Beauty icon of the year, Fox makeup epitomized 2022 and all its clutter, chaotic nihilism
our love for julia fox and her crazy makeup is emblematic of our current state. We don’t have the time, or the emotional or, indeed, spiritual capacity to try to emulate the unattainable beauty standards that have dogged us for the past decade; the professionally applied makeup mockups over thousands of pounds of Botox and fillers, then posted to social media after a quick FaceTune and some Photoshop. What we do have time for is to smear the crumbs of a battered eyeshadow palette over our eyes like a contemporary Boudica and finish them off with a stocky old liner pilfered from a Boots store.
Post-lockdown, in the face of the cost-of-living crisis, it’s not surprising that sweaty, hedonistic, messy makeup has replaced meticulous multi-step makeup. instagram face from the 2010s. We just want to get out there and let loose. That was the spirit Fox captured earlier in the year when she stepped out in her now infamous signature black eye makeup The look instantly took over our imaginations, a relief from the aspirational beauty of celebrities. More importantly, it was funny and seemed to signal a mode of self-expression beyond prescriptive ideas of attractiveness.
A series of equally chaotic looks followed, cementing Fox’s status as the patron saint of so-called bad beauty movement. In March, she appeared on the red carpet at an Oscar party with bright red, bloodshot eyes framed by his signature black brim, a look achieved by being stoned to the bone. Then came the black lips and a pictorial white wingthe latex wrapped ponytailthe pencil eyebrows drawn on bleached eyebrows, the Gray hair. Fox also began to vocalize this backlash against conventional beauty norms, making bold proclamations and predictions on her TikTok account such as: “Aging is in…dirty, ugly, girl. not wear clothes that suit your body type, just wear whatever you want, all those things are in style.”
On one hand, these statements feel easy to say for a slim, conventionally beautiful white woman who, intentionally or not, reaps the rewards of meeting societal beauty standards. It’s easy to say “I want to see bellies hanging over low-rise jeans, please” when she herself has one of the flattest stomachs you’ve ever seen. And the contention of proclaiming that ‘aging is in’ when just weeks earlier I was paid to be the face of Xeomin, the Botox alternative, isn’t necessarily negated by Fox’s defense that she’s “always going to look my best.” handbag”.
On the other hand, Fox has always been honest: She has openly discussed how, when she realized she was being viewed as a commodity in her late teens and early twenties, she knowingly took advantage of her looks and sex appeal to gain money and resources from men. This is one of the contradictions inherent in womanhood: beauty can equal power, but this “power” is always contingent on whether the patriarchy deems it desirable. Fox felt it was “a humiliating position to be in”. What we now seem to be witnessing is her experimentation and acceptance of how she wants to see herself. Purposefully choosing to appear messy, alien, and intimidating. Along the way, we can provide her with the grace and space to deal with the contradictions she is releasing and unlearn the messages that are ingrained in all of us.
Fox has certainly changed the way we approach beauty this year and, along with the likes of Doja Cat and Aoife, spearheaded a perspective on makeup that doesn’t focus on the male gaze or appease social beauty metrics. Her look is confrontational and female-focused, relatable, and approachable, as evidenced by Fox’s charmingly chaotic tutorials involving drugstore products, bare fingers, and the occasional “fucking.” That’s the thing about her makeup: all you need is a little time, enthusiasm, and not taking yourself too seriously.
Here Fox shares her thoughts on her year in beauty and gives her predictions for 2023.
What’s your favorite Julia Fox beauty moment of 2022? The fox eye, the red eyes, the gray hair…?
Julia Fox: I honestly love the gray hair look. It is so beautiful. It’s weird but I love it when older women keep their hair gray or white. My grandmother, who I look like, turned completely white as a pearl. She always used to say when she was little that she couldn’t wait to get old to have hair like that.
Have you ever thought that your beauty looks would be so shocking?
Julia Fox: No, not at all, but I’m happy to make people feel better for being weird. I encourage everyone to express themselves authentically and I really don’t care about trends or what other people think is cool. I’m always doing my thing and I hope more people can do it too.
What do you think messy/bad makeup is so popular right now? What does it say about the general cultural mood?
Julia Fox: I think the girls are fed up! I think beauty is moving away from the male gaze. Women are tired of hearing the little man inside their head telling them that they have to look a certain way in order to be accepted by society. To hell with that… I don’t care what men like. And if they don’t like it, it’s probably because I’m on the right side of history, as men historically aren’t.
What are your beauty predictions in 2023?
Julia Fox: More spotted. No perfect lines. alien vibes. trash girl. Bright lips. Accentuate our “imperfections” instead of hiding them.
@juliafox Ooooo I know this is going to piss off the penniless boys #OLDISIN ♬ original sound – Julia fox
How does beauty feel to you?
Julia Fox: You don’t feel anything. Beauty is subjective and there is no way to measure it. I only find beauty in ugly places and I’ve always been like that.
How did you find what is your expression of beauty? Do you care about beauty as a concept?
Julia Fox: I care because it’s political, and capitalism and patriarchy make women live in fear of getting old when it should be something to celebrate. For me, being alive is a miracle, so I focus on the big picture.
How does getting old feel to you?
Julia Fox: It means feeling more and more comfortable in my own skin. I am much happier now than at any other time in my life.
What is your beauty and skincare routine?
Julia Fox: I honestly don’t have one. It’s a miracle if I brush my teeth before I pass out.
What do you think about fillers and botox?
Julia Fox: I’m totally for it. Women should be able to do what they want without being stigmatized. Forcing a woman to live in fear of aging and then shaming her for getting enhancements is a scam. It is a lose-lose situation that we have been forced into.
What are your favorite beauty products?
Julia Fox: I love my Pat McGrath eyeshadow palettes I have them all and I am obsessed with pigments. I love isamaya liplacq Maximizing Lip Serum: change the rules of the game. I love the change of course liquid eyeshadow sticks too, and liquid highlighters are amazing for the body. For the classics, I love Egyptian Magic and Biologique P50 toner.
What do you think of celebrity beauty brands? Would you ever start yours?
Julia Fox: I don’t think the world needs another celebrity beauty brand, but if I had to, I would go super eco-friendly and use only recycled materials.
What are your tips and tricks for makeup?
Julia Fox: Look what you’re wearing for inspiration! Usually the vision comes to me after putting on the look. You really need to feel it. Good makeup can make or break an entire look.
Source: news.google.com