The Art of Ugly Makeup
Image Courtesy: Dazed Digital
In a society of flawless beauty standards, ugly makeup defies these ideals without begging for admiration. Instead, it’s bold, chaotic, and unhinged without seeking approval but demanding to be seen. This trend is here to unsettle us, push us out of our comfort zones, and force us to redefine what "beautiful" really means.
For centuries, beauty has been molded into idealized forms, reshaping with each cultural shift yet always tied to specific shapes, proportions, and expectations. The Renaissance obsession with symmetry set a standard that lingered for ages. Ancient Egyptians saw beauty as a symbol of power, with kohl-lined eyes gazing beyond time. Hollywood's golden age introduced a new element of sculpting features through light and angles to create an image of perfection. Beauty became an unattainable ideal. Ugly makeup defies these eras, not by ignoring beauty's history but by facing it directly. Every flaw and asymmetry unravels the grip of perfectionism, inciting a sense of rebellion against ideals ingrained in the cultural unconscious. This way, we find beauty in the messy, the chaotic, and the raw.
Image Courtesy: Alexis Loftis
Embracing imperfections speaks to a deep emotional longing for authenticity. Smudged lines and clashing colors aren't just visual statements but emotional outlets; they are small displays of opposition that provide room for independence. In a world awarding flawlessness, this raw expression feels radical and almost subversive. By embracing imperfection, we unlock an unfiltered confidence. Each stroke transforms beauty from a demanding standard to a reflection of individuality, a subtle reclamation of self-worth beyond society's gaze. This makeup style is more than a trend—the style is an intimate experience that mirrors the inner self, allowing beauty to move beyond appearance to become an unrestrained emotional expression.
Icons like Julia Fox and Doja Cat embody this rebellion. Fox's eyeliner—unapologetically bold, heavy, and unrestrained—confronts rather than conforms. Cat’s all-red, Swarovski-studded look at Paris Fashion Week radiated defiance, conveying that beauty is personal. Together, Fox and Cat’s looks push boundaries, encouraging viewers to see beauty as an authentic expression instead of a polished ideal. Their unfiltered styles challenge the manicured beauty industry by presenting makeup as an extension of personal identity—a kind of bold resistance. For some, the looks are unsettling; for others, the makeup looks are an invitation to experience beauty without judgment.
Image Courtesy: Jacopo Raule/Getty Images
Ugly makeup is about breaking down the rules that restrict beauty. It commands us to reject boundaries. The lipstick goes beyond the lines, eyeshadow blurs fearlessly, and brows are bleached or erased without restraint. Each hue clashes with purpose; each brushstroke claims authenticity. This makeup doesn’t fade quietly into the background. It refuses to be just decoration and reclaims the face as a canvas for self-expression, a space free from external control.
As viewers, makeup that defies traditional “pleasing” standards can be difficult to process. It confronts us with a challenge: Why do smeared lines or overdrawn lips make us uncomfortable? Why does imperfection feel unsettling? Perhaps because it reflects our ingrained beauty standards, challenging the ideals we’ve internalized without question. Ugly makeup isn’t concerned with approval; it’s an act of independence, moving beyond external validation to prompt a questioning of our standards: What ideals have we blindly accepted?
This movement taps into a broader cultural rebellion. It echoes the grunge era’s raw edges and punk’s deliberate chaos—a style rooted not in pleasing others but in defying norms. With ugly makeup, there’s a call for honesty over prettiness, an assertion of agency in a culture fixated on polish and perfection.
Image Courtesy: Dazed Digital
Maybe that’s the deeper meaning behind ugly makeup. It asks us to make beauty personal again, inviting it to be a quiet acknowledgment of self rather than a performance for others. When beauty becomes something felt rather than seen, it invites us to strip away everything carefully constructed, revealing something authentic and raw. In its defiance, ugly makeup calls us to redefine beauty from within. In a world determined to tell us who we should be, it becomes a radical act of self-love.
Strike Out,
Writer: Salette Cambra
Editor: Dani Hernandez
Tallahassee