Dame Patricia Ann McGrath (born June 11, 1971, Northampton, England) is universally hailed as the most influential and innovative makeup artist of the modern era and the founder and CEO of Pat McGrath Labs. Celebrated for her fearless creativity and industry-breaking beauty launches, McGrath is the first makeup artist in history to be named a Dame Commander of the British Empire and, in 2025, assumed the role of Creative Director of Cosmetics at Louis Vuitton.
Early Life and Career
Born in Northampton to Jamaican immigrant Jean McGrath, Pat McGrath was raised in a working-class home shaped by her mother’s love of color, creativity, and experimentation. She completed an art foundation course at Northampton College, before moving to London in the late 1980s. By the 1990s, McGrath had become a force backstage with the likes of Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, and Edward Enninful at i-D magazine.
In 1999, she was recruited by Giorgio Armani for cosmetics development. By 2004, McGrath joined Procter & Gamble as Global Cosmetics Creative Design Director, working on Dolce & Gabbana, CoverGirl, and Max Factor.
Founding Pat McGrath Labs
In 2015, after over two decades setting backstage trends for fashion’s elite, Pat McGrath launched her namesake brand – Pat McGrath Labs. The launch product, Gold 001, sold out almost instantly, setting a pattern for the brand’s record sell-outs. By April 2019, McGrath Labs became the biggest-selling beauty brand in Selfridges’ history and hit a $1 billion valuation within just three years—cementing her as a rare “self-made” billionaire in beauty.
Leadership, Innovation, and Impact
- Creative Vision: For over 25 years, McGrath has created runway looks for 60+ couture and ready-to-wear shows each season in Milan, Paris, London, and New York for brands like Prada, Dior, Gucci, Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and more.
- Historic Honors: In 2017, she became Beauty Editor-at-Large for British Vogue. She was named to Time‘s 100 Most Influential People (2019) and received major industry awards, including the CFDA Founder’s Award—the first makeup artist winner.
- First-ever Dame Makeup Artist: In the Queen’s 2021 New Year Honours List, she was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire.
- Global Product Breakouts: Launched viral hits and historic collaborations, such as with Valentino, Versace, Comme des Garçons, Star Wars, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the sell-out Supreme x Pat McGrath Labs lipstick in 2020 (sold out in 8.2 seconds).
Recent Developments
- In 2025, Louis Vuitton announced McGrath as Creative Director of Cosmetics for La Beauté Louis Vuitton, launching Fall 2025.
- Pat McGrath Labs continues to release boundary-pushing products, including the Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask (2025), a nod to her now-iconic “glass skin” runway looks for Maison Margiela.
Milestones & Achievements
| Year | Milestone | Achievement/Impact |
| 1980s | Moved to London, joined fashion scene | Collaborated with McQueen, Galliano, i-D magazine |
| 1999 | Cosmetics designer for Giorgio Armani | Product innovation |
| 2004 | Global Cosmetics Creative Design Director, P&G | Led global launches for multiple brands |
| 2015 | Founded Pat McGrath Labs | $1B valuation by 2019, Selfridges’ #1 beauty launch |
| 2017 | Beauty Editor-at-Large, British Vogue | Editorial leadership, trendsetting |
| 2021 | Made Dame Commander of the British Empire | First makeup artist in history to receive distinction |
| 2025 | Creative Director, Louis Vuitton Beauty | Leads La Beauté Louis Vuitton debut |
Dame Pat McGrath’s boundary-pushing artistry and bold entrepreneurship make her the defining architect of modern beauty—a creative powerhouse whose brand and legacy change the face of the industry, season after season.
