Photo: Instagram / @kyliejenner
kylie jenner, instagram
Some celebrities might search all of Hollywood in pursuit of the perfect makeup artist, but not Kylie Jenner. For the teen reality star, all it took to discover her go-to guy was a few double-taps and a direct message on Instagram. Enter Ariel Tejada, the 20-year-old responsible for Jenner's best beauty looks.
"Kylie DM'd me herself on Instagram and told me, 'Next time you're in town, let's work together,'" Tejada tells BuzzFeed of the career-defining moment.
Since the New York native had no plans to travel to L.A. at the time of the request, he told a little white lie—hoping to begin working with the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star as soon as possible.
"I told her, 'I'll be there in a week, let's do it.' I didn't even have a flight booked or anything," he admits. After just one session, it was love at first brush.
"She was obsessed with the makeup," says the young glam guru. "She said, 'Can I keep you?' And I was like, 'Of course!'"
Tejada (who also calls Kendall Jenner, Khloe Kardashian and Naya Rivera clients) chalks up his success to the power of social media, saying: "If you're not taking advantage of social media, then you're making a huge mistake."
Here, a look back at some of Tejada's best work on Jenner, via her Instagram @makeupbyariel:
Okay last one! ? this Look I did on Kylie for the Espy Awards is by Far My Fav! ❤️#MakeupbyAriel
A photo posted by Ariel Tejada (@makeupbyariel) on Jul 17, 2015 at 3:20pm PDT
?? tonight's Glam was Literally Beyond!! @kyliejenner Thankyou! #MakeupByAriel
A photo posted by Ariel Tejada (@makeupbyariel) on Jun 19, 2015 at 8:11pm PDT
Can't get enough of my Boo ? @kyliejenner ❤️#MakeupByAriel #Greatful #Blessed
A photo posted by Ariel Tejada (@makeupbyariel) on May 2, 2015 at 5:45pm PDT
Yesterday's Glam on this Babe @kyliejenner ?
A photo posted by Ariel Tejada (@makeupbyariel) on Apr 26, 2015 at 2:51pm PDT
Glam on My Love @kyliejenner ?❤️ Can't wait for her Online Tutorials??!! #MakeupbyAriel
A photo posted by Ariel Tejada (@makeupbyariel) on Jul 7, 2015 at 12:08am PDT