Val Garland, new host Leomie Anderson and Dominic Skinner/ BBC
It’s time to dust off those make-up brushes: Glow Up series five has come to BBC Three this May, with 10 new make-up artists (MUAs) looking to become Britain’s Next Make-Up Star.
Here is a breakdown of the makeup looks that left me spellbound and in awe of the detailing, precision and symmetry that transformed the models and the MUA’s into works of art that can be kept in a museum.
Loemie Anderson in Glow-Up Studios/BBC
Leomie Anderson is joining the show as host, bringing supermodel glamour to the Glow Up studios.
The cast of Glow-Up S5/BBC
The cast of the show brought Ding, Dong , big magnifying glass holder Var Garland and Dominic Skinner back along with snatched looks in every episode by Leomie Anderson. The MUA’s contestants :Axel (he/they), Howard (he/him), Keiran (he/they), Morgan (she/her), On-May (she/her), Roo (they/them), Saphron (she/her), Sarah (she/her), Taisha (she/her), and Wezley (he/him).
For their very first Industry Challenge, the MUAs were thrown in the deep end in the world of television makeup. They were told to create a makeup look for a Bridgerton ball scene.( not a fan of these series but it great to see the genre of high society with color blind casting being so popular). Assisting in the judging was resident Bridgerton makeup artist, Erika Okvist.
Saphron’s Subtle Make-up Look:
The model skin was done to perfection which was the primary focus of the industry assignment and the MUA delivered with a statement winged liner, lilac eyeshadow for a subtle risk and nude lips.
Paint your secrets on your face:
The MUAs very first Creative Brief was for them to create a look inspired by a secret they’ve kept, and there was a range of secrets lurking behind the veil of beat makeup worn by the MUA’s.
Grotesque Anxiety:
Saphron grotesquely beautiful projection of anxiety that manifests itself in her skin picking habits had an alfenique art appeal with a three color approach, the makeup felt minimally impactful.
MUA’s excited to see makeup artist,Patrick Ta
Joined by guest judge, Patrick Ta, the MUA’s set out to capture their models individual personalities for a beauty campaign for Sephora UK. With the cliche concept of “Express All Of You” — with the project leader and boss for the day being Arieta Mujay who explained what Sephora UK is looking for in this industry assignment.
The natural look of this makeup won over the judges as Oh-May beautifully enhanced the features of the model keeping the creative brief of “ Express All of you” in mind.
Hometown Glory
Chelsea Lazkani/BBC
For this week’s creative brief the MUAs had to create a look inspired by their hometown and in order to help them judge these looks, they’d flown in Selling Sunset’s Chelsea Lazkani on the tenuous link that she knows what it takes to sell a home which is just absurd.
Saphron’s Essex Inspired Look:
Saphron’s Essex inspired look/BBC
Saphron is on a roll with two wins with her artistic painter style makeup look drawing inspiration from her hometown of Essex, England, playing with blue, green and white to create a ding-dong delicious look that draws the viewer in with her clever technique of contrast and depth.
Sarah’s Bee-Eagle Inspired Look:
Sarah’s Bee-Eagle Inspired Look/ BBC
Sarah who was combining her Nigerian roots with her current hometown of Manchester — representing Manchester with the bee and Nigeria with the eagle. The bee-licious look was an effective sharp result of a clear vision being translated into a realistic looking fuzzy bee and dramatic black swan inspired eagle wings on the eyes on a white base with grey contouring to accentuate the features of the model’s face.
EPISODE 3: Zodiac Attack( its Ghosted but spooky things scare me)
For this week’s Creative Brief the MUAs had to create a look inspired by their zodiac sign — there was luckily a decent mix of signs amongst the remaining MUAs. In order to judge the makeups, Dom and Val were joined by Vanessa “Skulltress” Davis, famed on social media for her incredibly lavish makeups.
None of the makeup looks captured by interest as not a fan of spooky or horror, rainbows and sunshine for me, please.
EPISODE 4: Social Media( TikTok)
For this week’s Industry Challenge the MUAs were facing the cut throat world of parasocial relationships and doing a sort of live get ready with me on TikTok but it wasn’t just any livestream, it was Paige Louise’s livestream — Paige being the owner of P. Louise and I was delighted by the fact they introduced her shoes first in those Givenchy boots. There was an added twist to the challenge though as the goal for going Live was to showcase as many ways to use a single product as you possibly could.
Wezley, armed with neon blue liner, followed Keiran and given that Wezley is something of the series narrator at this point and basically Leomie’s understudy, he was of course extremely good at the whole Live thing and I thought had the most ingenious and unique offering with brushing the liner through his hair and the application of the neon blue liner was clean and innovative which pleased the viewers and judges.
For their creative briefs the MUAs were once again having to get a bit personal as they designed makeups inspired by their -core, or chosen aesthetic of their past, future or present.
On-May’s makeup/BBC
I’m obsessed with this, the beauty side of it is stunning and the gore of the holes is phenomenally well executed, so well in fact they may have had to put mittens on Dom to stop him poking the model.
