From the soot-rimmed eyes of the ancient Egyptians to the lead paint worn by the Elizabethans, people have long been experimenting with cosmetics. Sometimes, however, with disappointing results. And the subreddit ‘Bad MakeUp Artists’ is probably the best place to explore these failures.
Created in 2017, this online community currently has 568K members constantly sharing pictures of both everyday people and celebrities, appearing in front of others with far-too-obvious fake lashes, overly defined brows, and ridiculous foundation color tones.
We’ve already covered the subreddit beforehereandhere, but it has had so many new additions since our last publication that we thought there’s plenty of content for an update. Continue scrolling to check it out,and don’t miss out on the chat we had with British beauty content creator Jane Cunningham, spread out in between the pictures.
#1 Oh Dear
#2 Steve Carrell And Will Ferrell Presenting The Award For Best Makeup At The Oscars
Luckily for all of us, makeup guru Jane Cunningham, who can also be found on Instagram @britbeautyblog, thinks that it’s not that hard to get the basics.
“Makeup textures and formulas have come a long way so they’re easier than ever to use,” she told We. “There’s a big difference between being decent at makeup and excellent at makeup but most of us can scrape by with adaptable products such as lip and cheek crayons.”
“There’s a very useful trend for sheer looks and a ‘less is more’ approach and that’s an ideal entry-level for experimenting and learning. A good example would be that if you’re not confident applying foundation try a tinted moisturizer instead — there’s less pigment and far more leeway for good blending and a glowy finish.”
#3 Tiktok Ad For Eyebrow Stencil
#4 That Shade Would Even Be Too Dark For Me And I’m Not Even White
#5 Her Chest!!!
Cunningham believes that it’s mainly the process that separates the experts from the amateurs.
“Pros are taught in a very particular and meticulous way that gives them a foundation of knowledge on which to expand. Once you understand skin tones, textures, and effects, you can experiment with layering and enhancing,” she explained.
“A good example might be that it takes most of us a couple of moments to apply eyeshadow or lipstick but a pro can be there for a long time working with the colors to get them absolutely perfect.”
#6 Caption Said: A Soft Smokey Look
#7 Didn’t Even Recognize Ariana In Her Newest Look. Am I The Only One Who Feels Like She’s Gone From Blackfishing To Asianfishing?
#8 This Has Been All Over My Social Media Feeds Lately. The Artist Has A Booking Site And Charges $85
#9 All Of The Makeup Artist’s Looks Are Like This! Their Clients Look Scary
“A happy amateur enjoys applying the product, enjoys the finished result but isn’t looking at their work with an MUA eye so mostly won’t see that the results aren’t technically perfect. Which is fine!” Cunningham said.
Another factor is versatility. “A huge difference between amateur and pro is that MUAs can create perfect makeup on anyone; amateurs can often only create looks on themselves.”
#10 Found On An Fb Ad
#11 Her Eyes Look Tired From All The Heavy Lifting
#12 This Shade Match Hurts
#13 They Did Her Sooo Dirty
Talking about mistakes, Jane Cunningham likes to look at them from a similar perspective as the late Bob Ross.
“It’s still quite easy to go wrong with foundation tones, but it’s hard to say what’s a mistake and what’s a happy accident,” she pointed out.
“Makeup looks have never been so unregimented. Personally, I don’t love huge lashes or a lot of highlighter but that’s only my preference,” Cunningham said. “If it’s making you happy, it’s not wrong!”
#14 Even The Client Doesn’t Look Happy With This ‘Glam’
#15 UK Mua Combining Block Brows And Feathered Brows
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#16 Those Eyelashes Are Not Even Close To Being In The Right Place
#17 I Really Despise These Type Of Lips
“The only ‘wrongs’ I think can be ignoring hygiene around application, or as a pro, not following your client’s wishes and going with whatyouthink is best,” Cunningham said.
“I’ve seen a couple of practice bridal looks recently that really didn’t hit the brief and I’ve ended up doing the makeup myself on the day for one of them.”
#18 Watching Hoarders And Noticed The Color Match Of The Doctor’s Foundation Was Off
#19 The Entire Mua’s Page Was Full Of This Style Of Makeup I Can’t Wait For This To Not Be Trendy Anymore
#20 Local B R I T I S H Artist. That Hairline And The Same Shade Of Brown For Every. Single. Client
#21 It Gets Worse, But The Mua Does Admit To Being Inspired By Drag Makeup
However, if you’re a beginner, you might want to learn some skills before others as they can make a bigger difference in enhancing your look.
For that, Cunningham suggests blending. “If all your layers (primer, base, blush, bronzer, highlighter) are seamlessly blended then it just looks effortless. If you can pick up anything from online tutorials, focus on blending,” she said. “After that, it’s easier not to go wrong.”
“Oh, and liquid liner! [Although] I’ve never mastered it and fully believe that some people are never meant to make it happen (i.e. me!),” the beauty content creator added.
#22 From A Mua On Insta I’m No Expert But What Do We Think ?
#23 So. Much. Foundation
#24 She Looks So Sad
#25 Her Skin Is So Beautiful
At the end of the day, getting better at makeup is about studying yourself, which, ideally, shouldn’t become a chore.
“Just enjoy your beauty products, don’t rush to be an expert, take your time, and practice until you like what you’ve achieved,” Cunningham said.
If you’re mindful about what you put on, chances are, you won’t end up on this or any similar subreddit!
#26 Criminal Minds “Tan”
#27 Ummm I’m Sure That Shade Matches Someone But It Sure Isn’t Her
#28 Her Skin Color Completely Changed
#29 The Mua Charges £60 For A Shade Match Like That
#30 Umm This Appeared On My Instagram
#31 I Am Genuinely Appalled
#32 Clockwork Orange Full Glam
#33 From Normal To Drag
#34 Ugh… She Had A Team Of Reputable Muas, Posted On Ig By A Famous Magazine. Those People Are Payed Thousands For This!
