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100 Artistic Makeup Innovations

From Theatrical Goth Runways to Paint-Splattered Model Portraits

— March 31, 2015 — Fashion
These artistic makeup innovations range from theatrical goth runways that feature masked models along with paint-splattered beauty editorials that reject a traditional and everyday look.

Standouts from this list include examples that highlights extended or faux lashes along with neon eyeshadow hues that captivate the eye. While the past few seasons saw a decline in artistic makeup looks, the fashion industry is celebrating the return of theatrical and conceptual cosmetics.

These cosmetics oppose subtlety and are a true artistic translation of beauty artists and the amount of skill that is associated with their craft. In addition to an abundance of fashionable examples, these artistic makeup looks also include cosplay art creations that draw inspiration from popular culture.

This artistic industry shift is not only being embraced by luxury brands but has also caught the attention of affordable retailers who are offering a more experimental and vibrant product range.
6.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
93
Child-Administered Makeup
Child-Administered Makeup
The #DaughterDoesMyMakeupSeries Has Some Fun
<
92
Collage-Inspired Cosmetic Captures
Collage-Inspired Cosmetic Captures
Glassbook Magazine's Lucid Dreams Editorial is Artfully Vivid
<
91
Silent Film Star Editorials
Silent Film Star Editorials
ODDA Magazine's Decades Issue is an Homage to Charlie Chaplin Style
<
90
Metallic Foiled Makeup
Metallic Foiled Makeup
The Rick Owens Gold Faces Glistened Down the Mayan-Inspired Runway
<
89
Dramatic Evening Cosmetic Captures
Dramatic Evening Cosmetic Captures
The ‘Nights Out’ Series for Purple Fashion is Cosme
<
88
Stenciled Cosmetic Captures
Stenciled Cosmetic Captures
The Untitled Magda Zych Beauty Story is Artfully Ornate
<
87
Masked Tribalism Runways
Masked Tribalism Runways
HIBU's Latest Collection Embraces a Nomadic Style Inspiration
<
86
Futuristic Eyeshadow Editorials
Futuristic Eyeshadow Editorials
Photographer Jamie Nelson Captures the Bold Makeup Looks for Nylon
<
85
Electric Eyeshadow Runways
Electric Eyeshadow Runways
The Beauty at Jeremy Scott AW15 was Elaborate, Playful and Colorful
<
84
Metallic Star Makeup
Metallic Star Makeup
The Star Freckles at A Détacher are Spring's Favorite Accessory
<
83
Conceptual Body Paint Pictorials
Conceptual Body Paint Pictorials
Clash Magazine's Bold Fashion Story Features Vibrant Cosmetics
<
82
Cosmetic Corpse DIY Looks
Cosmetic Corpse DIY Looks
The 'Gothic Vampire Makeup Tutorial' Instructs Viewers on Dark Beauty
<
81
Conceptual Mermaid Portrayals
Conceptual Mermaid Portrayals
Oyster Fashion's 'LUNAR-SEA' Editorial is Inspired by Aquatic Life
<
80
Bath Toy Cosmetic Accessories
Bath Toy Cosmetic Accessories
The Bubble Bath Eyelash Jewelry is a Whimsy Way to Play Up Your Look
<
79
Rhinestone Couture Makeup
Rhinestone Couture Makeup
The Rodarte Glitter Eyeliner Has Completely Changed the Makeup Game
<
78
Avant-Garde Cosmetic Captures
Avant-Garde Cosmetic Captures
This Fat Magazine 2014 Editorial Features Model Lindsey Wixson
