Charli XCX is the new face of YSL Beauty. The pop star is fronting a campaign for the brand’s Skin Affair soft glow cushion foundation, and she shared a first look on Instagram with a caption that kept things simple and heartfelt: “me for @yslbeauty. wearing skin affair soft glow cushion foundation. make up by @samvissermakeup.”
The makeup was handled by Sam Visser, a celebrity beauty artist with a devoted following in the industry. Visser has worked with some of music and fashion’s biggest names, and his credit in Charli’s own caption confirms this was a genuine creative partnership. His work for the campaign leans into the Skin Affair’s appeal: a radiant, glowing finish that reads as skin rather than product.
The Skin Affair soft glow cushion is part of YSL Beauty’s family of luminous base products. Cushion foundations have had a loyal following for years. K-beauty brands made the format mainstream in the mid-2010s. Western luxury labels built out their own versions soon after, and YSL’s cushion has become a staple in that category. The product targets shoppers who want a luminous, high-end finish without heavy coverage.
Pairing that product with Charli XCX is a clear strategic move. She’s one of pop’s most visually distinctive artists. Her 2024 album Brat turned that aesthetic into a full cultural moment. The lime green it introduced became shorthand for a whole visual language. It crossed into fashion editorials and political imagery. That kind of cross-category reach is exactly what beauty campaigns are built around.
The Brat cycle also shifted how the industry talked about Charli. It positioned her less as a features artist and more as a standalone cultural force. Her aesthetic became something people referenced on its own, separate from individual songs. The YSL partnership reflects that broader appeal.
YSL Beauty has a well-established pattern of working with talent at the center of current conversations. Past campaign faces have included musicians and cultural figures who bring credibility beyond follower counts. The brand tends to pick people who feel genuinely current, and Charli fits that profile well in 2026.
Sam Visser’s involvement adds its own layer of credibility. He’s among the more recognized makeup artists working at this level. His following in beauty circles pays close attention to his creative choices, and his name in Charli’s caption means this campaign will get attention from beauty enthusiasts too.
The Instagram reveal drew over 161,000 likes from Charli’s audience and YSL Beauty’s followers alike.
For Charli, a luxury beauty campaign is a natural next move. She’s already one of the more distinctive visual presences in pop. A YSL partnership places her alongside the brand’s history of culturally significant collaborations. No further details about the scope of the campaign have been announced, but this first reveal has attracted a strong response.
