Makeup artist Doechii’s secret to lipstick combinations – Essence

If Dee CarrionThe artist’s works existed within the 80s and 90s, we could see them on the faces of avant-garde beauties and lipstick lovers reminiscent of Grace Jones and Missy Elliott. Defying the constraints of time (and wonder), she takes an iconoclastic approach to lipstick, transforming next-generation artists like Doechii, SZA, and Tems into the glam-punk pop stars of our time.

“I want to create looks that challenge the norm of beauty,” Carrion tells ESSENCE. To do this, she uses a mixture of colours from matte to metallic, from swamp green to shiny orange, mixing shades you didn’t know could coexist. “I like to use colors that someone wouldn’t see on their lips every day and figure out ways to create something different and fun,” she says.

Growing up painting, drawing, and creating, the Portland-born, L.A.-based makeup artist has turned lips into her latest canvas. “Sometimes I’ll sketch them out, but when I’m just flowing, I’ll usually start with a darker lip liner and then go from there,” she says of her process. “I really enjoy creating custom colors. I like to use reusable creams to create unique shades.”

Her MO? Color theory. “I often refer to it when creating color combinations.” Using Made by Mitchell Essentials Colorful Case and precision lip brushes MYKITCO.created “a complicated lip where we played with light/dark and line work” on Doechia. She then mixed ombre, rust, and green for Doechia’s “mud lips” on the Tampa show. “I have an art background, so I’m always working with color theory, shading, and light.”

Whether you choose for a classic red lipstick (think: Met Themes Gala 2023 look) using just the Morphe lip liner and matte foundation MAC Ruby Woo lipstick or legendary reconstruction Pat McGrath’s Porcelain Haute Couture Makeuplipstick is the axis where her artistry exists. “I always try to create something that hasn’t been created before.”