With so many makeup influencers flooding Instagram and TikTok it can be hard to know where to start. Here are five unique professional MUAs who use their platforms to educate and inspire.
Two of these amazing MUAs will be on the Trends & Techniques live stage at Professional Beauty North on September 29–30. See James Mac's demo on "Elevated artistry - finding your signature and thinking outside the box with makeup" and Glamour Gran Ann at part of a panel on "Forging your own path in the beauty industry".
Joy Adenuga
Instagram: @joyadenuga (97.9k)
Multi-award winning, celebrity makeup artist Joy Adenuga has well over a decade of experience under her tool belt as a beauty heavyweight. Mainly working with Black clients her roster includes Little Mix’s Leigh-Ann Pinnock and India Amartifo of Queen Charlotte, a Bridgerton Stort. She has also worked on global ad campaigns for Google, Unilever, BBC, Cantu Beauty and more.
As well as being a recent speaker at Professional Beauty London, Adenuga been a jury member for the Baftas for Makeup & Hair Design and a judge for The Asos Beauty Awards, Who What Wear and The Wedding Industry Awards.
Natalie Eleni
Instagram @nathalieeleni_beauty (71.6k)
Beauty-mad Natalie Eleni has spent over two decades in the Industry developing her career as a facialist and makeup artist. As the beauty director of Country & Townhouse magazine, she harnesses her passion and knowledge to investigate the best products on the market.
Eleni is known for her skincare, makeup and facials that achieve that glowy, plump natural look, an ideal follow for anyone wanting to know how to combine skincare, makeup and tools such as gua sha to create the ultimate flawless radiance.
She works as a celebrity makeup artist and facialist, on editorial shoots, junkets and red carpet events and has been a regular speaker at Professional Beauty shows across the country.
James Mac
Instagram: @jmac_mua (263k)
Glow-up Season 2 finalist James Mac is known for his bright and bold and otherworldly makeup looks, super sharp graphic eyeliner and drag.
Since making it to the final on the hit competition TV show, his career has gone from strength to strength as has his content on social media. James also uses his platform to advocate for tourettes and bravely speaks out about how it affects him and his work.
He has recently become a judge for the Professional Beauty Make-up competitions and is also a regular on our Trends & Techniques stages at the shows.
Lan Nguyen-Grealis
Instagram: @lanslondon (50.4k)
Currently overseeing the first dedicated freelance makeup salon in the heart of Knightsbridge, Lan Nguyen has worked for over 20 years as a celebrity and fashion make-up artist regularly readying models during Fashion Week and the stars at award events with her team. She often collaborates with UK Pop sensation Raye to help her achieve her soft romantic looks.
She has been a Judge for various brand competitions including BAFTA TV Craft Awards, the Professional Beauty Make-up competitions and a guest judge for BBC’s Glow Up.
Ann Marie Harper
Instagram: @GlamourGranAnn (14.6k)
Being almost 70 years of age doesn’t stop this glamorous gran from experimenting with makeup. In her younger years, Ann Marie Harper wasn’t so fearless and dealt with years of depression leading up to a breakdown after suffering bullying at school.
Now, the qualified MUA specialises in makeup for older women while also advocating for mental health and self-belief. With her own makeup brand and training academy, GlamourGranAnn is on a mission to spread her positivity throughout the world and recently spoke and demoed on stage at the first Professional Beauty & Hair Glasgow show.