Beauty does not exist separately from culture; it is created within it. Again and again, Black artists have pushed against narrow ideas of what beauty is supposed to look like, making space for greater colour, freedom and individuality in the process. The industry we know today has been profoundly shaped by that creativity, and it would be impossible to talk honestly about modern beauty without acknowledging it.
For Black History Month, we want to celebrate some of the Black creators whose artistry we continually find ourselves returning to at Glisten, because it deserves to be celebrated, credited and enjoyed.
Black artists have helped push beauty far beyond the idea of makeup as something merely corrective or conventional. Across editorial beauty, drag, graphic makeup, colour theory, hair, nails and countless other creative spaces, Black creators have continually expanded what beauty is allowed to look like. That influence can be seen everywhere, including in the experimental, colour-first world Glisten is so lucky to exist within.
And representation within beauty matters for more than the image itself. People deserve to see creativity on skin that looks like theirs. They deserve to see deep complexions wearing pastel, neon, shimmer, metallics and every supposedly “difficult” colour without those shades being treated as an afterthought. Products should be created, photographed and celebrated with everyone in mind.
For us, Black History Month is both a celebration and a reminder: to look at who is creating, who is being credited, whose work we are learning from and who is being given space within the industry, not only during October, but throughout the year.
So, this month, we wanted to turn the spotlight towards a few artists we absolutely love.
@whitscanvas
Whitney's work has the kind of colour confidence we will always love at Glisten. Her look moves through warm yellow, berry purple and softened green in sweeping shapes around the eyes, with colour carried through the cheeks and lips so that the entire face feels considered rather than compartmentalised.
There is something almost painterly about the placement. Nothing feels restricted to where makeup is “supposed” to sit, and that freedom is exactly what makes it so compelling.
@keikeimua
If ever there were an argument for wearing every colour at once, Keisha has made it.
Electric lime meets icy blue and vivid pink across the eyes and cheeks, with cobalt lashes cutting through the colour beautifully. Tiny graphic details around the eye give everything another layer of personality, while her incredible sculptural braids make the finished look feel like a complete piece of styling rather than makeup existing on its own.
@bylaurajne
Laura-Jane reminds us exactly why makeup deserves to be called art.
Her face becomes an entire landscape: washes of oceanic blue and green running into yellow, purple and coral, surrounded by intricate botanical and celestial details. Look closely and there is always another element to discover.
This is beyond a conventional beauty look. It is illustration, painting and makeup artistry meeting on one canvas!
@noelleplay
Noelle takes a much softer route, proving that detailed artistry does not always need to arrive immense.
Tiny pink floral details curve above the eyes like miniature garlands, paired with fresh skin, rosy colour and a beautifully glossy lip. The precision is there, but it never overwhelms the face. Instead, everything feels delicate, playful and incredibly pretty.
@bbaldhi
There is beauty in knowing when not to cover everything.
Harmony's look allows real skin to remain part of the makeup — texture, freckles and all — with subtle blue-grey details scattered across the complexion and a soft sheen catching the light.
It feels intimate and modern precisely because it does not chase an artificial idea of perfection. Makeup can transform a face, but it can also simply sit alongside it.
@chichan_tt
Daniella brings the Strawberry Shortcake collection fully to life.
Set against the red gingham picnic scene from our campaign, her rosy makeup feels completely at home amongst the cake, teacups, fruit and ribbons. The pink tones around the eyes catch the light beautifully, while her glowing skin ties the whole look back into that soft, nostalgic world we wanted the collaboration to have.
It is exactly what we hoped this collection would inspire: makeup that feels playful, character-led and a little storybook-like, as though Strawberry Shortcake’s picnic has stepped straight off the page and into real life.
@wendysworld_xox
This look uses vivid blue, yellow and pink in expressive, almost brushstroke-like sweeps across the eyes, allowing the pigments to overlap rather than separating everything neatly. Against luminous skin and a neutral glossy lip, the eyes become the entire focal point.
It feels spontaneous in the way good art often does: playful, instinctive and alive.
Remember to tag us in your looks over on Instagram and TikTok! Subscribe below for even more Glisten content and to be in the know about product updates and exciting new releases!
By Ellie Black
Share
