French Makeup Artist Yacine Diallo on Finding Confidence

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French makeup artist Yacine Diallo, whose clients include Aurora James and Chanel, had a passion for fashion and beauty from a young age. But long before she felt the pull of eyeshadow palettes and lipsticks, Diallo pursued a career in music PR. While on set with the musicians she worked with, the Paris-based artist eventually realized her true calling lay elsewhere. “On set, I was able to get a closer look at backstage beauty,” says Diallo, who graduated from France’s prestigious Ecole Française des Attachés de Presse with a degree in PR and marketing.

Following her first beauty job at a MAC counter, Diallo went on to work as an assistant to makeup artists for brands and on movie sets before breaking out on her own. “I didn’t have a linear career journey. I’ve been lucky to meet people who have helped me and led me to my next steps in life. Everything I’ve done up until this point has certainly helped me to be a better makeup artist,” she reflects. “At the end of the day, I’ve learned it’s not just about how you apply pretty eyeliners, anyway. You have to connect with people. And that’s something I will never get tired of.”

Below, Diallo opens up on everything from motherhood to her tried-and-true routine and her biggest confidence lessons.

“Being French isn’t a monolith for just being brunette and having bangs and red lips.”

By Lena Herrmann

RI:
How did your upbringing shape your approach to beauty?
YD:
I recently relocated back to Paris after living in New York City for the last eight years. But I was born and raised in Paris and spent six years of my life in Gabon [Africa] from when I was 4 years old until I was 10. In Gabon I remember being in an environment that was very international. I got to see so many different cultures. My approach to beauty now is very multicultural because of this, but even though I grew up mainly in France and Africa, I remember always looking to America for inspiration. I was very fascinated by the beauty standards there and the diversity and the freedom of expression.
RI:
What has helped you to find your confidence over the years?
YD:
I feel like the level of confidence that I have right now is very recent. I think motherhood, being pregnant and raising a child has really changed me in a lot of ways, including how I connect to my body. This time in life has shown me what I’m capable of. I’m showing up for my little baby every day. It’s making me a better person and making me take better care of myself. Children teach us our biggest lessons. It's very humbling to have a child, and to raise a child, in my opinion. This process has really grounded me.
RI:
Who’s your biggest beauty inspiration?
YD:
My mom. She's a very confident woman and I've never seen her being shy about who she is. She doesn't wear a single drop of makeup… maybe lipstick, and that's it. She has that kind of beauty that is connected with confidence. I also remember looking up to Aaliyah growing up. I loved watching R&B videos, and the aesthetic of the ’90s.

By Lena Herrmann

“...the level of confidence that I have right now is very recent… This time in life has shown me what I’m capable of.”

RI:
What’s one of your earliest beauty memories?
YD:
I remember going to my mom's makeup bag secretly and trying on her stuff. I definitely wasn’t supposed to be doing that.
RI:
You mentioned being fascinated by American beauty standards growing up. Meanwhile, Americans have always been intrigued by “French Girl Beauty.” What are your thoughts on this?
YD:
Honestly, I feel like I'm a French girl and I don't really see myself within that trend. Being French isn’t a monolith for just being brunette and having bangs and red lips. There are a lot of West African French people, a lot of Moroccan French people, etc. I think there should be way more nuance to the “look” of French Girl Beauty. It shouldn’t just be about [carrying] a baguette, smoking a cigarette and wearing red lipstick. I’d be honored to be the representation and inspiration for young French women who look like me, because we definitely need more of it.

By Lena Herrmann

RI:
What is your skincare routine like?
YD:
I always double cleanse. I use a cleansing oil and then some sort of face wash. I love using face oils in general. To me, skincare is a meditation. It’s a moment where I can put myself first. When my skin feels good, I'm feeling good. I do a lot of masks. I was very big on facials when I was in New York. I also did acupuncture for my skin a lot there too and I miss it. I make sure to take my supplements as well. I’m constantly monitoring my skin’s needs. My approach to skincare is very holistic.
RI:
What’s your hair routine?
YD:
I don’t really have a set routine. My husband is a hairstylist, so we get some products sometimes and I just take stuff from his PR packages. But I'm mainly using Olaplex at the moment.
RI:
What’s your favorite fragrance?
YD:
I always wear something, but there’s nothing specific in terms of perfume that I gravitate towards. But I do love body oils and body butters and creams. I go to Thailand a lot and whenever I’m there, I always bring back a nice coconut oil. I love tropical and warm scents like that on the body.

RI:
What’s your go-to self-care routine currently?
YD:
Freshly washed hair day and a nice blowout always makes me feel a little bit better. I also love a nice steam or infrared sauna moment. I get lymphatic drainage massages sometimes too, especially after I gave birth. I retained so much water in my legs, it was actually painful. So the massage really helped.
RI:
What’s the biggest beauty risk you’ve taken?
YD:
I've cut my hair really short several times. That’s probably the biggest risk I’ve taken. I’ve never really dyed my hair or anything like that.

“...even though I grew up mainly in France and Africa, I remember always looking to America for inspiration.”

By Lena Herrmann

RI:
How do you define beauty?
YD:
Beauty is more about elegance than it is about your measurements and how you look. I think beauty is an attitude. I think beauty is really what you make of it. It’s all about the choices you make.
RI:
When do you feel most beautiful?
YD:
I feel most beautiful when people can actually see my skin and the real me. I don't like to wear that much makeup and I really like my skin to show. I never want to feel like I’m hiding behind a ton of makeup.

“When my skin feels good, I'm feeling good.”

By Lena Herrmann

Do Your Makeup With Yacine Diallo

For Yacine Diallo, being a makeup artist is about more than just how you apply pretty liners. “It’s about connecting with people,” she says. Between working with major clients such as Aurora James and Chanel and mothering her son, Diallo finds time for self-care via facials, massages and a relaxing playlist.

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