We speak to four members of the LGBTQIA+ community about the Pride make-up looks that represent how they embraced their identities - & how you can draw inspiration from them, too
Pride month is the perfect time to reflect on acceptance, equality and applaud the work of LGBTQIA+ people everywhere. And for many, it can be a great opportunity to embrace their individuality through the medium of make-up. Looking for some inspo for expressing your own? We’ve got just the thing.
Here, we speak to four creators from the LGBTQIA+ community about the looks that celebrate their stories and journeys to help you create a look that’s as unique as you are. From Scott Wells’ empowering glitter-eye to Alex Odgen Clark’s fabulous take on Scouse-inspired beauty, Mikaél Frimpong’s ode to his inner child and William Grande’s eye-catching glam-liner, each of these looks honour what it means to live freely and authentically.
Whether you’re looking to create a simple Pride make-up look or something that makes a statement, scroll on for their expert tips, tricks and easy step-by-steps inspired by their personal experiences.
Scott Wells: superhero sparkles
(He/him)
“I came out aged 21 but I was outed in high school, which is something I struggled with. I’m now 28 but I’m still learning who I am. It wasn’t until Covid that I had the time to sit down with myself and think about who I am as a person. I learned that through make-up, I could experiment and go beyond being confined to the thoughts inside my head.
“I’ve always been known as someone who loves glitz and all things sparkly, and this simple Pride make-up look almost gives me a new confidence - I imagine that the sparkly eyes feel like how a superhero must do when they wear their mask. But it’s not about masking, it’s about discovering more of me. Each time I sit and do this look on myself, I find myself smiling. It clearly makes me happy and is something that sparks joy. Even though it might just be subtle make-up, to me it’s so much more - it means everything.”
This simple look gives me a new confidence
Scott’s step-by-step to recreate this stylish & simple Pride make-up look
1. A beautiful, glowy base makes me happy, so begin with the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Face Primer. It contains vitamin C, which is amazing for making skin appear brighter.
2. Next, focus on a flawless complexion. My favourite concealer duo is Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer and Sleek MakeUP Lifeproof Colour Corrector, which are incredible for colour correcting under-eye circles. Finish by applying Nars Sheer Glow Foundation to areas that need a little more coverage.
3. I love to apply L’Oréal Paris Back to Bronze Matte Bronzing Powder as an eyeshadow shade across my lids. Take a fluffy brush, tap away the excess bronzer, then sweep the product all across the eyelids, blending out any harsh lines using small, circular motions.
4. Now it’s sparkly showtime! Take Revolution Highlight Reloaded, apply it across the cheekbones and up into the hairline - more is more! A great trick to make the eyes pop is to apply a small amount of highlighter to the inner corner of the eyes.
5. Set your base with the Collection Primed and Ready Mattifying Setting Powder, which is amazing for soaking up excess oil.
6. Next, you’ll need an eyeshadow palette. Use the shade Cool Off from the Morphe 35H Hotspot Artistry Palette to line underneath the eyes. I use a slanted eyeshadow brush as it creates the sharpest finish. You can then curl the lashes and apply mascara to only the outer corners for a subtle flutter.
7. Then onto my absolute favourite final step, which is the linchpin of the look. Use the Collection Glam Crystals Gel Eyeliner to line underneath the brows - because why wouldn’t you? It’s a bargain and really sparkles in the sunlight. Get me to a festival!
Love a sparkle as much as Scott and we do? Check out Gary Thompson, aka @ThePlasticBoy’s Pride smokey pink gem look tutorial for more make-up inspiration.
Alex Ogden Clark: Scouse glam with a queer twist
(She/they)
“It took me a long time, growing up, to connect with my sexuality and come out. I didn’t see myself reflected in the homophobic ideas that all lesbians are hairy and unfeminine but this was the concept of lesbianism I was exposed to. I thought I couldn’t possibly be that type of person. As I grew into myself, I presented as a lipstick lesbian - ultra feminine and glamorous - but that still didn’t feel quite right. Now, I’m somewhere in between: lipgloss and lashes but with my body hair unplucked and on display - a lipgloss lezza.
“For me, Pride month is about celebrating authenticity by embracing all elements of myself without trying to fit into limiting, and often homophobic, archetypes. This is why I’m rocking a classic Scouse-beauty look with an unashamedly queer twist: glam halo eyeshadow and ombre lips with a full, bushy monobrow.”
For me, Pride month is about celebrating authenticity by embracing all elements of myself
Alex’s easy step-by-step to recreate this Pride make-up look
1. For this look, eyebrows are the star of the show, so brush them up and outwards with Schwarzkopf got2b Glued 4 Brows & Edges 2 in 1 Hair Gel. Once it’s dry, this gel will secure even the unruliest of hairs.
