Meet the Makeup Artist Behind Hollywood's Coolest Beauty Looks

Who Is Yasmin Istanbouli?

Before she was creating beauty looks for some of music's biggest stars, Istanbouli planned to pursue photography. But during her junior year of college, a binge of “RuPaul's Drag Race” sparked an unexpected passion for makeup. She began experimenting with bold drag looks on herself and friends before expanding into editorial and celebrity beauty.

After graduating, she wasn't sure photography was the right path, so she talked to her mom about pursuing makeup professionally. Her mom encouraged the career shift by buying her a ticket to a three-day course taught by Priscilla Ono (Rihanna's longtime makeup artist)—a decision that helped launch her career.

From there, Istanbouli began collaborating with Los Angeles models, offering her makeup artistry in exchange for creative opportunities and social media exposure. As her work gained attention online, so did her client list. Today, she's the artist behind beauty looks for Charli XCX, Olivia Rodrigo, Addison Rae, Rowan Blanchard, Nara Smith, and more, helping define a new era of cool girl makeup that's equal parts effortless, edgy, and endlessly inspiring.

Our Favorite Yasmin Istanbouli Makeup Looks

Olivia Rodrigo's Baby Doll Makeup

Emphasizing modern-day pop punk makeup, Istanbouli’s look on Olivia Rodrigo is equal parts edgy and romantic. We’re drawn to the glossy, baby pink lips paired with the glowy complexion.

Charli XCX’s Modern Cat Eye Makeup Look

There are so many Charli XCX looks we could put on this list, but we really love this editorial take on the cat eye trend. It’s sharp yet subdued, highlighting the singer’s party-girl nature.

Rowan Blanchard's Bold Brow Moment

Sometimes the best accessories are your eyebrows. This Istanbouli look on Rowan Blanchard proves exactly that with the perfectly groomed brows instantly become the focal point.

Justine Skye’s Plum Princess Makeup Look

We’re obsessed with the purple blush trend, so it’s no surprise we were drawn to this plum princess makeup look on Justine Skye. Her cheeks have all the flush, and we’re here for it—the more blush, the merrier.

Nara Smith’s Glowing Makeup Look

Modern party girl makeup is all about highlighting in the right places to catch the light. Case in point: this glowing makeup look on Nara Smith.

Lukita Maxwell’s Soft Girl Glam

Istanbouli’s take on soft girl makeup is angelic on Lukita Maxwell. From the dewy, radiant cheeks to the softly defined eyes, everything about this makeup look is heavenly.

Lila Moss’s Matte Maven Makeup Look

As much as we love a dewy makeup look, we also love a matte one. Lila Moss is giving radiance at the Met Gala without looking too glowy, proving matte makeup can still look luminous.

Camila Cabello’s Sculpted Soft Glam

Istanbouli gave Camila Cabello’s cheekbones an extra bit of sculpt with this makeup look. It’s all about finding the right contour and using it subtly to enhance natural bone structure.

Why Everyone Is Watching Yasmin Istanbouli

While every celebrity makeup artist has a signature style, Istanbouli's stands out for feeling effortlessly wearable. Her looks strike the perfect balance between polished and undone, pairing luminous skin with softly sculpted features, blurred eyeliner, bold brows, and just enough edge to make every look feel cool instead of overdone.

As more celebrities embrace this modern take on party girl and soft grunge makeup, it's no surprise Istanbouli has become one of the industry's most exciting artists to watch. Whether she's creating a barely-there glow or an editorial cat eye, her work proves that makeup doesn't have to be perfect to make a statement—it just has to feel like you.

If you're looking for your next beauty mood board, consider this your sign to start saving a few Yasmin Istanbouli looks. Chances are, you'll be seeing a lot more of her work in the months ahead.