BRB, Lady Gaga's Makeup Artist Just Told Me How to Re-Create Her Looks

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(Image credit: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue)

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.

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(Image credit: @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. 

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(Image credit: 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.

Okay, let’s get into a time machine and go through some Gaga’s most iconic beauty moments Tanno-Stewart created… 

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(Image credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage)

WHAT: 87th Annual Academy Awards, 2015 

"Ah, what a night to remember,” Tanno-Stewart reminisces. "Gaga was wearing custom Azzedine Alaïa, about to sing the iconic Sound of Music, and we opted for this classic Hollywood beauty look fit for the Oscars.” 

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(Image credit: @sarahtannomakeup)

WHAT: Super Bowl, 2017

Does this look remind you of Gaga’s earlier fame monster days—before even the Euphoria makeup craze? That’s the intention, per Tanno-Stewart: "Performing at the Super Bowl was such a huge moment in Gaga’s career.” she continues, " I wanted her to look like the most iconic version of herself so that she could look back at her performance 10 years later and still love everything about it.” 

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(Image credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

WHAT: 60th Annual Grammy Awards, 2018

One could say Gaga’s look for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards was made for the heavy metal lovers, but in reality, Tanno-Stewart’s vision was "for Gaga’s eyes to look like a starry night. Black with touches of glitter. Accentuated with a soft nude glossy lip.”

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(Image credit: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

WHAT: A Star Is Born red carpet, 2018 

"Gaga’s look for the A Star Is Born red carpet may be my most favorite look of all time,” Tanno-Stewart confessed. "I know it’s very soft and angelic, but I’ve never seen my friend radiate like she did this day.”

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(Image credit:  Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

WHAT: Toronto International Film Festival, A Star Is Born premiere, 2018 

"I loved this look. She wanted to feel strong. I thought of creating a strong crease with a defined eye and glossy mouth,” Tanno-Stewart professed to us.  

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(Image credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Turner)

WHAT: 25th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, 2019 

"I really was inspired by Old Hollywood glamour with a touch of ’30s,” she tells us. For re-creating the look, you can start by applying the lip color.

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(Image credit: Theo Wargo/WireImage)

WHAT: Met Gala Celebrating Camp: Notes on Fashion, 2019 

"This Met Gala look was so much fun to create for the Haus Gaga team,” she shares. "I wanted her to be an extreme version of herself. The brightest pink mouth, the longest lashes and make them gold. I drew inspiration from Barbie and Galliano.”

Next: I Can't Be Rihanna, But I Can Abide By Her Beauty Tips 

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
Editor

Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a fashion editor living in New York City. What began as a hobby (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a career dedicated to storytelling through various forms of digital media. She started her career at the print publication 303 Magazine, where she wrote stories, helped produce photo shoots, and planned Denver Fashion Week. After moving to Los Angeles, she worked as MyDomaine's social media editor until she was promoted to work across all of Clique's publications (MyDomaine, Byrdie, and Who What Wear) as the community manager. Over the past few years, Jasmine has worked on Who What Wear's editorial team, using her extensive background to champion rising BIPOC designers, weigh in on viral trends, and profile stars such as Janet Mock and Victoria Monét. She is especially interested in exploring how art, fashion, and pop culture intersect online and IRL.