These Makeup Addicts Are Disrupting the Beauty Space One Neon Cat-Eye at a Time

A cat-eye taken to calligraphic new levels with freakish precision; a mouth saturated in neon lipstick then deftly blurred outside the lines; a face sculpted with bright pink blush, then draped to theatrical effect. Prior to social media, this kind of directional makeup was something one only encountered on the stage or silver screen. But today, a dose of high-impact beauty inspiration is just an Instagram scroll away. Over the past decade, the visual platform has democratized the symbiotic relationship between makeup and self-expression. And while the heavily contoured, cut-creased Kim Kardashian West aesthetic YouTube helped birth is still very much alive, there are those subverting this look beyond the ordinary imagination. Two standout examples are California-born-and-bred model Teisha Williams and London-based stylist Olivia Kaiafa. While their self-taught makeup aesthetics are decidedly different, the 24-year-olds both possess a flair for colorful pigments, and an off-kilter approach to applying them, that’s strikingly similar.

No two Rainbow Brite eye looks are the same for doe-eyed Williams, who injects her accessories-heavy e-shop, BabyDollFinds, with the same kitschy attitude. Growing up in the Bay Area, she spent her childhood raiding her grandma’s makeup collection. “I just loved the fun of dolling myself up,” she explains. Keen on the eye area most of all, she spent her teenage years in front of the mirror perfecting her felt-tip pen prowess. “Winged eyeliner used to stress me the hell out,” she says, laughing. “It would take me over an hour to get one solid line across my lid. But now I can do it in my sleep. It’s like muscle memory.” In fact, to create one of her signature graphic-gazed looks, like color-blocked cerulean lids or laser-cut negative space liner, it only takes her 30 minutes (“20 minutes without falsies!” she adds, blaming her fake lashes for the delay). Her weapon of choice? Nyx’s Vinyl Liquid Liner. “I like how [smooth] it applies and it’s easy to clean up,” she explains. And for Williams, styling her natural hair is another important part of the equation. “Like the rest of my look, my hair is forever evolving,” she says of her voluminous onyx lengths, which can be a cloud of spirals, woven into thick twists, or piled on top of her head in a loose bun, on any given day. “I thrive on documenting each transformation.”

With her fierce mug and atomic orange, hair is equally important to natural-born iconoclast Kaiafa. In fact, her metamorphic mane was the catalyst for her newly minted love affair with makeup. When she moved to London from her native Greece at 19, she began dyeing her hair a different color every two months. “I had to take a break from damaging my hair and that’s when I started getting more into makeup,” she explains of stages spent in lavender and chartreuse. “I was watching makeup tutorials on YouTube, as well as videos that popped up on my Instagram feed, then started experimenting. I became addicted.” While Kaiafa still gets playful with her hair, putting it into ’90s nostalgia-inducing Bantu knots and pigtails adorned with round bobble ornaments, it’s her chameleonic makeup that catapults her look to the next level. Whether she’s saturating her eyes, lips, and cheeks in the same bubblegum pink pigment to monochromatic effect (Lime Crime’s eyeshadows are her favorite) or accenting extreme cat-eyes with vivid face gems, her look is always unapologetically conceptual. And given that she assists FKA twigs’s stylist Matthew Joseph, her fashion background plays a key part in her process. “Sometimes I just sit in front of my mirror staring at my face and just think of what makeup will match my outfit,” she says.

My favorite makeup products for a night out

I always enjoy dressing up and putting makeup on to go out with friends on the weekends, but I hate coming home and realizing my makeup doesn’t look fresh anymore. Bars and parties can get hot, and you might get a little sweaty. But, with a few products I swear by, you can come home with your makeup still looking the way it did when you left the house.

I like to do fun things with my makeup when I’m headed out with friends, like using false lashes and putting on extra highlighter. For my night-out makeup routine, there are a few products I consistently use that keep my makeup looking fresh all night.

I depend on a good primer for both eyes and face. My favorite eye primer is Urban Decay’s Original Eyeshadow Primer Potion because it keeps my eyeshadow on all day and looking like I just put it on. Without this, eyeshadow will crease and start to look gross. This primer retails for $22 at Ulta and is well worth the price.

My favorite face primer is Maybelline’s FaceStudio Master Prime Blur + Redness Control Primer, which retails for $9.99 at Ulta. This keeps my foundation in place all night. I like other primers in this collection by Maybelline, but I choose to use the redness control based on my skin color.

False lashes are a fun way to step up your makeup for a night out. I don’t wear them regularly, as they can be a bit tricky to apply, but I love using them when I’m going to an event. I always use Ardell’s Cluster Wispies #602 because they look natural but still help you get that glamorous look. They retail for $3.99 at Ulta.

