5 Best Makeup Artists in London (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Elara Kestrel, Health and Medical Expert · ✓ Data verified July 2026 · 8 min read

Whether it's a wedding morning or just a Saturday you want photographed well, the makeup artist you book in London decides how the whole day looks back. Together, the makeup artists here carry over 1,100 Google reviews, and every one of them sits at 4.6 stars or higher, so the real decision is which specialty fits your occasion, not who's good.

Short answer: Charlotte Tilbury - Covent Garden leads with 4.8 stars across 423 reviews, the deepest track record on this page, and covers everything from bridal looks to quick counter touch-ups. For a bespoke, one-to-one experience, Cosmetics à la Carte (4.8, 207 reviews) specialises in custom-blended foundation matching. Facebar London runs sessions from as little as £20.

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1. Charlotte Tilbury
2. Cosmetics à la Carte B…
3. Kristina Gasperas Make…
4. Facebar London
5. Kryolan City London
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London's makeup artists, side by side

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Charlotte Tilbury - Covent Garden	4.8 ★	423	Bridal and event makeup, plus counter touch-ups	View ›
2	Cosmetics à la Carte Beauty Boutique	4.8 ★	207	Bespoke foundation matching and personalised lessons	View ›
3	Kristina Gasperas Makeup Artist	4.9 ★	179	Bridal party hair and makeup teams	View ›
4	Facebar London	5.0 ★	122	Affordable makeup sessions and tutorials	View ›
5	Kryolan City London	4.6 ★	171	Professional-grade product shopping and shade matching	View ›

Meet the artists

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Charlotte Tilbury - Covent Garden

4.8423 Google reviews

Charlotte Tilbury's Covent Garden boutique is a full makeup and skincare counter offering both retail products and in-person artistry, including a dedicated wedding and occasion makeup service and one-to-one masterclasses. Its site markets bespoke video consultations alongside in-store bookings, and the store runs seven days a week including Sundays.

What people praise

Reviewers repeatedly praise specific named artists for flawless, long-lasting bridal and occasion looks
Masterclasses are described as genuinely educational, not just a sales pitch for products
Staff are called warm and unpushy even when recommending products
Product recommendations are described as tailored to individual skin and routine

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume423 · 97th

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown93% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The biggest review base here by a wide margin, and the sentiment holds up across everything from quick counter visits to full wedding-day bookings. A safe first call if you're not sure exactly what service you need yet.

Website +442039617160 Directions

1 James St, London WC2E 8BG

#2🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Cosmetics à la Carte Beauty Boutique

4.8207 Google reviews

Cosmetics à la Carte is a Chelsea boutique built around custom-blended, made-in-England makeup, best known for its bespoke foundation blending service where a shade is mixed live to match your exact skin tone. It also runs beauty lessons, from beginner teen classes to evening-look sessions, and ships mail order.

What people praise

Reviewers describe genuinely precise foundation shade-matching, trying multiple blends until it's exact
Lessons are described as practical and confidence-building, not just a product pitch
Staff take time explaining application technique step by step
Works well for both first-timers and people refreshing an existing routine

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume207 · 92nd

Confidencehigh

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown94% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The specialist choice if your main frustration is never finding a foundation shade that actually matches. The lesson format also suits people who want to learn technique, not just get made up once.

Website +442072599454 Directions

192 Pavilion Rd, London SW3 2BF

#3🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Kristina Gasperas Makeup Artist

4.9179 Google reviews

Kristina Gasperas Makeup Artist runs K-Studio in Barnes, a team-based bridal hair and makeup practice rather than a single artist working alone. Reviews describe a coordinated group covering brides, bridesmaids and mothers on wedding mornings, with named artists handling hair and makeup in parallel.

What people praise

Reviewers consistently describe calm, patient handling of nervous brides and family members
The team structure means multiple people can be done at once on a wedding morning
Reviewers highlight quick touch-up turnarounds between outfit changes
Strong repeat-client pattern, with some brides using the same artist across engagement, trial and wedding

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume179 · 87th

Confidencemoderate

Recency5 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown97% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: Built specifically for wedding mornings where several people need doing at once under time pressure. If it's just you, Cosmetics à la Carte or Facebar may be a simpler fit.

