
This Online Group Is Dedicated To Collecting Makeup Fails, And Here Are 40 Of The Worst Ones
There's a subreddit called Bad MakeUp Artists, and the photos people post in there have an "Instagram vs. Reality" vibe to them. In the sense that it's hard to imagine a person applying that much foundation or eye shadow, thinking 'Yeah, this is going to look great!' and another one glancing at the mirror and saying 'I can't wait to go out like this.' Maybe if it was for some kind of skit but that's about it. However, here they are, attending weddings and filming YouTube videos with enough layers on their face to withstand even Siberian winters. I really hope some of these looks were meant as jokes. Or at least that they were cleaned off right away.
This post may include affiliate links.
Oh Girl, No
Pinsandpearls, one of the moderators of Bad MakeUp Artists, said 'bad makeup' probably means different things to different people, which is why the subreddit has such a wide variety of posts. "Typically, we're looking at makeup that isn't applied skillfully — lack of blending where appropriate, terrible foundation color match, messy lines," Pinsandpearls explained to Bored Panda. "I don't think it includes things that are maybe 'different' than you would normally see, as long as the actual application is good (editorial makeup, for example). We still allow some of those posts because it usually has a good discussion and taste is subjective, but I think there's a difference between 'different' and 'bad.' Bad is pretty obvious when you see it."
She’s Like A Full 8 Shades Darker Than Her Arm
This Deserves Some Kind Of Medal
"Another thing I mentioned was the color choice. If you take a look, you can probably see a lot of makeup artists and normal people are mismatching their foundations to their skin's undertone," badMUAscout highlighted. "If you're slightly off, it's probably ok. Our skin isn't one flat color and it can vary in shades throughout the day. It doesn't help that foundations oxidize and can go from perfect to pumpkin shades. While sometimes it isn't an issue, when you are paying a trained artist hundreds of pounds or dollars to do makeup, you shouldn't end up with a different undertone or a shade five times darker than your skin."
Contouring is another poor color choice often featured on the subreddit. "Contour is meant to mimic the 'shadows' you naturally have but very very slightly enhanced. We consider it to be bad when it looks like a dark stripe down the side of the face which doesn't match the natural shadows," badMUAscout explained.
A Lot To Unpack Here
Another moderator who helps run Bad MakeUp Artists, RedHeadedSnatch, believes that some people do submit photos to the subreddit as a joke or because they might not really like a particular celebrity or look. However, RedHeadedSnatch reminded that makeup is subjective, and there is no formula that determines whether or not an application is bad. "The only problem I have is when individuals who promote themselves as professionals but do not understand color theory, face shapes, eye shape, or use proper sanitation," RedHeadedSnatch said. "Sanitation is a huge issue because it can lead to acne, eye infections like pink eye, staph infections, and in some cases, actual bugs living in brushes. On a less severe note, it can also make the application of makeup look cakey, distort the foundation's color, concealer, and eye shadow, and cause damage to brushes."
The Difference In Skin Tone
RedHeadedSnatch looks at the submitted photos from a professional makeup artist's point of view. They have their makeup license from the state of Florida and have had over 100 hours of theory and hands-on training, with written and practical application tests, so they know what they're talking about. And that is a big positive that comes from Bad MakeUp Artists. Sure, we can all laugh at the photos, but if you browse through the comments, you can find valuable information even within the jokes.
Also, the subreddit forces the industry to be more transparent. "I feel as though the market is oversaturated with people claiming the MUA status without having proper training, and that causes people to lose faith in the makeup artist industry as a whole," RedHeadedSnatch said. Let's hope Bad MakeUp Artists makes them accountable. At least a a little bit.
As A Mum Id Be Raging Trying To Remove The Foundation From Her School Shirt!
Felt Like You’d All Appreciate A Little Satire
Buzzfeed's Geisha Makeup vs. Actual Geisha Makeup
James, You Can’t Be Serious With That Foundation Colour?
Yikes. You Would Think Muas For Their Show Would Do Better
Mexican Politician
She Went To The Worst Reviewed Mua In Her City
Spotted On Svu This Morning, This Poor Woman's Color Match Is Especially Heinous
If You All Thought The Last One Was Bad Have A Look At This One
I Genuinely Think This Is The Worst Thing I’ve Seen On My Explore Page
I’m A Dude And Don’t Know Anything About Makeup But I’m Assuming Your Face Isn’t Meant To Look Like You Have A Goggle’s Tan
Foundation Match Isn’t Even Close, So Muddy Too
She Did Her So Dirty ...
