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A dab of mascara, a hint of blush, and you’re ready to roll with that homemade makeup look. Most often, it’s stunning as it is, but in the world of makeup, god is in the details. And one Russian make-up artist Julia Ismailova is showing what a day and night difference a little subtlety can make.

From adding a touch of bronzer on the cheeks for a sun-kissed look to simply smudging bold eyeliner to make eyes look bigger, Julia’s transformations are all about little details that go a long way. In a series of Instagram posts, she has put side-by-side pictures of makeup done by her and the girls themselves, and the result is truly surprising. Check out the looks down below and let us know which ones you like better!

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#1

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Ivana
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was never really into the heavy cat eye look unless you have that hipster style with tattoos and short bangs.

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    #2

    Self-Make-Up-Professional-Help-Julia-Ismailova

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    lsgm2fw avatar
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    C. Mayo
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What gets me about this one is how the pro makeup actually changes the shape of her face. In the first shot, her face seems a bit too long and too wide, especially around the eyes, but in the second shot, her features appear more condensed, eyes closer together and her face seems shorter from lips to eyebrows. What a difference!

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    Liesa Yopp
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or, as I suspect, some of these are photo-shopped more than make up. Jawlines don't change from make up alone, even with super heavy contouring.

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    Annabeth Chase
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Omg, did you know that blue eyes and natural red hair is literally the rarest combination in humans?

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    Liesa Yopp
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm all for the comparisons but be realistic with them. If they wanted a TRUE comparison on make up that's all they should have changed. Giving her an updated partially curled hairstyle contributes to the whole looking better and takes away from the eye going to what we're supposed to be focusing on. It's misleading.

    juliakardosh avatar
    Julia Kardosh
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    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Shouldn’t they be using the same facial expressions? And her lipstick is actually crooked in her before. Seriously all of these women are miles above my makeup application ability. I put eyeliner on at night after a shower and consider it my “smoky eye.” What’s funny to me is it’s the same look for everyone. Like the whole world should buy 1 color of blush and throw out eyeliner and are suddenly beauty queens.

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    Judy Rofe
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The intense blue in her eyes is brought out by a more natural look.

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    TheLawToday
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Two different lenses are used to also alter her looks. Slightly longer focal lengths (on the Rt.) have less distortion, while closer focal lengths (Left), warp the bone structure. Anybody making money from this style claim is committing criminal fraud.

    aneewon avatar
    Aneese
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Right side again ( no cat eye) Knock down gorgeous. Left side with cat eye: Harsh, unapproachable, “mean girl”. But if that is the look you were striving for, you nailed it!

    flyingsquirrel1228 avatar
    Emma M
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    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It’s also in the hairstyle, as well as the smile. A smile goes a long way. She does look better on the right, however

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    Laura Zaini
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    it lools like her facial features are sort of...elevated, don't know how to explain

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    Amanda Martin
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The winged look doesn't work for her eye shape. Definitely better in the second picture.

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    Anne Smith
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Of all the 30 people posted here - Her makeover is the best. She looks totally beautiful in the after photo.

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    Anne Smith
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She looks BEAUTIFUL in the 'after photo'. She is a beautiful person.

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    Mona Khadra
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Her before is better. They made her look plain and older. Especially with the hair.

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    Bored Panda reached out to Julia Ismailova, Moscow-based professional makeup artist and the founder of the beauty studio Makeup Cultura.

    She told us that the idea of recreating women’s makeup came naturally after she realized that most of her clients who came to Julia’s individualized makeup classes would wear heavy makeup. “It didn’t complement these girls at all,” she said.

    Julia then took a picture of her client before the lesson while she was wearing her go-to homemade makeup and compared it with the "after" look that was done under Julia’s guidance. After posting the picture on Instagram, “I received outstanding feedback from my audience—they loved it!”

    #4

    Self-Make-Up-Professional-Help-Julia-Ismailova

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    Leo H
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This has to be a woman thing...but as a dude i see very lil difference...to me the left is just as attractive as the right

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    The makeup artist said that usually, “Women see the tiniest flaws on their faces, but do not realize how beautiful and unique they truly are.”

    That’s why so many of them use makeup to hide and cover up their flaws, but “this is so wrong,” Julia said. But makeup is an opportunity to "let yourself shine and show the world what’s unique about your appearance.”

    Julia never does the transformations according to her personal tastes. “The result of all my clients’ transformations is our joint effort and creativity,” and she calls it “a co-creation.” As a result, she never tries to break habits, but rather “corrects them.”

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    Chances are, there are a few more face creams and lipsticks right there in your bathroom cabinet than there used to be, like two years ago. But it’s not just you. In fact, the beauty industry has been among the fastest-growing in the past 5 years and it’s nowhere near ready to stop.

    As of 2019, the global beauty industry was valued for $532 billion with the US being the world’s largest beauty market. Meanwhile, the cosmetic products market keeps growing in an upright direction. Zion Market Research has shown that it will reach a whopping $863 billion in 2024.

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    Forbes reports that the beauty consumer, aka you and me, is also changing alongside the booming market. We now “define beauty” and demand an “inclusive and authentic image” to which we can relate. In the past, beauty adverts used to communicate aspirational ideas and unattainable standards, but these days, more than ever, brands celebrate real and natural beauty.

    #10

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    Katrin P.
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And the eyebrows on the right are much better, not this blocked Instagram tutorial s**t.

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    #11

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    DEAN THORNE
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I like the before pic better, the makeup pic makes her look like a real doll.

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    #12

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    Angelina St
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Look younger and fresh (just come back from holiday) in the right

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    #13

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    SirPatTheCat
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    No way!!! She completely changed her vibe!! She was rocking the dark lipstick cat eye look and she made her face look so plain which completely throws off her look and takes away from it!! I live for punk style how dare you dampen it down like that!!

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    Tabitha L
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Gorgeous. Love her hairstyle! Stunning eyes. She is very attractive in both pictures.

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    Anne Smith
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Before is better. Don't obliterate her personality. Don't cover up her beautiful skin. Don't make her blush and lips TOO PINK !!

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    #20

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    Sori
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They soften her natural skin tone at her chin, it looks like she holds her face strangely to not draw attention? I like that she almost smiles on the right

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    #21

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    Nora
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Nicer skintone in the redo, but I think both have too much undereye makeup

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    #22

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    Anne Smith
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    BEFORE is better. Just take away the green eye-shadow and she's all set. AFTER PHOTO - you made her TOO PINK !!! You've got an obsession with PINK FACES !!

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    #35

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    JessG
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She did a good job on her own, she looks good in both

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    #37

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    Deborah Brett
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    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    she would look so much better with a pixie cut to frame her features and soften the high forehead.

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