What's your lipstick routine? If you're like most people (people who wear lipstick, anyway), you probably just pop on your favorite color, maybe top with a little gloss if you're feeling fancy, and off you go. Because, well, what more can you do?
Well, if you're makeup artist Andrea Reed, who goes by Girl Grey Beauty on Instagram, you can do a lot more.
Reed uses her imagination, skill, and one very steady hand to create gorgeous miniature works of art right on her own lips, much in the same way that another makeup artist turns her eyelids into tiny fairytale scenes.
Reed updates her Instagram regularly with all kinds of dramatic, fantasy makeup, as well as tips for more subtle everyday looks.
But we really love her lipstick creations, which take the form of everything from food to famous paintings to abstract designs. And she never shies away from a bold color!
Now, these aren't looks that most people can pull off every day, but maybe after seeing some of Reed's creations below, you might find yourself trying out a new shade!
[H/T: BoredPanda]
Reed creates each of these designs completely by hand, without the use of stencils. She also uses not only lipstick, but eyeliner and eyeshadow to get the wide variety of colors you see in her work. These lips were inspired by mermaids and all things oceanic!
The lines on this plaid design are so perfect — and the matching nails make it even better! And if you're wondering how she does it, she also offers tutorials for her followers.
Sometimes Reed takes a cue from other artists, like in this homage to Japanese printmaker Hokusai and his famous Great Wave Off Kanagawa. To get these fine lines, she actually used a liquid eyeliner, which is safe to use on lips.
Of course, you don't need a lot of detail to make an eye-catching design.
But then, if you're going to do makeup art like this, why not go for some crazy detail? Of course, some might find this honeycomb pattern a little unsettling…
…but probably not as unsettling as this. Yikes! We're glad this is just makeup.
Reed mainly creates these over-the-top lip designs for fun — this isn't exactly day-to-day wear! But it's certainly a lot of fun.
And if you can think of it, she can create a lip design out of it. Nature inspired this leaf design.
But she draws inspiration from technology, too, like these pixelated lips.
And sometimes, there's nothing like a graphic design in an unexpected color.
This mod-looking design in autumnal colors is understated, but still striking.
And this mocha-colored design is classically delicate and beautiful.
Black lips are tricky, but Reed pulls it off with this lacy, feminine design.
And of course you can't go wrong with classic floral!
You can see much more of Reed's makeup art, including eye and full-face designs, as well as more traditional everyday ideas on her Instagram, as well as some tutorials on YouTube.
And please SHARE her crazy makeup with anyone you know who's stuck in a makeup rut!