<
77
Drenched Cosmetic Captures
Drenched Cosmetic Captures
Vogue Japan Beauty's Wet and Wild Editorial Stars Daga Ziobar
<
76
Grey-Haired Glamour Editorials
Grey-Haired Glamour Editorials
The Royal Colours Editorial for Bon Bon Magazine is Eccentric
<
75
Vibrant Feather Eyelash Looks
Vibrant Feather Eyelash Looks
Paloma Passos Gets Magical Eyelash Extensions
<
74
Glittering Glamour Portraits
Glittering Glamour Portraits
Glassbook Magazine's Supernova Editorial Captures Shimmering Views
<
73
Vivid Color Spectrum Editorials
Vivid Color Spectrum Editorials
David Arnal's Colors Series Highlights Avant Garde Beauty Looks
<
72
Couture Clown Editorials
Couture Clown Editorials
The Dazed Magazine Winter Pierre Debusschere Photoshoot is Animated
<
71
Crystallized Cosmetic Covers
Crystallized Cosmetic Covers
The In Vitro FAINT Magazine Cover Images Defy Convention
<
70
Inked Cosmetic Editorials
Inked Cosmetic Editorials
This Fredrik Wannerstedt Photo Series Features Oliver Kumbi
<
69
Polished Pink Beauty Captures
Polished Pink Beauty Captures
This Sephora China Beauty Series Focuses on Pink Makeup
<
68
Effervescent Eyeshadow Editorials
Effervescent Eyeshadow Editorials
Glassbook Magazine's Colour Compulsive Series is Artful
<
67
Eccentric Cosmetic Editorials
Eccentric Cosmetic Editorials
The Vogue Japan Marcus Ohlsson Photoshoot Displays Offbeat Beauty
<
66
Gender-Bending Cosmetic Captures
Gender-Bending Cosmetic Captures
The Vivo Antonio TUSH Editorial is Androgynous
<
65
Painterly Beauty Photography
Painterly Beauty Photography
Isamaya Ffrench Illustrates Eye-Catching Makeup Artistry
<
64
Conceptual Coral Accessories
Conceptual Coral Accessories
The Overtoned Design Scene Exclusive is Color-Insfused
<
63
Somber Holiday-Themed Editorials
Somber Holiday-Themed Editorials
Vogue Japan's Colorful Story Pays Homage to Day of the Dead
<
62
Quirky Corporate Photography
Quirky Corporate Photography
The Men at Work Visual Tales Editorial Features Tribal Face Paint
<
61
Glowing Sporty Chic Catalogs
Glowing Sporty Chic Catalogs
The Huajia Studio AW14 Lookbook Showcases the Designs of Jia Hua
<
60
Vanguard Masked Portraiture
Vanguard Masked Portraiture
The Hunger TV Out of Darkness Editorial is Conceptually Bold
<
59
Terrifying Makeup Transformations
Terrifying Makeup Transformations
Redditor Manatee94 Creates Gory and Gruesome Face Paintings
<
58
Neon Geisha Captures
Neon Geisha Captures
The High and Dry Beauty Story Embraces Vivid Pops of Color
<
57
Eccentric MOD Editorials
Eccentric MOD Editorials
Photographer Anderson Smith's Glassbook Magazine Sotry is 60s-Inspired
<
56
Electric-Hued Cosmetic Captures
Electric-Hued Cosmetic Captures
Glassbook Magazine's Color Punch Story Boasts Vibrant Beauty Looks
<
55
Gothic Dream Girl Editorials
Gothic Dream Girl Editorials
The W Magazine May 2014 Issue Re-Interprets the Classic Dream Girl
<
54
Literally Glistening Glamor Editorials
Literally Glistening Glamor Editorials
The Elle Denmark May 2014 Photoshoot Features Bold Make Up
<
53
Textured Beauty Portraits
Textured Beauty Portraits
Glassbook Magazine's 'Faces of Texture' Story Boasts Artistic Makeup
<
52
Circus-Themed Cosmetic Captures
Circus-Themed Cosmetic Captures
