McGrath blends make-up with couture

If the name Pat McGrath does nothing for you, than maybe her face or the beautiful faces she creates will.

McGrath is one of the best make-up artists in the world. An exact sentence you will find in any article written about her from any fashion designer and photographer's pen. As a successful 38 year old turned businesswomen from Britain, McGrath credits her mother and their shared interest in classic movies and make-up for building her passion for beauty.


According to McGrath, her mom used to mix and create foundations and eye shadow for black skin, since so few options were available in the past.

Her love for classic movie actresses, such as Dorothy Dandridge and Bette Davis, has served as in inspiration for her creative use of the medium, and is a current favourite of both Sarah Jessica Parker and Madonna.

Although she has no official make-up training, but rather studied art at Northampton College in the UK, McGrath made her first debt for i-D magazine in the ‘90s. She has worked with some of the world's most renowned designers, such as Christian Dior, Galliano, Gucci, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein and Prada, just to name a few. Described as a photographer and designer's dream, she helps bring to life the dramatic finishing touches to their creations.

Most importantly McGrath loves what she does.

“It never gets mundane or predictable and every shoot and show is different,” she has been quoted as saying.

Best known for highly creative touches, like the rhinestones and rose petal eyelashes, McGrath's career has certainly taken off since the ‘90s. Currently, she is the beauty expert and creative force behind a new Max Factor line, as well as the Color Cosmetics Creative Director for Procter & Gamble Beauty in the U.S. In the September issue of Glamour magazine McGrath was named as one of the top seven people voted for having the wisdom to help change style.

McGrath has become a familiar face while watching behind the scenes at fashion shows on Style.com or even YouTube. She can be seen doing demonstrations of the current look for a designer's show both ready-to-wear and/or couture.

Although she has made a career of pairing beauty products with couture clothing, most of the time McGrath will be found in her trademark black top and black pants, with a make-up-free face.