Pakistan’s booming beauty and bridal industry has produced a crop of highly talented makeup professionals. In a country where weddings and red carpets demand flawless looks, a few standout artists have become household names. The following list highlights ten of the most renowned Pakistani makeup artists today, selected for their popularity, expertise in bridal and editorial makeup, celebrity clientele, and industry awards. Each entry includes their base city, specialty, career background, notable clients, social media presence, awards, and signature style.
Nabila Maqsood (Islamabad) – Pioneering Glamour and “Zero Makeup”
Islamabad-based Nabila Maqsood (often known simply as Nabila) is a legendary stylist and makeup artist with a career spanning over four decades. Founder of the Nabila Salons (with branches in major cities) and creator of a popular haircare brand, she has styled Pakistan’s top fashion shows, film awards, and celebrity events for years. Nabila introduced the trendsetting “Zero Makeup” philosophy – a minimalistic look that enhances natural features rather than layering on heavy cosmetics. This approach, along with her visionary red-carpet styling, set new standards in Pakistani beauty. She has won virtually every national award for makeup, including the Lux Style Award for Best Makeup Artist, and is widely regarded as a style icon. Many of today’s younger artists apprenticed under her, and she remains a trendsetter in bridal and couture glamour.
Babar Zaheer (Karachi) – Celebrity Bridal & Hair Expert
Babar Zaheer (Karachi) is one of Pakistan’s most sought-after celebrity makeup and hair stylists. Foryears he has created glamorous bridal looks and editorial styles for high-profile clients. He is especially known for styling stars like Mahira Khan, having done Mahira’s famed bridal makeup, as well as Hania Aamir and model Amna Ilyas – even crossing borders to work with India’s tennis star Sania Mirza. Babar’s work often features sultry smoky eyes, flawless contouring, and bold lips that stand out in photo shoots and on screen. He regularly handles red-carpet events and magazine shoots for top actors and models. (He runs “Makeup By Babar” salons in Karachi and has built a strong Instagram following.) Though not known for flashy awards, his reputation is built on a loyal celebrity clientele and consistently stunning bridal transformations.
Omayr Waqar (Karachi) – Editorial & Bridal Artistry
Also in Karachi, Omayr Waqar is a leading makeup artist and hairstylist celebrated for his luminous, flawlessly blended looks. A former model turned MUA, Omayr has styled campaigns for major fashion brands (like Khaadi and Nishat Linen) and clothed many actresses in photo shoots. He is especially known for elegant bridal makeup – soft dewy skin, subtle bronzing, and high-impact eyes. Omayr’s portfolio includes top celebrities such as Mahira Khan, Ayeza Khan, and Tooba Siddiqui. His social media presence is strong, with over 150,000 Instagram followers by 2025, where he shares tutorials and client makeovers. Industry awards underscore his skill: he earned Best Hair & Makeup honors at Pakistan’s Paparazzi Awards three years in a row (2015–2017) and was nominated for the Lux Style Awards in 2016 and 2017. Omayr’s signature is a “glowy” finish and seamless color blending – his brides glow with radiant, natural-looking skin.
Natasha Khalid (Karachi) – Boutique Bridal Specialist
Karachi’s Natasha Khalid is the founder of Natasha Salon and a rising star in wedding makeup. Granddaughter of legendary singer Noor Jehan, Natasha trained in London and Dubai before launching her salon in Karachi. In just a couple of years she became a household name, often described as “the makeup artist of choice for many brides-to-be.” By 2013 she had 275,000 Facebook fans, and her portfolio featured numerous celebrities such as Sonya Jehan, Humaima Malik, Sanam Saeed, Mahira Khan, and model Faryal Makhdoom. Natasha and her mother were even nominated for a Lux Style Award in 2012 for Emerging Talent in Hair & Makeup. Her style combines bold glam with precision: think perfectly sculpted eyebrows, bright eyeshadows or liners, and impeccable contouring tailored to each client. Natasha also offers avant-garde “editorial” looks (glam transformations and creative shoots), but she is best known for making brides look stunningly polished and radiant on their big day.
Sara Ali (Karachi) – Bespoke Bridal & Editorial Artist
Based in Karachi, Sara Ali heads Sara Salon & Spa and is acclaimed for her bespoke and creative approach. She has earned a reputation as one of Pakistan’s most sought-after artists through her versatility. Sara specializes in custom-tailored makeup: she meticulously analyzes each client’s features, skin tone, and personal style to craft a truly unique look. A subtle pink lip here, a regal smokey eye there – Sara’s clients appreciate how she enhances their natural beauty without replicating cookie-cutter styles. Beyond bridal work, Sara is a noted editorial makeup artist. Her imaginative looks have graced fashion magazine covers and ad campaigns, showcasing her flair for pushing boundaries with color and form. In industry circles she’s known for blending contemporary Western techniques with South Asian sensibilities. Her salon in Karachi is a go-to for brides wanting both timeless glam and cutting-edge fashion looks.