2. Next, prime the eyelids. Roughly pat a peachy shade from the BPerfect Cosmetics x Stacey Marie Carnival III Love Tahiti Palette on to the outer and inner corners of the eye. I opted for this hue as a subtle nod to the lesbian flag but with all the colours of the rainbow at your disposal, you could choose eyeshadow colours that represent other aspects of the LGBTQIA+ community. This could include purples for the bisexual flag, blue and pink for the trans flag or yellow eyeshadow for the non-binary flag.
Follow this by scribbling Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Bourbon over the top of the peach, staying close to the lash-line. Don’t be afraid to dip into the eyeshadow palette and add some more peach, or a mid-brown eyeshadow shade to make the transition more seamless.
3. In the centre of the lid, pack a light, shimmery shade. I opted for the pinky duochrome colour from the same eyeshadow palette. To further intensify the look, throw on some glitter, such as the Stila Magnificent Metals Glitter & Glow Liquid Eye Shadow in Rose Gold Retro.
4. Next, apply mascara and a pair of false lashes. If I’m wearing an intricate eyeshadow look, I go for falsies that are long and wispy such as Kiss So Wispy lash singles. They bring drama, without obscuring my hard work.
5. It’s important to prep the skin so that foundation sits as nicely as possible. I love using MAC Strobe Cream because it imparts a beautiful-looking radiance while also being hydrating. My go-to foundation is Nars Light Reflecting Foundation, as it provides medium coverage that hides my blemishes without looking heavy.
6. To amp up coverage and sharpen the edge of the eyeshadow look, apply a lighter concealer under the eyes, angling up towards the temples. You can also pop the lighter concealer on any areas of the face you want to push forward.
7. Next, bring some definition to the face by tapping a cream bronzer on areas the sun would naturally hit, such as temples, the tip of the nose and along the cheekbones, making sure to blend out any harsh lines. Then place Revolution Superdewy Liquid Blush in Flushing For You along the bridge of the nose and the apples of the cheeks.
8. It wouldn’t be a scouse make-up look without lip liner, so outline the lips with a mid-brown shade, such as NYX Professional Makeup Lip Liner Pencil in Nude Beige.
9. To finish the mouth, use a dot of liquid blush, and top it off with lashings of lipgloss.
10. I completed my look by emphasising my brow hairs, using the NYX Professional Makeup Lift And Snatch Brow Tint Pen to fill in any gaps and drew in tiny hairs for volume. This step may not be for everybody but it’s empowering to me. For Pride month, I throw away my shame and embrace my iconic, thick brow. Being a hairy lesbian? It’s so cool.
Mikaél Frimpong: unabashed colour
(He/him)
“There was a point in my life when I believed I’d never be able to live my truest, most authentic life. Now, things are different. The fact that I can wear make-up without shame is such a joy.
“This bright, bold, colourful look is an ode to my inner child and an expression of joy for the little African boy in me. In Ghana, where I used to live, boys didn’t do make-up, but when I moved to the UK I needed to find a way to express my creativity. The vibrant hues I’ve chosen here remind me of the elation I feel from the fact that I’m truly free to be who I want to be - and I don’t care what anyone thinks. This Pride look is about celebration. It’s an opportunity to be loud, proud and, ultimately, unapologetic. The important part? Dragging your inner diva to the surface!”
This bright, bold, colourful look is an ode to my inner child
Mikael’s easy step-by-step to recreate this colourful Pride make-up look
1. Begin by moisturising the skin - it’s so important you don’t skip this step. The Liz Earle Skin Repair Light Day Cream helps create a hydrated complexion. Next, apply a primer, such as Elf Power Grip Primer. This helps create a smooth surface to apply products on top of, as well as ensuring the longevity of the make-up.
2. While the moisturiser and primer set in, start on the eyebrows. These are a crucial part of the overall aesthetic. Use an eyebrow pencil, such as Rimmel London Professional Eye Brow Pencil to fill in any sparse areas, then apply Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer underneath the brow bone for a flawless, sculpted brow look.
3. Now it’s foundation time. Matching this product to your natural skin tone is vital. Depending on the outcome of the look you're trying to achieve, it’s up to you to decide how much or how little you’d like to use. You can use a brush or beauty blender to apply, or even just the warmth of the fingers. I like Nars Light Reflecting Foundation for its flawless finish.
4. When selecting a concealer, the industry standard is to find a shade two tones lighter than your natural skin or foundation. Apply NYX Professional Makeup HD Photogenic Concealer Wand to areas that catch the light, such as under the eyes, the bridge of the nose and across the forehead.
