Scott Barnes Enters a New Era With a Results-First Brand Relaunch
Scott Barnes is a legendary makeup artist, brand founder, and creative whose impact on the beauty industry spans more than 30 years. Trained as a painter at New York’s Parsons School of Design, Barnes translated his mastery of light, color, and texture into the language of makeup. Early collaborations with leading fashion photographers swiftly established him as one of the industry’s most in-demand artists.
From the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair to moments seen by millions on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Barnes’ work has been shown to mass audiences. In a recent interview with PhotoBook, Barnes describes how photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Peter Lindbergh has shaped his work.
“Learning from their expectations and experiences—and knowing the world was literally watching—pushed me to take my craft to the next level,” says Barnes. “Pressure makes diamonds. It was exhilarating and challenging at the same time, but once you know you can play at that level, there’s no going back.”
Photo by Mike Ruiz
Before the path was clear, where were you working, and what was carrying you through as you found your way into beauty?
As a fine arts painter I worked as a photo assistant and that is where I learned about lighting and photography. Through the urging of the photographer, he told me to lean into doing makeup. That’s how I got my start.
When you were still finding your footing, how did you begin forming relationships in the industry, and what was the first project that made you feel things were changing?
I felt things were changing on a cover shoot for a magazine, it was an up and coming supermodel and it was a great shoot, I knew then that was what I wanted to do. I formed relationships then as I do now, by listening, by always going the extra mile—even sometimes working for free at the start to gain experience—and by being a collaborative partner with the rest of the creative team. When you are on set, any single problem can quickly become everyone’s problem, so lean in and help. Kindness goes a long way, and good things happen when you are talented and good to work with.
Before makeup, you studied painting at Parsons School of Design. Do you think of what you do now as leaving fine art behind, or as finding a canvas that moves, breathes, and lives in real time?
I can’t imagine doing what I do without having the painting and fine arts education. Color theory and true understanding of textures and lighting are critical in my work as a makeup artist as well as a beauty brand founder. That’s what inspired me to create Body Bling, Pave Powder, the nude lip products and contour powders, and especially my brushes—I made and make things that don’t already exist in the way that I want them to.
Scott, your collaboration with Jennifer Lopez didn’t just shape her image; it reshaped modern beauty standards. What does it take, creatively and emotionally, to sustain that level of trust and evolution over decades?
Trust is the key word. Jennifer and I grew up together—the trust has been built over the years. I also trust in my vision. I started underpainting contouring when everyone else was contour on top of the makeup. No one was doing it in 2000, the world had no idea what I was talking about in my first book, About Face, but I didn’t care. To sustain as an artist, you have to trust yourself, create your own techniques and style versus chase the trends and duplicate the work of others.
Underpainting has been rediscovered by a new generation as if it were a revelation. How does it feel to watch a technique you pioneered reenter the conversation—and what do you think gets lost when artistry becomes a trend?
I love anything that makes people feel more beautiful and the best version of themselves. Honestly, it’s been incredible and an honor to have the next generation of makeup artists leaning into underpainting and comparing me to Way Bandy, whom I consider the G.O.A.T. When I teach master classes, my underpainting techniques are a major part of the curriculum. What does get lost in translation is when trend chasers churn out products that doesn’t perform and can’t deliver on the principles of underpainting—then people doubt the technique. People need to remember that underpainting transformations are a combination of technique and product.
From the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair to moments seen by millions on The Oprah Winfrey Show, your work has been shown to mass audiences. How did collaborating with photographers like Annie Leibovitz and Peter Lindbergh shape your comfort with that kind of visibility?
Learning from their expectations and experiences—and knowing the world was literally watching—pushed me to take my craft to the next level. Pressure makes diamonds. It was exhilarating and challenging at the same time, but once you know you can play at that level, there’s no going back.
When techniques like “The Glow” and Underpainting began shaping the wider beauty conversation, how did you recognize that your influence could translate into something tangible like Body Bling bronzer?
It’s funny when people ask me these kinds of questions. In my heart, I’m just a kid from middle America who was raised by a grandmother who loved beauty in every form, so it’s not like I was ever consciously striving to be influential. I just wanted to be the best at what I do and created products that I wanted to use. How I realized there was a brand product opportunity was literally from hundreds of people, from celebrities to other artists telling me I should make these products because they wanted to buy them. That is how Scott Barnes Beauty started.
You’ve lent your artistry to films such as Maid in Manhattan and El Cantante, earning industry accolades and Oscar consideration. How has working with film sharpened your creativity?
The camera doesn’t lie. Film sets are unforgiving—cameras, lights, locations, time zones. The talent might be sick as a dog, the schedule might be insane, and you still have to deliver. That kind of environment forces you to know your craft inside and out. You learn to be resourceful, creative, and consistent under any circumstance. That’s what sharpens you as an artist—and as a professional.
Your masterclasses have sold out around the world, transforming education into an experience. What do you think people are really responding to when they walk into those rooms?
I think people are responding to more than just learning techniques. They’re responding to being part of a community—and to having their dreams validated. I’m a working makeup artist, so I show them what’s actually in my kit. They see the covers, the red carpets, the music videos, the films. That real-world visibility gives them confidence that the path they’ve chosen is possible.
While my masterclasses have a clear curriculum, they’re designed to be approachable and interactive. I leave plenty of room for questions throughout, not just at the end. I want people to feel comfortable engaging in real time. That’s what makes the experience different—and that’s how they truly get the most out of being in the room.
With the upcoming relaunch of Scott Barnes Cosmetics, you’re revisiting your own legacy. What parts of your original vision feel non-negotiable—and what are you allowing to evolve?
What’s non-negotiable is performance. The products have to be unique, and they have to work—whether you’re a professional makeup artist or doing your makeup at home. Body Bling is my original hero product and will always be a cornerstone of the brand.
Where I’m allowing things to evolve is in focus. We’re doubling down on the essentials that have stood the test of time—my nudes, my brushes, Body Bling—while also paying close attention to data and what today’s beauty consumer is actively searching for but not finding in the market. That balance between legacy and relevance is what’s driving the relaunch.
Talent: Scott Barnes
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director + Photographer: Mike Ruiz
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Brya Sheridan, Assistant to Editor-in-Chief, PhotoBook Magazine
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