The Gen Zers who are redefining beauty in Singapore with these extreme makeup looks

Sim Ann Lim (@fourann), 23, Full-time bridal makeup artist

Credit: Sim Ann Lim

1/12

How would you describe your makeup and how do you use it to showcase your identity? 

“Strong, fierce and unconventional. I guess I do look quite fierce and unapproachable but that’s just a front I put up to, in a way, protect myself when I’m out alone. In reality, I’m very shy and soft-spoken. It’s “unconventional” because these are not societal standards of pretty. But I feel the prettiest when my face is stacked with such makeup looks.”

When did you develop this experimental streak?

“I started off with basic makeup – concealer and brows. But I got progressively quite experimental with makeup shortly after. I first played around with makeup when I was 17 and I specifically remember Billie Eilish’s ‘When The Party’s Over’ music video (the singer had black tears flowing out of her eyes) inspired me to play with more s0-called unconventional looks.”

Being exposed to and surrounded by such creative content daily due to the accounts I follow and my line of work makes it easier to keep up the experimental streak since I’m constantly getting new ideas. Lastly and most importantly, playing with makeup makes me genuinely happy!”

Credit: Sim Ann Lim

2/12

Tell us about the most memorable makeup look you’ve done.

“This makeup look (above) marks a tiny milestone for me. I’ve always wanted to get special effects (FX) makeup products but always thought that they were too expensive. But after working as a full-time makeup artist for a while now, I could finally afford to get the products I wanted without causing a hole in my wallet. Small wins are wins too! This motivates me to work even harder in the future.”

Where did you learn your makeup skills from?

“For FX makeup, I’m self-taught. I am always watching Instagram Reels or TikToks and love accounts such as @meicrosoft and @aoifeartist. I look out for the different techniques everyone else is using and I try them out on myself.”

How long do you take on average to create one of your experimental looks? 

“I used to take two hours previously because I overthink all the small details but now I only take around 30 to 45 minutes. What changed is that I just trust the process and let my creativity flow. I no longer go in with a fixed idea in mind. I think that’s the beauty of having no expectations.

Do you wear these looks daily?

“Nope, but I wish I did though… I feel oddly pretty confident when I put on these makeup looks and sometimes I wish I look like this daily.”

Credit: Sim Ann Lim

3/12

How extensive is your makeup collection? 

“I don’t have a lot of products, to be honest. I make do with what I have but I’m trying to build a wider range of FX makeup products so that I can create more looks.”

What are your go-to makeup products, and why?

“Clio Superproof Pen Liner Kill Black for liquid liner; Makeup Forever Aqua Resist Color Eye Pencil for gel liner; M.A.C. Times Nine Eyeshadow Palette Semi Sweet eyeshadow; and Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer lip gloss. They are easy to play around with and most importantly, they add depth and textures which would bring the whole look up one notch.”

What’s one makeup tip you use that you can share with us?

“Blend blend blend!”

Gladys Ng (@ultravioleut), 23, Fashion student

Credit: Gladys Ng

4/12

How would you describe your makeup and how do you use it to showcase your identity? 

“Simple yet elevated at times. I use it to showcase how creative I want to be occasionally.”

When did you develop this experimental streak?

“I haven’t always been experimental with my makeup, it only started in 2017 or 2018 when I was starting to dress up more than usual.”

Credit: Gladys Ng

5/12

Tell us about the most memorable makeup look you’ve done.

“One of the most memorable makeup looks I have done is the one with an orange-to-blue gradient and a metallic silver graphic liner with stars all over it (above). I was feeling bored in my room one night and decided to play with makeup for fun. I believe that was one of the first few times that I had actually experimented with makeup without any photo inspiration or mood board.”

Where did you learn your makeup skills from?

“I started learning how to do my own makeup at 12 mostly through YouTube.

How long do you take on average to create one of your experimental looks? 

“If it’s more detailed and intricate, it can take up to three hours.”

Do you wear these looks daily?

“Not really. I used to mostly do them for Instagram photos but now the most I would do now is a bold graphic liner before heading out.”

Credit: Gladys Ng

6/12

How extensive is your makeup collection? 

“I would say I have quite a lot of makeup because I keep buying products I don’t really need.”

What are your go-to makeup products, and why?

“I have been loving the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder which keeps my skin looking super matte and poreless. The Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray is a must-have as well to keep your makeup lasting all day. Finally, the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer has been my go-to concealer for covering blemishes.”

What’s one makeup tip you use that you can share with us?

“Never be afraid to experiment with makeup at home when you’re bored – practice makes perfect!”

Dineaish Rajendran (@dineash), 19 Full-time national serviceman

Credit: Dineaish Rajendran

7/12

How would you describe your makeup and how do you use it to showcase your identity? 

“Bold, fearless and creative. I say this as I do not try to fit into a particular box or society’s standard but instead, I operate according to my feelings for the particular day or the look I’m trying to achieve. I use makeup to showcase my identity and style as makeup is an extension of myself. It is a creative medium to convey my identity. My makeup is also definitely a statement in response to the ‘boys cannot wear makeup’ mentality. It shows my stand on how makeup is for anyone and everyone and you can do whatever you want as long as you are happy.”

