When it comes to beauty, there's no doubt that the west (and best, according to some) coast has always had a feel of its own — from Hollywood glam to the grunge vibe of the Venice Beach boardwalk. Sure, the stereotypical bronzed-with-beachy-highlights look may never die, but as of late, we can't help but notice how the women of L.A. are getting all sorts of creative with their looks.
Sourcing inspiration from decades past (as well as their very own backyards), their makeup is fresh AF — think: reinterpreting cheek rouge in a crazy cool way or shaking up the traditional pinup cat-eye by painting it on with a holographic Rimmel London liner. Below, five badass Angelinos talk us through their street-inspired looks and reveal how they’re living their best damn lives one mismatched eyeshadow and pinstriped lipstick look at a time.
You know what's even cooler than a pop of color on your upper lids? Making your own rules and mismatching shadow shades. "L.A. is such a colorful city, which really inspires me," says K.O. The key here is to use complementary hues — like the bright turquoise and metallic copper from Rimmel London Magnif'eyes Eyeshadow Palette Colour Edition, lavender and gold, or even a punchy peach paired with a pastel green.
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Reminiscent of the red lip made popular by some rando named Marilyn (kidding, clearly), this combo using Rimmel London Stay Matte Liquid Lip Colour and Wonder Wing Eyeliner is the epitome of classic — only with a totally rad plot twist. “The stripe down the middle gives the traditional red lip a modern upgrade, and it almost reminds me of a car’s racing stripes,” says Naomi. “It’s one of my favorite looks because it accentuates my lips — a feature that I’ve grown to love over the years.”
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This boss blush look takes your traditional pastel rouge and remixes it by draping shades of copper and gold eyeshadows well beyond the lids — into cheek territory. Seidi says, “I source my street style beauty inspiration from old movie posters and photography typically found at flea markets. For me, it’s all about finding unique things from the past and making them new again.”
Not only does this look take a cue from the cat-eye and red lip worn by celebs and pinup girls alike, but it also weaves in glam-rock vibes. The blue-green look crafted using Rimmel London's new double-sided Wonder Ombre liner paired with an orange-red matte lip is the definition of #goals. “L.A. is the land of glitz and glamour, making it the perfect place for women to really express themselves,” says Vickie.
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This self-proclaimed goth chick looks to decades past when dreaming up her street style makeup looks. “Sometimes I feel like I grew up in the wrong decade; I’m constantly referencing the late '80s and '90s — the scene my parents came from,” says Isabella. “I love the heavy dark makeup and totally extra attire from that period.” Case in point: this vampy, contrasting lipliner that deserves serious street cred (if we do say so ourselves).