Bina Khan (Karachi/London) – Veteran Bridal Artist and Educator
Bina Khan is a veteran MUA who made a name over 25+ years in Karachi and now operates between Pakistan and London. For decades she ran a popular salon and training school in Karachi, becoming known for her sculpted, sophisticated bridal makeup. Bina’s signature style fuses rich, Hollywood-esque glamour with South Asian color palettes, creating classic looks that many brides still request. In 2020 she moved to London, where she built an international reputation as both an artist and an educator. She reached a wider audience through Instagram masterclasses during the pandemic and co-founded Just B Cosmetics, a makeup line designed for brown skin tones. This entrepreneurial venture (featured in global outlets like Vogue and Allure) underscores Bina’s mission of inclusive beauty. Bina’s extensive experience and mentoring of younger artists set her apart; brides admire her decades of expertise in creating flawlessly rich bridal looks and her role in educating the next generation of Pakistani MUAs.
Shoaib Khan (Lahore) – Transformative Celebrity Artist
Shoaib Khan (Lahore) is often described as a “celebrity favorite” and a master of transformation. With an impeccable eye for detail, Shoaib is capable of executing any style – from barely-there natural glam to bold, dramatic makeovers. Celebrities frequently hire him for red-carpet events, fashion shoots, and TV appearances because of his ability to make them camera-ready. His artistry is praised for enhancing each client’s features in an elegant way; for example, he may accentuate the eyes with a subtle smokey shadow or lift the face with contouring, always keeping the final look harmonious. Shoaib’s reputation rests on creativity and reliability. Though he keeps a relatively low digital profile, word of mouth and glowing reviews by Pakistan’s entertainment stars have made him one of the most in-demand makeup professionals in Lahore’s fashion and TV industry.
Qasim Liaqat (Lahore) – Award-Winning Bridal and Fashion MUA
In Lahore, Qasim Liaqat has earned fame as an award-winning bridal and fashion makeup artist. He stands out in our list partly because he is one of the few men leading in this field. Qasim’s work leans toward modern, high-impact bridal looks with impeccable skin and bold eye makeup. His skill has been formally recognized: he won the Lux Style Award for Best Hair & Makeup in 2019, Pakistan’s premier fashion and entertainment award. (Notably, he beat a field of strong competitors that year, underscoring his excellence.) He has since become a go-to for brides looking for polished, glamorous makeovers that photograph beautifully. Qasim runs Brides by Qasim Liaqat in Lahore, and he often shares tutorials and client photos on social media. His signature is a luminous, airbrushed complexion paired with defined eyes and lips – balancing tradition with contemporary trends, which makes him highly popular among modern brides.
Rukash (Lahore) – Neat Fusion Bridal Specialist
Also in Lahore, Rukash is the founder of Rukash Salon and a respected bridal makeup artist. A journalism graduate who trained in Dubai, New York, Los Angeles and London, she developed a unique fusion style. Rukash’s signature is “neatness” even in the most elaborate looks. Influenced by cosmopolitan trends (she especially admires the precise Lebanese bridal style), she blends Eastern and Western techniques into every makeover. For example, even when doing heavy contouring and dramatic eyes, Rukash ensures the result appears polished rather than overly made-up. She and her team emphasize precision and hygiene in the salon, earning a loyal following. Though not widely covered in media interviews, brides praise Rukash for delivering glitch-free glam: glowing base, meticulously shaped eyebrows, and hairstyles that complement the face. Her decade of experience running a full-service Lahore salon also means she offers all bridal beauty needs (makeup, hair, nails) under one roof with personal care.
Wardah Usmani (Lahore) – Emerging Glowy Bridal Artist
Finally, Wardah Usmani is a rising makeup artist based in Lahore who has quickly gained a reputation for modern, glowing bridal looks. A self-taught artist, she launched her own home studio in DHA Phase 1 around 2020. Wardah’s approach is very client-focused: she prides herself on listening to each bride’s preferences and ensuring they look like themselves – only exceptionally radiant. In interviews, Wardah emphasizes that her trademark is a “subtle, glowy look” with light coverage and lifted facial features. This reflects today’s trend in Pakistani bridal makeup towards enhancing natural beauty (think luminous skin and soft highlights). Though newer than the others on this list, she has already been featured in local magazines and enjoys a growing social-media following. Her work stands out because she combines the latest international trends (glossy lips, soft sculpting) with an understanding of South Asian skin and bridal traditions.
These ten artists together showcase the breadth of Pakistan’s makeup industry. From legendary pioneers like Nabila to social-media-savvy educators like Bina Khan, they cover everything from traditional bridal glam to avant-garde editorial artistry. Each has earned acclaim through celebrity client lists, award recognition, or influential teaching. Whether planning a bridal makeover or simply looking for inspiration, Pakistani customers and makeup enthusiasts alike turn to these professionals for the very best in artistry and innovation.
