Makeup is all about enhancing your favorite qualities and looking like the best version of you. For some people, that can involve full, feathery brows and bold lips. For others, it can mean going all out with sculpted cheekbones, out-to-there winged liner, and bleached brows. Some may be happiest wearing the same look every day, while others may prefer to regularly change things up. Makeup is as mutable as we are. And that’s exactly what makes it the perfect tool for expressing our ever-changing selves.
To show off all the amazing things makeup can do sans filter, we partnered with vegan and cruelty-free Kat Von D Beauty to transform five people into the best, most extra versions of themselves. Actor, makeup lover, dancer, free diver, longboarder —all the personalities were translated through bold lines, rich colors, and beautiful textures (especially when it came to the brows). We shaped and defined them, filled them in, and even changed the color of some. So whether you’re eager to bring out your own personality a little bit more with makeup, you want to refresh your brow products, or you’re just looking for some generally striking makeup inspo, we’ve got five looks to cover it all.
The Actor
It was an obvious choice to put Danielle, who's been acting since her freshman year of high school, in Hollywood glam — a contrast to her typical low-key look. To play up the drama, makeup artists Steffanie Strazzere and Kelseyanna Fitzpatrick enhanced the full, featheriness of her brows (which she finally let grow in) with a precision pencil, softly contoured her eyes, and applied a brick red shade to her lips to complement (not compete with) her brows.
Danielle is wearing Kat Von D Signature Brow Precision Pencil in Light Brown, Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette, and Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Outlaw.
The Makeup Lover
Bleached brows are a pretty major commitment — it's not like you can just switch back and forth between brunette and blonde every other day. Or can you? Using a few key products, Strazzere and Fitzpatrick were able to create the effect temporarily without actual bleach. (Phew.) For Kimberly, a former freelance makeup artist who experiments with new formulas and trends on a regular basis, the bleached look was a no-brainer.
Kimberly is wearing Kat Von D 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade in Bleach, Kat Von D Tattoo Eyeliner in Trooper, Kat Von D Everlasting Lip Liner in Bow and Arrow, and Kat Von D's Alchemist Holographic Palette.
The Dancer
Being seen on the stage is a must for Danielle, who specializes in dance styles like jazz, and who has performed in musicals such as In the Heights. One way to achieve that is with big brows, which, for her, are nonnegotiable. That's why Strazzere and Fitzpatrick gave her full, strong arches worthy of the spotlight.
Danielle is wearing Kat Von D Signature Brow Precision Pencil in Walnut, Kat Von D Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette, Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Nahz Fur Atoo, and Kat Von D Everlasting Glimmer Veil in Dazzle.
The Free Diver
Giwa is a free diver, which means she goes diving, sometimes in fairly deep water, without any breathing gear. We repeat: without any breathing gear. Although that may sound terrifying to most people, Giwa finds peace in the silence underwater, so Strazzere and Fitzpatrick captured that chill vibe in her makeup. Soft, natural brows frame Giwa's face (and wouldn’t budge were she to go for a swim, since they’re waterproof); clear, glossy lids hint at the sea; and deep blue lips make a major aquatic statement.
Giwa is wearing Kat Von D Brow Struck Dimension Powder in Dark Brown, 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade in Walnut, Kat Von D Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick in Poe, and Everlasting Glimmer Veil in Reverb.
The Longboarder
Want to get maximum cool points with little to no effort? Opt for bright arches. Jay commits to color with bold green brows, which is fitting for the former pro longboarder, who isn't afraid to take risks. (Proof: He only retired from pro skateboarding after multiple concussions and broken collarbones.)
Jay is wearing Kat Von D 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade in Lemmy Green and Walnut.
This post is sponsored by Kat Von D Beauty. Shop the entire brow line here.
Photography: Filippo Del Vita; Makeup: Steffanie Strazzere & Kelseyanna Fitzpatrick; Hair: Akihisa Yamaguchi; Styling: Annebet Duvall; Art Direction: Bry Crasch/Bustle; Branded Beauty Leads: Lexi Novak + Irma Elezovic/Bustle
