Update posts makeup artist before and after

Prepping your skin before applying makeup is crucial—you already know that. The secret behind a flawless professional makeup look often lies in the skin preparation done beforehand. We reached out to L’Oréal experts Gabriel Almodovar and Sir John to uncover their tips for perfect skin prep, and here’s what they shared with us.

CLEANSE

The first step to achieving a flawless makeup look is ensuring your skin is thoroughly cleansed. “I love Clarisonic devices for this,” says Sir John. “They not only help remove makeup at the end of the night, but they also help give skin the skin a gentle cleanse and help with product absorption before applying makeup. Pair with the L’Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Cleansersfor a great cleanse.”

EXFOLIATE

“Exfoliating your skin is one of the most important things you should do in general and especially before applying makeup,” notes Almodovar. “Exfoliation should only be done about 2x per week. You need to let you dead skin cells build up before you can exfoliate them.” After cleansing, use a good exfoliator to remove excess buildup and impurities, leaving your skin smooth and refreshed. “The smoother you skin is the prettier all your face makeup will look on your fresh skin,” Almodovar adds. You do want to be careful to not over-exfoliate however — “You want to still keep your skin healthy and smooth, but when you over exfoliate you can actually strip away too many layers and cause oiliness,” Sir John notes.

TREAT & MOISTURIZE

Keeping your skin hydrated is another essential step in prepping it for makeup. “Since it is winter now, opt for a super-moisturizing moisturizer like theL’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius for Extra Dry Skin,” according to Sir John, healthy, hydrated skin helps prevent makeup from flaking or settling into rough patches.

PRIME

The final step to perfecting your makeup prep is applying a high-quality primer. “Primers can be really helpful though to help your makeup glide on more smoothly and make it last longer,” Almodovar adds that your skin will feel plump, hydrated, and ready to hold makeup in place for hours. We couldn’t agree more!

He Yuhong, a makeup artist known online as Yuyamaika, has captivated audiences with her incredible ability to transform into any famous face. With a following of over 500,000 on Instagram, she’s become a master of illusion makeup, effortlessly recreating iconic looks from Mona Lisa to Johnny Depp.

Beyond Instagram, Yuhong shares her detailed makeup tutorials on YouTube, where she guides viewers through the process of creating her astonishing transformations. From popular celebrities to beloved characters and even famous artworks, her versatile skills never fail to impress.

This is Chinese make-up artist He Yuhong before her transformations

1. MONA LISA

Yuyamika, a former teacher, embarked on her full-time makeup vlogging journey over two years ago. Now at the age of 28, she has amassed a dedicated fanbase eager to see her latest creations.

One of her most talked-about looks was a stunning recreation of the Mona Lisa, which she revealed to the South China Morning Post took a remarkable six hours to complete.

2. JOHNNY DEPP

3. TAYLOR SWIFT

Despite her undeniable talent, Yuyamika hesitated before sharing some of her more ambitious makeup transformations. “I wasn’t sure how internet users would react to me trying to copy such famous people and beloved paintings onto my face,” she told SCMP. “I prepared myself for criticism.”

However, her fears were quickly dispelled. The day after posting a TikTok tutorial of one of her most daring looks, she woke up to a staggering 900,000 likes.

4. ALBERT EINSTEIN

5. NATASHA ROMANOFF

Yuyamika’s uncanny ability to transform into Western celebrities using makeup alone has left many in awe. She credits her success to a meticulous focus on the eyes, explaining, “The most important facial feature is the eyes. It’s key to whether the copy is successful or not.”

Despite her impressive transformations, Yuyamika revealed that Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng was her most challenging subject. “There is only a little room to work in when the subject puts on only light or even no makeup,” she noted. “Also, Teresa Teng was from decades ago, when people’s expressions and gestures were different from now. Before starting the job, I spent quite some time researching the way she looked.”

6. AUDREY HEPBURN

7. DITA VON TEESE

Many YouTubers, including beauty vloggers, have turned their platforms into lucrative businesses. Some companies are willing to pay substantial sums, often exceeding $60,000, to be featured in their videos. While this might seem excessive, it’s important to recognize the artistry and effort involved in creating these stunning transformations.

In an interview with Reuters, Yuyamika revealed that she spends approximately 10,000 yuan ($1,452) per month on makeup for her artistic endeavors. Fortunately, corporate sponsorships have enabled her to pursue these ambitious projects and continue to amaze her audience with her incredible looks.