Men ruling the makeup world

The world of makeup and beauty, once a female-dominated industry, is now experiencing some gender-breaking creativity

When social media apps really started gaining popularity in the early 2000s, online platforms which discussed makeup were widely regarded as a strictly “girls only” zone. Many trailblazers in this field and early makeup YouTubers such as Jaclyn Hill and Kandee Johnson quickly gained fame due to their makeup looks during this time, with a lot of them now having their own makeup brands, thanks to the fame they garnered early on in their social media careers. On the flip side, mainly due to prevalent societal norms, the idea of men sharing a passion for makeup has seemed unthinkable to many. While men have been makeup artists for many years, most of their duties remained confined to the work they did behind the camera. However, some path-breaking men in recent times have broken these stereotypes and flaunted their makeup talent in front of the camera.

Manny Gutierrez

If you have watched any sort of makeup tutorial on YouTube you have probably come across Manny Gutierrez, better known as Manny MUA. The humble yet hilarious makeup artist never fails to amaze with his incredible skill and has become one of the most well-liked beauty gurus on YouTube, having already amassed almost 5 million subscribers on the platform. Having gone from a small creator posting his makeup looks on Instagram while working in retail for MAC and Sephora to a globally renowned figure in his field, his career has grown exponentially. Since then he has also launched his own makeup brand called Lunar Beauty and has also been the first ever male to partner with Maybelline for an advertising campaign for the launch of their mascara, solidifying a place for male makeup artists in the beauty industry in the process. So whether it’s a discussion about the duplicate of a high end makeup product or a review for some of the world’s most overhyped makeup lines, Manny has you covered.

Patrick Starr

If there is one male makeup you have heard of, chances are his name is Patrick Starrr. Having shot to fame in record speed, Patrick has already collaborated with perhaps the biggest and most well-known company in the makeup world – MAC. In July 2020, he launched his very own makeup brand called One/Size, which caters to all customers irrespective of gender or colour. Patrick has successfully demonstrated that there is no playbook one needs to follow in the makeup world. He works to inspire others to simply follow their dreams regardless of what others think, and he wishes to promote inclusivity through his makeup line. So if you are looking for subtle everyday looks or eclectic makeup options, you need look no further.

Ryan Burke

Ryan Burke, a New York based photographer and makeup artist, is probably one of the most talented individuals you can come across in the makeup and beauty community. Ryan dominated this unexplored landscape before the rise of male makeup artist like Manny, James Charles and Jeffree Star. He has always been an artist who cares less about looking conventionally “pretty” and is instead more focused on blowing our minds, which he has done time and time again. Ryan has never really tried to put a label on the kind of makeup he enjoys doing, simply calling it “androgynous”, and he wants it to be wild and unpredictable but also nuanced and rhythmic. He also uses items which aren’t typically used for traditional makeup looks, like beads, feathers and the occasional brass pipe! Ryan was also instrumental in opening avenues for male makeup artists to become the face of large makeup brands. He had already been a part of Pat McGrath’s team well before the likes of Maybelline and Covergirl started using men for the cover of their campaigns.

Mario Dedivanovic

Another male makeup artist that has made a name for himself in the world of celebrity makeup is Mario Dedivanovic, who has garnered fame for being Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist. The duo has really driven the makeup world forward over the past few years, repeatedly producing red carpet looks that have set trend after trend. The contouring technique he used to style Kim in particular has already taken the internet by storm and dominated our social media feeds. After becoming one of the most influential makeup artists around, it was only a matter of time before he came out with his own makeup brand. Called Makeup by Mario, this makeup line wants every user to be able to feel pretty with little effort, even if they don’t have the decades-worth of experience that Mario does.