Social media is full of talented individuals, there’s no doubt about it. From lifestyle, health, beauty, sport, art and so much more, you can find inspiration at almost every door. Especially when it comes to makeup.
The kind of content that’s out there for makeup inspiration can be close to overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the industry. But there are certainly a few key individuals that stand out from the crowd. And their skill and passion for makeup really show.
We searched and scrolled for hours on end, sifting through hundreds of social media makeup artists, and chose a few based on their past experience, Instagram feed quality, availability for bookings and their skills to do makeup on other people, not just themselves. We then reached out to interview ten of our favourites and we were so overwhelmed with their incredible answers that we just had to share them with you all to highlight their unique skills and stories.
The below are not categorised or ranked in any particular order but are People Have Influence’s current and favourite ten beauty influencers to look out for. And if you aren’t already following them, give them a follow to be continuously inspired by their creativity!
Charli’s career started out as a social media manager for an international colour cosmetic brand. It was here that he educated himself to better support the questions on social media, complaints, as well as share tips and tricks. So his passion came from a desire to understand the products, and he had to put it to the test.
“Although I've been in the beauty industry for many years, I only started CharliXBoi about 3 years ago, and the first 2 years were a struggle – juggling a full-time job, creating content, as well as managing clients and shoots.”
After a 6-year side-hustle, Charli can now say with confidence that makeup is his full-time job, with a following of over 13k. His more conceptual and avant-garde work receive the most attention and we can see why! Charli isn’t afraid to play with colour and texture to create unconventional beauty.
“My short-term goal is to finish my studio so that I can start producing more elaborate work with other creatives. I also want to take my passion and showcase the art of it all in a grand exhibition of some sorts.”
We can’t wait to see that come to life in the near future, Charli!
This almost 40-year-old mom of two boys is making waves in the industry and has been for quite some time. From studying makeup part-time to lecturing and working on shows like Top Billing and Afternoon Express, her passion and talent led her to leave her 9-5 job at the bank and work with Cindy Nell as her Head Makeup Artist. A highlight in her career was doing the makeup for one of Essence’s national campaigns where her work was displayed all over social media and in stores.
“I love a glam look without looking too glam. I am such a fan of warm brown and orange tones at the moment.”
La’eeqa believes she’s not your “typical” influencer, and that’s why her following of 11k can really relate to her. When Instagram first launched, it gave her a platform to show her work and connect with people. But the growth didn’t happen overnight – she’s continuously moving with what’s relevant.
She also dreams to one day do makeup on Kim Kardashian, but more than that, own a studio, seeing clients and doing classes. You’re so close to achieving one of those dreams with your studio being nearly complete!
Only just 24 years young, for Sive, makeup is both a passion project and a side hustle, and he dedicates most of his time learning and coming up with ideas to share with his YouTube followers.
“I’m a firm believer that being independent and entrepreneurial at a young age will definitely have its benefits in the future. As a side-gig, it has definitely brought me experiences money cannot buy.”
After having very gradual growth on his personal brand over the last three years, it peaked when he began working for Afternoon Express as Bonnie Mbuli’s makeup artist. Being a part of the Bonnie Mbuli x Yardley London collaboration in 2019 was one of his biggest highlights and his make-up looks were shown in stores nationwide.
“This may sound a bit cliché but makeup in Africa is a female-dominated industry, males are often shoved under the rug and most of them just don’t get the recognition they deserve. My style of makeup and the fact that I’m a male in this industry is definitely my differentiating factor.”
Sive’s big dream is to one day have a makeup and skincare brand that is all-inclusive, accessible and proudly South African. Keep doing what you’re doing, and it’s not too far away, Sive!
This full-time doctor and makeup goddess is based in Johannesburg, and already has a load on her plate at just 26 years old. From a young age, she became known for her passion for makeup and when she was given the opportunity to make money from it, she took it.
