BRB, Lady Gaga's Makeup Artist Just Told Me How to Re-Create Her Looks
PHOTO: @sarahtannomakeup
This story was published on Who What Wear, in March 2020.
If you’re a music lover, you can probably name that one album that came into your life and altered the course of your destiny. Lady Gaga’s Born This Way, released in 2011, was that album for me. And while Little Monsters everywhere can agree to disagree on Gaga’s best album, it’s impossible to deny Gaga’s influence over the past decade. From fashion to politics to beauty, this woman has left her claw mark in the zeitgeist. Gaga’s impact isn’t just due to her fame. She habitually uses her platform for good, from supporting the LGBTQ+ community before it was “cool” to do so to postponing the release of her upcoming album to respect everything happening with COVID-19.
It’s an artist's ability to not only entertain us but also use art and beauty as a guiding light during dark times that makes them poignant. It’s the Marry the Night effect, so to speak. So to honor the artist, I reached out to her makeup artist, who's also the global artistry director of Lady Gaga’s makeup line Haus Laboratories, Sarah Tanno-Stewart. You’ll hear firsthand from Tanno-Stewart about Gaga’s most iconic beauty moments and her tips for replicating them at home. But first, a little about the woman behind Gaga’s looks—because while we’re born this way, we can all still use a little help along the way.
PHOTO: @SARAHTANNOMAKEUP
For those who aren’t familiar with your work, can you tell us a little about how you became a celebrity makeup artist? Who are some of your clients?
I never really set out to be a “celebrity makeup artist.” I started in fashion and have become extremely lucky to be able to work with some of the most inspiring women out there. Some of my regular clients include Lady Gaga, Priyanka Chopra-Jonas, Kate Bosworth, and Sofia Boutella.
When did you first start doing Lady Gaga’s makeup?
The first time I ever did Gaga’s makeup was back in September 2009. That’s when my life changed forever. We have had so many extremely special moments together over the last decade.
Does Gaga have a go-to makeup look?
I think she is the ultimate chameleon when it comes to makeup. She is extremely open to trying anything and everything, which makes me the luckiest artist in the world. If she had a signature, it would be a big wing liner and a bright mouth.
PHOTO: HAUS LABORATORIES
And have you had any all-time favorite looks you created for her?
One for the books was creating the first campaign image for our makeup brand Haus Laboratories that we launched in September 2019. It was the most rewarding and full-circle moment for me. As Gaga's long-time friend, makeup artist, and now as the global artistry director of Haus to use products that we created together with the product development team and see it all come to life. For us, it's more about the transformative power of makeup, how we want to make people feel brave, inspired to express themselves and most importantly practice self-love.
Do you have any products you love to use on Gaga? Or any products she loves using that you can share?
One of the first products we wanted to create for Haus Laboratories was the perfect blacker-than-black matte liquid liner, and it’s a fan favorite. Eye-Lie-Ner in Punk is something we use almost every single day. It has a tip wide enough to drag on its side and also sharp enough for the most intricate details. We also love the new Le Monster Matte Lip Crayons. They are the most comfortable matte lipstick you will ever wear. Try Talk Dirty for a perfect everyday color or my favorite red lipstick, Mastered.