At an early age, Allan Avendaño was captivated by the glamor of old Hollywood. Initially pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Communications and working in television production, he soon discovered his true passion lay in the world of beauty and fashion. Upon this realization Allan switched careers and took on a job for a local fashion magazine and found himself working as the makeup artist for an editorial shoot that would forever change his career.
Avendaño honed in on developing his skills through studying facial symmetry and extensive product research, quickly establishing himself as a talented and meticulous makeup artist. He worked as a freelance artist for MAC Cosmetics before moving on to work with top Hollywood talent on fashion and beauty editorials, red carpet looks, fashion brand campaigns and major network television projects.
One aspect of Allan’s career of which he is most proud is his work with charities. He has worked with Project Angel Food, lending his talents to their fundraising efforts, and been involved with The Chrysalis Foundation and MAC AIDS Fund. He has also spent several summers traveling to New York City to do makeup for Broadway Bares, a production that helps Broadway performers and celebrities raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
Allan’s dedication to his work has not gone unnoticed. In 2015, Allan was nominated for an EMMY for his work with Cat Deeley and in 2024 became a Hollywood Beauty Award Winner for Makeup Artist of the Year. His clientele includes Joey King, Rachel Zegler, Sandra Oh, Isabela Merced, and Stephanie Hsu.
Avendaño is also a well-versed content creator and serves as a L’Oreal Paris Celebrity Makeup Artist based in Los Angeles.