Highsnobiety

Welcome to Beauty Lookbook, Highsnobiety’s monthly series examining the beauty routines of our stylish friends. This week, we chat with Aoife Cullen, the makeup artist whose bold, bizarre work is as singular as her personal style.

Name: Aoife Cullen

Location: London

Occupation: Makeup artist

What’s your earliest beauty-related memory?

I think I was about 14. I got a book for Christmas and it was Makeup Manual by Bobbi Brown. I read it cover to cover and I fell in love with makeup — that was it.

How has your definition of beauty changed over the years?

Growing up, you always stay in the confines of conventional beauty and the standard of beauty... You always feel those pressures. But I've always loved things that are a bit weird, people who are beautiful in their own way. The only thing that's changed is my confidence in expressing [myself].

What’s the first beauty product you ever bought?

I think I was about 15, 16. I bought two things: a green shimmery eyeshadow and this little pink lip gloss. I think I bought the cheapest thing that I could find. I remember them so vividly — [they were by] Collection 2000. They're just called Collection now, but they're still going.

What’s the one product you always splurge on?

Fragrance. I love smelling nice; I love people that smell nice. I have a bit of a [fragrance] collection now. I like gender-neutral fragrances, generally. Byredo's Mixed Emotions, I like a lot. I pretty much wear that every day.

What’s your favorite drug store product?

e.l.f. Cosmetics Cookies 'N' Dreams Lip Gloss. It's a sheer black gloss, which I'm obsessed with.

What’s your holy grail — the one product you can’t live without?

The about-face Matte Fluid Eye Paints. I have every single color. You can do anything with them... They're so versatile and they work well on all skin tones.

What do you smell like?

I’m usually wearing a Byredo fragrance. I love De Los Santos for the day and Vanille Antique in the evening. When I travel, I take a Malin and Goetz perfume oil. And I always shower with Glossier’s Body Hero Daily Oil Wash.

What’s your favorite under-the-radar beauty brand?

Glisten Cosmetics. They've built quite a big following in the past two years or so. They do wet liners and brushes — I use a lot of their products. I would say they're pretty under-the-radar, but they're growing.

Do you shower in the morning or at night?

Both and neither. Depending on my schedule, plans and how I feel. I love showering so I’ll do it as much as needs be.

How does your style inform your beauty routine?

I take a low effort, high impact approach to my style and beauty routine. I like to wear things strategically and in a way that tells a story, even if it’s very minimal. I like to do the least to say the most and for everything to look effortless, balanced, and cohesive while still having an edge. At the same time, if I’m wearing a statement outfit, I like the makeup to quietly compliment the features of it without speaking over it and vice versa.

What is one piece of beauty advice you would give to everyone?

[Don't] be afraid of looking ugly or different. Have fun with your makeup. Break the rules.

What To Read Next

  • Image on Highsnobiety

    In 2023, You Can't Say Amnesia Ibiza Without size? & adidas Originals

    Culture
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    'The Idol': "Super F*cking Boring" & "Bad AF"

    Culture
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    Crocs’ Dylan Clog Is One For the Muleboyz

    Sneakers
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    A Little Commotion for Naomi Watts' Quilted Jacket

    Style
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    Drake's Breathes New Life Into Sebago's Dockside

    Sneakers
  • Image on Highsnobiety

    The Promise of FaceTime Voicemails Has Twitter Already Willdin'

    Culture
*If you submitted your e-mail address and placed an order, we may use your e-mail address to inform you regularly about similar products without prior explicit consent. You can object to the use of your e-mail address for this purpose at any time without incurring any costs other than the transmission costs according to the basic tariffs. Each newsletter contains an unsubscribe link. Alternatively, you can object to receiving the newsletter at any time by sending an e-mail to info@highsnobiety.com

Web Accessibility Statement

Titelmedia (Highsnobiety), is committed to facilitating and improving the accessibility and usability of its Website, www.highsnobiety.com. Titelmedia strives to ensure that its Website services and content are accessible to persons with disabilities including users of screen reader technology. To accomplish this, Titelmedia has engaged UsableNet Inc, a leading web accessibility consultant to help test, remediate and maintain our Website in-line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), which also bring the Website into conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Disclaimer

Please be aware that our efforts to maintain accessibility and usability are ongoing. While we strive to make the Website as accessible as possible some issues can be encountered by different assistive technology as the range of assistive technology is wide and varied.

Contact Us

If, at any time, you have specific questions or concerns about the accessibility of any particular webpage on this Website, please contact us at accessibility@highsnobiety.com, +49 (0)30 235 908 500. If you do encounter an accessibility issue, please be sure to specify the web page and nature of the issue in your email and/or phone call, and we will make all reasonable efforts to make that page or the information contained therein accessible for you.