The Grand Dame of Beauty

British makeup artist Pat McGrath has been called the most innovative make up artist in the world. The honor was bestowed on Pat by Vogue Magazine. She won the CFDA Founder’s Award in 2017 and was named one of the top 100 Influential People of 2019 by Time Magazine. Pat’s contributions to makeup artistry have won her many awards. In 2014 she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire.  In January 2021 Pat was given the title of Dame. She is the first makeup artist to receive this honor.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an honor given to British nationals and citizens of the British Common Wealth countries for contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organizations, and public service outside the civil service. Males are given the title of Knight and females are given the title of Dame.

Pat has no formal training as a make-up artist. Pat is self-taught and she is a risk taker with her make up creations. She travels with many bags full of make-up. Pat also travels with bags of crystals and feathers to name a few of the items she uses on models who walk the runway. She told Allure the reason she travels with so many bags because “If you’re bringing something new, something new is not gonna happen with a tiny, little makeup kit. We were building 3D moving parts on people’s faces.”

Pat works with many celebrities but is most famous for her runway show creations. Working with John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs fashion shows to name a few, Pat has created fairies and aliens. The looks she creates are avant-garde, experimenting with colors and textures. Pat also created more down to earth no makeup looks. She told CR Fashion Book that creating no makeup looks are harder to do than the over-the-top creations she is famous for. The technique is called “three dimensional,” and is used to highlight a face’s natural silhouette. Pat says mixing textures on layers is the key to the no makeup look.

In 2015 Pat launched her own makeup line called Pat McGrath Labs. Each of her makeup products from lipstick to mascara are cruelty free and vegan. Her first product was Gold 001, a metallic dust. It was an instant best seller! Pat then decided she was going to launch a permanent collection. Pat McGrath Labs is featured in many articles that recommend her products including Allure Magazine and Popsugar.

You can purchase Pat McGrath Labs at Sephora and patmcgrath.com

Photo credits Harper’s Bazaar and Glamour UK