Emerald Vysions is a makeup artist— emphasis on the word “artist.” She uses her own face as a canvas for exploring color, texture, and ideas in avant garde, editorial ways. Completely self-taught, Emerald Vysions isn’t bound by convention or established makeup techniques, and instead lets her innate creativity and artistic eye be her guide. Often times she uses reference imagery as inspiration for her makeup designs, including stills from films with noteworthy production design that she reimagines on her eyelashes, eyelids, and tear ducts. The artist elaborates on her unique practice below.
How did you first get started in the world of makeup art? What drew you to makeup as an art form?
I’ve always been drawn to theatrical, exaggerated aesthetics— that’s where I felt beauty could exist without rules. Face art became a way for me to challenge conventional ideas of attractiveness while also expressing a deep sensitivity. It allows me to explore extremes, to push against what’s considered “acceptable,” and to create something that feels emotionally honest.
How have you honed your makeup skills?
I’m entirely self-taught, which I see as a strength because I didn’t learn makeup the “proper” way. I don’t feel limited by technique or tradition. I work intuitively, following instinct first and knowing that the technical aspects will refine themselves through repetition and experimentation. That freedom has allowed my style to evolve organically.
How would you describe your personal makeup aesthetic?
I would describe my aesthetic as editorial, 1920s circus–inspired glam. It’s expressive, dramatic, and slightly unserious. I’m drawn to exaggerated thin brows, sparkle, bold colour, and a sense of performance. There’s a playful absurdity to it— something that I find very compelling.
What is it about the medium of makeup that inspires you so much as an artist?
I think using skin as a canvas is a beautiful concept to begin with. In a way, makeup allows me to externalize internal emotions. To make what I’m feeling visible. It’s immediate and intimate in a way other art forms aren’t, and I love that it exists on the body rather than separate from it.
Using skin as a canvas is a beautiful concept.
How do you go about conceiving your various makeup looks and designs? What’s your creative process like?
My process is very instinctive and rarely planned. I need to be relaxed and mentally at peace for ideas to come to me. The best ones happen effortlessly. Having a work ethic is important, but you really can’t force creativity. In my experience at least. It happens through you when it needs to express itself, when it’s ready for you and you’re ready for it.
I’m someone who deeply appreciates visual beauty—especially when it’s intentional—so when an image resonates, I want to linger in that feeling.
I particularly love your series of creating makeup looks inspired by cinematic colors and frames from film. What motivated you to do that project? How did you develop each of those designs?
Before I started doing my interpretations of various movie stills, I used to recreate random images I found on Pinterest simply because they sparked my interest in one way or another. I’m someone who deeply appreciates visual beauty—especially when it’s intentional—so when an image resonates, I want to linger in that feeling. Translating movie stills into makeup felt like a natural extension of that— a way to reinterpret and savor the atmosphere, color, and emotion of a single frame through my own lens. The first film-inspired look I did was based on Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and it remains one of my favorites to this day.
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