In a world where a celebrity can have a glam team of 5 people on call, the most powerful flex is saying: “I got it.”
No makeup artist, no 3-hour chair, no “can you fix my liner?” These 7 stars actually do their own faces — sometimes for red carpets, sometimes for their own weddings — and kill it every time.
1. Zendaya — The Met Gala DIY Queen
Known for her creative style and versatility, Zendaya often does her own makeup and hair for major events. At the 2016 Met Gala, Zendaya reportedly styled her own hair, showcasing her amazing artistic skills.
She’s said in interviews she learned to do makeup because she wanted to understand what was happening to her face. Now she’ll show up to a Dune premiere having done a full smoky eye herself. Her makeup artist Law Roach once said she’ll send him a selfie like “is this okay?” and it’s already perfect.
2. Ariana Grande — Bathroom Counter Method
In it, Ariana Grande is shown applying her own makeup while perched on the bathroom counter with her feet in the sink to get that oh-so-close view for precise application.
That 2020 video went viral for a reason. Ariana has admitted she does her own cat-eye 90% of the time because no one else can get the wing as sharp as she wants. Her trick: gets extremely close to the mirror. If you see that ultra-precise liner on tour, that’s her hand.
3. Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales — Did Her Own Wedding Makeup
Yes, really. For her 2011 wedding to Prince William — watched by 2 billion people — Kate did her own makeup.
She took lessons from Bobbi Brown artist Arabella Preston weeks before, then told the palace glam team “thanks, I’ve got it.” The result: that soft brown smoky eye and pink blush that became the most copied bridal look of the decade. With someone at such a status as her, you would be shocked to know that she does her own hair, makeup and even designs some of her own clothing.
She still does her own for most day events.
4. Meghan Markle — The “My Face, My Rules” Approach
Find out more about some of the biggest celebrities who do their own makeup, and learn the reason why they prefer to do it themselves. From models to actresses and even royalty, here are the celebs who don’t usually hire makeup artists.
Meghan told Allure she prefers to do her own makeup for events because she knows her freckles and wants them to show. She layers YSL Touche Éclat and a little bronzer and leaves the freckles alone — which is why she looks like herself, not a mannequin.
5. Taylor Swift — Her Best Friend Does It, But She Does It Better
Celeb BFFs, they’re just like us! Karlie Kloss did her own makeup and bestie, Taylor Swift’s.
Taylor is famous for doing her own red carpet makeup, especially her signature red lip and sharp wing. Her longtime makeup artist admits Taylor does her own 80% of the time — she even did her own makeup for the Folklore photoshoot and the “All Too Well” short film. Why? “No one knows my face like I do.”
6. Kylie Jenner — The Billionaire Who Still Beats Her Own Face
So while she may seem like an obvious star, you’ll never believe which other celebs actually pride themselves in playing with makeup, too! Stars Who Do Their Own Makeup!
Kylie built a $900M beauty empire because she was obsessed with doing her own lips at 16. She still does her own makeup for TikToks, launches, and even pap walks. She says she trusts herself more than anyone because she started with drugstore concealer in her mom’s bathroom.
7. Alia Bhatt — From Gucci in Seoul to Instagram Vlogs
From Alia Bhatt’s recent revelation of doing her own make-up for Gucci event in Seoul to Kriti Kharbanda‘s recent post reminiscing her early days as she did her own make up for an event… In her vlog, Alia has admitted to doing her own hair and makeup for many occasions.
Alia told Vogue India she loves doing her own makeup for casual outings and social media posts because it feels more “natural and fresh-faced.” For the Gucci Cruise show in Seoul, she skipped the artist, did a soft brown eye and glossy skin herself, and had every beauty editor asking who her MUA was. Answer: her.
Why do they do it?
The same reason you do: control.
According to an interview with Marie Claire, one A-lister who does it said: Olivia listens to beauty experts but does her own makeup. They listen, they learn, then they take the brush.
As one beauty editor put it: To provide fresh encouragement to the makeup lovers among you — allow us to present 17 celebrities who do their own makeup masterfully.
They prove that the best makeup artist for your face is the person who has lived in it the longest.