In 2016, she started posting regularly on social media and that’s when her brand slowly started to grow to the 10k following she now has. People really love the projects Kefilwe Mabote and her do together and Katlego believes it’s because of Kefilwe’s willingness to allow her to be creative on her face. Her style is to not try and transform the person with makeup, but rather emulate what their natural beauty already portrays and allow the make-up to highlight it.
“My biggest dream is to have a makeup line that is a household name, as well as be well known for the work that I do as a doctor. Most importantly, as a makeup artist, I want to change people's lives and empower more people to do more and gain more with makeup.”
Katlego, we believe in you – keep dreaming big!
Natasha, 29 and from Johannesburg is a makeup artist that is known for her go-to, glowy, fresh-faced look with hints of copper and peach.
“I’ve always believed this career chose me. Growing up, I was extremely artistic and creative. My sister suggested that I do a makeup course and I thought why not. Little did I know, it would turn into a full-time career.”
Natasha was chosen as one of the makeup artists that would assist backstage in the 2010 World Cup opening and closing ceremonies, and that’s when her career really took off. Now, she’s worked with makeup in almost every industry whether it’s TV, fashion or weddings.
“My approach to makeup is to help bring out the inner beauty of every client, helping them to achieve confidence not just in the way they look, but also in the way they feel.”
Natasha has big hopes to collaborate with more top international artists and brands. We have no doubt that you will, Natasha – keep doing what you’re doing!
This red-headed bombshell owns a studio based in Brackenfell, Cape Town, but travels all over South Africa to do weddings. After giving makeup school a try, she fell in love with it even more and got offered a job at MAC, where she worked for 4 years.
Lee-Anne’s client base and social media began to take off when she started to post the different looks she did at work. Her career blossomed further when she left to open her own studio and had more time to focus on clients, do more weddings and create more looks and videos to post online.
Lee-anne constantly stays on-trend and is always looking for inspiration or new techniques to try. She thinks it’s so important not to get stuck in a rut and believes you can never stop learning new things. Lee-anne would love to one day open her own makeup school, sharing her passion with others who want to go into makeup as well.
“I’m a perfectionist and that really comes out in my makeup, especially when doing the eyes. Other than that, I’m passionate about what I do, and I believe that shines through.”
Lee-Anne, we love your always-on-trend looks and cannot wait to watch you grow even more!
Hannah, from Cape Town, is all about the bronzed, dewy and gorgeous look. After being a travel agent for 4 years, a model friend of hers asked her to do her makeup for a shoot and she was blown away by Hannah’s work. She then decided to study makeup part-time, and the rest is history.
As her now full-time job, Hannah worked with some amazing photographers and brands from the get-go, and today, has worked with many incredible brands like PicknPay, Uber Eats, ZANDO, Refinery and Mr Price, to name just a few. Ideally, Hannah would love to have her own cosmetic line in the next few years and work internationally too.
“I try to be a bit of an all-rounder. In SA, you have to be able to do both hair and makeup, but if you need help styling or art directing, I’ll contribute as well! It's important to be very giving of yourself and go the extra mile. Clients remember that.”
We are loving your new tipsy reviews, Hannah! And we cannot wait to watch you launch your own cosmetic line one day.
This 29-year-old Christmas baby has a whopping 88k following, and grew her brand from the ground up! She’s a freelance makeup artist, with a studio in Paarden Eiland, but often travels to Johannesburg and around Cape Town for makeup workshops or weddings.
Lindy Lin stumbled into makeup, as at the time, she couldn’t afford to go to university, so she put herself through makeup school instead. She always loved painting and art, but what she really loves now, is the feeling of making someone feel special on their big day or event. From doing makeup on the side to now being a full-time bridal makeup artist, doing makeup workshops, special occasions and social media campaigns like testing and reviewing products, Lindy Lin really has worked hard to get to where she is.
“I like to feel like my work has a purpose. I’m not just painting faces – I make people feel confident and happy.”
