Celebrity Makeup Artist Ariel Tejada Product Recommendations

The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke to celebrity makeup artist Ariel Tejada about his favorite makeup products.

Ariel Tejada, aka @makeupbyariel, grew up loving anything beauty-related. “When I was little, I would watch my mom put a little bit of makeup on because she’s low maintenance, and it would excite me to see her come up one day with a red lip or makeup that would pop more on her face. I’ve always been an artsy person, and this is one of those things that fulfilled me and my artistic ability,” Tejada tells PS.

Tejada’s passion led him to post his work on Instagram, gaining a following thanks to his intricate eye looks and sculpted complexion. His artistry was noticed by Kylie Jenner, and with a DM and a flight to LA, he became Jenner’s go-to makeup artist. Although being a celebrity makeup artist is an achievement in and of itself — Tejada has also worked with Rosalía, Kim Kardashian, Gwen Stefani, and Shay Mitchell — the most rewarding part of his job is seeing his clients’ confidence transform in a positive way.

Throughout his career, Tejada has constantly experimented with products and looks, and right now his makeup philosophy is less is more. “I think it’s something a lot of people haven’t practiced (I am also guilty of overdoing every step from time to time), and sometimes it doesn’t allow for your features to really shine through,” he says. Tejada is not a fan of over-concealing specifically. “Concealer should just be used where it’s needed instead of masking your face with it,” he says, noting that it’s best to just spot conceal where needed.

Tejada is a fan of the “clean girl aesthetic” because it allows him to see the person first, rather than the makeup. He seeks to achieve that by investing in beauty treatments at his go-to 7Q Spa. “The best makeup happens when your skin is in check, and getting Fotona 4D laser a week before an event or as a skin tune-up makes the skin resurfaced and smooth,” he says.

Although he’s currently loving a more natural look, he notices that creativity has taken a back seat in Hollywood. “Back in the day there was so much creativity and innovation – everything was so artist-based and now that spark of creativity has been dimmed. I would love to see celebrities play into more creativity with their looks – not for the everyday but for the red carpets,” he says, noting that this can be accomplished without a heavy buildup of products.

Ahead, he shares some of his favorite makeup products with us, including his go-to foundation, his tried-and-true mascara, and more.

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Ariel Tejada is a celebrity makeup artist who is known for working closely with Kylie Jenner.