Celebrity makeup artists AJ Crimson has died at age 27.

Crimson was the CEO of his own makeup line, AJ Crimson Beauty, and listed Hilary Duff, Regina King, Keyshia Cole, Fergie, Christina Milian, Missy Elliott and Angela Bassett among his clientele.

The makeup mogul’s parents confirmed the sad news in a statement.

“AJ Crimson was a makeup industry leader that set a standard of beauty that was elevated, beautiful, and accessible to people of all color,” the family said. “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.”

“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,” they continued. “There are no words that can sum up his whole. Until we meet again!”

The 27-year-old’s cause of death hasn’t been revealed.

Crimson launched AJ Crimson Beauty in 2013 as a “a line of luxury cosmetic creations that speak directly to women of color.”

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“My vision for AJ Crimson Beauty was luxury cosmetics with Black women in mind first. As a makeup artist, my entire career I gravitated to luxury products for my clientele,” he told Hello Beautiful in October 2020. “Yet there weren’t always products at that level that worked with some of my more melanin rich clients. I thought it was a shame only drug store options [were] available, so I knew I had to change that.”

Legendary judge Amiyah Scott, Actress Gabrielle Dennis and Run the World actress Bresha Webb were among some of the celebrities who paid tribute to Crimson on social media.

“I’m still stunned. Life is fragile,” Gabrielle Dennis wrote on Twitter. “AJ Crimson was such a special, bright, warm, and talented human being whose light and love will be missed by many. You now have wings to go with your crown King #RIP #YouWillBeMissed”

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