African-American Women, remains an important resource for makeup education.
Today, Sam Fine continues to influence professional makeup artists through mentorship, brand consulting, and education. His legacy lies in normalizing expertise in Black beauty within mainstream cosmetics.
Pat McGrath—The Dame of Runway Makeup
Pat McGrath is often described as the most influential makeup artist in the world. Born in Northampton, England, to a Jamaican mother who introduced her to fashion and cosmetics at a young age, McGrath developed her artistry outside of traditional training programs. She built her career in London’s fashion scene before becoming a dominant force in international runway beauty.
McGrath’s editorial and runway work transformed how makeup is viewed within high fashion. She became known for experimental textures, bold pigments, crystal embellishments, and unconventional finishes that blurred the line between beauty and art. Her work has appeared on hundreds of magazine covers and on the runways of Prada, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Versace, and Maison Margiela.
In 2015, she launched Pat McGrath Labs, a cosmetics brand that quickly became one of the most influential luxury beauty brands in the world. The brand reached a valuation of over one billion dollars, making McGrath one of the few Black women to lead a billion-dollar beauty company. In 2021, she was named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her services to fashion and beauty.
Pat McGrath’s influence extends beyond product launches. She helped elevate backstage makeup artists to visible creative authorities in fashion. Her impact on editorial beauty, luxury cosmetics, and runway aesthetics permanently changed industry standards.
AJ Crimson—The Complexion Innovator
AJ Crimson was an American makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur known for his focus on foundation inclusivity. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Crimson began his career as a self-taught artist working with gospel artists and television personalities before expanding into celebrity makeup. His early experiences highlighted the lack of complexion products designed for deeper skin tones.
In 2007, Crimson founded AJ Crimson Beauty, a brand created to address gaps in foundation shades for women of color. His products became known for their undertone accuracy and blendability. Crimson worked with clients including Brandy, Missy Elliott, Hilary Duff, and Letoya Luckett.
Beyond artistry, Crimson was recognized for his advocacy within the beauty industry. He consistently spoke about the importance of representation behind the scenes and in product development. His work contributed to broader conversations about diversity in cosmetics years before brands began expanding shade ranges on a large scale.
AJ Crimson passed away in 2022, but his influence remains visible in the complexion categories of major beauty retailers. His commitment to inclusive foundation development helped push the industry toward accountability.
Sir John—The Celebrity Architect of Modern Glam
Sir John, born in Buffalo, New York, built his career through persistence and formal training at cosmetic counters before transitioning into editorial work. His big break came after assisting legendary artists during Fashion Week, where he refined his technique in high-pressure backstage environments.
Sir John, best known as Beyoncé’s longtime makeup artist, is responsible for many of her most recognizable red carpet and tour beauty moments. From the Grammy Awards to world tours, Sir John’s signature style emphasizes radiant skin, structured brows, and soft contouring. His work balances glamour with wearability, making high-impact makeup feel accessible.
Sir John has also worked with Serena Williams, Chrissy Teigen, Joan Smalls, and Zendaya. In addition to celebrity clients, he has served as a brand ambassador for L’Oréal Paris. Sir John was also recognized at industry award ceremonies for his contributions to beauty.
Beyond the red carpet, Sir John focuses on education and mentorship. He has taught masterclasses and participated in initiatives aimed at increasing diversity in professional makeup artistry. His career demonstrates how celebrity makeup artists influence global beauty trends.
Ngozi Edeme—The Color Revolutionary
Ngozi Edeme, widely known as Painted by Esther, is a London-based makeup artist celebrated for her fearless use of color. Born in Nigeria and raised in the United Kingdom, Edeme built her platform through social media before becoming a sought-after artist for music, fashion, and editorial projects.
Her work gained attention for bold blush placement, saturated pink tones, and unconventional, glittery color combinations on deeper skin tones. At a time when many beauty campaigns still favored muted palettes for darker complexions, Edeme showcased vibrant pigments with confidence. Her clients have included SZA, Olandria, Naomi Campbell, and Kelly Rowland.
Edeme represents a new generation of makeup artists who built influence through digital platforms rather than traditional beauty pathways. Her artistry emphasizes creative freedom while maintaining technical precision. By normalizing bright color on all skin tones, she helped shift how brands formulate and market blush and pigment products.
Today, Ngozi Edeme continues to work across fashion editorials and celebrity beauty while expanding her presence in global beauty conversations.
Danessa Myrick—The Boldest Beauty
Danessa Myricks is a self-taught makeup artist and beauty entrepreneur who transformed her passion for cosmetics into one of the most respected independent brands in the industry. Based in New York, Myricks began her journey not through traditional beauty school but through experimentation, education, and relentless practice. Before launching her own company, she built her career as a working makeup artist while studying product formulation and color theory on her own.
Frustrated by the lack of multifunctional, high-performance products that worked across all skin tones, Myricks decided to create her own. In 2015, she founded Danessa Myricks Beauty, a brand centered on inclusivity, versatility, and professional-grade pigment. The line quickly gained recognition for its Colorfix pigments, complexion products, and balm-to-powder foundations designed to work on a wide spectrum of skin tones and textures.
Unlike many legacy cosmetic brands, Danessa Myricks Beauty was built with deeper skin tones at the forefront rather than as an afterthought. Her products are frequently used backstage at Fashion Week and are stocked in major retailers such as Sephora, solidifying her presence in both professional and consumer markets.
Myricks is known for her editorial creativity and technical education. She consistently teaches masterclasses for aspiring makeup artists and emphasizes that artistry and business ownership can coexist. In an industry where product development has historically excluded Black founders, Danessa Myricks built a brand that competes globally while maintaining a commitment to diversity in cosmetics.
Her impact extends beyond trend cycles. By combining professional makeup artistry with strategic brand leadership, Danessa Myricks has helped redefine what inclusive beauty entrepreneurship looks like in the modern beauty industry.
Why their work matters
The influence of Black makeup artists reaches far beyond individual clients or campaigns. They changed how brands approach shade development, backstage hiring, editorial representation, and celebrity beauty standards. Many of the techniques, highlight placements, and skin-prep methods that are now considered industry basics were refined by artists working with women of color.
Their work also expanded opportunities for future generations. Today’s beauty industry speaks openly about inclusivity, but it was practicing it long before it became part of brand messaging. By recognizing these artists, we acknowledge the professionals who shaped modern beauty from behind the scenes. They built careers through skill, innovation, and persistence. More importantly, they changed the standard of what professional makeup artistry looks like.
The next time a red carpet look goes viral or a runway trend dominates social media, it’s worth remembering the hands behind the glam.
