Back

9 Mardi Gras makeup looks to get you inspired for the weekend

It’s gay Christmas - let’s celebrate!

By Briar Clark

BEAUTYcrew Beauty Editor / February 22 2023

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And by the most wonderful time of the year, we mean Mardi Gras (AKA gay Christmas).

This is not the time to play it fashionably 'safe' people, so pull out your most risque looks, plaster your face in glitter and bright eyeshadow, and fly your rainbow flags high, because we’re celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community with pride.

Soak up some inspo before you hit the rainbow-painted pavement this weekend and enjoy this colourful collection of makeup goodness to whet your appetite before festivities kick off.

1/

Look, we know not everyone has the ability to create an outlandish makeup look with just a few shades of eyeshadow. That’s why gemstones are going to be your very best friend this Mardi Gras. Stick to a glam look you can trust, and lay down a galaxy of shimmering stones all over your face and decolletage.

Image credit: @anthonyhnguyenmakeup

2/

Another simple but doable makeup look? Sweep a single shade of eyeshadow all over your lid and use a handful of gems to create a floating liner look.

Image credit: @deney_adam

3/

If you know your way around an eyeshadow palette, you can make good use of your blending skills with this colourful take on the classic smokey eye.

Image credit: @mikelesimonebeauty

4/

Scared to get rainbow-hued eye makeup all over your face? Contain the madness with some tactfully-placed diamontes.

Image credit: @sweetmutuals

5/

We're not going to lie to you — this look is not for beginners. But if you have a steady hand, a liquid liner full of ink, and a few swarovski crystals lying around, you should definitely give this eye look a crack.

Image credit: @deney_adam

6/

Euphoria queen Zendaya is always a source of inspiration when it comes to far out makeup looks. Makeup artist Raoul Alejandre created this intergalactic dream of a makeup moment for the Dune premiere and we’ve been keeping it in our saved folder ever since for special occasions just like this.

Image credit: @raoulalejandre

7/

As far as decades go, the ‘80s are rife with excellent Mardi Gras makeup fodder. Embrace the blown-out, rich eyeshadow looks of the time during this year’s festival and channel your inner Dynasty b*tch.

Image credit: @zizidonohoe

8/

Fairy princess is a mainstay theme for Mardi Gras as far as we’re concerned. We’re channeling the energy of a mystical woodland nymph during gay Christmas and if anyone tries to stop us we’re casting spells. Pinky promise.

Image credit: @mikelesimonebeauty

9/

Aussie model Aweng Chuol is slaying this metamorphic glitter moment. We love the bold shape of the eye makeup and matching 3D nail art. Iconic to say the least.

Image credit: @anthonyhnguyenmakeup

Now that you’re feeling inspired it’s time to get your hands on some makeup. Try this selection of Mardi Gras beauty products.

Main image credit: @anthonyhnguyenmakeup

Briar Clark

Briar Clark got her start in the media industry in 2017, as an intern for Marie Claire and InStyle. Since then, her keen interest in fashion and beauty has landed her gigs as a Digital Content Producer and Beauty Editor with titles like Girlfriend, Refinery29, BEAUTYcrew and beautyheaven. She loves the way seemingly innocuous topics like skin care and style have the ability to put a smile on people’s faces or make them think about themselves a little differently. A big believer in self love and experimentation, Briar has made a point of becoming the Australian beauty industry’s unofficial guinea pig for unusual treatments and daring hair trends. When she’s not testing out the latest beauty launches, Briar is big on broadening her horizons, mostly in the form of food but she’s also partial to travelling to new destinations both near and far (and of course, allocating an extra bag to bring their best beauty offerings home with her).