Glassbook's Under Wraps Beauty Story is Visually Vivid
<
51
Neon Eyeshadow Editorials
Neon Eyeshadow Editorials
Volt Magazine's Primavera Beauty Story Boasts Colorful Cosmetics
<
50
Cosmetic Gemstone Editorials
Cosmetic Gemstone Editorials
The Marie Claire Russia Winter Nelson Photoshoot Highlights Sparkles
<
49
Embellished Cosmetic Captures
Embellished Cosmetic Captures
The Stuck On You Beauty Story by Lee Broomfield is Theatrical
<
48
Punk Clown Photography
Punk Clown Photography
Glassbook Magazine's Green Envy Editorial Features Vivid Cosmetics
<
47
Technicolored Cosmetic Captures
Technicolored Cosmetic Captures
The Akwarele Beauty Story Highlights Kaleidoscopic Makeup Looks
<
46
Clown Cosmetic Photoshoots
Clown Cosmetic Photoshoots
The Mix Master Vogue UK Editorial Features Exteme Beauty Looks
<
45
18th Century Punk Photography
18th Century Punk Photography
The Rococo Marie Claire China Series Pays Homage to Marie Antoinette
<
44
2D Painted Face Editorials
2D Painted Face Editorials
The Dazed & Confused ‘A Scanner Darkly’ Pays Tribute to Ren
<
43
Crass Cosmetic Portraits
Crass Cosmetic Portraits
Diego Beyro Takes Face Makeup Looks to the Extreme with ‘Make Up'
<
42
Freckle Faced Beauty Editorials
Freckle Faced Beauty Editorials
Freckletastic is an Editorial that Finds Beauty in Imperfections
<
41
Multicolor Eyeshadow Editorials
Multicolor Eyeshadow Editorials
Snejana Onopka Stars in a Retro Themed Beauty Shoot for Allure
<
40
Electric 80s Cosmetic Captures
Electric 80s Cosmetic Captures
The Kaleidoscope Volt Magazine Image Series is Highlighter-Hued
<
39
Glossy Lollipop Editorials
Glossy Lollipop Editorials
Ymre Stiekema Poses with Candy Treats for Elle France's May 2014 Issue
<
38
Paint-Splattered Models
Paint-Splattered Models
The Full Color Vogue Paris Editorial Features Extreme Cosmetics
<
37
Eerie Two-Faced Makeup
Eerie Two-Faced Makeup
The Jacquemus AW15 Collection Reflects on Society's Double Standard
<
36
Avant Garde Beauty Editorials
Avant Garde Beauty Editorials
Hunger Magazine's Synaesthesia Story Boasts Conceptual Cosmetics
<
35
Vivid Eyeshadow Editorials
Vivid Eyeshadow Editorials
The After Dark Beauty Story by Ruo Bing Li is Holiday-Ready
<
34
Electric 80s Editorials
Electric 80s Editorials
The Sigrid Agren Fire and Desire Cover Story is Retro-Infused
<
33
Artistic Makeup Photography
Artistic Makeup Photography
Sunday Times Style‘s Painted Lady Editorial Features Vibrant Cosmetics
<
32
Artistic Cosmetic Captures
Artistic Cosmetic Captures
'Piece of Art' by Yulia Gorbachenko Stars a Painted Samantha Xu
<
31
Painterly Beauty Photography
Painterly Beauty Photography
Glassbook Magazine's Watercolour Exclusive is Colorfully Captivating
<
30
Geometric Cosmetic Editorials
Geometric Cosmetic Editorials
The Vogue Russia A Little Faith Photoshoot is Mathematically-Minded
<
29
Artful Androgyny Portraits
Artful Androgyny Portraits
The Przemek Dunayev by Tomek Debski Image Series is Conceptual
<
28
Couture Clown Editorials
Couture Clown Editorials
F****** Young! Online's Lucha Libre Story Embraces Sculptural Fashion
<
27
Embellished Nail Art Editorials
Embellished Nail Art Editorials
The Pick of the Glitter Image Series Embraces Hands-On Opulence
