You’ve seen the Instagraming models, photographers, and stylists that get our synapses firing, but we really bow down to a certain set of social-media-savvy professionals—the makeup artists. Not to play favorites, but this is, after all, a beauty site. And as much as we get inspiration from the stylish men and women who wear beauty well, these are the people who push powder and mascara into new frontiers. Their accounts are as insider-y as you can get, documenting the moments of inception, creation, and the finished product, along with the products it took to get there. Below, a directory of our favorites:
Who: Aaron de Mey @aarondemey1
IRL: Nirvana enthusiast and Kiwi and who serves as Sephora's U.S. Artistry Ambassador
As Seen In: Interview, Rolling Stone, and Vogue Paris, and campaigns for Chloé, Calvin Klein, and Saint Laurent
Insta Style: Showing off his way with glitter, his own enviable ombré locks, and super-fresh inspiration photos
Who: Beau Nelson @beau _nelson
IRL: Go-to makeup artist for Hollywood’s PYTs.
As Seen In: Jalouse, Flare, Schön, and on celeb clients Kristen Stewart and Nicole Richie
Insta Style: Before and after selfies with SK-II masks, occasional guyliner, and pre-party prep with It girls
Who: Charlotte Tilbury @ctilburymakeup
IRL: British makeup guru, YouTube sensation, and creator of “Magic Cream”
As Seen In: Every iteration of Vogue, Interview, and fashion shows for Tom Ford, Prabal Gurung, and Donna Karan
Insta Style: Backstage at fashion week and the after party, glamour icons, and model mania
Who: Gucci Westman @gucciwestman
IRL: Revlon cosmetic designer, mother of two, and wife of Rag & Bone designer David Neville
As Seen In: Vogue, AnOther magazine, and campaigns for Rag & Bone and Carolina Herrera
Insta Style: “Baby” super models, baby animals, her favorite skincare lines, and enviable gardens
Who: Hannah Murray @hannah _murray1
IRL: Ballet dancer turned makeup artist
As Seen In: British Vogue, The Gentlewoman , and campaigns for T by Alexander Wang and Prabal Gurung
Insta Style: The interiors and exteriors of her jet-set life, drool-worthy makeup and skincare artilleries, and bathtubs across the globe
Who: James Kaliardos @jameskaliardos
IRL: Co-founder of Visionaire, V, V Man
As Seen In: Allure, T, V, and W, and runways for DVF and Rodarte
Insta Style: Quality over quantity inspiration images and his favorite looks from backstage
Who: Jeanine Lobell @jeaninelobell
IRL: Former Chanel counter girl, founder of Stila Cosmetics, and mother of four (including Esmé)
As Seen In: Vogue Japan, Harper’s Bazaar, and campaigns for Jason Wu and Gap; go-to artist for Cate Blanchett and Natalie Portman
Insta Style: Her models-in-the-making family, new editorials, and photo-bombing her famous friends
Who: Lisa Eldridge @lisaeldridgemakeup
IRL: A no-nonsense tutor for every beauty look you’ll ever need
As Seen In: British Vogue, Love, and campaings for L’Oréal
Insta Style: British short-hair kittens, pretty and playful makeup, and the products she loves
Who: Lisa Houghton @lisahoughton
IRL: British makeup artist entrusted with the faces of Sienna Miller and Scarlett Johansson
As Seen In: 032C, Dazed & Confused, and campaigns for Costume National and Victoria's Secret
Insta Style: The benefits of blue eyeshadow, theme parties, Vicky Secret Angels, and the very rare on-location selfie
Who: Lottie @lotstar
IRL: Freelance makeup artist; former assistant to Pat McGrath
As Seen In: W, Vanity Fair, and campaigns for Forever 21 and Guess
Insta Style: Francophilia and her French Pharmacy must-haves (e.g., Embryolisse), behind-the-scenes on her latest editorials, and kittens!
Who: Mark Carrasquillo @markcarrasquillo
IRL: Arbiter of what’s new and next in subversive, real-girl beauty
As Seen In: Interview, Vogue Italia, and campaigns for Alexander Wang and Calvin Klein (he's stylist Karl Templer's frequent collaborator)
Insta Style: The tough-girl’s guide to makeup and color chameleon (/daughter) Nico-Lou Monheim Carrasquillo
Who: Pat McGrath @patmcgrathreal
IRL: Global Creative Design Director for Procter & Gamble beauty, and the stuff that makeup legends are made of
As Seen In: Vogue Italia, i-D, and campaigns for Prada, Dior, and Dolce & Gabbana
Insta Style: The best looks from fashion week, and models at their most beautiful and most experimental, and last, but certainly not least, adorable animals
Who: Sonia Kashuk @soniakashuk
IRL: Makeup artist and cosmetics-company mogul
As Seen In: Target!
Insta Style: Cindy Crawford then and now, the latest SK products, insider beauty secrets (i.e., her facialist Vicki Morav), and beauty jargon decoded
Who: Stacey Nishimoto @staceynishimoto
IRL: San Franciscan turned Los Angeleno stylist and makeup artist for Nasty Gal
As Seen In: Nasty Gal
Insta Style: The culinary trials and errors of her baby Gus, style inspiration from Bryan Ferry and young Kate Moss, and major eyeliner drama
Who: Tom Pecheux @tompecheux
IRL: Legendary makeup artist and Creative Director of Estée Lauder
As Seen In: Vogue, W, Vogue Paris (avec Carine), and campaigns for Gucci (the Tom Ford years) and Chloé
Insta Style: Fête-ing with fashion royalty, his traveling beauty essentials, and color inspiration drawn from nature
Who: Val Garland @thevalgarland
IRL: Hairdresser turned makeup artist
As Seen In: British Vogu e, Numéro, runways for Vivienne Westwood, and campaigns for Joseph
Insta Style: Hair and makeup products that #reallywork, what she’s reading, and the enduring appeal of cat-eye glasses
Who: Violette @violette _fr
IRL: Painter turned makeup artist; makeup designer for Dior Beauty
As Seen In: CR Fashion Book, Teen Vogue, and campaigns for Dior and Valentino
Insta Style: Red lips as jewelry, super (super) glossy lids, TEXTURE, pictures from set, sun sets, and night moves with the Roitfelds
Who: Wayne Goss @gossmakeupartist
IRL: YouTube beauty vlogger with a sense of humor
As Seen In: The World Wide Web
Insta Style: Tackling everyday beauty quandaries, like the trouble with concealer, an up-to-date account of his “amazing,” “fantastic,” and bank-breaking beauty acquisitions, and tongue-in-cheek selfies
Who: Wendy Rowe @wendyrowe
IRL: Artistic Consultant for Burberry Beauty, and the so-called “ master of nudes”
As Seen In: Allure, Vogue Japan, and campaigns for Burberry and Guiseppe Zanotti
Insta Style: How to be really pretty in pink, the latest products worth testing, and taking in the great outdoors
Who: Yadim @yadim1
IRL: Former assistant to Pat McGrath; cut his teeth in the beauty business as a MAC cashier
As Seen In: W, British Vogue, Vogue Paris, and Vogue Russia
Insta Style: Shirtless selfies, the nearest body of water, and his latest collaboration with fashion dream teams
