Introducing Yasmin Istanbouli: The Trendsetting Makeup Artist Creating Glam Looks for Your Favorite Celebrities

      Few makeup artists possess star power akin to that of their celebrity clients. Pat McGrath ascended as an editorial makeup artist for renowned fashion houses, cultivating a fanbase that included A-list stars like Taylor Swift and Naomi Campbell. She quickly became a prominent figure in both the beauty and fashion sectors. Mario Dedivanovic, affectionately known as Makeup by Mario, has a name so closely linked with Kim Kardashian's that it evokes the same level of admiration as the celebrity herself. It takes years of dedication, resilience, and artistic skill for a makeup artist to reach the same elevated status as their famous counterparts, and one person making that journey is Saudi Arabia–born, Los Angeles–based 29-year-old makeup artist Yasmin Istanbouli.

      While casual beauty enthusiasts might be unfamiliar with Istanbouli's name, anyone with even a slight interest in pop culture has witnessed her work. The emerging artist has been by Charli XCX's side since before the launch of her album "Brat," marking a new era and aesthetic for the evolving pop star, and motivating the public to transition from clean girl beauty to minimalist party girl makeup in 2024. Two years later, Istanbouli has been instrumental in shaping the contemporary interpretation of grunge—an uncomplicated, editorial style influenced by her sharp photographer's perspective. Sitting in her makeup chair is a surefire way to be elevated to It girl status, with notable personalities like Olivia Rodrigo, Nara Smith, Madison Beer, and Amelia Gray transformed under her brushes into sleeker, edgier versions of themselves. Seeing their images on her Instagram evokes approval from industry insiders, publicists, and agents alike. "You know about her too?"

      From the smoky, sultry shadows of Charli XCX and Troye Sivan's "Sweat" tour to Hilary Duff's sculpted features and Camila Cabello's onstage glamour, Istanbouli is gradually making her mark among the greats. Continue reading to learn more about her creative inspirations, early memories of experimenting in her mother’s makeup, and her “someday” shopping list items.

      Are you based in L.A.? Yes, I’m based in L.A. I’m originally from Saudi Arabia and moved to L.A. at the end of 2021. I came here for college but officially received my work visa by the end of 2021, so I’ve been here ever since. What inspired your interest in beauty? Was this always the plan after college, or did it lead you out west? My hometown in Saudi Arabia is coastal and somewhat resembles L.A. When I visited L.A. for the first time in middle school for a summer vacation, I fell in love with it and always knew I wanted to live here one day. While in college, I initially wanted to delve into photography, engaging in video editing, film photography, and animation. Though I didn't have a clear direction, I knew I wanted a career in photography. Then, in my junior year, I became obsessed with "RuPaul's Drag Race" and started spending hours in my bathroom doing drag makeup on myself and my friends for fun. I began experimenting more with makeup and amassed a collection, including Urban Decay palettes. However, when I graduated, pursuing photography felt daunting to me, so I discussed the possibility of doing makeup with my mom. Priscilla Ono, Rihanna’s makeup artist, had a three-day course in L.A. shortly after my graduation, and my mom gifted me a ticket for it as a graduation gift. We didn’t expect much to come from it; I just wanted to try. But that was my light-bulb moment. She taught us about business and the technical aspects of the industry and gave me amazing feedback, leading me to think, "Maybe I can do this professionally."

      At just 29, it's impressive how quickly you've risen! It's funny because, while this is my job and I feel lucky to be doing it, it may seem that I've had a rapid start for my age, but honestly, it’s mostly thanks to Instagram. I’ve been active on Instagram for a while.

      How did Instagram become a platform for you? When I was a high school student in Saudi, I had a strong interest in photography. I also loved L.A., so I followed many people from the area, and I was really into Tumblr. I curated a classic aesthetic on my Instagram, which also flourished during college. I've had a public account since high school, which was quite controversial in Saudi. I recall my dad being shocked that my Instagram was public! I loved sharing my life online. Once I began doing makeup, I reached out to L.A. models—girls I’d been following for a while—and offered to do their makeup for free in exchange for some photos. That’s how it all started because those girls would post and tag me even though I was relatively unknown at that