As a content creator on social media with an interest in fashion, segueing into beauty seemed like the next natural step. Having followers who are receptive to your self-expression is half the battle won
When I started creating content online, I didn’t know anything about make-up. I was just making it up as I went along. I had this bronzer that I bought at one point, and just used it on my cheeks as blush because I hadn’t learnt where it would work for me. Then I started watching videos on YouTube to figure stuff out—watching people methodically doing their beauty routines made me feel grounded. I was already posting a lot of fashion-related content on Instagram by then, and I’d built a solid audience that was interested in the clothes I picked, the way I styled my jeans and the places I shopped at. I was always interested in fashion, but beauty felt like the next natural step.
I’m honestly pretty critical of myself, so it felt difficult to put myself on camera doing something I wasn’t perfect at doing, especially because I’d already built a niche for myself in my corner of the Internet. I started doing these mismatched make-up looks where I would apply one colour on one eye and a different colour on the other eye]. And since I've always struggled with getting a smokey eye right, I was scared to experiment. What would it look like if I couldn't even execute it? But in 2020, when the lockdown hit, I started trying new things, and my audience really loved it. They got it too—make-up was a way to blow off steam, to try something new and to feel creative when everything else felt scary. It helped me build a stronger connection with my followers because they were super receptive to the different looks I was creating. They would try it too—a green eyeliner or a dramatic contour—and then tag me in their posts, so I felt like it was something we were all doing together.
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"It helped me build a stronger connection with my followers because they were super receptive to the different looks I was creating."
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"While some people consider music or their favourite TV show as a therapeutic choice, it was make-up that was an escape for me."
Creating rituals
My routine felt almost meditative. I’d wake up and brainstorm—what do I want to look like today and how do I want it to make me feel? I’d then go through all my eyeshadows and eyeliners and decide what I wanted to use. It was something I looked forward to everyday. While some people consider music or their favourite TV show as a therapeutic choice, it was make-up that was an escape for me.
I think that euphoric feeling of having done something has continued. This morning, I did my full skincare routine, applied my make-up and listened to music, and it was the most peaceful hour of my day. Everyday I feel like I’m learning something new, and it’s such a gratifying feeling. I got my eyeliner to be symmetrical on both eyes, and felt like it started my day off on the right foot.
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"This morning, I did my full skincare routine, applied my make-up and listened to music, and it was the most peaceful hour of my day."
Changing the status quo
I used to struggle with acne, so back then, applying make-up was mostly about getting my concealing routine down pat. But now that my skin is healing, I’m able to get more creative. A bold eye, a bright lip—it feels more like artistry and experimenting rather than a routine I am forced to follow to reach a goal: creating clear-looking skin. Now I honestly feel like I want to take back the traditional thought process that make-up is meant to be done just to look pretty or perfect or put-together. Instead, I think it can serve as an outlet. I wanted to make some of these more dramatic looks accessible, and wear them out to dinner or to brunch or just while sitting at home.
It can feel so freeing to just throw on some mascara, pop a bright coloured shadow on and get to the rest of my day; it allows you to be your true self. I feel a lot of people—including my followers—would love to try more daring looks, but they judge it because it may feel like too much. I want to change that—you shouldn’t need a reason to rock pink eyeshadow or a dramatic lip.
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