Website +442082555267 Directions

K-Studio, 85 White Hart Ln, London SW13 0PW

#4🕑 Open 6 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Facebar London

5.0122 Google reviews

Facebar London, based in Shoreditch, bills itself as the UK's first independent professional makeup bar, giving access to fashion-industry artists at prices starting from £20 for a natural full look. Its artists have worked on fashion weeks and beauty campaigns according to its site, and sessions range from quick looks to full tutorials.

What people praise

Reviewers highlight genuinely low prices for professional-level work
Tutorial sessions are described as practical, teaching techniques reviewers can repeat at home
Staff are flexible with timing, accommodating late arrivals from other appointments
Works well for camera-ready or content-specific makeup, not just special occasions

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating5 / 5

Review volume122 · 76th

Confidencemoderate

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown98% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The best value option on this page if budget matters, without reviewers reporting any drop in quality. Particularly strong for anyone who wants to learn technique rather than just be made up once.

Website Book now +447789618125 Directions

4, Cleeve Workshops, Boundary St, London E2 7JD

#5🕑 Open 6 days/wk

Kryolan City London

4.6171 Google reviews

Kryolan City London is the UK storefront for Kryolan, a professional makeup brand used across theatre, film and special-effects work, alongside consultations and colour matching for everyday makeup shoppers. It's positioned more as a specialist retail counter than a booking-first artist studio.

What people praise

Reviewers praise precise colour-matching for foundation and concealer
Staff are described as knowledgeable and patient with product recommendations
Draws on decades of professional theatrical and film makeup expertise

Worth knowing

One detailed review describes being turned away for a walk-in shade match outside their appointment policy
Best suited to product shopping and matching rather than a full artist booking for an event

Reputation scorecardrank in London

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume171 · 82nd

Confidencemoderate

Recency2 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown78% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The right stop if you want professional-grade products and an accurate shade match rather than a full booked artist. Worth calling ahead to check their appointment policy before a walk-in visit.

Website +442072576159 Directions

7-8 Langley Ct, London WC2E 9JY

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How we rank these artists

Rankings use live Google data only: star rating, review volume, how confident that combination makes us, how recently people are still reviewing, and how complete each listing is. No artist or studio can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a makeup artist cost in London? (2026)

Prices vary hugely by service type, from a walk-in counter touch-up to a full bridal booking with a trial included. Facebar London publishes some of its own rates on-site; the other studios here don’t publish a fixed public price list, so treat any figure quoted before a consultation as an estimate.

Job	Typical price
Natural full-look session (Facebar London)	From £20
Full Look Event (Facebar London)	£65

Prices as published on Facebar London’s own site, verified July 2026.

Serving all of London

These artists and studios span central and inner London, from Covent Garden and Chelsea through to Shoreditch and Barnes, so wherever you’re based, a makeup artist near you is a short journey by tube.

What to ask before you book a makeup artist

Is a trial included, especially for weddings, and what does it cost separately?
How long does the appointment take, and is touch-up time built in?
Can you match my exact skin tone in advance, or only on the day?
What products do you use, and can you accommodate sensitive skin?
Do you travel to a venue, or is it studio-only?
What’s your cancellation and rescheduling policy?

Frequently asked questions

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from public Google data. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner (badge and top placement), but that never changes another business’s score or position.

How did you choose these makeup artists?

We pulled every makeup artist and studio with a real Google presence in London, then ranked by rating, review volume, and how recently reviews are still coming in.

How often is this list updated?

We refresh the data periodically. This page was last verified in July 2026.

Do I need a trial before my wedding day?

Most artists here strongly recommend one, and several build it into their bridal packages. It’s the best way to avoid surprises on the day.

Can these artists do camera-ready or content makeup, not just events?

Yes, several reviewers specifically booked sessions for on-camera or content work, and studios like Facebar tailor looks for that.

The bottom line

Charlotte Tilbury’s Covent Garden counter is the safe first call given its scale and consistency, but if bespoke foundation matching or budget-friendly tutorials matter more to you, Cosmetics à la Carte and Facebar London are worth booking directly. Whoever you choose, ask for a trial before any big event.

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