The future looks bright for her too, with so many possibilities. For one, she’d like to have a full makeup line, which she has already started building. After that, she’d love to have a fully certified makeup school, teaching not only future makeup artists but moms and ladies, showing them how to build confidence and self-esteem. She’d also like to have workshops for the less fortunate who want to become makeup artists and hairstylists in their communities. You’re awesome, Lindy Lin!
Xola is only 22 years young and already killing it in the industry. At first, her makeup account started as a passion project and it organically became a side hustle.
“I started out quite young, and I’ve already been able to build a name for myself and had the pleasure of working with quite a few big names in the industry. My work definitely speaks for itself.”
When she did Mihlali Ndamase’s makeup for an international campaign, the project gained a lot of attention and people were really interested in what it felt like to do her makeup since she’s also a make-up artist.
In the future, Xola dreams of being a beauty director, growing from being a makeup artist. She also has big goals of running her own beauty academy. We love what you do, Xola!
Nuzhah started fashion blogging while still at school, but in university, she discovered her love for beauty and makeup too. After graduating from UCT, she decided to take a chance on herself and do content creation full-time. And thank goodness she did!
Since then, her brand has been consistently growing with her Halloween makeup looks gaining the most engagement. A proud moment for Nuzhah was being involved in the Essence Cosmetics campaign where she was chosen as one of the faces for #TEAMFLAWLESS.
“I try to create meaningful content that adds value to those who follow me and enjoy my content. That can be through learning something new, informing, storytelling or even just providing a smile.”
Nuzhah really wants to grow her brand even more in the content creator space, be able to travel the world and have a successful business or two under her belt. We have no doubt you can achieve this, Nuzhah!
We certainly are, and we’re crushing on all these gorgeous MUAs, big time! Please give them a follow and support the amazing local talent we have in our country.
If you enjoyed this article, share it or visit our blog for more interesting topics. You can also find us on Instagram doing what we do best.
Social media is full of talented individuals, there’s no doubt about it. From lifestyle, health, beauty, sport, art and so much more, you can find inspiration at almost every door. Especially when it comes to makeup.
The kind of content that’s out there for makeup inspiration can be close to overwhelming if you’re not familiar with the industry. But there are certainly a few key individuals that stand out from the crowd. And their skill and passion for makeup really show.
We searched and scrolled for hours on end, sifting through hundreds of social media makeup artists, and chose a few based on their past experience, Instagram feed quality, availability for bookings and their skills to do makeup on other people, not just themselves. We then reached out to interview ten of our favourites and we were so overwhelmed with their incredible answers that we just had to share them with you all to highlight their unique skills and stories.
The below are not categorised or ranked in any particular order but are People Have Influence’s current and favourite ten beauty influencers to look out for. And if you aren’t already following them, give them a follow to be continuously inspired by their creativity!
Charli’s career started out as a social media manager for an international colour cosmetic brand. It was here that he educated himself to better support the questions on social media, complaints, as well as share tips and tricks. So his passion came from a desire to understand the products, and he had to put it to the test.
“Although I've been in the beauty industry for many years, I only started CharliXBoi about 3 years ago, and the first 2 years were a struggle – juggling a full-time job, creating content, as well as managing clients and shoots.”
After a 6-year side-hustle, Charli can now say with confidence that makeup is his full-time job, with a following of over 13k. His more conceptual and avant-garde work receive the most attention and we can see why! Charli isn’t afraid to play with colour and texture to create unconventional beauty.
“My short-term goal is to finish my studio so that I can start producing more elaborate work with other creatives. I also want to take my passion and showcase the art of it all in a grand exhibition of some sorts.”
We can’t wait to see that come to life in the near future, Charli!
This almost 40-year-old mom of two boys is making waves in the industry and has been for quite some time. From studying makeup part-time to lecturing and working on shows like Top Billing and Afternoon Express, her passion and talent led her to leave her 9-5 job at the bank and work with Cindy Nell as her Head Makeup Artist. A highlight in her career was doing the makeup for one of Essence’s national campaigns where her work was displayed all over social media and in stores.