5. Next step: powder. Two techniques that are useful are dabbing or baking. If you use the dabbing technique, dip the brush into the powder and shake off any excess before dabbing on to the face. The baking technique involves placing setting powder on the areas where you’ve concealed and leaving the powder to sit for between 5 to 10 minutes. Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder is great for this.
6. This is the step where you become human again! Use Revolution Love Island Mega Bronzer to add warmth and colour to the skin. For blush users, apply from the apple area of the cheeks and work your way outwards toward the ears. You can use red, pink or orange tones. Or if you’re extra like me, explore the colours of the rainbow! There’s no better time than during Pride month.
7. Now for the main attraction: it’s all about those eyes. Outline the shapes you’d like to make with a white pencil, such as Collection Precision Kohl Eyeliner White.
8. Use the full colour spectrum of the NYX Professional Makeup Ultimate Eyeshadow Palette and let your imagination run wild! It’s not about perfection, it’s about unlocking creativity and having fun. You can use black liner afterwards to make the colours and designs really pop. Finish with some falsies and you’re good to go.
William Grande: graphic glam-liner
(He/him)
“Make-up inspires me daily and brings out the best in me, and so using it to celebrate Pride month is a huge achievement.
“It’s a month to remind myself of our community and inspire others to be confident and proud of who they are. It’s a time to show others not to be afraid of being ourselves and that we’re worthy of respect - the same as everyone else. At the end of the day, love is love, and there’s nothing better than to love and be loved in return.
“Pride is all about having the courage to be your authentic self and being proud of it. This glam look perfectly showcases that for me. Wearing a graphic statement cat eye with glowing skin, glossy lips and mega lashes not only gives me confidence but celebrates what makes me uniquely me.”
This look celebrates what makes me uniquely me
William’s step-by-step to recreate this eye-catching Pride make-up look
1. Glowy skin starts with great prep, so apply a generous application of Fenty Skin Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturiser and really massage it in to keep skin feeling bouncy and hydrated all day long.
2. Next, take a medium coverage foundation like 17.’s Second Skin Enhancing Foundation and use a dense bristle foundation brush to buff it in. Spend a little more time around the hairline, the ears and jawline to help get rid of any tell-tale lines.
3. Now grab some concealer (I’m using 17.’s Second Skin Enhancing Concealer, here - its applicator's amazing for getting extra precision), and apply it to anywhere you need a little extra coverage. I like to apply a couple of shades that are lighter than my foundation underneath my eyes and in the middle of my forehead to contrast against my darker contouring shade - it’s a great way to showcase those features.
4. For my contour, I apply a deep brown concealer shade along the sides of my jaw, forehead, nose and cheekbones and blend, blend, blend for a seamless finish.
5. To make features (and cheekbones) pop even more, apply Huda Beauty Easy Bake Loose Baking & Setting Powder in a triangle from the jawline to the base of the cheekbone and use a damp make-up sponge to gently press the powder into the skin.
6. Next, get that blusher - something super pigmented like Fenty Beauty Double Cheek'd Up Freestyle Cream Blush Duo. Dab the brush into one or both shades and press onto the apples of the cheeks. For a natural flush that’s great for summer, apply it across the bridge of the nose too. I love how cute it looks!
7. Now time for the eyes! This is my favourite part of the look. Here, I’ve used the limited edition 17. Reds Eyeshadow Palette but I also love using the limited edition 17. Brights Palette. As well as supporting a really great cause (with profits going to the charity, Stonewall*), it’s one of my favourite eyeshadow palettes.
8. For the cat eye, use an inky, fine-tipped liquid eyeliner like the Huda Beauty Quick ‘n’ Easy Precision Liquid Liner Pen to create flicks on the inner and outer corners of the eye and join together. Rest your elbow on a table for extra support and don’t panic if you make a mistake! The thicker line for this look is really forgiving.
9. Curl eyelashes. Apply a generous coat of mascara and a pair of layered falsies like Eylure Luxe Velvet Noir After Dark Lashes to take those lashes to the next level.
10. Even though the eyes do the talking in this look, it doesn’t mean you can’t have fun with the lips! I’ve gone for a neutral colour but mixed up the textures to create a plumped effect using a deep shade of 17. Lip Define Pencil Soft Liner, a lighter shade of 17. Matte Lip and a high-shine sheer veil of 17. Lacquer Gloss on top. Seal your work with Morphe Continuous Setting Mist and you’re ready!
Here’s to authenticity and being our most true selves, through beauty and beyond. Happy Pride 2023 to all who help make it what it is.
