The absolute best rainbow makeup looks, in honor of Pride Month
Happy Pride Month, from all of us at Galore, to you!
Rainbow makeup looks are a blessing all year ’round, but MUAs truly bring their A-game when it comes to June.
While makeup is just a smaller portion of the greater discourse surrounding Pride Month, the power and ability to express oneself through makeup is one of the things that makes the art medium so special.
Makeup is an incredibly personal craft than can also be used to make a statement and contribute to broader conversations, and MUAs are certainly taking advantage of that.
One of the things I find to be most exciting is that every Pride Month, people seem to get increasingly bolder and more experimental with their makeup looks. Not only is face-painting fully a thing now, there are also quite literally rainbows everywhere: on nails, faces, eyelids, you name it.
Want proof? Below are some of our favorite rainbow makeup looks:
READ ALSO: Just in case no one’s told you, face painting is the new wave
1. Cry me a (rainbow) river
This look by Emma Halliday is so creative. The MUA used a number of lipsticks, listed in the caption above, to achieve these rainbow tears.
Each and every detail of this look has shaken me to the core, including the fact that Halliday has managed to make the bottom of the rainbow streaks look like actual tears. This is what we like to see.
2. Your 20/20 vision is shaking RE this blinding rainbow highlight
This beautiful makeup look by Hertta Joutsen was inspired by Ariana Grande and James Charles and was, quite frankly, executed perfectly.
To be honest, when I think of rainbow makeup I typically envision rainbow hair or rainbow eyeshadow: but this is a completely different take, and it’s really refreshing.
3. If your hair is solely one color, you may want to reconsider
Okay. If this isn’t the absolute perfect rainbow hair, I’m not entirely sure what is.
I just recently stumbled upon this hairstylist’s incredibly satisfying Instagram account and I’m just wondering where it’s been all my life. In any case, if actual makeup isn’t your thing, rainbow hair is the perfect Pride Month staple; all you have to do is wake up every morning and your hair is still en theme.
4. What else are eyelids for?
If you said blinking: wrong.
This makeup look by Helene Michelle is a classic example of rainbow eyeshadow done right. There’s method A, which involves taking all of the colors of the rainbow and blending them seamlessly together (also incredibly difficult).
But method b, shown here, is a less common, more literal interpretation. Also note the seamless rainbow coordination with the under-eyes. We’re taking notes.
5. If your nails are all one color, you may want to reconsider that as well
These are my favorite pride nails! Not only are the rainbow waves well, wavy, but the ‘PROUD’ and ‘NO H8’ graphics are incredible details that make the whole manicure.
READ ALSO: Animal print is a thing again, according to Instagram
6. Rainbow liner + Rainbow shadow = Rainbow-ception
How insane is this?
As if the perfect blend of colors for the eyeshadow wasn’t enough of a victory, Alice of @alicekingmakeup also managed to execute this winged rainbow cat eye.
I can’t even manage the cat eye’s standard black variation (not even with eye pencil! I know, I’m despicable) and the detail of this look is clearly beyond the scope of what I can aesthetically emulate or understand.
7. Perhaps the coolest pride braids you’ll ever see
Sorry, not perhaps the coolest— the coolest pride braids you’ll ever see. They’re simple (yet not at all simple) and so beautiful. This puts a unique spin on the traditional cornrow and is the perfect way to sport your pride this month.
8. If you think we forgot your eyebrows, think again
While I can recall a point in time where eyebrows (just as a feature on the human face) held little to significance in society, eyebrows have very much made their way to the forefront (get it— I think that’s clever because eyebrows are at the front of your face, or something) of the beauty scene.
And this look by Martha Butterworth (@marthamakeupartist on IG) makes it clear. Also, peep the rainbow mascara (these people are SO, so good).
9. I’m dropping hints that I’m proud
This look is the definition of unapologetic. It really just gets right to the point. We’ve already talked at length about how face-painting is back with a millennial vengeance, and this is the absolute perfect use of the art form.
10. Don’t forget blue, pink and white
This homage to the trans pride flag is especially beautiful. If you thought these blue pink and white tones worked well on a flag, just look at how they work on a face! Also, implicit bonus points for blue eyebrows.
11. All that glitters
In this particular case, all that glitters IS gold because this look by @ruthdoesmakeup is absolutely radiant. Not only did she kill the rainbow lid, she also threw some pink in the rainbow for good measure and even further added glitter tears, because of course she did.
As you may have gathered: the jury is in, and more is more with regards to Pride makeup. Of course, any way you choose to express yourself is dioe, but don’t be afraid to really go for it this month.
We’ll keep our eyes peeled for more killer pride looks (as I’m sure there will be plenty more to come). And once again, happy Pride.
