Makeup is increasingly moving towards subtlety: skin tints you can barely detect, mascara as the sole eye product, all with an emphasis on your natural lip colour. On more and more faces, the same ‘clean girl’ makeup is replicated. Supposed to be undetectable. Natural. It’s no makeup makeup, celebrated for appearing invisible. A good base routine has been replaced by skin care, and maximalism has been replaced by simplicity. There is nothing wrong with this type of makeup, it’s easy and perfect for everyday. But it’s also boring. Makeup doesn’t just have to be subtle enhancements – it can also be fun. Exploring the possibilities of colour, shape and accessories in makeup can open up worlds of self expression

“Makeup is not just a way to change our appearances – it can also be an art form”

When talking about makeup, it needs to be pointed out that the makeup and beauty industries are often very restrictive to women. Women are encouraged to hide or alter the parts of themselves that don’t fit into the beauty standard. As the cultural beauty standard has shifted in line with rising conservative ideology to favour a natural look, the beauty standard for women has once again become more strict. When a culture prizes women for fitting in and appearing effortless it can be easy to forget that makeup is not just a way to change our appearances – it can also be an art form. It can be fun. Even if it may seem frivolous, playing around with makeup can be a reminder that we have control over how we look and do not have to conform to restrictive beauty standards.

Playing with colour

It can be easy to fall into the trap of using only neutrals or shades of barely-there pink when doing everyday makeup. And why not? It’s simple and quick. But colour isn’t something to be afraid of. In fact, some of the most classic sort of makeup is colourful – think about red lips and blue eyeshadow. If you’re feeling nervous about adding more colour to your look you can always stick with the basics, such as an eyeshadow that enhances the eye, by using complimentary colours. Green for brown eyes, purple for green eyes, and orange for blue eyes. Or, take inspiration from your outfit by pulling the colours from your outfit onto your face. This can turn makeup into an accessory, something that draws the whole look together.

One of the best places to take colour inspiration from is from editorial makeup. Here, makeup is used as an art form so there is less focus on everyday wearability. Frankie Darling – a makeup artist who is popular on TikTok – often uses bold and vibrant eyes as part of her editorial looks. Her style is effortlessly cool and she is clearly unafraid of colour, in one instance taking inspiration from parakeets by using chartreuse and bright red in the same look.

Embracing eyeliner

“Eyeliner is an accessible way to create interesting shapes”

It’s not just colour that can make makeup fun – the placement and shape of your makeup is equally as important. Take a look at 60s style makeup, for example, where graphic liner is used to create a doll-like appearance by painting on false bottom lashes and sweeping curves above the eye. Eyeliner is an accessible way to create interesting shapes and offer unlimited possibilities for self expression. To expand on the doll-like look, why not add spiky eyelashes (created by pinching groups of eyelashes together just after applying mascara)?

Glitter galore

If you want something more bold, try accessorising your makeup. By accessorising, I mean any extra products you might use to make your makeup stand out. For example, glitter. Glitter doesn’t just belong to childhood, where it is shoved at pre-teen girls from every direction. Glittery or shimmery products can elevate a look into something ethereal, reminiscent of the recent trend of mermaid-core. If you want to wear it for an everyday look, try putting it in the inner corner of the eye or on the bottom lash line. Glitter doesn’t just have to be for the eyes either – a glittery lip gloss can elevate your look too. Alternatively, you could add small stick-on rhinestones to your eyelid, in a pattern or shape to draw attention to the shape of your eye.

The classic shapes and placements used to create an everyday look are not bad, they work for a reason. But playing around can avoid repetitive and restrictive ideas of what a face should look like, especially when society and the beauty industry discourages individuality. It is important that self expression is not forgotten, and that having fun with something so often used as a tool of oppression is a form of rebellion.