Four Makeup Artists who Create Today's Trends

Behind the scenes, these four virtuosos of the brush sublimate the famous faces and imagine the trends of tomorrow.

Donni Davy, the dreamer

Her title: Head Makeup Artist for the Euphoria Series and Co-founder of the Half Magic brand.

Her resume: Donni began her career as a makeup artist on film and television sets. She became known in 2017 thanks to the Oscar-winning film Moonlight. Her reputation takes a turn thanks to the series Euphoria, where the makeup becomes  as famous as the actresses. Sparkling tears, gems around the eyes, highly pigmented eyeliner strokes: Donni brings a new aesthetic that goes viral (the hashtag #euphoriamakeup accumulates more than 2 billion views on TikTok). Faced with this success, the Los Angeles native launched her own brand, Half Magic, to allow generation Z to reproduce her fantastic and colorful creations.

Her style: "I would define it as 'emotional glam'. There is always a mood that underlies the look. I also like to make sure the makeup is 'alive,' such as blending lip liner, dewy cheeks and making sure the skin looks hydrated with just the right amount of shine."

Her muses: "Fashion and beauty writer Kristen Bateman and musician Alice Longyu Gao."

What inspires her: "Working with Generation Z creatives and talent. When the subject matter is deeply rooted in emotion."

Isamaya Ffrench, the anti-conformist

Her title: Founder of the Isamaya brand and Beauty Curator at Off-White.

Her CV: for a decade, the British designer was in charge of the cosmetic lines of luxury brands (Tom Ford, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Louboutin, Burberry). She also designed Byredo's first ever makeup collection in 2020. Her vital need to go against industry norms pushed her to create her own inclusive makeup brand, which caters to those "who don't want to conform" to beauty standards. A punk and sexy aesthetic that has already seduced the queens of provocation like Madonna, Doja Cat, Julia Fox or Dua Lipa. In February 2022, the fashion brand Off-White entrusted him with its beauty division.

Her style: "I work between special effects, gore, editorial, classic and abstract makeup."

Her muses: "The legends of makeup artists: Val Garland, Alex Box, Kevyn Aucoin, Serge Lutens..."

What inspires her: "Music has always been central to my work. It is not visual, but evokes a visual."

Priscilla Ono, the bold one

Her title: Global MakeUp Artist Fenty Beauty.

Her CV: her passion for beauty was born while watching video clips on MTV in the 1990s. Today, she does makeup for one of the biggest pop stars, Rihanna. The California native began her career on music video sets when her talent piqued the attention of Rihanna, who chose her to join the team of her makeup brand in 2017. She is the one behind the singer's incredible looks on the red carpets of the Grammy's, the Met Gala, the Fenty × Savage lingerie shows or more recently her Super Bowl halftime show. In addition to teaching sold-out master classes, Priscilla also helps train thousands of Sephora makeup artists around the world.

Her style: "Experimental. I'm always trying new combinations to create unique looks. And I have a thing for glowy skin and bold eyes."

Her muses: "Rihanna, obviously. What she represents in terms of inclusivity, multitude of talents, boldness and empowerment of women carries me a lot in my work."

Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury, the heiress

Her title: Creative Director at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty.

Her CV: Charlotte Tilbury's niece trained as a makeup artist alongside her illustrious aunt, creator of the brand that bears her name, assisting her backstage at fashion shows and award ceremonies - from the Oscars to the Golden Globes to the Cannes Film Festival. In September 2019, London Fashion Week marks her debut as head makeup artist for three ready-to-wear shows at the age of 27. The Briton solidifies her position by taking command of the beauty booth for the Zuhair Murad Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2023 collection. She has a key role in the development of the new Charlotte Tilbury products and participates in both the design and conception. She frequently poses for the brand's photo shoots. Her ambition for the future: "To develop revolutionary skincare concepts, technological breakthroughs, collaborations and breathtaking campaigns."

Her style: "Highlighting natural beauty. Whether it's through a sultry smoky eye or a beautiful red mouth, I'm always looking to boost confidence, so everyone can feel that glamorous, red carpet feel."

Her muses: "Bella Hadid, Salma Hayek, Lily James, Kate Moss, Sienna Miller, Adele Exarchopoulos and many more... They're all so iconic and really know how to use makeup to transform themselves into different characters, whether they're on a movie set, red carpet or runway."

What inspires her: "I grew up between London and Ibiza surrounded by artists, musicians and writers, in a bit of a bohemian atmosphere, so I've always been on a creative path. My grandfather Lance was a talented painter who taught me a lot about color, texture and light. I was obsessed with the magic of his brush strokes. And, of course, my aunt. She is a bible of living beauty!"