Sir John Barnett is a globally renowned makeup artist and creative director who, with over two decades of experience, has been a transformative force in the makeup industry. He boasts an impressive clientele that includes A-list celebrities like Beyoncé, Naomi Campbell, Karlie Kloss and Joan Smalls.
Sir John, as he is professionally known, an ambassador for L’Oreal Paris, is the makeup artist behind many of Beyoncé’s incredible looks, including eight of the videos in Beyoncé’s Visual Album. The beauty star, renowned for his use of colours, began his career in the beauty industry working at a MAC Cosmetics store in Atlanta. He was able to work his way up, assisting legendary makeup artists like Pat Mcgrath and Charlotte Tilbury.
In this interview with MARY NNAH, Sir John who was featured as one of the panellists at the recently concluded annual GTCO Fashion Week, speaks about his journey as a celebrity makeup artist
What is your view on GTCO fashion weekend?
It’s been an amazing experience. I mean this is my second time in Nigeria and I have had a wonderful time. It was in 2019 when I first came. Anytime that companies put their money behind Creative Arts, it’s really powerful. This is a company that harnesses talent within its community.
You are Beyonce’s personal make-up artist. How did you meet her?
I was with Charlotte Tilbury when I met Beyoncé. She took me backstage and introduced me to her at Tom Ford’s first womenswear show. Charlotte didn’t even say her name, she just said, “You’re going to do her.” She pointed to her name, and I was like, “Is there a model named Beyoncé?” We had just done Liya Kebede, and Julianne Moore was at the show and Daphne Guinness — all of these amazing iconic women. And Joan Smalls, who was a baby. She wasn’t even known yet. I thought I was being pranked or something.
I went in there and it was just one of those moments that I knew my life was going to be different. I did her makeup, but I knew that she was working with Francesca Tolot. She’s been Beyoncé’s makeup artist for years, so I knew I was never going to see her again. I wasn’t nervous, but I thought, This is the best thing I’ve ever had to do, ever.
She loved the makeup and she didn’t even want to look in the mirror afterwards. I guess she liked the vibe that we had because she followed my career silently for a year or two. Then I got a call from someone saying, “We want to offer you a contract with Beyoncé.” I was like, I’m being pranked again! This is not real. They wanted me to sign a two-year contract! And that was it! And she kind of like put me on her team.
Tell us about your very first experience as a make-up artist.
My first attempt as a make-up artist was that I didn’t know it was a job. I just knew I had to express my art.
Did you attempt wearing make-up on yourself before you started the art?
No, I never wore make-up at that time. I am older now so I need a little bit of concealer, and some sound temple and I am okay covering it up.
How did you venture into a female-dominated professional and have been able to navigate in the industry as a beauty star?
I’d been in school for arts since I was six years old. I went to a performing arts high school and grew up in upstate New York. My mother immersed me in painting and things like that. Makeup happened by mistake. In college in Atlanta, a friend of mine was a model and she didn’t have a makeup artist. The photographer asked me if I could piece together things in her bag and give her a face – it was a local magazine. I did and he said he liked it and asked me if I could come back the next Saturday and do the same thing for $250. I was 18 and a struggling college student and I didn’t even know it was a job. I had no idea people did it for a living.
I have seen so many shifts in the industry throughout my career, especially the emergence of men’s makeup.
I love the fact that we live in an era of exploration, where everyone can have a vehicle to make them feel better about who they see in the mirror. So, it’s clear Sir John is eager to create safer, more inclusive spaces and share the wealth of knowledge he’s learned from normalising Botox and filler to dishing his best makeup tips. I love making the eyes look like different shapes with liners. My Liners are my favourite thing to do. if I didn’t have any other makeup on me. I am particularly enjoying how people are playing with colour whimsical liners on TikTok.
Tell us about your work as a Beauty Celebrity Artist.
The Beauty World is evolving. I always say that beauty is a feeling, that’s my philosophy. As a celebrity makeup artist. The way we make people feel is a destination. You become a destination of energy when you can do that. I am known for my work with Beyoncé, including her glam at the 2022 Oscars and her British Vogue cover.
What has been your experience in life?
One thing I know about life, especially at this big, grown age of mine, is that the finish line continues to get pushed back. A Roman is saying: never rely on past glory. Yesterday’s win is yesterday’s win. No matter what I did yesterday, that’s cool, but I’m obsessed about what’s next.
Considering my experience of two decades, I have added another role to my ever-evolving resume: chief creative officer of Ctzn Cosmetics. I am driven by my commitment to building equity and diversity in the industry. My approach to makeup has transformed in tandem with the industry and my clients – Beyoncé’s look has evolved. Although I admit that she certainly knows what she wants, I have learned how not to only have conviction but consistently soak myself in new knowledge.
Do you have people that you mentor?
I continue to speak to the younger generation you know on TikTok. And I equally do a masterclass. I have a podcast coming up, and a television show coming out soon. So I continue to just talk. I love talking to people. Like I’m from New York and I think the biggest thing we can do is continue to use our voice. My voice is more powerful than anything I can do on my hands as a black man introducing whiteboards.
I was a creative director of L’Oreal Paris for 10 years. First black man ever. No black person has ever done that. And now I’m at a French brand called Killian Paris. And the challenging goal, it’s not easy. I’m not gonna lie to you. We’re dealing with working with the French in a way that pushes back on stereotypes, telling them hey, guess luxury doesn’t look like what you think it looks like; we all have a space in the luxury market. And we need to redefine what it looks like. So because constantly French brands, global brands, and luxury brands have an idea of what it looks like and who it should belong to and so and who they feel like it belongs to is a blown colonialism and racism.