If false lashes aren’t for you, a great mascara can give your lashes extra volume. I like mascara for all occasions, and I wear it every day. If you don’t like wearing makeup, adding just mascara is a simple way to make your eyes pop. I recommend Stila’s Huge Extreme Lash Mascara because it adds length and tons of volume. This mascara can be found at Ulta for $23.

I like to set my foundation with either loose or pressed powder to keep my face from getting too shiny. When going out, it is a good idea to have a compact pressed powder with you to be able to touch up, especially if you get oily. Maybelline’s Fit Me Matte + Poreless Powder is a great pressed powder that comes with a sponge to apply on the go. It comes in 12 different shades and costs $7.99 at Ulta.

Be wary of using too much powder when you go out, though, because it can make your face look powdery and too pale in pictures with flash. Use just enough to set your foundation and to avoid cakey, unnatural looking skin.

Six Makeup Bag Essentials Every Girl Should Have

With prom, graduation, internship interviews, and family weddings, there seems to always be an event you have to get ready for. Be prepared for anything with these must-have tools and products.

1. The perfect foundation shade. Even if you don't wear makeup every day, it's good to have foundation on hand for those times you want to look ~flawless~. Brands such as CoverGirl, L'Oréal, and Clinique have a wide-range of shades for both fair and dark skinned girls, as well as everyone in between. If foundation feels too heavy for you, a tinted moisturizer, and BB and CC creams are lighter options that are great for every day. Get tips for finding the perfect foundation for you here.

2. A multicolor bronzer. Choose a mosaic bronzer with multiple colors, and you'll be able to wear it year round. Dust on the lighter, more highlighting shades during the winter months when you're paler to give your cheeks a gorge, natural-looking glow, and swipe on the darker bronze shades for an easy summer tan without the sun damage.

3. Tweezers that really, really work. Ditch those blunt tweezers that make it impossible to pull out tiny hairs. Invest in a sharp pair of quality tweezers, and you'll have them forever. Tweezers are a life-saver when you need to clean up stray eyebrow hairs at the last minute, or when you find a hair on your body that really shouldn't be there. Tweezerman makes super-cute mini ones in bright, fun colors that you can get sharpened for free, so they'll last forever, making them worth the splurge.

4. Waterproof mascara. If you only have one mascara in your makeup bag, make it waterproof. That way, you'll be prepared for everything, from a pool party to a movie cry fest with your besties. Just be careful when you're removing it. Waterproof mascara can be tough to get off; use an oil-based makeup remover so you don't pull at your lashes. Clinique High Impact Waterproof Mascara and Maybelline Greatlash Waterpoof Mascara are makeup artist faves.

5. A set of makeup brushes. Don't just rely on the little brushes you get with your blush or eyeshadow. Having the right tools is key, whether you're trying to nail the perfect winged eyeliner, contour your cheeks, or just get a natural glow. For the most bang for your buck, start with this list of must-have brushes, which will allow you to experiment with makeup without spending a ton of money on a tool you'll only use once.

6. Nude eyeshadow palette. Having an eyeshadow kit with beiges, tans and browns in it will have you basically set for life. You can go from a natural, everyday look to a glam smokey eye. If you're really into eye makeup, invest in the Urban Decay Naked palette, but you can also find a great dupe at the drugstore.

How to achieve the effortless 'no makeup makeup' look

A good old, full glam makeup with full coverage base and dramatic eye look is favorable to most makeup lovers. However, although it is acceptable to do whatever your heart desires when it comes to makeup, not all of us have an excuse to go out with such a look every day. In everyday life, we still want some makeup, but one that is a little toned down, less eye-catching and more natural, which is famously known these days as the "no makeup makeup" look.The "no makeup makeup" look initially means to not look like you are wearing any makeup, while actually wearing quite a bit. The main purpose of any makeup is, as a matter of fact, to recreate your natural beauty in a more "perfected" way.

For example, when you go out, the sun naturally shines on the high points of your face. Thus, with makeup, you recreate that process by applying highlighter on your cheeks, brow bones, cupid's bow, and other parts you wish to highlight on your face. Similarly, your cheeks have a natural color to them, which, should also be recreated after applying foundation to bring back that natural beauty. However, today, makeup is an art and goes way beyond its initial purpose and creates some masterpieces with loads of glamour. The "no makeup makeup" look is the look that is closest to the initial purpose of makeup, perfecting your natural beauty.

The main component of the "no makeup makeup" look is to avoid any heavy face makeup. Although personal preferences take place when it comes to covering your skin, to be as close to natural as possible, skipping the foundation step and replacing it with a CC or BB cream, which offer light coverage, is quite helpful. If you have any acne, dark spots, discoloration or any scars that you desire to cover, using a lightweight concealer instead of foundation would not only preserve your naturalness, but it will also let your skin breath more.

