There Is A Subreddit Dedicated To Makeup Fails, And We Have 40 Of The Absolute Worst
It's hard to believe that someone would apply a shade of foundation five shades darker than their skin tone or wear a lipstick the color of spoiled meat, and yet, here they are.
Some of the worst makeup jobs on the internet end up being the funniest, and this Reddit roundup proves it. From foundation shades that miss the mark by a mile to brows that seem to have a mind of their own, the subreddit Bad MakeUp Artists is packed with jaw-dropping examples.
The posts below come from people sharing makeup disasters they spotted online, in the wild, and sometimes on themselves. A moderator known as Pinsandpearls has noted that “bad makeup” can mean different things to different people, which helps explain why the subreddit has such a wild mix of looks.
Either way, these photos are hard to look away from, and the comments make them even better. Read on.
1. A Very Heavy Makeup Look
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The makeup fails shared in the subreddit highlight the complexities of self-image and societal standards of beauty.
4. If You All Thought The Last One Was Bad, Have A Look At This One
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5. A Lot To Unpack Here
"Typically, we're looking at makeup that isn't applied skillfully—lack of blending where appropriate, terrible foundation color match, messy lines," Pinsandpearls said. "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 they usually spark good discussions, and taste is subjective, but I think there's a difference between 'different' and 'bad.' Bad is pretty obvious when you see it."
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6. Mexican Politician
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Promoting a healthy relationship with one’s appearance is crucial for overall mental health.
7. Found This Today And... I’ve Never Seen A Foundation Match This Bad
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8. I Genuinely Think This Is The Worst Thing I’ve Seen On My Explore Page
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9. She Went To The Worst Reviewed MUA In Her City
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10. Remember: Even Celebs Aren't Safe From Bad MUAs
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11. I Feel Violated. Posted In One Of The Makeup Groups
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12. ...yikes
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13. She’s Like A Full 8 Shades Darker Than Her Arm
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14. ???
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15. The Foundation Match... Look At Her Hairline!!!! The Brows Are Literal Caterpillars!
aaavvvwww
And if you think makeup fails are bad, check out the domestic disasters in our family photo albums, where parents’ salon dreams went sideways.
16. Just No!!!
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17. It's Actually Just Me... The Goal Was A Purple/Yellow Look. I Tried A Disney Villain And I'm Just Ashamed
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18. Felt Like You’d All Appreciate A Little Satire
Group member "badMUAscout" said, "Another thing I mentioned was the color choice. If you take a look, you can probably see that many makeup artists and regular people are mismatching their foundations to their skin's undertone."
"If you're slightly off, it's probably okay. 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," she continued.
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19. Keep In Mind He Was On A Show For Makeup Artists
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20. I Smell Like Beef
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21. This Deserves Some Kind Of Medal
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22. As A Mum, I'd Be Raging Trying To Remove The Foundation From Her School Shirt!
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23. The Difference In Skin Tone
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24. Why This Though
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25. Wedding Glam Apparently
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26. Horrific Color Match
RedHeadedSnatch views the submitted photos from a professional makeup artist's perspective. She has her license from the state of Florida and has hundreds of hours of training and experience.
RedHeadedSnatch says the subreddit is a great resource to hold the industry more accountable. "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," she said.
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27. Yikes. You Would Think MUAs For Their Show Would Do Better
Another aspect of poor color choice often featured on the subreddit is contouring. "Contour is meant to mimic the 'shadows' you naturally have but very, very slightly enhanced," badMUAscout explained.
"We consider it to be bad when it looks like a dark stripe down the side of the face that doesn't match the natural shadows," she said. Another group moderator, RedHeadedSnatch, says she believes some members absolutely submit photos to the forum as a joke.
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28. Such Distinct Lines Around The Eyes. Shouldn't There Be Some Blending Or Something?
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29. Buzzfeed's Geisha Makeup vs. Actual Geisha Makeup
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30. This Look Is Giving Me Anxiety
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31. There's A Lot To Unpack Here
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32. Oh Girl, No
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33. It Gets Worse The More You Look At It
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34. I Found These Gems Randomly On IG, And You Guessed It, They’re British. Shade Difference, The Brows, I Could Go On
queeriequeerio
35. Beef That’s Been Left Out For Too Long Lips
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36. 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
However, the moderator says that we need to remember that makeup is subjective, and there is no real right or wrong. "The only problem I have is when individuals promote themselves as professionals but do not understand color theory, face shapes, eye shapes, or use proper sanitation," she 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 eyeshadow, and cause damage to brushes."
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37. Spotted On SVU This Morning, This Poor Woman's Color Match Is Especially Heinous
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38. The Brows And The Shade Of The Foundation Are Awful And It Looks Like A Mess. She Looks Like She Was Slapped With Mud And Her Makeup Was Done By Krusty The Clown
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39. James, You Can’t Be Serious With That Foundation Color?
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40. Found On Instagram - Blushed To The Gods
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The phenomenon of makeup fails showcased in the subreddit "Bad MakeUp Artists" highlights the often unrealistic beauty standards that individuals feel compelled to meet. This collection of outrageous makeup blunders, such as foundation mismatches and bizarre lipstick choices, serves as a reminder of the pressure to conform to societal ideals of beauty.
These cringe-worthy examples can spark important conversations about the impact of beauty norms on self-image. By exposing the extremes to which some go in pursuit of perfection, we can begin to challenge these standards and encourage healthier perceptions of beauty.
Ultimately, sharing these makeup mishaps not only provides humor but also fosters a sense of community among those who may feel judged by traditional beauty expectations. This engagement can lead to a more inclusive understanding of self-worth, where everyone feels empowered to embrace their unique appearance.
For more “wedding invite” chaos, read how one sister demanded a pink maid of honor dress.