When did you develop this experimental streak?

“I started out with stage makeup as I am a performer. But after realising what more I could do with makeup and how it can be used as a creative medium, I started exploring more. I’m not content with doing the same thing as everyone else and blending in, but am always looking for ways to push things to the next level and stand out as an individual. I started experimenting more around the ages of 15 to 17 when I started practising and perfecting beauty makeup and then dove into special effects (FX) makeup afterwards.”

Credit: Dineaish Rajendran

8/12

Tell us about the most memorable makeup look you’ve done.

“I’m a Libra so being indecisive is definitely very on-brand for me. I can’t choose a specific look but if I had to narrow it down, it would be the two Halloween looks – Monster High and Albino Spider (above) – that won me the champion title for a makeup competition for two consecutive years. I honestly went into the competition without any expectations as I had just started and was just using it as an opportunity to showcase my work. But after winning, I finally felt seen for my hard work and craft. That gave me the motivation to pursue my dreams and I definitely see it pay off.”

Where did you learn your makeup skills from?

“Honestly, I learned it from my sister who’s an ex-makeup artist. She gave me tips and tricks when I had just started out. Later, I learned from the Internet from beauty influencers on YouTube such as Bretman Rock, James Charles and Jeffree Star.”

How long do you take on average to create one of your experimental looks? 

“For my experimental looks, it can take anywhere between two and five hours. It really depends on how big and extreme the look is going to be. Even if it looks simple, it can be difficult to execute with many tedious details. “

Do you wear these looks daily?

“I do not wear these looks daily. For over-the-top looks, most of them are for social media content. I wear beauty makeup more often – not every day but more for events, parties, nights out and whenever I feel like it, especially if it is going to complete a look.”

Credit: Dineaish Rajendran

9/12

How extensive is your makeup collection? 

“Coming from a family with a background of financial difficulty, I never had the privilege of owning a lot of makeup from different high-end brands and such. Most of them were passed down from my sister. With foundations and concealers, I had to buy them cause of the skin tone differences. Not much has changed till now. I still have the things I need and some extras here and there.”

What are your go-to makeup products, and why?

“Right now, I would say blush and glitter. I didn’t like or use blush before. Now, I feel that is the step that just completes my look and gives me the doll look I live for. With glitter, it is more because of the trends. I love using pressed glitter eyeshadows as a highlighter as it gives me the wet yet seamlessly blended highlighted look as it sparkles with the light. I also like placing it all over the eye.”

What’s one makeup tip you use that you can share with us?

“Using pressed glitter eyeshadow as a highlighter. Since it’s more liquid than normal powder highlighters, it doesn’t leave a chalky cast or look unblended on the skin. This happens a lot with people with darker skin tones and that’s why I switched to this little tip.”

Melvin Tseng (@melvin_tseng), 23, Producer

Credit: Melvin Tseng

10/12

How would you describe your makeup and how do you use it to showcase your identity? 

“If there was one word I could use to describe my makeup it would be ‘dynamic’ as I believe my makeup looks can range from something really simple for the everyday to something way over the top (as you see on my socials from time to time). Being a mix of Chinese and Indian from India, most of my makeup looks are highly inspired by my culture. I always use my makeup to not just represent my culture, but also my personal beliefs and identity.”

When did you develop this experimental streak?

“When I started makeup, I only did makeup looks that I considered ‘pretty’ or ‘beautiful’. After doing a few looks, my boyfriend, who is my number one supporter but also my harshest critic, suggested that I branch out more and build a unique identity since he found my makeup “boring”. Honestly, looking back I kind of agree and ever since then I became a lot more experimental and the rest is history.

Credit: Melvin Tseng

11/12

Tell us about the most memorable makeup look you’ve done.

“My most memorable makeup look would be doing my mum’s makeup for the first time when I finally visited her after 3 years. (PS I only started makeup over two years ago, so she had never met this version of me in person yet)

Where did you learn your makeup skills from?

“Everything I know today is self-taught, so most of it was online and through trial and error.”

How long do you take on average to create one of your experimental looks? 

“My creative experimental makeup looks can range from a minimum of three hours to almost 12 to 14 hours. On average I take around four to five hours including the time I use to film in between.”

Do you wear these looks daily?

“I wish I have the energy to do these looks every day but it’s just not possible as it takes time to conceptualise, DIY all the props and apply the makeup. Most of my makeup looks come off 15 minutes after filming is done. And trust me, after spending four to five hours on a look, it definitely hurts to take it off so quickly!”

Credit: Melvin Tseng

12/12

How extensive is your makeup collection? 

“I am truly very privileged to receive many products from various brands. It has reached a point where I don’t have space for makeup anymore. Apart from giving makeup away to my family and friends, I also try my best to do regular giveaways on my socials to give back to my followers.”

What are your go-to makeup products, and why?

“I have a huge list of go-to products. My recent favourite has been the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush powders. They’re absolutely beautiful.”

What’s one makeup tip you use that you can share with us?

“I think we all need to unlearn how makeup is portrayed on social media. Always start with using less product – truly less is more!”

This article was originally published in Female.