Latex Peel Makeup Tutorial!

One trend we’ve seen slowly creeping more and more onto our feed is this super fun and creative squiggle makeup trend. Not yet popular enough for a trendy name, we’ve seen makeup artists who love bold and creative looks trying this trend out.  Easy to do, plenty of fun, and something you can completely tailor to your own look, we can see this trend taking off in the near future. In this blog, we’ve partnered up with one of our talented affiliates to create a tutorial following her own fiery take on the trend!

@makeupby_esc has created a step-by-step guide to follow along with for this latex peel trend - despite the detailed results, it’s super easy to create this look. We’ll also break it down, alongside some tips, tricks and recommendations for your own version! 

This trend just requires some liquid latex and a paintbrush, things you likely already own if you’re big into your special effect makeup looks. @makeupby_esc recommends using a thinner brush to be able to create a more precise line. The thinner your brush, the more detailed your look can be, but it will also be more time-consuming! 

The first step is super enjoyable; time to free-hand your paint! Although you could definitely have fun trying to create an extremely symmetrical or angular look, the fun in this trend is being free and relaxed. Just let the vibes take you and see what you create. Take care when applying the latex to delicate areas such as around the mouth, and avoid your lips and eyes.

Let the first layer of liquid latex dry before going back in for a second coat; this will ensure that your latex is thick enough to be able to peel it off easily at the end of the look for your negative space lines. Liquid latex typically dries a darker colour than it will look upon application, and it should feel dry to the touch. 

Top tip: start your lines from an area that you can reconnect with for a seamless finish! By creating a look without an obvious start and finish point, you get a fun optical effect that will keep people looking. 

The second layer will require precision when you paint. You need to stick to the path you’ve already created with your first layer and be as exact as possible to match it. Once the second layer has dried, you’re liquid latex should be thick enough to be slightly raised from the skin. 

Now, it’s time to get colourful! We love @makeupby_sec’s bold ombre effects. The shift from lighter to darker provides an extra point of visual interest to your look, and the vibrancy helps the negative space you’ll create with the latex stand out. In her tutorial, the purple used to blend from icy blue to hot pink matches our Solar Violet lenses, really pulling all these different elements together! 

In her first squiggle makeup look, Erin was inspired by the colour of her Flame Eyes contact lenses to create a fiery, blended look. Whether you use all the colours available or just one, matching your makeup to your coloured contact lenses is a great way to ensure that your look feels balanced and cohesive. 

Another fun way to tie in multiple colours that doesn’t involve an ombre is by creating a lined look; whether you paint vertical or horizontal stripes, we know that the contrast between the uniform stripes and the chaos of the negative space squiggles will create a unique take on this trend! For a vertical striped look, try painting two different colours over each eye, before using contact lenses to match the opposite colour for a bit of extra contrast! 

Of course, you can never go wrong with a monochromatic look; using the negative space to emphasise the uniformity and your break from it is a dramatic and impactful result. Pick out a pair of lenses that will match your base colour to lock in on this sensational effect, or create contrast and spectacle by picking lenses that are on the opposite spectrum of the colour wheel. 

@makeupby-esc uses face paints to create the base of her look before setting with eyeshadow for an extremely pigmented and smoothly blended effect. We offer a range of SFX tools and makeup on our website to help you achieve this look. 

For bold and bright colours, consider the Paintglow range; available in a range of UV colours, these vibrant colours will ensure that your makeup stands out. For a creamy and silky smooth formula, our range of Mehon SFX paints will have you covered. Highly trusted and loved by much of the SFX makeup community, these paints pack a pigmented punch.

Once you’ve painted over your latex lines, you can move on to the final step: the removal! Use tweezers or a similar tool to gently pull away an edge of the liquid latex and start peeling. We recommend taking it slow and steady on this satisfying step; peeling the latex off shouldn’t hurt, but it may tug slightly. Take extra care around sensitive areas. 

After you’ve finished taking off the latex, you can see the full impact of your final look! This makeup trend is super fun and totally unique to each individual, so you can really show off your style and personality when taking part. 

If you participate in this trend, tag us @crazylensesnow so that we can see your creation! Will you match your lenses to your makeup, or create a cool contrast instead?