Another key point to looking natural while wearing makeup is to use cream products instead of powders. Although powders are very helpful in both setting and smoothing the skin, they can easily make your face look cakey.

When it comes to the eyes, less is more for natural makeup. The crucial element here is a mascara that gives you volume and length but not a lot of drama. Avoiding eyeshadow and tight-lining your eyes with a pencil close to your eye color not only avoids any over-the-top appearance, but also further emphasizes your natural beauty, as your eye color would appear brighter with the tight-line trick. For instance, if you have green eyes, lining your eyes with a green eyeliner would make your eyes look greener than they are.

Last but certainly not least, the lips should be accentuated with a soft touch. As it is probably one of the most attention-grabbing part of your makeup process, it is quite easy to do too much on the lips and instantly turn your look from daytime to nighttime glam. To avoid this situation, it is better to be safe than sorry, meaning that one should lean toward colors that are closer to your natural lip color, which is usually a nude color. However, choosing the perfect nude may be one of the trickiest processes for a makeup lover and novice. Thus, trying a wide range of nude colors, including ones with peachy undertones and pinky undertones, would be very beneficial for an everyday "no makeup makeup" look. Besides, rather than going with a matte look, choosing a semi-matte, satin or even a shiny lipstick helps achieve a more natural look just like with face makeup.

The Oversized Jean Jacket Should Be Your Only Jean Jacket

Many would call the denim jacket a wardrobe staple, and with good reason: It goes with everything, from corduroy to florals and all of the textures and patterns in between, and adapts to a wide range of personal styles (hence why it's been a mainstay for decade). You probably even have a few in your closet as we speak. But let's get one thing straight: There's kind-of nothing worse than one that's too tight to wear.

If you've ever ever struggled to get into a jean jacket that's a little too small, you know how difficult it can be to lift your arms or put your hands in the pockets. It's uncomfortable, and a situation that can be easily avoid by making one simple switch: opting for an oversized cut, rather than your standard one.

Now, we're not saying you have to go full-on Saved by the Bell and bring back the acid wash too, but there are plenty of modern takes on the extra-large silhouette that are just as versatile (and stylish). Click on, and feel free to check this closet must-have off your 'need-to-buy' list once and for all.

We Tried 100% Natural Makeup To See How It Measured Up

Makeup is truly amazing, I think we can all agree on that.

But some makeup can be filled with chemicals and preservatives, and comes in packaging that is not great for the environment. More and more brands and products these days are focusing on being cruelty-free, sustainably-sourced, and eco-friendly. And that's GREAT.

So when we had the chance to try lipsticks, mascara, and eyeliner made out of actual FOOD, we jumped at the chance.

These lipsticks, from Luk Beautifood, are 100% natural with no toxins, and are kind of like a cross between a gloss and a balm.

Plus, they're packaged inside a cloth which can be reused as a screen or glasses wipe. Love a bit of upcycling! They come in 12 different colours, but a lot of them are pretty similar.

Most of them range somwhere between nude and deep red, so we tried out a few different shades.

Jemima: I tried the Cranberry Citrus which looks like a really deep red, but went on lighter than I expected. It's definitely more of a balm or a stain than a lipstick, but I like it for the days when I don't want a heavy lip look. Also I feel like it's much better for my lips than the usual lipsticks I use which tend to dry them out. And as a bonus, it tastes and smells amazing. I just wish it would last for a bit longer on my lips, I have to reapply every hour or two to keep the colour strong.

Sohan: I was skeptical about lipstick made out of food tbh. I mean, how good can it really be? I’m a matte liquid lipstick gal at heart so this product was quite different to what I am used to. I tried the Vanilla Chocolate, and it felt a LOT like lip balm, specifically paw paw ointment – except it had colour! And it’s better for you! The shade I chose looked really dark at first – I thought for sure it would apply as a deep brown. In reality, it was so sheer that it looked semi-transparent, which means my natural lip colour was still a tad visible. As you can see, it applies as more of a brown-nude, and actually feels sooooo soft and nourishing.

Michelle: So I don’t normally wear lipstick – I much prefer gloss but hate the stickiness that comes with most of them. Because I have freckles on my lips, and don’t really like covering them up, I picked Chai Shimmer, one of the lightest shades. The lipstick smelled really nice, kind of like cinnamon, and was super smooth and moisturising. My date was late and an hour after I initially put the lipstick on, it was still on my lips feeling moisturising af. Plus it has little specks of glitter that stay on your lips and it’s honestly my favourite thing when lip products do that!

Tahlia: I chose the plum-coloured lipstick as I’m a fan of a darker shade. The colour, however, wasn’t as dark as I would’ve liked, and was more red than a deeper purple or plum shade. I applied the lipstick at about 8am, and it had faded after a few hours – by the time I had finished my coffee, at about 10.30, the vibrant color was gone, but a slight hue remained on my lips. I think if you’re after a subtle lipstick that makes your lips feel soft and hydrated this is a great choice... but if you’re after something more vibrant or with more depth and long-lasting ability it might not be the choice for you.

