Val Garland, a London-based makeup artist originally from Bristol, has made her mark as one of the beauty industry’s most inventive voices. Starting out in Sydney as a hair colorist, Garland’s fascination with color soon led her to transition into makeup, where her bold approach quickly set her apart. She returned to London in 1994, and her career took off, establishing her as a key figure in British fashion. Known for her daring techniques and unorthodox approach, Garland has worked on runway shows for legendary designers like Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, transforming models into art pieces that capture the spirit of each collection.
Garland’s influence extends beyond the runway; her work is a fixture in top publications, including Vogue, Dazed, and Harper’s Bazaar. Her collaborations with renowned photographers like Nick Knight, Craig McDean, Alasdair McLellan, and Tim Walker have produced some of the most memorable images in modern fashion, each one showcasing her ability to fuse art with beauty in ways that feel both edgy and timeless. In 2017, Garland joined L’Oréal Paris as its first Global Makeup Director, where she leads everything from product innovation to creative direction for campaigns, pushing the brand toward fresh, trendsetting looks.
In 2018, Garland published Validated, an anthology highlighting her career’s most defining moments. The following year, she became a judge on the BBC’s Glow Up, a series where she mentors emerging makeup talent, recently completing its sixth season. Garland’s career continues to inspire, and her work remains a powerful influence, bridging artistry with the evolving world of fashion and beauty.