“I love a glam look without looking too glam. I am such a fan of warm brown and orange tones at the moment.”
La’eeqa believes she’s not your “typical” influencer, and that’s why her following of 11k can really relate to her. When Instagram first launched, it gave her a platform to show her work and connect with people. But the growth didn’t happen overnight – she’s continuously moving with what’s relevant.
She also dreams to one day do makeup on Kim Kardashian, but more than that, own a studio, seeing clients and doing classes. You’re so close to achieving one of those dreams with your studio being nearly complete!
Only just 24 years young, for Sive, makeup is both a passion project and a side hustle, and he dedicates most of his time learning and coming up with ideas to share with his YouTube followers.
“I’m a firm believer that being independent and entrepreneurial at a young age will definitely have its benefits in the future. As a side-gig, it has definitely brought me experiences money cannot buy.”
After having very gradual growth on his personal brand over the last three years, it peaked when he began working for Afternoon Express as Bonnie Mbuli’s makeup artist. Being a part of the Bonnie Mbuli x Yardley London collaboration in 2019 was one of his biggest highlights and his make-up looks were shown in stores nationwide.
“This may sound a bit cliché but makeup in Africa is a female-dominated industry, males are often shoved under the rug and most of them just don’t get the recognition they deserve. My style of makeup and the fact that I’m a male in this industry is definitely my differentiating factor.”
Sive’s big dream is to one day have a makeup and skincare brand that is all-inclusive, accessible and proudly South African. Keep doing what you’re doing, and it’s not too far away, Sive!
This full-time doctor and makeup goddess is based in Johannesburg, and already has a load on her plate at just 26 years old. From a young age, she became known for her passion for makeup and when she was given the opportunity to make money from it, she took it.
In 2016, she started posting regularly on social media and that’s when her brand slowly started to grow to the 10k following she now has. People really love the projects Kefilwe Mabote and her do together and Katlego believes it’s because of Kefilwe’s willingness to allow her to be creative on her face. Her style is to not try and transform the person with makeup, but rather emulate what their natural beauty already portrays and allow the make-up to highlight it.
“My biggest dream is to have a makeup line that is a household name, as well as be well known for the work that I do as a doctor. Most importantly, as a makeup artist, I want to change people's lives and empower more people to do more and gain more with makeup.”
Katlego, we believe in you – keep dreaming big!
Natasha, 29 and from Johannesburg is a makeup artist that is known for her go-to, glowy, fresh-faced look with hints of copper and peach.
“I’ve always believed this career chose me. Growing up, I was extremely artistic and creative. My sister suggested that I do a makeup course and I thought why not. Little did I know, it would turn into a full-time career.”
Natasha was chosen as one of the makeup artists that would assist backstage in the 2010 World Cup opening and closing ceremonies, and that’s when her career really took off. Now, she’s worked with makeup in almost every industry whether it’s TV, fashion or weddings.
“My approach to makeup is to help bring out the inner beauty of every client, helping them to achieve confidence not just in the way they look, but also in the way they feel.”
Natasha has big hopes to collaborate with more top international artists and brands. We have no doubt that you will, Natasha – keep doing what you’re doing!
This red-headed bombshell owns a studio based in Brackenfell, Cape Town, but travels all over South Africa to do weddings. After giving makeup school a try, she fell in love with it even more and got offered a job at MAC, where she worked for 4 years.
Lee-Anne’s client base and social media began to take off when she started to post the different looks she did at work. Her career blossomed further when she left to open her own studio and had more time to focus on clients, do more weddings and create more looks and videos to post online.
Lee-anne constantly stays on-trend and is always looking for inspiration or new techniques to try. She thinks it’s so important not to get stuck in a rut and believes you can never stop learning new things. Lee-anne would love to one day open her own makeup school, sharing her passion with others who want to go into makeup as well.
