Celebrities and Beauty Professionals Remember Makeup Artist AJ Crimson With Heartwarming Tributes

REST IN PEACECelebrities and Beauty Professionals Remember Makeup Artist AJ Crimson With Heartwarming TributesAn icon was lost but his memory and legacy live on. 

By Gabi Thorne

April 1, 2022

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Multitalented. Inspiring. Shining star. Genuine. These are all just a few of the words used to describe the late makeup artist AJ Crimson. News of his untimely death started circulating on March 30 as friends and others went to Instagram to pour out their love for him. 

In a statement his family shared with People, they praised the young artist's impact on the beauty industry and in their own lives. "AJ Crimson was a makeup industry leader that set a standard of beauty that was elevated, beautiful, and accessible to people of all color," they wrote. "We as a family are heartbroken and devastated by his passing, but thankful for the lessons that he laid on each of us with his truth, directness, and leadership."

The Detroit-raised makeup artist's career began in the early 2000s. Crimson got his start working in the costume department for the film 8 Mile, and while on set, his boss, Oscar-winning costume designer Mark Bridges, noticed his talent and opened up his guest room in Los Angeles to help him embark on his career. From there, Crimson got the chance to work with Will.I.Am and then Fergie, eventually developing a lengthy list of clients that include Christina Milan, Hilary Duff, Angela Bassett, Raven Symone, and Estelle.

Working with Estelle inspired him to launch his namesake beauty brand, he previously told Allure in a 2017 interview. At the time, it was virtually impossible to find a contour dark enough for the British singer, and he wanted to change that. The result led to the launch of the Dual Skin Creme Foundation with the darkest shade, called #8, a hickory hue. "AJ Crimson Beauty is about the end of girls having to fit themselves into other people’s boxes," he shared. "I wanted to build a box around that girl."

He worked hard to ensure that women of color, particularly Black women, of all shades could feel represented in a beauty industry that often didn't cater to them. But his impact goes even further than his makeup artistry and beauty brand as many recounted in their tributes on social media. It's hard to distill someone's memory into a single Instagram post, but many who knew AJ Crimson have done a beautiful job at showing their love and admiration for him.

In an Instagram post highlighting the late visionary, fellow makeup artist Sir John recounted how Crimson was his first agent and helped him get the work, recognition, and money he deserved. Crimson even defended Sir John to the president of IMG Models at the time, he noted in the caption. "Holding space for Black women was at your core," Sir John wrote. "That's why I fuck wit you!!!!!"

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Actor Bresha Webb, who has starred in TV shows such as Run the World and Marlon, praised Crimson as "one of the most inspiring, sweetest, giving, multi-talented, multi-hyphenated people I've known." In the caption, she wrote that she doesn't have the words to fully honor him, but she will be sure to keep his legacy alive.

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"We truly have lost a KING," makeup artist Theo Turner wrote in his Instagram post. In his caption, he remembered all the sweet moments with Crimson, emphasizing how much he worked to support other creatives in the industry whenever he could and how sorely he will be missed.

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Makeup artist Mila Thomas thanked Crimson for inspiring her and so many other entrepreneurs in the beauty industry to take what's theirs. "Rest well my friend in knowing that you've made an impact on so many lives," she shared. "Your bright light, warm, genuine spirit will be greatly missed and know that your legacy is profound and will live forever."

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Makeup artist Danessa Myricks emphasized how "magical" a human Crimson was and how he always inspired and praised her. Though his presence may no longer be on this earth, Myricks shared, "To know @ajcrimson is to know love and laughter, confidence and passion. I will miss you so much, my beautiful friend. Thank you for all you contributed to me, this industry, and the world."

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Keyshia Cole, who has worked with the makeup artist before, was in disbelief at the news. In her caption, she shared how just a week ago the duo was drinking and having a good time, chatting about aging like fine wine. 

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Stylist June Ambrose hails Crimson a "master at his craft" and a "beautiful spirit." She recounted how he helped her in the past and sends her condolences and love to his family and close friends.

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In her Instagram post, Christina Milian detailed how she and Crimson "made some of the most epic memories together" through the two decades they worked together. She emphasized Crimson's satus as a pioneer, as well as the impact he had on her personal life. "You made your own lane. You created it yourself and I always told you how much you inspired me to be my own entreprenuer," the caption reads. "You were doing it before anyone else."

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Hairstylist Larry Sims shared a picture of himself, Crimson, and another friend all wearing fedoras. He kept his caption simple, expressing his deep love for the makeup artist. 

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These are only a few of the numerous Instagram posts and tweets celebrating Crimson that emphasize his kindness, good spirit, and the way he has changed the beauty industry forever. His family tells People, "We thank you all for your kind words, tweets, and posts, as AJ was an inspiration to us as much as he was a bright light to the rest of the world. There are no words that can sum up his whole. Until we meet again!" 

The beauty industry lost an icon, but more importantly, we lost an incredibly kind man who advocated tirelessly for other Black creatives and blessed their lives with his energy — and that's not something that can easily be replaced. Rest in Peace, AJ.

Read more stories about makeup artists:

• 10 Brilliant Makeup Artists, 10 Beautiful Face Charts
• Shirley Raines Is Giving Makeovers to the Unhoused Community in L.A.
• Makeup Artist Porsche Poon Is Ignoring All the "Rules" of Beauty

Now enjoy makeup artist Shirley Raines's entire beauty routine:

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Gabi Thorne is the associate news editor at Allure. Since graduating from Harvard University, where she received a student writing fellowship from The Nation to research political news and social media as they pertain to students and communities of color, Gabi has covered beauty, pop culture, news, and more... Read moreAssociate News Editor

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