As the make-up artist behind some of Beyonce’s fiercest red carpet looks, Sir John knows a thing or two about how to make a celebrity look their best.
So it’s little wonder he was cherry-picked to tend to the faces of the stars of GAP’s new Logo Remix campaign.
Celebrating five decades of design the new campaign boasts a star-studded cast that includes British TV presenter Maya Jama, singer Sza, and actress and comedian Naomi Watanabe, all of whom were given looks that reflected their unique personalities.
Sir John also counts Kim Kardashian, Chrissy Tiegen and supermodels Adriana Lima, Joan Smalls and Karlie Kloss as clients.
Talking to FEMAIL about the campaign, Sir John exclusively shared the special layering trick to keep Beyonce’s face fresh all day, why he prefers to keep his relationships with his über famous clients professional, and what he really thinks of beauty YouTubers…
The Gap Logo Remix celebrating five decades of design the new collection features a star-studded campaign with the likes of TV presenter Maya Jama (far right), singer Sza (centre), actress and comedian Naomi Watanabe (second from right)
Sir John is Beyonce’s make-up artist and has been behind some of her most iconic red carpet looks over the past few years
The celebrity make-up artist has also painted the faces of Kim Kardashian (pictured) and Chrissy Tiegen
SIR JOHN’S SECRET TO A ‘BULLET PROOF’ FACE
Sir John says that the keys to a flawless, 12-hour ‘Teflon’ face like Queen Bey’s are preparation, layering, and hydration.
Prepping the skin is key for the make-up artist, who explains that creating circulation and blood flow in the face with light massage, means the foundation will adhere to the skin better.
He advises using a mattifying moisturiser to act as an anchor for your foundation that will make it last longer.
Then it’s on to a powder foundation or a pressed powder which is buffed using a brush to lock the make-up in. These ‘magic’ layers, when topped up with cream or powder blush, eyeshadows and gel liners, results in a ‘bulletproof face’, Sir John says.
‘No matter what you do, you can sing, dance… you can’t swim but you can cry! And it won’t come off – for at least 12 hours,’ he insists.
Sir John believes less is more when it comes the face, and likes to change up his methods to create different textures.
‘Lately I like to apply foundation with a damp beauty blender while the skin is slightly wet,’ he says.
‘Just dab the foundation on with the blender and then it looks almost airbrushed and organic – like you just woke up looking a million dollars.’
British TV presenter Maya Jama is one of the stars of the Gap Logo Remix campaign. Sir John created individual looks that represented each member of the cast taking part
Sir John gets up close and personal to Beyonce and has joined her all around the world on tour and for red carpets
STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM
Sir John started at the very bottom working as an assistant to celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury.
‘I used to carry Charlotte’s suitcase,’ he says.
‘I used to do body lotion before I did faces, and in that time when I was carrying a suitcase or carrying luggage, I met all the editors, I met the big photographers, I saw what would stress her out on the job, so on my jobs I’m much more equipped.’
He says it was the hard work and dedication that got him to where he is now, and believes that the countless millennial YouTubers who post their own tutorials online might never truly grasp the work it takes to reach the top.
‘I’m so happy that I came in at the era right before social media,’ Sir John says.
‘The era where it really mattered to have editorials and campaigns. It’s such a different day so I don’t know if [it’s the] same.
‘We have a generation of people, and I don’t necessarily want to say they don’t want to work for anything, but they don’t want to put in the time.’
The make-up artist says he got his start out working as beauty guru Charlotte Tilbury’s assistant. Pictured above with model Joan Smalls
Multi-Grammy nominated singer Sza also stars in the campaign alongside rapper Metro Boomin, who were all styled in the new male and female apparel
If mingling with celebrities is a main goal for some such hopefuls, it’s a part of the job that Sir John regards as secondary – even if it involves an invite to Beyonce’s New Year’s Eve party at the Versace mansion.
To maintain his business and a respectful, professional relationship he likes separation.
‘You don’t go and get drunk with your clients,’ he says.
‘There is always this respect level I have for them, and that they have for me, so that when I say I need you to fly me business or I need to stay at this hotel, they respect that.
‘You always want your client to see you as a professional, as a brand, and I want to represent them in the best way possible,’ he explains.
Gap Logo Remix features a global cast of talent who are remixing creative culture on their own terms, whether that be through music, acting, comedy, activism or being a strong, self-expressive voice in today’s society.