Who Is Painted By Esther? Meet the Makeup Artist Behind Barbie Blush

She's Redefining Glam for Dark Skin Tones

If you’ve spent any time online or taking in a musical performance, there’s no doubt you’ve seen Edeme’s work. She’s spent years experimenting with colors and formulas to highlight and celebrate dark skin on camera. Her long list of bold-faced names includes Naomi Campbell, SZA, Doechii, Tyla, Raye, Nara Smith, Chloe Bailey, Cassie Ventura, and so many more. 

“There’s a really glamorous vibe for Black girls in London,” she told Essence in October 2025. “It’s part of the culture to always have your makeup and hair done to the nines.”

“Love Island” Helped Introduce Her to a Wider Audience

Edeme had been working with celebrities for years, but creating looks for popular Love Island USA alum Olandria Carthen gave her some major moments in the spotlight. Among the most recent? Being featured on the cover of MAC COSMETICS’ May 2026 MACZine issue. The pair launched a blush collection together, with Carthen telling the publication, “I love blush—shoutout to Esther. I truly feel like it brings out my features, and I really want a lotta women with deep, dark skin tones to not be scared to put blush on. It’s beautiful and it highlights our beauty that we already have within.”

Since working together, Edeme has created Carthen’s looks for Paris Couture Week, Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, and a number of other captivating moments. The reality star’s signature glam captured the attention of E!, which posted in February 2026 that Edeme has become synonymous with hyperpigmented, otherworldly glam, and expressive blush.

“Barbie Blush” Is Her Thing

While transitional blush is Edeme’s signature technique, “Barbie Blush” is her go-to shade. As evidenced on Carthen’s MACZine cover, Edeme loves her pop of pink, and doll-like placements. 

“ ‘Clean girl’ makeup neglects a section of people, particularly Black girls,” Edeme told Elle in December 2025. “I wanted to challenge that by using this style of glam on Black women, who have always been told to wear purples or reds.”

The MUA went on to say, “It doesn’t matter how dark-skinned you are. Pink works for every skin tone. Choosing comes down to your personal preference or mood that day.”

Just two weeks ago, Vogue Australia gave Edeme a shoutout on Instagram, noting, “Pink blush, blended out under the eye and popularised by celebrity make-up artist @paintedbyesther, is set to be one of the season's most defining trends.”

She’s a Full Glam Girlie

Edeme enjoys making a splash—after all, that’s what gains an artist immediate attention. So don’t expect a no-makeup makeup look coming from her skills. 

“I love seeing Black and Asian women with lots of color on the face,” Edeme told Hypebae in January 2026. “Our skin tones really welcome it. It adds vibrancy, light, and whimsy. To us, it’s really hard to not look like a fairy Bratz doll.”

Edeme has been especially expressive with Tyla, telling the publication that she “welcomes extravagant looks and allows me complete freedom to paint her.”

The MUA shared similar sentiments with Essence a few months prior, when she said, “I prefer my makeup to look otherworldly … I love glamour and looking ultra feminine, super girly, or ethereal. That’s always my goal when I do makeup, so when people say ‘it’s too much or you can’t really wear this outside,’ my response is always: ‘Why?’ If someone wants a bright under-eye or blinding blush, I say go for it. In the past, makeup was free and filled with expressive looks. The ‘70s, ‘80s, and 2000s weren’t about rules—it was about embracing all types of makeup, and as an artist, I take inspiration from all of it.”

Why Painted By Esther Matters

Beyond creating beautiful makeup looks, Edeme has helped expand the industry's idea of who gets to wear color, blush, and high-impact glam. Her work challenges outdated beauty rules and proves that makeup can be playful, expressive, and unapologetically bold—regardless of skin tone.