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Makeup is supposed to be fun and you certainly don't have to wait for an annual appropriate occasion like Halloween to explore its endless possibilities! Some artists become celebrities' and famous characters' doppelgangers with spectacular resemblance, while others explore spooky, horror film-worthy makeup looks, focus on a specific part of their body to create whole paintings, or try to seriously mess with our minds.

Hoa Trang, a 21-year-old makeup artist from Vietnam, uses her face and body as a canvas to create mind-boggling optical illusions. The self-taught artist started experimenting with illusions only three years ago while learning from resources available on the internet, such as video tutorials and Instagram influencers. Since these unusual transformations were niche in her home country, she was able to build a following of 115k people on Instagram.

Check out some of Trang's best instances of makeup wizardry and let us know which ones are your favorite!

More info: Instagram | Facebook | youtube.com

#1

Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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Martti Laurson
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That is insane. I cannot find the nose

Tom Hardeveld
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's just above the lips. Check for eyes, if you find the eyes, go down untill you are not yet passed the lips. there it is To the right of the left ear but not to the right of the right ear

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Serianna French
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I tried so hard, but I couldn't find her nose!

Subhash Durlabhji
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can see just the beginning of the bone ridge from under her left eye but she cleverly shaded the entire area a dark grey. Clever, the shading is almost unnoticeable and looks natural. The shading above her lips is what gives it away, looks like a woman's hair growth, impossible to believe on her.

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She is very good. I love every kind of trompe l'oeil! (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe-l%27%C5%93il)

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Do you remember when you used to play with your mom's only lipstick she had been using for years? Those times are long gone. The makeup industry is one of the fastest-growing industries which provides tools for creating any look you can possibly think of. According to a report published by Zion Market Research in 2018, the global beauty industry was a USD 532 billion business and is expected to reach approximately $863 billion in 2024.

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    #2

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    Monika Soffronow
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Simple - and very effective! I would like to see what this looks like from a different angle.

    Winnie
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one is by far the best!

    Loki’s Lil Butter Knife
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is honestly impressive and my brain is still trying to figure out what is going on here.

    Hillson Preculair
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I never seen anything like this it's really unquie and cool good work! 😀

    Billie Atkins
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I can't even begin to understand the utter complexity of this. *O*

    #3

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    C. Mayo
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Holy cr*ap! (please apply comment to all photos in the article)

    Monika Soffronow
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    OK. Now I know what to do with that black eye shadow. But I don't think I have the guts to try, I'd find out instantly just how good she is at this, and how much practice I would have to do to even get close to an acceptable attempt.

    Reagan Besteman
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ouch. That looks like it would hurt.

    Lily Takagi
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is what turns guys on?

    Abby
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's just a cool thing that she likes to do. It has nothing to do with turning on guys. She's just showing her amazing talent

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    #4

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    LiBye
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's kinda like the Scream, but instead, she's melting? If that makes sense.

    Ann O'Riley
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Water. She washed her face, she's an OZ witch!

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    Why?
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She's got the Dali Virus!

    Magical dolphin so like yea 😎
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! that is cool weird and creepy!!!!!!!!!!!!

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    With all the beauty products available on the market, people turn to the internet to learn how to make use of it. Beauty bloggers, bloggers, and Instagram influencers are an easily accessible tool for anyone who wants to learn how to accentuate their own features, create glamorous looks, or just have fun. They are on a mission to make people around the globe look and—most importantly—feel good.

    And when we say easily accessible—we really mean it. According to Statista, in 2018, beauty-related content generated more than 169 billion views on Youtube. And with the rise of Instagram, their social media presence is mind-blowing! Hundreds of makeup gurus have turned into modern-day celebrities and it has become a desirable way to make a living.

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    #5

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    Lasagne
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    no shade or hate but this one kind of looks fake (no offence)

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    #6

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    Joslin Cunanan
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    me too, but with butterfly coming out

    Ayli Nickerson
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    can she do this for me for halloween? if there even is a halloween!

    #7

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    Julia Hammyy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow so beautiful, i love this one!

