PAT MCGRATH
Makeup Artist
The first make-up artist to be made a Dame Commander of the British Empire, beauty brand founder Pat McGrath proved her mettle once again with her glass skin look for Maison Margiela’s 2024 Spring Couture show, which rocked the fashion and beauty worlds.
WHAT’S YOUR TRADEMARK?
Constantly pushing boundaries and daring to dream. I’m always going to challenge the status quo; I never settle for what’s already been done. For me, it’s about transforming the way people perceive and experience beauty, making it more inclusive, diverse, and extraordinary. All of that is wrapped up in my brand, Pat McGrath Labs.
WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, WHAT WERE YOU KNOWN FOR?
Little Pat McGrath was an alchemist and a dreamer from day one. I was mixing pigments in the kitchen and making my own skincare when I wasn’t stealing my mum’s, shopping for fabrics that I could create with, and running to the newsstand to buy fashion magazines. It has always been so much fun for me to create whatever I wanted—even at an early age.
“Showing that beauty belongs to everyone. Every shade, every face, and every story deserves to shine.”
WHAT QUESTION DO YOU ASK YOURSELF MOST OFTEN WHILE YOU’RE MAKING WORK?
Does it move me? If it doesn’t stir something in me, it won’t reach anyone else.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SURPRISED YOURSELF IN YOUR PRACTICE?
Creating the glass skin for Margiela. Seeing it come alive with Galliano’s designs was utterly spellbinding. The reason I created Pat McGrath Labs was to take a moment like that and then create something tangible for people to use at home.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOUR BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO CULTURE?
Showing that beauty belongs to everyone. Every shade, every face, and every story deserves to shine.
in your life?