Exactly what I was thinking... I think this was done on purpose, for a purpose - not just regular makeup.
Load More Replies...If you're refering to the picture on the left, she's wearing a load of makeup in that one too.
Load More Replies...Welp, this happened. Both images are unnatural. Just someone having fun.
Looks like they had her bronzed. In the first pic her eyes are piercing tho...
From the first pic it looks like she KNOWS how to do makeup. Maybe the right was for a mummy costume party??
*Buys makeup in Home Depot paint aisle* start blog "Saving Big Bucks On Makeup."
She looks like a sleeping mannequin on the right. My apologies to mannequins.
The woman looks totally zoned in both pics. At least the make-up in the left pic is better!
So pretty in first picture. Hope the second is for a costume party!
Hopefully someone will tell her that the photo on the left is much better than the one on the right. I'm a bloke and haven't the faintest clue about makeup, yet I know that the photo on the left shows that she needs very little if anything at all.
Last time I saw makeup like this, it was in Goldfinger and the chick wearing it was dead.
it seems perfect if you're dressing as a woman made of bronze. also, may I point out the difference in her hair?
Doesn't look human, but it's honestly a good makeup for sci fi
this one's pretty cool. I'm guessing it was done for a reason tho. Halloween maybe?
Girls ...nobody wants to see your shinning highlighted nose , trying to stop traffic?..Not a good look.
Other than the dead eyes and slack jaw, she's pretty in the left photo.
Looks like theres some light makeup in the first. Her makeup was better in the original, if she can do her makeup to look nice in the first photo, why on EARTH would she do THAT to herself. IS HER SKIN STILL BREATHING!?
She looked awesome without the makeup! I MEAN LOOK AT THOSE CHEEKBONES HOW COULD YOU NOT BE JEALOUS
lol ngl she looks better in the first picture but then the other one kinda looks muddy dk why
Jeeeez. She was gorgeous before she roasted herself in the owen. Why on earth would you hate your face so bad to do that ???
She looked fine before. Bu oh mah gawd, she looks BRONZE. And not in a nice, natural, tanned way.
Look, you can love old people, but i think Old Croghan Man is a bit out of your league.
Noo I fell in to the mud! *throws on some glitter and a necklace* ahh much better
Cmon, this must clearly be a costume or cosplay. This cannot be intended as everyday make-up.
There is no photo of her without gunk...it’s just a difference of type and degree. But the one on the left does at least give us some sense of what she probably looks like without her insecurities taking over.
Load More Replies...People like you are the reason for those idiotic beauty standards.
Load More Replies...Beef That Been Left Out For Too Long Lips
It Gets Worse The More You Look At It
Just No!!!
Who are they hiring to do their makeup? Are they going to a mortuary to get it done? Only dead people get makeup like this and even they look natural.
Horrific Colour Match
I'm having trouble what's supposed to be wrong in this picture. They all look very nice.
Such Distinct Lines Around The Eyes. Shouldn't There Be Some Blending, Or Something?
???
I Feel Violated. Posted In One Of Makeup Groups
I Smell Like Beef
This Look Is Giving Me Anxiety
Remember: Even Celebs Ain't Save From Bad Muas
I Found These Gems Randomly On Ig, And You Guessed It, They’re British. Shade Difference, The Brows, I Could Go On
She is being done by a stylist hence the plastic glove. Model's make up is different to every day.
Wedding Glam Apparently
Found This Today And.. I’ve Never Seen A Foundation Match This Bad
Until this post, I had never seen a foundation match that was bad.
Found On Instagram - Blushed To The Gods
Oh my god the wonky lipstick might just kill me! SOMEBODY FIX HER RIGHT PEAK NOW
Keep In Mind He Was On A Show For Makeup Artists
A Very Heavy Makeup Look
It's Actually Just Me... The Goal Was A Purple/Yellow Look. I Tried A Disney Villain And I'm Just Ashamed
The Brows And The Shade Of The Foundation Is Awful And It Looks Like A Mess. She Looks Like She Was Slapped With Mud And Her Makeup Was Done By Krusty The Clown
...yikes
The Foundation Match... Look At Her Hair Line!!!! The Brows Are Literal Caterpillars!
There's A Lot To Unpack Here
Why This Though
Note: this post originally had 117 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.