“I’m a perfectionist and that really comes out in my makeup, especially when doing the eyes. Other than that, I’m passionate about what I do, and I believe that shines through.”
Lee-Anne, we love your always-on-trend looks and cannot wait to watch you grow even more!
Hannah, from Cape Town, is all about the bronzed, dewy and gorgeous look. After being a travel agent for 4 years, a model friend of hers asked her to do her makeup for a shoot and she was blown away by Hannah’s work. She then decided to study makeup part-time, and the rest is history.
As her now full-time job, Hannah worked with some amazing photographers and brands from the get-go, and today, has worked with many incredible brands like PicknPay, Uber Eats, ZANDO, Refinery and Mr Price, to name just a few. Ideally, Hannah would love to have her own cosmetic line in the next few years and work internationally too.
“I try to be a bit of an all-rounder. In SA, you have to be able to do both hair and makeup, but if you need help styling or art directing, I’ll contribute as well! It's important to be very giving of yourself and go the extra mile. Clients remember that.”
We are loving your new tipsy reviews, Hannah! And we cannot wait to watch you launch your own cosmetic line one day.
This 29-year-old Christmas baby has a whopping 88k following, and grew her brand from the ground up! She’s a freelance makeup artist, with a studio in Paarden Eiland, but often travels to Johannesburg and around Cape Town for makeup workshops or weddings.
Lindy Lin stumbled into makeup, as at the time, she couldn’t afford to go to university, so she put herself through makeup school instead. She always loved painting and art, but what she really loves now, is the feeling of making someone feel special on their big day or event. From doing makeup on the side to now being a full-time bridal makeup artist, doing makeup workshops, special occasions and social media campaigns like testing and reviewing products, Lindy Lin really has worked hard to get to where she is.
“I like to feel like my work has a purpose. I’m not just painting faces – I make people feel confident and happy.”
The future looks bright for her too, with so many possibilities. For one, she’d like to have a full makeup line, which she has already started building. After that, she’d love to have a fully certified makeup school, teaching not only future makeup artists but moms and ladies, showing them how to build confidence and self-esteem. She’d also like to have workshops for the less fortunate who want to become makeup artists and hairstylists in their communities. You’re awesome, Lindy Lin!
Xola is only 22 years young and already killing it in the industry. At first, her makeup account started as a passion project and it organically became a side hustle.
“I started out quite young, and I’ve already been able to build a name for myself and had the pleasure of working with quite a few big names in the industry. My work definitely speaks for itself.”
When she did Mihlali Ndamase’s makeup for an international campaign, the project gained a lot of attention and people were really interested in what it felt like to do her makeup since she’s also a make-up artist.
In the future, Xola dreams of being a beauty director, growing from being a makeup artist. She also has big goals of running her own beauty academy. We love what you do, Xola!
Nuzhah started fashion blogging while still at school, but in university, she discovered her love for beauty and makeup too. After graduating from UCT, she decided to take a chance on herself and do content creation full-time. And thank goodness she did!
Since then, her brand has been consistently growing with her Halloween makeup looks gaining the most engagement. A proud moment for Nuzhah was being involved in the Essence Cosmetics campaign where she was chosen as one of the faces for #TEAMFLAWLESS.
“I try to create meaningful content that adds value to those who follow me and enjoy my content. That can be through learning something new, informing, storytelling or even just providing a smile.”
Nuzhah really wants to grow her brand even more in the content creator space, be able to travel the world and have a successful business or two under her belt. We have no doubt you can achieve this, Nuzhah!
We certainly are, and we’re crushing on all these gorgeous MUAs, big time! Please give them a follow and support the amazing local talent we have in our country.
If you enjoyed this article, share it or visit our blog for more interesting topics. You can also find us on Instagram doing what we do best.
We’d love to hear from you. For any enquiries, questions or conversations, feel free to contact us.
