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Heavy makeup as a generational statement

  • Writer: adolfo fuerte
    adolfo fuerte
  • Aug 20
  • 2 min read

Makeup has ceased to be just a beauty tool and has become a language of identity and expression . For Gen Z, excess isn't a sin: it's a statement of principles . Intense colors, dramatic eyeliner, and bold textures communicate belonging, rebellion, and a redefinition of the body in a queer way.



Excess as a generational narrative

  • Recent runways by Christian Cowan, Gypsy Sport, and Vaquera show how makeup is used as an extension of wardrobe and cultural discourse.

  • Saturated palettes, holographic sparkles and sculptural applications reflect a desire for radical visibility , contrasting with the minimalist aesthetic of previous generations.

  • This excess communicates belonging to a community that values fluid identity and self-affirmation , transforming the face into canvas and statement.


Catwalk materials and techniques

  • Liquid textures, intense glosses, metallic pigments and fine glitter allow you to play with volume, light and depth .

  • Makeup combines with bold cuts and materials like vinyl, leather, and satin to create a coherent aesthetic ecosystem that reinforces the generational statement.

  • Each stroke and each color function as a symbol: excess is a language that redefines normative aesthetics , connecting fashion and subculture.


Cultural reading

  • Gen Z uses heavy makeup as a tool of visibility and resistance , especially within queer communities.

  • In contrast to the aspirational neutrality of previous generations, this makeup celebrates identity, diversity, and the performativity of the self .

  • The phenomenon reflects a change in how society interprets aesthetics: the face and body as a canvas for social and political expression .


Conclusion

Heavy makeup isn't just a trend: it's a generational statement that combines art, identity, and subculture. On runways and social media, every color, texture, and application redefines what it means to be visible and authentic in contemporary fashion.


 
 
 

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