BY NATHAN CLAUDIO
Faces of the male beauty industry that exist to assure us that it’s okay to feel beautiful.
Makeup is a staple for most women. Some can’t leave their house without putting at least a bit of make-up on — say some barely-there brows or a hint of blush. The beauty world is becoming larger every single day because of these women — but men, too! Yes, guys do wear makeup and there’s nothing new there.
Contrary to popular belief, guys care about their appearance, and thankfully, so! Male makeup artists such as James Charles, PatrickStarrr, Manny MUA, and Jeffree Star are some of the faces of the male beauty industry that we love. They exist to assure us that it’s okay for guys to wear makeup, and that there’s nothing wrong with looking beautiful and all glammed up. These beauty gurus are inspiring both men and women, of all ages (even young kids!), that makeup is for all and that there should absolutely be no borders when it comes to this art form.
1. Manny MUA
“Hey guys! Welcome back to my channel! *giggles for three seconds*”
He is the first and only male brand ambassador for the multi-million beauty company, Maybelline. Manny Gutierrez has been doing beauty videos on YouTube for four years now, and is currently almost at his five million subscriber mark both on YouTube and Instagram. Manny grew up in a Mormon family and was even sent to therapy hoping that he’ll become straight again. In 2018, he launched his own cosmetic company Lunar Beauty, which is a cosmetic line for men, women, and everyone in-between.
Instagram: @mannymua733
2. Jeffree Star
“Hi! Hello! How are yah?”
He was once a singer-songwriter before he purely pursued his passion for cosmetics. Jeffree Star is the founder, owner, and CEO of Jeffree Star Cosmetics, which is also a multi-million dollar company. He started the company with the last of his life savings after quitting music. Up until now, he continues to be one of the most influential beauty gurus worldwide — truly a beauty and style icon with his androgynous fashion and makeup looks.
Instagram: @jeffreestar
3. PatrickStarrr
“Hey guys! It’s PatrickStarrr! Welcome back to my channel!”
A proud Filipino that has been doing makeup since 2015, Patrick Simondac is a pianist, photographer, makeup artist and businessman. He worked for MAC Cosmetics and since then, he has been in TV shows like Face Forward (E!’s Snapchat show), attending and hosting red carpets such as the Grammy’s — no big deal. Patrick recently had a full partnership with MAC Cosmetics where he launched five collections with the brand. Not only is he inspiring in the beauty world, but he’s also a fashion icon for plus size men and women.
Instagram: @patrickstarrr
4. James Charles
“Hi, Sisters! James Charles here — and welcome back to my YouTube channel!”
At the age of 16, he started his YouTube channel back in 2016, which now has over 15 million subscribers. He is the first male makeup ambassador and spokesperson of the brand CoverGirl, alongside with Katy Perry. In 2018, he collaborated with cult-favorite beauty brand, Morphe, and launched his own rainbow artistry eyeshadow palette that aims to unleash the inner artist of each person, which by the way, sold millions of units worldwide. Just this January 2019, he was invited to open the Morphe store in Birmingham where over 8,000 fans flocked to see him, causing the city to standstill. We love a good sister surprise!
These men are here to show that makeup is for everyone — every gender, every size, and every skin tone. More than making us look beautiful on the outside, makeup also helps us feel more confident in our own skin — and nothing is more beautiful than a person with confidence. It is also a tool that allows us to express ourselves through our creativity. Cut crease or no cut crease, eyeliner or no eyeliner, Instagram brows or natural brows — makeup is for everyone, no matter the gender is.
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