Next up, we tried out mascara made from black tea and berry pigments.

Jemima: Yes, this is a terrible selfie but I wanted to show what it looked like before and after. I was expecting this mascara to be about as good as a $2 one you get from the discount store, in terms of aesthetics. But it actually went on really smoothly, and managed to do a pretty good job of lengthening my lashes and making my eyes look really open. It also lasted the whole day, without any fallout like you can get with lower-quality mascaras.

Tahlia: The first thing I noticed was the fruity smell of the mascara. When applying it, it took two coats for my eyelashes to look noticeably different, but it was a smooth application and not clumpy at all. I can be prone to adding one too many coats of mascara at times, but this product gave my lashes an overall softer look while still adding length. It also didn't make my lashes look spidery or clumpy. I didn’t take my makeup off until 9pm that night, and my lashes still looked good. Even better, it wiped off fairly easily (a lot better than my usual Maybelline choice) without having to rub my eyes too hard with cleansing wipes.

Then we tested an eyeliner which is 100% vegan and natural.

Sohan: I usually opt for liquid or gel eyeliner, just because it's easier to apply, but I was so surprised at how creamy and opaque this one was! The creamy factor made it so smooth to apply on the top of the lash line. I reckon the trick is to apply lightly, without too much pressure. It's such a rich colour that you don't need to press down hard. The staying power isn't amazing (it does wipe off easily) but honestly you shouldn't be rubbing your eyes when you have makeup on anyway.

Michelle: Normally, my favourite type of eyeliner is pen – I find gel can be too fiddly and pencils are normally too rough and tend to tug on your skin. But this pencil eyeliner was actually surprisingly soft and smooth. It was a little difficult to get the wing point as sharp as my normal pen does, but it was nice for a more subtle look. I used an angle brush to soften it and it gave a nice soft line that was still crisp. However, by the end of the night there was quite a lot of smudging going on so I wouldn’t recommend it for any ~situations~ where you sweat a lot. Lol.

So, what's our verdict?

Every product we tried definitely exceeded our expectations. They were all surprisingly high-quality given their totally organic ingredients, and had pretty good staying power. The downside – they're a little more expensive than the usual cosmetics we buy. But we'd recommend them if you want something less synthetic or if you have sensitive skin. You can get all the products we used here.

A guide to buying makeup online

Those of us who have chanced purchasing a foundation from the Avon catalogue only to discover, when it arrives, that it makes us look like a jaundiced Oompa Loompa, will know the perils of buying makeup without trying it out first.

While 60% of shoppers regularly head to the internet to buy books, music, movies and video games, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers 2017 Total Retail Survey, a relatively modest 37% now purchase health products and cosmetics online rather than in-store. Now, with the online fashion powerhouse Asos announcing the launch later this month of its first colour makeup range, featuring an array of alluring products and shades for less than £10, that picture looks set to change.

But when it comes to cosmetics, how can we safely make the move from the counter to the keyboard?

Shop around

"The rise of respected beauty sites such as Beauty Bay means people aren't just shopping for products but for ideas," says Gina Kane, makeup artist to celebrities including Victoria Beckham and Sienna Miller. "If you go to a branded counter in a department store, you are never going to get the same range of unbiased information." But how to discover something new without getting stuck with a product that doesn't suit you? "There are sites where you can fill in information about yourself and what you usually buy, and over time they will send you testers for products they think you might like," she explains.

Try before you buy

When it comes to foundation – and to a lesser degree, lipstick – Kane advises sampling the product first. "It is so personal, depending on the oil content and pH balance of your skin," she says. "I could give the same product to 10 people with ostensibly the same skin-type, and within half an hour it will look different on everybody. For that reason, the testers you can buy on eBay are a really good idea."

Colour match

"Getting the colour right is so important, and it is very difficult to see the true colour of a product on a computer screen, as it will never be exactly the same," says Kane. "Sites such as Match My Makeup will match up your current shade of foundation to another brand, and will also give comparisons on quality of products and share dupes."

Read the small print

Burberry makeup artist Jessica Clark recommends checking a brand's customer service tools: "Some retailers [such as Feel Unique] will send sample products if you cover the cost of postage. Otherwise check the returns policy first; many will take the item back or exchange it for a better shade."

And keep reading

A number of companies, Clark adds, use professional makeup artists to answer questions from customers. "If you upload a picture and describe the finish you want, they'll give you their expert opinion." Some online retailers, including Maybelline, Smashbox and Sephora, use technology that allows you to "try on" new shades, virtually. "But personally I think these are still unsophisticated and more a bit of fun than anything useful," she says.