The Coolest AAPI Makeup and Nail Artists You Need to Follow
From the nail artist responsible for North West’s maximalist sets to the brains behind Audrey Nuna’s signature glam.
It’s Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which means there’s no better time to celebrate all of the AAPI artists that are constantly filling our feeds with the most noteworthy makeup and nail looks. Beyond their ability to execute the candy-coated eye looks and maximalist nail sets we can’t stop thinking about, visionaries like Sangwon Jeon and Akemi Santiago are proof that all of your favorite celebrity glam and buzzy beauty details would be nothing without the artists behind them.
No matter the time of year, there’s no shortage of editorial AAPI makeup and nail artists to put on your radar and add to your mood boards. Whether you’re searching for inspiration ahead of your next nail salon appointment or are looking to experiment with a new blush look, don’t sleep on the tastemakers and cultural forces of the AAPI community.
Ahead, we outline all of our favorite AAPI makeup and nail artists — along with what motivates their distinct artistic visions.
Sangwon Jeon
How would you describe your personal aesthetic as an artist?
My aesthetic is rooted in restraint. I’m not drawn to overly loud or extreme editorial looks. I’m more interested in creating something that feels refined and intentional. At first glance, the makeup may feel simple, but there’s always a point of detail that elevates it.
What keeps you going in your career?
What keeps me going is simple — I want the person in my chair to feel like the best version of themselves. Whether it’s a red carpet or a shoot, makeup should support that moment, not distract from it.
Akemi Santiago
How would you describe your personal aesthetic as an artist?
I’d describe my art style as an edgy intersection of organic and geometric forms, combined with my signature touch of hand-painted text and lettering. Me and my friend Coca Michelle always do so many fun pierced-nail looks on our client North West, and we of course combine that with a bunch of silver spiked charms and her iconic name hand-painted in either a script font or in Katakana Japanese. As a Japanese American, I love that she draws inspiration from my culture and allows me to express that on her nails.
What keeps you going in your career?
I owe my success to having a great network of women in the nail industry by my side. We are constantly helping each other get booked for shoots, editorials, runway shows and everything in between. My main goal has always been to be a role model to my little sister and younger generations of artists back home in Hawaii. So, the fact that I was able to serve as a testimony to the younger generations that it is possible to have success as a creative and an artist means the world to me.
Ashley Ysabelle
How would you describe your personal aesthetic as an artist?
My work is intentional, evocative and ethereal. I love to create makeup looks that turn heads or get the gears in [people's] heads turning. I come from a very artistic family. My Uncle Ric is a makeup artist for Filipino celebrities who visit the Bay Area. He took me on a job to meet my favorite Filipina actress, Ai-Ai Delas Alas, and from that moment, I subconsciously knew this path was for me.
What keeps you going in your career?
Just like my uncle did for me, what keeps me going is to inspire and encourage the younger generations to follow their wildest dreams. To get to a place in my career where I can educate the next generation of artists, but also be a student to them.
Gurleen Sidhu
How would you describe your personal aesthetic as an artist?
My style is “Desi maximalism,” which is a sophisticated blend of traditional Indian art styles represented throughout intricate linework and textures.
What keeps you going in your career?
Art has always been my first language. Not only do I get to be creative with my designs, I get to showcase my rich heritage through the traditional art styles of India. What keeps me going is the realization that my art has no borders. To see my work getting appreciated by a global audience is a constant reminder of how far I’ve come.
Mei Kawajiri
How would you describe your personal aesthetic as an artist?
Girly, dreamy.
