Inside Sophia Sinot’s glossy beauty universe, from Zara Larsson to Doja Cat
From glossy lips and frosted eyeshadow to ultra-feminine glamour, Sophia Sinot has become one of the defining make-up artists behind beauty’s Y2K-inspired revival. Ahead of her move to New York, she reflects on building an online following, creating viral looks and collaborating with stars including Zara Larsson, Doja Cat, SZA and KATSEYE.
Make-up has always been a part of Sophia Sinot’s life. “I started wearing makeup when I was nine,” says the 28-year old make-up artist. “I realised you can really express yourself with this art form.” Now, she’s turned that art form into a career. Open any social media app and you’ll probably spy Sinot’s work on your feed; she counts the likes of SZA, Doja Cat, Emma Chamberlain, Camila Cabello and KATSEYE as clients. The looks that will be most familiar to you? The multicoloured beats sported by the internet’s favourite pop star, Zara Larsson. The singer’s hot pink flush and Y2K maximalist eye looks are all signature Sinot stamps.
Though, until Sinot left high school, a career in makeup artistry felt impossible. In her small hometown of Huizen, just outside of Amsterdam, students were encouraged to pursue traditional careers. “I didn’t like it. It’s a really great neighborhood to grow up in, but there’s not much creativity happening. There’s no fashion scene,” she reflects. So, she forged her own creative path. After finishing school, having put in “blood, sweat and tears,” she completed a make-up course. “It just suddenly clicked to me that I was good at makeup. And I chose that. I didn’t know anything about the industry. I didn’t know anything about this whole world,” she confesses.
If her viral looks and collaboration with one of the most celebrated pop stars of 2026 is anything to go off, it’s clear she made the right choice.
Joining EE72 from her London apartment – which she’s leaving soon for a new adventure in New York – Sinot talks starting out, her inspirations, and how she’s built such a huge makeup empire.
On discovering makeup
“I think I was nine when I first saw Michelle Phan’s YouTube videos. This was when YouTube first became a thing, and she’s really the only YouTuber that I’ve ever watched. I was so obsessed with her. I started watching videos and then I was drawn to the makeup. For some reason I was always really drawn to transformations, and I think that just developed into beauty transformations.”
On starting her career
“School was really difficult for me and I was like, I’m never going back to school again. But obviously I had to figure out what to do with my life, and then I discovered that I could do a makeup course and I really, really enjoyed it. As soon as I had my first lesson, that’s when I realised, ‘Wow, yes, of course celebrities have makeup artists.’
I moved out of my parents’ house to Amsterdam. I lived there by myself and was working three jobs at the same time to pay my bills. I was 18 or 19 and working at random bars, and then I was also cleaning toilets and people’s houses.
Once I finished the [makeup] course I reached out to every person I knew – all the people that I worked with. I met some people by going to parties and in the smoking areas. I was just telling everyone what I wanted to do, and seeing what they wanted to do. Like, ‘You want to be a photographer? Okay, let’s create some work together!’
I was hustling for years. I was working for free. And then slowly I built up my network and started to get little paid jobs here and there. And then the paid jobs got higher paid.”
On her parents’ support
“I always loved painting and drawing, and my parents really pushed me to be creative. I think it’s because they both went to art school themselves. I actually think, when I told them I wanted to do something creative, they were even happier than if I’d have told them I wanted to be a doctor. Especially my mum – she is such an emotional, sensitive person and she just gets it. She sees inspiration in everything and she’s taught me to look at things in a certain way.”
On moving to London
“I’d always thought about leaving Amsterdam, but I didn’t really know where to go until I had a boyfriend in London and the pandemic hit. This was when Brexit was about to happen, so I just made a super impulsive decision, packed my stuff, moved to London, and I’ve never left. I love Amsterdam so much, but I’m never going back. I love London. I love the people. I love the city and the vibe. I love going out.”
On her inspirations
“My inspiration sources change every week. During the tour [with Zara Larsson], I was really inspired by space and water. And then I was feeling Barbie vibes. And then it was 80s glam, and then it was animal print. Now, I feel very inspired by birds, fish and flowers because I’ve been really randomly deep-diving into local nature. I think it’s because me and Zara are going to do a lot of festivals this summer and everything is so vibrant and alive in summer. Animals are out, everyone’s outside, flowers are blooming. I also just love colour, maybe because my parents are interior designers. It boosts dopamine. It’s a primal thing.