<
26
Gothic Male Makeup
Gothic Male Makeup
The Givenchy Mens FW15 Runway Features Scale-Like Artistic Vision
<
25
Effervescent Sci-Fi Editorials
Effervescent Sci-Fi Editorials
Trixi Johnsson is Captured by Pelle Lannefors for Schön
<
24
Face Painted Beauty Closeups
Face Painted Beauty Closeups
This i-D Magazine Shoot Highlights the Season's Hottest Cosmetic Hues
<
23
Artistic Makeup Masks
Artistic Makeup Masks
Painted by Julia Sieckmann is Colorfully Abstract
<
22
Conceptual African Queen Portraits
Conceptual African Queen Portraits
David Arnal's Ebony by Identity Editorial is Eccentrically Chic
<
21
Artful Cosmetic Closeups
Artful Cosmetic Closeups
The Painted Exclusive for The Ones 2 Watch Celebrates Bold Makeup Looks
<
20
Over-Indulgent Beauty Captures
Over-Indulgent Beauty Captures
The Alguien Nos Mira Harper's Bazaar Spain Editorial is Daring
<
19
Mismatched Makeup Editorials
Mismatched Makeup Editorials
The On The Bright Side 2013 Photoshoot Displays Odd Cosmetics
<
18
Magnetic Makeup Editorials
Magnetic Makeup Editorials
Lindsey Wixson Stars in Vogue Japan's November Issue
<
17
Neon Cosmetic Captures
Neon Cosmetic Captures
Photographer Sarah Leal is Behind This Glowing Beauty Series
<
16
Illuminated Neon Beauty Portraits
Illuminated Neon Beauty Portraits
The Black Magic Editorial Glows in the Dark with Electric Hues
<
15
Neon-Colored Eyeshadow Editorials
Neon-Colored Eyeshadow Editorials
The Cosmogirl Netherlands Beauty Editorial Focuses on Vibrancy
<
14
Circus-Themed Cosmetic Captures
Circus-Themed Cosmetic Captures
The Chromatic Revolution Image Series by Puranjoy is Dynamic
<
13
Plastic Mask Runways
Plastic Mask Runways
The AW15 Undercover Plastic Surgery Runway Screams Youthful Beauty
<
12
Op-Art Beauty Editorials
Op-Art Beauty Editorials
Zodiac Magazine‘s Abstract Geometry Story Features Costume Makeup
<
11
Exclusive Cosmetic Editorials
Exclusive Cosmetic Editorials
The French Revue De Modes Double Face Photoshoot Features Make Up
<
10
Split Personality Cosmetic Looks
Split Personality Cosmetic Looks
'Variance' Presents a Variety of Makeup Looks on One Woman
<
9
Cosmetic Celeb Cosplay
Cosmetic Celeb Cosplay
Artist Hikaru Cho Turns Regular Guys into Hollywood Stars Using Makeup
<
8
Avian Makeup
Avian Makeup
Aaron McPolin 'Birdy' & 'Colour' Series Showcases Artistic Beauty Shots
<
7
Artistic Makeup Editorials
Artistic Makeup Editorials
Institute Magazine's State of Grace Story is Conceptually Themed
<
6
Conceptual Cosmetic Captures
Conceptual Cosmetic Captures
The Wonders of the World by NARS Editorial Graces VOLUME Magazine
<
5
Avant-Garde Sci-Fi Cosmetics
Avant-Garde Sci-Fi Cosmetics
10 Magazine's Junya Watanabe Story Highlights Conceptual Looks
<
4
Seductive Makeup Editorials
Seductive Makeup Editorials
Beauty Scene's Luscious Exclusive Highlights Vibrant Lipstick Hues
<
3
Clown-Inspired Cosmetic Captures
Clown-Inspired Cosmetic Captures
The Bullet Magazine Disco Bloodbath Beauty Story Shows Opulence
<
2
Halloween Lip Art
Halloween Lip Art
Eva Senin Pernas Creates Gorgeously Creepy Cosmetic Looks
<
1
Glamorous Cosmetic Close-Ups
Glamorous Cosmetic Close-Ups
This Vibrant Beauty Photography Series Consists of Extreme Close-Ups
<