Wezley Makeup Look/BBC
Wezley was throwing things back with his Classic Core, Old Hollywood drag makeup inspired by Marilyn Monroe. A fabulous white base,grey contouring and a meticulous black scribble in beautiful curves creating a picture perfect visio of old Hollywood on the butchest model possible.
EPISODE 5( Digital Make-Up with Adidas):
In the dystopian world we live in, this industry assignment comes as no surprise. Under the watchful cat eye of guest judge , British MUA Isamaya Ffrench, the artists design digital looks for Adidas to hit the runway during Metaverse Fashion Week( because this is just what brands and their customers need, be more depedent on screens absorbed in the virtual world where you can purchase virtual clothes while the actual world goes to shit).
This was a team assignment with the MUAs who ended up working in teams of three for this challenge — Team 1 being Saphron, On-May and Axel, leaving Team 2 as Roo, Wezley, Keiran and Roo’s Weapons-grade Look of Disdain.
The Neobone/BBC
Each team had was given a different garment from Adidas’s virtual range — and these outfits were not made equally — Team Saphron were given The Neobone which at least looks futuristic and Extremely Online.
The Personal Floatation Device/BBC
Team Parental Dysfunction were given a garment called “The Personal Floatation Device” and looked like a relic of a 1930s insane asylum strictive jacket designed for floods, at least you won’t drown wearing it.
Team Parental Dysfunction designed the best looks with a fresh futuristic take on the makeup that impressed the judges with and without the virtual world translation.
EPISODE 6: (Global Campaign with MAC Cosmetics)
The most interesting episode of the show with guest judge, Drag Race Royalty and makeup whore, Trixie Mattel who shakes up the competition as the MUAs put together looks for drag artists featured in MAC’s iconic Viva Glam campaign which a beauty campaign that celebrates beauty with a purpose with a 27 year lineage of giving back.
MAC VIVA GLAM has partnered with BBC GLOW UP SEASON 4 to shine a spotlight on the Art of Drag. Judged by MAC Director of Makeup Artistry, Dominic Skinner, and world-renowned Makeup Artist, Val Garland, the final 6 contestants of the makeup competition had the opportunity to make over the stars of our History of Drag Campaign — where we explored the evolution of drag for LGBT+ History Month.
Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and Rihanna in the Viva Glam Campaign/ The Hollywood Reporter
VIVA GLAM is a maverick social campaign and a lipstick range that started almost 30 years ago to raise awareness for HIV and AIDs. A pioneer of the drag movement, legend RuPaul was the first ever face of the campaign, and since then it’s featured big names such as Ariana Grande, Rihanna and Lady Gaga.
The campaign features five drag artists who are entrusting their looks with our MUAs! And not only that, flying over from LA to keep a watchful eye over the drag techniques is Drag Race All Stars winner Trixie Mattel.
After getting over the shock of the epicness of what lies ahead of them, the MUAs are introduced to their drag artists, some of whom you may recognise… from Black Pepper to Victoria Scone, Dame Dave Lynn to Cheddar Gorgeous and beyond.
These drag artists are the experts in doing their own make-up, so the pressure is on to create a perfect drag look which will live on forever in the Viva Glam Campaign.
Victoria Scone’s Makeup was the best out of all the Drag Queens hands down/BBC
Some MUAs, familiar with the drag techniques, showcase their skills of blocking brows, contouring, and overlining the all-important lips. The drag artists’ costumes also have a big impact on the design of the looks, from rosy-red petals to blue spikey eyes.
Victoria Scone looked etheral in heavenly snached brows and carefully executed dramatic lips like a well done up Drag Queen ready for the stage.
Trixie has also brought along Glow Up alumnus and her personal MUA Jack, who is on hand to fix any mistakes or drag disasters the MUAs make.
Pink Explosion from Trixie Mattel and Lomie Anderson/BBC
The following day, at Glow Up studios, the MUAs get to showcase their own drag persona. There are no models, and it’s all about them! One drag king is in their element and makes sure there is no yolk on their face, while another’s traditional look falls short of the drag techniques the judges were craving.
Famous Glow Up Meme Moment with Cody Choi
And drag week wouldn’t be drag week without a visit from a famous Glow Up meme, who surprises the MUAs and the judges with an exciting time call.
On-May’s Chinese opera mask:
On-May’s Chinese opera mask/BBC
Although, this makeup look isn’t drag enough, the color scheme and application with precision is captivating to the eyes.
EPISODE 7( Red Carpet: The Brits)
While red carpets are my utmost favourite to watch, this makeup assignment was a disappointment down to the celebrities who wore generic looking clothes down to the predictable choices of makeup which was displeasing.
EPISODE 8(The Final: The Masterclass)
The finalists deliver looks that represent their individuality and teach a master class in front of industry titans. Who will rise to the top?
Drumroll, the winner of multiple episode challenges, Saphron wins the season 5 with this makeup look to seal the deal:
Saphron’s Beautiful Alien/BBC
Saphron takes it all with most overall wins with her precision, imagination and flawless execution of one makeup look after another, I can’t wait for what she does next.
Until next time, be fabulous with makeup.