Sometimes I do look at people and I’m obsessed with their glam. I really love Nina Hagen. She’s a punk artist from Germany and my mum grew up listening to punk. She would let me watch the same music videos over and over again. Nina’s makeup, hair and outfits are so insane.”
On her Y2K repertoire
“It wasn’t on purpose. When I read interviews, I was like, ‘Okay, I guess my work is Y2K.’ I love watching Christina Aguilera and I was always so mesmerised by her music videos. So, in a way, I definitely feel inspired by Y2K, but it was never my intention to go for a full Y2K vibe – it just went that way. Also, we didn’t even prepare anything for Zara’s tour. We were just like, ‘Let’s have fun.’ My style is fluid. Two years ago I was very inspired by punk. I was a bit more grungy and dark, and I played a lot with fake piercings. Also, I had an era where I really wanted to learn about special effects makeup, so I was doing a lot of cuts and bruises because I just think it’s so cool. Maybe I’ll have a completely different style again next year.”
On her next steps
“I just feel like it’s time for another change. I’d like another adventure, and I love New York. I love the people there as well. It reminds me a little bit of Amsterdam. Also, a lot of my friends are there and it’s just a really good vibe. I love working with people and that’s my favorite part of the job. I work a lot in Los Angeles too, and New York is kind of in the middle [between LA and London].”
On the future of beauty
“I’m very lucky that I have clients who let me experiment with colour, because some are maybe scared to show up on a red carpet with crazy rhinestones or hot-pink eyeshadow. But I hope we’re slowly moving back to an era where, on the red carpet or in our daily lives, we can go out with blue or pink eyeshadow and just have fun.”
Want to create a Y2K beauty look?
Here are Sinot’s favourite products…
Team Dr Joseph Golden Glow Body Oil
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50
Clé de Peau Beauté Luminizing Face Enhancer
Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Filter Concealer
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder
Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix
Made By Mitchell Curve Case
Made By Mitchell Do You Want Some Milk? Eyeshadow Palette
ColourPop Fade Into Hue Rainbow Powder Palette
Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Gel Eyeliner
Dior Beauty Diorshow Overvolume Mascara
House of Lashes The Muse – Half Lash
Anastasia Beverly Hills Microstroke Brow Pen
Made By Mitchell Beam Lip Gloss
MAC Lip Pencil Lip Liner
Is Backrooms A24’s scariest horror movie yet? Is Backrooms A24’s scariest horror movie yet?
Is Backrooms A24’s scariest horror movie yet?
“Everybody should be in therapy!” kwn gets existential on her forthcoming EP, and all pride aside “Everybody should be in therapy!” kwn gets existential on her forthcoming EP, and all pride aside
“Everybody should be in therapy!” kwn gets existential on her forthcoming EP, and all pride aside
Africa Day is more than just a celebration of culture – it’s the global recognition of “the diversity and uniqueness” of the continent Africa Day is more than just a celebration of culture – it’s the global recognition of “the diversity and uniqueness” of the continent
Africa Day is more than just a celebration of culture – it’s the global recognition of “the diversity and uniqueness” of the continent
Meet the new vanguard of filmmakers redefining cinema right now Meet the new vanguard of filmmakers redefining cinema right now
Meet the new vanguard of filmmakers redefining cinema right now
Towa Bird proves second time’s the charm with sophomore album Gentleman Towa Bird proves second time’s the charm with sophomore album Gentleman
Towa Bird proves second time’s the charm with sophomore album Gentleman
Sex, Clubs, Dissent: Visualising Queer Nightlife is a new book that charts the visual history of queer nightlife Sex, Clubs, Dissent: Visualising Queer Nightlife is a new book that charts the visual history of queer nightlife
Sex, Clubs, Dissent: Visualising Queer Nightlife is a new book that charts the visual history of queer nightlife
EE72’s exclusive Kate Moss poster in support of charity Breakthrough T1D is available for one more week EE72’s exclusive Kate Moss poster in support of charity Breakthrough T1D is available for one more week
EE72’s exclusive Kate Moss poster in support of charity Breakthrough T1D is available for one more week
The exhibitions not to be missed at the 61st Venice Biennale The exhibitions not to be missed at the 61st Venice Biennale
