Women's Lifestyle July 1, 2026 0 Comments

Unlock the Untold Beauty Hacks from Esther’s Celebrity Makeup Muse That Will Transform Your Routine Overnight

Have you ever paused mid-scroll, mesmerized by that flawless, doll-like flush sweeping across TikTok feeds—and wondered who’s the genius behind it? Meet Ngozi Edeme, aka Painted by Esther, a celebrity makeup artist who’s turning beauty routines into a fine art form. From glam sessions with Naomi Campbell and Viola Davis to pioneering that viral gradient blush technique, Ngozi’s journey is as inspiring as it is glamorous. Beyond her impressive client list and social media fame, she’s a self-taught artist who transformed a passion sparked during sociology studies into a thriving career. Curious about the magic brushes, go-to products, and edgy tips that keep her creations fresh on the beauty scene? Let’s dive into the colorful world of Painted by Esther and discover why blush isn’t just makeup—it’s a masterpiece waiting to happen. LEARN MORE

8 min read

Celebrity makeup artist Ngozi Edeme, best known in the beauty industry and to her nearly one million social media followers as Painted by Esther, refers to herself as a fine artist. That’s probably because she not only counts stars like Doechii, Naomi Campbell, Viola Davis, and Raye as clients, but also pioneered the doll-like transition blush technique you’ve likely seen all over TikTok.

Edeme first developed a love of makeup and an appreciation for its artistry while attending the UK’s University of Leicester to study sociology. “Rather than focusing on my studies, I would do makeup or think about makeup, and I was just like, ‘Okay, well, there’s something here,’” Edeme tells Harper’s Bazaar. “And I just kept practicing, and practicing, and practicing, and eventually landed my first celebrity client, which was actually Ari Lennox for a photo shoot. I did her makeup, and it snowballed from there.”

@Painted by Esther

Along with millions of viral internet views, her signature talent and approach to gradient blush recently led to a partnership with M.A.C. Cosmetics to paint her friend the Love Island alum Olandria for the May 2026 cover of the newly relaunched MACzine. “It was just amazing, so full circle for us to share that moment together,” she says of the collaboration.

Here, we catch up with Edeme right before she heads out on a multi-city summer tour with Tyla, for a closer look at some of her makeup must-haves and application non-negotiables. From the one product she can’t go a day without using—which actually isn’t blush—to the budget-friendly foundation she rates a 10 out of 10, read on for the artist’s short list of essential top picks.

What was the first makeup product you remember buying or using?

I think it was the Dream Matte Mousse foundation; it was in this little tub, and that was the biggest thing at the time. That’s the only thing we had really: that, mascara, and a good lip liner—that was my makeup routine.

Who or what is your biggest makeup inspiration?

My biggest makeup inspiration is definitely Kevyn Aucoin, 120 percent; he changed my life. He’s the first artist I remember looking at and thinking, “This is flawless; there are no flaws.” There was no white face, brown body—he mastered dark skin. A lot of his clients were brown-skinned and dark-skinned women, so, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Naomi Campbell. I remember he did this look back on Naomi one time, and it was like a cut crease with a matte eye, and it lived in my brain rent-free, literally. So every time I do Naomi, I try to channel that kind of look and that vibe, like it was just so perfect.

Mitchell Gerber//Getty Images

Aucoin does Campbell’s makeup in the late ‘90s

Also Sam Fine, of course, is another inspiration. Any lover of brown skin is a friend of mine, and Sam is the same, another fab artist who taught me about base. Also King Mali Magic, who’s another OG makeup artist and also taught me about base and how to actually run a new business. She used to have Instagram Lives where she would talk about how you should charge and what you shouldn’t settle for. She’s always been really open and willing to share her knowledge.

What’s your number-one holy-grail makeup product?

Blush! I love me some blush. People think I have to say it like I’m under some sort of blush oath or something. No, it is blush, blush in every single color, every single shade. I just get butterflies when I’m about to apply it on the face, because I know that it ties everything together; it fills in that gap. I just hate seeing a gap in people’s faces, and blush is always what is missing. A lot of people are still scared of it, which I understand, but you don’t have to apply too much, and then find your shade, babe, you know? It doesn’t have to be hot pink, honey. Everyone has a shade.

Haus Labs by Lady Gaga Color Fuse Talc-Free Blush Powder in Dragon Fruit Daze

Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed in Bellini

Kosas Impressionist Multistick in Intuition

M.A.C. Cosmetics Skinfinish Colourstruck Blush in Your Heroine

It’s going to sound weird when I say it, but I love a flat, creamy blush, like a formula that’s flat matte and creamy with almost a dry matteness to it. In terms of powder, that’s my favorite kind of formula, like a Haus Labs, for example. And then for a cream-to-powder formula, it would be Danessa Myricks Beauty, of course, which also dries matte. I was also loving the Kosas Impressionist Multistick even before I did my masterclass with them. They’re perfect for on the go, and again, they dry matte—that is the key here—because you can build the glow on top of that. And obviously M.A.C.’s Skinfinish Colorstruck Blush because I’m an OG girl; I always have my OGs with me.