    Loki’s Lil Butter Knife
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really love this one-makes me think of a mask that you would wear to a Masquerade ball.

    The beauty community never fails to constantly entertain makeup enthusiasts by coming up with the most bizarre and fun trends. These light-hearted viral trends spread across all platforms, and many are eager to try them. We've had halo brows, feather brows, squiggly lips, the "polish mountain" challenge which led to experiments with 100+ coats of other beauty products, and many more. The most recent was the hilarious tiny face challenge started by YouTuber and makeup artist Jaime French, who did a perfect quarantine makeup look.

    And while Hoa Trang's makeup illusions are not that easy to master and to recreate, they are very easy to appreciate!

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    #8

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    jaysko
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow this is amazing!! Especially the way she manipulates her eye and lip to make it look even more realistic...so sick!!!

    #9

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    Why?
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She could give you a hell of a tongue lashing!

    Munhu Afro
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This sounds like a description from a book of a strange character. "She had teeth for eyes"

    #10

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    Billie Atkins
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I want to go to the grocery store looking like this.

    Lily
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I really like her lips in this

    Dorothy Cloud
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Strange. But, that must have been difficult to do to yourself!

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    #11

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    Joslin Cunanan
    Community Member
    5 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    that's a mask. I think.

    Becca Gizmo the Squirrel
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Look again. You can see where she blacked out the right side of her chin and left side of forehead.

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    #12

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    Why?
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just don't push her buttons!

    #13

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    Isabella Diaz
    Community Member
    5 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All moms wish to be able to take their kids batteries out at least once

    iluvanimals
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For a non human category, this is impressive, so realistic. It looks like what we would expect.

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    #14

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    LiBye
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Coraline! That was a neat movie.

    Unfortunate beauty?
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Indeed it was but the book compared to the movie would be way off because why born wasn't in the book and a lot of great parts of the book weren't put in it.

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    Amy Pontious
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Coraline one of my favorite movies love it.

    Giselle Soler Turner
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Omg i love coralline it’s been my favorite movie sense I was five

    jaysko
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reminds me of a cross between the band The Gorillaz and the movie The Purge

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    #15

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    #16

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    LiBye
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh god. I remember a dream I had years ago where I bit my brother's finger off. It was a weird dream.

    Magical dolphin so like yea 😎
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    huh? how did she do that?! I mean like I know that she just drew on the finger on the hand but how did she make it look like the finger was cut off????????!!!!!!!!!!

    Victoria Silvas
    Community Member
    1 year ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Why does the finger on the hand always make me jump?!?

    jaysko
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Idk why the down votes, I'm not mad at what you did there...however, Lorena Bobbitt was the Lorena Bobbit of, ahem, "digits" 😉🤣

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    Rylan Laborde
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Meh didn't scare me I saw the painted black finger

    Lily
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It looks kinda like a ghost finger; the ghost of the finger cut off.

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    #17

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    MrTreeFrog
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    imagine if it was actually real. uurrgghhh!

    Dorothy Cloud
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yuk. I couldn't even draw that on myself.

    Teresa Groth
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Good artistic talents but subject matter is not my cup of tea!

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    #19

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    LiBye
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What's with the downvotes? You just said to be safe but they're hating? What?

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    Charlie Moss
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like this one, but it's different than the other ones. Like, the paints not fully covering it?

    Mary Hannah
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    so that's what my face looks like under these itchy mask

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    #20

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    Artlover
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sanders sides Jaunes. aka decite

    jaysko
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Getting Billie Eillish vibes from this one

    #21

    Self-Taught-Makeup-Artist-Optical-Illusions-Hoa-Trang

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    LiBye
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That scared me for a second. I know it's an illusion but that looks painful.

    Maureen Peters
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please, don't open your eyes like this!

    Julia Hammyy
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is incredible but No no no.

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    #25

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    Billie Atkins
    Community Member
    5 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please say they have makeup tutorials up. PLEASE. I want so badly to show up on a Zoom meeting looking like this.