Euphoria makeup artist Kirsten Coleman is challenging the way we look at beauty

You’ve been working the no-makeup look for weeks, but now it’s time to switch it up a bit. Enter LA-based makeup maestro Kirsten Coleman, who shot to global fame last year thanks to the technicolour dream looks she helped create on HBO’s Euphoria, starring the unwaveringly cool Zendaya. Embellished eyebrows, shimmering aquamarine lids, kaleidoscopic pops of neon colour and ombré lips: combining futuristic fantasy with 1990s nostalgia, it’s a look that has come to define a generation who use makeup as a means of self-expression, and has been emulated everywhere from the catwalks to the streets.

We spoke to Coleman about the power of makeup as a vehicle for self-expression and how COVID-19 is making us question our relationship with beauty.

What do you hope to teach the world about beauty?

“Historically, makeup has been used for so many different reasons and has gone through such an interesting journey through cultures and eras. My intention is to challenge people to really reevaluate who they are and what their relationship to beauty is."

“The idea is to deprogramme the use of makeup for beauty and for the appeasement of others, and instead use it for self-expression; to use our faces and bodies as a canvas to reflect who we are on the inside—not how the world expects us to appear on the exterior—and to have freedom to explore colours, textures, placements and unorthodox application of decorations.”

The looks you had a hand in creating on Euphoria had an element of playfulness and fantasy to them. Why are those things so important right now? Why is makeup in general so important right now?

“I believe one of the many messages that came out of my work from [2018 film] Sorry to Bother You and the work created by department head Doniella Davy, myself and the rest of the team on Euphoria, was the idea of being able to wear a ‘runway’ or ‘editorial’ style of makeup in your everyday life. It is bridging this gap from the everyday standard beauty look to the colourful, reflective, glittery fun that is worn by the characters in these stories.

“Making these kinds of ‘wild’ looks more wearable, accessible and appropriate during times of work, running errands, or for simply sitting at home was a way to break the standard conventions of makeup. You shouldn’t [need] a reason to wear glitter on your brows or be on a runway to rock diamonds on your lips. Having the time right now, to really be inspired and explore these topics, is important. And having a creative outlet is so very vital.”

How can we use makeup as a way to connect with others?

“We are currently seeing these connections already forming on social media and on the internet. The internet has its negatives and positives, but during this time of quarantine, I am so thankful we have it to maintain connections with one another as well as form new ones. People [connecting] through a common interest, such as makeup, is creating these communities across the globe. Within these communities, you have people of different races, genders, shapes and ages, all creating a place of acceptance for one another through this form of expression.”

What’s been inspiring to you during lockdown?

“It has been an interesting time for me creatively because I have been so busy with work for nearly a year and a half now that I haven’t really had the time to sit and create without any limitations. Having the time to dive into who I am as an artist has been a gift that I am truly thankful for. Being able to see all the wonderfully talented makeup artists on social media pop off and go deep into their art has always been an inspiration for me. The younger generation displays no limit to how they use their faces and bodies as pure art canvases and it helped me break out of the conventions of makeup I was raised with.”

There’s been a rise in DIY beauty. Besides obviously not having access to professional makeup artists, why do you think this is?

“We all know that all great ideas and inventions come from a necessity. Since our lifestyles have shifted dramatically, we actually have time to spend on the things we couldn’t before. For example, we can research, test and produce our own [topical] skincare [with natural, safe ingredients]. So not only can it be a cool and fun project to do alone, but it is also [often] more sustainable and more than likely to contain pure and whole ingredients that [can be] beneficial for you and your body. It’s also a lesson in knowing you can have clean and beautiful skincare without completely puncturing a hole in your pocket since money is tight for most at this time.”

What are your favourite go-to DIY beauty tips?

“My first and foremost priority here is to eat healthily, sleep a lot and drink lots of water. If you have many lipsticks but are out of blush, you can apply them softly to the cheek with your finger to double as a cream blush. If you don’t have eyeliner but you have a liner brush, you can wet the brush and dip it into any powder pigment or eyeshadow and create a cool eyeliner effect. I have been seeing a lot of people rub a lash wand on to a dry soap bar and then brush into brows to keep them in place. This is a new technique I learned from all the amazing makeup innovators of social media, and it works.”

How has COVID-19 changed the landscape of beauty?

“It may be too early to tell what the outcome will be here, but what I do know is the ability to give yourself the time to explore things you normally wouldn’t have time for should be taken advantage of. I hope people take this time to reflect on who they are, where they have been and now, more than ever, where they want to go. And through makeup, I hope every one of you can tell your own very tailored, unique and individual story, as each one of us is so vital and connected to one another. I expect to see so many amazing, beautiful ideas and human connections through the art of makeup and beauty and I truly hope it can expand even past my wildest expectations.”

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