How did you learn to do your makeup?

I didn’t really have to learn; it just kind of flowed. I started off painting and sketching faces, so I really knew how to shade match and how to create shades. You kind of learn all these things as you grow. I studied art all of my life, but not in university; I already had a background in it. They teach you to always have to have a purpose for what you’re doing, and that stuck with me. I’m 100 percent self-taught.

Are you Team Primer or Team No Primer?

Team No Primer, sorry. No, honestly, it depends on the occasion, the vibe. If I’m somewhere hot, and I know that the person I’m working with is a performer or sweater, then I will use a good primer. My favorite actually is the One/Size Secure the Blur—that is a wonderful primer, wow, because it actually works! It does exactly what it says on the tin, so I really enjoy that. Other than that, I will not use a primer; no, I just prep the skin really well, and I’ve never had any complaints. My makeup is actually cement. The longevity comes from the layers and build-up of foundation, concealers, and powders—the setting spray is the final cherry on top.

Mini Secure The Blur Makeup Magnet Primer

How many lip balms or oils are currently in your bag?

So many: I have one next to me in bed, I have one in my kitchen, I love a lip balm. I’d say I keep around three in my bag; it’s always three at a time. You know which one I really love? Hailey Bieber’s Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment—that is a wonderful product.

What’s your skin type and foundation preference?

My skin type is really dry, but I sweat a lot. Again, I love a cream-to-matte type of foundation, so Danessa Myricks Beauty’s Yummy Skin Blurring Balm is my go-to, as well as NYX Professional Makeup’s Make ‘Em Wonder Soft Matte Foundation. That is a 10 out of 10 foundation. People underestimate it, but it is the best foundation I think I’ve tried in recent years. They have all the shades, and all the in-between shades as well, along with cool-toned golden shades, which are really hard to find.

Make ‘Em Wonder 24H Soft Matte Foundation in #27 True Caramel

How often do you clean your brushes?

After every single use. I don’t have to deep wash them every single time, but you definitely have to clean them with alcohol and sanitize them every single time. My favorite solution is IsoClean, and when I’m in America, I love using Cinema Secrets.

Are you a highlighter or bronzer fan?

I love bronzer. You need both; you need all three elements. I don’t think you can have either/or—they do different things. So, your bronzer is kind of like a cage for everything you do. If you want a really good blush pop and a good blush look, you need a good bronzer look. And then highlighters are the cherry on top—you pop that on the high points of the face, and now you have dimension.

What is your relationship with eyeshadow right now?

It’s good actually! I love eyeshadow. Right now, I’m leaning more toward fun eye looks, so I’m just looking for any good matte eyeshadow. I found a few: M.A.C. has wonderful ones, and wonderful colors as well, and so does Samplr, a British brand. But yeah, those two brands I’m loving right now, and I go on tour with Tyla tomorrow, so those are my go-tos for the summer.

Some days, it can feel like you need a degree from RISD to apply eyeliner. Do you usually reach for a pencil, liquid, or gel formula, and what are some of your favorites?

I do prefer a gel formula because it’s easier to control. My favorite would be the Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel in shade 77; that’s the OG, I always buy that. That’s probably one of my most repurchased eyeliners. I will never not buy it—it’s the blackest, mattest liner I’ve ever used in my life. I use almost like a nail art brush to create really fine lines.

What are some of your go-to mascaras, and would you typically consider yourself a volume or length seeker?

No one’s ever asked me this, and it’s my favorite thing as well; I love mascara, too! My favorite right now is actually the Kosas Soulgazer mascara, which I always pair with Dior’s Diorshow Overvolume Waterproof mascara. So, I do the Dior first for volume and thickness, and then I top it off with the Kosas one, which has almost like a finer, looser consistency, so it kind of traps all the goodness from the Dior tube. The Dior mascara is amazing, but sometimes it dries down quickly, so you want something else that’s liquidy to move it a bit.

Now let’s talk about brows: What are some of your favorite products of all time?

Brows, hmm, what do I use for eyebrows? Kosas. They have really great fine pencils—I love a creamy pencil, and if I need a powder, I’ll usually just set with eyeshadow.

Brow Pop Dual-Action Defining Pencil in Medium Chocolate Brown

Are you a fan of red lipstick?

I really shy away from red lipstick, and to be fair, no one really requests one from me. But I do love a good matte red lip. If I want to do a red lip, it’s either matte or glossy, and it has to be almost like a blue-red or orange-red—those are my two favorite tones.

Are there any other fun makeup staples you’re obsessed with, like freckle pens or face gems?

Right now I love using paint. Very heavy UV paint-type vibes—paint and feathers on the body. It kind of 3-D’s it and gives it more character, so I’m really enjoying that right now. Also, I like using a lot of glitter. I’m not crazy about rhinestones—I’m more about shimmer than rhinestones.