#35 It Just Feels Crusty To Me
#36 Every Part Of Her Face Is A Different Shade Of Orange
#37 A Mua With Almost 1m Followers
#38 This Mua’s Work Has Been Posted On Here A Couple Times, This Is How She Does Makeup On Herself…. She’s A White Woman
#39 A Self Proclaimed Mua
#40 Talk About Suffocating Those Poor Pores… My Skin Is Screaming
#41 Oh, Oh No
#42 This Was Posted By A Big Makeup Brand. Why Is Her Forehead Tan And The Rest Of Her Face Pale?
#43 Well
#44 Straight Into The Hairline
#45 This Makeup Company On Instagram. Why?
#46 They Charge $350 Wtf
#47 The Tone Match Here Is Awful
#48 “Cool New Way To Do Blush”
#49 She Used 6 Pumps Of Foundation To Create This Look
#50 They Did Her Dirty
#51 Found On A Local Mua And Beautician Page. The Look Was Called “Sunset Eye And Soap Brow”
#52 Did Her Blush Explode
#53 Holy… Way Too Much Foundation That Definitely Isnt Her Color!!!
#54 Apparently This Is A “Modern Geisha”.. No Words
#55 I Wanna Wash My Face All Of A Sudden
#56 She Charges For This
#57 On A “Professional” Make Up Artist’s Insta Reel
#58 This Person Took “Fake It Til You Make It” Far Enough To Be The Mua Of A Netflix Show With This Skill Level Lol
#59 Girl Look How Orange You Fucking Look
#60 Imagine You’re About To Get Married In A Few Months And This Was Your Wedding Trial Makeup
#61 The Eyes Are A Total Artwork. But The Lips
#62 From A “Certified” Mua
#63 You’re Glowing, Girl
#64 UK Based. Doesn’t Look Finished. Lots Of Application With A Beauty Blender But No Actual Blending
#65 Saw On Span And Checked Out Her Insta; Her New Stuff Is Fine But These Eyebrows Are Killing Me
#66 Something About This Just Feels Off To Me?
#67 I Love Nikkie So Much, But I Can’t Stop Focusing On Her Hands In Her Latest Video!
#68 Danish Influencer, Supposed Beautybo$s
#69 When You Have Your Own Makeup Brand And Still Can’t Do Eyebrows
#70 The Lips
#71 Holy Hairline! Whoever Did Her Makeup For This 20/20 Episode Did Her Dirty
#72 I Think This May Belong Here. They’re Extremely Talented, But That Color Match Is… Not So Great
#73 At The Met Galahhhh What
#74 Her Looks Are Always The Same, Its So Sad
#75 Oh Boy
#76 No Words
#77 Raises Eyebrows
#78 Sometimes When It Could Almost Be Good, It’s Even Worse. The Brows, The Nose Contour, The Lips
#79 At First Glance I Thought It Was Drag Makeup, Which Would Make Sense For The Excessiveness, These Are Formal Event Looks
#80 The Whole Page Is A Mess
#81 No Words. This Is Before Powder As Well
#82 From The Official Abh Instagram. Those Overlined Lips
#83 Another Danish Beauty Influencer In Love With The Fake Freckles
#84 Caption Said – “All Skin Tones Are Beautiful”. Yet The Foundation Is Like 3 Shades Lighter
#85 Til That Makeup Can Be Too Dewy And Glowy
#86 When Will This Trend Of Using Yellow Foundation Be Over
#87 The Shade Match….yikes
#88 Definitely Not Her Shade/Undertone
#89 Lip Creases
#90 She Charged For Mess
#91 The Eye Makeup Is Impressive But The Lips Are So Distracting… And It’s From A Makeup Academy
#92 I Just Can’t With This. It Looks Like A Big Bruise
#93 Subtle And Elegant
#94 Say Yes To The Dress Lancashire
#95 It’s The Nose Contour For Me
#96 Something Feels Off
#97 The Whole Beef Package
#98 This Tik Tok Live
#99 Found On A Shopping App. They Did This Model So Dirty
#100 The Forehead Contour
#101 Eyeshadows Are So Uneven
#102 No Shade, But Yeah He’s From The UK
#103 I Just Can’t
#104 Can We Talk About The Lips?
#105 From A TV Show I Was Watching. The Caption Is Just An Amusing Coincidence
#106 This Show Always Does Em Dirty!
#107 I Am Looking For A Wedding Mua And Can’t Seem To Find One I Like In My Area. Am I Being Overcritical Or Are These Fine?
#108 This Colour Match.. Good Lordt
#109 Come On With Those Overdrawn Lips On The Left, This Is An Official Brand Promo Picture
#110 UK Mua Of Course. Gorgeous Eye Makeup Though
#111 Orangy Brown Foreheads And Cheeks
#112 This Guy’s Makeup On Temptation Island In Romania
#113 Found On Facebook, Poor Girl Was Done Dirty
#114 And That’s A Bride
#115 At Least The Eye Blending Is Nice
#116 Lil Kim’s Mua Back In 2001…things May Have Been Different In Shade Range Back Then But Dang
#117 Finally Found One Out In The Wild!
#118 Found On Instagram
#119 Not Sure Where To Begin
#120 I Swear I Could Create A Full Subreddit Just For This Particular Mua. This Colour Match Ain’t It
#121 I Joined This Group And Now I See It Everywhere!
#122 Why Is Everyone Yellow
#123 Wow. That Color Match
#124 Got This Ad On Instagram And I Ran Here
