Tyla's Makeup Artist on Shattering Stereotypes With Neon Glam
“Makeup to me is about freedom to create.” — Ngozi Edeme
While the internet has only recently decided that the clean girl era is over, Ngozi Edeme, or Painted By Esther, has always centered her work around the bold and bright. The London-based makeup artist has become synonymous with her signature bubblegum pink blush and candy-colored eye looks, and as a result, she’s built an impressive portfolio — including tons of neon eye looks and body paint for Tyla‘s We Wanna Party Tour.
With makeup critique rife online, Edeme maintains that our beauty routines should always prioritize our own preferences. Whether she’s cooking up disco-inspired glam backstage for Tyla or turning Love Island USA‘s Olandria Carthen into a Bratz doll with blush, Edeme will never subscribe to the internet’s misguided idea that Black women can’t pull off bright blush or eyeshadow — and her work serves as a vibrant rebuttal.
Ahead, we speak to Ngozi Edeme about conceptualizing makeup looks with Tyla and rewriting beauty rules.
On Her Passion for Blush
Blush has always been my favorite focal point in makeup. I’m a British babe it’s always been a staple in our makeup. Over the years, I just curated it to reflect what I love seeing on faces. I love seeing Black and Asian women with lots of color on the face. Our skin tones really welcome it. It adds vibrancy, light and whimsy — to us, it’s really hard to not look like a fairy Bratz doll.
On Working With Tyla
My colorful glam on Tyla is my favorite. She’s so creative and it rubs off on [me]. She welcomes extravagant looks and allows me complete freedom to paint her. The theme of the We Wanna Party Tour is partying, and what better way to convey that than with bright, neon colors. We pull inspiration from everywhere and [the looks] reflect that. Disco glam was our number one inspiration, we wanted people to see the makeup and feel excited to create.
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On the Idea That Black Women Should Only Wear Certain Colors
I’ve always tried my best to debunk that. Black women are some of the most whimsical and creative people and I hate hearing that. There’s not much we don’t look good in. (No bias.) My advice is to follow the beat of your own drum. Your life is yours, your face is yours, your personality is yours to curate. Do whatever you like! Everything looks good on us.
On Dealing With Negative Comments
It used to really upset me, until I realized the naysayers can not do anything I can, even on their best day. I can do makeup with my eyes closed, standing, sitting, laying down. My client could have their face planted to their phone and I’ll be on my knees and produce flawless work. Anyone that’s doing anything worthwhile with their life is not sitting on the internet spectating and hating on anyone else — that’s just that. Plus, even the negativity sells, so thank you for the engagement.
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